Christmas in Surfers Paradise is another great Australian festival that is held each year during the Christmas time to celebrate the festive season in the grand Australian way. Christmas 2014 saw the Cavill Mall brilliantly illuminated with lights and families from all over flocking to witness the numerous Christmas fun events organised to make the season merry for everyone. Australis Sovereign Hotel, quite a popular hotel in Gold Coast was very much involved with the festive season with the luxury accommodation it had to offer for the many visiting tourists and locals during this exciting holiday time. Some of the fun events that the families enjoyed included Santa at the beach with his surfboat sleigh pulled by six kangaroos and posting letters to Santa and snapping …

Travellers in search of five-star Siem Reap accommodation will be more than pleased with the Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa. Providing guests with a central location this idyllic rest offers modern amenities to suit business travellers as well as holidaymakers. Renowned as one of Cambodia’s most sacred religious festivals the marking of Pchum Ben or Ancestor’s Day holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Khmer residents the world over. This annual religious ceremony in Cambodia falls on the 15th day of the 10th month in the Khmer calendar with dates in the Georgian calendar alternating between the months of September and October. The 2013 Pchum Ben festival for example was marked from the 3rd to the 5th of October while the dates of this year’s …

Visakha Bucha or Vesak is one of most important annual events among Buddhists in Thailand as it commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and ‘parinirvana’. According to Theravada Buddhist teachings these three events took place on the first full moon day in the 6th lunar month of Wisaka. This is one of the busiest days in Bangkok despite everything being shut down as Buddhists come to take part in public religious events and to be with family and friends. On this day the city’s Governor leads the people in giving alms to monks, Buddha relics are moved from the Grand Palace so that people can pay homage and members of the Thai royal family join the people to commemorate the event. Citadenes Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok, adjacent to …

Travellers in search of luxurious Abu Dhabi hotels will find no finer alternative to the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. Conveniently situated in a strategic location this stylish rest serves as the perfect base from which to explore the metropolis that is Abu Dhabi. As a melting pot of varied cultures the thriving desert holiday destination of Abu Dhabi is no light weight when it comes to engaging, local celebrations. Populated by immigrants and expats from around the world the vibrant diversity of Abu Dhabi is put on display each year with colorful religious festivals hosted by various communities in Abu Dhabi society. As one of the most progressive and religiously tolerant Islamic nations in the world this bustling metropolis is a shining example to the …

The month of Ramadan is significant for Muslims around the world, and it is celebrated with fervour in the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, perhaps the most open and cosmopolitan of the Emirates, Ramadan is one of the most important times of the year, and a special occasion for the Muslim faithful. Well-informed travellers intending to visit the Emirate during this time and who desire a comfortable Palm Jumeirah hotel will find an appealing choice in Dubai the Palm Resort & Spa. This attractive resort offers excellent accommodations and attentive hospitality. According to Islamic tradition Ramadan is considered to be one component of the five central pillars of the religion. At this time of the year Muslims are encouraged to focus on their spiritual life and …

for tourists visiting the Golden Triangle in Thailand, the tourism industry of the state has intelligently woven an idea of cultural heritage and natural beauty within the triangle. Nestled comfortably towards the northern most part of Thailand lies the city of Chiang Rai, a beloved destination of tourists with a vociferous appetite for the mystical cultures of the East, a mere fifty or so kilometres from the tripoint of the Golden Triangle which connects Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Chiang Rai celebrates a multitude of cultural and religious festivals, and is ideal for the culture vulture in you. For those visiting at the beginning of the year, the King Meng Rai Festival gives travellers an insight into the national pride of the locals while the Flower …