Statue Square Christmas Tree

Hong Kong’s skyline will shine with more glamour than usual as buildings get dressed up for the festive occasion.

Soak up the romantic ambience under the dazzling Statue Square Christmas Tree, standing in a forest of glittering skyscrapers in the heart of the city. Santa Claus and his friends will be making a number of visits that will delight the kids while Christmas choirs will be filling the air with classic carols.

Until January 1, MTR station Central, Exit K

Spectacular Light Shows

At Victoria Harbour, “A Symphony of Lights” is a magnificent display of dynamic lights synchronised to music. It was named the world’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show in Guinness World Records in 2005.

This year a new light show with music performed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra will be unveiled, with more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour erupting in a sensational spectacle.

In addition, for a magnificent splash of colour, the Hong Kong Pulse Light Show (until 28 December) is an exhilarating multimedia performance with spectacular lighting effects, 3D projection mapping, music and sound effects at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Open Piazza.

MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit L6 or J or MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit E, and follow the signs to the Cultural Centre

Hong Kong Disneyland

For children of all ages, you can’t miss a joyful visit to Disneyland. This breathtaking winter wonderland will be filled with Yuletide carols, magical lights, shimmering snowflakes and more.

Take selfies with your favourite Disney friends dressed in their holiday finery. This will also be an excellent chance to experience a White Christmas with festive Disney magic from day to night.

Until January 1, MTR station Disneyland Resort

Ocean Park Christmas Sensation

At Ocean Park, this year’s celebration will be marked by the first-ever virtual reality roller-coaster ride in Hong Kong, where thrill-seeking guests can don VR headsets and feel a surge of multisensory excitement during the ride. Several VR game zones have been set up to test the speed and strength of guests in action-packed game challenges.

Don’t miss the “Christmas Sensation”, with the park’s 40-foot tree, Santa’s Cottage, Garden of Romance and artificial snow, and the Christmas market, with its great gift inspirations. Catch the angelic choir performing classic carols and all-time favourites every night.

Until January 1, MTR station Ocean Park

Christmas in the Air at Harbour City

One of the top attractions during the season is the annual Christmas lighting display at Harbour City. With this year’s extraordinarily colourful theme “Christmas in the Air”, a giant Santa airship 20 metres long and seven metres high and with more than 2,000 LED lights shining in its body will be welcoming everyone to go on board and receive warm greetings from Santa.

Harbour City invited Hong Kong’s unmanned aerial vehicle expert George Chan to design the city’s first aerial-drone show, combined with the LED violin band and a hoop-dance performance.

Until January 1, MTR station Tsim Sha Tsui, Exit A1 or L5

New Year Countdown

Ring in 2018 with fireworks. A party atmosphere will take over the entire city on New Year’s Eve as throngs of revellers take part in the countdown. When the clock ticks down to midnight, “Magical Star Dusts” from fireworks and pyrotechnics will light up the skies and illuminate beautiful Victoria Harbour.

Grab this chance to “make a wish” upon the pyrotechnic “shooting stars” presented in four different colours, which symbolise love, health, happiness and wealth.

Here are some of the best vantage points:

* Along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, including the Cultural Centre Open Piazza and Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

* The Central Harbourfront area, including Central Piers 9 and 10

* Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai

Instead, why not check out the street parades in the Bahamas, take part in the largest mass kissing event in Venice or ring the old year out bell in Japan?

Freeport, Bahamas

Escape to the Bahamas this New Year’s Eve not just for the sun, sand and sea, but to immerse yourself in the wonderful Bahamian celebrations of Junkanoo. Tourists and locals alike gather together in colourful street parades to eat, drink, dance and celebrate a Bahamian take on Mardi Gras. Travellers will be in awe of the elaborate costumes and will want to dance along to the enticing beat as they are dazzled by street performers celebrating Bahamian arts and culture this New Year’s Eve.

Where to stay: The luxurious Dolphin Cove apartments boast an outdoor pool, a private marina and an ideal location just a short stroll from a sandy-white beach. After a fun-fuelled night of seeing in the New Year, travellers can relax on the terrace whilst enjoying beautiful marina views, cook up a storm with the onsite BBQ facilities or take a trip to Lucayan Beach where an array of restaurants and bars can be found.

