Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/2018 i ASIAN Geographic

The recent whale shark tourism in Nabire, Papua, has brought about the curious phenomenon of the co-existing of the traditional and modern worlds side by side in the remote Akudiomi village. Its pristine, unpolluted waters teem with whale sharks and the indigenous villagers live how they’ve always done for centuries, while snap-happy tourists throng the land and seas bringing with them their modern innovations. The locals are happy to accommodate their many new visitors, for these day trippers create job opportunities and pay good money to gaze with wonder at the beautiful marine behemoths. Upon arriving, the villagers performed a traditional dance, giving us a special welcome. Wearing headgear and accessories adorned with feathers of the local birds-of-paradise, the dancers with highly energetic, lively movements mimicked the motions of these…

“The Kama Sutra is not a book about sexual positions.” That this statement is potentially baffling underscores just how widely established the myth is, i.e., the ancient Hindu treatise is simply titillating, lasciviously illustrated erotica. The view is perpetuated to a large extent by the fact that the famous chapter on sexual union is often heavily emphasised, or even printed or distributed alone as a discrete publication. The 1980 English translation by Indra Sinha is a case in point: the chapter on sexual positions was reportedly so widely circulated on the Internet that it is often believed to be the entire Kama Sutra. Also contributing to the mistaken impression is, of course, the almost invariable use of erotic imagery in many contemporary “Kama Sutra” publications. The original series contained no…

“China will always remain the builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and upholder of international order.” – Xi Jinping 13 China Xi Jinping (b.1953) President, People’s Republic of China The man often called the “most powerful and influential person in the world” has led an anti-corruption campaign to enforce party discipline, advocated Internet censorship and championed a more assertive foreign policy since assuming office in November 2012. 14 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi (b.1945) State Counsellor, Myanmar A woman of many firsts, she is the first woman to serve the country as the de facto head of government. She spent much of her political career under house arrest, but has remained dedicated to fighting for democracy for the people of…

“Do not let circumstances control you. You change your circumstances.” – Jackie Chan 52 Hong Kong Jackie Chan (b.1954) Actor Known for his acrobatic fighting stunts, comic timing and use of improvised weapons, the world-famous Chan has acted in over 150 films since the 1960s. In addition to the movies, Chan is also a well-known philanthropist, lending his support to various humanitarian and environmental causes through charities such as UNICEF and his own Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation. 53 China/Singapore Gong Li (b.1965) Actress Credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to prominence in Europe and the United States, she achieved international prominence through her roles in Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s films, including Raise the Red Lantern (1991). Now a naturalised Singaporean, Gong is…

World Watercolor Group Formed in July 2016 by American artist Charlie O’Shields, this organisation has a large online following: 74,333! Like the Urban Sketchers, it has many Asia-based artists among these numbers. Watercolour pieces done plein air or in the studio are all accepted. See: www.facebook.com/groups/worldwatercolor Bangkok Sketchers This community has 12,310 members on their Facebook page, with some 200 active at monthly on-location sketching activities, both outdoors and indoors. See: www.facebook.com/bksketchers Sketchwalk Kuala Lumpur Begun on Facebook in 2014 by Yong Li Yun, this community meets every Sunday to sketch different locations in KL. See: www.facebook.com/groups/sketchwalkkualalumpur Life Drawing Wanchai Begun in September 2006, Life Drawing has weekly life drawing sessions in Wanchai, Hong Kong. Art models are hired for short poses. See: www.facebook.com/groups/lifedrawinghk…

The National Gallery Singapore is currently conducting an extensive digitisation project across Southeast Asia to preserve rare resources on Southeast Asian art history. Compiling the works of Sudjojono is one of its major projects, with the gallery working closely with the S. Sudjojono Center and the artist’s family to digitise all his letters and other works in their collection. “We’re doing this because it’s important to digitise all these materials before they’re destroyed because they’re [mostly] paper based materials,” says curator Yu Jin.…

Once dismissed as a worthless backwater by the Spanish conquistadors, Makati has grown into the financial and economic artery of the Philippines. The city is one of 16 that make up Metro Manila, with a rich legacy of national pride and cultural heritage. Whether it’s admiring the Baroque architecture of the 400-year-old Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church or strolling down the rustic Molave Street, use this guide on your exciting journey through this historic city. Top Five Places to Visit 1. Ninoy Aquino Monument The famous Ninoy Aquino bronze statue, sculpted by Peter de Guzman, commemorates the former senator, who spoke out against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and was assassinated in 1983. It is built on the spot where many pro-democracy rallies took place in the 1980s and…

