In collaboration with Convergence, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in Convergence Volume 22 in 2014, we present this story on some of the year end celebrations the world enjoys.
Winter means different things to everyone; for some, it is a time of icy cold fingers and toes warmed beside a crackling fire. For those in warmer regions, it is a time for the heat of the sun to kiss their skin. Whatever your vantage point of the season, winter signifies one thing; celebration.
Convergence takes you on a worldwide tour of the best that winter has to offer across the globe, from snow-capped mountain peaks to crashing beach-side surf and festivals that are enjoyed in all extremities of the weather. All of our chosen destinations have a strict dress code – you must wear a smile, a halo of happiness and be cloaked in a sense of adventure. Join us to enjoy ‘winter’, where ‘year-end’ means the party is only just getting started.
Winter Wonderlands
Winter sports and the Alps are inseparable. In other parts of ice-cold Europe, the end of the year calls for a quiet, cosy evening indoors, huddled under a blanket sipping hot cocoa. They enjoy such winter warmers in the mountains too… but only after a day spent carving a route down the soft powdery piste. As the snowfall settles, helicopters take to the air and gondola lifts ascend, transporting skiers to bewildering heights.
THE PEAK OF EXCELLENCE | Courchevel, French Alps
This is the most stylish place to ski in France, a deserving inclusion on the list of piste elite. over 600km of ski runs and slopes entice both advanced downhill daredevils and those less steady on their skis. Miles of well-groomed routes will leave you wanting more. Whatever your level of skiing skill, holidaying here is not merely a trip to a hotspot of five-star resorts – it is a gateway to an elevated lifestyle. courchevel has a thriving nightlife, exquisite restaurants and rich heritage, drawing tourists from the highest echelons of society with a promise of extravagant winter revelry and French finesse. it delivers, emphatically.
A DOWNHILL DREAM | St. Moritz, Swiss Alps
‘Swiss’ is synonymous with quality and St. Moritz is no exception to the rule. once the mountainside sparkles with winter frost, the landscape looks lifted straight from a fairy tale; picturesque. as for skiing, the region has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and the Alpine ski championships multiple times – testament to its standing among the sporting elite. If further endorsement is needed, it also serves as an altitude training base for athletes.
Competition level or not, there is plenty to be enjoyed on the Swiss slopes. The village is the oldest winter resort in the world, and each new season brings with it fresh snow and fresh expectations. St. Moritz is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences one can have on skis.
Surfing S.E.A.
In contrast to those on the mountainside, thrill-seekers in Southeast Asia navigate an ever-changing, less predictable landscape – the ocean. Here, the year-end is welcomed by taking to the waves, and as the temperature drops in the Northern hemisphere, surf-fever is reaching its peak in Asia.
ON-BOARD BRILLIANCE | Perhentian, Malaysia
Powdered white sands lead to crystal clear waters that surge to 1-2 metre swells at peak time…. there is a reason that this is considered ‘the best beach in Malaysia’ on the surf circuit during monsoon season. this is a laid-back destination created for lazing on beaches such as long Beach – which is only available via a short boat ride from the mainland. there are a whole host of other water-based activities, as well as small surf shops and quaint little places to eat shore-side for when surfers want to find their land-legs or grab a bite before hitting the waves again.
THE GLIDE OF YOUR LIFE | Bali, Indonesia
The legacy of Bali as the surfing capital of Southeast Asia began more than 80 years ago, when on a visit from California, Hawaii-trained American surfer Bob Coke decided to stay, and set up the Bali Hotel on Kuta Beach. Since then, the area has evolved to become the choice destination for professional surfers the world over. It has some of the most exciting seas to navigate, and there are countless surf schools that offer affordable lessons for beginners. With some of the most complete accommodation facilities of any low-cost beach destination, at the time of year, Bali is the place to go with your board in tow.
THAT FLYING FEELING | Cape Pakarang, Thailand
It sounds strange that a place dubbed “Very Big island” is difficult to find, but once you have discovered this hidden gem, the way to get there will be engrained in your memory. in Thailand you are guaranteed a winter retreat like no other, with beautiful blue-green waters swirling with capricious currents, causing waves that are unpredictably enjoyable. Cape Pakarang has some of the longest and most consistent waves around and there are several reefs and beach breaks that influence different winds and tides, at this beautiful destination where surfers can have a really ‘swell’ time.
Festival Fever
Winter Solstice implies one meaning: gaiety. From sub-zero festivities to street carnivals in warmer climes, the season would not be complete without extraordinary celebrations where the sun is low and spirits are high.
OH CANADA! | Quebec Winter Festival, Canada
Quebec’s Le Bonhomme Carnaval is one of the most famous winter celebrations in the world. For a fortnight in February, parties and parades transform this docile town into a hive of winter-based wildness. sledges pulled by yelping Huskies scamper round the street in races, while competitors take to the frozen lake for a whole range of on-ice sporting thrills. an ice palace is specially built for the occasion, and there are beautiful snow sculptures around Quebec to add an icy aesthetic. if all the merriment and whimsical joy cannot warm your heart, then a glass of homemade Caribou – a delicious hot beverage of red wine, whiskey and maple syrup – is guaranteed to get your toes tingling.
THE ORIGINAL MASQUERADE | Venice Carnival, Italy
The Venice Carnival is a celebration of mystery and intrigue, with masked revellers draped in spectacular gowns and going to spectacular lengths to conceal their identity. the streets of this ancient Italian city bustle with people on a mild winter’s day, as they uphold this centuries old tradition. It is a glimpse into 15th century medieval court life, with elaborate dances, jesters, and sequinned costumes of every kind of material, shimmering in the low-sunlight. It is one of the most photographed celebrations in the world, but just who are the people behind the masks of this curiosity-piquing carnival? We may never know…
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY | New Orleans Mardi Gras, U.S.A.
For a completely different stateside experience, one simply must take a trip to ‘the Big Easy’ down south, to revel in the carnival atmosphere of Mardi Gras. America’s best and brightest winter fiesta is found in New Orleans; a city bursting with culture and soul, from its funky brass, moody blues to its sassy attitude and Creole cooking.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a period when catholic observers can over-indulge, and the day is preceded by Fat Tuesday, when they can enjoy one final fling with excess. Costumes, ball-gowns and bead-throwing parties are just some of the factors that make this a one-of-a-kind experience.
CARVED GREATNESS | Harbin Ice Festival, China
The Harbin ice Festival has one of the biggest followings in the world, a relatively new festival on the Winter Circuit but no less spectacular than its rivals. Towering ice sculptures are built from millions of crystal-clear ice blocks that are cut from the nearby frozen Songhua River. come nightfall, Harbin transforms into a luminescent spectacle, as the gigantic ice-city is illuminated in a rainbow of coloured lights. On the fringes of the city, festival-goers can hit the ski slopes of Yabuli as well as witness an ice-lantern exhibition at Zhaolin Garden, with the entire Harbin region bursting into life against a white winter snowscape.
