april your guide to what’s on
Enjoy Japan’s famous pink sakura throughout April when the coming of spring is celebrated in a series of cherry-blossom festivals. Daily reports chart “the cherry blossom front†to help predict when the best blooms will be on view and organise a picnic with friends underneaththe pretty branches.
www.jnto.go.jp
1-9
Chiang Mai’s reputation
as the cultural hub of
Thailand is on view for
the world to see during
their annual Art and Culture Festival,
when the northern city comes alive with
nine days of outdoor music, puppet
shows, demos, exhibitions and stage
performances at various points around
town.
www.tourismthailand.org
5
Join the Chinese in paying respects to the
dearly departed during the Qing Ming
festival, when families gather to burn
candles and incense, alongside offering
prayers in their remembrance. Whole
families meet up at the tombs of their
ancestors as they prepare a delicious
feast for absent friends, including fruit,
tea and Chinese pastries.
Until 8
Billed as “the greatest
automotive show in Southeast
Asiaâ€, the Bangkok International Motor Show
attracts over 1.5 million people to Bangkok’s Trade
and Exhibition Centre (
www.bitec.net). Whether you’re a speed freak or a car geek,
there’s sure to be something of interest among
the mix of classic cars, bikes, sports mobiles and
car audio inventions.
Until 15
Bangkok-based
Belgian artist
Christian
Develter’s Khmer
Feminitude
collection is
a bold and colourful tribute to all types
of Cambodian women – bothtraditional
and contemporary. the exhibition, which
is sponsored by Bangkok Airways, is on
throughout March until mid-April at the
Arts Lounge in Siem Reap’s Hotel de la Paix.
www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com
9-28
Some of the world’s fi nest and
rising culinary stars are
set to
tantalise taste buds in Singapore
once again at this year’s World Gourmet Summit.
Book a table to dine on Heinz Winkler’s
pioneering “Cuisine Vitale†at the Fullerton
Hotel or learn tricks of the trade from the expert,
two-Michelin-star chef Alain Llorca at his master
class at The Oriental Singapore. For information,
visit
www.worldgourmetsummit.com
29
Hoping to invest in a piece of
regional art? Look no further than
Sotheby’s bi-annual auctions of Southeast
Asian paintings at the Regent Hotel in
Singapore (
www.sothebys.com).
Now running for over a decade, avid
collectors bid for work by a range of artists
with one common theme – Southeast Asia.
If in Yangon, head to River Gallery
(
www.rivergallerymyanmar.com) to see a
host of paintings by Myanmar’s finest artists,
including Soe Moe’ s vivid images .
30
Today is Victory Day in Vietnam – an
important public holiday across the country
that marks the anniversary of the fall of
Saigon (later renamed Ho Chi Minh City)
on this date in 1975, which ended the
American-led Vietnam War.
For the occasion, the capital’s streets are
festooned with coloured fl ags and patriotic
banners. What better time than now to visit
Bangkok Airways’ newest destination?
march your guide to what’s on
Japan’s traditional Girls Festival of March is a fantastic time to visit Fukuoka’s Yanawaga city, where the celebrations are an extraordinarily colourful affair.
Alongside the traditional tiered Hina doll displays, numerous string hangings decorated with a rainbow of spheres, paper dolls and good luck motifs add a charming twist.
www.fukuoka-now.com
1-4
For once, all that glitters
probably is gold at the
international China
International Gold, Jewellery and Gem
Fair at the Shenzhen Convention and
Exhibition Centre. this prestigious event,
now in its fi ft h year, is expected to attract
more than 400 exhibitors from more than
18 countries, all bringing bags of bling.
www.jewellerynetasia.com
1-4
Get into the swing of
things at the 16th
JOHNNIE WALKER
CLASSIC taking place on the greens
of the Blue Canyon Country Club on
Phuket. Hot names to watch include
three of the world’s top 10 players,
Australian Adam Scott and South
Africa’s Ernie Els and Retief Goosen,
along with Paul Scott – the British
rising star of the golfi ng world.
www.johnniewalkerclassic.com
8thMarch to 6th
May
Discover young Thai artist Pichaya
Khunnawat’s controversial new show
at 100 Tonson Gallery in Bangkok from
now through to 6 May.
Entitled Raw/Rare,
the artist uses
paintings and 3-D
work to refl ect on
the perception and
value of money
in his homeland.
Sure to make you think.
www.100tonsongallery.com
9-18
Funky tunes are set to fill the Singapore night air with the return of Esplanade – theatres on the Bay’s 10-day Mosaic Music Festival. Grammy Award-winning pianist Chick Corea, Norway’s Jaga Jazzist and the Duke Ellington Orchestra are just a few of the top jazz and world music artists scheduled to appear.
www.mosaicmusicfestival.com
17-18
Buy tickets this weekend to AMRITA Performing Arts special performances of Lakhaon Yike (A Miserable Village) at Phnom Penh’s Chenla Theatre. Expect first-class traditional Cambodian music theatre, performed in Khmer with English subtitles. Tel +855 (0)23 220424,
www.amritaperformingarts.org
17-19
Pattaya International Music Festival will rock thailand’s popular seaside resort once again this year. Along with the range of live music acts, floral floats, beauty contests, stalls selling local nibbles and a spectacular display of fireworks on the beach are among the added attractions.
Until 25
The Hong Kong Arts Festival – first held in 1973 – is considered the premier arts event of the year with a programme packed full of exciting dance, visual art, theatre and music acts from all around the world.
This year, opera fans are in for a treat with performances of La Bohème by the Welsh National Opera and the Peach Blossom Fan (1699) by Kun Opera among the hottest tickets in town.
www.hk.artsfestival.org
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