On the Chulalongkorn Day, Thais get together to commemorate the death anniversary of one of their greatest kings known as Rama v or better still as king Chulalongkorn. This great king who passed away in 1910 was one of the most remembered kings who recreated history through several noteworthy diplomatic moves that helped the country and its people lead lives of freedom especially releasing them from foreign invasion and slavery. This day is celebrated on the 23rd October and is considered a National holiday and if the holiday falls on a weekend, it is substituted with the following weekday so that a three day weekend ensures for the Thai people. Most people take this opportunity to visit their home towns or spend a coastal vacation …

In a time where the outdoors is being challenged, the World Outdoors Summit will be of great value. The World Outdoors Summit gives the opportunity for the global community to share, discuss and plan to resolve those challenges and support outdoor leisure based around adventure tourism areas. This is a four day conference held every few years in the ‘land of the white clouds.’ The World Outdoors Summit 2013 is scheduled to be held in Rotorua, New Zealand. It is a perfect cultural hotspot for the outdoors with ideal locations to discuss contemporary issues relating to the value of outdoor activities. The aim of this summit is to advance the development of education, recreation and adventure tourism within international outdoors via sharing knowledge, debating practice. …

The vibrant Deepavali Festival is an important event for Hindus around the world. Just as in Hindu communities the world over, the Hindus of Malaysia celebrate this occasion with great joy and festivity. Deepavali is the Festival of Light, a celebration of the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Accordingly at this joyous occasion a multitude of oil lamps are lit to dispel evil and darkness. The event falls on the final day of the final month of the traditional lunar based calendar. The origins of the festival are steeped in myth and legend and several explanations are given for the event. In Malaysia most Hindus consider the festival to commemorate the slaying of the demon Narakasura by the might of Lord …

The vibrant little nation of Bhutan boasts an intriguing culture punctuated by Buddhist spirituality that lends it a charm all its own. Of particular note is the annual “Tschechu”, which is a religious festival that translates to “tenth day”, and is hosted by the various religious institutions of the country. The best way to experience the excitement of a tshechu is from a Bhutan hotel such as the splendid Uma Bhutan. Tschechus are celebrated in a variety of ways that differ from city to city, and an ideal way to experience all of it is via a series of Bhutan tour packages that the hotel can easily help organize for you. Held to celebrate the birthday of the renowned Guru Padmasambhava, tshechus occur on the …

The vegetarian festival in Thailand held in the month of October is an event of spirituality together with astounding religious acts that are carried out as devotions to the gods for obtaining blessings. The festival which has its origin from the Chinese immigrants who visited Thailand some time back, has today developed into a fully fledged ceremony with street shows of people in trances as well as religious rituals performed in the temples, in exclusive culinary preparations and people observing certain precepts in view of the event. Spanning over a nine day period in the ninth month of the Chinese calendar, the festival is the result of the belief that the Chinese immigrants who fell ill with Malaria, recovered due to a religious ritual they …

Part of what makes Bangkok such a fascinating city is the fact that you can find sprawling modern development side by side with cultural attractions steeped in religious traditions. The Erawan Shrine in Bangkok is one such example and is definitely worth seeing when in the Thai capital. If you are looking for a unique way to see the sights of the city then Bangkok cruises such as those offered by Anantara Cruises Thailand are just what you are looking for. This Bangkok cruise tour takes you along the Chao Phraya River and past some of the most famous landmarks of the capital. Make sure to also plan a visit to the Erawan Shrine which can be found in the Pathum Wan district and which features a statute of …