Tag Archives: Events and Festivals

Thao Thepkasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival- the portrayal of Thai history and culture

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Phuket, located in Southern Thailand facing the Andaman coastline is Thailand’s largest island. It is Thailand’s wealthiest province and one of its premier tourist destinations. This island is a melting pot of Buddhists, Muslims, Thai-Chinese and even sea gypsies. But since Thai culture is vastly influenced by Buddhism, over 90 percent of Thailand’s population follows Theravada Buddhism; Phuket has an abundance of unique Buddhist temples.


Every year the Thai Thepkasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival is celebrated as a major two week long festival in Phuket covering history, culture and sporting events. The festival’s purpose is to pay tribute to the two heroic sisters Thao Sri Suntorn and Thao Thep Kasattri’s memory, as they are the ones who guided the community of Phuket to defend the island from Burmese troops. Therefore the celebration is usually taken place near the ‘Two heroines’ monument’.


This year the festival is arranged to take place from March 13 to 14. Some special sporting events will be there which will include bicycle racing and Thai boxing. But the most prominent events of Thao Thepkasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival are the cultural events.


Created to please the ones who truly have an interest in Thai culture, these events provide the opportunity to observe an “Upasampada” which means “nearing or approaching the austere tradition”. It is basically the course of a novice obtaining the means of ordination to embark on a Buddhist simple life. Additionally, there will be a shadow puppet show, a sword dancing show and singing of traditional Thai lullabies. Apart from the array of events, the festival also features an assortment of Thai cuisine for the enjoyment of the visitors.


An extravagant show about Phuket’s history is said to be the highlight of this festival. The tale of Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Suntorn is narrated through this show depicting their bravery and leadership. Although this cultural event mainly caters to a Thai audience, the tourist will equally be delighted to witness it as it provides an immense knowledge about Thai history and culture.


The travellers to this part of Thailand can enjoy this festival at ease as they can let a Phuket resort take care of their accommodation and hospitality requirements. The choice of Millennium Resort Patong Phuket would be the smartest as it is one amazing 5-star Patong beach resort located surrounded by lush tropical landscapes.

Princess Theatre, one of Australia’s most beloved theatre venues

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Regarded as one of Australia’s most beloved landmarks, Princess Theatre hosts world class stage dramas and musical productions like Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Mama Mia!, The Sound of Music and The Producers. This theatre is the second building in the same site that was used for entertainment for a period of 135 years. The first building was Astley’s Amphitheatre that was opened in 1954 and the present theatre was opened in 1886 with the name christened as Princess Theatre. The theatre has been refurbished several times after this period and today it boasts as one of the theatres with world’s first sliding roof and ceiling with state of the art electric stage lighting.
It is also said that the theatre is haunted by a friendly ghost named as Federici who died after a performance of the opera, ‘Faust’. As an honour a seat in the third row dress circle is kept empty since it is regarded as a sign of good luck to see him in the theatre. His appearance has been witnessed by many staff in the theatre. This theatre’s grand Victorian style elegant foyer and stairway is compared to that of the Paris Opera. The theatre has a seating capacity of nearly 1500 with other modern facilities for the visitors as well. This placed is also used as the venue for Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Visitors also have the luxury of dinning in the Melba or Marriner rooms before they visit to see a musical production that takes place in the theatre. While Princess Theatre is the ideal place for a perfect evening of entertainment, visitors also have the luxury of entering into a perfect mood of relaxation at a Spa in Melbourne. One of the best spas would be Chuan Spa Melbourne.

The Mosaic Music Festival – Singapore’s Most Anticipated International Music Extravaganza!

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Singapore – the beating heart of the East-meets-West cosmopolitan crowd, with its breathtaking sophistication, masses of discerning consumers with spendthrift tastes and a reputation for attraction only the best of the best. One needs only to look beyond its outwardly prim and proper façade, with its fanatical urban neatness and love of order, to discover a cultural kaleidoscope of colour, music and artistry that draws in people from all walks of life.


