Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
From a solar eclipse in China to Robbie Burns, Annabelle Thorpe lists the year's must-dos
THE NATURAL WONDER
1 The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century takes place on July 22, when parts of China will sink into darkness for nearly six minutes.
One of the best places to watch will be on the banks of the Qiantang river, where visitors can also witness the incredible tidal bore, a wave several metres high where the river penetrates the relatively narrow river mouth, caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon.
Wendy Wu Tours has a nine-day Eclipse and Eastern China tour departing July 15, which takes in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, and time by the Qiantang river for the eclipse itself.
2 The Bintan Islands, in the Indonesian archipelago, have opened up to tourism over the past few years, with hordes travelling from Singapore to make the most of the coral reefs, rainforest-clad hills and crystal water.
Some of the smaller ones have avoided mainstream development, however; such as the private island resort of Nikoi, which opened with just six beach houses in 2007. Another nine houses should be completed in March, leaving the island free of building works and utterly tranquil - perfect for a beachfront massage, romantic supper under astonishing skies or wildlife-spotting excursions.
Houses from £120 (BD68) per night, through I-Escape (www.i-escape.com)
THE GATHERING
3 This year sees the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's most beloved son, Robert Burns, and there will be celebrations there throughout 2009. 'The Gathering' is a coming-together of clan members from all over the world for a Highland Games at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. The games will take place on July 25 and 26, and on the Saturday evening the clans will parade up the city's historic Royal Mile.
Tickets cost from £15 for one-day access to the Games, bookable on +44 131 561 1323; www.clangathering.org
THE COUNTRY
4 French Guiana, and its colourful capital, Cayenne, is set to be the hip destination this summer; the city is like a less-touristy Cartagena in Colombia, with bustling markets, stunning colonial architecture and delicious Creole cuisine. Ethnically diverse, it has a mix of Creole, Haitian, European and Asian communities, which create a bohemian feel. The country itself is a French departement, with landscapes that combine lush rainforests and long sandy beaches that are home to leatherback turtles, while gold-panning still takes place in the hills.
Black Tomato (+44 20 7426 9888; www.blacktomato.co.uk) can tailor-make an itinerary to include French Guiana, British Guyana and Surinam.
THE PARTY
5 Berlin celebrates 20 years as a reunited city, two decades after the Wall was pulled down. The party begins in May, with an open-air exhibition on the Alexanderplatz, while buildings will be transformed with light installations, oversized 'facade art' and exhibitions, spotlighting how the city has changed over the period. But the biggest celebration will take place on the anniversary itself, November 9, with a huge concert, a street festival and performance art symbolising 'the Fall of the Wall'.
www.visitberlin.de
THE SHIP
6 The biggest cruise ship ever built, Oasis of the Seas, sets sail with its first passengers in December, carrying more than 5,000 guests in seven 'neighbourhoods', including Central Park, with a lush, lawned area for alfresco eating and drinking. Cabins include loft suites that wouldn't look out of place in Manhattan and apartments overlooking the park, and four separate pools cater for different needs, from the aquapark H20 Zone for families, to the lounge pool, surrounded by private cabanas.
www.oasisoftheseas.com
