As many as 31 troupes of performers and artists from 24 ethnic minority groups in Phu Yen flocked to a festival of culture, sports and tourism on June 30 to prepare for the National Tourism Year that the central province will host in 2011.

The attendance of a group of folk performers from Chungbuk province in the Republic of Korea, which has set up sisterly relations with Phu Yen, has made the festival the biggest of its kind so far in the province. The troupe performs using a combination of drum dances, folk songs and calligraphy.

Members of the Ede, Bana and Cham H’Roi ethnic minorities brought to the festival their unique musical tradition of Gong performance, which has been recognised by the UNESCO as a part of the world’s cultural heritage. Their sisters and brothers from the Tay and Nung ethnic minorities showed up to treat crowds to Arap folk dances.

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An apprenticeship as a boat builder in Annapolis, Maryland uncovered Peter Schlech’s passion for woodworking and Schlech went on to design and build yacht interiors for thirty years. In the mid-90’s he took his passion one step further and began crafting fine furniture which reignited his creative fire and catapulted him towards further experimentation in art-making. 

Recently the artist has focused his attention on sculptural vessels with curving lines that successfully create the suggestion of graceful movement, dance, close embrace and spirited conversation.

You can see Schlech’s newest works here and more of his vessels here.While it is often easy to fall into the seductive raps of repetition, imitation and sensationalism, my aesthetic goal remains clear—simplicity of design integrity and the pursuit of beauty.

For if we as artists do not impart, if only for a moment, a sense of beauty to the beholder, then we have failed at our tas

Protected by the mighty Himalaya, the isolated kingdom of Bhutan is an unforgettable place to visit.

The landscape is stunning, with steep forested hills and misty mountains rising from fast flowing rivers. However it's the fascinating culture that makes this country unique, boasting several colourful annual festivals.

At these festivals hundreds gather to see the monks, dressed in brightly coloured robes, perform ritual dances. For several days there are masked dances and prayer meetings, and a general carnival atmosphere prevails.

On the spring departure we will visit the Paro Festival, which culminates with the unfurling of a giant Thanka, three stories high, whilst in June we visit the lesser known Nimalung and Kurjey festivals.

We also see all the main sights in and around Paro and Thimpu, as well as the superb Dzongs (fortresses) that dot the valleys and hilltops.

The Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department hosted the Hong Kong Flower Festival a few days ago at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. More than I was interested in flowers, I was interested in some people watching and taking time off and getting away from campus. Surprisingly, it proved to be quite a treat.

There were some attractions. Hong Kong is hosting the East-Asian 2009 games during December and so there was no way of avoiding  …The kids seemed really into it.

With all due respect to the flowers, the most interesting thing there were the people. Hordes of people, all cramped around tiny flowers with unbelievably expensive photography equipment, taking photos for hours. I’ve never seen such dedication to detail and perfection.Queen Victoria was also there making sure all is in order… All in all, it was very well done. Some gorgeous flowers beautifully set up, from all over the world.It’s nice to finally live in a city that has world standard events almost all year around. If you’re in HK and have some extra free time, the HK international film festival is running a terrific selection of films starting March 22 for almost a month.

From the epic films of Kurosawa, to hyperbolic Hollywood action films, to kitschy cartoons (i.e. Samurai Pizza Cats???)  the legend and lore of the samurai continues to permeate the pop cultural imagination.  The Asian Art Museum's special exhibition, Lords of the Samurai, brings to light the history and traditions of the samurai and daimyo (provincial lords)  and helps viewers to distinguish between historical fact and fiction while deepening our appreciation for Japanese culture.
(Pictured above: Haramaki-type armor, black leather lacing, red cord horizontal accent lacing (katadori) on shoulder protectors, worn by Hosokawa Narimori (1806–1861), Japan. Edo period (1615–1868), 19th century. Iron, leather, lacquer, silk, and gilt metal. Eisei-Bunko Museum, 4111. © Eisei Bunko, Japan.)This exhibition not only features beautifully maintained suits of armour, weaponry, and paintings of battle scenes, but also features art and handiwork produced by samurai.  As described in the excerpt from Izawa Nagahide's writing, Instructions for Japanese Men, the ideal Japanese male leader was not only a disciplined warrior but also masters of cultural and spiritual endeavors.  The beautifully crafted lacquer box set pictured above was created by Hosokawa Sansai, a member of the reputable Hosokawa warrior clan.  One of the highlights of the exhibition include paintings and manuscripts by the legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi.A once in a lifetime opportunity, this exhibition features rarely-travelling, personal heirlooms of the Hosokawa family, whose lineage traces back hundreds of years and whose members have held positions as prominent military warriors, statesmen, and even the title of prime minister.  The Eisei-Bunko museum in Tokyo as well as the family's former residence, Kumamoto Castle, currently house most of the Hosokawa family's collection.  Three of the works in this collection have been named Important Art Objects, a title reserved for pieces of high historical and cultural significance.  Because many of the pieces in this exhibition are priceless and fragile, the museum will rotate new pieces into the exhibition on August third. Arguably the most celebrated Japanese filmmaker of all time, Akira Kurosawa had a career that spanned from the Second World War to the early nineties and that stands as a monument of artistic, entertainment, and personal achievement. With the production of Seven Samurai (1954), the most popular and important Japanese film of its time, Kurosawa began a long and fruitful obsession with medieval Japan. Kurosawa pioneered widescreen cinematography in Japan, and his films inspired the “Spaghetti Western” genre in Italy. Kurosawa reinvigorated the samurai film genre in Japan and revitalized the American Western in the process.

