Destinations, Travel tips, Festivals and Public Holidays
Resources
Travel Tips: How To Avoid Excess Baggage Fee
Feb 13th
It is a common plight among travelers, that paying excess baggage has become a major cost in traveling by flight. Sometimes, the excess baggage charges itself can be the same or even few times higher than the flight ticket. More >
Official Indonesia Public Holiday 2010 Calendar
Sep 1st
Indonesia National Public Holidays Year 2010 Calendar
From: Kementrian Negara Pendayagunaan Aparatur Negara
(http://www.menpan.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=159)
Indonesian Government has set a national holiday and common leave for the year 2010 as many as 17 days, consisting of 14 national holidays (four of which fall on Saturday or Sunday), and a maximum of 3 days of common leaves. This early announcement of national holidays, religious, and common, among others, is to prevent employees skipping work taking advantage of the holidays. More >
Hong Kong School Holidays 2009-2010
Aug 7th
In Hong Kong, there are different School Terms & Holiday Dates between the public /government schools and the English School Foundation (ESF) schools.
Hong Kong English Schools Foundation school year starts in late August and consists of three, three-month terms ending in late June for the summer holiday:
* a one-week half-term holiday in the autumn term (October and November)
* a two-week holiday at Christmas (December and January)
* a one-week half-term holiday in the spring term (February)
* a two-week holiday for Easter (March and April)
* a six-week break at the end of the school year (end of June)
Hong Kong Schools Holidays 2009-2010 For English School Foundation
| Period | Event Type | Event Name |
| 29/06/2009 – 19/08/2009 | School Holiday | Summer Holidays |
| 18/08/2009 – 19/08/2009 | School Event | CPD Day |
| 20/08/2009 – 18/12/2009 | School Period | Autumn Term |
| 20/08/2009 | School Event | Autumn term begins |
| 01/10/2009 | Public Holiday | National Day |
| 03/10/2009 | Public Holiday | The day following Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 17/10/2009 – 26/10/2009 | School Holiday | Half Term Holiday |
| 26/10/2009 | Public Holiday | Chung Yeung Festival |
| 18/12/2009 | School Period | Autumn Term finishes |
| 19/12/2009 – 03/01/2010 | School Holiday | Christmas Holiday |
| 25/12/2009 | Public Holiday | Christmas Day |
| 26/12/2009 | Public Holiday | The day following Christmas Day |
| 04/01/2010 – 26/03/2010 | School Period | Spring Term |
| 04/01/2010 | School Event | Spring Term begins |
| 13/02/2010 – 21/02/2010 | School Holiday | Half term Holiday |
| 26/03/2010 | School Period | Spring Term finishes |
| 27/03/2010 – 11/04/2010 | School Holiday | Easter Holiday |
| 06/04/2010 | Public Holiday | The day following Ching Ming Festival |
| 12/04/2010 – 25/06/2010 | School Period | Summer Term |
| 25/06/2010 | School Period | Summer Term finishes |
10 August Singapore Holiday
Aug 7th
We got some questions from our readers: What Singapore holiday is 10 August 2009?
It is actually the 44th Singapore National Day, which falls on 9 August every year. However, since 9 August 2009 is a Sunday, official public holidays and school holidays for the National Day 2009 is substituted to Monday, 10 August 2009.
Check out also other Singapore Holidays 2009
France School Holidays 2010 – 2011
Aug 4th
France 2010-2011 School Terms and Holidays
by: Europe Travel Guide
ZONE A: Brittany, lower Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Lorraine, Rh?ne Alpes, Auvergne, Languedoc, Midi-Pyrenees
ZONE B: North east France (Picardy, Nord-Pas de Calais, Champagne), Alsace, Franche-Comt? and Burgundy, the Centre region, Limousin and Poitou Charentes, Upper Normandy (the Rouen area)
ZONE C: Greater Paris, Aquitaine
| ZONE A | ZONE B | ZONE C | |
| Autumn term starts | Thursday 2nd September 2010 | ||
| Toussaint – half term holiday period | From midday Saturday 23rd October 2010 to Wednesday 3rd November 2010 inclusive |
||
| Christmas holidays |
From midday Saturday 18th December 2010 to Sunday 2nd January 2011 inclusive |
||
| Winter holiday | Saturday 26th February 2011 to Sunday 13th March 2011 |
Saturday 19th February 2011 to Sunday 6th March 2011 |
Saturday 12th February 2011 to Sunday 27th February 2011 |
| Spring holiday |
Saturday 23rd April 2011 to Sunday 8th May 2011 |
Saturday 16th April 2011 to Sunday 1st May 2011 |
Saturday 9th April 2011 to Sunday 25th April 2011 |
| Start of the summer holiday | Saturday 2nd July 2011 after classes | ||
UK Public Holidays 2010 Calendar
Aug 3rd
In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, workers are not automatically entitled to time off on a public holiday. Time off can be provided for in an employment agreement or by expending annual leave.
