2011 travel planner: Where to be, when to go, what to do

So much to see, so many dervishes to whirl, so many bulls to outrun.

Here's your essential travel planner for 2011. Get booking.

January 5 to mid February: Harbin Ice Lantern Festival (China)

At this annual freeze fest held in China’s northernmost province (-40°F temperatures and Siberian winds), the 2,000 plus intricate icicles carved in honor of the Lunar New Year include ephemeral masterpieces like the Great Wall toboggan ride and a 10-story high Arc de Triomphe.

The most colorful ones are lit from within, making night the ideal time to tour, for those unafraid of a little frostbite.
More information: Harbin guide.

 

February 3: Lunar New Year (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam)

Chinese people across Asia recognize the Chinese New Year at beginning of the first month of the lunar calendar, in late January or early February.

Their ancestors believed a fierce creature called the Nian would otherwise come down from the mountains to hunt villagers around this time of year. Even now they beat drums or gongs and set off fireworks to symbolically conquer the legendary monster.

Celebrations include festive street parades and illuminated displays of large sculptures of mythical characters like the God of Fortune and Chinese zodiac animals plus a nightly explosion of fireworks to scare off any Nian.
More information: Traveling in China? Be advised it can be tough.

March 5-6: Rio Carnival (Brazil)

Hard to believe but this profusion of sound, lights and skin actually started out simply to lighten the mood before the more somber observation of Lent.

Carnivals are held around the world, but none outshines Rio’s with its jam-packed parade of outrageously frocked hot bodies and over the top floats, each from a different school of samba, a sexy, rhythmic African dance originally brought to the New World by slaves.

Percussion music only enhances this madness, encouraging barely clad hips to swing and sway among the ultra-energized masses.
More information: Rio Carnival

March 5: Nyepi (Indonesia)

On Balinese New Year’s Eve, in late March or early April, families parade with a giant monster doll known as Ogoh-Ogoh to the village temple where they symbolically burn it to exorcise evil spirits for the year to come.

Then the island itself must be purified, an excuse for everyone to run amok through the villages all night, smashing effigies and clanging the kulkul, a traditional bamboo bell.

The next day, Bali is completely silent to ‘trick’ the malicious spirits into believing the Hindu isle is now uninhabited so they will leave for another year.
More information: Balifriend.net

March 20: Holi (India)

India’s caste system gets cast aside as everyone jumps into the multi-hued melee during Holi, this spring festival of romance and merrymaking held according to the Hindu calendar.

Though the origins of this madness can be traced back to several centuries before Christ and is associated with the Lord Krishna, these days it’s all about letting loose.

Even the usually buttoned up drip in a rainbow of paint, throw water balloons and sip “bhang lassi” made with cannabis.
More information: holifestival.org

 

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