Only in Wales: 16 weird and wonderful things to do in 2016

1. Learn Welsh
Welsh is a Celtic language, and one of the oldest languages in Europe, spoken by an estimated 560,000 people in Wales. Learn some Cymraeg at Nant Gwrtheyrn, a heritage centre on North Wales' beautiful Llˆyn Peninsula. Gwych! (Excellent!)

2. Visit a castle
There are more than 600 castles in Wales: more per square mile than anywhere else in the world. For fairy tale turrets, head north of Cardiff to 19th-century Castell Coch.

The historic Harlech Castle in Cardigan Bay, Mid Wales, saw the longest siege in British history from 1461-1468, while in North Wales, visit opulent neo-Norman Penrhyn Castle and see a one-tonne slate bed that was made for Queen Victoria.

3. Trampoline in a slate mine
At Bounce Below you can unleash your inner child on giant trampolines, walkways, slides and tunnels made of netting in a 176-year old disused cavern. Intrigued? There's only one way to satisfy your curiosity.

4. Experiment with seaweed
Laverbread, made from seaweed found clinging to rocks, is a crucial component of ‘the full Welsh breakfast', along with bacon and cockles. Try the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company's ‘Welshman's Caviar', a dried version they serve in burgers at beachside shack, Café Môr in south-west Wales. For something stronger, sip Dà Mhìle seaweed gin available at stores across Wales.
5. Be dazzled by beauty
The UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was the Gower Peninsula in south-west Wales, which marks 60 years as an AONB in 2016. Visit Rhossili Beach, which came third in TripAdvisor's Top Ten Beaches in the World in 2013 and continues to scoop awards. And, when the tide's out, walk to Worm's Head to spot seals and seabirds aplenty.

6. Make an appointment with the Doctor
The Doctor Who Experience at Cardiff Bay, a stone's throw from BBC studios where the series is filmed, takes visitors on a hair-raising interactive journey through 50 years of adventures in space and time, virtually accompanied by none other than Peter Capaldi as the Time Lord. You can also book to see the genuine TARDIS used in filming.

7. Walk this Wales
The first country to offer a dedicated footpath around its coastline, the Wales Coast Path is 870 miles (1,400 km) of varied and beautiful landscape. Add Offa's Dyke, a path along the Welsh-English border, and you circumnavigate the entire country. Or just dip in wherever you please: the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in south-west Wales is particularly picturesque, or you can spot dolphins from the Ceredigion sections in Mid Wales.

8. Pray for rain
Then be in the right place to enjoy it. Waterfall Country in the Brecon Beacons is especially fun following a downpour. Don't miss Sgwd Henrhyd, which featured in The Dark Knight Rises as the entrance to the Batcave; walk behind a curtain of water and hear the roar as it thunders down.

9. Don't sleep; birdwatch
Just off the coast of Pembrokeshire, west Wales, Skomer Island is unlike anywhere on earth. Stay there in July and hear the incredible night-time symphony of thousands of Manx shearwater birds returning to the island after hunting. In autumn, watch Atlantic grey seals make their way home to give birth, and coo over cute puffins from May to July.

10. Catch some waves inland
The very first of its kind, Surf Snowdonia is an inland lagoon, set in the picture-perfect Conwy Valley in North Wales. Add a two-metre wave peeling over the surface for more than 150 metres and you have a surfers' dream! Enjoy the thrill of the surf whether you're a beginner or a hardened wave-junkie; open from spring 2016.

11. Listen to Welshmen
Wales started the trend of singing an anthem before a sporting match - doing so first in 1905 when Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was sung at rugby games. The Welsh male voice choir tradition holds strong and there are concerts all over the country throughout the year. Stay at Llangoed Hall, Mid Wales, over Christmas and be treated to carols by the local Male Voice Choir.

12. Race a horse
In 1980, Britain's smallest town, Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales, decided to stage its first Man vs. Horse contest. Now well known for its regular staging of wacky events and the biennial World Alternative Games, visit in 2016 to take part in Wife Carrying, Bog Snorkelling, Stiletto Racing and more!

13. Cwtch in a cupboard
Cwtch is one of Wales' favourite words, roughly equivalent to a cuddle (i.e. ‘give us a cwtch') and also meaning a cupboard or cubbyhole. Which is why it's doubly fun that you can ‘cwtch in a cwtch' at Wonderfully Wild's glamourous lodges in gorgeous Anglesey, north Wales. Sleeping up to six across three bedrooms, the lodges all feature a cosy cupboard in which a double bed is neatly installed!

14. Go to the best book, food, music and... Elvis festival
Wales really likes to celebrate, be it writers and great literature at the Hay Festival, Mid Wales, all things edible at the Abergavenny Food Festival, Mid Wales, or music and dancing in fantastical Portmeirion, north Wales, at Festival No. 6. But an event to clear your calendar for has to be the Elvis Festival in Porthcawl, south Wales, an annual celebration of The King - and the biggest of its kind in the world.

15. Tick off 200 listed buildings
Conwy in north Wales is one of the best preserved medieval fortified towns in the whole of Britain, with more than 200 listed buildings that date from the 14th to the 18th centuries including the splendid Conwy Castle. It's also home to Britain's smallest house, which measures just 10 ft. x 6 ft. 

16. Pronounce this
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on Anglesey, north Wales, boasts the longest place name in Europe and the second longest in the world. It means ‘Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave', but most people stick to Llanfairpwll. The longer form is an early example of a publicity stunt - it was invented in the 1860s and has been drawing in visitors ever since.

