Celebrate arts and creativity at Singapore’s Ace Festival 2012
May 15th, 2012
Singapore is set to become a hotbed for arts and creativity during the family-friendly Ace! Festival 2012, an event that brings together international talents for a joyous 24-day programme of performances.
Running from May 18th to June 10th 2012, the festival encompasses a total of 135 shows that are designed to promote and inspire creativity and artistry among youngsters and their parents.
This year's programme includes productions of several family favourites, such as The Little Mermaid, Hakim and the Giant Turtle, The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark and Just So?, the latter based on Rudyard Kipling's classic Just So Stories.
Elsewhere, various workshop events will encourage guests to create art of their own, with pottery activities, painting classes and dancing lessons all on offer.
Meanwhile, there will also be a fascinating selection of fringe events, including magic shows and balloon sculpting, as well as various carnival attractions and food stalls selling fairground treats.
The Ace! Festival was inaugurated in 2009 and is the brainchild of I Theatre, a production company dedicated to creating kids' theatre shows that engage all members of the family equally.
Families looking for accommodation in Singapore can find plenty of options at AsiaRooms.com, including the Fairmont Singapore.
Visit http://www.acefestival.org/ for the full lowdown on the festival.
Scale the heights at Standard Chartered Taipei 101 Run Up Race
May 15th, 2012
Amateur athletes and world-famous runners alike will participate in a memorable skyscraper race event this June at the annual Standard Chartered Taipei 101 Run Up Race.
This year's edition will take place on June 10th and will once again see thousands of competitors running up 91 floors of the monolithic Taipei 101 building, comprising a total of 2,046 steps.
Sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, the event is open both to ordinary people looking for a unique challenge and to well-known professional runners such as New Zealand's Melissa Moon, who has confirmed she will take part in this year's run.
Cash prizes and trophies are available to those who place near the front of the pack, while everyone who completes the run will receive a certificate to prove it.
People wishing to compete in the self-challenge individual category can do so for a fee of 500 Taiwanese dollars (£10.50), with entry limited to 2,500 people.
Those in this group will start running at 10:50 local time, with elite runners and the fundraising relay and corporate teams beginning earlier.
Prospective participants can access a wide variety of Taipei accommodation at AsiaRooms.com, including the ECFA Hotel Taipei.
Find out more at http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/runup2012/index.asp.
Celebrate Pineapple Nang Lae and Lin Chee Chiang Rai Festival in Thailand
May 14th, 2012
Thailand's Chiang Rai region has become a fruit lover's paradise this month, with the annual Pineapple Nang Lae and Lin Chee Chiang Rai Festival running throughout May.
The festival will see competitions and markets held in multiple locations across the province and will be focused on two of its most famous exports – the lin chee fruit, also known as the lychee, and the Nang Lae pineapple.
Chiang Rai is known for producing the most plentiful and highest quality lychees in Thailand, with almost 16,000 tonnes of fruits grown in 18 districts, while the Nang Lae pineapple is famed for its sweet taste and mouth-watering aroma.
The event is held each year to promote Chiang Rai as the premier location for these fruits in the country, while also bolstering the local agro-tourism sector.
Over the course of the month, various contests will take place to find the best producers of pineapples and lychees, as well as related cooked and processed products, while fruit can be purchased at special markets.
Visitors to Chiang Rai will also be able to sample a wide array of authentic northern Thai dishes while travelling, such as khan khanoon (spicy jackfruit curry).
Food connoisseurs can browse a wide variety of Thailand accommodation options at AsiaRooms.com, such as the Katiliya Mountain Resort and Spa.
Find out more about the event at http://www.tourismthailand.org/.
Comedy musical revue Forbidden Broadway coming to Manila
May 14th, 2012
One of New York's funniest and most acclaimed stage shows is set to wow Filipino crowds this month with the Manila debut of the award-winning Forbidden Broadway.
The comedy spectacular will be performed by a talented cast at the Carlos Romulo Auditorium and is set to run until May 27th 2012, coming off the back of more than 9,000 performances in venues across the world.
Created by Gerard Alessandrini, the show features songs from popular musicals such as Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia! and Wicked, with rewritten lyrics that affectionately satirise the source material.
A number of special celebrity guests will appear during the show, including the world-famous Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga.
The Manila staging of Forbidden Broadway has been put together by Upstart Productions, which won acclaim with its recent versions of Much Ado About Nothing, Defending the Caveman and Crush Hour.
Evening shows at 20:00 local time and matinees at 15:00 are available each weekend, with tickets available online from 618 pesos (£9).
