Culture & Leisure

Budapest's Advent Basilica has clinched the title of Best Christmas Market in Europe for the fourth consecutive year, as declared by European Best Destinations. The market, featuring 150 exhibitors showcasing Hungarian crafts and culinary delights, welcomes visitors until Jan 1. European Best Destinations organised the extensive vote, with over 590,000 travellers from around the world participating in the selection process. Advent Basilica's win attests to its universal appeal, enchanting visitors with its festive charm and cultural richness. Advent Basilica, themed "Where love takes your hand," is open to the public from November 17 to January 1 in front of St. Stephen's Basilica. This year's festivities maintain the market's 13-year tradition, offering a charming atmosphere with an estimated 100 domestic craft exhibitors, traditional Hungarian dishes, an ice-skate rink, and musical programs. Connie Corvet, a 27-year-old tourist from the UK, expressed her delight while savouring a warm cup of hot chocolate in the freezing weather, “This is one of the best Christmas markets I've ever been to. The atmosphere, light shows, and food are all amazing.” Mm Mark, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, and his father set up a stall selling hot beverages. Mark shared, “We chose to set up a stall here since this is one of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe.” The exceptional achievement of triumphing four times as the best European Christmas market underscores the Advent market's enduring appeal and widespread popularity. Its unique blend of Hungarian crafts, delectable culinary offerings, and a festive ambiance has consistently outshone competitors, making it a standout destination. Advent Basilika, organiser of Budapest Christmas Market, has high hopes for this year’s Christmas.  “2023 will also be a year of miracles, as the beauty of the holiday will move to Szent István Square in Budapest.”

Hong Kong TransLantau hosted by UTMB, marked its triumphant return on Nov 10 after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. This year’s new challenge was the TL140, a 129 km trail boasting a cumulative elevation gain of 6,700 metres. The three-day event on Lantau featured four different trails, including 25 km, 50 km, 100 km, and 129 km.  Participants of the 129 km trail needed training in order to complete the course within the 40-hour timeframe. Participants had to go up and downhill with the highest point at Lantau Peak at a rise of  934 metres. There were 12 strategically placed refreshment posts along the course. To enter the TransLantau140 by UTMB, runners had to complete a 50 km or 100 km trail race in under 12 hours. Tom Joly from the UK, the winner of TL140, crossed the finish line in 16 hours and nearly 48 minutes. He has won Ultra Sierra Nevada Trail 2022, 2023, Kong Lakes ultra-long course 2022, and more.  Among the contenders, Grace Law, 34, who ranked among the top five in the 35-39 age group for women for  100 km, said she has been preparing for this competition for over six months. Law said her preparation included testing energy gels and creating a personalized food approach, such as a plant-based Onigiri known for its sour and sweet taste, resistant to spoilage. “The food preparation is very personal. One of my foods is plum Onigiri; the taste is sour and sweet, and it does not spoil, and I need a plant-based Onigiri,” said Law. “The support team must be very sensitive to the runners’ condition. If the condition is not good, the runner may need to rest for an extra minute, requiring a support team familiar with the runner to adjust,” she added. The …

Copenhagen's annual Culture Night, known as "Kulturnatten," dazzled the central city with lights, music, and a resilient spirit despite challenging weather conditions. The 30th Anniversary of this celebration had an impressive turnout of over 63,000 attendees.  All cultural night events required a Culture Pass at a cost of 110 Danish Krone  (HK$121) from either a mobile app or through 7-Eleven stores. The Culture Pass covered free transportation on trains, buses and the Metro in selected city areas from 4 am to 4 pm during the event. The charming streets of Copenhagen were transformed into a vibrant tapestry of culture. Museums, city halls, and churches which normally closed at night were all lit with majestic light shows.  Reflecting on the event's growth since 1993, Marie Myschetzky, Secretariat manager for Kulturnatten, noted the remarkable expansion from 45 events in the first year to over 200 high-quality special events after 30 years. Myscheytzky emphasised the event’s role in making culture and the city accessible to everyone. "New generations are invited behind the scenes of the city, and spaces are created for delving into history and contemporary topics in an exciting way," she said. As night fell, the once-silent library underwent a magical transformation into a mysterious maze adorned with lasers and music, concealing treasures of acorns. Kathrine, 41, and her son Cal, 3 visited the Norrebro Library and went on a treasure hunt in the Labyrinth of books and shelves.  Young detectives like Cal eagerly embarked on a quest to discover hidden acorns. Upon finding them, Cal skillfully assembled them into figurines using sticks and glue. “The Culture Night event is really good for family activities. Cal gets to visit places that are usually closed at this time,” said Kathrine. “When I was young, I would go to other ball parties at Culture …