Morocco is a land with a rich and varied culture which has consistently inspired musicians, writers and other creatives across the world for decades. The Rolling Stones were drawn to the allure of Marrakech, while Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Bonham wrote the dramatic and curiously-titled song (considering its origins) Kashmir based on their driving adventures in Southern Morocco.

Celebrated figures of the Beat Generation William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and others were inspired by places like Tangiers, a city that – in its day – was a magnet for ‘junkies, queers, drunks.’ To collate all the material inspired by the experiences of these giants of 20^th Century western culture in Morocco would yield an impressive collection of masterworks; cultural landmarks that continue to inspire people across the world in every field long years after they were first conceived.

What is it about this country that set their creative spirits alight? And is there still something still to find for those looking for a shred of the inspiration that found these great minds? Perhaps you need to go to the source, look further back than the 20^th Century and draw inspiration from the ancient well of Moroccan tradition.

On the windswept Atlantic coast of Morocco, The Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival showcases some of the best traditional music from the Gnaouas – a people who perform a cocktail of sub-Saharan African, Berber and Arabic religious songs and rhythms, with roots that have even been linked to Haitian voodou and Brazilian Candomblé.

The Gnaoua invite the best musicians in the genre to play here every year, along with jazz, rock, pop and contemporary world music artists from around the world. It’s a celebration of music and the exchange of musical ideas, and has grown from a relatively small festival first held in 1998 to a major musical event that attracts hundreds of thousands every year.

Taking place from the 21^st to the 24^th of June 2013, The Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival looks like the perfect place to refresh the ears and delve into an ancient world that stretches deep into the Sahara and beyond. Obviously, no summer festival hit-list is complete without it!

If you’re planning a trip over the festive season, it might be an idea to check out the festivals and events that take place across the world. Not everyone has a Santa Claus! (Shh… don’t tell the kids!)

One of the most visually rewarding festivals has to be the Harbin Ice Festival in China. Making the most of the bitterly cold conditions, ice sculptors go all out with immense works of art that tower over proceedings. Previous years have seen icy versions of The Great Wall of China, big dipper slippery slides and the Emperor’s Summer Palace with forts and towers to climb along. With the Ice World Theme Park and thousands of coloured lights all over the town, it really is a festive atmosphere.

Our featured video of the week is filmed by Tom Suharto. You can visit Tom’s incredible photography website here.

For more information on Harbin Ice Festival and the tours that we offer to the region, take a look at our Chinese New Year Tour.

June is fast approaching and China is gearing up for the annual Dragon Boat Festival, a colourful cultural display featuring traditional dancing, rhythmic music, and exhilarating boat races.

The colourful Dragon Boat Festival

As one of the oldest festivals in China, the history of the Dragon Boat Festival is steeped in myth and legend, and although today it is a joyous occasion the origins of the festival stem from tragedy. The most widely believed theory dates back some 2,000 years ago when the beloved nationalist poet Qu Yuan threw himself into a river after he became despaired by the political state of the country, and his inability to instil change. It is said that the townspeople rushed to their boats and began throwing rice into the river, splashing their oars in the water and vigorously beating their drums in an effort to scare away any fish or evil spirits that might prey on his body and soul.

Held on the fifth day of the fifth month (by the Chinese calendar) every year this annual festival, also known as Duanwu, commemorates Qu Yuan’s death with traditional dancing, rhythmic music, plentiful food, free-flowing drink and exhilarating boat races. In the early hours of the morning bodies of water across the country fill with ornately decorated boats, carved and brightly painted from snout to tail to resemble fearsome dragons. In teams rowers scull swiftly to the finish line, edged on by the rhythm of a beating drum at the stern of the boat, and the winner is declared when a rower manages to climb over the dragon’s head to grab a flag at the finish line.

The races are best viewed riverside where you can soak up the festive atmosphere and cheer on your favourite rowers. If you are feeling peckish during the competitions, the snack of choice is Zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo with various fillings, such as dates, sweetened bean paste, or fresh meat. Following the races the party continues into the evening with firework displays, exuberant dancing and lively music.

This year the Dragon Boat Race Festival falls on 6 June 2013, and although it is celebrated throughout the country – and the world – Suzhou and Hong Kong are two of the best places to soak up the festive atmosphere. You can take in the highlights of China and witness this colourful cultural display in Suzhou on our Dragon Boat Festival tour departing 1 June 2013 – or we’d also be happy to tailor an itinerary specifically for you!

With charming colonial architecture, a quaint seafront promenade and an interesting spiritual heritage, the small city of Pondicherry, has been drawing discerning travellers for years, in search of enlightenment and that authentic southern Indian experience. Now the city is attracting a new kind of traveller, those who wish to visit the home of the teenage boy who captured our hearts with his epic journey in the award-winning novel and film, the Life of Pi.

