Abu Dhabi's 'Desert Islands' is due to open for tourists this October. It consists of eight islands and an onshore gate just off the coast of Jebel Dhanna, a 250 kilometre drive from Abu Dhabi city.
Guests will be able to enjoy a number of adventure activities including 4x4 guided tours of the Arabian Wildlife Park, hiking trails, mountain biking and snorkelling; the waters and coral reefs around the resort are notably rich in marine life.
The Mongol Rally 2008 embarks again on July 19th 2008 . Now in its fifth year, there are starting points at London in the UK, Spain and Italy.
So what is the Mongol Rally? It seems to be a grand adventure, whereby the organisers have persuaded a bunch of self-certified muppits to travel a third of the way around the world to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar via routes of their own choosing, through a host of countries that most people will not have heard of, in any performance-challanged car that has an engine size less than 1000 cc. Rumours abound that some entrants in the first Mongol Rally are still on route to the finish line.
But the Mongol Rally isn't only about adventure and mayhem, competitors do raise huge sacks of cash for some great charities. So if you should see a beat up old car heading for Mongolia, stop and give them a push, and perhaps a little cash for their chosen charity.
An American legend is to get its own museum. Just in time for the 105th anniversary of the famous motorcycle's birth, the Harley-Davidson Museum is set to open on July 12, 2008, with tickets going on sale May 20, 2008.
Located in Milwaukee, USA, exhibits include a bike from each of Harley's 105 years of production, together with Harley bicycles, snowmobiles and even golf carts. Raiding the company's vast archives, the museum has been able to fashion exhibits featuring customised motorcycles, clothing, photos, posters, promotional materials and magazines. Read a full review from Rick Barrett.
Believe it or not, this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is just a couple of weeks away Tuesday 20 May to Saturday 24 May, when for the 85th year it will again be held at the showground in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in London, UK. Parking in the area is virtually non-existant and in any case, the show is located within the London congestion zone, so you have to pay a fee to enter the area in a car. For years, visitors to the show have been advised to travel by public transport, there is an underground station only a few minutes walk from the entrance to the show, and this is really the only way to get there, unless of course you are one of those visitors lucky enough to afford to arrive by helicopter or chauffeur driven car.
Now if you feel lucky, the RHS is running a competition that gives green gardeners the chance to win a pair of tickets on Thursday 22 May, for the 2008 Flower Show, together with a personal tour round the show with Show Manager, Alex Baulkwill.
To enter the competition, simply visit the Chelsea website and tell the organisers your best, eco-friendly, green gardening tip.
This is a holiday weekend in the UK and a two-day show is taking place at the Heritage Motor Centre, in Gaydon, Warwickshire, to celebrate 60 years of the Land Rover. Sunday, features the Classic Run, when over 100 classic Land Rovers from the Association of Land Rover Clubs will travel from the Solihull Land Rover factory to the Heritage Motor Centre. Thanks to Karl from dnadublin.com for the pic.
A 'thank you' gift, made 60 years ago, from the Netherlands to Ottawa, Canada, of 100,000 tulip bulbs, was used to start the Canadian Tulip Festival. The festival has since grown into a kaleidoscope of color, with more than three million tulips decorating Canada's Capital each spring.
Reckoned to be the largest Tulip Festival in the world, all events are free and it is described as the 'festival without fences'. Canadian Tulip Festival May 2 to 19, 2008.
Americans have been really creative in satisfying tourists' latest desire for culture tours. New York City, the city that already offers a 'Sex and the City' tour, takes tourists on a 'TV and movie' trek and provides the opportunity of a 'Harlem gospel' expedition, now offers the ultimate gourmet experience, the Pizza tour.
Learn more about these tours in the NY Daily News.
SEPAQ, the national park network in Québec have announced that they now have 99 ready-to-camp sites with 62 Huttopia tents and 37 tent trailers, in 13 national parks.
The French manufactured, Huttopia tents, are available from June 20, 2008 and are equipped to offer a comfortable stay, right in the heart of nature. They have a wooden platform, canvas walls and roof, two bedrooms separated by a curtain, and a living room fully furnished with camping style furniture. All the benefits of camping without the bother of transporting your own kit.
