Saturday, May 16, 2015

TRAVEL SPECIAL.............. Travel planner - Fest-trotting

Travel planner - Fest-trotting


Get ready for the best summer carnivals this season

TWILIGHT TREAT
When night becomes secretly indistinguishable from day and a lively, romantic flurry of people can be heard on the walkways and alongside the city canals... you know it's that time of the year in St Petersburg, Russia. The city's streetlights are switched off and crackling fireworks light up the horizon on The White Nights Festival, a name given to those nights in high latitude locales across the world where it never gets completely dark. People make the most of this daylight phenomenon in St Petersburg to venture out for some of the most seasoned ballet and opera performances at the famed Mariinsky Theater.When: May 27­Jul 10 Highlight: Painterly skies, Scarlet Sails ritual on the Neva river.

MASKED MAGIC
This is a quirky one. Uncanny masks, bizarre dance movements and a resonating toll of wind instruments. The music starts on a slow note, keeps picking up pace and eventually reaches a hair-raising climax! The Hemis Festival of Ladakh is a unique spectacle. Just slip on your DSLR and capture colourful bright brocades and richly-adorned papier mâché masks at this two-day extravaganza. The festival is held at the Hemis Gompa, the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, home to more than 500 monks. Watch the lamas performing the mystic mask dance, accompanied by sounds of cymbals and large pan drums. While you're there, enjoy the local thukpa at the Tibetan cafe right outside the monastery. Also don't miss adventure safaris on yaks and camels.When: June 26­27. Highlight: Buy handicrafts near the monastery.

`MANLY' GAMES
Witness the quintessential Mongolian art of horse racing with a festival of sports and revelry in Ulaanbaatar. Naadam celebrates Mongolia's independence and its rich cultural heritage.Colourful ceremonies and parading soldiers kick off the jubilations at this fest of three `manly' games -wrestling, horse racing and archery. What's most interesting is that the competitors in the riding events are all children aged between 5 and 12, many of whom have been in the saddle since the age of one. Sample khuurshuur¸ a delicious fried meat dumpling; Mongolian-style meat, bread and dried curds, among other tradition al food at the fest.When: July 11­13.Highlight: Spend nights camping under the star dazzling skies during the fest.

GOAN GLEE
This festival captures the true Goan spirit. Held in the glorious mon; soon season when Goa is lush green, the Sao Joao Festival is dedicated to St John the Baptist. It is cel attending the Hemis ebrated in Festival in Ladakh Siolim with this summer a traditional boat parade flaunt ing flowers, flags and beautiful creepers. `Jumping with joy' in wa ter is the highlight of this fest. So n you will find villagers happily jumping into wells, streams and h ponds, to signify the joy felt by St John when Jesus was born. Visitors made of leaves and flowers, called kopel in local parlance. A grand feast is organised where the key dish is `patodio', a sweet delicacy prepared from rice, with a stuffing of grated coconut. With resorts organising pool parties and private rain bashes, this is a complete entertainment wrap up.When: June 24.Highlight: Short plays and songs by Goa's famous Tiartris are on the cards.

STARRY STAMPEDE
Don your denims and slip into your cowboy boots. It is time for Calgary Stampede. It's like watching a west ern with tourists strutting about in their cowboy attire and the most seasoned rodeos, and ropers deck ing the show. For 10 days in July, Calgary in Canada turns into one big Wild West city. There are competitions for bare back riding, barrel racing and steer wrestling amongst others. Time to head outdoors guys! When: Mid-July.Highlight: Pick up an authentic cowboy keepsake at the Stampede Market.
supriya sharma2

TL 10MAY15

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