September 7, 2010
June 4, 2010
Vacation at a Culinary Festival to Put Some Yum in Your Fun
At the mention of California, most conjure up images of a popular tourist destination: famous celebrities, warm beaches, and glittering Hollywood. Lesser known is the fact that this almost eternally sunny state, also leads the nation in food and agricultural production. Combined with a diverse demographic, this means that California houses a variety of culturally rich year-round food festivals. A selection of notable festivals can be found in Long Beach, a coastal city in Southern California that is also a popular vacation destination.
The first is the Crawfish Festival, held at Rainbow Lagoon. For the past 16 years, annual festival goers have enjoyed this lively festival, from dancing to Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orleans music to diving into fresh crawfish prepared Louisiana-style by authentic Cajun chefs. Plenty of adult drink options are available: beer, wine, margaritas, as well as the unique "Screaming Crawfish." Additionally, activities appeal to all ages: the younger crowds can enjoy arts and crafts booths, while anyone can rock out to the soulful groove of real New Orleans bands. The joy of the dancing, feasting crowds in the summer at this popular Crawfish Festival is infectious!
Chocoholics will be happy to know of an entire three-hour event devoted to their favorite mouth-watering dessert. At the Belmont Shore Community Chocolate Festival, one of the area's most popular community events, visitors can snack on a variety of scrumptious treats, provided by participating local merchants. Visitors can also get hands-on in the Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest, held from 2 PM to 3 PM, while kids can join the fun Chocolate Pie Eating Contest at 3:30 PM. Throughout the entire event, live music will be performed. All festival events and activities will be held across from Belmont Shore Washington Mutual Bank.
Another popular food festival in Rainbow Lagoon is The Original Long Beach Lobster Festival, a 3-day extravaganza. The Maine Lobsters are flown in each night fresh from the Atlantic Ocean, and served by Bristol Farms Master Chef Bruce Jacobs and his dedicated crew. One can choose between a 1.25 lb. or 2 lb. lobster, which comes accompanied with melted butter dipping sauce, freshly-sliced lemons, coleslaw, dinner roll, and juicy watermelon. The international food court also offers a variety of tasty options, including ribs, chicken, Jamaican and Asian fusion food. Children can stay entertained by magicians, storytellers and inflatable bounces.
Lastly, the Long Beach Greek Festival, a fun 60-year old tradition celebrated by thousands of visitors, is a perfect way to spend one's Labor Day weekend. For three whole days, from noon to 9 PM, the schedule is packed with dance lessons, cooking demonstrations, church tours, travel videos, and vibrant live performances. A full carnival provides games for children, and specialty shops are available for shoppers. And of course, throughout the festival, one can feast on delicious Greek traditional food and desserts, such as moussaka, souvlakia, and baklava. This event provides a perfect, affordable peek into the rich culture of Greece!
Whether one seeks chocolate, shellfish, or Greek food, Long Beach's popular food festivals provide a number of great opportunities to satiate one's cravings. One can feast on delicious food, while enjoying live entertainment and time with one's family. The way to the heart is through the stomach, and Long Beach knows it!
December 30, 2009
Phuket Vegetarian Festival - convenient for tourists
The most important festival in Phuket takes place each year must certainly be the Vegetarian Festival. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket is during the first 9 days of the 9th lunar month of the traditional Chinese calendar.
The Vegetarian Festival is usually the last week of September, in the first week of October.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival organized every year to celebrate the beginning of Lent Taoist. Because of the largeNumber of Phuket residents with Chinese roots have given, the Taoist is a great group of people celebrated in Phuket. The festival begins with the Chinese religious believers completely give up all dairy products and meat.
The festivities in Phuket, which may occur during the Vegetarian Festival in one of the five largest Chinese temples are located in Phuket. Visiting the temples that are more Chinese Niaw Bang and the Jui Tui Chinese templeChinese Temple.
The vegetarian festival includes more than abstinence from meat and dairy products. Other parts of the festival is also offering for the monks of the temple, called the offering of gifts to the gods, the Nine Emperor awake during the festival, fireworks and cultural shows, but a few.
A number of participants in the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket to act as media between 9 gods on earth. The media are trying to reach a particular state of trance. Once theseTrance state is reached, the cheeks are pierced by numerous sharp objects like knives and spears.
Subsequently, these special vegetarian Media Festival are all in a grand procession, which were worn by many stores, the altars are placed along the road with special offers. The means of taking the fruits are offered to them by the shopkeepers and add the offer of sharp objects that will stick to her cheeks. If there is space available for the mediaThe offer is to give spectators.
It is a sign of good luck and a blessing when we received a gift from one to the media during the festival procession.
The atmosphere of the Vegetarian Festival is certainly unique, and should require each traveler will learn to stay on the island during the event. If you were to describe the whole event in a few words, then the party could be described as a religious mania.
Wherever you are, you will seeritual dance spectacular fireworks loud, blood-stained shirt from the media, old and religious devotion paid activities.
If you ask residents of Phuket with Chinese roots to the origin of the festival will be said, a tragic story. It is said that visiting a Chinese Theater in Phuket about an hour and a half century ago.
Chinese troops were hit by a tragedy if all the members of the Chinese theater has become seriously ill. The story continueswho have become sick because they had to offer compared to the nine emperor gods of Taoism. The only way in which China was able to heal themselves members of an ensemble, has been awarded a 9 days, containing only vegetarian, much thought and the actions themselves piercing.
December 26, 2009
Thailand Festival - The best time to visit Thailand and enjoy its famous festival
Thailand is abundant with festivals and in all honesty, there is no time of year when you can not see enjoying a festival, but here are some of the most popular festivals around Thailand throughout the year.
Earlier this year, the month of January offers the Chiang Mai Winter Fair in Chiang Mai and the River of Kings Festival of Bangkok. Chiang Mai Winter Fair offers galleries, music, competitions and even beauty contests, while the River of Kings Festival a little 'morewith a formal play on the history of Thailand.
February is the year that the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, complete with flower-covered floats and Bangkok China Town Festival, which celebrates the Chinese New Year.
As the season begins, wind, bringing on March Asean Barred Ground Dove Festival gathering, where the pigeon owners from around the country Khwana Park in Muang district of Yala, pigeons display and compete forPrices.
April celebrates the Thai New Year with the Festival of Pattaya, followed by the Songkran Festival, which is also used at the national level, but especially those in Khao San Road, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
May is a month particularly festive occasion of the Royal Plowing ceremony in Bangkok, which celebrates the beginning of the rice and planning the season, Visakha Bucha, a religious festival celebrated by the Buddha Germany and Schleswig-Holstein Thuringia Rocket Festival, which gives the mostrockets explosives. This is an eye and ear opening so that young and old enjoy.
July brings the popular Festival Candle in Tung Sri Muang, Muang District, province of Ubon Ratchathani. Visitors will find displays large, beautiful, candle, and recommended to local temples.
August celebrates the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen at the national level.
September is the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival (famous for the bloody shows of people impaled bya great variety of objects and not for the faint of heart) and the races a lot less bloody Phichit River Nan.
October celebrates the Wax Castle Festival held at the national level, but is particularly evident in Sakon Nakhon, the Chon Buri Buffalo Races, and the procession lit party boat along the Mekong River.
November begins the peak season from Nationwide celebrated another month to party with the Loy Krathong, the Surin Elephant RoundupRiver Kwai Bridge Week in Kanchanaburi and the Festival Phimai.
December ended the year with a national celebration of the birthday of the king and the Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
Festivals in Thailand are provided according to the lunar calendar. Check the exact date of each party, before making your hotel reservations and travel plans.