Owing to the fact that England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are not formal subdivisions of the United Kingdom, each country have different set of public holidays (more commonly called as bank holidays in UK).
Here is a list of Bank Holidays dates for Year 2010 observed in the countries of the United Kingdom
England and Wales 2010 Public Holidays
Friday, 1 January 2010 – New Year’s Day
Friday, 2 April 2010 – Good Friday
Monday, 5 April 2010 – Easter Monday
Monday, 3 May 2010 – May Day Bank Holiday
Monday, 31 May 2010 – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday, 30 August 2010 – Summer Bank Holiday
^Monday, 27 December 2010 – Christmas Day
^Tuesday, 28 December 2010 – Boxing Day
Northern Ireland 2010 Public Holidays
Friday, 1 January 2010 – New Year’s Day
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 – St Patrick’s Day
Friday, 2 April 2010 – Good Friday
Monday, 5 April 2010 – Easter Monday
Monday, 3 May 2010 – May Day Bank Holiday
Monday, 31 May 2010 – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday, 12 July 2010 – Bank Holiday in Lieu of Battle of the Boyne 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010 – Summer Bank Holiday
^Monday, 27 December 2010 – Christmas Day
^Tuesday, 28 December 2010 – Boxing Day / St. Stephen’s Day
Scotland 2010 Public Holidays
Friday, 1 January 2010 – New Year’s Day
*Monday, 4 January 2010 – Second of January
Friday, 2 April 2010 – Good Friday
Monday, 3 May 2010 – May Day Bank Holiday
Monday, 31 May 2010 – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday, 2 August 2010 – Summer Bank Holiday
Tuesday, 30 November 2010 – St. Andrew’s Day
^Monday, 27 December 2010 – Christmas Day
^Tuesday, 28 December 2010 – Boxing Day
^27th December and 28th December substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 25th December and 26th December because they fall at the weekend
*4th January substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 2nd January because 2nd January falls at the weekend
Australian Public Holidays 2012 Calendar
Jul 23rd
List of Australian 2012 public holidays.
Most of public holidays in Australia are declared on a state and territory basis, except for some holidays which are observed in all states and territories, and are therefore de facto national holidays.
Usually, public and private workers are entitled to take off a public holiday with regular pay, while businesses that are normally open on a public holiday may require employees to work on the day. Traditionally, in this case, the workers were paid at a penalty rate – usually 1? (known as “time and a half”) or 2 times (known as “double time”) the regular pay. In recent years this tradition has changed somewhat. Most of the entitlement to penalty rates of pay has been reduced or entirely eliminated in many work places. More >
Holiday Destinations & Tourist Attractions in Singapore
Jul 20th
Where to go in Singapore? What are the popular destinations? What are the places of interest in Singapore?
We got asked these questions quite frequently.
Singapore is one of the most amazing places in the world to go on a vacation with incredible tourist attractions, great nightlife, awesome cuisines and wonderful spa retreats.
A lot of people like to go on a Singapore holiday in order to make the best of their vacations and have a great time with their friends and family. It is a shockingly modern city and a fantastic place to visit during the holidays. It has a great deal of almost everything to offer to its visitors. The major tourist attractions will leave you bewitched with its charm.
So to give you a bit of overview, here we compile a list of Popular Holiday Destinations & Tourist Attractions in Singapore
Sentosa Island
Sentosa island is the undisputed No 1 most popular holiday destination of Singapore. In brief, it is a whole island converted into an attraction park. It is big and will probably take you 1-2 whole days to explore everything. Sentosa Island is the answer of Singapore to Disneyland, and will be even more so with the opening of Universal Studio with the Integrated Resort (IR) next year.
Beach lovers can enjoy exciting games and sea sports along the 3.2-km long sandy beaches stretching across Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong.
Fort Siloso is the Singapore’s only preserved coastal fort stands as an important window to our colonial past and a poignant reminder of the war years.
What else to do ? Ride a movie (Cinemania) / Join the army (Fort Siloso) / Spot sharks without getting wet (Underwater World) / Admire butterflies / Erupt yourself (VolcanoLand) / Splash yourself (Fantasy Island) / Fall for dolphins (Dolphin Lagoon) / Climb the Merlion for a panoramic view / Walk on a dragon / Have a look at other countries (Asian Village) / Relax on spotless artificial beaches / Rollerblade on the alleys or rent a bike / Spot skeleton on a nature walk / Have a photo with a snake / Watch monkeys getting coconuts / Walk a suspended bridge / Admire a collection of shells / Cool off by one of the numerous fountains or manicured gardens (orchid, scented, spices,…) / Bike on water / Dream at the musical fountain / Stand on the southernmost point of the Asia continent / Ride the monorail around for free / Dance on the beach in swim suit at the two beach bars (regular foam parties as well) / Swim in the laguna
Orchard Road
From the world famous city, comes the world famous shopping destination – the Orchard Road Singapore. There are over 30 malls and shopping centers located in the stretch or road, closely connected to each other by pavements and underground pass. Here, you’ll find everything like the stylish Louis Vuitton, the exquisite Bergdorf Goodman, the elegant Tiffany & Co., the ever popular Prada, the immaculate Versace, Cartier, Fortunoff, Dior, Fendi, and Chanel. And the list goes on and on?