Move over Oktoberfest, Stuttgart Beer Festival is here

Everyone knows about the Oktoberfest beer festival that takes place in Munich every year. But a little-known beer festival that is held in Stuttgart annually is where the spotlight is likely to be now.

Stuttgart's traditional festival is one of the biggest in the world. Held from September 23 to October 9, 2016, the Cannstatter Wasen is held on a 37-hectare site on the banks of the Neckar. Oh, and its free entry!
 

For 17 days, visitors from many different nations and generations will laugh, sing and make merry in the exuberant atmosphere of the Cannstatt Beer Festival. Around four million people from all corners of the globe visit the 'wasen' which translates to festival in English. 

The original harvest festival has developed into a popular public celebration with an international impact. On the last Friday in September the seven beer tents, the two wine tents and the Alpine Village will open their doors to the public and the fairground rides will get under way. 

Round about the Fruit Column, the historic symbol of the traditional festival, 330 showmen, hosts and stallholders have a wide variety on offer. A double-looping roller coaster, autoscooters or Chair-O-Planes: modern attractions or old favourites – they're all here at the Wasen. In the festival tents hearty dishes such as grilled knuckle of pork, fried steak or Swabian 'Maultaschen' (filled pasta) are served to go with the mugs of beer.

The first festival on the Cannstatter Wasen was held 198 years ago. Originally the idea of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg and his consort, Queen Katharina, it began as a combination of a festival for the general public and an agricultural fair, with horse racing and prizes awarded for cattle breeding, and was intended to aid the recovery of Württemberg's battered economy in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars.

The very first Stuttgart Beer Festival opened on 28th September 1818, the day after the king's 36th birthday. The fact that 2015 is the 170th and not the 197th anniversary of this merry traditional festival is easily explained: by order of King Karl, the Wasen was held only biennially from 1882 onwards, and this continued up to the king's death in 1891. This, along with the repercussions of the two World Wars, resulted in Stuttgart having to go without its festival for 28 years in all.

Festival opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 12 noon to 11pm
Friday and prior to public holidays: 12noon to midnight
Saturday: 11 am to midnight
Sunday and public holidays: 11 am to 11 pm

Facts:
Total seats: 35.000
Festival tents: 7 beer tents, 2 wine tent, an Alpine Village

7 hot facts about Iceland

If the thought of Iceland conjures up visions of a dull, frozen expanse, think again. Hot springs, colourful skies, delightful contrasts and lush green valleys punctuated by milky waterfalls are characteristic to Iceland. 

You’re sure to catch a glimpse of some of Iceland’s wonders as it makes it to the big league of Bollywood alongside Sharukh Khan and Kajol in Dilwale in the song Gerua and he chose Iceland based on its incredibly majestic appearance. 

There are more wonders to this Nordic superstar than the astounding black and blue landscape that forms the dramatic backdrop to a large portion of Gerua. 

Iceland is one of the world’s great stages for Northern Lights
Who wouldn’t be bedazzled by the sight of a night sky coming alive with colour? Iceland offers you a good chance to view one of nature’s most specatular shows in action – the northern lights or aurora borealis. 

Iceland is home to one of the world’s bewitching black sand beaches
Vik (or Vík í Mýrdal) at the extreme South of Iceland, is often been referred to as one of the most beautiful places on earth. Its dramatic beauty emerges from its vast stretches of basalt sand. Away from the coast, stacks of basalt rock have been lent texture and jagged edges because of the ocean sweeping constantly against them, Vik lies in close proximity to the Katla volcano which has not erupted since 1918.

Hot springs offer you a mineral-rich respite during the cold
The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most famous hot spring. Other notable geysers (as they are also called) include Reykjadalur which is right near the capital Reykjavík – it involves a little bit of a hike. Seljavallalaug is also near Reykjavík and offers you the added incentive of absolutely stunning surroundings. 

Grjótagjá is a long distance from the capital and closer to the north of Iceland but it offers the distinction of a hot spring experience in a cave.
You can also enjoy a swim in hell if you like… at Víti, meaning hell, in Askja. It is quite a trek up through pumice beds, ash sand and old lava and when you finally arrive at the edge of the crater that forms Viti, it genuinely looks like Lucifer’s own steaming cauldron with its steaming surface and sulfuric gases. 

Iceland’s thundering waterfalls will ‘let you in’
At 60 metres tall, Seljalandsfoss is overpowering and indomitable. But, it turns out that you can scramble behind the plume to find a beautiful cave adorned with hundreds of little flowers (saxifrages to be precise) blooming amidst a carpets of moss and curtains of ferns. The sight of the ocean through the watery veil is sure to give you goosebumps.

There’s a birdy dance on in Mývatn
Mývatn is a lake formed by a massive volcanic eruption that took place 2300 years ago. Besides its stark, beautiful volcanic landscape, Mývatn is a bird-lover’s haven (in the summer) and comes alive with over 100 species of water birds. 

Folklore has it that that the elves reside in Borgarfjörður Eystri
One of Iceland’s captivating local legends states that the Queen of the elves lives in the charming little town of Borgarfjörður Eystri. It is easy to believe when you see the gravity-defying positioning of the rocks in Dyrfjöll, here. Hvítserkur resembles a dinosaur frozen to stone half-way through a drink of water. 

