During the month of April, Sri Lanka celebrates a festival known as the ‘Sinhalese and Tamil New Year’, which is a major anniversary celebrated by most Sri Lankans. It is a time in which not only Sinhalese, but all Sri Lankans come together as one to celebrate. Astrology Astrology plays a rather important role in Avurudu, as the dawn of the new year doesn’t take place at a specific time every year. The auspicious or ‘nakath’ time is specified according to astrological calculations. The duration of time between the old year and new year can take as long as 12 hours and 48 minutes, this is because of the sun crossing he astrological border of the House of Pisces to House of Aries. Every part …

Dubai is a major tourist destination in the world and in order to provide a wholesome experience for tourists the country is packed with festivals and events throughout the year. Most festivals are closely related to Islam due to the dense Muslim population of the country. Here are a few of the most popular festivals in Dubai. Dubai shopping festivals This is a massive shopping fiesta usually scheduled from January 1st to the 2nd February. Stocked with tons of clothes, shoes and bags for bargain prices, this is a shopper’s paradise. The festival involves every shop in the city, fireworks, and fun activities for kids and many more. Festival of Taste This is a vibrant city with diverse varieties of food. This is held in …

The music scene of Australia has an extensive history from indigenous Australian music to contemporary fusions of Western styles including country, jazz, rock, pop, electronic and dance music. Apart from music, the country also showcases some amazing theatrical, dance and literary works. Highlighting these aspects is the Adelaide Festival of Arts that is hosted each year in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Offering a rich selection of opera, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, cabaret, literature, visual art and new media, the Adelaide Festival has attracted participants and visitor from around the world for over 55 years. If you have plans to enjoy the extensive array of performances from famous musicians to astounding dance troupes amid the warm and starry autumnal nights, this event …

Siem Reap is a major tourist hub located in northwest Cambodia. Its claim to fame is that it is the closest city to the world famous temples of Angkor. The city of Siem Reap shares its name with province to which it belongs. The name translates to ‘Siamese defeated’ a reference to the defeat of the army of the Thai kingdom at the hands of the Khmer Empire, in the 17th century. The past fifteen years have turned the city into one that is bustling with tourist activity. Earlier, it was an isolated location that catered to the few hardy backpackers with only the odd budget hotel, today it is home to the Anantara Angkor Resort. Culture junkies and history buffs descend on Siem Reap …

Every year the beaches of Bali grow in popularity. The crowds swell like the tides, millions of tourists from around the world flood Indonesia in search of the best waves for surfing, the aquamarine waters for paddling, the best dive sites for viewing colourful coral and exotic marine life and the most stunning beaches. While it caters to the upmarket traveler looking for a luxury hotel, Bali also offers homestay and backpacker options for the budget tourist. In recent years: the mushrooming of beachfront resorts, restaurants, shopping malls, and nightclubs has gained Bali the reputation of being Asia’s top party destination. The Nusa Dua Fiesta is a festival that shows Bali has more to offer. The annual, weeklong event was started in 1996 by the …

The month long36th Annual Bali Arts Festival took place in 2014 and showcased the island’s traditional music, dancing and other forms of artistic expressions. Bali’s capital, Denpasar took center stage and hosted over three hundred individual shows in which fifteen thousand students, performers and other members of the community displayed their creative side. The Bali resorts and hotels were brimming with enthusiastic tourists eager to be part of the celebrations. This year’s edition of the Festival will kick off on the 13th of June, book a stay at the Intercontinental Bali Resort to be close to the festivities while also getting to experience the best of Bali’s beaches. Last year’s event was declared open by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with a colourful parade through …