Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 5 - 2015 i ASIAN Geographic

The data collected by the Monitor is the most comprehensive and widely used annual dataset of casualties caused by mines, victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), cluster munition remnants, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Data has been collected annually since 2000 (for 1999 data) from a range of sources including national mine action centres, UN agencies, the ICRC, humanitarian clearance operators, medical and rehabilitation centres, and media sources. The 31 Mine Ban Treaty States Parties with singnificant numbers of survivors are: This includes all of the original 24 States Parties with significant numbers of victims in need of assistance that self-identified during the period around the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in 2004 and others that subsequently declared this responsibility; as well as Algeria and Turkey,…

With Singapore’s 50th year of independence, Asian Geographic paid homage to this progressive little island we call home with a special SG50 edition for this year’s Asian Geographic Hot Soup Challenge school quiz questions. Of course, gruelling questions on Asia’s diverse and dramatic heritage and history still remained a mainstay. Held at Singapore’s *SCAPE The Treetop on July 11, 2015, the competition brought together 32 teams from various schools around Singapore, all bursting with excitement to show off their knowledge on the Asian region. Kicking off with a brand new quiz format this year, all teams took part in the first three rounds of the competition, with the top three scoring teams battling for the prestigious Guardians of the Champions Cup in the Grand Finals. The event was graced by…

Ten kilometres to the north of Paro on a precipitous cliff at 3,120 metres, about 900 metres above Bhutan’s Paro valley, on the right side of the Paro Chu (chu means, “river” or “water” in Bhutanese), there are immensely steep rock slopes – almost vertical. On many days, clouds shroud a formidable monastery complex built into the rock face, creating an eerie sense of remoteness. There is an interesting tale behind the original construction of the ancient temple known as Paro Taktsang. According to popular legend, Padmasambhava, who is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan, arrived here in the eighth century on the back of a flying tigress, and proceeded to meditate in one of the caves found along the cliff. Various saints and eminent figures would come to the…

Javanese folklore has it that during the 15th century, Princess Roro Anteng (daughter of the Majapahit King Brawijaya) and her husband Joko Seger fled marauding Islamic forces, finally taking refuge at Mount Bromo. Here they developed a new kingdom, and named it Tengger using parts of their respective surnames. The Kingdom of Tengger prospered and their religion flourished, but the royal couple was unable to produce an heir to the throne. In desperation they prayed and meditated on Bromo for many days before the crater opened and the almighty god Hyang Widi Wasa announced that they would be given children – on the condition that the last born was to be sacrificed back to the mountain. No fewer than 25 children were produced, but many years later Roro and Joko…

The Tenggerese, or Tengger people, are an ethnic minority in East Java that claims to be the descendants of the Majapahit princes. Their population is centred on 30 villages in the isolated Tengger Mountains (Mount Bromo) within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Scattered communities of Tenggerese also exist in the Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Malang, and Lumajang districts of East Java. The Tenggerese are considered an ethnic sub-group of the Javanese people. Before the 15th century, the history of the Tenggerese was linked with the Majapahit and other kingdoms from the earlier period. The Tenggerese speak an archaic Javanese (Majapahit) dialect called Tengger Javanese. Elements of modern Javanese influences can be seen in their speech. They have their own written Kavi script based on the old Javanese Brahmi script. Tengger Javanese…

FLIGHT INFORMATION: Fly to Adelaide Airport on Singapore Airlines or Jetstar from Singapore Changi Airport, on Malaysian Airlines from KLIA, or on Quantas from Sydney. Rex Airlines flies from Adelaide to Coober Pedy, Sunday to Friday. Private charters are also available. DRIVE: Most people self-drive to and around the region. Many of the roads are sealed so you don’t need a 4WD to see the key attractions. Always check road conditions before travel. CAR HIRE: As well as in Adelaide, hire car companies are available in Coober Pedy, Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Roxby Downs. RAIL: The famous “Ghan” railway line also runs nearby, linking Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north – the world’s longest rail route of its kind. HOTELS: Down to Earth www.downtoerth.com.au Opal Inn…

JAN 1 FRIDAY New Year’s Day Due to its geographical position close to the International Date Line, Australia is one of the first countries in the world to welcome the New Year. JAN 26 TUESDAY Australia Day Australia Day commemorates the establishment of the first European settlement at Port Jackson, now part of Sydney, in 1788. MAR 14 MONDAY Adelaide Cup The Adelaide Cup is a state holiday in South Australia that falls on the second Monday of March. The horse-racing event has been the heart of South Australia’s sporting and social life since it was first run in 1864. MAR 28 MONDAY Easter Monday Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday. It is a public holiday throughout Australia. DEC 28 WEDNESDAY Proclamation Day This unique day to South…