Get ready to experience the best of the Philippines as Manila once again hosts the Aliwan Fiesta 2009. This grand cultural festival is set to explode with all the pomp and pageantry this summer!The Aliwan 2009, which is now on its 7th year, is slated April 23-25. Various activities are lined up during this 3-day fiesta. One of the highlights of the said event is the Reyna ng Aliwan where beauty queens from various cities and municipalities compete in a beauty pageant usually held at the Aliw Theater.But the main highlight of the Aliwan Fiesta is the grand street dance competitionto be held on April 25. The parade usually starts at the Quirino Grandstand and will wind up to Aliw Theater.Catch all the drama and excitement as colourful festivals from all over the Philippines battle it out to become the Best Festival of the Philippines.

Chapter 11 is about the profitableness of the beauty industry — not to us but to them. It’s an extremely profitable venue, especially if you have the ability to devise new products and services AND the skills to market them. How many people can think of cool new made up names to describe imaginary vitamins and minerals? Or non-existent secret ingredients? Or vitamins that do nothing to your hair because your hair can’t absorb vitamins?

Dr. David Matlock’s speciality is the Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute (LVRI). This procedure is extremely popular, and yes, it’s exactly what you think it is. He decided to profit not only from himself using his techniques, but from anyone else using his techniques. The procedures are patented.Next, Dr. Matlock started an “Associate operation.” This wasn’t unlike a franchise, and put 3 million dollars into his pockets.

He made the people who used his methods pay a license fee. Dr. Matlock stated that he was merely defending his intellectual property. Of course, he says his job is “to empower women with knowledge, choice, and alternatives.

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A unique feast of music set on a huge site offering a grand scale of entertainment unlike any other festival in the world. For five days the Pilton farm plays host to a tented city in Somerset. As well as music from nearly every genre imaginable on over 50 stages, there's performing arts with cabaret, theatre, circus, children's entertainment, poetry, healing, green crafts and information and much more. Vibrant, spontaneous, colourful, and hugely entertaining. The dates for the 2009 Festival confirmed as Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th June.

The line-up for this year has been confirmed and includes Neil Young as Friday headliner, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band as Saturday night headliner, and Blur as Sunday headliner,The Specials, Lily Allen, Fleet Foxes, Kasabian, Crosby Stills and Nash, Dizzee Rascal, Spinal Tap, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Madness, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings, Lady GaGa, White Lies, Franz Ferdinand, Pendulum, Maximo Park, Paolo Nutini, Peter Doherty, The Prodigy, Glasvegas, Bon Iver, Bat For Lashes, Q-Tip, Playing For Change a supergroup of World musicians, Black Eyed Peas,The Streets, Baaba Maal, Rokia Traore, Doves, Jarvis Cocker, Echo and The Bunnymen, Animal Collective, Seun Kuti And Egypt '80, The Horrors, Emiliana Torrini, Noah And The Whale, Golden Silvers, Easy Star All Stars, Cold War Kids, Ray Davies, The Kilfenora Ceili Band, Fairport Convention, Tindersticks, Jason Mraz, Scott Matthews, Hugh Cornwell, The Blockheads, The Wonder Stuff, Peatbog Faeries, British Sea Power, Orkestra Del Sol, 3 Daft Monkeys, Eliza Carthy, The King Blues, Seth Lakeman, Will Young, Tom Real, The Bays feat. Beardyman, James Monro, Stereo MC's, Stanton Warriors, Dub Pistols, Gong, The Steve Hillage Band, Eat Static, David Guetta, 2manydjs, Calvin Harris, Freeland, Layo & Bushwacka!, Mark Iration, Dreadzone, Erol Alkan, a celebration of Motown's 50th Birthday, and many more.ickets for Glastonbury Festival have sold out.

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The famous Sinulog festival in Cebu City is held every year on the third Sunday of January. The festival is characterized by a  very long parade with many groups of persons dressed in colourful costumes, finding their way through the streets while dancing the Sinulog. To distinguish the festival from the popular Ati-Atihan Festival on Panay island,

this festival is characterized by a different dance. This Sinulog dance, is now the traditional and ritual dance in honor of Santo Niño. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the drums:  all the time moving two steps forward followed by one step backward. Though the dance is already very old, the parade  is rather young! 1980 was the first year that the parade was organized.The Sinulog was already danced by the locals in honor of their wooden statues in the period before the Cebuanos were baptized. Later on, after the image of the famous Santo Niño was brought to Cebu and  the Catholic faith was established in the region, the dance was made a part of the yearly fiesta in honor of the Santo Niño.
While dancing, people are shouting  petitions and thanksgivings to the Santo Niño. Shouting is necessary because the pilgrims have to be sure that they will be heard by the Santo Niño.
“Pit Señor! Señor Santo Niño, Manoy Kiloy...."
The Sinulog became indeed a dance ritual in honor of Santo Niño!

The 16th outing of Singapore's famous food festival will run only nine days this year--instead of the normal three or four weeks.  What's the reason? Swine flu epidemic? Global recession?
I can't say I've done meticulous investigation, but a few Google sweeps turn up nothiing and there's no explanation on the Singapore Food Festival 2009 website. Even worse, last week there were virtually no details of this year's events. This is very unusual given that the festival is run by the government's tourism board, which is usually very efficient when it comes to calendars and agenda.
However, now there are a few more scraps on the official website--with prices too! It's a good idea to keep checking because more may be forthcoming. Before this recent update,  this site had more information than the official one, so it  might be worth checking it as well.

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