Madrid, Spain

The lively and vibrant capital of Spain is a must-do for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Normally known for its delicious Spanish cuisine and electric nightlife scene, but when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve make sure you have a dozen grapes in hand instead of an alcoholic beverage. This is part of the nation’s unique tradition and superstition of grape eating, where Spaniards will eat a grape for each stroke of midnight, representing good luck for each month of the coming year.

Where to stay: Stay in the heart of Madrid at the trendy Home Select Gran Via Apartments offering a rooftop terrace, seasonal outdoor pool and fitness centre. Enjoy a selection of bars and restaurants, rent a bicycle to explore the bustling streets or take a short walk to Puerta del Sol, one of the best known and busiest places in the city.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro is like no other, from the magical beachfront fireworks along the iconic Copacabana Beach, to trendy cocktail clubs, swanky roof-top bars and mega nightclubs. But aside from the energetic nightlife scenes, Brazil maintains several New Year’s Eve traditions and superstitions. Celebrate New Year’s Eve like a local by wearing white (a superstition said to bring peace and prosperity) and honour the Goddess of the Ocean by jumping seven waves whilst making seven wishes at midnight. But be careful what you eat as this is believed to reflect your luck for the coming year; lentils supposedly bring good luck, however avoid tucking into turkey or crab on December 31 as both are considered unlucky.

Where to stay: The vibrant Injoy Hostel is located just a short stroll from Botafogo Beach and Copacabana Beach, perfect for celebrating New Years. Guests will appreciate the hostel’s 24-hour front desk and the fresh daily breakfast to help recover from the night before. Relax in the hostel’s shared lounge and garden and tick off the other sites with a trip to Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer Statue, both just a short drive away.

Tokyo, Japan

Japan’s New Year’s Eve celebrations (also known as Shogatsu) are a time for quiet reflection, unlike many Western-style festivities. Locals will partake in Hatsumode to mark the first shrine visit of the New Year, with popular temples such as Meiji Jingu receiving thousands of visitors to have their prayers heard by the gods. Head to Tokyo’s Buddhist temples to experience the “Joya No Kane” ritual of 108 bell rings at the stroke of midnight to have your heart, mind and soul cleansed.

Where to stay: The elegant APA Hotel Asakusa Tawaramachi Ekimae offers guests a luxurious stay for the New Year, with spa facilities and an onsite restaurant. Conveniently located with a short walk from the ancient Buddhist Sensoji Temple, guests can experience the “Joya No Kane” ritual first-hand and beat the crowds to partake in Hatsumode.

Venice, Italy

Want to ring in the New Year like a Venetian? Make sure you wear something red, and even better if you wear red underwear, as it will supposedly bring good luck for the coming year! For money and good fortune, be sure you dine on lentils and for richness of life try a spicy campione sausage. Once the feast is over, head to St Mark’s Square for huge celebrations with music, dance and fireworks and when the clock strikes twelve, pucker up for the mass kissing tradition.

Where to stay: A former monastery, the Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio offers a pretty courtyard and garden, fresh daily breakfasts and an ideal location with just a short walk from St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.

WITH MAGNIFICENT Baroque beauty and many more examples of a rich cultural heritage on every corner, Vienna can’t help but remind visitors of the bygone glories of the vast empire of which it was so long the capital.

It’s crucial, in seeking to know all about Vienna, to learn about its Habsburgs rulers, who, from the Imperial Palace and over the course of more than seven centuries, guided Austria to greatness.

It was history we hunted as we began a tour at Schonbrunn Palace – one of Europe’s most beautiful Baroque complexes and part of the Habsburgs’ holdings since 1569.

Tourists flock to Schonbrunn Palace, one of Europe’s most beautiful Baroque complexes.

Their former summer residence is utterly impressive with its ceremonial rooms and magnificent gardens. This was home half the year to Empress Maria Theresa and later Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.

The palace began as a hunting lodge, explained Jezz, our Thai guide, who’s lived in Vienna for more than a decade.

Theresa and her husband, Francis Stephen (Franz Stefan), set out in 1743 to remodel it as their summer residence, adding the gorgeous gardens in mimicry of the grounds of Versailles outside Paris.