Since the late 1970s, pretty much every picture I have taken is Asian. In fact, when I joined National Geographic in 1979, I was tasked to photograph Japan for my first assignment. How is photographing Singapore different from shooting Chinese and Japanese cities? Singapore is very small, so the subjects are also visually cramped into smaller spaces. It makes it easier for me to take the photos! The other thing I’ve said is Singapore is very photogenic. It’s visually stunning, with great architecture – the old and new juxtaposed, and with trees and flowers lining the highways, and parks and other green spaces. Everything is beautifully manicured and well maintained; everything is designed to provide great photo opportunities. And therein lies the challenge for photographers to create an image that…

Asia is the world’s largest continent in terms of population and area. With 49 countries spanning from China to Indonesia from north to south and Syria to Japan from east to west and containing over 60 percent of the world’s population, the Asian continent is home to a diverse variety of cultures with rich traditions and multilayered histories. Literature and art are the most common forms of cultural expression, and Asia, not surprisingly, is the birthplace of innumerable forms of folklore, mythologies and folk art. The National Library Board’s Asian Children’s Literature (ACL) collection in Singapore features notable works of literature from the region, with many of its books featuring handmade elements and intricate artwork. Carefully accumulated over time, the 23,000-volume ACL collection is housed at the Woodlands Regional Library…

PART 1: Introduction The priorities of life, acquisition of knowledge, and conduct of a well-cultivated person. PART 2: Sexual Union Stimulation of desire; types of foreplay; sexual positions and sexual acts. PART 3: Acquisition of Wife Ways of finding a wife and managing marital union. PART 4: Duties of Wife Conduct of the only wife vs conduct of the chief wife and the other wives. PART 5: Other People’s Wives Behaviour of men and women, and behaviour in the women’s quarters. PART 6: Courtesans How to choose and look for a permanent lover. PART 7: Attracting Others Improving physical attraction and arousing weakened sexual power.…

“This moment is not about me, it’s all about my coaches, my friends, my family that believed when I was a six-year-old kid that I could do it.” – Joseph Schooling 27 Singapore Joseph Schooling (b.1995) Swimming Dubbed “flying fish”, Schooling took home Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal in the 100m Butterfly at the 2016 Rio Olympics, beating the swimming legend Michael Phelps and other luminaries. He recently graduated from the University of Texas, Austin, USA. 28 China Lang Ping (b.1960) Volleyball player & coach The “Iron Hammer” is the first person in volleyball history to win gold both as a player (2 World Cups, 1 World Championship & 1 Olympics) and as a coach (2015 World Cup & 2016 Rio Olympics). She…

“I see God in nature. Nature is God. It gives me inspiration. It gives me power. As long as it survives, I survive.” – Jadav Payeng 88 India Jadav Payeng (b.1963) Farmer Over nearly 40 years, a farmer from a marginalised tribal community in Assam state in northeastern India single-handedly planted and tended trees on a sandbar on Brahmaputra river, turning it into a forest comprising several thousand trees and many animal species, including the Bengal tiger and Indian rhinoceros. 89 India Sanjit “Bunker” Roy (b.1945) Founder, Barefoot College The social activist started a school in Tilonia village, Rajasthan, to give lessons in reading, writing and accounting to rural adults and children. His work has trained more than three million people for a…

“Fabric is a different kind of ‘canvas’. The designer and I spent many months manipulating the images to find the best solution.” Aaron Gan Singaporean Aaron Gan has made major breakthroughs since he began his journey as a full-time watercolourist six years ago. The 39-year-old Gold winner of the 2015 UOB Painting of the Year Award and Art Ambassador for Faber-Castell, Singapore, Gan explains, “I started by learning from how-to art books and DVDs. Plein air was part of the learning process as the need for spontaneous execution hones my drawing instincts and observation skills. I also joined sketchwalks organised by USk Singapore and painting sessions by the Singapore Watercolour Society. For insights into the essence of great art, I also learnt Western and Eastern techniques.” Gan has recently begun…

Lim Cheng Hoe (1912–1979) was one of the finest watercolourists in Singapore, recognised as one of the country’s pioneer artists, alongside Cheong Soo Pieng (1917–1983) and Chen Chong Swee (1910–1985). Born in Amoy, Lim moved to Singapore in 1919, in accordance with his father’s wishes, to receive an English-language education at Raffles Institution (1928–1932). During this period, he studied also painting from artist Richard Walker, the first art inspector of schools (1930–1932). Later, although he was financially unable to further his studies at the Royal Academy in London, Lim taught himself art by reading publications such as Artist and International Studio, and by interacting with other watercolour artists during weekly Sunday painting sessions at various areas in the city centre, especially the Singapore River. These activities eventually led to the…

