< PreviousPhoto Courtesy: www.balispiritfestival.com/gallery/2022 BALISPIRIT FESTIVAL, UBUD, BALI (4 - 7 May) The BaliSpirit Festival, held in Ubud, Bali, is an annual event that celebrates healing with a unique combination of yoga, music, dance and more. Founded by yoga instructors Meghan Currie and Jeff Biehl in 2008, the festival has grown from a small gathering of local healers and yogis to one of the most prominent yoga and music festivals in the world, attracting thousands of people from all over the world. Attendees come to BaliSpirit to explore their spiritual growth and healing, and to celebrate the joys of life through group activities, workshops, lectures and concerts. This four-day event has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for many, showing that it is possible to create a more meaningful, connected and sustainable world. 20 The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC marks the anniversary of Tokyo’s gift to the city of 3,000 cherry trees in 1912 and their annual blooming. This year marks the 108 th anniversary of the festival, which features a variety of events including a parade, fireworks, performances and art exhibitions. It is a vibrant celebration of the city's history and cultural scene, and a beloved tradition for locals and visitors alike. CONCIERGE DATEBOOK FESTIVALS The annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival, which is held on the island of Cheung Chau, is celebrated on the eight day of the fourth lunar month. This centuries-old tradition was first performed to ward off a plague and bring good luck to the island, and today is the largest and most famous festival of its kind in the region. It features parades, lion dances, dragon boat races and the famous symbolic bun scrambling competition, where participants compete to climb tall bamboo towers covered with buns and grab as many as they can. CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL, HONG KONG (26 May) NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, WASHINGTON DC, USA (18 March - 16 April)21 ROLLING LOUD 2023, THAILAND (13-15 April) The world's largest hip hop music festival descends on the Land of Smile from 13-15 April, during Songkran Festival. Held at Thailand's first and biggest cultural theme park, Legend Siam, the event features both international and local artistes like Cardi B, Chris Brown, Travis Scott, Jay Park, URBOYTJ, ALYPH and many more. Founded by 5-time Billboard Hip-Hop Power Players Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud has become a global phenomenon, putting on shows on both coasts and in multiple countries. Be there for 3 nights of beats, raps, and grooves surrounded by rich Thai heritage. www.rollingloud.com/thailand SNOWBOMBING MUSIC FESTIVAL, AUSTRIA (10 - 15 April) Snowbombing is an incredible alpine adventure that combines a luxury skiing holiday with a music festival. This pioneering and unique event has been taking place in the stunning Mayrhofen ski resort in Austria since 1999. It offers the incredible opportunity to hit snow slopes and take in breath-taking alpine views, as well as witness over 100 world-class artists perform in some of the most picturesque mountain settings. Visitors can explore enchanting forests, hike up snow-capped peaks, attend open-air street parties and vibrant venues, and make new friends during what will possibly be the most fun holiday of your life. PICASSO CELEBRATION: THE COLLECTION IN A NEW LIGHT, PARIS, FRANCE (7 March - 27 August) This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of legendary artist Pablo Picasso. To honour his lasting legacy, Musée Picasso Paris and renowned British designer Paul Smith have come together to present an exciting exhibition titled "Picasso Celebration: the collection in a new light". This never-before- seen exhibition aims to bring his iconic works back to life with a modern twist, seen through the lens of Smith's unique vision. It encourages visitors to see Picasso's art and influence in a new, colourful contemporary light, and emphasises its relevance in today's world. HAPPENINGS24 THE BUZZ 26 MONSOON VALLEY Established in 2002, Monsoon Valley’s goal was to promote “wine culture” in Thailand.Today, it is 'the' location to hit when in Hua Hin. 30 FLYING BOUTIQUE Boutique airline Bangkok Airways has been the choice for travellers to Samui since its inauguration in 1968 together with the opening of its privately-operated Samui International Airport. 32 FLYING HIGH Since its establishment in 2014, Thai Vietjet has been cooperating with Vietjet to extend its route network and provide more opportunities for travellers to discover Thailand and other countries. UZZ26 THE BUZZ MONSOON VALLEY Established in 2002, Monsoon Valley’s goal was to promote “wine culture” in Thailand. It was in 2004 when the team discovered, somewhat to their surprise, that the ideal spot to cultivate a vineyard was in Hua Hin, in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. It was not a location that anyone thought would be able to grow quality grapes, but it turned out that the area’s unique terroir allowed grapes to thrive, especially local varietals. Text by Pakvipa Rimdusit27 At present, around 10 grape varieties are cultivated in this Hua Hin vineyard including Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Shiraz, Dornfelder and Carbenet Sauvignon – and the ambition and determination of its owners during the past 20 years has been paying off with recognition from the wine industry. THAI WINE – WHAT IT IS LIKE? When it comes to viticulture, none of the Asian countries are recognised as a “top pro- ducer of wine”. However, Monsoon Valley has been breaking through that barrier and with its two decades of research, accomplished production of high-quality wines as proven by the multiple industry awards received. Monsoon Valley produces a wide range of wines, from classics like Shiraz to their signa- ture blends and, interestingly, also a Monsoon Valley Flagship Range of limited-edition estate wines. Not only is the quality of their wines elegant, but the terroir imparts unique tast- ing properties. The vineyard is situated a few kilometres from the sea in the midst of hills, so the land consists mostly of sandy soil, slate and seashells giving the wines here a distinc- tive refreshing note that reminds you of sea breezes on a carefree day in perfect weather conditions. 28 THE BUZZ29 If you wish to explore Monsoon Valley, please visit: www.monsoonvalley.com for more information or email: info@ monsoonvalley.com THE FIRST-EVER THAI MERLOT Even though Merlot is one of the most common grapes grown globally, it is not easy to cultivate a quality varietal. It was only af- ter many years of trials and tribulations that Monsoon Valley became the first vineyard in Thailand to successfully grow Merlot grapes, and recently launched its first batch of well- balanced Merlot wine. DINING IN THE VINEYARD One of the attractions at Monsoon Valley is to dine at newly-refurbished The Sala, a beautiful wooden house perched above the vineyard that boasts unobstructed views of nat- ural beauty which affirm how Hua Hin is more than a beach destination. The Sala serves up dishes that are inspired by the vineyard and winemaking process, to be sided with, of course, their wines. This is the ideal venue to come for celebrating special moments and savour Western and Thai meals with unique Thai wine pairing. MORE THINGS TO DO If you have travelled to Monsoon Valley from a different area, chances are you would like to get to know more about Thai viniculture. You will be in the right place. You can be given a tour with explanations of the activities, and the New Wine Education Center offers details about the journey of wine from growing grapes in a tropical climate, which is challenging, to aging of wines. Additionally, you may book a visit to the on-site Baan Khok Chang Elephant Sanctuary.Next >