The laid back charms of Pondicherry

In the early 18th century this coastal city – now called Puducherry and endearingly referred to as Pondy in India – was settled as a French colonial enclave, and although they renounced their control more than 50 years ago, remnants of Gallic culture can still be seen here. Wide boulevards lined with colonial houses, police officers sporting traditional kepis caps and belts, and the smell of freshly baked croissants wafting out of nearby bakeries evoke sentiments of Montpellier, while bumping rickshaws, bustling bazaars and beautiful Hindu temples quickly bring you back to India.

Before being shipwrecked at sea with no one for company but a Bengal tiger our young protagonist, Pi Patel, lived a simple life in search of spiritual enlightenment in this charismatic city, along with his older brother and zoo-keeper parents. Here you can retrace his footsteps, whether at the colourful Botanical Gardens which doubled as the backdrop for the family’s zoo; at the bustling Grand Bazaar where a bashful Pi first caught sight of his childhood sweetheart; or at the 1000-year old Villianur Temple, the setting of the candlelit ceremony Pi attended with his mother.

Besides providing the backdrop for the first half of the film, Puducherry has plenty of other interesting sights. Visit the enlightening Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community that aims to fuse yoga and modern science; explore the Puducherry Museum, which though small houses a wonderful collection of archaeological treasures; receive a blessing from the elephant that stands outside the Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha; and stroll along the wonderful beach front promenade.

Puducherry boasts an impressive array of cute coffee shops, temping bakeries and glamorous restaurants, many serving French cuisine but there is also a healthy assortment of Indian, Italian and Southeast Asian fare. Coffee and croissant in hand you can watch Puducherry life unfold in the morning hours, or in the cool heat of the evening enjoy a glass of wine with an al fresco meal at one of the city’s many alluring restaurants.

You can visit beautiful Puducherry on our 14-day tour of India’s southern states and see the story of Pi Patel come to life!

Beautifully filmed by one of our very own travellers – Andrew Kirby, Incredible India tells the story of a young couple and their journey by railway across Northern India.

The adventure spans from the majestic foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal to the Land of the Kings in Rajasthan and is narrated by a local priest.

Thanks Andrew – and we look forward to some more stunning travel film from you!

Andrew travelled on our Railways of the Raj tour – click here for more information on this 14-day journey through Northern India done by train.

Our very own Charlie Bridger attempted the climb up Kilimanjaro last year with her brother to mark his 50th birthday.

They took the Machame route up – and as Charlie says, it a bit of a tough old trek, but certainly possible for anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness. Altitude sickness, extreme temperatures and plain old fatigue are all things that may plague you, but the view from the top is more than worth it for those who make it.

Follow Charlie’s journey as she takes a trip up Africa’s highest peak… and if you’d like to hear more about the trek, please do contact Charlie directly at charlie@onthegotours.com

An oldie, but a goodie: Tomislav Safundžić constructed this remarkable timelapse view of Earth using images from Nasa’s suggestively named Johnson Space Centre.

Second part of our guest blog by Clare Kendall, freelance journalist and photographer

We decided to forego the baby cuddling photo op in favour of a half day voluntary work. We prepared panda food, mucked out their cages and fed them bits of apple and panda cakes on long sticks. The interaction with the bears and wonderful insights shared by their keeper felt much more satisfying than a few brief moments in the nursery at a cost of £200.

Even the adult pandas have a kind of Disney cuteness that I didn’t realise existed in the natural world. They look, for all the world, like men in panda suits. As I fed mine it’s panda cake it rolled onto its back nibbling the cake held in its front paws like a child trying to make a treat last longer whilst rubbing its back paws together in sheer excitement.

I think this adolescent bear was rapidly growing out of his favourite sleeping spot.

Let’s hope the income from the millions of tourists helps safeguard to future of this most beguiling of animals.

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Guest blog by Clare Kendall, freelance journalist and photographer

I knew that baby pandas would be cute but nothing prepared me (a hardened journalist) for just how impossibly, unbearably, achingly cute they would be in the flesh (or rather fluff).

It’s not hard to see why, having spent three days photographing them at the Chengdu Panda breeding centre in China (I know, it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it), the Chinese have chosen to assure their future at a cost of very many millions whilst the Chinese freshwater dolphin (once described by Chris Packham as having the all the good looks of a used bar of soap) has slipped out of existence without a flutter of concern.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has a total of 70 bears drawing 800,000 tourists per year …

…so you can’t afford to be too bashful.

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In the words of our boss:
“We don’t organise trips to Indonesia. But this is just stunning. Video of the Week!”

Fair enough. We don’t organise trips to space either, but some of the Milky Way footage is absolutely breathtaking. Check it out!