Epic Events
A Festival of Epic Proportions: Our Top A Festival of Epic Proportions: Our Top Picks Nearly every month, in almost every corner of the world, party-going people gather to celebrate a joint interest, tradition, or holiday, turning a once-ordinary event into a festival. While festivals of all sorts are typically worth a pause, no two are created equally and only a few can be described as epic. After sifting through the most popular organized events in the world, these five were selected for their ability to give you an experience of a life time by welcoming you into a party unlike any other. 1.) Tomorrowland: Boom, Belgium – Located in a small Belgian town between Antwerp and Brussels, Boom is a seemingly unlikely home for this fairytale inspired electronic music mecca that has become one of the most notable organized music festivals on the planet. Beginning in just 2005, 2013’s festival will mark the 9th Tomorrowland, transforming the town of Boom into the home of electronic dance music and 185,000 partiers from all over the world – many of which stay on-site and the now infamous Dreamville. This year’s event takes place over four days from July 26-29, but unless you’ve already got your tickets in the bag, you better start planning for next year – tickets were sold out in less than an hour. http://www.tomorrowland.com/en 2.) Fuji Rock: Naeba Ski Resort, Japan – Although named for the it’s first disastrous year in which the festival was located near Mt. Fuji and effectively ruined by a surprise typhoon, Fuji Rock has bounced back with a vengeance, quickly becoming the first and largest outdoor rock event in East Asia. Since 1999, the festival has been held at Naeba Ski Resort, high up in the mountains of Niigata, one of Japan’s most stunning displays of natural beauty. At first arrival, landing at Fuji Rock is like discovering a musical haven in the wilderness; the view is unlike any other. Today, the festival has ballooned into a +100,000 person event, making it the largest musical festival in Japan, attracting world-renowned artists like Radiohead, Coldplay, and the Oasis. Fuji Rock 2013 is set to take place July 26-28, with regular tickets opening up June 15th. http://www.smash-uk.com/frf13/ 3.) Exit: Novi Sad, Serbia – In 2000, three Serbia university students set out to provide high-energy entertainment to their countries youth while simultaneously bringing pertinent social topics to the forefront of their society. They chose 18th century fortress on the coast of the Danube, and ever since, a combination of its grass roots political beginnings, stunning backdrop, and star-studded lineup has solidified Exit’s...
Howling fun at the Full Moon in Koh Phangan
Top 5 Reasons to Howl at the Full Moon on Koh Phangan Legend has it that it began as a New Year’s Eve send off for some travelling Aussies in the 1980s and word quickly spread that these islanders knew how to party. Others claim that a group of hippies hopped up on the local party favorers figured out that an all-nighter was the best way to experience this end of the island. Whichever story you prefer, the Full Moon Party on Had Rin beach, located in the southeastern point of Koh Phangan, Thailand is today’s premier party spot in Southeast Asia – and shows no signs of slowing down. So, whether you’ve been dreaming of hitting this infamous party for years or are new to the idea, here are our top five favorite reasons to make the trek over to land of rice and sunshine. And come on; did you really need more than one? 1.)Location, location, location Sure, you may have partied on the sand before, but unless you’re from Thailand, we promise your view didn’t come close to this. Set on the sunrise-facing southeastern point of the island, nestled in one of the worlds premiere archipelagos, long before the first bucket was poured Koh Phangan was already famous for her soft white sands and stunning views. As an added bonus, when the beaches on this island fill up, it’s just a quick boat ride over to one of her deserted neighbors’ shores; ensuring that you’re never short of a spot of sand to call your own.. 2) Loose morals and even looser bikini straps Let’s be honest, no self-respecting tropical trip is complete without a wild hookup story to share with all your friends upon your return home. And friends? This island will not disappoint. Word of mouth may have turned this monthly beach bash into the 10,000+ person party it is today, but we have it on good authority that it’s the endless flock of beautiful people that keep many attendees coming back for more.. 3)Music Mecca As it’s name implies, the party pops each month on the full moon; giving party goers a full twelve opportunities a year to make their travel dreams come true. Twelve nights a year sounds pretty good to those of us with tight schedules, but it also sounds pretty good for the musically inclined. What started as a sandy stage for a lone guitarist close to 30 years ago has blossomed into an emerging DJ’s dream come true. Like music? Think 15 sound systems blasting anything from Electronic, Trance, and Goa to Reggae and Dub. That’s what we...
Running FROM the Bulls, a Survival Kit
Road to Pamplona: How to Survive the Running of the Bulls There are few things we can do that are more foolish than attempting to keep up with a wild animal. Bulls are large, beastly animals that are as notorious for their viciousness as they are for their magnificent beauty. And yet, in spite of the danger, there are also few things as thrilling as the annual Pamplona Bull Run in Spain. Known to the locals as the Fiesta de San Fermin, the running of the bulls is actually a nine-day event, comprised of eight consecutive bovine runs, countless parties, and more celebratory sangria than you could possibly tire of. Each year from the 6th to 14th of July, the tiny cobblestoned streets of Pamplona are blocked off from the corral in Calle Santo Domingo to the bullring at the city center. Starting on the 7th, the 8am dual rockets will be fired, signaling the start of the 825-meter run of your life. The run typically lasts no more than five minutes, but with more than 1,000 pounds of sheer muscle coming at you, it can feel much longer. Of course, the real prize is the celebrations that mark the festival after each run. To be sure you make it that far, we have a few suggestions for how to handle it as safely as possible. 1.) Athleticism – The actual run may be less than 5 minutes, but it’s still something best left to those that at least kind of know what they’re doing. Running on cobblestone streets with hundreds of people and live animals charging behind you is not a joke. It may not be a marathon, but it’s still a run you should probably train at least a little for. If you’re not a professional runner, that’s ok, but it’s important to wear the right shoes, get a good night’s sleep, and make sure you’re not hungover for the big day. Remember, you’re going to have plenty of time to party after you run; there’s no reason to sacrifice your safety. 2) Crowd Control – With all jokes about bulls aside, your real worry should actually be the amount of people that show up for this thing. Keeping this in mind, it’s typically not a good idea to try to run on the first day of the festival. The first day is usually the most popular, meaning you (as a tourist) are more likely to get yanked out by the police and least likely to make it through an entire run without being pushed to the ground by the countless other inexperienced runners. A much better...