Asian News on Travel and Hotels

Visit Thailand this April and beat the heat by getting soaked to the skin. How? Songkran Festival!

Songkran is a Sanskrit word which means “passing through” and refers to the sun’s passing into Aries. Basically, Songkran is the celebration of the New Year in Thailand. It’s also referred to as the Water Splashing Festival.  The specific dates vary but generally the festival takes place the first two weeks of April.

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The festival is an opportunity for Thais to strengthen bonds with peers, colleagues, neighbors and their Buddhist faith. It’s a time to set new resolutions and correct all past bad conduct. At the start of the first day, Songkran adherents visit different wats to offer prayers and food to the monks.

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Posted in Events, Thailand |

The Lion King
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
March 3 – April 30

The Lion King is a Broadway musical adaptation of the hit Disney film, which features a smooth combination of exceptional talent and impressive production.  Join Simba and his friends in this all-in-one entertainment spectacular.

Buddha’s Footprint Parade Festival
Ta-Porn District Cultural Centre, Kloong, Chantaburi, Thailand
April 1-30

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This activity in Thailand involves the important ceremony of pouring water in order to ask for blessings from a family’s esteemed leader. Another essential ritual is what the Thais refer to as the Praying for Ghosts Ceremony. Basically during this time, the people make it a point to pay their respects to Buddha’s footprint and ashes. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Events |

You have tickets to the big race. Your Grand Prix party itinerary is all set. Now all you need is a list of stellar hotels in KL.

Look no further F1 fans. Discover the best Malaysia Grand Prix hotels to complete your race weekend, April 8-10, 2011.

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Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Stay close to Sepang F1 International Circuit and three minutes away from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The Concorde Inn features boutique-like environs, a sumptuous Poolside Snack Bar and plush deluxe rooms. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Events |

When a Formula One race rolls into town the big question is never, “Who has the best shot at the pole?” Nay, the key questions tend to hone in on less motorsports-related territory; as in which celebs will show up for GP weekend, which driver has the sexiest arm candy and which club has the hottest F1 scene.

Malaysia Grand Prix grid girls – Photo credit

It is this last topic that concerns us most today. If you’re in Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysia Grand Prix on the weekend of April 10, where exactly are you going to party? More importantly, in which restaurants, bars and clubs are you most likely to spot a Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel or Michael Schumacher? Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Events |

While roses, candy and a romantic dinner are the staples of a Valentine’s Day celebration, more adventurous couples can make this romantic moment more unforgettable by spending it in an unusual or even outrageous location.

Here are six quirky places to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Photo courtesy of steveslep.

Jeju Loveland, South Korea

This sex-themed park was developed by businessmen in Jeju Island, a popular getaway for honeymooners. By displaying all sorts of erotic statues all over the park grounds, newlyweds and other lovers can get ideas on how to spice up their own love lives. Visitors can choose among several hotels in Jeju and visit many other sights that enthrall both lovers and families alike.

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Posted in Attractions, Events, India, Korea, Maldives |

Just when everyone is slowly starting to get over the holiday fever, the world finds another reason to be merry once again and join the Chinese community in celebrating the year of the Metal Rabbit.

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Here are several rituals and customs that are associated with Chinese New Year observance.

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Posted in Asia, Events |

As the Chinese have migrated to other lands over the centuries, they have brought many of their own traditions and cultural customs along with them. One of these is the celebration of their most important holiday, the lunar new year, and even as they embrace new ideas and values, a lot of their ancient ways have remained intact.

Here are some Chinese New Year 2011 celebrations from around the world.

Photo courtesy by davidyuweb.

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Chinese New Year festival originated during the 1860s Gold Rush and is now the largest Asian event in North America. Two major fairs, the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and the Chinatown Community Street Fair, both conclude during the Chinese New Year Parade. Floats, costumes, dragon dancers, drums and firecrackers all tour the streets of Chinatown, from Market Street to Kearny Street. The grand finale features the Golden Dragon, a 201-foot-long ornament that is decorated with colored lights, silver rivets and white rabbit fur. Visitors can find the best spots to watch the parade along Portsmouth Square and the review stand area at the end of the parade.

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Posted in Asia, Events |

While Hong Kong is a thoroughly modern city, it retains many traditional customs from the mainland. Chinese New Year, for starters, is one event that truly stops the city in its tracks and a perfect time to arrange accommodations in Hong Kong.

Photo courtesy of antwerpenR.

To kick off 2011, the Year of the Rabbit, visit famous Wong Tai Sin Temple. The important shrine attracts 30,000 devotees for Chinese New Year and features a vital ritual, wherein each visitor grabs a tube of fortune sticks and shakes it until one drops. Each stick has a number, which, with the aid of nearby fortune tellers, supposedly guides your fortune throughout the new year.

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Posted in Events, Hong Kong |

The Spring Festival is an ancient tradition in Chinese culture, celebrating the end of winter and the start of the planting season. Occurring on the first day of the first lunar month, it is accompanied by upbeat festivities and life-affirming rituals, from eating special delicacies to decorating houses with distinctive symbols.

Photo courtesy of Ivan Walsh. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in China, Events |

Hong Kong will transform into one huge party on December 31, 2010. If you want to celebrate in style on New Year’s Eve, read on.

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Victoria Harbour Fireworks

The Hong Kong government will treat residents and visitors to a spectacular night display of pyrotechnics at Victoria Harbour at midnight. Crowds will form on the Kowloon side of the harbour at Tsim Sha Tsui, near the Avenue of the Stars. There are already viewing platforms constructed for the nightly Sympony of the Stars that will be used for viewing the fireworks. On the island side, spectators will congregate at Wan Chai around Golden Bauhina Square, as well as around the Central piers. Those who find a place on Victoria Peak can watch the sky erupt in color from their lofty viewpoint. Finally, a very good place to watch the fireworks is aboard a cruise ship passing along the harbour, as wine and tidbits are served to passengers. Besides the fireworks, the International Finance Centre will display a huge countdown clock so that everyone in attendance can ring in the New Year in unison.

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Posted in Events, Hong Kong |