Ethnic quarters
As a multiracial country, Singapore host a number of unique destinations which celebrates the cultural diversity of the different races. Here are some places where you can experience the culture, customs and traditional festivals.
1. Geylang Serai
It was earlier known as the Geylang Kelapa; Geylang Serai was an abode to many of the Malay Kampongs. It is famous for the exquisite quality of lemongrass that grows here in abundance. There are traditionally made Malay-Kalimpong houses and a cultural museum as well.
2. China Town
China Town was historically the home to Chinese population who lived here. The place can be best explored on foot and can be marveled at the various interesting areas of Chinese worship. The main places of worship include the Thian Hock Keng temple, Sri Marimman temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. The China Town market is very popular for its cheap bargains where you can buy a lot of stuff like the textile, medicinal herb and Chinese handicraft.
3. Little India
Little India is a district endowed with Indian culture’s ethnic elements. The most attractive features of here are Sri Veeramakaliamman temple and Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. The latter is known more for its massive Buddha statue. Exquisite Indian silk, brassware, gold jewelry and trinkets can be bought from the exotic market. Little India’s cuisine and henna are also very popular.
4. Arab Street/ Kampong Glam
The colorful district of Kampong Glam got its name from a local tree, Gelam. It has a Malay Heritage Centre and Sultan Mosque. Also known as the Masjid Sultan, the mosque excels in architectural splendor. The textiles, fabrics and the baskets made of cane, straw and rattan of the market, trinkets, and perfumes are very famous here.
Nightlife
As for a taste of Singapore nightlife, some popular night spots highly recommended are Chijmes Singapore , Singapore Boat Quay, Mohammed Sultan Road, Singapore Robertson Quay and Holland Village Singapore. Arguably, some of the most popular party destinations currently are Zouk, St James Power Station (coal-fired power station turned into large entertainment complex), and MoS (Ministry of Sound)
Food
As a metropolitan where most of the population dines out, Singapore naturally has huge array of gastronomical offers. From posh five-star restaurants to economical food hawker centers, you can find and enjoy international as well as local food almost everywhere in Singapore.
Other destinations
You will never go wrong with the well-known Singapore tourist attractions such as the Singapore Zoo, Singapore Night Safari (Night Zoo), Jurong Bird Park and the Singapore Flyer etc.
Looking for best deals on anything and everything in Singapore? Check out The Great Singapore Sale !
Vietnam 2010 Public Holidays Calendar
Jul 17th
In Vietnam, workers get the day off work during the public holidays. There are a total of 9 days of Vietnamese public holidays a year, making it the lowest in the region.
Here is the list of public holidays in Vietnam for year 2010
Tet Duong Lich
New Year’s Day
Friday, 1 January 2010
Tet Nguyen Dan
Lunar New Year / Vietnamese New Year, Tet Nguy?n ??n, more commonly known by its shortened name Tet, is the largest, most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year based on the Lunar calendar, a lunisolar calendar. The name Tet Nguy?n ??n (in Sino-Vietnamese) can be loosely translated as Feast of the First Morning. Tet is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year. It takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least the third day. However the corresponding public holiday started a day earlier, from last day of the last lunar month. Visitors may experience difficulties during this period as shops, restaurants and public services close and prices tend to go up in the few shops that remain open.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Monday, 15 February 2010
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Gio to Hung Vuong Day
Hung Kings Commemoriations – Traditional holiday adopted by the government on 28 March 2007 commemorating the mythical H?ng Kings. H?ng Vuong (H?ng Kings in Vietnamese) was the first king of Van Lang or Lac Viet (as Vietnam was known at the time). His dynasty existed in Vietnamese prehistory, but much of the lore from this time is now lost to the ages.
Friday, 23 April 2010
Ng?y thong nhat
Victory Day, Reunification Day, or Liberation Day is a public holiday in Vietnam that marks the occasion Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) on April 30, 1975. This signalled the end of the Vietnam War.
In the overseas Vietnamese exile community, the day is remembered as the “Fall of Saigon”, but this term is considered treasonous in present day Vietnam and can lead to harassment or imprisonment.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Ng?y Quoc te Lao dong
International Labour Day
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Quoc kh?nh
National Day – Vietnam declares its independence, forming the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam)
Thursday, 2 September 2010
As in most other nations, if a holiday falls during the weekend, it is observed on the following Monday.
