Kosmos

Why mourn the end of summer when you can look forward to fall – and these three festivals in China, Mexico and Korea.

Korea first

In the U.S., Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated until November, but in South Korea, the Chuseok harvest festival, which includes 5000-year-old competitions and dancing, takes place ­September 23 to 25.

Light play

Astronomically speaking, fall begins September 23, when day and night are the same length. In Mexico, people flock to Chichen Itza to see the giant shadow play created by Kukulcán pyramid.

Family giving

Ahead of the game: In China, September 24 marks not fall’s arrival, but the Mid-Autumn Festival with lots of lanterns and the traditional mooncakes that people present to their loved ones as a gift.

We’re all familiar with cheeses from Brie, Parma and Emmental. For a more piquant experience, why not nibble on these more exotic dairy products?

Suffering from writer’s block and need a change of scene? Here are three magnificent houses where bestsellers were written – and you can even rent some by the day:

Goldeneye, Jamaica

Ian Fleming, a British ex-spy, wrote all 14 of his James Bond novels here in the Caribbean – and even designed the villa himself. theflemingvilla.com

Naulakha, Vermont/USA

Rudyard Kipling didn’t actually write the legendary Jungle Book in India, but in the U.S. He nicked the name of his villa there from a marble pavilion in Lahore, the still part of India. The villa sleeps eight people. landmarktrustusa.org

Royal Albion Hotel, England

Charles Dickens adored Broadstairs, a seaside resort in Kent, and spent many summers at the Royal Albion Hotel. A Dickens Festival is being held here in his honor from 21 through 23 June. albionbroadstairs.co.uk

The Great Himalaya Trail, Silk Road, Way of St. Jacob: The guidebook 500 Walks covers the oldest long-distance trails and walks around the world. An ideal companion for all avid hikers, it provides detailed routes and plenty of entertaining facts.

knesebeck-verlag.de