Ballooning in Christchurch

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe March 29, 2011 November 13, 2019

Get ready for the experience of a lifetime as you engage in an exhilarating hot air balloon ride in Christchurch. Enjoy panoramic views of Christchurch and the city’s surrounding areas from a vantage point that few have ventured on, and capture breathtaking photography from the balloon’s comfortable interior! All this and more can be experienced upon boarding a hot air balloon when holidaying in the scenic environs of Christchurch. Ideal for families and couples, this thrilling ride is a popular recreational activity among both locals and tourists looking to relax and create memories with loved ones and friends.

Christchurch is one of the few places in the world where visitors can balloon from the centre of the city, journeying towards the snowy peaks of the Alps over the striking greenery of the scenic Canterbury Plains. As you gently float towards the nearby mountains, be sure to capture some outstanding photos of Christchurch’s diverse topography. Several hot air balloon operators can be found in the city centre where visitors will be able to book a hot air balloon ride. Most balloon rides include a refreshing glass of champagne upon arriving at the desired destination, and a flight certificate that is awarded to all who participated in this fantastic journey through Christchurch.

Staying at a Christchurch New Zealand hotel such as the Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central provides the ideal place from which the vibrant and beautiful city of Christchurch can be explored. With picturesque views of the Avon River, Victoria Square and the Southern Alps, this leading business class hotel in Christchurch is a preferred accommodation base among both business and leisure travellers seeking comfort and class in the heart of the city. Guests staying at this stylish hotel will easily be able to access all that Christchurch has to offer!

Travel

Thai Silk

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe March 22, 2011 November 13, 2019

Around 5 millenniums ago, Chinese Empress Si Ling-Chi discovered silk by a fluke. Si Ling-Chi developed the sericulture, the science of silk production, and also introduced silk garments to the world. Thousands of years later it was spread across the world, including Thailand. Thai silk industry dates back to some 3000 years, according to the archaeological discoveries. Whereas the oldest evidence for Thai silk is reported from Baan Chiang, a heritage site in Udon Thani Province.

Towards the northeast of Thailand is the Khorat Plateau, popular for being the country’s hub of silk industry. From raising the silkworms called Bombyx mori, to weaving graceful silk fabrics, Khorat Plateau oversees the silk production and also supplies rose silk since many years. At present, Thai silk is acclaimed as the finest fabric in the world.

Bombyx mori silkworm is hatched from the silk moth’s eggs and they feed on mulberry leaves. After feasting on the leaves the silkworm spin a fluffy cocoon using their spittle. The colours of the cocoon vary from pastel green to light gold, while the total length of its fibrils spans from 500 to 1500 yards. It is soaked in boiling water to separate the fibrils.

It takes several fibrils to produce one fine silk thread strong enough for weaving. Some use machines while a majority use hand-reeling to produce these raw silk thread. Its natural yellowish colour is removed by immersing the skeins in hydrogen peroxide. Before the weaving process, the raw silk is again soaked in hot water and dyed in vibrant colours. Weaving is done using traditional handloom methods, after washing and drying the silk yarn.

Unlike other types of silk, Thai silk have special attributes that defines its prominence. The special lustre of Thai silk comes from its triangular shaped fibres, reflecting an iridescent similar to a prism. The sheen and lustre of the silk also changes alluringly according to the angle and the reflection of light. To authenticate the quality of Thai silk, the fabrics are also given a special peacock emblem. The peacock emblem has a range of colours such as gold, silver, blue and green symbolizing its production method, quality and authenticity.

Products made from Thai silk are handbags, handkerchiefs, neckties, readymade clothes, scarves and even photo frames. Travellers to Bangkok can find these rich silk products at any popular shopping mall, silk fabric shop, department store, shopping plaza as well as in the nearby Chiang Mai City. Visitors can find comfortable lodging at a cosy Bangkok apartment such as those available at Bangkok President Park, a Bangkok service apartment complex. Visitors can take pleasure in a delightful shopping extravaganza while gaining an insight into the art of Thai silk production.

