One of the best places to celebrate the Lunar New Year is Hong Kong: the city where East meets West.  Hong Kong has many events for the holiday including a parade, fireworks, flower markets, horse racing, a lantern festival and more!  Furthermore, most tourist attractions in the city remain open during the celebrations aside from museums.  All museums are closed on Chinese New Year’s Day and possibly the following two days.

New Year Parade

On the first day of Chinese New Year, January 23, there is an elaborate parade featuring themed floats, performances and marching bands.  It also features Lion and Dragon Dancing.  Traditionally lions are the king of beasts in the region and therefore the Lion Dance is performed to ward off bad luck and disaster while bringing peace and prosperity.

Lion Dancing

The Dragon Dance also holds traditional meaning, as the Dragon is a symbol of peace and good luck.  Over the past millennia Dragon Dancers have developed over 100 different dances.

The parade begins at 8pm and runs for about 90 minutes.  There is no admission fee to stand along the parade route but if you would like to buy tickets to sit at a spectator stand Tickets are available through travel agencies and the Hong Kong Tourism Board and don’t cost too much but are very limited.  Be sure to show up early, there are road closures and very large crowds.

The route is similar each year starting at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and then traveling along Canton Road, Haiphong Road and Nathan Road finishing by the Sheraton Hotel.

New Year Fireworks

The fireworks are held on the second day of Chinese New Years (January 24). Thousands of fireworks are set up on barges in Victoria Harbour lighting up the night sky starting at about 8pm.  The fireworks last for about 25 minutes but expect a massive crowd; roughly half a million people show up to see the fireworks!

Fireworks over Victoria Harbour

There are several great vantage points that include the harbor side (both sides of the harbor), Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, Central Piers, Causeway Bay and lastly Hung Hom Bypass, which is closed to traffic during the event.

Flower Markets

Locals at a flower market

Locals use flowers to decorate their homes during Chinese New Year and there are over a dozen open-air flower markets held around the city.  They pop up about six days before Chinese New Year but the best time to visit these markets is between 6pm and 9pm on Chinese New Year’s Eve.  It will be bustling with locals that just finished their New Year’s Eve dinner.

A couple of the most popular flower markets are located at Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park.  Remember to bargain prices!

Horse Racing

Horses at a race

The traditional Chinese New Year race takes place at Shatin Racecourse on Jan 25, 2012 (the third day of Lunar New Year).  There are about 85, 000 spectators making it the most visited race on the calendar.  It is an all day event that begins at approximately 11am.

Hong Kong is an unforgettable place to visit during Chinese New Year.  There are many more events aside from what we have listed during Chinese New Years such as the Lantern Festival and most other attractions are open giving you an opportunity to explore the city and experience the celebrations like a local!

Be sure to download the mTrip Hong Kong Travel Guide App to help you get around the city!

images by: EmmaJG, Maureen Didde, ncburton, Jason Chan & Thompson Chan

Present heat-wave aside, DC during July and August tends to be pretty hot and humid even when the weather is “normal” – but it’s still hard to beat visiting DC with kids when so many of the attractions are free and educational (not to mention indoors and air-conditioned!). Hotel stays are often cheaper during the hottest part of the summer in order to entice people to come visit, and if you can wait until the end of August you can benefit from thinned-out crowds.

Congress is usually on their summer break by August, so you won’t get to sit in on a rousing Senate debate, but you can still tour the buildings. Flights to Washington DC in August aren’t the cheapest ones you’ll find all year, but consider all the free attractions and cheaper hotel rates and you might still come out ahead budget-wise.

Here are some of the things going on in August in Washington DC that could make a visit even more interesting:

• Movies on the Potomac – Sunday nights are “family” movie nights all summer long, and August’s theme is “fantasy films.” August films include Jumanji, Chronicles of Narnia, and Willy Wonka. (nationalharbor.com for more information)
• Family Fair in Georgetown – August 19 – At Dumbarton House; includes games and crafts ($10/child, $5/adult chaperones) (DumbartonHouse.org for more information)
• Race to the End of the Earth – Through August 21 – At National Geographic Museum; about the historic race to the South Pole between Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Englishman Robert Falcon Scott ($8 adult, $4 child) (events.nationalgeographic.com for more information)
• Strathmore Free Summer Outdoor Concert Series: UkeFest 2011 – August 24 – At Strathmore; among uke performances and lessons, they’re also trying to break a Guinness record for the largest ukulele ensemble (strathmore.org for more information)

>> What’s your summer family vacation destination of choice? What’s your favorite family activity to do in Washington DC?

photo by smith_cl9

It makes sense, really. Any place that gets socked in by weather that makes people want to stay indoors for so many consecutive months is bound to take full advantage of summer weather. While you’ll hear reports of heatwaves stretching across much of Europe in July and August (and, lately, sometimes as early as May), Stockholm and the rest of Scandinavia are far enough north that even in July and August the temperatures are mild.

