TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

DEEPAVALI: The “Festival of Lights” is a joyous four- day Hindu celebration of the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Head down to Little India in Singapore to see the lights and street decorations, feast on festive delicacies, get a henna hand tattoo and join in the fun. 18 OCTOBER 2017 PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA: One of India’s most highly rated travel experiences, a spectacle on an epic scale, attracting more than 11,000 camels, horses and cattle and visited by over 400,000 people. 29 OCTOBER TO 4 NOVEMBER 2017 ALL SAINTS DAY, PHILIPPINES: A day of remembrance of the dead and an important holiday for the Catholic Church. People attend Mass, decorate loved ones’ tombs and spend the day in graveyards with picnics. 1 NOVEMBER 2017 BON OM TUK/WATER FESTIVAL, CAMBODIA: Celebrate the end of monsoon season. Brightly decorated dragon boats will race over the three days – and Phnom Penh HORNBILL FESTIVAL, NAGALAND, INDIA: Launched in 2000 by the Government of Nagaland to bring together the 16 major tribes of the region, the Hornbill Festival colourfully celebrates the Naga’s cultural heritage. Buy yourself a hornbill headdress, practise your moves and join in the fun. 1 TO 10 DECEMBER 2017 THE EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY, JAPAN: This is one of only two occasions when the inner grounds of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace are open to the public, and Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will greet the flag-waving crowd. 23 DECEMBER 2017 will be very crowded! 2 TO 4 NOVEMBER 2017

AUSTRALIA DAY: Outdoor concerts, sporting competitions, fireworks shows and backyard barbecues are held all over the country to celebrate all things Australian. 26 JANUARY 2018 THAIPUSAM: In Singapore, get up early to witness the 4.5-kilometre “Walk of Faith” by Hindu devotees carrying brightly decorated kavadis , burdensome metal frames with sharp skewers piercing their tongues, cheeks and bodies. Other major processions take place at the Batu Caves, just outside Kuala Lumpur, and George Town in Penang. 31 JANUARY 2018 WAITANGI DAY, NEW ZEALAND: Commemorates the signing of t h e Tr e a t y o f Wa i t ang i , the founding document for New Ze a l and . C e l e b r a t i o n s include flag-raising, nava l s a l u t e s , Mao r i cultural performances, family-themed festivals, sports events and more. 6 FEBRUARY 2018

HARBIN ICE AND SNOW SCULPTURE FESTIVAL, CHINA: Set in Harbin’s coldest months (and we’re talking minus 20 degrees Celsius or considerably lower!), this festival features stunning works of art, all created with over four million cubic feet of ice from the Songhua River – giving a whole new meaning to Winter Wonderland. 21 DECEMBER 2017 UNTIL END FEBRUARY 2018 ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL, KALIBO, PANAY ISLANDS (VISAYAS), THE PHILIPPINES: This flamboyant fiesta, dubbed “The Mother of all Philippine Festivals” began in the 13th century when a small group of Malay chieftains landed on the Panays and were sold land by the local Ati people. To celebrate, the Malays painted their faces black to look like the tribe. This tribal celebration has now evolved into a wild, rhythmic, street party in honour of Santo Niño (the infant Jesus). 10 TO 19 JANUARY 2018

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TRAVELGUIDE2017