Let’s start the countdown to say goodbye to 2016. In the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are getting ready for the big night, that´s why today we want to tell you about the famous Japanese New Year, known as shōgatsu.

Shōgatsu is considered the most important celebration of the year in Japan. The preparation begins after Christmas day, and the main days of celebration are the last day of the year and the three first days of the New Year.

During the celebrations, Japanese dedicate most of their time to their families. They play traditional games and eat traditional Christmas dishes. On New Year´s Eve, known as Ōmisoka, eating toshikoshi-soba noodles, whose length symbolizes long life expectations, is tradition. Osechi ryori is New Year´s traditional dish, a mix of different food, which have been carefully put on containers exclusively designed for the occasion.

Additionally, a Japanese ritual known as ōsōji, is done every year. Japanese homes are meticulously cleaned in an effort to drive out any impure influences that may have taken up residence during the previous year. After that, Japanese families decorate their homes with kadomatsu, decorative pines symbolizing longevity.

On New Year´s Day, Japanese people visit the temples to make their wishes for the upcoming year. This first visit of the year is another famous Japanese tradition called hatsumōde.

 The exoticism and sophistication of Southeast Asia are the inspiration for this New Year’s Eve at the resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Welcome 2017 surrounded by the magic of Asia in our Asian Paradise in the Mediterranean!

We keep on celebrating Christmas at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Today we are travelling to China to find out all the details about the Lion Dance. Are you coming?

The Lion Dance is one the most famous traditional Chinese dances. This is one of the dances performed on New Year´s Day.

It is usually confused with the Dragon Dance. They are both a very important part of the Chinese New Year´s celebration. They are both believed to bring good luck. The main difference between them is that the Lion Dance is just performed by two dancers, while the Dragon Dance is performed by a dozen or more dancers.

Lion Dance´s shows start on New Year´s Day and go on during the rest of the celebrations. The lion walk through the streets to the sound of drums, gongs and cymbals.

As they cross the streets, people feed the lion with hong paos or red envelopes containing money; this action is considered to bring good luck. It is a donation to the martial arts school performing the Lion Dance.

The Lion Dance ends with a good luck message coming out of the lion´s mouth, together with a firework display.

The traditional colours of the Lion Dance´s costume are red, symbolizing courage, green, symbolizing friendship, and gold, symbolizing vitality.

Welcome 2017 at the luxury resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, a place to dream and celebrate the most special night of the year. Are you joining us at our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean?

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are starting the countdown to celebrate our Asian Christmas. That´s why we want to take you to the Philippines. Let´s find out why!

We could almost guarantee that Philippines is the country where we could find the most amazing Christmas spirit. The country celebrates the world’s longest Christmas season. Celebrations start in September and last until the end of January. In September, shopping malls, parks and different public areas over the country start to hang Christmas ornaments.

The Philippines, one of the most populated countries in Asia, it is practically a Christian nation in its entirety. About 90% of Filipinos are Christian. That´s why Filipinos go to Mass, faith is an essential part of Christmas celebrations.

A traditional Filipino Christmas event is Simbang Gabi, a series of Christian masses that last for nine nights and finalize on Christmas´ Eve. Filipinos believe that if you make a wish after attending the nine masses, it will become true.

Another Filipino Christmas tradition are family meals, where Filipinos get together to enjoy the dishes specially cooked for these dates. People prepare many delicious dishes such as puto bumbong, this is purple rice mixed with butter, sugar and Emmental cheese cooked in bamboo tubes.

If you want to enjoy Christmas surrounded by the luxury of Southeast Asia. Don´t think twice and experience the magic of Christmas at the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa.

Today at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we have woken up looking forward to discovering new Asian treasures.

Gede Pangrango National Park is the most visited national park in Indonesia. It is located in West Java. The park is centred on two volcanoes, Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango. In 1977 UNESCO declared it part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

There are many legends behind Gede Pangrango National Park. It is believed that the spirits of Eyang Suryakencana and Prabu Siliwangi guard the mount. Throughout the year, people visit the caves surrounding Mount Gede to meditate and celebrate ritual ceremonies.

The most remarkable things about Gede Pangrango National Park are its three different ecosystems: a mountain ecosystem, which is characterized by big trees and subalpine forests. Additionally, it has a savannah. Gede Pangrango National Park is known for its flora and fauna. The park is inhabited by 251 of the 450 bird species found in Java.

Among the main tourist attractions of the park we find: Biru Lake, Cibeureum Warerfall and the craters of Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango.

Due to the heavy rains Indonesia suffers during the rainy season, Gede Pangrango National Park closes to the public from December to March. The best time of the year to visit the park is during the dry season, between June and September.

If you are a nature lover, during your visit to the resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa you can´t miss the chance to participate in our Botanical Route, which will let you discover the dense tropical gardens blooming with flowers. Are you coming?

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we still have many things left to discover about Asian food. Today we are taking you to Japan to find out everything about the main types of Japanese noodles. Have you tried them all?

Soba. These brownish-grey noodles are used for recipes as Yakisoba. They are made from buckwheat and wheat flour, although there is a variety made just from buckwheat (towari soba), and another type of soba noodles which includes Matcha tea (cha soba).

