International Destinations Posts

Ringing in the New Year Around the World

December 29, 2012 No Comments
Though some cultures celebrate the New Year in late winter or early spring, most nations celebrate January 1st as the first day of the New Year. You can thank Emperor Julius Caesar, since January was named after the two faced Roman God Janus, and Caesar felt this symbolized transition from one year to the next. William the Conqueror also wanted January 1st to mark the New Year, as it coincided with his coronation, but it wasn’t until 1582 that Pope Gregory established the modern Gregorian calendar, and January 1st took firm root as the mark of the New Year.

Which brings us to the question of how to celebrate! Sure, you could freeze your tail off with thousand of other revelers in New York’s Times Square, or curl up at home in your pajamas and observe the traditional ball drop on TV.  But if you want to shake up your holiday traditions, here are a few ideas from around the world!

Those fun-loving Scots call New Years Eve Hogomanay, or Night of the Candle. They clean their homes (not fun!), eat traditional foods such as Haggis (questionable fun?) and drink whiskey and wine (now that’s better!) and hope that the “First Footer” to come through their doorway after midnight is a handsome dark haired man bearing gifts to symbolize a coming pleasant year ( who can argue with that?) Often a straw figure known as the “Auld Wife” or a barrel of tar is set on fire to symbolize the end of the old year. And of course people gather to sing the traditional New Year song Auld Lang Syne, which as you may have guessed, originated in Scotland.

Don’t feel like wearing your woolies? Head to Brazil! Pack your bathing suit, because January is summertime in Brazil, and Vespera de Ano Novo is often celebrated at the beach, where people gather to offer flowers and gifts to Iemanja, the Goddess of Water. Floating candles and revelers wearing white add to the beauty of the landscape. Brazilian fishermen believe the New Year’s catch portends the fortune for the rest of the year. But don’t worry if you’re not a fish person, as the traditional holiday fare is lentils and rice, along with a tapioca dish called Farofa.

After a month of Bonenkai (“forget the year”) parties to bid goodbye to the year and all its problems, folks in Japan are ready to forgive grudges, and houses are scrubbed (again with the cleaning!?!) in preparation for the new beginning. New Years is considered the most important holiday of the year. Buckwheat soba noodles are served to symbolize longevity, homes are decorated with ornaments made from bamboo and plum trees, and a visit to a shrine such as Tokyo’s Meijii Jingu is in order. At midnight on December 31st Buddhist temples bang their gongs 108 times to expel 108 types of human weakness.

A Tour of Camiguin, Phillippines

September 22, 2012 No Comments

This post is written by our Research Analyst, Francis.

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Camiguin is a pearl-shaped island situated 6.2 miles off the northern coast of the main island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. The island measures about 14 miles by 9 miles at its longest and widest. Historical documents indicate that renowned explorer Ferdinand Magellan visited the island in the year 1521, and that it was a major settlement of Spanish colonists.

It has seven volcanoes,  and one – Mt. Hibok-Hibok – is still considered active, having had its last eruption in 1951. These volcanoes are responsible for the island’s climate and most of its tourist attractions.

Camiguin boasts miles of untouched coastlines with coconut trees and is dotted with hot and cold springs. Its beaches provide sun-filled days, and the clear blue water, marine life and coral reefs beckon visitors from all over the world.

Here’s a sample of the island’s natural and man-made attractions:

Lanzones Festival

Held every year in October, celebrating Lansones, a small grape-sized fruit grown all over the island.

Guiob Church Ruins

In 1871, a volcanic eruption devastated and buried the Spanish settlement of Catarman which was established in 1697. What remains are the mostly-buried ruins of an old Spanish-era church. A huge cross marks community cemetery that sunk during eruption – Gravestones are visible during low tide.

White Island

The island attracts thousands of tourists every year. It’s a white sandbar with Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Old Volcano as its backdrop. The island is good for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling and viewing the sunrise and sunset.

Ardent Hot Spring

This mineral pool bubbles water. Mist rises from the heated waters that run down the vents of Mt. Hibok-Hibok volcano. The spring is nice to bathe in at night surrounded by cool mountain air. Picnic huts and tables are available, along with a restaurant.

Bura Soda Water Swimming Pool

This is the only one in the Philippines where you can swim to a pool of soda water. It’s a great scenery as its cold water providing a refreshing splash to bathers and picnickers. Picnic huts and tables are available poolside.

It’s easy to get to Camiguin… From the Philippines’ capital Manila or the southern central city of Cebu, you can take direct flights to Cagayan de Oro City (CDO). Flight time takes one hour and 20 minutes from Manila or a mere 30 minutes from Cebu to CDO. One can also take the longer but more exciting ferry voyages to CDO from the mentioned cities.

From the CDO airport, you can take a taxi cab to the eastbound bus terminal and take a bus ride for Balingoan, a town 55 miles outside CDO. At Balingoan seaport, take a ferry bound for Camiguin Island. The ferry trip usually takes an hour. You can also take a direct three-hour ferry ride from the CDO’s Ferry Terminal.

There are many more hot and water springs, beaches, islands and other tourist attractions on and around this island which would surprise and awe travelers. I hope you’ll be able to come and explore beautiful Camiguin soon!