The Lion City’s burgeoning reputation as an East Asian hub of the arts and culture is propped up by a series of festivals and events eager to capitalize on its status as an ethnic melting pot. The Mosaic Music Festival is one such key entertainment event that holds a special place among the roster of Singapore’s yearly festivities.


This musical extravaganza, which currently spans over a duration of 10 days, was first launched in 2005 by Singapore’s internationally-acclaimed performance venue, the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. Arguably the epicentre of modern Singapore’s fine arts scene, the Esplanade is a landmark venue in the city, known fondly among locals as the “Big Durian” due to its imposing dome structure. The festival was launched as a platform for bringing together local and international artists in the genres of soul and jazz music. Since opening to rave reviews region-wide, the festival has grown to include a variety of other musical genres, from R&B and hip hop to indie, folk rock and a range of experimental styles.


The growing prestige and appeal of the music festival has so far drawn a number of international stars; past headlining performers include the jazz star Harry Connick Jr. and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, rock musicians Yo La Tengo and blues band Buddy Guy. Featured acts include a range of eclectic performers, from the Grammy Award winner hip-hop group The Roots to African maestro Dhafer Youssef and even vaudeville musicians from Canada. The crowds have also grown steadily by the tens of thousands, with ticket enquiries beginning almost a year in advance.


The brains behind the music extravaganza hope not only to provide the audience with a true immersion and introduction to all possible music genres but also to give artists an opportunity to really connect with their audience.


Today, the Mosaic Music Festival lists over a hundred acts in their yearly schedule of events, over 50 percent of which are free of charge. These performances are staged in acoustically state-of-the-art venues both inside and around the Esplanade Music Station, with local and regional bands serenading the strolling crowds outside. The new programme of events also encourages music fans to stay out past bedtime with their innovative “11th hour” segment, featuring performances of well-loved international favourites such as Sweden’s Jose Gonzalez and Rickie Lee Jones beginning an hour before midnight, just to spice things up. With all this and more on the roster of festivities, the Mosaic Music Festival may be safely lauded as the most anticipated musical extravaganza in Singapore’s calendar of events.


Music fans flocking to the Lion City in the hope of catching their favourite music stars would do well to find accommodation at a centralized hotel in Singapore that affords immediate access to all the prime sightseeing venues of the city. The Studio M Hotel is a chic and stylish Clarke Quay hotel placed ideally in Singapore’s premier entertainment district, offering easy access to the shopping artery of Orchard Road and the Central Business District. The location is augmented by the hotel’s reputation for personalized service and warm hospitality.

Traditional Dance – an embodiment of Thai culture and traditions

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Ornamental accessories, golden tapering headdresses, glamorous vibrant costumes and the graceful movement of a group of performers define the attributes of Thai traditional dancing.
There are 2 main types of Thai dances, namely Classical Dance and Folk Dance. A sub genre encompasses all regional dances performed for various seasons and festivals originating from the regions North, Northeast, South and Central. Most of the traditional dances are based on epics and folklore. Hence they are called dance dramas and are performed usually by a group of dancers. These dancers fascinatingly mime to the chorus harmonised from backstage.
Classical dance forms still retain their original splendour since they are strictly traditional and not innovative. Incorporating 108 basic movements, the dancers need to perform while keeping their upper body upright. They can use their knees to bend and stretch, synchronizing with the traditional music. The hand and finger movements are complex yet alluring and together with ornate costumes dazzling under the spotlights, their performances become truly spellbinding.
The highest form of Classical dance drama of Thailand is called Khon. This regal performance is presented by dancers dressed in multicoloured handworked costumes wearing ornamental gold headdresses and masks. Khon dance drama is based on the Ramakien, a Thai national story derived from the famous Indian epic Ramayana. These were written and revised during the era of the Thai kings Rama I and Rama II.
The next high form of classical dance style Lakhon is mainly performed by female dancers and they are based on folklore as well as Jataka tales, and the Indian literature encompassing the previous births of the Buddha.
Likay, Ram Muay and Wai Khru are some of the folk dance styles of Thailand. These styles are characterised by comedy and subtle performances, where costumes can be either contemporary or traditional. The popular Muay Thai, a type of Thai martial arts, is derived from Ram Muay dance style. Some of these folk dances have evolved with time and are influenced and enriched by different cultures and dance forms.
During ancient times classical dance forms were held for the prestiged and esteemed echelons of Thai Society. This has evolved to all cross sections of Society, and travellers and locals alike can enjoy a variety of cultural presentations through the ample number of theatres across Bangkok and citywide offering such shows. Travellers can find comfortable Bangkok hotel accommodation by staying at the Bangkok President Solitaire, an ideal and well reputed Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater – A glimpse of a compelling form of ancient Vietnamese stagecraft