Travel

Khmer Wedding

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe March 22, 2011 November 13, 2019

One of the most joyous and celebrated occasions in Khmer traditions is a marriage in a Khmer family. Wedding celebrations may last for approximately 3 days and can even stretch on for a week, and is usually filled with much merriment, festivity and colour. A lot of preparation goes into the numerous events that are held during the wedding period and is bound to keep the whole family busy and celebrating on a continuous basis.

The Khmer tradition of the wedding evolves around the legendary story of Cambodia’s origins. It is said that the first Khmer prince, Preah Thong, married the Naga princess, Neang Neak, who he met on his many travels as he was exiled from his homeland. As a marriage gift, the princess’s father was said to have swallowed a part of the ocean bringing forth the land of Cambodia.

As the wedding celebrations begin, family, friends and other community members continue to stream in to join in this joyous occasion. Some typical features of the wedding would include a band of musicians playing throughout the day, and the bride changing her wedding garments time and again. Dressed like royalty, the couple is truly a magnificent sight to see.

The wedding ceremony is made up of many events put together. Some of the highlights from these include the Groom’s Processional where the groom is invited to the bride’s home bearing many fruits and sweets. The Cleansing Ceremony will captivate you as according to Khmer tradition the couple needs to undergo a process of elaborate cleansing that involves dancing around the couple, cutting their hair, shaving the groom and perfuming them. The knot tying ceremony is also a unique one where family and friends come forward to tie ribbons on the couple’s wrists as a sign of good wishes and to be photographed with them.

Apart from all the festivities of the actual wedding celebrations, there are plenty of other pre and post wedding functions as well. Witnessing and being part of a Khmer wedding is a true experience of the extensive culture and rituals involved in Khmer traditions and are a series of events that you will never forget.

Tourists visiting the city can stay at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal which is a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh. This elegant hotel is an ideal base from which to explore the traditions, culture and sites of the city and also proves to be an ideal wedding hotel in Phnom Penh.

Travel

Weddings in Anchorage

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe March 19, 2011 November 13, 2019

Perhaps one of the greatest natural settings in the world, Anchorage is embraced by the bountiful hands of nature. Showcasing a myriad of natural splendors, it is home to six mountain ranges with picturesque sceneries of lush greenery and vibrant flora. Surrounded by diverse wilderness, it is a modern city where adventure and excitement captures the interests of travellers.

Described by many, the days of summer usually seem endless, where the home gardens are adorned with dazzling displays of flowers. Having a series of exuberant seasonal festivities, the city is a pulsating land where live music fills the air. Alive all year around, there are many recreational options which ignite excitement and thrill in the travellers. A wonderland during winter, the downtown city is lit with thousands of dazzling lights. As the streets glitter under the night sky, there are many activities organized in the city that reverberate anticipation and exhilaration among the locals.

Arguably one of the best places to spend your holiday, the captivating beauty of the city has grasped the interest of many couples wanting to tie the knot as it is presently a budding destination for weddings. Warmed by the pleasant nature of maritime climate, the city has the perfect setting for a memorable wedding. For a truly unusual and one of a kind wedding ceremony, Anchorage is the perfect place as it provides an event setting that transports its guests to the notion of embracing nature in all its glory. Providing a unique, yet adventurous special occasion, weddings in the beautiful city will be a picturesque way to start your life with your partner. Exchanging vows amidst the natural surroundings of the city will be an experience that is bound to be treasured for a lifetime.

Providing the best setting for an outdoor wedding that connects deeply to nature, couples will have an unforgettable experience amidst the rustic and untamed beauty of Alaska. Couples can helicopter to the mountain top of Mountain Alyska or exchange rings in the backdrop of the breathtaking expanse of the dazzling waters. They also have the option to hike up to a romantic viewpoint overlooking the icy blue glaciers or even tie the knot whilst aboard on a small cruise ship passing along the striking beauty of the city’s wildlife. Other places to tie the knot include Alaska Botanical Garden, Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Suomi-Finland Club and Bayshore Clubhouse.