The palace, now a Unesco World Heritage site, contains 1,441 rooms, 45 of which are open to visitors. While most of the design is Baroque, the high ceilings and other interior features follow the Rococo style.

A chart hangs on one wall showing the Hapsburg family tree, on which Jezz traced the imperial dynasty. It was interesting to note how two empresses stood out, rather than any one emperor, as is usually the case in other European locales.

Theresa was the only female ruler of the Habsburg hereditary lands and oversaw the conquest of much of Europe. She was the second child of Emperor Charles VI and came to the throne because there was no surviving brother.

Theresa and her husband Francis I, the Holy Roman Emperor, had 11 daughters, including the last queen of France, Marie Antoinette, who was to die on the revolutionaries’ guillotine soon after her mate, Louis XVI.

Theresa’s other daughters went on to become the queen of Naples and Sicily and the Duchess of Parma. Among her five sons were two who succeeded their father as Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II and Leopold II. With such lineage it was easy to see why she’s referred to as “the grandmother of Europe”.

Vienna Christmas World on Rathausplatz is a Yuletide delight.

“Her children got married without ever being in love with their spouses, only for political purposes,” Jezz said.

Portraits of Theresa and her husband hang on the lovely Blue Staircase, and in the Round Chinese Cabinet Hall was a genuine surprise – a secret room where Theresa conferred clandestinely with her chancellor. The floor pops up and down.

In the Convention Hall is a painting of tulips, significant as a reminder that in 1771 Theresa introduced the flower buds as a trading commodity, a system that famously became the precursor to stock exchanges. (There was even a tulip market “bubble” that caused havoc.)

The empress championed women’s greater role in society by giving them opportunities to work and by making it mandatory for every child to attend school – and for free, at that. The policy she introduced remains in place in Austria to this day, Jezz said.

From the summer residence to the winter residence, Hofburg Palace, the level of visitors’ amazement isn’t diminished by the change of seasons.

The Habsburgs lived in the Hofburg for more than 600 years, during which time it served as the centre of the Holy Roman Empire.

It boasts the Sisi Museum, named for the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I – Elizabeth, who was known by that nickname. Born into the royal Bavarian house of Wittelsbach, Elisabeth spent her childhood in relative freedom and never got used to the rigid protocols of the Habsburg court.

Hofburg Palace is illuminated by night.

Early in the marriage she was at odds with her mother-in-law, who believed the king’s consort had only one duty – to produce an heir to the throne. The birth of a male heir, Rudolf, improved her standing at court considerably, but her health suffered under the strain, and she often travelled to Hungary to relax. Her affection for that country helped bring about the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867.

The death of Rudolf and his mistress in an 1889 murder-suicide was a blow from which Elisabeth never recovered, Jezz told us. She withdrew from court duties and travelled more widely, obsessively seeking ways to maintain her legendary youthful appearance. While in Geneva in 1898, though, she was stabbed to death by an Italian anarchist.

These are the stories related in a museum exhibition – her rebelliousness, her escape into a “beauty cult”, her athleticism and her gift for poetry.

There are 300 personal objects on display, from Sisi’s parasols, fans and gloves to her beauty preparations, a milk glass in its own travelling case, and even the original death certificate.

Upstairs are the imperial couple’s private and official chambers. Elisabeth’s fame as the most beautiful queen in Europe is more easily understood in her Dressing Room and Exercise Room, where Jezz said her days began at 6am with a hairdressing ritual that would last at least three hours. She’d go on to do a routine of gymnastic exercises, somehow keeping her coiffure undisturbed.

Belvedere Palace, a particular must-see for art lovers, was the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was as successful at collecting art as he was in military campaigns. There are two parts to this architectural jewel – the Upper and Lower Belvedere. The Upper houses one of Austria’s most valuable art collections, with works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Kiss” is on view in the Upper Belvedere Palace.

In fact it holds the world’s largest collection of oil paintings by Klimt – 24 in all – including two masterpieces from his so-called Golden Period, “Judith” and “The Kiss (Lovers)” from 1908-09, the latter showing the artist and his friend posing as a couple deeply in love.