Visiting Stockholm in the summer isn’t cheap. Almost everything costs more during a summer trip, most notably flying to Stockholm. With short shoulder seasons and a colder-than-usual low season, the summer high season is when everyone wants to be in Stockholm. It is, however, worth the expense.

Late June is a popular time to visit because of Midsummer, the longest day of the year. It’s one of Sweden’s most important holidays, and Stockholm celebrates with more than a week of festivities. Even if you’re visiting later in the summer, however, you’ll still get plenty of sunshine – even if it’s not a full 24 hours’ worth. Temperatures in August aren’t too hot, either, with highs generally in the low- to mid-70s Fahrenheit.

Stockholm may get excited about Midsummer, but the celebrations don’t stop then. The August calendar brings Stockholm Culture Festival (a huge outdoor festival including music and theatre performances), Stockholm Pride (Scandinavia’s biggest Pride festival), and even Stockholm’s Oktoberfest (yes, it’s early – to take advantage of the weather!).

As mentioned earlier, all of this fun comes at a price, with some of the highest prices on airfare to Scandinavia happening during the summer. Because of this, however, sometimes you’ll find that hotels offer discounts on rooms in the summer. Be on the lookout for discounts like this, and if you don’t see them – ask.

Have you ever seen the midnight sun in Stockholm?

- by Jessica of BootsnAll

photo by Mispahn

Taking place throughout July, with a diverse program of exhibitions, events, talks and workshops, activities will take place in and around King’s Cross. Chosen for its rich heritage as an industrial hub of London, King’s Cross will serve as the perfect spot to host this festival. Venues include: National Portrait Gallery, V&A, St Pancras International, the German Gymnasium and British Library. Satellite activities & exhibitions take place across London.

© Walter Joseph Collection, courtesy the British Library

What is Street Photography?

As defined by the London Street Photography Festival…

“un-posed, un-staged photography which captures, explores or questions contemporary society and the relationships between individuals and their surroundings.”

With its first year of producing this event, the organizers of LSPF are dedicated to preserving street photography as an accessible art form, important tool for communication and method to document and reflect on society and human behavior.

“The newspaper lies, the radio lies, the TV lies, the streets, they howl with the truth.” Henry Miller

London Street Photography Festival runs 1st – 31st July at various venues, http://www.londonstreetphotographyfestival.org/

Watch the video:

Images: © Mimi Mollica, Bus Stories & © Walter Joseph Collection, courtesy the British Library

The full event menu includes cooking classes with some of the most renowned chefs, wines paired with delicious dishes, champaign sipped in VIP lounges and presentations by culinary experts.

What could be more exciting for a foodie lover?!

Setting a new benchmark for food and drinks worldwide, many Taste Festivals are being held around the world this year. Cities include: Amsterdam, Auckland, Birmingham, Cape Town, Dubai, Dublin, Edinburgh, Jo’burg, London, Melbourne, Milan and Sydney. Taste Festivals bring together the host city’s most acclaimed restaurants and chefs in stunning venues to present signature offerings to foodie visitors.

Bon appétit!

Images: Taste of London, adriangonsalves, griffithchris, robertpaulyoung

 

 

iTunes Festival London 2011 - July 1-31, London

Featuring 31 consecutive nights of brilliant live music, iTunes Festival will showcase both established and emerging artists. Each performance will be recorded and made available for download on iTunes. Tickets for the iTunes Festival are free but you have to apply for tickets! There will be about 60 artists performing, including Paul Simon, ADELE, Foo Fighters and Duran Duran.

 

 

Berlin Festival 2011 – September 9-10, Berlin

Berlin is a city like no other; especially known for its underground music scene, its definitely a city worth visiting just for its musical influence alone. Berlin Festival takes place just days after Berlin Music Week (September 7-11), making this week one of the best times to visit this vibrant city. Berlin Festival 2011 will feature a Boy George DJ Set, The Drums, Suede, Beirut, Mogwai, Battles, Hercules and Love Affair, Deus, Santigold, A-Trak, Yelle, Diplo and many other unique acts.