For indoor weddings, couples can rent a ballroom at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center or at Alaska Native Heritage Center. Providing a unique option, both places offer stunning backdrops and spacious accommodations for you to get married.

For those interested in visiting the city, there are many Anchorage hotels to consider. One such hotel is Millennium Alaskan Hotel Anchorage which offers the perfect environment for Anchorage weddings. Providing spacious room capacities, couples will have the convenience of hiring a wedding specialist to ensure their wedding will be an extraordinary event.

Travel

Perdana Lake Gardens

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe March 8, 2011 November 13, 2019

Think of Kuala Lumpur and the image that springs to mind is of soaring neon-lit skyscrapers interspersed with dignified mosques and temples among teeming throngs of humanity. Malaysia’s capital is a city flush with its commercial prosperity and driving ambitiously ever higher toward greater architectural and economic grandeur. Easy as it is to get caught up in the flashy currents of city life, one must pay due regards to the sprawling city parks which provide a brief respite from its breathless pace.

The Perdana Lake Gardens is the oldest and most popular of these city parks. The 90-hectare grounds which sprawl in a valley around two artificial lakes provide a tranquil oasis where city dwellers come to jog, exercise, boat or indulge in some tai chi. Lying on the fringes of the city, this used to be the area where the elite British colonists built their pleasure homes. Two of these colonial mansions have now been converted into the Carosa Seri Negara, Malaysia’s most exclusive hotel.

Although the main attraction is the Tasik Perdana, or the Premier Lake, where families rent boats for leisurely weekend afternoon paddles, the Panggung Anniversary is also a major draw, being an open theatre for cultural and musical shows. However, these are the least of the park’s attractions. The Orchid Garden housed within the park boasts 800 species of orchids while a small terraced space is devoted to hibiscus (Malaysia’s national flower). The Deer Park is a favourite haunt of the mousedeer, the world’s smallest hoofed species, and spotted deer imported from Holland. Children and insect enthusiasts will delight in the Butterfly Park, home to over 120 species of butterfly whose rainforest environs have been carefully recreated to mirror the insects’ natural habitat. The Bird Park is the largest in Southeast Asia and is the world’s largest walk-in aviary housing more than 3000 migrant and indigenous birds.

Travelers seeking holiday accommodation Kuala Lumpur or even businessmen looking for Kuala Lumpur corporate housing should find the park quite accessible from the commercial city centres. Located in the KL central business district, adjacent to the Petronas Towers, the Ascott Kuala Lumpur’s serviced apartments cater to the extended stays of both business and leisure guests who wish for prime access to train stations and cab services that lead to all the city’s major attractions.

Travel

Ballooning in Christchurch

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe March 6, 2011 November 13, 2019

Travel

The Wedding Destination of Your Dreams

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe February 28, 2011 November 13, 2019

The beautiful paradise island where miracles happen – Sri Lanka is one of the most popular holiday and honeymoon destinations in the world. This small Island has much to offer with its seductive sandy beaches and beautiful sceneries. Sri Lanka is full of things to do and places to see, trekking, surfing, wildlife excursions or just laying in the sun, this exotic isle will satisfy any of your needs.