Three days are definitely not enough time to fully appreciate all that the capital has to share. For us, though, we at least felt fortunate to be there at the start of the winter festive season, with all the Christmas markets appearing in the pretty city squares.

Vienna Christmas World on Rathausplatz next to City Hall is the biggest and loveliest. A huge tree adorned with lights glitters over 150 colourful stalls selling gift items, handicrafts, food, sweets and warming drinks.

As we left Vienna, an early Christmas gift arrived for us. The first snow of the season was falling.

The writer travelled to Vienna courtesy of THAI Airways International and the Vienna Tourist Board.

When in Vienna, eat like the Viennese

TRADITIONAL VIENNESE coffeehouses are famous for their friendly good cheer, a concept known in German as gemutlichkeit. It’s so unique to Austria that it was recognised by Unesco in 2011 as a form of intangible cultural heritage.

You can typically get all kinds of coffee, fantastic pastries and newspapers from around the world. There’s nothing to compare with leisure time spent over coffee and homemade cake at the charming Cafe Central near Hofburg Palace, though the queue to get in can be long.

Cafe Sperl has been a popular dining spot since 1880.

For lunch in a proper Viennese atmosphere, Cafe Sperl on Gumpendorfer Strasse, founded in 1880, is wonderful. The interior is authentic 19th century, even if the pool tables are more recent additions.

Don’t fail to order Wiener schnitzel, the breaded, fried cutlets, and follow that up with unbeatable apple strudel.

IF YOU GO

>> Thai Airways International (THAI) has four round-trip direct flights per week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The journey takes about 10 hours.

The beach and pool villas have direct access to the shimmering turquoise lagoon in a tropical paradise. Romantic dining options include a candlelit dinner on the beach, a sunset cruise, a private picnic on nearby Dream Island, the romantic Champagne Pavilion at the ocean villa jetty and the scene stealing 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, as well as the Aquarium Restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean and Canneli Restaurant for all day dining. All set the perfect scene for popping the question or redeclaring your love.

Hurawalhi’s overwater Duniye Spa also offers a range of treatments inspired by ancient and modern expertise from around the globe with a strong influence from the healing traditions of Asia and Africa, including the use of local ingredients and treatments inspired from traditional cultures.

For activity seekers there is tennis, badminton and beach volleyball, a sports fishing boat for deep-sea fishing excursions. A diver’s paradise awaits, with guided diving and snorkelling boat trips available and a complete PADI training centre. Water sports options include jet skis, para-gliding, water skiing wakeboarding, paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaks and catamarans.

Hurawalhi is offering a Romantic Valentine’s Getaway which includes round trip seaplane transfers from Male to Hurawalhi for two; four or five nights’ accommodation in an Ocean Pool Villa, Signature Him & Her Couples Spa Treatment at the over-water Duniye Spa including Champagne and romantic bath experience after treatment; private Ppcnic on Dream Island, private sunset dolphin cruise by Ocean Water Sports, private turtle snorkel trip by Ocean Water Sports, four course lunch in iconic 5.8 underwater restaurant; and a 30 minute photo shoot by the hotel’s residential professional photography team for the souvenir shots.

For those wanting to propose on the most romantic day of the year, Hurawalhi’s Romance Team is also able to arrange a unique proposal setting for your preferable choices. Among the options are underwater proposal at the resort’s undersea 5.8 restaurant when divers unroll a “Will you Marry Me Banner at the magic moment; underwater proposal with an underwater banner during a private diving session; dinner for two on the beach or on the private deck of your villa; secluded sandbank proposal on Dream Island; sunset proposal at sea during a cruise; private villa proposal over a romantic dinner overlooking the ocean or beach; and champagne pavilion proposal at prime sunset watching spot.

The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Package rates start from USD6,884 (Bt225,000) for four nights and USD7,984 for five nights. The package is valid from January 6 to April 15.

Book your romantic break by emailing reservations@hurawalhi.com or visit http://www.Hurawalhi.com.

The bar, the first permanent PDT outside the Big Apple, will serve a wide range of creative cocktails developed by renowned mixologists Jim Meehan and Jeff Bell, along with their talented team.

