Easy Trips you can do this month (October)

If you are planning for a trip to unwind and break-free from the stress of your daily life, you might as well have a look at these simple and easy trips.

Melbourne Australia

Why go now? The world’s richest racing event, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, is a 120-year-old institution of four horse races that attracts more than 325,000 race-goers to Flemington each year. The Cup is not just for fans of horse racing but for fashion as well. A cardinal element of the Cup is the prestigious Myer Fashions on the Field. Each year, women and men dress to the nines as they vie for a monetary prize of AUS$400,000 and a spot in Melbourne’s social pages. Central to the Cup is, of course, the racing. The Cup opens with the AAMI Victoria Derby Day, followed by the most anticipated race of the event — the 3,200m-long Emirates Melbourne Melbourne, Australia Cup that has a grand prize of AUS$6.2 million and a trophy worth AUS$175,000 made of 2,340g of solid 18ct gold. Next comes Crown Oaks Day where the winner of the Myer Fashions on the Field is announced. The Cup concludes on 7 November with Emirates Stakes Day, which is headlined by the AUS$1 million Group 1 Emirates Stake 1,600m event and the 1,200m Darley Classic, a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. Prepare for your own fashion parade by first visiting one of the top milliners in Melbourne, Melissa Jackson, in Fitzroy, the hipster district. Pair avant-garde headgear with statement haute couture jewelry pieces from Collins Street.

Yangon, Myanmar

Why go now? One of Myanmar’s most important festivals after Thingyan (New Year Water Festival) happens during the full moon period in October. The Thadingyut Festival is a celebration of the return of Buddha from heaven where he had preached to his deceased mother. It is said that during Buddha’s descent, people all over the country lit candles to welcome him back and it is why the streets of Yangon are illuminated by the flickering flames from candles during the three-day festival. The candles are earthen saucers filled with sesame oil uses cotton thread as wicks. During the festival, the young pay respect to their elders by asking for forgiveness and presenting them with longyi (gifts of food). The elders, in return, offer blessings for the future. The community also gathers to collect donations for charity and for decorations of the festival. On the day of the full moon, join in with the Buddhists to visit pagodas and monasteries to offer alms and joss sticks to the monks. Celebrations continue on the streets; various stalls are set up and sell traditional Myanmar food, toys and kitchen utensils. Every city will also have Zat Pwes, Myanmar traditional theatre that is performed for the crowds.

Bruce Chandler works as an encoder at an It company and whenever he finds time, he loves to travel and go to places on his bucket list. He also contributes to vacation-now.com his travel journeys and experiences along the way.