The small and beautiful town of Pushkar is set in a valley just about 14 km off Ajmer in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. Surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other, Pushkar forms a fascinating location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair which is globally famous and attracts thousands of visitors from all parts of the world.

This vibrant and colourful event brings the sacred Hindu town of Pushkar to life. The event lasts for 12 days, the first five of which are devoted to the buying and selling of camels, horses, cows, goats and sheep. With various other festivities, such as camel musical chairs and camel beauty contests, this is an event not to be missed.

Pushkar is among the five dhams or pilgrimages that are held in high esteem by Hindus, the others being Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. It is said that in battle lord Brahma killed the demon Vajra Nabh with a lotus flower, whose petals floated down to earth and landed in three places in and around Pushkar where lakes sprang up. According to legends, PushkarLake was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces (several rajas and maharajas maintained palaces here for pilgrimage) at one point. The Brahma temple is the most important temple here and is, in fact, the only Brahma temple of India.

November marks the start of the wet season in the Kalahari and with these thunderstorms comes a remarkable change across much of the inhospitable scrubland. Almost overnight large swathes of the desert, which covers almost two-thirds of Botswana, are transformed into lush meadows of grasses and wild flowers. Khutse game reserve is one of the best places to witness it.

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a Catholic celebration of the memory of deceased ancestors that is celebrated on November 1 (All Saints) and November 2 (All Souls). This unique and very important holiday, which celebrates the continuity of life, takes place in Oaxaca with more ceremony, ritual and flair than in any other town in Mexico. Despite the morbid subject matter, this holiday is celebrated joyfully, and though it occurs at the same time as Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls Day, the mood of The Day of the Dead is much lighter, with the emphasis on celebrating and honouring the lives of the deceased, rather than fearing evil or malevolent spirits.

On the days leading up to the celebration, the markets are lively and animated - not sombre or serious at all. There is a saying in Oaxaca; “We are not here for a long time, we are here for a good time.” Tiny home-made stands appear in the market, selling sugar skulls, special bread called pan de yema, bright yellow marigold flowers, delicate hand made ornaments and hand-dipped candles for the altar. The final preparations take place on the night of October 31st, bringing the whole community and generations of families out to the cemetery. The grave sites are cleaned, decorated and bedecked with flowers and candles, as well as food and drink that the deceased loved while living.

Dating back to 1995, the Festival Gourmet International Mexico has attracted a wealth of visitors and is one of the country’s popular food events.

The festival begins with a “Grand Gourmet Dinner Opening” which sees an selection of an a la carte menu designed and prepared by international chefs. This festival is designed and held in order to provide an exchange of culinary skills and knowledge, whilst raising money for local charities. Taking place on one of the most stunning bays in the Pacific Ocean, visitors can enjoy some of the most exquisite freshly prepared menus.

Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia’s most famous and photographed landmark, delivers breathtaking views across the city.

Standing 134 metres above sea level it is the widest long spanned bridge in the world. Referred to as the “Coathanger” by local people, the bridge was officially opened in 1932. Carrying eight vehicle lanes of traffic, two train lines, a footway and a cycle path, the bridge is an important part of Sydney’s’ transport structure.

Celebrations and major events in the city attract attention to the bridge. Each year, people travel from all over the world to watch as spectacular displays of fireworks are released to welcome in the New Year and other events.

Through either climbing the inside workings of the bridge for an in-sight into the heart of the structure, or walking along the outside catwalks steadily climbing the upper arch of the bridge to stand and admire one of Australia’s most stunning cities.