You can watch the midnight sun in Iceland
The trip to Grímsey rewards you with a double-whammy: you will be crossing over to the Artic Circle and will catch the midnight sun. It is a two-day road or boat trip but is well worth the experience. You need to get to Akureyri and catch a plane or ferry here. Obviously, this one is time-bound: you need to travel between 15 June and July 1.

It’s a good place to have a (blue) whale of a time 
Skjálfandi is already beautiful with its fringe of mountains but most tourists make a beeline to this bay in order to see the whales between May and September. Mink whales, blue whales and humpback whales can be spotted fairly easily here. You might also catch sight of a dolphin. 

Pause, reflect and sip

Promoting the idea of taking a break and enjoying life, Pause Wines launched a portfolio of 14 varietals grown and blended in its vineyard in Dindori near Nasik. Pause Wines journey began in 2005 when Rajesh Patil, a gourmand, experimented with the idea of setting up a winery in Nashik. The goal was to offer a variety of custom-made wines suited to the Indian palette and ultimately spread the wine culture in the country.

In 2007, he started Pause Wines. Today, with over nine varietals, the wine-maker has built a portfolio that includes reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and its award winning Shiraz, whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, as well as a Rosé – Pause Ruby Red, all which are currently available in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.

The winery
Pause vineyards are spread over 100 acres of fertile farmland in Dindori near Nasik. Located about 25 kms from the vineyards, the Pause winery has a capacity of 60,000 liters and can accommodate 10 wine varietals. It has a processing set-up with imported equipment from Italy for an authentic taste of wine.

Speaking about how he would set his wines apart in a growing market like India, Patil says, “We guarantee quality wines. Customers will get exactly what the label on the bottle says – with absolutely no mixing, which is currently a norm in India.” He adds that his vineyard also has access to fine quality grapes, a wide range of wine varietals, and in-house Vignerons and sommeliers on hand.

The strategy
Patil plans to reach out to hotels and restaurants apart from retail. “We are already talking to five-star hotels and fine-dining restaurants in metros and tier I cities. We already conduct training and tasting sessions with bartenders everywhere.”

It will soon expand to have presence in places like Delhi, Rajasthan, UP, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh by next year. This includes tourist destinations like Agra and Khajuraho that gets a lot of international tourists. For now though, Pause Wines is busy preparing to a launch a sparkling wine and wine tours at its vineyard.

Speaking about his perspective on the Indian wine market, he says, “While wine is increasingly becoming popular, it is yet to become an integral part of Indian people’s regular lives. Countries like France have a consumption of three to five litres per  person, but India stands at a mere 0.2 mm per person. However, the aspirational middle class are setting in motion a routine shift in wine consumption ratio and drinking habits. We want to propel that growing trend of acceptance and make it more accessible to the diverse populations of India.”

Pause Wines wants to reach out to mature wine-drinkers who are already wine consumers as it is “difficult to cultivate new drinkers”.

Guest post: A quiet saunter in Salem

The promise of a weekend in the city of the witches drove me into an extraordinary and fascinating journey across time. Far from the mundanity, a 25-minute ride on the commuter rail from Boston’s North Station took me to the historic city of Salem on the Atlantic Coast of New England in the United States.

The story began when something so profoundly wonderful urged me to experience a piece of Salem’s history. The house, which is believed to be Salem’s oldest, also America’s oldest known as ‘The Pickering House’, is home to a single family for over three and a half centuries. This was my abode for a captivating weekend. 

John Pickering, a carpenter from Coventry, England and his wife Elizabeth, built ‘The Pickering House’ in 1651. I stood gaping in awe, appreciating the incredible structure. The Gothic architecture of the front facade and the unique neatness of the interiors with wooden floors and decorative finials mesmerized me. A walk around the 16th century dining room alcove out onto the living space with the historic fireplace and the oval-lidded roaster reminds the tourists of its 300-year history.

While exploring the library, the original room in the house, I saw a beautiful dinner invitation note written in cursive handwriting by President George Washington to Timothy Pickering and his wife. 

The experience of tasting creamy chowder embarked the beginning of my stay at ‘The Pickering House’. Chowder is a seafood or vegetable stew, often served with milk or cream and is mostly eaten with saltine crackers. 

The city of Salem is a walkers delight with pretty lanes entwined all along the maritime Atlantic brimming with flotillas, far and near the coastline. My hosts, Tim and Linda at ‘The Pickering House’ guided and provided me with street maps. Tim is an accomplished investment banker, a philanthropist and a political critic. Linda is a versatile homemaker, an outstanding travel writer and the treasurer of ‘The Pickering House’ foundation. She converted the bland and unadventurous taste of raw oysters into a mouth-watering spicy delicacy for me. 

My destination was well off the traveller’s trails. Salem’s Red Line – or Heritage Trail – exists to guide visitors between historic sites and destinations. The free 27-minute film ‘Where past is present’ at the National Park Service Salem Regional Visitor Center was an appealing start. I continued west onto Essex Street.

The visit to Salem is incomplete without exploring the Peabody Essex Museum, the oldest continually operated museum in the country. It houses more than 1.8 million collections of art from around the world, including Asian art, Asian export art, Maritime art, Native American art. It also features a 200-year-old, 16-bedroom house from China!

The reason to embark upon an offbeat itinerary was the desire to experience a craft of the finest minds on Earth. In Salem, spirituality centers around experience, not faith. Paganism is celebrated, the harvest is calculated in terms of gratitude, where every gardener believes that fertility is born out of decay and every fallen leaf becomes part of the soil that nourishes the roots of the growing trees. People remain part of their communities, alive and existing in a different realm. Fear is countered with openness, envisioning and acknowledging the concealed powerful forces operating around us. 

Continuing along Essex Street, I saw the only building still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the family home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. It is known popularly as the 17th-century Witch House.

Adjacent to it is the First Church in Salem, which was the parish of many of the accused during the Salem Witch Trials. This church features stunning Gothic architecture and Tiffany windows.

History often changes and evolves with each retelling. But the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 have withstood the test of time, fascinating people since the panic first happened. The trials resulted in the execution of 20 people, mostly women, who were accused of witchcraft. It was an era in which a new history was beginning to be composed, when religious inclusiveness was scarce, the genealogies of the Wiccan followers were being absorbed and gathered. Witchcraft, which has always been regarded as evil magic under factual and fictitious interpretations is deeply revered and followed in New Orleans. It is a clan-like institution passed on as inheritance. 

Keen to get an insight into the ancient wisdom, in the heart of Salem's beautiful Wharf District, a stone's throw from the sea stood a beautiful store named Magika-the long-time vision of Lori Bruno, the owner and hereditary clairvoyant psychic and tarot reader for over 70 years. She is the oldest living legendary witch today. 

Bruno was born into a family of Sicilian Witches and was taught the oral 'tradizione' of "La Famiglia"—Python Priestesses who could see into the past, present and future. She has been featured innumerable times on The History Channel, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal and numerous radio shows. 

Established in 2012, Magika is now home to many other talented psychics including her son and daughter. The word Magika itself is a magical concourse of the word "magi" meaning the wise men and women with "ka" the Egyptian word for soul. By nightfall, the quest to participate in the impending adventure started emerging. I was profoundly tempted to experience this quaint culture of Salem.

A cold evening, with a slight drizzle and the only sound I heard that moment was the chime hanging from the concave entrance of Magika. Profusely decorative in a scented tranquil, is a newly refurbished store dedicated to Wicca folklore related to pagans and their beliefs. As I entered, a tall young man dressed in black greeted me with a warm smile. Unknown swirls of aroma incensed the air. Gems and stones of vibrant colours shimmered in the light. I caught a whiff of dried spices of healing and magic including cinnamon, cloves, cassava roots, exotic flowers and fruits. There were innumerable books on witchcraft and divination on the shelves.

Lori Bruno is very much in demand, and indeed it is priceless to get an appointment with her. So I patiently waited. There was something intricately compelling about her graceful stature. Lori Bruno, born in 1940, affectionately known as ‘Strega Nona’ or the ‘Grandmother Witch’ kept looking at me, seated on the other side of the table in a flowing burlap sack. 

The purity of her soul and the brightness of her being disguised her age impeccably; there were no wrinkles on her face. As we started the verbal ritual, I was completely blown away by the details she just couldn’t have known, she named names and without asking me any questions, she accurately stated my past and the present. 

I have never been skeptical about psychic readings but this experience moved me. She was exact about whom she sees around me. She was able to give out date ranges for certain events to take place in my life. Lori’s sincere honesty and light-heartedness brought tears to my eyes and she gifted a beautiful rose quartz and showered her blessings on me. I walked out dazed by her revelations. The drizzle by now had turned into a downpour.  

Getting there

Qatar, British, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airways, American Airlines and KLM operate hopping flights to Boston Logan Airport from New Delhi for approximately Rs 40,000 one-way. From Boston’s North Station take a MBTA train connection to Salem via either the Newburyport/Rockport line or hop aboard a harbor cruise at Boston’s Long Wharf and in less than an hour, you’ll be amid Salem’s toytown boutiques and quirky shops. Bus services from Logan Airport and Wonderland remains operative throughout the day.

Where to stay

Budget friendly spacious rooms/suites with ample parking and in close proximity to historical attractions is offered in Clipper Ship Inn. Also the iconic antique house Hawthorne Hotel now an elegant full-service luxury destination on the North Shore and The Tuck Inn Bed & Breakfast (the cozy 1790 home) renowned for breakfasts and exceptional hospitality with a scenic seaside village atmosphere, also rated the highest on TripAdvisor complements Salem’s history remarkably.

What to see & do

With a festival or celebration every month of the year, a robust local theatre scene, active night-life and ever-changing museum programming, historical sites, contemporary art galleries, seafood corners with beautiful waterfront dining and live entertainment on the harbor in an ocean breeze, one can always find something to do and explore in Salem. Witch shops with Salem charms & pentacles, Witchcraft books, locally crafted blown glass witch balls, fabulous witch hats and traditional blends of herbs, spices, essential oils and potions are a must first stop. 

Salem is the home to the only North Shore cider house. Information about the cider tasting rooms can be found at FarFromTheTreeCider.com. The unexpected mix of unique all-American coastal theme women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories can also be browsed in Salem (ShopOceanChic.com). 

Other tours

A ride on the Salem’s Original Red Trolley Tour is the most famous narrated tour with same-day shuttle service. The tour covers all major attractions including The House of the Seven Gables, Pickering Wharf, New England Pirate Museum along with the Witch Dungeon and Witch History Museums. Tickets can be purchased online on SalemTrolley.com or trolleydepot.com. Tour operators like the Hawthorne Tours and the Wolfe Adventures & Tours specialize in customized day and overnight tours for groups.

Regional and Statewide Travel Information Bureaus

Office of Tourism & Cultural Affairs

Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

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Udita Bagchi grew up having to change 8 schools in 12 years in various cities across lndia. A neuro-scientist by profession, she discovered her globetrotter instincts through love for the outdoors. You can contact her at bagchiudita89@gmail.com.

Live in Ireland's other-world this Halloween

Hallowe’en is BIG in Ireland. 

It's got the biggest scare-fest in Europe, fantastic family-friendly fun everywhere you go, and is in fact one of the best places in the world to spend the scariest time of year.

The best place to start is in Dublin in the lead up to Hallowe'en and Samhain. The streets turn red as the capital brings its dark side alive for four days of living stories and four nights of undead adventures at the Bram Stoker Festival (23-26 Oct).

Inspired by Dublin-born novelist Bram Stoker and his notorious novel Dracula, the city will get gloriously Gothic as a packed programme offers family-friendly adventures for legions of horror lovers celebrating the Count and his creator.

Taking in large-scale spectacles and intimate performances in unusual spaces, along with a whole range of film and literary events, the festival infiltrates the very crevice of the city. This is a hotbed for selfies with vampires.

Previous years have seen more than 40,000 fun lovers from near and far descend upon Dublin for a weekend of spooky craic, so a cape and fangs is mandatory! Its a devilish mixture to say the least.

There will be Halloween events in most Irish cities, towns and villages, offering everything from the weird to the wonderful. But the really BIG one is one in Derry - Londonderry, Northern Ireland's famous Walled City.

The legendary Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival (October 29-31) shines a spooky spotlight on the city, its walls, heritage, and all it has to offer in terms of culture, art and imagination.

The main event is the 40,000-strong Rise of the River Gods Carnival and street parade – the largest Hallowe'en party in Europe, complete with spine-chilling fireworks show.

Performers in costume dance along to Samba and marching bands. Crazy large-scale props and lots of carnival characters provide a major night-time spectacle for participants and onlookers alike.

The Rise of the River Gods theme continues in Awakening the Walls (Oct 29-30), when the city's upper walls and surrounding streetscapes light up with striking street performance and spooky light installations.

Night-time markets, a fun fair, a creepy craft village, storytelling, lots of Little River Gods daytime children’s activities, and Ghost Bus tours and trails all are part of all the ghoulish goings on.

And a big thrill to watch out for is Chateau Le Fear, a haunted house of horror set up at Ebrington Square. This interactive walk-through show features an Alien Invasion that will scare the living daylights out of the earthlings who dare to enter.

It seems as though the entire population of the city turns out for Halloween. With wild costumes and up to of 40,000 festival-goers milling the streets, dark alleys and the famous Derry Walls, look out for wailing witches, vicious vampires, ghastly ghosts and a River God or three.

It be other-worldly.

Top 10 things to do in Shanghai

Shanghai offers a thrilling blend of future-focused architecture, glamorous Art Deco heritage and cosmopolitan, East-meets-West culture. With mild weather and a multitude of festivals and cultural events, autumn is a great time to visit Shanghai. 

Marvel at Shanghai’s largest fireworks show

China’s National Day on 1 October and Shanghai celebrates with a bang. The Shanghai International Music Fireworks Festival is held over three evenings: 30 September, 3 and 6 October. Spectacular pyrotechnic displays by competing teams from China, UK, Austria, Canada, Germany and Spain light up the evening sky above Shanghai’s Century Park.

Be inspired at Shanghai Fashion Week

Shanghai dresses to impress each October when Shanghai Fashion Week sashays into town. From 13-30 October, China’s most fashionable city will again attract the attention of the world’s en vogue brands, designers, buyers, models and fashion lovers. Look out for their catwalk-chic outfits around the Xintiandi venue and in the city’s sleekest nightspots.

Get into the swing at this jazz festival

Asia’s largest jazz event, JZ Festival, will celebrate its 11^th anniversary at Shanghai Expo Park from 16-18 October. Feel the beat with a stellar line-up of jazz, soul and blues performers, including Joss Stone, Victor Wooten, Lord Echo, Shunza, The Red Groove Project, and The Earth Wind and Fire Experience featuring the Al Mckay All Stars.

Watch World Tennis Champions on Centre Court

The 7^thShanghai Rolex Masters returns to the Qizhong Forest Tennis Center from 10-18 October. The only ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament staged outside of North America and Europe brings together the world’s top men’s players. Will Roger Federer retain his 2014 Shanghai crown, or can three-time Shanghai champion and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic resume his winning streak?

Savour a hairy crab feast

As Shanghai’s favourite culinary delicacy returns to restaurant menus, Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai’s Chinese celebrity chef, Tony Lu will prepare a sumptuous Hairy Crab Feast menu at Yong Yi Ting from 20 October to 30November. The mouthwatering array of appetisers, soups, mains and dim sum dishes are enhanced by the rich flavours of the finest hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake, located close to Shanghai. These famous crustaceans, loved for their succulent meat and creamy roe, are enjoyed for a short season during autumn.

Run for fun at the Shanghai Marathon

It’s time to pound the city streets, as the 2015 Shanghai International Marathon takes place on 8 November. Professionals and fun runners will test their stamina on a marathon route that winds through the urban landscape and along the Huangpu riverbank before finishing at the Shanghai Stadium.

Discover contemporary art

Art connoisseurs descend on Shanghai for the renowned Shanghai Art Fair. One of Asia’s most celebrated art exchanges, the 19^th Shanghai Art Fair will be unveiled at Shanghai MART between 12 and 15 November. On display will be the latest cutting-edge Chinese contemporary art, with a vast collection of works showcased by the region’s leading galleries, top artists and emerging creative talents. From 10 – 20 November, eight globally renowned artists will bring their latest paintings, sculptures, photos and other creations to OFF at MO, a10 day art exhibition at Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, curated by VBL Fine Arts Lounge. 

Delight in Michelin-Star Dining

Fifty 8° Grill will host epicurean French Wine dinner events presented by Michelin-starred chef Richard Ekkebuson27 and 28 November. The four-course lunch and eight-course dinner menus with wine pairing will feature ‘Best of Amber’ signature dishes from Chef Ekkebus’s two Michelin-starred restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, which was named the Best Restaurant in China at the S. Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014awards, and has been voted among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for seven consecutive years. Amber’s head sommelier, John Chan, will join Tansy Zhao, champion of China National Sommelier Competition 2014, in selecting wine pairing vintages.

Indulge in a ‘Dragon Phoenix’ spa treatment

For holistic healing inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, the Forbes Five-Star The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai is recommending Dragon Phoenix, a signature wellness ritual for couples. The indulgent, detoxifying treatment features Chinese ‘guasha’ therapy and seasonal ingredients, gold osmanthus and red hawthorn.

Set sail on a luxury yacht cruise

Shanghai’s autumn weather is perfect for cruising along the Huangpu River, which flows through the middle of the city. Guests booking the ‘Shanghai Dream’ package at Mandarin Oriental Pudong will be treated to a sunset cruise aboard a luxury yacht. Also included in the package is a visit to the Aurora Museum, Executive Club privileges and suite accommodation.

Mahabaleshwar gets a new resort

For long Mumbaikars have complained about the lack of choice for good hotels in Mahabaleshwar, which continues to be the weekend getaway for many of us in the city. Not any more. Le Méridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa has just opened its doors there, making it the first Le Méridien resort in India.

It has 122 rooms and suites, all with private balconies. Instead of the traditional lobby, the hotel has its signature Le Méridien Hub that transforms the public space into a social gathering place. You will be greeted by a curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague, exclusive illy coffee prepared by Master Baristas, and Sparkling cocktails, inspired by Europe’s aperitif hour.

For F&B, the hotel has multiple options: Latest Recipe is an all-day dining restaurant that offers international, Asian and local cuisines. Chingari is an Indian restaurant. It also has a pool-side restaurant called Plunge Bar and Longitude 73 transforms from a casual coffee house by day to a vibrant social scene by evening.

Other facilities include the Explore Spa by Le Méridien with eight treatment rooms including a hammam bath and a vichy shower treatment room. It also has a fitness centre along with both a lagoon-style swimming pool and a rooftop infinity pool. Hurrah!

For families, the hotel offers Le Méridien Family Kids Club with programming. Children up to the age of 12 will also get a free LEGO Welcome Amenity so that they don't bother their parents during the stay! 

You can also arrange for a curated visit to the nearby Devrai Art Village and the 5,000 year old Krishna Devi temple. If strawberry picking at a farm interests you, that can be arranged as well. 

Ayers Rock Resort to host art installation ‘Field of Light’

A monumental art phenomenon, Bruce Munro’s Field of Light, will be created in its largest form to date at Ayers Rock Resort in the spiritual heart of Australia. The solar-powered installation will open on 1 April, 2016, remaining open throughout the Red Centre’s distinct seasons until 31 March, 2017.

This ambitious exhibition forms part of Ayers Rock Resort’s commitment to arts and culture, which includes staging once-in-a-lifetime experiences and will illuminate a remote desert area within sight of majestic Uluru. 

This presents an absolutely unique opportunity for travellers to enjoy not only the spiritual nature of the destination, but experience it in a unique and mesmerizing way.

Bruce Munro conceived the idea for the Field of Light while visiting Uluru in 1992, but it wasn’t until 2004 that the installation first materialized at both London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and in Munro’s own backyard in south-west England. Field of Light has since dazzled visitors at sites across the United Kingdom, the United States and Mexico.

In keeping with the desert’s vast scale, Munro and his team will install more than 50,000 slender stems crowned with radiant frosted-glass spheres. The coloured spheres, connected via illuminated optical fibre, will bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland. Pathways will draw viewers into the installation, which will come to life under a sky brilliant with stars. 

Logistics for a project such as this are immense. Qantas, as the official airline partner of the Field of Light, is transporting 50,000 unique stems of light all the way from the Bruce Munro workshop in the UK directly to Ayers Rock Airport.

Guests at Ayers Rock Resort’s five properties will be invited to interact with Munro’s monumental experiential artwork. At a fee, of course! You can watch a 60-second video of this to get a better idea. 

The only underwater Wonder of the World beckons!

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is the only place on earth where two World Heritage listed icons meet – the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. 

From kangaroos to diving with countless marine species, bungee jumping in the middle of a rainforest to unwinding in the lap of luxury on an island, Cairns is the perfect holiday that you deserve.    

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, is offering special, all-inclusive return economy fares into Cairns and Brisbane from India starting from Rs 62,000. The offer is on until 30th September 2015 and valid for travel till 31st March 2016. 


For more information, visit Tourism Australia site or their Facebook page.  

Visit Vellar Craft Village in Kovalam

The Vellar craft village at Kovalam is set to get a makeover as a tourist destination that offers visitors a unique glimpse into ethnic crafts. The Rs 10-crore project, divided into marketing and entertainment zones, is an attempt to provide exposure to Kerala’s handicraft and other ethnic craft products.