Following in the tradition of the original, guests will enter the Hong Kong space through a hidden entrance disguised as a phone booth in the hotel’s MO Bar. The interiors flow from the pen of n of Hong Kong designer-of-the-moment, Nelson Chow, and will be a playful mix of vintage and modern classics, with a nod to the bar’s New York roots seen in the selection of eclectic taxidermy on the walls.

The bar also introduces a creative culinary partnership with the city’s leading and most acclaimed chefs, which will be rotated each season. The inaugural free-range pork, chicken and beef hotdog has been created by the hotel’s celebrated culinary director, Richard Ekkebus and further food offerings will be his take on American comfort foods.

Find out more details at http://www.MandarinOriental.com/landmark.

THE MOUNTAINS of Northern Thailand are beautiful at any time of year but they are at their very best in winter, when the land is blanketed with colourful flowers as far as the eye can see.

Nowhere is this more true than in Doi Tung, a remote area that 30 years ago was home to some of the poorest people in Thailand, their meagre earnings coming from growing the opium poppies so prized by the rich warlords who controlled the Golden Triangle.

Today the land is covered with organic crops and beautiful blooms and its residents are thriving thanks to the Doi Tung Development Project.

We’re up here at the invitation of Central Food Retail, who has organised a three-day trip to thank its biggest purchasers of Tops organic products.

The Hall of Inspiration presents several exhibitions about the Princess Mother and her family and the royal initiatives. 

Run by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, the site was set up in 1988 by Her Royal Highness the late Princess Mother to reforest the bare mountains and educate villagers about sustainable horticulture. These days it occupies more than 93,000 rai and is home to the villages of six hilltribes – the Lahu, Tai Lue, Akha, Lua, Shan and Chinese, the latter the descendants of Chiang Kai Shek’s soldiers who settled here after World War II.

Our first stop is the two-rai agricultural demonstration plot and macadamia factory. Macadamia nut is considered as the king of nuts as it is low in cholesterol. Growing the nuts requires patience, as it takes seven years before the first nuts can be harvested. These trees have been treated with Mother Nature’s pheromone to protect them from bugs, fertilised with bark and pollinated by the local honeybees.

“We used to import young macadamia trees from Australia but now we have developed our own species that’s suited to Thailand’s climate. The nuts can be harvested from February to November, and each tree produces about 50 kilograms nuts a year,” says Surasak Siangdee, who’s in charge of the factory.

A member of staffs demonstrates how to select the macadamia nuts before they’re roasted.

“We’re the only one to produce macadamia honey in Thailand and this reflects the abundance of our forests. The nuts are roasted for one to two weeks before being infused with six flavours – seaweed, pizza, wasabi, honey, natural and salt.”

Another part of the project is planted with Arabica coffee, which thrives at a altitude of 800 metres. In 1989, the Department of Agricultural Extension supplied the Arabica coffee species, called F 8, which offered disease resistance. All the red cherries here are harvested by hand and promoted as single-origin.

“We just learned a new technique to manage coffee plantations from specialists in Guatemala. It’s not worth cultivating plants older than 30 years so we spent five years growing a new selection of 500,000 young coffee plants to renew our farm. We also teamed up with Japanese coffee hunter Jose Kawashima to create farm management and cup taste programs, focusing on productivity,” explains Luang Namyee, chief of coffee extension.

The Mae Fah Luang botanical garden is the biggest rhododendron garden in the Southeast Asia. 

Opened in 2007, the Hall of Inspiration takes visitors back to the project’s beginnings through several interactive exhibitions. It has seven rooms, through which the story of the Mahidol Family and the royal initiatives to help people improve the quality of their lives are told. Visitors can admire rarely seen photographs of the Princess Mother and her family as well as some imitation collectibles.

We join a handicraft workshop on making tung sai moo – an elaborate lantern made from paper named because it looks like a pig’s intestine. Here it’s used to pay homage to Phra That Doi Tung and the Tai Lue, Yuan and Tai Yai believe the lantern will lead them to heaven.

We tuck into afternoon tea in the delightful ambience of Mae Fah Luang arboretum, feeding our tummies with delicious snacks and feasting our eyes on the largest rhododendron garden in Southeast Asia in dazzling red, pink and orange.

