Thaipusam Festival Malaysia 2025
Every year the impressive Thaipusam Festival celebrations take place inside the Batu caves near Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam is a Hindu event dedicated to Lord Murugan …
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Every year the impressive Thaipusam Festival celebrations take place inside the Batu caves near Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam is a Hindu event dedicated to Lord Murugan …
It’s that time of the year again that love birds look forward to, many singles dread, and some brave souls try to ignore. The least that could be said about…
Mark Heath took some time out to visit Merida Venezuela, the city considered by many to have the highest quality of life in the South American country. Nestled in the…
Chinese New Year is undoubtedly China’s pre-eminent and most intense festive period characterised by sumptuous family meals, the colour red, paper lanterns and lots…
At the end of his week’s trip through California, Mark Bibby Jackson follows some of his favourite movies through the streets of San Francisco and finds amid all the amazing…
There is no event that encapsulates the multi-cultural nature of Singapore than the Chingay Parade, held each year during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Literally meaning…
Singapore commemorates the 200th anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles landing in Singapore, which was one of the key turning points in Singapore’s 700 year history…
Searching for peace, quiet and beauty, Johan Smits finds in Luang Prabang a stunning little town at a crossroads. One tropical evening we find ourselves sitting in the nearly empty…
Continuing his journey from Tuolumne County to San Francisco, Mark Bibby Jackson pops in on Tri-Valley California and discovers a thing or two about fine wines. “I can detect tobacco…
If sheep shearing is your thing then the village of Khot in Syunik, Armenia is the place to head for in June. There the Sheep Shearing Festival sees the local people of Vayoc, Dzor and Syunik keeping alive…
Experience the opulence of Nowruz – or Persian New Year – in March with an abundance of food, music and hospitality in one of many Persian-heritage countries. Nowruz Meaning Nowruz…
Eerie, identical wax masks, colossal ostrich plume hats, confetti in churches and orange throwing: the medieval Carnaval de Binche (or Binche Carnival) is like no other in the world. In…
Irene Caswell takes a micro-break to the Midhurst Spread Eagle in the West Sussex market town and discovers a hotel steeped in history that is truly fit for a Queen…
Thailand’s first ever Bangkok Art Biennale 2018, the biggest contemporary art event in the country’s history, is still ongoing until 3 February next year and has so far received overwhelmingly…
On a trip to Yosemite Park and Tuolumne County, Mark Bibby Jackson glories in the vast open spaces, incredibly friendliness and wonderful nature, as he discovers another side to California…
The streets and canals of Amsterdam will once more host the tenth Amsterdam Light Festival this winter, from 28 November, 2024 to 19 January, 2025. The theme of the 2024 Light Festival will be Rituals…
Tsagaan Sar or Mongolia’s lunar new year is the most important festival for ethnic Mongols and the people of the Arctic where age-old rituals combine with eating local delicacies such…
The Voodoo Festival or the Fête du Vaudou is a celebration of traditional religions in the West African country of Benin, the cradle of the voodoo cult. Voodoo claims a prominent place …
The biggest event of indigenous warrior tribes in India’s Nagaland state, the 10-day Hornbill Festival in December sees singing, dance and sports performances mix with traditional crafts…
On his annual Isle of Wight holidays Mark Bibby Jackson takes a step back in history, as well as visiting a few familiar haunts. The Isle of Wight has always…
For a small island nation, cultural Taiwan has been punching well above its weight with the establishment of several world-class performance venues in only…
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a stroll down memory lane in London’s South Bank, visiting the transformed Borough Market and popping in on the Tate Modern…
From Joyce to Yeats and Wilde, Ireland has been renowned for its literary prowess, come this November you can meet the finest crop of the Emerald Isle’s bards at the Dublin Book Festival…
After travelling around the Cape in Patagonia, Mark Bibby Jackson heads to the Pacific for a meeting with the famous Easter Island statues or moai, and somewhat outstays…
For many an appreciation of the culture of the country or community that you visit on your holidays is a major part of the travelling experience, especially for the more mature traveller.
Whether you are taking a short city break to Amsterdam or Paris, or going on a longer trip to a distant and exciting land, your experience is enriched by an appreciation of the local culture.
Ideally, time your trip to coincide with a major festival. At Travel Begins at 40 we have a whole section devoted to some of the most colourful and spectacular festivals from around the world. So whether it is the whirling dervishes of Konya, Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, the Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia or Benin’s Voodoo Festival that tickles your cultural fancy, let us guide your way.
Visiting an unfamiliar country can lead to a bit of a cultural shock, but don’t let this put you off making that special journey. Often it is when we leave our comfort zone that we reap most rewards.
Not that we always have to travel that far to have a rich and rewarding cultural experience. Hull is the current city of culture in the UK, and a trip there can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. Enjoy it.