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A traveller who shakes his head at the disappearance of local culture in Vietnam should think twice about it once he sets foot in Hanoi. This atmospheric city which will celebrate its 1000th birthday in 2010 has a seal of cultural influence on almost everything it has in offer, even in the enchanting light hearted comedy presented through intricately skilled puppetry. Water puppetry is unique to Northern Vietnam, originated in the rice-farmer folk culture. Puppets that dance in shallow pools of foggy water accompanied by voices and folklore music present skillful and realistic theatrical items. This family friendly treat can be experienced at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi.

The storylines of these theatrical performances will include the tale of the Hoan Kiem Lake Turtle and the establishment of ancient Hanoi. Audiences will continue to laugh with delight throughout the act when they see the truly amazing miniature villagers dancing around and dragons slithering across the surface of the water. Although the characters converse in Vietnamese language, it does not hinder the enjoyment of the viewer as the story is comprehensible through their gestures. In the end the audience will be given a sense that they were watching live characters onstage. Water puppetry art is a compelling form of ancient stagecraft as the characters, presented in the form of puppets are commute with nature. The puppet figures are simple and rough sculpture works of vibrant colour, moving back and forth over the water. The liquid feature and the flickering reflections would enthrall the audience. The music and innovative fireworks will add on to the effective performance.

Targeting Hanoi accommodation with easy access to the theatre (to avoid disappointment in finding that the tickets are sold off, as is often the case), would be wise. Somerset Hoa Binh is one of the most preferred places offering Hanoi serviced apartments for business and leisure travelers. This luxurious hotel is a 20 minute drive from the Noi Bai Airport and also gives guests easy access to key city districts like Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh. Other popular tourist attraction such as the Hanoi Fine Art Museum, Old Quarter, Hanoi Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake are also close by.

California Poppy Festival, celebrating blooming poppies.

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California Poppy Festival is an annual festival that takes place at the Lancaster City Park in spring. The festival is hosted by the city of Lancaster which boasts of poppies as their state flower. This festival also started as part of the earth day celebrations where the California poppy blooms during the period of the earth day.
Visitors of this festival are guaranteed of various exhibits, performances and other activities enabling them to have a maximum entertaining experience. This festival has enough activities spreading over an area of 55 acres assuring family fun and entertainment. Throughout the festival ground visitors will find professional musicians. Each year the organizers of this festival make sure that novelty is added where a variety of enticing attractions are offered. The aerospace and aviation section displays newest technological innovations in America’s aerospace firms. Get a close look at rare birds, reptiles and insects in the animal section and pay a visit to the arts and crafts section where items such as handmade wooden toys, stained glass, glassware, stoneware, aromatic soaps, denim clothing, silk floral pieces, candles, artwork, wooden hammocks, and many more are on offer.
At the farmer’s market an array of fresh flowers, bonsai trees, garden ornaments, assorted plants and wildflower seeds can be easily found. Feel the rhythm of different cultures by visiting the international market which brings exotic sounds and sights of foreign cultures and regions. Let the kids enjoy themselves by visiting the adventure zone where acrobatic talents of animals and also the zany performances can be seen. More than 100 adventure sports activities offered in Healthy Living Pavilion makes sure that you learn to improve your body in and out.
While you visit this festival find accommodation in one of the hotels in Pasadena such as Langham Hotel Pasadena which provides luxurious facilities to its visitors.

Traditional Khmer music and Dance

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The Khmer empire which is better known today as Cambodia was one of the biggest and long lasting Empires of South East Asia. However in recent centuries, this famous empire has been limited to a small territory following the rule of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. This empire has gifted many valuable cultural and political aspects to the world.
Among the empire’s most renowned features are Traditional Khmer music and dance. Khmer classical dance is a unique form of Cambodian dance styles. However it does hold some similar features with other dance forms practiced in Laos and Thailand. This ancient form of art is also known in English as Khmer royal ballet and Cambodian court dance. In the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity list of UNESCO, Khmer classical dance is known as the Royal Ballet of Cambodia.
In Khmer, this traditional form of dance is referred to as ‘robam’ or dances of royal wealth. However when the Lon Nol regime of Cambodia was in power it was commonly known as robam kbach boran khmer which means Khmer dance of the ancient style.
Khmer classical dance is an immensely stylized form of art which is primarily practiced by females. Therefore, during the French protectorate period, this dance form was performed in royal palaces. Compared to French ballet, this unusual form of dance has various unique movements and gestures where the dancers dance while acting out a story. These dancers are not allowed to sing, speak or move their mouth at all. With only a slight smile on their faces, these well trained dancers who have been practicing the art from a very young age tell the audience a story through their dancing.
The main roles in Khmer classical dance include men, maidens, ogres, mermaids, garudas and monkeys. Costumes used to depict the best of these characters are in general profoundly and skilfully embroidered. Some costumes are accessorised by sequins and even gems.
A pinpeat orchestra is used in order to provide music to Khmer classical dance. This one of a kind orchestra features instruments such as drums, gongs and oboes. During the time when the orchestra does not provide music for the dance, a group of singers sing choruses that describe the story of the dance. Well known traditional musical pieces include Raev, Reay, Cheut Chhing, Sathukar and Krao Nai.
Those who wish to explore and learn more about this mesmerizing form of art can do so by staying at a well serviced Phnom Penh hotel. Travellers can also choose to stay at a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh and experience stylish and elegant accommodation for a memorable holiday getaway.

Siam Niramit – A magnificent cultural spectacle

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The culture, the food, the atmosphere of Bangkok is truly any traveler’s delight. Whether you want to roam the city, go shopping, golfing or just sight seeing, this is a city that will not disappoint.
When speaking about culture, an intricate part of any culture is art, music and dance, so to understand the true heritage of this mystic filled country a visit to the world famous Siam Niramit should be on any tourists list of things to do.
This famous show in Bangkok draws crowds from all-around and is one of the most breath taking events that take place in Thailand. Siam Niramit is a spectacular performance that magnificently showcases the culture and heritage of Thailand.
Located in the midst of Bangkok, this show performance uses the modern and the traditional stagecraft to amplify and astound its viewers. With over 150 performers and more than five hundred costumes at display, this show is an exciting experience and inspirational event to witness. Making use of the newest technologies in special effects and entertainment in order to amplify the history of Thailand, this show will be a journey through time and space that is sure to leave fond and unforgettable memories in your mind.
If you thought Siam Niramit was just a great show you’re quite mistaken. Spread out across ten acres you are sure to find other attractions that complement the performance being held at the main stage. The traditional Thai village and the Thai buffets available around are sure to please your taste buds. The many traditional arts, crafts and Thai keepsakes sold in the shops are rather enjoyable to go through and choose.
To find one of the most convenient Bangkok serviced apartments in the city, why not try the Bangkok Royal President? This Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel with its mix of old world charm and modern living places is one of the most perfect places to escape to after an exhilarating night at the Siam Niramit.