Lovers of musical theatre who are seeking Manila accommodation can find a wide selection at AsiaRooms.com, including the InterContinental Manila.
Book tickets for the event at https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/.
Asia International Guitar Festival and Competition returns to Bangkok
May 14th, 2012
Bangkok will once again be the venue for the Asia International Guitar Festival and Competition this June, bringing some of the world's top guitar players to the Thai capital.
To be held at the Siam City Hotel, the event runs from June 14th to 17th and will incorporate a number of performances, concerts and recitals by talented performers, as well as exhibitions and masterclass sessions.
Featured artists this year include Aniello Desiderio from Italy, Koki Fujimoto of Japan, the Wong-Kojorn Guitar Quartet from Thailand and the University of the Philippines Guitar Quintet, among many more.
Meanwhile, the competition portion of the festival will see adult and junior guitarists showcasing their talents while vying for prestigious titles.
Entry or participation in the different events is available for a range of prices, with discounts available to students.
The festival is organised by the Thailand Guitar Society and was inaugurated as the Thailand International Guitar Festival in 2001, taking on its current name in 2008 to recognise its status as the biggest classical guitar event in Asia.
A diverse selection of Bangkok accommodation options is available to music lovers at AsiaRooms.com, including this event's venue, the Siam City Hotel.
Further details can be found at http://www.thailandguitarsociety.com/aigf/.
See US superstar Christina Perri live in Kuala Lumpur
May 11th, 2012
Singer-songwriter sensation Christina Perri will be bringing her popular brand of soulful anthems to Kuala Lumpur for a live show on June 7th 2012.
To be held at KL Live, the show is set to begin at 20:30 local time and will see audiences treated to a performance by one of US music's biggest breakout success stories of recent years.
Perri was catapulted from her previous life as a cafe manager to global superstardom in 2010 when her tender ballad Jar of Hearts was featured on the US TV show So You Think You Can Dance, becoming a million-selling smash hit.
Since then, she has achieved great success with her debut album Lovestrong, while her song A Thousand Years was featured in the blockbuster movie The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.
The cheapest tickets for Perri's show cost 98 ringgits (£19.70), with chill-out zone passes available for 188 ringgits and party zone tickets priced at 258 ringgits.
Fans of the singer who are considering where to stay in Kuala Lumpur will find a massive selection at AsiaRooms.com, such as the Park Royal Kuala Lumpur.
Purchase tickets for the show at http://www.ticketpro.com.my/.
Grasping the Floor with the Back of My Head dance show coming to Macau
May 11th, 2012
Visitors to Macau will be able to see a spectacular yet thought-provoking dance show called Grasping the Floor with the Back of My Head in Macau this June.
Performed by Denmark's Mute Comp. Physical Theatre, the show is being staged at the Centro Cultural Macau on June 29th and 30th at 20:00 local time.
Debuting back in 2008 to critical acclaim and awards recognition, Grasping the Floor with the Back of My Head offers a discussion of the way in which so much of human existence involves people creating misery for themselves.
This serious theme will be explored in an engaging way via amazing body movements, acrobatic displays and elements of farce.
Meanwhile, live musical accompaniment will be provided by Danish act Valravn, who will draw stylistic influences from ancient Nordic traditions and combine them with more contemporary electronic sounds.
Tickets for the show are available online now for 140 pataca (£10.80).
A massive selection of places to stay in Macau can be found by dance lovers at AsiaRooms.com, including the Sofitel Macau.
Book tickets for the show at http://www.macauticket.com/.
2012 Chinese Opera Festival begins in Hong Kong this June
May 11th, 2012
Lovers of traditional Chinese performing arts will be well catered for in Hong Kong this summer when the 2012 Chinese Opera Festival is held.
Commencing on June 15th, the event encompasses ten programmes showcasing different aspects of this unique art form, eventually drawing to a close on August 5th.
This year, the elegant and sophisticated Kunqu performing style will take centre stage via a mentoring programme conducted by the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre, which will teach two classic operas to young actors before staging a final performance.
However, other styles will also be well represented, with leading practitioners of Beijing, Cantonese and Yue opera also set to give various performances, while regional opera will also have a strong presence.
Other events include talks on opera appreciation and history, screenings of related films and themed exhibitions, offering an in-depth celebration of this historic Asian cultural institution.
Performances and shows will take place at a number of venues across Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall and Ko Shan Theatre.
AsiaRooms.com offers a wide range of options for opera enthusiasts considering where to stay in Hong Kong, including the Royal Plaza Hotel Hong Kong.
Find out more information at http://www.cof.gov.hk/2012/eng/index.php.