Party Hotspots: Koh Phangan – Don’t Miss Rhythm & Sands Festival, 24th January

Spending the festive season on Koh Phangan was never going to be your average chill-out affair, but even for party-fiends like us, the mere thought of a massive three-stage rave-up on the January 2nd (yes, the second of January) seemed… well. A bit… much? Could we handle it? Well, just a tiny peek at the lineup of Rhythm and Sands gave us our answer pretty sharpish: Hell, yes – we could. And was it worth it? Travel writer, Karen Farini finds out...

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Top 10 Things to do in the Philippines

So how do you sum up the Philippines? Here is our guide to the top 10 things to do in the Philippines that we reckon backpackers just can't miss!

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Don’t Miss! Culture ONE 2012: Bangkok’s International Outdoor Dance Music Festival

Here at S.E.A Backpacker, we love to tell backpackers about events and festivals that you won't find in your Guide Book. Events that your average tourist can only dream about! Far away from the noodle stalls and tuk tuks, witness an ultra modern edge of Thai culture where the new generation of music lovers are expressing themselves. Forget your phrase book. All nationalities mingle here through the universal language of music and dance. With more than 30 artists in the line-up, blasting out everything from House to Trance, Electro to Dubstep, Indie Pop to Rock, this festival is not to be missed...

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Travel Blogger Relay Competition: Our Top Three Travel Memories!

With Olympic fever now dominating the planet, the S.E.A Backpacker Team decided to embrace the competitive spirit and try to win some medals ourselves! The event is the Travel Blogger Relay invented by lowcostholidays.com, who are asking travel writers all over the world to put forward their ‘Personal Bests’ – in travel memories! Each blogger will share their three best travel memories on their own website before passing the baton onto a fellow blogger who will then list their top three travel memories and so on... The team in the longest chain of bloggers by the end of the competition will win the race! So, without further ado, here are the TOP THREE travel memories from the S.E.A Backpacker Team...

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Event of the Month: Not just the Full Moon! Rhythm & Sands Festival, Koh Phangan, Thailand

Those awesome people who brought us Rhythm & Vines and Rhythm & Alps of New Zealand, now in their 10th year of mega success, have extended their arms into Thailand bringing with them the international dance scene and some of the planet's biggest acts! Set in a secluded yet accessible beach venue amidst the palms of Baan Tai, three days before the full moon party, Rhythm & Sands brings you the next level of the Thai Beach Party Experience…

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Event of the Month: Rainforest World Music Festival 2012, Sarawak, Borneo (13th – 15th July)

Next weekend the only place to be is deep in the heart of the Borneo jungles. A place of exotic mystery, the thrill of adventure; the land of ancient virgin rainforests, hornbills, orangutans and the fabled white Rajahs. As well as being home to 27 ethnic groups, between 13th - 15th July it houses the mother of all global music festivals...

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Event of the Month: Bali Arts Festival 2012, Indonesia (11th June – 9th July)

Taking place over an entire month from mid June to mid July, the Bali Arts Festival is a unique extravaganza of arts, music, dance and history celebrating passion and pride in Balinese culture. Amongst other performances, famous masked dances originating from tribal villages are showcased and ancient classic stories retold. There's a vibrant atmosphere all across the island as celebrations are enjoyed by locals and travellers alike. For first time travellers to Bali, it's a fantastic introduction to the rich heritage of the spirited destination...

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Event of the Month: Songkran, New Year in Thailand, 13 – 15 April

Buddhist new year in Thailand is a time for renewal, spiritual cleansing and super soakers… what!? Yes that's right folks, if you happen to be in Thailand between the 13-15 April, you can't fail to get involved in what has to be the world's biggest water fight! So where are the best places to enjoy the festivities? And what are some tips for staying dry? Here's a hint... there are none! Be prepared to get wet, VERY wet... Sawasdee P'Mai (Happy New Year) everyone!

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Phangan Film Festival: Bringing Culture to Thailand’s Famous Full Moon Party Island

The beautiful, tropical island of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand has long been stereotyped as a 'party island,' due to the monthly 'Full Moon Party' taking place on Haad Rin Beach. However, recently the island is becoming a centre for arts and culture in Thailand, with the rise of independent events such as the highly-acclaimed, Phangan Film Festival. Held in 2012 on 24th - 26th February, the festival hosts a diverse range of global films; from a documentary about global warming, to a film exploring punk-rock and spirituality to a short movie portraying the magic island of Bali, Indonesia. Making a well-needed cultural change from the usual backpacker event, this festival is definitely one to put on your travel itinerary...

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Mud, Sweat and Rice

As the World’s largest exporter of rice, Thailand’s country and culture revolves around this tiny pearly grain. Paddy fields dominate over half of all the arable land area and consume over 50% of the country’s labour force. Rice can also be found throughout the Thai menu, in all it’s forms and varieties. The most common type of rice grown in Thailand is Jasmine rice, known locally as 'Hom Mali' and it is in a paddy field full of the crop that my story begins! 20-year old student Laura Davies, on a three-month internship with S.E.A Backpacker Magazine, spends the day in a rice field learning about Asia's most important grain...

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