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Mumbai, India - 1 May 2006 to 31 May 2006

Mango growing in Mumbai is a very serious business.

The farmers in India still mature their mangos in the traditional way, by placing them on beds of hay in mud huts to ensure that the Alphonso mangos are the juiciest, sweetest tasting of the fruits anywhere in the world.

And in May every year, the whole of Mumbai starts to enjoy a little mango madness, as farmers keen to ensure their full crop is sold before they are past their best bring down the prices, making them wonderfully cheap.

Therefore, a trip to the city during May can prove an interesting experience, especially if you enjoy mangos!

Carts and baskets full of the fruit can be found throughout Mumbai's streets and it can at times be difficult to avoid the things, as street sellers force them upon you.

A trip to any of the markets, including the historic, 130-year-old Crawford Market, will provide mango lovers the opportunity to find the best of the year's crop.

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Brussels, Belgium - 19 May 2006 to 21 May 2006

Jazz may be one of the coolest forms of music in the world and it is celebrated in style in Brussels from May 19th to 21st.

The Brussels Jazz Marathon is one of the most impressive jazz events in Europe, attracting artists from all over the world to play in both small, intimate venues and larger locations.

Both local and international groups share the stages around the city, but perhaps the most spectacular thing about the marathon is the fact that much of it takes place in the open air, with the squares being taken over by stages for concerts.

One of the most impressive must be the stage in Brussels' main square, which is surrounded by some of the oldest and most fantastically ornate buildings in the city, giving the jazz bands a perfect backdrop.

Over 50 venues will be included in this year's event, with 400 artists joining forces to give 125 concerts, all in the space of the three days over which the event takes place.

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Paris, France - 1 April 2006 to 27 May 2006

You are never too old for a funfair and the Foire du Trone in France confirms this, with over five million visitors, both young and old, coming to visit the huge temporary fairground.

Boasting a mind-boggling array of daredevil rides, shows, performers and acts, the fair has all the traditional attraction such as the Big Wheel, the dodgems and the slightly-scary clowns with their extended shoes and red noses, as well as offering something a little different.

Flashing lights, constant music and 'freak' shows accompany the rides and display a less elegant and trashier side to the French capital. Statistics show that over 90 tonnes of chips are eaten during the season, while enough beer to fill an Olympic swimming pool is consumed.

The fair at Pelouse de Reuilly dates back to the 12th century and is linked to the selling of pig-shaped spice bread, a long and confusing connection which has resulted in the modern day version of the fair.

All visitors are invited to join in with all the fun of the fair, held April 1st to May 27th , and add some circus fun to their trip.

Source: Hostelbookers

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Tokyo, Japan - 19 May 2006

The largest of Tokyo's big three festivals is set to take to the city's streets this May.

The Asakusa Shrine's Sanja festival is a three day event beginning on Friday 19th May with considerable amounts of dancing, drinking and music.

The focal points of the weekend are the processions of many shrines, known as mikoshi, through the city, which are believed to bestow luck and prosperity to the inhabitants.

Around 100 mikoshi parade through the streets, in processions that attract more than two million people to the event every year.

The Friday begins with preliminary parades of people through the local neighbourhoods, with the first mikoshis seen on the Saturday.

The Sunday is by far the most eventful of the three days with three giant mikoshis from the Asakusa shrine paraded though the neighbourhoods along with their smaller brothers, in processions that begin at 6am and run well in to the evening.

If you're lucky, you may catch sight of a geisha or a member of the Japanese mafia enjoying themselves among the crowds.

Source: Hostelbookers

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