Stories behind the stories. By Travel Writer, Amy McPherson
It was Friday the 13th. On top of that, it was the day of the full moon. I am not a superstitious person, but last week I couldn’t help if the cosmos was at play, when I hit a new low. I do not remember the last time I had such a bad day, it …
I know, it’s way to early to talk about Christmas. In fact, it would normally be me complaining about the shop front decorations that seems to be appearing earlier and earlier each year. It’s not that I am a Grinch, but Christmas has never been all that special to me. Getting dragged to Christmas masses …
Yesterday was the first day of a new year in the lunar calendar. To anyone celebrating – Happy New Year :) Last year I wrote about celebrating Lunar New Year in Taipei on this blog, but I also wrote a short feature on it in the hopes that some editor might pick it up. Well, …
It was with much persuasion and parental bullying (just kidding mum and dad!) that we flew the 17 hours to Taipei to celebrate Lunar New Year (or, more commonly known as Chinese New Year). I was born in Taipei, but left to grow up in Australia at the age of ten. As far as I …
It was the year 866AD. The Vikings sailed from the Scandinavian region under the leadership of Ivan the Boneless, arrived and captured Northumbria Eoforwic. They didn’t like the name, so they renamed it to a Viking name Jorvik. Today, this city is known as York (derived from its last Viking name). The viking history of …
“Mum! This is like fairy land!” a little girl said as she excitedly ran forward to view the cartoon-like animals illuminating our path. My inner child laughs with delight as I too, were mesmerised by the fantastic lanterns surrounding us. As the Lunar Calendar steps into a new year on Monday into the Year of …
It’s Guy Fawkes Day this Thursday (5 November), something that I experienced last year as a fresh arrival, and having just came from a country where fireworks are banned (outside the nation’s tiny capital) it was quite a stir. People freely let off fireworks in their backyards, on the streets and along the riverbanks, …
Don’t be surprised that most of our activities at the Christmas Markets had something to do with food. Well, after all, I do love some market street food! In my opinion, Germans have got the best ‘street food’ culture in Europe, mostly because Europe as a continent just doesn’t really associate itself with street food …
I have been waiting for this moment for ten years, when I am able to finally spend Christmas in Europe and have easy access to the Christmas markets that I loved in Germany. It took an easy hour’s hop from London to Cologne, and we were among Cologne’s four Christmas markets. Markt am Dom The …
While in Limoges, we had the opportunity to take part in the Le Journées Gaulouises de Saint-Gence, (The Gaulouises Day of Saint-Gence), a festival dedicated to the ancient history. This year’s theme was the Roman chariot and military splendors and the entire town was there (which, for Saint-Gence, a small village in the region, isn’t a lot …
Limoges doesn’t usually make that big a fuss. It is a relatively quiet and sleepy city, and doesn’t attract that many tourists besides the odd few that are driving through this region of France. However, one day a year, the city becomes alive with music. One this day, Limoges holds a giant street party …
I’ve been avoiding Christmases for the past five years, mostly by travelling to non-Christian countries because I don’t really agree with the commercialisation of any religious/cultural events. (Despite the effort, I still found Santa in Brunei!) This year will be the first year that we’ll travel to a predominantly Christian country and it got me …
It has been a good weekend. Since Friday, there has been ships invading Sydney Harbour. It is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and warships from all over the world are here to celebrate with us with an International Fleet Review week. The warships arrived on Friday after a week of joint military …
It’s a funny thing. We are drawn to randomly placed large objects and when giant colourful snails invaded Sydney last week as part of the Art & About Sydney 2013 festival, I noticed that we all can’t help but stop and pose with them. It’s an urge even I can’t resist. The annual Art & …
As soon as we got off at Circular Quay station, we could already see wave upon wave of people rolling up and down George Street, hovering in front of the numerous stalls with roastery and cafe representations waiting for their cup of caffeine. It was the annual Aroma Festival today and the entire Sydney poured …
While Kuala Lumpur is on my mind, I want to share this video of the New Year fireworks I filmed. It was for the 09/10 New Year, and with the intention of getting the best seat in the house, we had booked a Twin Tower view room at the Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, and …
(continued from Chasing festivals around the world in 2013 January to June) JULY Gion Matsuri Old Japanese tradition turn tourist attraction, Gion Matsuri represents the occasion when dignitaries paraded through Kyoto to request the god of plague leave the city back in AD869. The main even happens on the 17 July each year, however you can watch …
There may be different ideas about how to have a party but who doesn’t like a good party? One way to explore and travel the world is to chase the festivals of different countries, cultures and religion. Some of the best times on my trips have been around festivals, which often bring out the spirit …
