Destination: the Estonian Open Air Museum and the Midsummer Day Festival (Tallinn, Estonia)

This one’s kind of a two-for-one sort of deal — the Estonian Open Air Museum (Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum) is home to one of a number of Midsummer’s Eve (Jaanipäev) holiday celebrations across the country. It’s timed to celebrate the summer solstice in a...

Destination: the Yi Pang Lantern Ceremony (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

This is the festival to attend if you enjoy all the pictures of the pretty lanterns. Held at Mae Jo University north of Chiang Mai, it’s put on not by the local government, but a Buddhist organization called the Duang Tawan Santiparb Foundation. Plenty of food and...

Destination: Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival (Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do)

One experiences some unusual things while living in Korea. While bullfighting isn’t an unusual sport, it does bring to mind a centuries-old tradition that seems better left in the past. Five days a year, the festival brings forth that tradition, combining it with the...

Destination: Seoul Lantern Festival (2010)

UPDATED 14 Nov 2010 – the festival has been extended until November 21st. CORRECTED x2 9 Nov 2010 – thanks to Andrew in the comments for additional information. CORRECTED 8 Nov 2010 – thanks to Sara Sonsaengnim in the comments for additional...

Destination: Seoul Zombie Walk / Halloween in Hongdae (2010)

Hongdae may well be the perfect place for Halloween in Korea. The scene is already set – clubs and bars are open until 6am, and the locals come dressed and prepared to stay out late. The Lady in Red and I did not start in Hongdae, however. Instead, we met up at...

Destination: Seoul Design Fair (2010)

The classic color scheme returns – it’s time for the Seoul Design Fair once again. Open until October 7th, this three-week-long festival emphasizes design and creativity at every turn. Called the Seoul Design Olympiad last year, the name changed due to...

Destination: Daegu International Body Painting Festival (2010) (NSFW)

Author’s note: this post is rated NSFW (Not Safe For Work) due to some nudity – this IS a body painting festival, people. Please go elsewhere if you’re looking for pornography – this is tasteful and beautiful art. As one might notice at a body...

Destination: Gangjin Celadon Festival, South Korea (2010)

At the risk of treading on Brian in Jeollanam-do’s territory, the Lady in Red and I headed down to southwest South Korea to check out the 38th Gangjin Celadon Festival. Korea has over 1,000 years of pottery-making history, and the festival is designed to get you...

Destination: Lotus Lantern Festival – how Seoul celebrates Buddha’s Birthday (2010)

As in years past, the 연등회 (Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival) is an excellent, if overly touristy, chance to learn more about one of the world’s oldest religions. A folk festival that has origins in the Goryeo period continued as the Lantern Celebration...

Destination: St. Patrick’s Day festival in Seoul, South Korea(2010)

St. Paddy’s Day was celebrated at Cheonggyecheon in downtown Seoul – and what a party it was. Although the mixture of Korean hip-hop (above), Korean acapella, traditional Korean music (a pungmul band), and Irish music was a bit quirky, the crowd stayed...