Renowned as a holiday Mecca for the masses, Indonesia’s tourist capital is no ordinary city in Asia. Abound with natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage the Balinese are a group of people entrenched in their traditional way of life with every occasion in the cycle from birth to death marked with rituals as ancient as time itself. This preoccupation with marking and celebrating every significant event in the natural world as well as life is such a part of the Balinese identity that folk life in the country would be bereft without the age old customs and wisdom passed on from generation to generation. The Galungan Festival is one of Bali’s most prestigious religious and cultural mêlées marked in Wuku years. Taking centre stage …

A 30 acre expanse of empty space and dying grass in the heart of the city, not a tree to shade the beating hot sun with homeless people prowling the corners begging for money and pigeon poop covering every bit of concrete that would have been a possible place to sit is far from being charming. Sanam Luang or the Royal Field in Thailand is a pretty bleak place on the ordinary day but it has seen the birth, revolution and the make of a nation and people. During one of the many ceremonies or protests that have taken place in Bangkok the park transforms to a busy bubble of chaos with hundreds of thousands of people gathering in colorful attire to witness history in …

Located off the tip of Malaysia is the bustling nation of Singapore. Considered to be one of the most developed and urban nations in the Southeast Asian region, Singapore serves as a hub for the financial and economic system of the region. Due to its many vibrant shopping districts and complexes, recreational attractions, and cultural landmarks, it is also one of the top tourist destinations in the world. The majority of Singapore’s population are Chinese, and therefore one of the most grandly celebrated festivals here is the Chinese New Year. This annual event, which is celebrated on the dawn of the new Lunar Year, is filled with rich traditions and customs which culminate in a vibrant, colourful and grand festival. The Chinese New Year is …

Bali is a traveller’s paradise and Bali hotel accommodation caters to their discerning needs. However with one of the ideally located Bali hotels such as Anantara Seminyak Bali, you will be assured of a remarkable holiday in the region. Attractions in the region include various religious and cultural festivals. Harvest festivals, parades to the sea, fasting & retreat ceremonies, temple festivals and more are among these events. One of the main religious festivals in Bali is Nyepi Festival which marks the beginning of the New Year. Held before this is the Melasti Festival which is dedicated to driving evil spirits away from the island.

Due to take place on the 25th of February 2013, Thailand’s Maka Bucha Festival is an annual religious festival of truly grand proportions. Marked on the full moon of the third lunar month this auspicious religious event commemorates the birth of the Buddhist order of monks and is also known as Sangha Day in other Buddhist nations across Asia. A red letter day in the Buddhist calendar the yearly festival celebrates the founding of the Buddhist monastic order collectively known as the Sangha and the hallowed day on which it was established. Religious scripture dates the event nine months following the enlightenment of Lord Buddha when a record 1250 monks gathered in one location to spontaneously chant a sermon in his lordship’s honour. This is …

Tipped to be one of the most popular public holidays in the island nation of Sri Lanka, the National Day celebrations is a commemorative occasion to mark the country’s independence from Britain. Having gained independence from the British Crown on that hallowed day in February, 1948 the national celebrations of Independence Day recount memories from the colonial era and the hard fought freedom from foreign rule that was won due to the sacrifices and foresight of many national heroes and iconic political forces. Falling on the 4th of February each year, the Independence Day of the island formerly known as Ceylon by its foreign rulers, is a grand occasion that celebrates the country’s progress in the post-colonial era and in modern times with larger than …