Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 21st November 2008 at 02:28 PM, Filed in December
Here are Trip Inspiration’s recommendations for places to go and things to do in December – while lots of it un-surprisingly centres on Christmas you will find some other ideas for getting away from it all.
For Nature &Wildlife:
Dive with Manta Rays in Yap - December is the best time to visit and there’s quite a bit to do and see besides diving.
For a Family Holiday:
Visit a European Christmas Market - these take place during most week-ends in December and some start in November. Some of the best countries to go to are Germany and France.
Lille Market
Take the little ones on a Lapland / Finland trip to see Santa, go sleigh riding and visit the elves. There are many companies offering trips – some only (exhausting) day trips and others longer (better if you can afford it).
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 17th October 2008 at 01:27 AM, Filed in Europe, December
A million or so people descent on Konya for this 700+ year old tradition taking place at the museum of Mevlana in Konya, which gives the festival its name. The festival takes place over a fortnight starting at the beginning of December with the highlight being the final night – 17th December.
Mevlana Jalal al-din Rumi was a 13th Century Sufic saint who was a poet and founder of the Mevlevi Sufi Brotherhood. It is said he was a great teacher who imparted lessons in tolerance optimism and holiness, believing that all religions are more or less good. The brotherhood created the whirling dervishes and Sufis believe that dance brings them closer to God and the teachings of Mevlana.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Wed 15th October 2008 at 02:24 AM, Filed in Far East, December
On the 4th and 5th December 2008 Penang plays host to some 50 or more artists at the Bayview Beach Resort. This will be the 5th annual festival with several performers on each evening across a number of different stages. In addition to concerts there are gala dinners, workshops, talks and demonstrations. Usually musicians from a few other genres slip in too.
Generally the concerts are not held on the beach but in the hotel grounds and you can either take your own chairs or sit on the grass as most people do.
Since 2002 the 3 day Riviera Maya Jazz Festival has been taking place in Playa Del Carmen (just south of Cancun), Mexico.
The action takes place on Mamitas beach from 8pm and entrance is free. The dates for 2008 are November 27th, 28th and 29th, on some years the festival tips over into December. This isn’t a huge jazz festival and each evening starts with a local band you probably haven’t heard of and much of the music is (as you’d probably expect) Latin-tinged jazz, but there are often some famous faces, notably in 2007 George Benson was on the bill.
Incidentally, to my mind Playa del Carmen is far far nicer than the heavily commercialised Cancun. Yes, it is touristy, but on a smaller scale with a more laid back feel. There is a reasonable pedestrianised mall and great year-round nightlife. It is a great place for walking around, unlike Cancun where you really need a car because it is so spread out and still in reasonable striking distance of many of the following historical sites if that is your thing:
• Tulum
• Chichen Itza
• Uxmal
Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 10th October 2008 at 02:50 PM, Filed in Europe, December
December 13th sees much of Scandinavia, but especially Sweden, celebrate the Christian saints day celebration of Saint Lucy (or St Lucia’s Day). The date also marks the winter solstice (shortest day / longest night of the year) in the old ‘Julian’ Calendar which use to be marked by a Swedish festival of lights. The two festivals have now merged into one in Sweden.
Historically, St Lucia was a young girl who was killed for her faith in 304AD, and so martyred. It is said that the reason for her death is that she regularly, secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome who were hiding in catacombs under the city. To free her hands for carrying food and light her way she wore candles on her head. Monks who brought the Christian faith to Sweden retold her story.
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