INSPIRATION • October 2016
Six colourful places to visit this autumn
The burnt-orange trees of Boston, shimmering lights of Diwali and moss gardens of Japan are all in their prime during October. Travel writer Etan Smallman selects the most vibrant places to visit now
Shimmering Diwali celebrations in Delhi
Get ready to enjoy the world’s most colourful party, as the Indian capital celebrates the Hindu Festival of Lights. Thousands of diyas (small oil lamps) appear outside almost every home, while neon illuminations, fairy lights and lanterns brighten the streets. Visit Delhi Haat on 30 October to experience a traditional Diwali mela (carnival). Here you can pick up a souvenir statue of Lord Ganesha and enjoy brightly coloured, traditional mithai (sweets).
Fall for autumn foliage in Boston
Blazing crimson-and-orange leaves bring this US city to life during the third week of October. A stroll through Boston Common and the Public Garden rewards you with a jaw-dropping autumnal display, while a jog or cycle along Commonwealth Avenue is another leafy highlight. To go further afield, sign up to a guided Fall Foliage tour, which starts in the city and ventures into the New England countryside.
A kaleidoscope of birdwatching in Costa Rica
For a glimpse of some of the planet’s most colourful birds, head to the jungles of Costa Rica, where you can spot toucans (pictured), trogons, hummingbirds and scarlet macaws. The 237-acre Curi-Cancha Reserve offers prime twitching territory, while the Sarapiqui Eco Observatory positions feeders in clear view of visitors’ cameras, making it easy to snap the iridescent golden-hooded tanagers and the tutti-frutti hues of broad-billed motmots.
The green moss gardens of Kyoto
Catch the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto to visit Saiho-ji, the city’s ‘moss temple’, for a green vista like no other. The Unesco World Heritage Site – regarded by many as Kyoto’s most beautiful outdoor space – is at its best in October, as the burnt maple leaves above contrast beautifully with the verdant green underfoot. Be warned: in order to reduce the numbers of tourists trampling over the moss, visitors must book in advance, by post, sending a stamped, addressed envelope. For more information on this process, click here
Blue gemstones of Santiago
Chile is one of only a few countries to mine lapis lazuli (pictured), a deep-blue semi-precious stone used most notably in Tutankhamun’s funeral mask. It comes out of the ground in the north, but most ends up in the shops and market stalls of Santiago. The more valuable gems are darker in colour, with golden (rather than white) flecks and streaks. Try the Pueblito Los Dominicos artisans’ village or the Feria Artesanal Santa Lucía crafts fair for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks and even ornamental penguins. It’s the perfect place to get a head start on your Christmas shopping.
This article has been tagged Destination, Culture