 

 

Fête de la Musique – June 21, Paris

Allowing for the expression of all types of music, Fête de la Musique is completely different from most music festivals. It is open to both emerging and professional musicians, and all musicians are asked to perform for free as the event itself is free to the public.

 

 

Make Music New York (MMNY) – June 21, New York

Now in its fifth year, Make Music New York is a unique festival filled to the brim with free concerts, taking place in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City. All taking place on the first day of summer, June 21, MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in over 460 cities across the world. The lineup hasn’t been announced yet but it should be any day now. In past years, the lineup has ranged from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock, all performed on the streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, parks and gardens of New York.

 

 

Pitchfork Music Festival – July 15,16,17, Chicago

This three-day event showcases over 40 of independent music’s best bands and artists. It is one of the few music festivals that keeps ticket prices reasonably low. Among the many artists you will see Animal Collective, DJ Shadow, Toro Y Moi, TV on the Radio. Activities include a Record Fair, presented by the Chicago Independent Radio Project, Coterie handmade goods, FLATSTOCK poster show series and Rock for kids.

 

 

Lollapalooza – August 5-7, Chicago

Whereas the Pitchfork festival focuses on independent music, Lollapalooza is a destination for music lovers all over the world. It just so happens that this year is the 20th Anniversary of the Festival and festival-goers can look forward to a full and exciting lineup. Artists include: Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, Deadmau5, Cee Lo Green, Girl Talk, Kid Cudi and so many more. As always, the festival will take place in historic Grant Park, between the iconic Chicago skyline and the shores of Lake Michigan. FYI – if you have kids 10 and under, they get in free to Lolla when accompanied by a ticket holding adult.

 

 

Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival – August 12-14, San Francisco

Taking place in San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands invites guests to celebrate not only the best in music, but also food, wine and art. From singer-songwriters to DJs, jazz acts and cutting edge rock bands, all major music movements are celebrated alongside a host of local musicians, food vendors and visual artists representing SF’s vibrant cultural community. This green-conscious event will feature artists like Arcade Fire, Black Keys, The Shins, MGMT, Girl Talk, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Major Lazer, OK GO. Other attractions will include tastes of the Bay Area, many wine offerings, festival market place, and the eco lands area, powered entirely by solar energy.

 

 

Osheaga – July 29th to 31st, Montreal

There’s no better city to enjoy an outdoor music festival than Montreal. The summer is when Montreal shines the most and the energy of the city is always outstanding, especially during the outdoor festivals. There are no shortage of them in Montreal and Osheaga is one stellar festival not to be missed. Last years addition with Arcade Fire performing during the fireworks was spectacular. Osheaga acts this year include The Tragically Hip, Cypress hill, Eminem, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Kid Cudie, City & Colour, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Bright Eyes, Ratatat, Bran Van 3000, Crystal Castles, MSYRKRFT, The Joy Formidable, Sam Roberts Band, Jamie xx, Manchester Ochestra, Malajube and a host of other amazing bands. And don’t miss out on Osheaga in the City, which features acts outside the days of the festival. The lineup will be announced in the coming month.

 

 

Glastonbury Festival – June 22 to 26th, Glastonbury

The lineup is endless and Glastonbury’s following is so large that they are already sold out of tickets. If you were planning to attend, we hope you already grabbed your tickets. The festival began the day after Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 and so marked one of the best festivals. In 2011, this festival is still going strong and with so many stages, we couldn’t possibly list all the bands. Some stellar acts include U2, Coldplay, Paul Simon, Queens of the Stone Age, The Naked & Famous, The Streets, Lykke Li, Wu Tang Clan, Beyonce and so many more that my eyes are watering looking at the lineup.

 

 

Sonar – June 16-18, Barcelona

Taking place in Barcelona, Sonar will be showcasing famous artists and DJ’s like M.I.A., Underworld, Janelle Monae, Steve Aoki and many more. To add to the already full lineup, there will be some interesting showcases by Ninja Tune, BBC Radio and others.

 

And one extra…Piknic Electronik – WEEKLY, Montreal and soon Barcelona!

This unique weekly event helps you get the most out Montreal’s summer weather, while enjoying an incomparable view of the city and quality electronic music. They highlight the many talents of both the local and international electronic scenes, featuring classic acts as well as audacious newcomers. The Barcelona version appears to be next on their list of cities!

What music festivals will you be attending this summer? Add yours to the comments.

Download a city guide to get you around during festival season!

