Posted by Jackie Hewett on Thu 17th January 2008 at 01:19 AM, Filed in Far East, January
Like many Thai locations, you’ll find ‘Bosang’ spelt in several different ways, including Bor Sang and Bo Sang. But however you spell it, the place is now synonymous with umbrellas, and making/selling them provides a livelihood for many of the villagers.
Bosang is only 9 kilometers outside Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand, according to various legends, is a place where umbrellas have been made for centuries. Some claim the craft migrated here from China, others from Burma.
For two or three days every January the village holds a festival celebrating their local craft. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 the festival is being held on the 18th, 19th and 20th of January (It usually falls on the third week-end in January).
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Wed 16th January 2008 at 02:58 AM, Filed in India, January
Bikaner is set in the heart of the dessert and before the advent of modern transport replied heavily on camels. In fact the Bikaner army even had an elite camel corps called the Ganga Risala who played an active part in both world wars and Indo-Pak wars. Even today, Bikaner has the only Camel breeding centre in India.
The annual camel festival is always in January, and in 2008 it takes place on the 21st and 22nd. The event is organised by Rajasthan’s Department of Tourism, Art and Culture specifically to (very successfully) attract tourists who attend in their hundreds. The festival opens with a procession of camels decked out in their ‘Sunday best’ against a backdrop of the Junagarh Fort. The procession finishes at some open sand grounds (also used a polo grounds) where most of the festival events take place.
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Posted by Jill Bowen on Tue 15th January 2008 at 09:16 AM, Filed in Unusual Hotels
Try to imagine walking along four miles of catwalks 70 feet up among the Amazon treetops, watching monkeys, macaws, parrots and sloth’s in the nearby trees.
You get all of this – and more if you stay at the amazing Ariau Towers Hotel. Just getting there is an adventure as it’s only accessible by speedboat or helicopter, or traditional riverboat. As you walk slowly on the catwalks, pause and look down at the waters of the Rio Negro River below, take in the ambiance, peace and quiet that a stay at this unique hotel offers. The catwalks lead up from a huge circular dining room, giving wonderful views of the rainforest as you meander along them. The whole construction is built on strong stilts at the canopy level of the Amazon jungle, and is located at he foot of the Anavilhanas Archipelago that is formed by 380 islands.
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This three week annual festival began life in 1977 with the aim of attracting tourists to Sydney in January. Well, it succeeded! It showcases Sydney’s style and diversity with around 80 events that include theatre, music and dance in addition to a large number of free outdoor events such as an outdoor cinema. In 2008 for the first time, the festival opened on January 5th with ‘Festival First Night’ street party and other events including a free concert by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
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Posted by Jill Bowen on Sun 13th January 2008 at 12:05 AM, Filed in Naturism
When considering Naturist Holidays what usually springs to mind? Glorious sunny weather, lovely beaches and slathering on the sun cream are the pictures generally conjured up in ones imagination. However, there are some intrepid ‘tough’ naturists who consider sunshine only naturism for whimps!
Have you ever considered nude skiing?! This is one of the cheaper ways to ski! There is no need to overload your credit cards with the latest designer gear – just make sure when you come off the slopes you have warm thermals for every last bit of your body.
Where can you ski in the ‘altogether’? Here are a few options.
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