Thailand’s calendar is speckled with festivals and holidays of religious and cultural importance. While some are observed through the entire country, regional ethic groups celebrate their own festivals in their home towns. These unique festivals are attracting crowds that travel across the globe just to glimpse these foreign traditions. The Moken or Sea Gypsies are of an Austronesian ethnicity and live mainly in the islands off the west coast of Thailand. For the Thai, they are known as the Chao Le or ‘people of the sea’. They follow a nomadic tribal way of life that is mainly based on the sea. Accumulated through countless generations, their knowledge of the surrounding Andaman Seas is quite profound. In fact due to generations of diving and swimming in …

Every year Krabi soars with life at the Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival. A cultural treat, this festival ornaments the city in a tasteful traditional sense. Krabi as it is makes the pinnacle of tourist attractions in Thailand. The beauty this little town boasts of is too much for words and every year hundreds of enthusiastic holiday makers fly to Thailand to bask in the breathtaking ambience of beautiful Krabi. The Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival has earned a name of popularity in Krabi. It is not just an artistic occasion; it is an insight into the origins and roots of Thailand. Krabi has a primary Indian influence. The Boek Fa Andaman has the charm and essence of Indian festivals that is exhibited in the …

Body art is a rather controversial art form that is often associated with modern pop culture. But many cultures across the world have used tattoos and body art to separate tribes and mark status. For the Thai, they have a magical and religious significance, with each marking giving a certain property to the wearer. Every March the devotees of Wat Bang Phra, a temple specializing in these spiritual tattoos, flock to take part in the mass tattooing ceremony of Wai Khru or ‘Honour the Teacher’. Hundreds of people solemnly stand in line waiting to be marked with a design that carries with a unique spirit or property. It is believed that some have protective properties and the ability to repel attacks. The intricate designs come …

One of the best ways to get acquainted with the people of a country is through their music and dance. Folk dances make this possible as they are performed by members of the public at social gatherings and are performed to traditional music that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. However not all traditional dances can be deemed folk dances as some have ritualistic origins and others are court dances. Although small in size the Maldives has a rich cultural heritage and its songs and dances are a window to the history and culture of its people. While many of its dances reflect the influences of neighbouring nations and visiting travelers and merchants, the Maldives has several dances that are quite home grown. Since …

The history of the proud tradition of horse racing can be traced back to the ancient civilisations of the Greeks and Egyptians while additional evidence also indicates that horse racing was practiced in Babylon and Syria as well. As time progressed, this beloved sport was considered an industrious affair during the Roman Empire but its title, the “Sport of the Kings” can be traced directly to the British royalty’s passion for the sport. While the three main styles of this sport are flat racing, steeple chasing and harness racing, it is also an industrious affair which prompts fan to place bets and gamble thereby making it a multi-billion dollar industry. With such a lot of economic and monetary importance attached to this sport, which race …

Also known as Double Tenth Day, the National Day of the Republic of China is a significant day in Taiwan that features several ceremonies. Those heading to the capital during this time and looking for luxury hotels in Taipei can consider Regent Taipei. This luxury hotel Taipei has to offer features a range of contemporary comforts and is ideally located in the Zhong Shan district. Taking place on October 10th, the National Day Celebrations in Taiwan include the raising of the Republic of China flag which is done in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei. During this ceremony the National Anthem is sung followed by cultural performances, while military parades are also known to take place. Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name …