This vivacious festival falling on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar falls on the 12th of June this year. However it is wise to reserve one of the luxury hotels Singapore in order to experience this wonderful phenomenon in full. The St. Regis Singapore is one of the most preferred 5 star hotels Singapore that is preferred among many who visit this breathtaking festival each year to be mesmerized by the sheer splendour of the event. The Dragon Boat festival also known as the Duanwu Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan. Icons of the mythical guardian figure Zhong Kui as well as mugwort leaves and calamus is hung all over the …

Singapore is a country full of vibrant celebrations throughout the year. When you are planning your vacation, remember to do your Singapore hotel reservation prior to your arrival to enjoy a hassle free holiday. Conveniently located in the main city, Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore is a first-class Singapore city centre hotel available for the visitors to the city. If you are in Singapore this February, do not miss the colourful Chingay Parade 2013 which was started in 1973 and today has become a multi-cultural festival with the participation of Malays and Hindus. Traditional Chinese performances such as stilt walking, acrobatic acts and dragon dances are among the much loved events during the Chingay parade. Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen …

According to an age old story in the Philippines, sometime during the 13th century a group of 10 tribal chiefs known as belonging to the clan ‘Datus’ were fleeing from Borneo to escape the clutches of a tyrant by the name of Sultan Makatunaw. After days of sailing the waters they arrived at Philippines which was inhabited by the Ati people; the tribes of Panay Island. Datu Puti who was the travellers’ chief minister traded bales of exquisite cloth, brass basins and golden salakot with the natives in order to buy land. To further create goodwill, the Ati chief’s wife was gifted with a beautiful golden necklace which was extremely long. The Ati-Atihan festival intricately tied with this incident. Some believe that the grateful ‘Datus’ …

The traditional New Year is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by the majority of the residents of Sri Lanka. Interestingly the timing and nature of the New Year celebrations bear affinity with the corresponding traditions amongst several South and South-east Asian peoples. The Sri Lankan New Year falls on the 13th and 14th of April and is marked as a public holiday in the country. This auspicious occasion is considered to herald the ending of spring and the harvest season. The distinctive traditions and rituals are said to be derived from the rich history and cultural traditions of the nation. These beliefs were influenced by the advent of Buddhism, the main religion of the country, to create the colourful and vibrant customs and rites …

The day of Nyepi is a very important occasion for the Balinese. Falling at the dawn of the New Year according to the Balinese traditional calendar, Nyepi is a Hindu festivity which is native to Bali. A national holiday in Indonesia, Nyepi is a time for fasting, silence and meditation for the people of Bali. The subsequent day is celebrated as the commencement of the New Year, and is also a day of festivity. Nyepi is observed strictly, from 6 am in the morning to the same hour the following day. The occasion is considered to be a time for self-reflection, when any diversions and activities which might hinder with this objective are proscribed. Accordingly on this day there are many restrictions on the Balinese …

The capital of France, fondly known the world over as the ‘City of Love and Music’, is home to the Opera de Paris Garnier which was built for Emperor Napolean the Third. The name of the building is derived through its designer, Charles Garnier and work on the building commenced in 1862. However, its completion was delayed due to the astonishing discovery of an underground lake, part of which is said to exist even today, making this construction an architectural marvel. The Opera de Paris Garnier has the proud distinction of being one of the largest such theatres in the world and its interior design is just as majestic and is complete with marble columns, sculptures and gilded statues. The Grand Marble Staircase found inside, …