Esala Perahera is one of Asia’s most spectacular festivals, with all the colors and dressings of Mardi Gras but without the drinking and sex. Held for 10 days during late summer’s full moon (around July to August), this Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition attracts a major portion of Sri Lanka’s population to the lakeside capital of Kandy. The procession includes fire-juggling acrobats, banners, decorated and neon-lighted elephants, traditional dancers, musicians, palanquins, whip crackers, torch bearers and thousands of barefoot pilgrims and swordsmen. And it all centers around the sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha.

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Posted in Events, Sri Lanka |

Some Asian delicacies are so one-of-a-kind, they are served only on special occasions. Some of these are made available as a culinary highlight of the festivities, while others are so culturally significant they are the very center of many celebrations.

Here are 7 eastern food fares that are served especially during Asian festivals.

Mooncake

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month every year in Chinese communities. It coincides with many harvest festivals which occur in Western societies. It is during this time that mooncakes, a sweet moon-shaped pastry dish made with sesame seeds, lotus seed paste, and salted duck eggs, are served and exchanged as gifts.

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Posted in Asia, Food, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan |

No portfolio of a nature photographer is complete with capturing the majestic beauty of waterfalls. The rush of water pouring into an emerald pool surrounded by greenery is the stuff that inspires zen gardens and nature walks. What’s best about these waterfalls in Asia is the occurrence of the monsoon season, when torrential rains turn the surge of water into a glorious spectacle of  nature’s fury.

Here are nine Asian Waterfalls to admire during your travels.

Shiraito Falls - the most famous waterfall in Japan, located in the lower slopes of Mount Fuji. Shiraito has been proclaimed as one of the most scenic waterfalls in the country. The best time to visit is during autumn, when the leaves in the enclosing forest are starting to change color.

Pagsanjan Falls - one of the big thrills of this falls in the Philippines is the journey by traditional bancas. A boatman will paddle, push, and shove his boatload of passengers past rocks, curves, and the current to reach the destination, then repeat the performance on the way back. The base of the falls is a large pool where people can swim, bathe, and enjoy themselves. There is also a cave behind the falls for exploring.

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Posted in Asia, Attractions, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand |

Truth be told, by the time you read about Asia’s best beaches in this blog, a lot of people have already found out about it and are undesirably clogging up the resorts. The trick to finding a relatively pristine spot of coastline is to cozy up to one of the locals and ask them where the best beaches are in their locale. And more often than not, these beach experts can be found hanging out in these more popular places, taking a break from all that perfect seclusion.

Here are more of the best beaches in Asia.

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Posted in Asia, Beaches, Hong Kong, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam |