- festivals
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Festivals are a Hue attraction. There are two main kinds of festival here. Royal festivals reflect the life and ritual activities of the Nguyen dynasty. Folk festivals consist of many activities such as Hue Nam festival in Hon Chen temple.
Hue's cuisine is rich, but one of the most striking differences is the prominence of vegetarianism in the city. Several all-vegetarian restaurants are scattered in various corners of the city to serve the locals who have a strong tradition of eating vegetarian twice a month, as part of their Buddhist beliefs.
You can take a cruise along the Perfume River, eating some local cuisine, and listening to Nha Nhac Royal Music - one of the best ways to enjoy views of this classical, mysterious city!
Google map: bit.ly/9IRqQS
I love walking along the cliff paths in Guernsey with my family with a picnic, especially from Le Gouffre to Petit Pot Bay. Lihou Island is also a good day out, you can only cross the causeway at certain tides and the children love it! The Autumn walking festival in September is coming up from 4 - 12 Sept.
Google map: tinyurl.com/34d3z7q
Well, you'll need a ticket first off. But what better way to watch England's last group stage game on the big screens in front of the Pyramid Stage! Last time they showed a World Cup game I believe they had the biggest audience anywhere in the world - including the actual football stadium the game was played in! A diverse crowd with people of all ages travelling from far and wide. I'm sure there'll be great banter between the English, Scots, Irish, and Welsh, amongst other international visitors! Let's hope the sun is out :)
At this fantastic festival you can combine a few days of watching feature films and documentaries on outdoor and indoor screens with sunbathing on the Black Sea beaches or boat trips on the beautiful delta. Watch out for the pelicans and other bird life. Whether in a chalets or camping, insect repellant essential. Previous festivals have been opened by Ken Loach and Peter Greenaway. The Stufstock Rock festival usually happens immediately after and further along the coast so doing two festivals is possible.
The village of Sfantu Gheorghe(Saint George) in the Danube Delta, accessible only by boat.
www.festival-anonimul.ro/festival_info_en
www.stufstock.com
I recommend never throwing away your copy of the Guardian or equivalent newspaper. It could save your life at a festival. We made beautiful paper hats to protect us from the Sun - as happened at the Big Chill 2003 Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire. The best atmosphere of any fun festival I've ever been to. Superb location and view, friendly people, great DJs and legendary champagne lushes (those were the days.)
If you know it's going to be a wet and muddy one take a couple of strong sticks with you to bash into the ground. Put your wellies upside down on the sticks overnight or when not being used. This is such a useful way of letting your wellies dry out without having to have mud everywhere.
Any festival, any where
Spray on shampoo which washes your hair without water and without ruining your hair. Small light bottle which beats talcum powder (if you use that). Doesn't leave your hair white and makes it smell nice and gets rid of grease!
At most Boots or Superdrug or whatever. 2 quid a bottle and lasts you all summer.
Socks, being the most vital part of your festival attire (apart from your undies... and maybe your wellies), take up loads of room, but are actually brilliant for protecting bottles in luggage and make up and toiletries, so ditch make up bags and use your socks!
In your drawer at home
This is genius. I camped next to a family last year at Glastonbury who seemed to have bought everything with them but the kitchen sink: portable loo, mini fridge and enough food to feed the entire site. The first thing they did when they arrived was build a family size dining table out of the fire wood. I don't think they ever left their camp, all they seemed to do was eat and drink. When it came to packing up they pulled out their workmans loading trolley, stacked up all their stuff and wrapped the whole lot up in clingfilm, firmly securing it for the long walk back to the car. The only thing they had to carry was their packed lunch for the journey home. Brilliant!
Take sunscreen with you! Even if it's not so hot you'll be outside for a long time and it's surprising how quickly you can burn. One year I was the only person who brought any suncream, it was really hot and everyone was fighting over that tiny little pot!
Why spectate when you can participate? However small your gesture, whether it's smiling at everyone you walk past, taking an extra bottle of suntan lotion with you for scorched skins, or a few unwanted carrier bags for mud/ wet free wellie-liners - help your fellow festival goer enjoy their experience and I guarantee it will add to your own experience - use the Burning Man festival in Nevada ethos as your guide - leave consumerism and money at the gate and try and give a little something of yourself instead.
Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Southwold, Sunrise Coast,Suffolk
www.latitudefestival.co.uk
If you are going to the Secret Garden Party check out some of the surrounding countryside. Godmanchester is a lovely village very close to Huntingdon. Stroll pass canal boats, check out the Fenland countryside or visit a nice village pub. A bit further afield St Ives has a great old bridge and river front with a nice tea room vibe.
Also - someone has to mention it - Pear Cider at Glastonbury!
The Great Escape is the perfect place to see a host of new bands. 50% cheaper and 50% longer than the Camden Queue aka Camden Crawl, this place isn't without the queues but does have one advantage- you will actually get in somewhere!
If you don't want to wait two hours to see your favourite band for the 10th time then just stop in at the nearest venue not at capacity and take a gamble. you never know ...
And the top tip for the next day before it's time to do it all again? Doze off the hangover on the beach instead of in your b&b, then head up to Bills for all sorts of organic and tasty treats. Better than a north london kebab anyday.
Various venues in Brighton.
www.escapegreat.com
When scoping out a field for a good camping spot - shaded/sunny, not too near the toilets etc - do make sure the spot you choose is not in a hollow. Remember, a lovely dry hollow in the sunshine is a pond waiting to happen in the rain. Unless you want your tent to become a water bed ...
Worth it though festivals are for the money, it's worth volunteering as a steward/marshall/whatever your skill, to see parts that you might not get to otherwise - possibly even backstage if you're lucky! You'll meet others easily and have fun.
On the website, as you book.
Get to the campsite on the Wednesday when it opens. You get the best camping spot, park close to the entrance gates and miss out on all the traffic queues. Stay until the tuesday and make the most of it.
If you have forgotten how it feels to let go - you know, lose yourself in the moment, not care (so much) about the mortgage, bills, school run and hair straightners, because life has all got a bit serious and respectable, then there are lots of opportunities this summer to steal back some of the summer love feeling that days gone by kept. Pack up a tent, and a bag of whatever makes you feel good - wine, chocolate, wetwipes,
and snug blanket and head for a weekend of freedom - even bring the kids. Camp Bestival offer hundreds of free things to do for children, music and even a pamper tent to really get loose. Go dance and frolic!
When taking the family to festivals don't forget the fancy dress outfits. I was so glad we took our two girls fairy outfits last year as most young children had some sort of fancy dress. You could buy outfits at the festival but they were expensive!
About a month before the festival buy a bottle of vodka, then decant it into a plastic bottle, add loads of fresh strawberries and a bit of sugar (to taste) then hey presto a great drink for the festival - tastes great and is neat vodka so you wont have to drink loads and face squeezing out of a horrific crowd for another wee!! (ps. you can sieve the strawberrys out but i like to leave them in as it adds to the whole festival experience!
It is a good way to see how a weekend festival will pan out. Great for children of all ages. If the kids hate loud music, big crowds and mud maybe wait a few years.
Bring picnic, water bottles - lots of wet wipes and waterproofs!
For younger children ensure they have your mobile number on their arm, or on a sticker.
Is this your business?