Ramen. These are the most famous worldwide Japanese noodles. They are made from wheat flour, salt, water and a form of alkaline water called kansui; which lends the yellow colour to the noodles, as well as its characteristic elasticity.

Udon. These are the thickest noodles served in Japanese cuisine. They are made from wheat flour and water. They look like spaghetti but their texture is tenderer. They are served both hot and cold.

Shirataki. These are one of the traditional Japanese noodles. They are gluten-free and also have no carbohydrates. They have become one of the essentials in many diets.

Tokoroten. They are jelly-like slices of Agar. They are mainly used for preparing salads. This is a low-calorie food; these noodles contain a high amount of water, and also a high-fibre food.

If you are an Asian food lover, you have a mandatory stop at the resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Our Asian restaurant Koh Samui; where you will enjoy the choicest Oriental crossover cuisine.

Today at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we want to start the day recharging our energy with a Pranayama class. Have you ever heard about this practice? Keep reading and find out more about this technique.

Pranayama is one of the main pillars of yoga. This is the combination of breathing techniques, which objective is freeing the breath and so the manipulate Prana, the vital energy.

There are several Pranayama techniques that have been taught and practiced for millenniums. These techniques are the ways through which breathing is trained. Specifically, there are three types of breathing: abdominal breathing, clavicular breathing and chest breathing. When all of them are correctly reached we can say it is a complete breath.

Pranayama has many health benefits: physical, mental and spiritual effects. Among them we find: it is good for our skin, vitality, mental clarity and higher states of consciousness.

The 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa offers its guests Pranayama classes, courtesy of the hotel. If you are planning a getaway to Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean, don´t hesitate to enjoy our wonderful program of activities designed to enjoy a full Asian experience.

In the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are making the most of this holiday by travelling around the Asian continent. Today we are discovering you all the details about Asian style home decor. Are you coming with us?

Asian style home decor is a trend that little by little is becoming very popular worldwide.

If there is something that makes Oriental style deco so unique is the harmony, warmth and peace it transmits. Precisely, one of the keys of this calm it offers is the use of neutral tones to create the different environments of the house. Oriental style uses warm and soft colours. The main colour usually is white and beige as its complement. However, the use of other colours such as red or orange is becoming more frequent.

When it comes to fabrics, the use of natural fabrics is the most common one. One of the most used ones is wood, mainly beech wood. Furniture, both in the living room and the bedroom, are usually small furniture. Asian details are essential on the furniture, which are gold.

Additionally, people use many ornaments. Among the most used ones we find Asian-style paintings, small statues, Chinese lamps, candles, incense, cushions and bonsais.

But one of the most characteristic elements of this Asian style is the use of room dividers, specially Japanese dividers, which can be wood ones or paper ones.

If you are looking for Oriental style home decor inspiration, you should visit our 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Any of our rooms will make you feel like you are waking up in Asia. Are you joining us?

What are your plans for the long weekend? In the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering new Asian spots; that is why today we are travelling to India to get to know the impressive Akshardham Temple.

The Akshardham Temple is located on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi. This is the world largest Hindu temple. Akshardham means the divine abode of God, the abod of purity, peace and all the virtues.

It was built only 11 years ago; it was open to the public in 2005. It is doubtless one of the must see places in New Delhi. The Swaminarayan Akshardham complex shows the millenary Hindu tradition, its architecture, culture and spirituality.

The main monument of Akshardham is the Akshardham Mandir. It is constructed from from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble. There are no metals on its structure, only gold for decorating. It is carved with over 20,000 flora, fauna, dancers, musicians and Hindu deities figures. It symbolizes the history of India and Swaminarayan.

The complex also has a Hall of Values, a spectacular musical fountain, an artificial river and beautiful gardens. Precisely, every afternoon, when the sun comes down, an incredible sound and light show takes place in the musical fountain.

Are you planning the last great escape of the year? Start your Christmas holidays in the resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Our exclusive microclimate guarantees warm temperatures all year round. What about a few days off in Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean?

We are welcoming December as we love: celebrating one of the many festivals that take place in Asia every year. Today from the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are taking you to Japan to celebrate Chichibu Yomatsuri.

The Chichibu Yomatsuri, also known as the Chichibu Night Festival, is one of Japan’s top three festivals to feature floats, the others being Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and the Takayama Matsuri. It takes place every year on December 2nd and 3rd at the Chichibu Shrine, in Chichibu City, about 20 kilometres away from Tokyo. It is considered one of the best festivals in Japan.

The main events of the festival take place on December 3. In the afternoon six floats decorated with lanterns, gilded wooden carvings and tapestries are displayed through the neighbourhoods of Chichibu. Around 7 p.m. the floats are pulled the streets towards the city hall accompanied by drums and flutes music.

One of the others main attraction of Chichibu Yomatsuri is the fireworks display, which also takes place on December 3. This is a rare opportunity for both locals and tourists to enjoy fireworks in Japan during winter.

If you also like Asian style celebrations, come to say goodbye to 2016 at the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. The exoticism and sophistication of Southeast Asia are the inspiration for this New Year’s Eve at our Asian spot in the Mediterranean. Can you imagine a better way to welcome 2017?