The Tree Top Walk is Doi Tung’s newest attraction

“This landscaped garden occupies 63 rai and combines several rhododendron species from Australia, Belgium, Japan and China as well as other seasonal blossoms like dahlia, amaryllis and New Guinea impatiens. With an average temperature at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, rhododendron grows very well at altitudes of 1,000 metres up,” says Thawatchai Yaibua, the arboretum’s manager.

“Our garden is a popular bird-watching spot, where visitors can see grey-winged blackbirds and white-rumped shamas who migrate here from China and Siberia during December to April.”

Renowned chef Ian Kittichai feeds us on a four-course dinner using organic ingredients from the royal project and Tops supermarket such as macadamias, strawberries, Meishan pork, duck and organic vegetables and the meal kicks off with Crispy Duck with seasonal greens served in honey and mustard dressing. New England Chowder, tender Pork Bourguignon paired with mushroom and truffle mustard follow and we finish with Blancmange made from macadamia cream accompanied by fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Villagers showcase a wide selection of ethnic delicacies and sweets in the Mini Colours of Doi Tung Festival. 

The next morning, we explore the Doi Tung Royal Villa, which is made from teak the Princess Mother personally purchased from Khlong Toei Port. It’s a mixture of Swiss Chalet and Lanna style designs, and a showcase of top-class craftsmanship.

Each room is simply adorned with wooden furniture and charming works handcrafted by the Princess Mother that reflect her self sufficient lifestyle during 1988 to 1994. Designed to resemble a planetarium, the main hall has a wood ceiling adorned with sculptured zodiac signs and hand-embroidered fabric wallpaper in classic floral motifs.

Coming out of the villa, we find ourselves in Mae Fah Luang Garden and take a stroll along the newly opened 300-metre long Tree Top Walk. We’re shown how to use the safety harness then move between the eight platforms offering panoramic views of the Doi Tung jungle from the top.

The Haw Kham in the Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park has a display of rare teak artefacts and religious items from around the northern region.

At lunchtime, the Doi Tung Lodge is turned into a courtyard for a Mini “Colours of Doi Tung” Festival where villagers serve us a wide selection of traditional delicacies such as khao pookping (grilled black sticky rice cake mixed with sesame and filled with sugarcane), khao kanchin (steamed rice mixed with pork blood) and black chicken stewed with Chinese herbs.

In the evening, we head down to the Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park in downtown Chiang Rai, whose Haw Kham is home to one of Thailand’s biggest collections of Lanna artefacts including a 200-year-old Mandalay-style Buddha teak statue.

Leaving for centre for its courtyard, we are served a Lanna-style dinner of Northern-style dishes for dinner, while students in traditional costumes entertain us with dancing.

Our last day is spent shopping at Kad Doi Tung , happily spending on handicrafts and beautifully embroidered hilltribe costumes.

TAT’s ‘Thailand Footage Trading Project’ runs from now until March 16. If you’ve ever visited Thailand and have video footage from your trip, don’t miss a chance to win exclusive prizes, including up-close-and-personal cooking classes with one of Thailand’s best chefs.

In addition to the private cooking class with chef Bo from Bo.Lan, a one-Michelin-star restaurant, winners also have a chance to win a limited collection of indigo-dyed cotton jackets designed by Mel Sangsomsap from the brand SSAP or prized kan yao durian. the most expensive durian in the world from Samai, an orchardist in Nonthaburi in exchange for entering the footage in the contest.

Every snippet of video footage will help Thailand create one of the most diverse tourism films ever produced. This marks the first time that the TAT will be making commercial films, using video footage from visitors who have been to Thailand and have discovered the many Thai local experiences.

Participants can post more than one clip but must first follow TAT on any of its various social media accounts. Then simply post trip-in-Thailand footage on Facebook, Instagram or Weibo with your social media page(s) set to public status, so that the committee will be able to access your post using the hashtags #opentothenewshades #amazingthailand

The committee will be awarding a total of 15 prizes for the best video footage that most impressively reflects Thailand’s amazing shades with inspirational tourism content. Other terms and conditions apply.

For a complete list of entry requirements and prizes, head to Facebook.com/AmazingThailand/posts/10156066433260699

Now in its 16th edition, the festival has become one of the biggest charitable events in Southeast Asia with approximately US$1.5 million (Bt50 million) raised to date, which has gone to various charities that benefits the elephants of Thailand. These include housing for the mahouts and families, shelters for the elephants and a mobile blood centrifuge and elephant ambulance for the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC).