The flattest, brightest, and most surreal landscapes are also the saltiest and the most inhospitable. On dry land, most rainwater makes its way by gravity through stream and lake and river down to the ocean. Even when it sinks into the ground out of sight, a raindrop will join the subterranean flow of water downhill to the sea. But in some strange places, the raindrop’s flow is futile and leads to no coastline. In these regions, it will rejoin the ocean only after it evaporates. The raindrop may join the waters of a salt lake, but eventually it evaporates leaving behind the minerals that it picked up on its journey. When the incoming water flow changes, a salt lake can dry out and become a flat plain – a salt…

A travelling heritage Represented in 160 countries across five continents, Tissot is the largest traditional Swiss watch brand based on volume. Tissot celebrates its 160th anniversary with a watch first created for its centenary in 1953: the Tissot Heritage Navigator. This ultimate traveller’s timepiece features 24 time zones indicated by the capital cities on the dial, perfectly illustrating the spirit of travel with a timeless, classic look. Global timing The Tissot Heritage Navigator exudes vintage class yet has all the elegant functionality of the modern businessman’s tool. This timepiece provides the ultimate automatic chronometer precision, officially certified by COSC (Controle official Suisse des Chronometres), ensuring you’ll always be on time – no matter where you are on the globe. Features • Swiss made• Automatic chronometer movement officially certified COSC• 316L stainless steel case…

1 MOUNT BROMO The much photographed view of the smouldering Mount Bromo surrounded by the Sea of Sand, with its rather serene neighbour Mount Batok and the mighty Mount Semeru as the southern backdrop, is one of the great iconic images of Indonesia. 2 MOUNT BATOK If the steam rising from Mount Bromo puts you off, try neighbouring Mount Batok, a brown volcano near the centre of the caldera. Unlike the other peaks in the vicinity, it is no longer active. 3 TENGGERESE HOUSE The homes of the Tenggerese, which are wonderfully coloured and immaculately tidy, are a must-visit for anyone interested in Tenggerese culture. 4 UPACARA KASODO FESTIVAL The Upacara Kasada*, held every year at the full moon of the 12th month of the Tenggerese calendar, is an authentic…

MAR 9 TUESDAY Nyepi Nyepi is observed as a “day of silence”, as it symbolically represents the state of the Universe before Creation. Principally celebrated by Bali’s Hindus, the Tenggerese also mark this important festival, which features numerous rituals and prayers (pujas). The rituals begin two days before Nyepi, and end the day after Nyepi, which is celebrated as New Year’s Day. MAY 21 TUESDAY Waisak Day (Buddha’s Birthday) Waisak Day is a major event in the religious calendar for most Asian Buddhists, who celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha on this day. Those who observe the religion use it as an opportunity to pay homage to the Enlightened One, seizing the opportunity to reiterate their devotion to principles of Buddhism: the determination to lead a noble life,…

In 1915, the New Colorado Gold Prospecting Syndicate, consisting of Jim Hutchison, his 14-year-old son William, together with Winch and McKenzie had been unsuccessfully prospecting for gold out in the middle of nowhere in South Australia. The young lad, Willie, had been left in camp to look after their supplies, but disobeyed orders and wandered off to search for water around the foothills of a nearby range. There was a degree of apprehension among the men when he failed to turn up after dark. But a short time later, he strode into camp with a grin on his face. Over his shoulder was slung a sugar bag full of opals. Not only did he come across the opals, but he also discovered something equally precious – a supply of fresh…

Dear Editor, I am in love with ASIAN Geographic’s PASSPORT section and look forward to the two fascinating stories every issue. It is truly a step up from so many travel magazines. It’s heartfelt and truly an experiential read every time. Every story gives me an insight into a destination I think I know and then “bam!”, I am hit by the chance to see it with new eyes – through the eyes of a local. It gives me so much that I would never have received as the everyday tourist. This is truly the brainchild of a visionary, the future of travel publishing. Thank you. RUSSELL SULLIVAN, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Dear Editor, I love that ASIAN Geographic has a humanitarian issue every year. I buy that issue and wait for…

Kandal Province. Sok Chenda had a lot going for him when he volunteered for a tough, two-year course, training to remove bombs and unexploded ordinance (UXO) from Cambodia’s rivers. For a start, the 38-year-old had spent nearly two decades at the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), the government’s demining organisation, first as a deminer, then as a researcher, and finally, as a technical instructor and UXO team leader. Partly by nature and partly by training, Chenda is cautious and patient, a “safety-first” person. But for someone looking to transfer those skills underwater, Chenda was missing one key element: he couldn’t swim much at all. He wasn’t alone. None of the 40 men (no women applied) who signed up in 2013 for the gruelling course run by ex-US Navy divers knew…