Spread along a 10-acre stretch, the craft village, modelled on the lines of Dilli Haat in New Delhi is built without disturbing the natural terrain of the region. Minor alterations in landscaping and rock cutting methods are used to build the craft village, which is in complete harmony with nature.

The marketing zone will have a total of 27 shops, with five shops constructed in hexagonal structures, for the exhibition, sale and promotion of traditional craft items and handicrafts from various artists, organisations and craftsmen.

Sellers and craftsmen will be aided with subsidy grants to provide financial security. New amenities being set up include signages, parking facility, landscaping, lawn beautification and a bio gas plant. 

The aim is to give a fillip to traditional crafts and artisans, to give artists a space to show the making of craft products for tourists who are curious to know about the technical side of craft practice.

The entertainment zone will have cafeterias, a park with a water feature and sightseeing spots. Four cafeterias, including two traditional ‘thattukada’ serving authentic Kerala delicacies, are also nearing completion. Cultural programmes will be here held during weekends.

An open auditorium, connected to the restaurants where performance arts can be held, adds to the facilities. Also, a conference hall with a capacity to accommodate 1,500 people is being built where international conferences can be conducted. 

Sargaalaya in Kozhikode is yet another craft village project set up by Kerala Tourism in the state.

Oktoberfest coming to country close to you

One no longer needs to go all the way to Munich to experience Oktoberfest! Macau, the entertainment capital of Asia ushers in the seventh Oktoberfest between October 15 and 25, 2015. You can experience Munich's famed festival in the truest sense at MGM Macau. 

 

This 12-day beer fest captures the essence of Bavarian festivities through authentic German beer, live entertainment and a party atmosphere. Furnished with classic long wooden tables and benches under a huge tent, the venue comes alive every day from 6pm till midnight, with the clinking of beer mugs and the sounds of traditional accordion and oompah music.

Ceiling wreaths and buntings, taps flowing with Spaten beer, carnival game booths, folk dancing and sing-along are all part of the fun. You can enjoy the rhythmic Bavarian whip-cracking, the playing of traditional Alpenhorn, and dance to the Högl Fun Band, flown in all the way from Germany. 

 

Over the years, Macau Oktoberfest has already received more than 77,000 guests and has served 74,166 liters of beer, 15,895 kilograms of pork knuckles, 6,996 roasted chickens and 9,485 pieces of homemade pretzels!

 

Beer is the essence of the Oktoberfest, and MGM Macau has specially brought one of only six brews that is regarded as the genuine Oktoberfest beer – the Spaten from Munich. First served at 1872’s Oktoberfest, the beer features a rich, textured palate with an underlying sweetness that is true to tradition. Besides Spaten, this year’s Oktoberfest also features Franziskaner Non-alcoholic Beer, Franziskaner Wheat Beer and Fruit Flavor Beer. 

For 12 knee-slapping days, guests can feast on bratwurst sausages, roasted free range chicken, roasted pork knuckles and other German specialties while enjoying a stein or two of the beer.

 

Oktoberfest admission tickets and food and beverage coupons are available for sale from September 14 to October 25, 2015.  Entrance fee is MOP 130 per person, inclusive of one drink. 

 

Time:               1pm – 8pm Daily

Email:              oktoberfest@mgmmacau.com

Your ticket to the Caribbean!

The must-attend happening in Trinidad and Tobago in September is the Trinidad +Tobago film festival (ttff), which will be held this year from 15–29 September. A hot-ticket event, the ttff was voted one of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine in 2014, and one of the top ten unmissable events in the Caribbean, by Culturetrip.com in 2015.

The festival celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Some of the standout events taking place are the opening-night red-carpet gala and after-party, the exciting awards ceremony, and the screening of nearly a hundred feature-length and short films made by people living in the Caribbean and its diaspora, many of them making their world premiere. Digging deep into the archives of the region’s cinema, the ttff will also screen ten classic Caribbean films as part of its birthday celebrations.

For those interested in the art of film-making itself, there will be panel discussions and workshops, including a documentary masterclass from renowned documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield, as well as a three-day academic symposium, Caribbean Cinema Now, examining the status of contemporary Caribbean cinema.

There will also be lots of limes—parties—with opportunities to meet local directors, and visiting filmmakers from the Caribbean and across the globe. You will also be able to purchase Festival memorabilia including T-shirts, mugs and bags with this year’s slogan, “it starts here.”

Adding to the excitement of this year’s festival will be Pras Michel of the Fugees, who will be in T&T to promote the Caribbean premiere of his film Sweet Micky for President, at the opening night gala and after-party.

Trinidad & Tobago: 
They are two islands with two unique experiences. The twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a unique and true Caribbean paradise boasting of a heady mix of cultural activities, eco-adventure and culinary delights. From relaxing on palm tree-lined white sandy beaches, to swimming in aquamarine clear waters, from the picturesque Maracas Beach to enjoying the greatest show on Earth, the Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago is indeed a paradise with their lush forests and nature reserves, rare tree frogs, pristine corals, unforgettable hiking and exotic birds. The twin-islands undoubtedly offer a one-of-a-kind island escape. 

Visas: Because of historical ties and/or bilateral agreements between Trinidad and Tobago with India, citizens of India do not need visas to travel to the twin islands. However, one must procure a UK or a USA visa in order to transit from the respective ports for flights into Trinidad & Tobago. 

