Festivals are blessed sanctuaries for humans who need to get off the rat-race travellator, and go and roll around in a field for a bit. Why do we feel drawn to these sorts of gatherings? It’s the freedom, the music, the fresh air, the glitter, the best mates and the new mates. The tents, the mud, the smiles, the moves, the goose bumps. If you’ve been to a festival you know the feeling; the lose-your-mind-for-a -WHOLE-fecking-weekend feeling. Christmas for ravers.
SONGKRAN – All over Thailand, 13th to 15th April
People
Thai people will greet you with a huge smile during this festival, but do not be fooled! The smiling assassins are out to get you. This is the biggest water fight on Earth! You better get yourself a water gun soldier!
It's common to see 4 generations of the same family, stood at the side of the street, ready to attack at any moment. The festival used to be very religious, with a drop of water over the hand for good luck. That was until the farangs (foreigners) showed up and turned it into the monster it is today. If you've got a bucket and a smile on your face, you're welcome here.
Entertainment
Pumping techno music serenades you from a HUGE speaker on every street corner. As you smile down at the cute 6-year old in the flowery shirt, he'll smile back and shoot you in the face with his water bazuka as his teenage sister attacks you with disgusting-smelling talc that blinds you for the next 3 minutes. In this situation DO NOT PANIC. Have a swift drink of medical Singha and wait for the stinging feeling to pass…then get back out there soldier!
Sleeping
As this is a country-wide festival, the transport and hotels book up quickly in the most popular places to stand on a street corner and get soaked. This includes the centre of all the big cities and the islands. Get yourself a nice little hut on Koh Phangan for $20 a night, or a hotel room in Chiang Mai for the same price, just book it early.
Price
$5 – water pistol
$1 – bucket
$5 – taxi – don’t drive, it’s a jungle out there.
$30 - accommodation
Total $41
EARTH GARDEN – Malta, 31st May – 3rd June
People
Calling all hippies and their grandmas and their toddlers and their dogs. FINALLY a place where we can get our fisherman pants on and twirl around in a dry field for 4 days, this is living!! As you can imagine, the portaloos don’t smell the sweetest in 30- degree heat, but all have toilet roll and hand sanitiser…don’t worry grandma, you’ll be fine.
Entertainment
Set in the woods, it has a real fairy-tale feel to it. Around every corner you feel you could bump into a group of dancing fairies, or a gingerbread man playing a digaredoo. There’s the main Roots Stage, the Enchanted Forest, the Electronic Sphere, the Healing Fields, Ethnic Markets, Food Court and even a play area for the kids. 4 days is just enough time to feel at home in this magical little festival.
Wake up to a little meditation, reiki or yoga in the Healing Field, followed by a wander round the Ethnic market in the forest, finish off with a good old rave in the Electronic Sphere. Peace, Shopping, Rave…bliss!
Sleeping
Looking up to the canopy of the forest, decorated with colourful ribbons and wind chimes, this is the perfect place to hang up a hammock, and chill in the comfortable shade. There’s loads of space in this site, but it’s still cosy enough to get to know your guitar-playing neighbours.
Price
4-day festival pass: €25.00.
1 day festival pass: €15.00
Camping: 4-day ticket at €40.00
http://www.earthgarden.com.mt/
SHAMBHALA IN YOUR HEART FESTIVAL, Chiang Dao, 8-17 February
People
An hour’s drive from Chiang Mai, this teeny tiny festival greets all folk with open arms. At the foot of Chiang Dao Mountain, river trickling through the valley, it really is a breath-taking spot. Beautiful Japanese boho girls with dreadlocks and amazing tattoos, Swedish kids with bright blonde hair running between the tipis, 60 year-old American hippies who left home in the 70s, brewing up the strongest coffee you’ve ever tasted, beans direct from the mountain of Chiang Dao. If you want to go, and make the effort to find this place, you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
Entertainment
This festival is the sleepiest festival I’ve ever been to, but who doesn’t like sleep? Waking around 9am with the bangs and clangs of people brewing coffee, people start to rise. Yummy, fresh vegan and veggie food is available at cheapy prices. Walking between the tipis and banana trees, one will find amazing musicians jamming in the shade. Grab a beer, let down your dreads and join the party.
This festival has a real feel of community, sustainability and love. I know that sounds puke, but it’s true. Time slowed down to a snail’s pace and we met some splendid people. Go live in the mountains for a few days, set free your inner-flower child.
Sleeping
Find a nice shaded spot next to the river, woop out your 2-manner and you’re sorted. There are fires at night to keep you cosy warm, but it does get cool, so bring your onesie. If you’d like to book a guesthouse, The Teak House is the nearest, but it books up quick!
Prices
200 baht ($6.50): 1 day ticket including camping
1000 baht ($32): 10 day ticket including camping
Children below middle school age: FREE
All tickets sold at the door.
GLASTONBURY, Sommerset, UK. 26TH-30TH JUNE, 2019
People
The mother of all festivals, the largest festival of its kind in the world, welcomes EVERYONE! Standing facing the Pyramid Stage, you gaze up upon a plethora of flags depicting 100 nations, political statements, LGTB rainbows and humanitarian causes. Whoever you are, if you think you should be part of this festival, then you’re absolutely right...
Entertainment
Glastonbury is a magnificent TOWN, with avenues and main roads, shopping centres and food courts. If you visited Glastonbury every year for 20 years, you still couldn’t experience it all. Of course it has the biggest and best artists in the world, but that’s not what Glastonbury is about. It’s about crawling down the Rabbit Hole into a secret bar to get to the hot tub! It’s sitting in the Green Fields with robots, acrobats and Tibetan monks wandering about. It’s about being with your chosen family, your team, no stress.
Everyone who goes to Glastonbury makes their own story. Mine is completely different every year. If you’re lucky enough to grab yourself a golden ticket one year, congratulations! You're one of the chosen ones.
Sleeping
You’ve seen it on the tele, it’s packed! Get there as early as you can to get the best spot. I’ve done it in a tent and a caravan and I think the tent is better. The camping areas for caravans are REALLY far away. If you’re in a tent, you can nip back and grab your glitter and fairy wings anytime you want.
There’s a camping supply shop there selling beds already blown up, and firewood…what more do you need? Sweet dreams!
Prices
£238 + £5: ticket for 5 days including camping
Kids under 12 free
Register here before tickets go on sale:
https://glastonbury.seetickets.com/Registration/Register
On sale 1st Sunday in October 9am, open all devices and phones! They go quick, good luck!
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/
So what have you got booked this year? Mines a tasty little number in Lancashire called Beat-Herder. Maybe see you in the woods for a little boogie?
If you have any questions about anything to do with festivals, just ask! How about some info on starting your next chapter in a far-off land? Check this out.
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