This paradise island is one of the most sought after destinations in the world for weddings. With a rich cultural heritage the island has a varied selection of places where one can have weddings at. Whatever your requirement is whether it is wedding by the beach, in the hill country or in the country side having it in Sri Lanka will make it a memorable and unique experience which you will treasure for the rest of your lives. One can have a Civil, Hindu, Christian, Muslim or Buddhist wedding ceremony. Traditional to the locals is the Lankan Poruwa Ceremony which can be done after the couple’s religious or civil ceremony or in combination with it. The Poruwa ceremony takes about 45 minutes, where the groom would be escorted by colorfully attired traditional dancers and drummers to a small stage which is called the Poruwa, which would be beautifully decorated with flowers. You could also make it a bit more exciting by arriving on the back of a elaborately dressed elephant. The entire ceremony is performed on the Poruwa and at the conclusion, the couple will light a traditional oil lamp which symbolizes their togetherness and resolve to be committed to each other for a brighter future. To organize a wedding in Sri Lanka you can use the services of the hotel you are planning to have it in or a local wedding planner.

If the thought of a Sri Lankan wedding excites you, it is important that you have reliable source to rent a car from in which you can do all your Sri Lanka travel. It is advisable that you rent a car from a reputed and established Sri Lanka car rental. Malkey Rent A Car will ensure that you have the perfect car on time with a chauffer to make your wedding day that much special.

Travel

The Dikwella Blow Hole

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe February 27, 2011 November 13, 2019

Dikwella is a quiet coastal town some 20 kilometres to the east of Matara in the South of Sri Lanka. Up until recently, the place was only of interest to Buddhist pilgrims on their way to pay homage to the Wewurukulana Vihara along the Beliatta road, the site of the tallest Buddha stature in Sri Lanka. In recent decades however, the town is growing in popularity as a tourist resort and with it, more and more people are discovering the fascinating natural phenomenon found nearby – the Blow Hole of Dikwella.

A blow hole is a something which occurs when a rock set upon high tides contains a fissure. When the pressure of the collected water below grows high, a jet of water forces its way upward from within the fissure, creating what is known as a blow hole. This is a very rare and engaging natural phenomenon.

Despite its name, the blow hole is actually found at Kudawela, 6 kilometres to the east of Dikwella. Here, secreted in a beautiful beach of golden surf and turquoise sea is found the only blow hole in the country; one of the handful found in the world. This is locally known as the “Hoo-maniya”, named thus because of the sound the blow hole makes before the water spurts upward. R.L. Broheir first catapulted this site into the international awareness by including an account of it in his famous book “Seeing Ceylon”, published in the 1960s.

Today, the popularity of the blow hole as a tourist attraction is evidenced by the number of food and drink kiosks and vendors who cluster around the shallow stairs that lead up the cliff. The sea-food delicacies hawked here are a particular favourite among sight-seers.

The blow hole is seen upon a wide expanse of rock atop a cliff. The stream of water spurts up from a fissure that runs down a split in the middle of the rock. The ominous “hoo-hoo” noise that emanates from this opening can be heard like distant thunder from some distance away. This is the sound of the water pressure rising, causing onlookers to tense in anticipation.
However, the moment when the fountain erupts upward always catches them unawares. A loud whooshing sound accompanies a great sea spray shoots into the sky, reaching to a height of 120 feet at times before forming a mushroom at its apex and drenching sight-seers around.

Although this usually happens at 10-15 minute intervals, the wait is always tense, especially for a photographer waiting to capture the fountain in all its glory. Only the lucky and persevering few are rewarded in this respect. The monsoon season of June to July is considered the time when the blow hole is at its finest.

Visitors who travel here to view this rare occurrence can also delight in the surrounding shore, which is among some of the loveliest Sri Lanka beaches, with rock pools of vibrant fish and shallows suitable for swimming. The resorts of the John Keells Hotels Group are recommended options for those seeking accommodation at one of the nearby Sri Lanka beach hotels, as this chain of hotels is a well-reputed for its luxury hospitality.

Travel

Beaches

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe February 25, 2011 November 13, 2019

When it comes to a tropical beach holiday in Asia, the enigmatic and bountiful allure of Thailand is quite unmistakable. The seafront landscape of the land teems with holidaymakers every year as they crowd the sun-swept beaches to enjoy the best beach vacation you can find in Asia. The cream of Thai beaches are found towards the South of the country as the land thins out and reaches out like an arm into the sea, and the Si Kao district in Trang province is never a place overlooked in the hunt for the perfect seaside.