Funds from this year’s event will be donated to various projects including the Zoological Parks Organisation of Thailand, which supports veterinary and educational projects to improve the year-round lives of elephants and mahouts in the Surin Province. The donations have also funded workshops for mahouts and vets on how to keep elephants happy as well as a conservation education trip to a national park for children and next generation of hereditary mahouts to learn the importance of elephants in the wild and many more.

A total of 20 former street elephants will take part in the event, during which they will receive full veterinary checks from the Zoological Parks Organisation of Thailand and the Department of Livestock Development.

Other highlights include an impressive opening parade, food markets and live bands and DJs.

The welfare of the elephants that participate in the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is of paramount importance, with strict rules ensuring that the pachyderms are well cared for at all times. By imposing a “no micro-chip, no game” rule, the organiser Anantara Hotels and Resorts guarantees that all participating elephants have been domestically bred and not captured from the wild or smuggled in from neighbouring countries.

Each elephant is limited to a maximum of half an hour play per day, with at least 90 minutes out relaxing or eating a well-balanced meal between each 14-minute game. Due to the nature of the game those 14 minutes of exercise are generally spread over a whole hour – even in a game with no stoppages there is a 15-minute break between halves.

Anantara has long been associated with elephant conservation efforts with the formation of The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, which has performed over 60 rescues of elephants off the streets of Thailand.

Find out more at www.AnantaraElephantPolo.com.

VALENTINE’S DAY doesn’t have to mean just a romantic dinner with your special one. Travelling during the month of love is an even more exciting idea. Even if you’re on your own, it’s fun to take up the challenge and explore the unfamiliar. And weekend trips with your beloved or the family can be highly rewarding.

Kanokkorn Premwichein, 27, a professional geologist, is one singleton who’s overcome her discomfort about travelling solo. She was at university in Moscow when she decided to take a journey aboard the famous Trans-Siberian Express, the world’s longest railway.

A photo of a dragon blood tree, with its unusual dome of foliage, inspired Kanokkorn Premwichein to visit Yemen’s Socotra Island, where they’re indigenous.

Kanokkorn soon learned to get chummy with the locals and ask for help finding accommodations. She raves about the wonderful places she saw along the route, but the generosity bestowed on her was far more precious, she says.

“I’d seen pictures of several places and they inspired me to explore the world,” says Kanokkorn, whose Facebook page, “Journey of My Life by Por Wince”, has almost 60,000 followers.

“I’d worked as a translator and private tour guide for the Thai Embassy in Moscow, but I’ll never forget the excitement I felt on that first solo trip. I like staying in hostels – they’re great places to share experiences with other travellers. I always find my travel companions there. It’s fun meeting new friends.

“Another good point of travelling alone is that it’s easier making decisions and managing your schedule. And you don’t feel lonely because you become more focused on yourself.”

Kanokkorn has fun riding a camel to view the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.

Kanokkorn has since sought out beautiful nature and interesting culture in more than 60 countries. Iran in particular stole her heart with its spectacular architecture, cheap living and friendly people. She found Jordan a romantic place with gorgeous scenery, and Yemen fascinating with its dome-top dragon blood trees, seen nowhere else on the planet.

Anyone who’s new to travelling solo should first study up about the destination and accommodations, she says.

“You have to give priority to safety, which you can find out about from other people’s reviews online. I usually stay away from nightlife areas and dark streets.”

Darunee Khamsook, 48, and her French husband have not only lived in Paris but also travelled with their son around Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia. They usually rent apartments with kitchens.

For them, travel is both relaxing and a way to strengthen the family bonds. Everyone has to learn how to compromise and solve problems together.

Darunee Khamsook and her family travelled to Valletta in Malta.

“Every summer we come back to Thailand so our son can practise speaking Thai and learn more about the culture,” Darunee says. “We hop into neighbouring countries like Myanmar and Indonesia for visits.

“We really love travelling. Our son learns about history, geography and the different ways of life around the world and it’s making him more open-minded. You can’t learn these things from a book. I’ve taught him how to navigate using a paper map and GPS readings from a phone.

