Hong Kong is a destination that offers you a world of choice in terms of fine cooking. There you will find some of the best Chinese restaurants that specialise in one or more of the following varieties of Chinese cuisine; Cantonese, Chiu Chow, Hunan, Szechan, Peking, Shanghai and even vegetarian Chinese food.

Some of the most exclusive restaurants are found in the big hotels and shopping districts. And as a major global city, the gastronomy of Hong Kong is rich in different cultural influences and flavours.

This year the 10th edition of the Best of the Best Culinary Awards will take place in Hong Kong, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The event will hosted at various locations across Hong Kong throughout the month, where prizes will be given to the best representatives of culinary art.

Participating chefs will be judged on their culinary awareness and cooking skills. Other important criteria include quality, presentation, creativity and demonstration of culinary techniques, as well as the resulting aroma and flavours of the winning entries.

This interesting event is at the reach of anyone lucky enough to be in Hong Kong who wishes to sample the pleasurable flavours of this wonderful city.

Read more about Hong Kong at www.oneplanettravel.com

More than 40,000 people are getting ready for the most important indoor event in Finland, and one of the most waited-for of the year for horse lovers.

The competition, lasting four days, is due to take place at the Hartwell Areena in Helsinki. As the name suggests, it is more than a display of equestrian skill- it is also a extraordinary cultural event.

A children's matinee will be held on Sunday morning, so that the little ones will not miss out. There will also be a "Horse Expo" with more than 60 stands exhibiting and selling goods necessary for horse owners and stables.

The 23rd Helsinki International Horse Show will be sponsored by Rolex and Glitnir.

You are cordially invited to breathe the emotion of this passionate sport and thrilling competition.

Read more about Helsinki at www.oneplanettravel.com

The vibrant Mexican state of Jalisco is this month glowing with colour and cheer, for now is the time of their annual October Festival celebrations. This will be a month of many shows and attractions bringing with them a wide range of activities guaranteed to bring out the festival spirit of every visitor.
Lasting from the first Saturday in October until the first Sunday of November, the Benito Juárez Auditorium and other institutions in the city of Guadalajara will be hosting the following activities; arts and crafts exhibitions, Mexican cookery demonstrations, business seminars and concerts featuring many national and international artists.
In addition, to pay homage to the beauty and elegance of women, the Queen of the Festival is crowned. Another highlight is the annual street Parade, where adorned cars parade the city's main streets and people celebrate until dusk, enjoying the colours, the diversity and superb atmosphere of this great festival.

For more information visit http://fiestasdeoctubre2007.com

Find out more about Guadalajara at www.oneplanettravel.com

Millions of Indian nationals have been celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi, one of the greatest figures in Indian history. This great personality was a key figure in terms of society, culture and politics in India, and throughout the world he is known as the “Great Soul” for his endless charisma.
Born on October 2nd 1869, Gandhi moved to London to study law following the death of his father. In 1893 he relocated to South Africa, where he began to practice law at an Indian firmvish. It was at that time that he took notice of the discriminatory laws against Hindus, dedicating himself to fighting injustice in a peaceful manner.
Gandhi returned to India in 1915, upon which he became leader of the Indian Independence Movement. Inspiring the first Satyagraha revolutions, Gandhi led the push for Indian independence from Britain.
Gahdhi was involved in many peaceful protests, yet he was imprisoned on numerous occasions. Nevertheless, he stood bravely against the political powers before and even after the independence of India. This was what made him a leader of non-violence and a national hero, with many social and political objectives achieved through his doctrine. The independence of India owes itself to this great man.
With this aside, Gandhi lived a humble life, fighting for peace for his country and people, and striving for a united India where Hindus could live together in peace and harmony.
On January 30th 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu radical. Yet his legacy, philosophy and deeds will live forever.

“There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.” Mahatma Gandhi

Cyclists will whizz through Catalonia this month as part of the annual cycling challenge "Escalada a Montjuïc", the final international event on the cycling calendar.
This competition, which began in 1965 and is organised by l'Esport Ciclista Barcelona, consists of trials open to all in the following categories; veterans, women, amateurs and professionals. And before the time trials begin, competitors will have the opportunity to take part in the Barcelona International Duathlon (Duatló Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona), attracting the best athletes from all over Europe.
Now that the Barcelona cable car system has been refurbished, this year's challenge will include the famous climb up the Sardana monument, which had previously been missed because of the works. In a bid to add more excitement to the event, the circuit itself has also been modified by the Esport Ciclista Barcelona, which should confirm its place among one of the most exciting cycling events in the world.