It will be possible to visit a Huttopia tent during the 7th Montréal Outdoor Festival. A tent will be set up at Parc Jean-Drapeau from May 23rd to 25th and will allow visitors to discover this latest addition to Sépaq's range of accommodation.
Tourism Australia have announced a marketing campaign, aimed at 18 to 30-year-olds on the social networking site, MySpace.
The interactive campaign will not only be used to promote travel to Australia but to also advertise Australia's working holiday visa program, which runs in Britain, the US, Canada and Ireland. Read more about the Tourism Australia announcement.
Spring has arrived in Canada but the Barrie Examiner reports that, following a major funding announcement, snowmobile clubs in the Ontario area are already looking forward to next winter.
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs will receive $3 million from the provincial government to help attract more sports and adventure tourists to use the province's 40,000 kilometres of snowmobile trails. It is part of an initiative to promote the province as a prime snowmobile tourism destination.
This year, 1 May, May Day, falls on a Thursday and since in most of Europe it is celebrated as a public holiday, many people will be taking the opportunity to take a four day weekend.
May Day was originally a country holiday to welcome the arrival of spring but for the last 150 years has been closely associated with the labour movement and the rights of workers. Whatever its meanings and origins, the day is now widely celebrated with fetes and festivals throughout Europe. Perhaps the largest is a huge free music festival in Rome, organised by the unions.
If you plan to travel in Europe over the holiday weekend, just remember to plan ahead and check that places are going to be open.
Sunday sees this year's London Marathon. Always a big day for thousands of fun and charity runners, it now also forms part of the World Marathon Majors series.
The series brings together the world's 'big five' city marathons: the Boston Marathon, the London Marathon, the Berlin Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the New York City Marathon, but also includes any IAAF World Championships marathons and Olympic Games marathon races held during the period.
There are a men's and a women's series, each running over two-years. The winners of each of these races earn 25 points, with 15 going to second place, 10 to third, five to fourth and one to fifth. To qualify for the prize, runners must complete at least three races over the two years of a series, with a maximum of four scoring races counting towards their points total. They must also finish at least one qualifying race in each year of the series. For which, the top man and woman at the end of a two-year series, not only get to have had the fun of running marathons and the pleasure of being super-fit, they get to split $1 million in prize money. See the leader boards on the official World Marathon Majors website.
Berck sur Mer, France is the site for Europe's largest kite festival. Held during April each year, it attracts kite flyers from around the world and is free to spectators. The flat sandy beach at Berck sur Mer is notably long, running into Le Touquet, the home of sand yachting or kite buggies, but the event attracts huge crowds and the sky is filled with kites of all shapes and sizes. There are demonstrations, contests, exhibitions and kite flying classes.
This year's event has been running since 5 April and finishes on Suday, so there is still time for many Europeans to get along this weekend. Berck sur Mer is just south of Boulogne sur Mer.
More information is available from the official web site but it only seems to be available in French.
I picked up on this event a couple of months ago and suddenly I find that it is almost upon us. A large pagan gathering near Weymouth in the UK, to celebrate the festival of Beltane, is being organised by Dorset druids and witches. Several hundred people are expected to attend the festival, running from May 2 to May 4, 2008, which will culminate in the ritual burning of a wicker man.
Lucca in Tuscany, Italy, birthplace and home of the great operatic composer Giacomo Puccini, is organising a rich calendar of events celebrating his birth, 150 years ago.
Many arias from Puccini's operas are enjoyed daily, throughout the world, for example the moving Nessun Dorma and the haunting O Mio Babbino Caro, making him the world's most performed composer.
Lucca, enjoys an excellent geographical position, just 20 km from Pisa, 70 km from Florence, 25 km from Viareggio and approximately 100 km from Massa. It boasts mountains and lakes, beaches, wetlands, underground grottoes and thermal springs. The region offers tourists an infinite variety of landscapes and activities, not least, renowned food and wine to accompany great music. No wonder Puccini was never short of inspiration.
Highlights of this season's two-week long festival include a concert by Nigel Kennedy, an opera marking the 150th anniversary of Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, and several exhibitions, interlinked with Hungary's Renaissance Year; 2008 is the 550th anniversary of the coronation of Matthias Corvinus, who's reign (1458-1490) is regarded as the most glorious in Hungarian history. The different exhibitions have been designed to complement each other, both thematically and chronologically, providing a comprehensive picture of Renaissance culture in 15th century Hungary.
The Waterfront Trail is a waymarked trail following the shore of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in Ontario, Canada. It connects 41 communities, 182 parks and natural areas, 152 arts and culture heritage attractions and 170 marinas and yacht clubs.
37 waterfront festivals are held annually along the trail and this year sees the first End-to-End Bike Tour, the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure. 680 km in 8 days, July 4th-11th, 2008, starting at Niagara-on-the-Lake and ending at the Quebec border.
You can register on the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure website, for the whole eight days tour, or just a part. Everyone is welcome, experienced cyclists, occasional cylists, lapsed riders, families, groups and single bikers; kids are encouraged to be a part of the adventure as well. Maps of the entire Trail, from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Brockville, are available for download.
Fashion Fringe, now in its fith year, was concceived by Colin McDowell as a dynamic fringe event to coincide with London Fashion Week; it helps to support and promote young talent in the British fashion industry. Created in 2004 by IMG global sports, entertainment and media company, under the creative direction of Colin McDowell, who is a fashion historian and senior fashion writer for the Sunday Times Style Magazine, the event offers the winner the opportunity to create their own fashion company, with a prize of more than £100,000, together with mentoring, business support, PR and legal advice.
Applicants (Design Duos are also permitted to enter) must have been resident in the UK or Eire for 3 years or more, or have a valid work permit until 2012, and they must also be over the age of 21 to enter. Closing Date for Applications is 2 May 2008 and you can apply online.
It seems like we have no sooner got over the Hogmanay hangover, than the Irish begin their annual party. Monday 17th March is St. Patrick's day; that special day filled with music, velvet black stout, dancing and still more of the black stuff. The day when the Irish celebrate being Irish and the rest of the world celebrate with them, wishing that they have at least a little Irish blood running through their veins.
In Dublin, they celebrate in the famed Irish style, warming up with five days and nights of celebrations. Music, street theatre, family carnivals, comedy, street performances, dance, a treasure hunt and night spectaculars. What is more, almost all of the events are free.
Then, the celebrations, involving 4000 performers and 1 million people, come to a magnificent climax with the world famous St. Patrick's Day Parade on Monday 17th March.
This year, England's famous Salisbury Cathedral will be celebrating the 750th anniversary of its consecration which was completed in 1258. There is a full programme of celebration events and activities including a Medieval Fair, Flower Festival and Organ Recitals, a series of seven monthly recitals by leading organists, running April through October, 2008.
The Medieval Fair, 4th and 5th May 2008, features Living History Encampments, Man at Arms displays, led by the spectacular Paladins of Chivalry, along with medieval music, dance, falconry, court entertainers, costumes, food, ales, Medieval crafts and stalls.
Then, for five days over 17th-21st June 2008, a spectacular festival of flowers, designed by internationally renowned floral judge and arranger Michael Bowyer, will fill Salisbury Cathedral with an exuberance of colour and fragrance.
An adventure race called the Madagui Trophy, has been organized by VietAdventure Company, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund.
The race will take place March 15 and 16, 2008, in Madagui Commune, south of Lam Dong Province and 150 km outside of Ho Chi Minh City. More from Truong Son, reporting in the Thanh Nien Daily.
Between Friday, March 21 and Friday April 4, the Sri Lanka skies will be filled with the spectacular sight of 22 hot air ballons. Over 72 participants, including balloonists from the UK, Ireland, Japan, and Saudi Arabia will be taking part in the Sri Lanka Balloon Festival 2008
The event encourages family participation and is regarded as an ideal family vacation, in a country that is establishing a high reputation as an Asian adventure destination. Known as the 'Pearl in the Indian Ocean', Sri Lanka is proving to be a real gem for the adventurous tourist.
Diving takes us into a different world, liberated from the pull of gravity, but those that enjoy the freedom of the sky, harness gravity to soar like birds.
Nearly 100 entrants from 15 countries will be coming together for the first International Art Parachute Festival from March 1 to March 6, 2008 in the beach resort of Nha Trang; the capital of Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. The event is being jointly organised by Vung Tau Intourco and the International Parachute Association.
There is still time to get a registered for the Primal Quest Montana adventure race; the race is limited to 90 teams but there are still some team slots available.
Primal Quest 2008, is a 400 mile adventure race on foot, bicycle and boat in south western Montana, taking in the Gallatin National Forest and other public lands in southwestern Montana.
This year's Primal Quest will take place June 21 - July 2, 2008 in Montana and is open to 4-Person, Coed Teams. The cost of entry is $12,500.00 USD per team, which includes 4 team members and 2 support individuals. Two additional support individuals per team can be registered at $200 each. In addition, competitors are required to submit proof that they are up to the challenge. Certificate-of-ability forms in mountain climbing, first aid, navigation, paddling and swimming, must be submitted by April 15, 2008 and a qualified guide or instructor needs to sign the certificate.
Mark Beaumont, a 25-year-old man from Fife, Scotland, has broken the record for cycling round the world. He completed the trip in a staggering 195 days.
Mark Beaumont, from Fife, completed the 18,000-mile journey this afternoon, when he crossed the finish line at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris Read the full story.
Singapore has opened an observation wheel 30m higher than the UK's London Eye. The wheel, called the Singapore Flyer, stands 165m (545ft) high and becomes the biggest observation wheel in the world.
About 10 million people a year are expected to enjoy the 45km (28 mile) view, offered by the attraction. Read more.
Work has begun on the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free, city in Abu Dhabi. Called Masdar City, it is estimated that it will take eight years to build and be home to 50,000 people.
Plans are in place for most of the city's power to be obtained from solar energy and residents will be able to move around Masdar City in travel pods running on magnetic tracks. More information.
It is the first major theme park in eight years, at Orlando, USA, but SeaWorld's Aquatica water park has excited tourism officials who have visited the park for a preview. The park is preparing for a "soft" opening March 1, with a grand opening set for April 4, 2008.
Mark McHugh, president of Gatorland and chairman of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, summed up the collective view, saying, "What an awesome, awesome park. I just can't wait for this thing to open up." Read more.
The Land Rover G4 Challenge is an exciting global adventure competition with driving at its core, run in support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The programme begins with a gruelling series of selections and culminates in the three-week long Challenge Finals, when teams of two competitors from each of the 18 entered nations will compete for victory. The Challenge Finals are due to take place in Asia over remote and rugged terrains that will provide stunning scenery, exciting locations and test off-road driving with activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, orienteering and abseiling, pitching competitor teams against each other in tests of driving skill, initiative, strategic thinking and physical fitness. Anyone with a passion for adventure, that is interested in competing, should visit www.landroverG4Challenge.com and register using the online form.
To mark 50 years of NASA, together with the first US satellite and coincidentally, the 40th anniversary of the day the Beatles recorded 'Across the Universe', the song is to be beamed directly into space. Many years from now, alien researchers scanning space for the evidence of intelligent life, will decode the lines: 'nothing's going to change my world'.
To make an even bigger bang, fans around the world are invited to simultaneously play a recording of 'Across the Universe' at midnight GMT on Monday 4 February, 2008.
There is a nice video including archival pictures of the Beatles, with an early, pre-recording arrangement of the song, posted on YouTube by Anourag.
There will be plenty of activities on offer. You can get a taster dive session, scale a wall of ice, tackle high ropes and try out a mountain bike on a dirt track. Then you can listen to first-hand accounts of the travels of famous adventurers and learn how to explore the world yourself. There will be the usual map-reading tutorials and also the opportunity to learn about surviving in the wild.
Tonight, 25 January is Burns' night, honoring the birth of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. Born in Alloway, Scotland, this son of a poor tenant farmer grew to be Scotland's answer to William Shakespeare and is today toasted throughout the world; he authored Auld Lang Syne and many other well known poems and lyrics. Next year will be the 250th anniversary of his birth.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
The UK's Big Garden Birdwatch Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 January 2008 and is the world's biggest bird survey, so when looking for a suitable end of week video theme, there really wasn't any competition for this weekend.
Thanks to Frank of the TheZanyFilmCompany for providing this week's wonderful video photo-gallery showing 25 of the birds that Brits might expect to see in their gardens (yards) and parks. Last year a staggering 400,000 people took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch by counting 6 million birds in 236,000 gardens. This year it is thought that there might be over half a million participants. Frank's video is accompanied by the relaxing concerto for pinaforte & orchestra KV466 Allegro by W.A.Mozart; conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler, Yvonne Lefebure piano.
Taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch is simple. All that participants need to do is to watch their garden or local park for just one hour, at any time on either Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 January 2008, recording the highest number of each species seen (not counting those flying over) at any one time. Only the maximum number of each species seen at any one time, is recorded, because then the same bird cannot be counted more than once.
The RSPB counting sheet can be used to help keep track of how many birds have been seen. The sheet has pictures of the most common birds seen in British gardens and spaces to tick off how many of each species are seen together. Don't send the counting sheet back to the RSPB, it is just to help participants record their counts, from 26 January 2008 enter the counts online, using a simple results form.
To download the recording sheet, you need Adobe Reader version 4 or higher. This software is safe, easy to instal and available free from the Adobe website so, if you don't have it on your computer already, just download a copy now.
China's famous Yangtze River, is suffering from a severe water shortage caused by a longer than normal dry season; water levels are falling dramatically and the concentration of pollutants is rising, both of which are impacting the river's wildlife. Media reports indicate that the problem was initiated by the severe drought experienced in the upper reaches of the river during the autumn and that the situation will continue to worsen in February. According to U.S. scientists at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center, 2007 was the warmest year ever recorded for the Earth's land areas.
New Zealand is enjoying a bumper crop of cherries and apricots, thanks to the hot dry summer, which has created near perfect conditions for growers; cherry yields might be twice the harvest record, and the prospects for the apple and kiwifruit harvest also looks great.
However the bumper crops must be picked and the shortage of labour in some areas is said to be critical. Tourists on Working Holiday Scheme visas are being urged to head to the fruit growing regions, in order to help get the fruit of the trees. Read more.
James Castrission, and Justin Jones, landed safely but their condition makes the feat of New Zealander, Colin Quincy, even more extra-ordinary; he became the first person to row across the Tasman solo, taking 67 days to make the crossing in 1976.
An Australian foursome completed the journey in the opposite direction in half the time, 31 days, arriving in Sydney Harbour on December 30, 2007.
People are massing at Ngamotu Beach, New Plymouth in New Zealand, to greet Australian kayakers, James Castrission, and Justin Jones, who are expected to make landfall in about 4 hours time, completing an epic crossing of the Tasman Sea.
The crossing will also enter the record books as the longest recorded two-man Kayak journey; the pair have spent 62 days at sea.
Thomas Bell writes in the Telegraph "Sir Edmund Hillary has been mourned in Nepal as a 'second father' to the Sherpa people and an honorary son of their mountains and valleys."
One of Edmund Hillary's great achievements was to help the people of Nepal and the Himalayan country has declared how immensely proud it is to be home to the world's tallest mountain, and also how immensely proud it is of the giant foreigner who, along with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, climbed it for the first time, 55 years ago.
Read why Nepal granted him greater honours than any other outsider, in Thomas Bell's tribute article.
Sunway Lagoon, in the heart of the land-locked city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia comprises three major theme parks, the Wild Wild West, the World of Adventure and the Waters of Africa. The man-made surf reef in the water park is the largest in the world and produces perfectly shaped waves; perfect enough to attract world class surfers on demonstration tours.
Part of the 2008 Quiksilver Revolution 2.0 tour is scheduled for January 26, 2008 and features surfing aerial specialist Ry Craike (Kalbarri, West Australia), top-ranked Australian surfing professionals, Troy Brooks (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia) and Josh Kerr (Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia), together with Peurto Rican hotshot Dylan Graves and Indonesian surf star Wayan 'Betet' Merta (Bali, Indonesia).
The surfing superstars will be joined by an international line-up of skateboarding champions, who will be making the anticipated crowd of 30,000 gasp when they perform on a half-pipe skateboard ramp.
Two-time German Half-Pipe Champion and world number 13 Sascha Mueller (Münster, Germany), X-Games and World Championship finalist Renton Millar (Melbourne, Australia), European Champions Jocke Olsen (Malmõ, Sweden) and Jurgen Howarth (Berlin, Germany), together with former world number three Trevor Ward (Moama, NSW, Australia) are expected to put on a show to remember.
From January 17 through 26, 2008, the Australia Week Committee presents another exciting program of events in Los Angeles and New York to showcase the very best of Australian culture, fashion, food, wine, tourism and business."
Highlights include an exclusive luncheon in Los Angeles on Jan. 17 where the Hon. Matt Brown MP, Minister for Tourism for the State of New South Wales, and Layne Beachley, a native of Sydney, Australia and the most successful woman in professional surfing history, will present a viewing of "Sydney -- Life's a Beach," an inspiring visual journey into the lifestyle of this dynamic travel destination.
Layne, a Sydney resident, offers valuable insight into its unique urban beach culture. With more than 1200 miles of stunning beaches and legendary surf breaks surrounded by 600 national parks, Sydney is one of the world's most visually appealing destinations.
Layne Beachley was ESPN's Surfer of the Year in 2001, Australia's female athlete of the year in 2003 and is a US Surfers Hall of Fame inductee. Highly regarded amongst other surf professionals on the ASP World Tour, in 2006 Layne staged the richest event in women's surfing history, the Havaianas Beachley Classic in Sydney; and she was also a formidable competitor!
On February 7, 2008, Chinese and East Asian communities throughout the world will be celebrating the Chinese New Year. 2008 is the Year of the Rat, which is the beginning of the 12 year cycle of Chinese zodiacs, and it is regarded as a year of plenty, bringing good health, opportunities and prospects to everyone. The Year of the Rat is a good year for fresh starts, a change of job, starting a new business, launching a product, moving home or getting married. So if you have got over celebrating the Gregorian New Year, now is the time to plan your celebrations for the Chinese New Year. I note that Pancake Day or Fat Tuesday falls on February 5, 2008, so the Mardi Gras party season and the Chinese New Year celebrations will be running together.
Things are starting to warm up in Alaska and I'm not referring to the climate. Each year the Alaskans have fun in the snow, beginning with the Rondy in February. Visitors from all around the world descend on Anchorage for this annual celebration, February 22 through March 2, 2008, which grew out of a fur rendezvous for traders. It now includes many events, including a native arts market, snow sculptures, a grand parade and for the first time, the running of the reindeer. The Rondy also includes the World Championship Sled Dog Races. Then comes the famous Iditarod, which is the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, it is kicked off from the Rondy at the beginning of March and this year is to start on Saturday, March 1, 2008. Mushers and their dog teams race over a 1,151 mile (1,853 km) route, taking aound one or two weeks, to complete the grueling and highly competative challenge. Read more about the Iditarod.
It was taken by ra64 at Farley's camp, about 3 miles east of the Nome finish line. The musher is identified in Flickr tags and photostream as Norwegian Robert Sřrlie (Sorlie) in the 2007 Iditarod sled dog race.
The 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, takes place in 2008 (July 3rd). The year long celebrations are expected to draw many visitors to Québec, since besides anniversary celebrations, the region plays host to the World Men's Hockey Championship, the 49th Eucharistic Congress, the 4th World Youth Congress, the 73rd World Library and Information Congress, and the 12th Sommet de la Francophonie.
As the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games approaches, it seems that there is an unprecedented interest in tickets for the event. The Beijing games look likely to break all previous visitor records and despite the allocation of tickets for overseas visitors being increased, it seems that there are likely to be many disappointed fans. Read more.
The annual "Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light" at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry runs through January 6, 2007. It features more than 50 trees, each decorated by volunteers from Chicago's ethnic communities to reflect holiday traditions from around the globe, and has been dazzling families for 66 years.
The Daily Telegraph's Adventure Travel Show returns on Friday 25 through Sunday 27, January 2008 and this year is at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
Opening Times are: Friday 25th January ? 12pm? 8pm, Saturday 26th January ? 10am ? 6pm, and Sunday 27th ? 10am ? 4pm.
Find plenty of inspiration and practical advice, with more than 100 free talks including expert knowledge about remote and exotic locations, real life experiences, hints, tips and celebrity appearances.
Although many of the Liverpool 08 public art events will be free, tickets to big concerts, are being sold through a public ballot.
Major concerts include Paul McCartney's return to his native city, headlining a huge event at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool United football club; a terrific opening show, headlined by fellow ex-Beatle Ringo Starr and Eurythmic's Dave Stewart, at the brand new Liverpool Arena, and the long-overdue return to Liverpool of one of its favourite sons, Simon Rattle, who returns to conduct a concert in the hall where he began his stellar music career.
Due to the national strike of Royal Mail postal workers, the Liverpool Culture Company has extended the deadline to register for the Liverpool 08 ticket ballot to Sunday, October 14, 2007. Registration forms can be collected at a number of locations in the city and online.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games ticks relentlessly towards August 8, 2008, now less than a year away. Much of the city is busy constructing the sports stadiums, hotels and new subway lines needed to host the Olympic Games.
What better time to begin getting to know China and Beijing? To kick things off, read an informative article in the Times Online from Jane Macartney, who takes an insider's tour through Beijing, and for non-Chinese speakers, start getting to grips with Mandarin by subscribing to the 'Teach Yourself Mandarin Chinese Conversation' by Elizabeth Scurfield & Song Lianyi; the course is also being made available through Times Online.
Canada's Québec City celebrates its 400th anniversary, January to October, 2008.
A colorful series of unique exhibitions, shows, and prestigious international gatherings are planned throughout the region. The anniversary date of the city's founding is July 3 and the beginning of July will see particularly spectacular celebrations.
This beautiful place is where the Godwits choose to spend the southern hemisphere summer. Christchurch City Council organises an annual spring celebration to mark the arrival of the first Godwit migrants. The sighting of the birds is signalled by the bells of Christchurch Cathedral, which ring for 30 minutes when the first birds are seen on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary.
During January, 2008, visual artists will have the opportunity to present their artworks at the first Fajr Festival of Visual Arts in Tehran, as part of ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
International Fajr Festivals have previously been devoted to film, theater, and music.
Liverpool, UK, is gearing up for major events to celebrate the 800th anniversary of its first royal charter. There will be one hell of a party around August, including the Hub, billed as the UK's largest, free, urban youth festival, which takes place at Otterspool Promenade on 14 and 15 July, 2007. Then next year, Liverpool becomes the European Capital of Culture 2008; this year's European Capital of Culture is Sibiu, Romania.
Hub is into its fifth year, and promises two days of live music, skating, skateboarders, parkour, BMX bikers, adrenaline wind tunnel, street art, urban fashion and more.
I came across this picture record of the recent 2007 Great Wall of China Marathon. The 1300 runners were mainly foreigners from 36 different countries , with a handful of Chinese nationals and four goats; there is a picture of the goats but it is not clear if they were accompanied by a herder or just joined in to the melee.
The route includes 3700 steps of the Great Wall of China and is possibly the world's most beautiful and extraordinary marathon. Spaniard, Salvador Calvo won this year's marathon, breaking the course record. Next year's Great Wall Marathon is scheduled for 17th May, 2008.
Sunday, features the Classic Run, when over 100 classic Land Rovers from the Association of Land Rover Clubs will travel from the Solihull Land Rover factory to the Heritage Motor Centre. Thanks to Karl from dnadublin.com for the pic.
Anyone with a passion for adventure, that is interested in competing, should visit www.landroverG4Challenge.com and 
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