Image sources: Anirudh Koul, stevenboegborn, tom-jenkins, tkaravou, toombsday, jaywei80, Jason Bryant for Glastonbury Festival, SPACEBAR.ca [Simon], scannerfm_flickr, zenra, bumpershine, tammylo

Sports fans take note – Brazil is a country that loves car racing, and São Paulo kicks off the month of May right with an IndyCar race. The Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 runs over the weekend spanning April 30-May 1, and there are pre-race events all weekend leading up to the big race on Sunday.

On a completely different note, São Paulo’s Fashion Downtown event begins the day after the car race, on May 2nd. The fashion shows run all week long, through May 7th, at Praça Patriarca. Music lovers will want to jot down a couple of dates in their calendars – May 15th, when there’s a choir festival at Club Transatlântico, and May 29th, when the Urban Music Festival takes over Anhembi Parque.

Students of immigration trends may think first of Argentina when they think of Italians in South America, but there’s a sizable enough population of Brazilians in São Paulo of Italian descent that a couple of Italian festivals in May are also on São Paulo’s calendar. Starting in early May, the heavily-Italian Brás neighborhood begins about a month’s worth of weekend festivals celebrating the Our Lady of Casaluce church in that neighborhood. Then the San Vito Festival starts in mid-May and runs through mid-June.

In addition to all of this, May is a time when Brazil isn’t as hot as it can get in the height of summer, making it an even more pleasant time to visit overall.

Whether any of the festivals and events listed here were on your itinerary to begin with, any one of them could be a fun addition to a São Paulo trip, even if none of them on their own is enough to have you scrambling to find flights to Sao Paulo. Above all, it’s important to remember that there’s something going on in this huge city no matter when you plan to visit, so your best bet is to stop by the tourist information office as soon as you can to see what’s happening while you’re in the city. You never know what fun festival you’ll get to take part in.

-by Jessica of BootsnAll

Download mTrip’s Sao Paulo Travel Guide!

photo by joana_digital, Milton Jung CBNSP

Since it’s on the solar calendar, the date of the Qingming Festival on the Gregorian calendar changes each year. In 2011, the holiday is on April 5th and the whole festival runs from April 3-5. If you’re planning to be in Shanghai or elsewhere in China this April, you might be wondering whether this holiday will get in the way of your travel plans. The Qingming Festival is when families visit and clean the graves of their ancestors, spending the day essentially picnicking at their ancestors’ graves to honor their memories. Another popular activity is kite flying, and generally being outside to enjoy what is usually nice weather after a long winter.

While Qingming is a public holiday in China, then, the festivities are largely personal and family-oriented. You may see people walking to visit their ancestors’ tombs, or in public places flying kites, but this isn’t the kind of festival that involves big parades or concerts or fireworks.

Interestingly, it’s only recently that Qingming is back on the calendar as an official public holiday at all. It has long been a traditional Chinese holiday, but from 1949 until 2008 people weren’t really allowed to celebrate it. Since it’s back on the calendar, you may find some businesses closed for part of the day on April 5th while people visit their ancestors’ tombs, but it may also be a good excuse to get out of the city for a long weekend. There are several side trips from Shanghai that are excellent options for a 3-4 day weekend, including the beautiful canal cities of Hangzhou or Wuzhen.

- by Jessica of BootsnAll

photo by Eddie Awad

Are you an adventurous traveler, looking for somewhere interesting to stay while visiting London? A room with a view, perhaps?

Nothing would be more exciting, unusual or even poetic than staying in a ‘boat’, perched atop the Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre. Commissioned by Living Architecture and Artangel, two of Britian’s leading cultural organizations, A Room for London is a unique installation that will be a part of the London 2012 Festival.

An iconic location in the capital, designers David Kohn Architects and artist Fiona Banner built A Room for London with the intention of offering guests a place of refuge, unique perspective and a reflection amdist the cities flow of traffic. Whether you are sitting atop the lower or upper deck, by day or night, extraordinary panoramic views can be expected, stretching from Big Ben to St Paul’s cathedral.

The boat is full of nooks and crannies to explore, leaving guests with plenty to do. Climb ‘aboard’ and a nautical flag will be raised to indicate occupation. ‘Passengers’ aka guests will be invited to fill in a logbook on a ‘bridge.’ The logbook will detail their adventures aboard, not to mention their fresh perspective of London. Contemporary architecture has never been so playful, thought-provoking and interactive.

Guests will be able to spend a night in A Room for London from January to December 2012. Bookings for the room are currently available.

Need a travel guide while visiting London? Click here.

Photo credit: Theresa Simon & Partners Ltd.