Travel: What's on worldwide

Until 17 Jan

Austria

The ski resort of Mayrhofen is taken over, for the second year running, by clowns, street performers and snowboarders in the name of "Party Week in Music City". To combat winter blues, a Caribbean Pool Party will be held at the huge indoor aqua-park - to the tune of a Blues Brothers band. A major snowboard style and jump competition will also be taking place, along with the obligatory street parties, apparently attended last year by an abseiling polar bear.

10 Jan - 24 Feb

Caribbean

The island of Aruba revs up for its 44th Carnival Celebration. Whilst this island appears to be solely set up for tourists, the carnival is primarily a refreshing celebration of Aruban life. One of the finest in the Caribbean, the Aruban Carnival gets going with a children's parade in San Nicholas, followed by an island-wide competition to choose a carnival queen from each district. Festivities culminate with the mammoth three day grand carnival parade - a frenzy of floats, costumes and steel bands including a 4am pyjama parade and Grand Old Mask Parade where "King Momo", the effigy of the parade, is burned at midnight.

15 Jan

Japan

Coming of Age Day is held for all those who reached the ripe old age of 20 during the previous year - the age in Japan when one gains the right to vote and is perceived by society as an adult. Coming of age ceremonies are held at town halls across the country.

5 - 24 Jan

New Zealand

The sixth Instant Kiwi Word Buskers Festival comes unicycling and juggling with hat in hand to the city of Christchurch. New Zealand's garden city plays host to some of the world's more talented vagabonds - a British escapologist, a Canadian comedian and a flying Dutchman. The well known, if not loved, "one man, his guitar and his dog on the end of a string" act will not be making an appearance as organisers have banned all "musical buskers".