Caspian Sea RUSSIA, TURKMENISTAN, IRAN, KAZAKHSTAN AND AZERBAIJAN Surface Area: 371,000 km2 Volume: 69,400 km3 Elevation: –28 m Depth: 1,025 m Issyk Kul KYRGYSTAN Surface Area: 6,236 km2 Volume: 1,738 km3 Elevation: 1,607 m Depth: 668 m Qinghai Lake CHINA Surface Area: 4,489 km2 Volume: 85 km3 Elevation: 3,193 m Depth: 188 m Lake Balkhash KAZAKSTAN Surface Area: 18,428 km2 Volume: 106 km3 Elevation: 341 m Depth: 26 m South Aral Sea KAZAKHSTAN AND UZBEKISTAN Surface Area: 3,496 km2 Volume: 87 km3 Elevation: 29 m Depth: 40 m Lake Urmia IRAN Surface Area: 5,200 km2 Volume: 26 km3 Elevation: 1,275 m Depth: 13 m Lake Van TURKEY Surface Area: 3,755 km2 Volume: 607 km3 Elevation: 1,640 m Depth: 451 m Lake Eyre AUSTRALIA Surface Area: 9,500 km2 * Volume: 48…

Until a few weeks ago, Rangudunaik Sugali had never felt the need for a toilet. He couldn’t understand why he should spend money on such a facility if his family could meet their physiological needs out in the field for free. And he is not the only one: Around 590 million Indians defecate in the open. That is almost half of the country’s population and also 50 percent of all people in the world without access to a latrine. It’s not only a shame for India, but also the source of disease and abuse. And that’s why the new Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has launched the ambitious Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), which includes the construction of 110 million toilets across the country between now and 2019, at…

Advisor Gerald Marten, author of Environmental Tipping Points: A New Paradigm for Restoring Ecological Security Three hundred years ago, Japan’s rapacious deforestation was fast turning the nation’s landscape into a wasteland – a consequence of unsustainable forest usage that had been building up for a long time. As far back as 600–850 AD, construction boomed in the former capital cities of Nara and Heian (modern-day Kyoto), causing serious environmental damage in the ancient Kinai region. Exploitive use of forests worked as long as Japan’s population was small. The rulers’ demands for timber to be supplied to armies and building authorities for the sake of erecting castles and religious monuments led to severe local deforestation. Yet, the nation managed by shifting the logging to new areas with “old-growth” forests that contained…

FLIGHT INFORMATION: Fly SilkAir from Singapore Changi Airport to Surabaya Juanda International Airport. Surabaya is well served by regular domestic flights from Jakarta and Bali and by regional flights from various countries in Asia. Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport at Malang is a small domestic airport with flights from Jakarta only, and access from here makes sense if you intend to enter the park via the Tumpang/ Ngadas route. HOTELS: Cemoro Lawang Hotel Bromo Permai +62 335 541021 Lava View Lodge +62 335 541009 Sukapura Java Banana Bromo Lodge www.java-banana.com Grand Bromo Hotel (formerly Hotel Raya Bromo), +62 31 7329945 Tosari/Wonokitri Bromo Cottages www.bromocottages.com Bromo Surya Indah Homestay +62 343 571049 CURRENCY: Indonesian Rupiah (US$1 = IDR 13,900)…

1 OPAL As the “Opal Capital of the World”, it seems a shame to come to Coober Pedy and leave without buying, or finding, a piece of opal to take with you. Coober Pedy has more opal shops than anywhere else on Earth, so anyone can find a bargain here if they shop around. 2 T-SHIRTS A T-shirt that says Coober Pedy on it will always remind you of your time here and will show others that you have been to one of the most unique little towns in Australia. 3 ABORIGINAL ART Indigenous art has its own local style, and visitors will be struck by the beauty and variety of local indigenous art. Anyone visiting the region should think seriously about purchasing one of these original and stunning pieces…

In the local aboriginal dialect, Coober Pedy, the name given to the opal mining town that emerges out of nowhere on the Stuart Highway – the long desert road between secular Adelaide and mystical Ayers Rock in South Australia – means “White Man in a Hole”. When Coober Pedy was founded after the first opal discovery in 1915, it was with the zeal and promise of the gold rush of the American Wild West. Immigrants came from Europe after World War II in larger numbers looking for a post-apocalyptic utopia. They all got rich and built the community that has remained relatively unchanged since (though the current town infrastructure was dug out of the desert rock in 1960); a population of approximately 45 nationalities that hovers around 3,500 people. The…