FESTIVAL WATCH
HOLI
March 1-2
Regional
Known as the ‘festival of colours‘ or
the ‘festival of love‘, Holi celebrates
everything under the sun – good
over evil, arrival of spring, repaired
relationships, you name it. Of all the
rituals involved, the most renowned
is the colour fight, where powders in
red, blue, yellow, turmeric and green
are smeared, thrown and shot from
water guns as a gesture of blessing.CRUCIFIXION RE-ENACTMENT
March 30
Pampanga, Philippines
Three villages – San Juan, San
Jose and Sta. Lucia – in the area
hold daylong passion plays every
Good Friday depicting the suffering
of Christ. Men are whipped and
nailed to crosses. Though it’s not
recommended by the country’s
religious leaders, the gory tradition
continues to draw crowds in Asia’s
largest Roman Catholic nation.SPRING SCREAM
April 5-7
Kenting
Held every year since 1995 at the tip
of the island that a handful of surfers
and divers call home, the outdoor
music festival is now one of the
biggest events of the Taiwanese indie
music scene.SONGKRAN
April 13-15
Thailand
The Thais ring in the New Year by
getting soaked. Celebrated across
the country, the Songkran Festival is
the time for street parties and water
fights to not only wash away bad luck
and sins, but to also cool off during
the hottest month of the year.GO NOW – FIJI
Fiji is a safe bet throughout the year. Dubbed the ‘Soft Coral Capital of the World’, the island reefs boast
more than 300 species of soft and hard corals and more than 1,000 species of fish. Besides the reefs, other
highlights are shark encounters, swim-throughs and caverns and high-octane wall- and drift-dives.
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GO NOW – NEW ZEALAND
The first month of autumn sees the onset of fall foliage, to be enjoyed along one of the many tramping
trails, or perhaps viewed from a kayak in the Abel Tasman National Park (above), the sheltered Marlborough
Sounds or along the Whanganui River.
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THINK TWICE – AUSTRALIA
Parts of the country are still under a Fire Ban, with weather remaining extremely dry. The high risk
of fire means tour operators may be reluctant to start their seasons. Keep abreast of the latest
status at http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au and check with your guides for updates.
PHOTO CREDIT: LIGHTFOOT TRAVEL
PHOTO CREDIT: TALANOA TREKS
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March/April 2018 —