lastminute.comhotels flights holidays citybreaks metro extralife OutofOfficeToadvertise call(01)6375979 H azy memories of stumbling across fields and dancing to music under the setting sun are long gone now that winter is upon us. Nowadays, however, besides the more renowned celebrations such as Rio carnival and Chinese New Year, less mainstream off-season festivals are gaining strength. From performances in the middle of the desert to dancing amid snow- capped mountains, for the party- goer, its time to grab the passport and get adventurous. Come,all ye party faithfulOff-season fun: The Electric Picnic, Oxegen and Castle Palooza be over but that doesnt mean you have to stop partying. Forget the summer solstice: for hardcore festival-goers, its time to embrace the winter solstice by Kristina GeOrGiOu Tibet With thigh-bone trumpets and rhythms played on human skulls, Tibetan Buddhism isnt for the squeamish. Many a backpacker treks up to Tibet and Boudhanath, near Kathmandu in Nepal, to join in the revelries of the three-day festival of Losar, which marks the start of the Tibetan new year on February 14. The festival sees the towns awash with flags and dancing monks, and on the final day everyone throws tsampa, a barley flour, so theres a sea of white faces. Expect ancient chanting, the burning of incense, the exchange of gifts and copious amounts of home-brewed rice beer. Argentina The Tango Festival gets Buenos Aires swinging in fancy glad rags. You dont have to look far for passionate participants: tango was born in the city. Watch aspiring tangueros and the fluid footwork of old and young masters on street corners, in ballrooms and join them in various studios, clubs and tango houses, which are open late most nights. Buenos Aires Tango Festival, Feb 27 to Mar 7. www.worldeventsguide.com Rotorua Release your inner Rasta at Ragamuffin, NZs biggest reggae festival, in the volcanic Maori heartland. Ex-Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean (pictured), Bob Marleys son Julian and perennial duo Sly And Robbie pump out funky tunes. Ragamuffin, Rotorua, Jan 23. www.raggamuffin.co.nz Mali Sleeping in tents under the stars adds to this unique experience of listening to an Ibiza regular playing the decks in the same line-up as tribal bands. A few hours north of the ancient city of Timbuktu is the oasis town of Essakane in Mali, where this celebration takes place. Every year the town hears music by Tuareg people as well as global tunes, including DJ Paul Oakenfold (pictured), in between camel races, swordplay and dancing. Festival Au Dsert, Essakane, Mali, Jan 7 to 9. www.festival-au-desert.org Caribbean Head to the 17th annual festival in Barbados and listen to the sounds of jazz. Youre never too far from world- class accommodation, either: some of the performances are held at The Crane Resort, which sits on powder- soft pink sand overlooking the sapphire sea. The legendary Smokey Robinson (pictured), Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and home-grown artists such as Marisa Lindsay and Arturo Tappin play alongside local musos. Barbados Jazz Festival, Jan 11 to 17. www.barbadosjazzfestival.com New Zealand A three-day party in a vineyard ten minutes from the east coast of North Island, Rhythm & Vines has a vibrant line-up including Empire Of The Sun (pictured), Editors and Krafty Kuts to welcome the New Year. Rhythm & Vines, Gisborne, Dec 29 to Jan 1. www.rhythmandvines.co.nz/2009 Travel Deals of The week Dublin hotels Price: Today only 30 per cent off your four-star Dublin hotel stay. Details: This is the perfect hotel pit-stop offer if you are doing some Christmas shopping with the girls in Dublin city. If you are travelling up to the capital or taking a trip into town for some retail therapy but want to make a full day (and night) of it, then why not book into a hotel in the city and treat yourself for the night? Contact: Log onto www. lastminute.com to view all their Dublin Deal of the Day Hotel offers. The River Nile Price: 979 per person Details: This amazing adventure offers you ten indulgent days sailing down the River Nile. The Nile Cruise tour embraces laid- back river life, with visits to the Pyramids and a journey through the Valley of the Kings astride a donkey. Departing 23 January, the price includes flights (Heathrow regional connections available), all transportation, eight nights hotel/riverboat accommodation, most meals, local payment and the services of a tour leader. Tour ref EG. Contact: Log onto www.explore. co.uk to book your trip and go river wild in 2010... Hong Kong Price: From 567 per person Details: Seven nights including return flights & transfers, three-star hotel. Tax extra, from 314 per person. Based on two sharing. Travel Feb or Mar 2010 Contact: www.tropicalplaces.ie for more details Orlando Price: From 469 per person Details: Seven nights accommodation at the Quality Inn, including return flights and transfers. Family of two adults and two children. Taxes included. Travel May 2010 Contact: www.americanholidays. com for more details 26 metrolifeextra Tuesday, December 8, 2009 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html