For more information visit www.ecbarcelona.com

Read more about Barcelona and Catalonia at www.oneplanettravel.com

The Spanish city of Cartagena is currently awash with makeshift Romans as the city celebrates the annual Carthaginians and Romans Festival.
This spectacular festival is a remembrance of the Second Punic Wars; the foundation of the city by the Carthaginians and its capture by the Romans in 209 AD. It is an extravagant festival celebrating the rich culture and history of this charming Spanish city. There is also some light-hearted fun involved, as thousands of locals dress up as Romans and parade the streets in a party-like atmosphere.
Displays and presentations will take place throughout the festival, taking us back in time to the days of the Roman Empire. There will be a Roman circus with gladiator battles and runs, a Roman wedding featuring Princess Himilce and Oracle, and a wide variety of delicious local delicacies accompanied with fine wine.
Carthaginian troops and Roman legions, twenty-five of each, will march through town in a spectacular fashion before heading back to their respective camps to continue the fun.

Read more about Cartagena at www.oneplanettravel.com

The second most important and fascinating rally after the world-famous Dakar Rally is taking place this week in Cairo, Egypt.


The rally will run through seven stages which will be done this year as follows:

1.Cairo-Baharija 316,04 Km (196 miles)
2.Baharija-Sitra 374,73 Km (233 miles)
3.Sitra-Siwa 388,98 Km (241 miles)
4.Siwa-Siwa 347,61 Km (216 miles)
5.Siwa-Sitra 364,95 Km (226 miles)
6.Sitra-Baharija 369,19 Km (229 miles)
7.Baharija-Cairo 332,24 Km (206 miles)

Covering a total of nearly 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles), this is a race full of competitive spirit, passion and adventure where competitors can marvel in some extraordinary sights and landscapes. Many even make the most of the occasion by planning a few pit-stop excursions and tours of many of Egypt's interesting highlights such as local bazaars and ancient burial grounds.

For more information visit www.rallyedespharaons.it

Read more about Cairo and other destinations at www.oneplanettravel.com

As some of you who are on holiday may already know, today is World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27th every year since 1980. It is held on this date because it marks one of the most important milestones in the tourist industry- the adoption of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) Statutes, on this very day in 1970.


The main objective of this iniciative is to demonstrate the importance of tourism to the international community, and to show how it affects the society, culture and economics of this world. It is for this reason that an established theme is chosen every year, serving as the main focus point for organisers of the campaign. The theme for this year's celebration, which is being held in Sri Lanka, is “Tourism opens doors for women.”

Previous themes have reflected important issues such as peace, international cooperation, education, communication, sports, ecotourism and technology, all important issues in the promotion and development of tourism, socially, culturally and economically.

For more information on major tourist destinations, visit www.oneplanettravel.com

(Photo by Babasteves)

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, and one of the most sacred, for Muslims fast during this time. The most important celebration of Ramadan takes place in Jerusalem, bringing together thousands of Muslims from all over the world.

The arrival of the crescent moon marks the beginning of thirty days of fasting, during which they refrain from eating, drinking alcohol and smoking, until the dawn of a new day. Both men and women have to observe the fast.

Ramadan is a time of joy and festivities for Muslims, who celebrate the occasion by holding special dinners and exchanging gifts with family and friends. New clothes are often bought and worn for the occasion. Muslims are also encouraged to read the entire Qu'ran during Ramadan.

On Eid al-Frit - the final day of Ramadan – worshippers get up at dawn, cleanse themselves and put on their finest clothes and some perfume before congregating in mosques.

Find out more about Jerusalem and other destinations at www.oneplanettravel.com

(Photo by Simpson)

We are now in the final stages of the annual cycling competition, “La Vuelta a España”, one of the three Grand Tours of the cycling world. Featuring the world's top cyclists, this three-week long tour, covering more than 3,000 km (1,864 miles) is divided into 14 stages of thrilling races, the last of which will end on September 23rd.

Inspired by the famous races of the forementioned France, and also Italy, the first Vuelta a España took place in 1935, and was hailed a great success. The tour took a break between 1936 and 1939 due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, before returning in 1941. However, the influence of World War II was too much for the neutral Spain, and the tournament was once again delayed until 1945.

After another break from 1951 until 1954, the race has been held every year up until today, with new organisers running the event from 1955 onwards. Since then, La Vuelta has built up more and more prestige, attracting the biggest names from all over the world. The event also attracts a mountain of advertising and publicity year after year due to the presence of TV cameras from all global corners.

Last year's winner was Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazahkstan. Who will it be this year?

For more information, visit www.lavuelta.com

For more information on Spain and many other destinations, visit www.oneplanettravel.com