“And married life is smoother. My husband loves trekking, so we do it together. I also share my experiences at Tookdarunee.blogspot.fr.”

The family’s most recent excursion was a three-week stay on Maluku, one of the “spice islands” in Sulawesi,

Indonesia. Life was gloriously slow, with electricity only available from dusk to 10pm and no running water. They found the food delightful and aromatic with spices and the surroundings of mountains and sea were perfect.

Darunee Khamsook and her family have spent their holidays in Athen, Greece.

“We try to avoid tourist chaos,” Darunee says. “We prefer small cities where the way of life has stayed simple. People ask me what my favourite place is and I never know what to answer – I love every place I’ve visited. They all have their own way and charm.”

Chiang Mai-based entrepreneur Sittiwitch Charoenratphinyo shares his family trips on the “Tiew Tung Baan” Facebook page, which has 300,000 followers.

Since last year they’ve been to 10 countries, including Italy, Norway, Iceland, Qatar, Japan and New Zealand.

“My kids attend an international school and get four school breaks a year, so we can spend anywhere from 10 to 20 days on trips,” Sittiwitch says. “The long flights teach the kids patience, and they also give us plenty of time to chat and play games.

“When we get where we’re going, I like to drive, because we can appreciate the views better and see the local way of life. We discover attractions that are popular among the natives but no one else has ever heard of.”

Sittiwitch Charoenratphinyo and his family have enjoyed wonderful trips to Iceland and New Zealand.

His favourite outing was to Iceland to play in the snow – including on horseback – and to watch the

magnificent Northern Lights. “We see what our children are interested in on these trips, and it’s a parent’s duty to support their interests.”

Freelance writer Saranyu Nokkaew and her boyfriend spend weekends exploring Bangkok’s newest cafes and bars.

“We work hard all week, so this is a way to soothe our brains and our mood together,” says Saranyu, whose “Pic on the Way” Facebook page has 6,000 followers.

“Sometimes we just roam around the old parts of the city, like Thonburi, for example, to try the street food and visit the history museums, galleries and temples.”

They’ve been overseas, too, first to Japan, where they adored the decorated coffeehouses and bakeries and shopped for Gundam merchandise. “We got to know each other much better,” says Saranyu. “If our interests diverged, we learned to compromise. We realised we didn’t need to be together all the time. Everyone wants their own space.”

Writer Saranyu Nokkaew and her boyfriend enjoy a food festival amid blooming cherry trees in Yokohama.

A keen writer, Saranyu penned “The Tokyo Cafe Guide” and “Singapore City Guide”, both selling well.

Another well-travelled couple is Chusri Ngamprasert and Phoowadon Duangmee, who used to be in charge of The Nation’s Explore section. Planning a trip is like second nature to them.

“Travel is like breathing,” says Chusri. “There’s no fixed style for me. I love mountains, the sea, trees, historic buildings, different cultures and traditions and foods and people, so anywhere far or near can be my destination.

“Being travel journalists, the destination is usually assigned to us. And we rarely get to travel together, so when we can, once in a while, it’s like a whole new world.”

Phoowadon is usually responsible for the itinerary, and luckily they like the same kinds of things. They always spare time for temples, museums and walks in gardens.

Phoowadon Duangmee and Chusri Ngarmprasert spent two weeks driving around New Zealand.

They believe having a travelling companion is always better than going alone. Chusri notes that you then have someone else to share the memories, both good and bad.

Phoowadon, who’s been to more than 40 countries, says the main drawback of being a travel writer is that you usually travel alone.

New Zealand was a favourite destination they shared.

“In fact, a road trip in New Zealand is ideal for romance,” he says. “Once you’re in the countryside, it’s like you have all of New Zealand to yourselves. You hardly see any Kiwis on the road, let alone tourists.

“And the landscape is breathtaking. From Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook it’s really exotic, for example. The road hugs the edge of Lake Pukaki before twisting its way to this majestic range of New Zealand’s highest mountains.”

Chusri and Phoowadon now run the Thai-language travel website BangkokBigEars.com, full of recommendations and helpful advice about destinations, activities, hotels and tourism-industry news.