Si Kao is home to several outstandingly beautiful beaches along its coastline. Apart from that, an inquisitive traveller is free to explore inland as the district has several other places bound to stoke your curiosity such as the Wat Tham Khaopedan caves and Angthong waterfall. The beaches of Si Kao are good for a nice refreshing swim, a bit of surfing or just soaking up the sun lazing on the sands, and they are home to many chic resorts and hotels as well.

One of the most well-known among Si Kao’s beaches is Pakmeng beach which lies towards the south west. The waters are very shallow here, and even if it’s not ideal for a swim, the place is good for some family fun or just wading out to explore the islands dotting the shoreline. Further along near the Si Kao bay, you will find the lesser known but picturesque beachfront of Kong Thuan which is an ideal hangout if you’re in the mood for some solitude and peace of mind. Hat Chao Mai National Park is also close by, where beachgoers enjoy the sunlight and shade in equal measure among green groves and clean white sands. Even if it is a favoured spot among travellers, you’ll find this beach to be quite peaceful. To your delight, most beaches of Si Kao will be having good food and beverages available, with showers and toilet facilities close at hand.

Beaches around Si Kao and in the Province of Trang in general have no lack of visitors, and ever in demand Si Kao hotels are set and waiting to welcome them to a holiday worth enjoying to your heart’s content. Hotels in Si Kao such as the Anantara Saiko, Thailand are stylish affairs that proudly embrace the delightfully pleasant Thai traditions which are bound to leave you with a lingering feeling of familiarity and homely warmth. Enjoy your stay at the hotels and resorts but do not stop your quest for the perfect beach; apart from what’s mentioned here, the coast of Si Kao are home to many more wondrous stretches of sand that are waiting to be explored.

Travel

Arts in the Park

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe February 23, 2011 November 13, 2019

On its surface, Singapore can be dismissed out of hand by the weary traveler as yet another sterile and superficial Asian city, a mere shopaholic’s dream. However, this description barely scratches the surface of the soul and innovation of its people who are the product of a cultural and ethnic melting pot, shaped by the influences of all four corners of the globe. This trait is best showcased when the normally staid and orderly streets erupt in the profusion of light and color brought on by a national festival.

The Arts in the Park Festival can be said to be one of the most charismatic and vivacious of the Singaporean calendar of events. Held throughout the month of July, coinciding with the riotous Food Festival, this event features a myriad of musical and dramatic performances, arts shows and street theatre all coming to life in makeshift performance and exhibition venues formed by the city-state’s many parks and outdoor venues. Musical performances are the most appreciated type of entertainment by the masses in search of revelry, from choir to bands to Chinese Orchestra, although it is customary to find almost any type of street entertainment amply well attended with jam-packed crowds.

The Arts in the Park Festival puts great emphasis on the creative development of children and youths. As such, most of the amateur drama and concerts which take place in the beautifully landscaped and famously clean parks of the city are comprised of students and young adults. The Art Park in particular has a Park Stage for such performances, as well as the Trees of Arts and Creativity Stage which facilitate interactions between adult audiences and the young talent, creating an environment of artistic enrichment and inter-generational dialogue through the medium of the arts. The Art Park also hosts exhibitions featuring the entries submitted to the art competition organized by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which was introduced as a means of commemorating the new bridge at whose northern end the park is located.

This is only one of the many such draws and entertainments offered by Singapore during the summer months which can be enjoyed by tourists staying at a Singapore hotel. For those looking for a five star hotel in Singapore that affords them both ease of access to the Festival’s most happening places and value for money, you can’t go wrong when making a reservation at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Located at the heart of the city-state’s business district and in convenient proximity to its major transport links, the colonial style hotel is also a Singaporean landmark and the first choice of the elite and the exclusive.

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