Fast Facts:
Official Name: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Capital: Port of Spain
Population: 1.3 million
Official language: English
Currency: Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TTS)
Airport: Trinidad – Piarco International Airport
           Tobago – A.N.R Robinson International Airport
Climate: Tropical; rainy season (June through December)
             Dry Season (January through May)

Celebrate Bonderam festival in Goa

Goa is all set to organize the Bonderam festival, which is celebrated in the island of Divar, located 12 kms from Panjim city, on the fourth Saturday of August. This year the festival falls on August 22, 2015.

The name Bonderam originates from ‘Bandeira’ – the Portuguese word for flag. During the Portuguese rule there were frequent disputes between the villagers on the Divar island over property issues. Thus the Portuguese introduced a system by putting up flags to demarcate the boundaries.

The otherwise laidback island of Divar comes alive on the day of the Bonderam festival. The day begins with a flag parade from the main Divar junction, which is accompanied by a brass band. 

With this the Bonderam festival is officially declared open. 

Later in the day there is a fancy-dress competition followed by the traditional float parade and a live musical performance featuring famous music bands of Goa. The festival begins at noon and concludes by late evening. 

For more details check the Goa Tourism website. 

Try before you buy Britain

Listen to the grandfather clock chime in Anne Hathaway’s cottage, take a leisurely stroll on the beach at Durdle Door, or enjoy the choir singing at Rosslyn Chapel. These are just some of the things tourists can now do in Britain - before they even arrive.

The national tourism agency, VisitBritain, has commissioned a series of immersive 360-degree experiences giving overseas visitors an opportunity to step inside some of Britain’s most-loved attractions.

As part of its government’s 'GREAT' tourism campaign, this activity aims to drive more international visitors out across the nations and regions of Britain. 

The entire panoramic series, and much more inspirational content, can be found on its new site. The panoramas were created by 360-degree specialist Rod Edwards. 

Not only will this immersive experience allow potential visitors to snoop around some of our greatest tourist attractions before they arrive, but it will inspire and motivate more travel across the country.

London is a huge asset for Britain – a dynamic, cosmopolitan and well-connected city that visitors aspire to visit. The challenge is to encourage visitors to explore even other destinations like Wales and Scotland during their holiday and making sure they know how easy it is to get around.

Guest post: Onboard the MS Mara

As we reached the landing dock to catch MS Mara, I saw the prettiest sight ever. She was moored to the bank amidst the backdrop of the mountains, which were now a bluish-pink hue. Stunning!

Off we went on the dam in MS Mara, which is basically a boat with two sets of inflatables on both sides and a deck for guests to relax in and enjoy the sun-downers. I won’t go into details of this as words cannot explain the experience and the emotion on this ride. One just has to experience it.

With enough Droewors and Bells inside me, it was time to rejoin the flying Dutchman and his lady love on a night safari back to the lodge. It seems that they drove around a bit and saw some general game before they returned to fetch me and now as the evening got colder, we were all set to head back.

The lodge had transformed itself. Warm fires and lanterns lit up the parking lot and we were greeted with hot towels and glasses of wine and sherry. Complete bliss! With glass in hand, we headed up to the bonfire overlooking those mysterious mountains again. Here, we met up with other guests of the hotel and swapped stories before heading off to our tables for an early dinner. Dinner was again Table d’ hote and stunning. I distinctly remember the juiciness of the meat and the flavor of the sauce, before I hit the sack and into oblivion.

The next morning started off at 5am with lions roaring in the distance. I quickly showered and ran up to the lounge area with the hope of spotting them from there while I sipped on some hot coffee. No such luck but I could hear them calling out to each other as they got closer and closer. We were off in hot pursuit as soon as Hein turned up along with the Dutch. All the lodge vehicles had split up to try and locate them. It was Jomi who spotted them first – four of them, two males and two females.

The females looked really hungry and one was in estrous. Among the males, one was extremely lazy and one had different ideas for one of the lionesses. We trailed them for over an hour, watching the females stalk a herd of wildebeest only to be constantly interrupted by the frisky male who had only one agenda…to mate with the female, making it impossible for the ladies to hunt. They gave up and we moved on. After a quick coffee break I headed over to the Marataba TrailsLodge.

Set up in a valley with stunning views of the forest below is Marataba Trails Lodge. A five-suite lodge is built into the mountain with the concept ‘switch off’ written all over it. No electricity, only solar lighting, and no kids below 16 since everything is open to the wild. It also has a single dining table for community dining as one would do at home. Really nice, considering there is nothing else to do here anyways in the evenings.

 

Marataba Trails Lodge

The premise of this property is walking the trails around the property. Everything here is about nature. Every morning, you choose your breakfast and pack it into your knapsack. Then off you go with one guide in the front and one at the back. The trails range from trekking over the top of the Kransberg Range to traversing through the gorges. The slowest guest determines the difficulty of the trek. It really doesn’t matter where you go, you will always encounter wildlife and that’s what makes this unique from any other property, as there are no vehicles to scare them away.

In the evenings, after a short walk one can sit by the fire pit and swap stories watching the sun lazily go down as the mountain range constantly changes colour… This is the way I will always remember Marataba…a place truly magical.

The first two parts of Shantanu's adventures in South Africa include The magic of Marataba and Marataba continues to delight. 

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Shantanu Chand is the CEO of Mumbai-based GoBeyond Travels that specialises in African holidays. He can be contacted at shantanu@gobeyondtravels.com.