For decades, Sri Lanka was battling political unrest. A civil-war between Tamil insurgents and the Sinhalese government almost destroyed the tourism industry. Then, the tsunami of 2004 devastated certain coastal regions of the country. Luckily, the riots have ended and the coastlines have been restored, and this tear-drop shaped paradise off the Southern coast of India is waiting to be rediscovered by travelers worldwide.
It is easy to list generic enticements to visit Sri Lanka, …
Want a Halloween celebration full of fantastical costumes, throbbing music and jumping bodies? Welcome to the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, the world’s largest Halloween street party. It’s a Halloween celebration that’s both family-friendly and hedonistic at the same time. If you love Halloween, dressing up, or just partying with thousands in the street, then making a pilgrimage to West Hollywood for the Carnaval is a must.
West Hollywood – known to locals as WeHo – …
I KNEW I’d had too much to drink when everyone in the room began to look attractive — all 5,000 of them.
That tall, blond Germanic look can quiver my heart even when it’s perfectly sober. Yet perhaps sinking a bottle and a half of wine single-handedly was bordering on the excessive. But what’s a girl to do when the waiter refuses to prance around delivering one pathetic glass of wine at a time because …
For three days each year in August, more than 20,000 people converge on Killorglin in Kerry in Southwest Ireland for the coronation of a goat. But not just any goat. No sir. That is King Puck on the stage in the center of town overlooking the river Laune. It is best to be full of good spirit in the King’s presence, because everyone else is! A three-day event commences amidst traditional Irish music. Saturday is …
Every summer, Irish Counties such as Mayo, Kerry, and Waterford celebrate the “Pattern,” or their Patron Saint feast days. Ardmore, a sea-side village in County Waterford, upholds the true Irish spirit of its yearly Pattern Festival with full pints and traditional Irish tunes.
Having been settled by St. Declan before the introduction of St. Patrick to the Emerald Isle, Ardmore is said to be Ireland’s oldest Christianised settlement. Aird Mhór, meaning Great Height, has been …
Rich in 18th century history, Colonial Williamsburg has much more to offer its visitors than just vast stores of historical knowledge. The lush landscape takes on a nearly tropical feel during the summer months and can make a visit to this lovely, educational vacation destination feel like more of a life experience than a quick vacation getaway. Family members of all ages will be able to find activities and entertainments to suit their desires …
Is normal travel becoming a yawn? Well why not try a new era as well as a new place. Head to the Roman ruin of Jerash to experience gladiators battling it out or joust-it-up with the knights of Kaltenberg Castle; from local festivals to historic re-enactments, the world is full of wacky ways you can journey back in time, not just across oceans.
Up Helly Aa Festival, Shetland Islands, UK
Pillaged, plundered and then settled …
When people think of Easter, the typical images that come to mind are brightly colored eggs, furry rabbits, and overjoyed children wielding copious amounts of candy. However, when that spring day rolls around each year, we experience something much deeper and more spiritual than a simple Easter egg hunt. This beautiful holiday gives us time to step away from the daily grind and appreciate all of life’s blessings. While Easter is both fun and meaningful …
Bright colors, authentic Mexican food and the traditional sound of trumpets sounding from the mariachi group, these are but a few of the vital ingredients needed to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
The annual festival of Cinco de Mayo occurs on May 5th and is a celebration like no other. It is observed across the United States as an unofficial holiday to commemorate an exceptional victory in Mexican history. There are various celebrations across the country …
The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was celebrated in New York City, not Ireland, in 1762. That first parade consisted of a band of Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army which was stationed in New York City. The wearing of the green was a source of Irish pride; but at the time was banned in Ireland. The participants in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade reveled in their ability to freely speak …