CHINA Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (Hunan Province) The country’s first national forest park, 26,000ha in area, presents more than 3,000 narrow sandstone spires formed by ice expansion and water erosion, many over 200m high, and a dazzling array of caves, natural bridges, pools, streams and waterfalls. It was declared as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1992. VIETNAM Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh Province) Located in northeastern Vietnam, this natural wonder covers an area of over 1,550km2 , and comprises some 1,600 towering limestone islands and tiny islets in emerald waters. The two bigger islands are Tuan Chau and Cat Ba. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. BANGLADESH & INDIA The Sundarbans Reserve Forest The largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world, covering an…

Plastic nanoparticles – tiny pieces of plastic less than 1 micrometre in size – could potentially contaminate food chains, and ultimately affect human health, according to a recent study by scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS). They discovered that nanoplastics are easily ingested by marine organisms and accumulate inside them, posing a risk of being transferred up the food chain and threatening food safety. Ocean plastic pollution is a huge and growing global problem. It is estimated that the oceans may already contain over 150 million metric tonnes of plastic, and each year, about eight million metric tonnes of plastic will enter the ocean. Plastics do not degrade easily: In the marine environment, they are usually broken down into smaller pieces by the sun, waves, wind and microbial…

The 1883 English translated edition by Sir Richard Francis Burton et al, The Kamasutra of Vatsyayana, was the first translation of the Indian text and one of the best known. Unfortunately, it is said to be inaccurate in many parts, particularly in the chapters that relate to the social history of India at the time. More recent translations include The Love Teachings of Kama Sutra by Indra Sinha (1980); The Complete Kama Sutra by Alain Danielou (1994); and the well respected Vatsyayana Kamasutra by Wendy Doniger and Sudhir Kakar (2002).…

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” – Jack Ma 01 China Jack Ma (b.1964) Co-founder, Alibaba The leader of the multinational business conglomerate is ranked second in the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune (2017). He is also well known for his significant contributions to education and social welfare causes. In 2018, Ma received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Hong Kong for his contributions to society. 02 Hong Kong Sir Li Ka-shing (b.1928) Business magnate & investor “Superman Li” is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Asia, with a vast and diverse empire that includes banking, hotels and shipping. He is among the richest persons in the…

“I believe in persevering. If you persevere, success lies ahead of you.” – Liu Yang 43 China Liu Yang (b.1978) Pilot & astronaut Liu was among the crew of three aboard the space mission Shenzhou 9 – China’s first manned space docking with the Chinese space station Tiangong 1 on 16 June 2012. The first Chinese woman in space, Liu performed experiments in space medicine during the mission. 44 China Tu Youyou (b.1930) Pharmaceutical chemist Tu’s research into 20th-century tropical medicines led to the discovery of the drugs artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin, which are used to treat malaria. For her work on malaria, Tu won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2015. She is the first Chinese Nobel laureate in physiology/medicine. 45…

Plein-air drawing is an inspiring sight: a group of people perched on low stools or sitting cross-legged on the ground, pen or brush in hand, carefully sketching the details of a scene in front of them into an open sketchbook. Occasionally, one leans over to a fellow artist to discuss a detail in the drawing, to borrow an art material or simply to chat. Others appear absorbed in thought, as if contemplating the best way of composing their drawing or capturing a detail. In the current age of Instagram uploads, immediate mobile phone photos and quick gratification, the art of live drawing – one that often requires the person to endure the elements – seems to belong more reasonably to a time of the past. Indeed, plein-air (“open air”) drawing…

S. Sudjojono (1913–1986) was one of the most prominent figures of modern Indonesian art. Born in Kisaran, Sumatra, the Indonesian artist produced a broad spectrum of art pieces, ranging from paintings, sketches and still life to reliefs and ceramic works. Also a passionate art critic, Sudjojono – also known as Pak Djon – also wrote extensively about art, and one of his views was that Indonesian art should reflect the country’s landscapes and people. In 1969, Sudjojono produced a Draw & Paint sketchbook filled with 18 drawings of everyday scenes that the artist encountered in Jakarta and its surrounds. The drawings and accompanying handwritten notes revealed his thoughts and observations amid significant changes in both his private and social life, which took place during the turbulent political upheavals in Indonesia…

[In Thailand] Each hun lakon lek puppet requires the synchronised efforts of three puppeteers The tradition of puppet theatre in Asia is long and deeply entrenched. A Chinese legend tells of a royal court magician in the first century BC who was commanded to bring Emperor Wu-ti’s concubine back to life. Faced with the do-or-die order, the magician cast the lady’s shadow on a screen using puppetry. So convinced was the grief-stricken emperor that he conversed with his “beloved” for hours. In India, the epic poem, the Mahabharata, makes clear references to shadow puppetry in one of the poems, “Arjunawiwaha” (“Arjuna’s Wedding”). This suggests that shadow theatre could have been found in the region as early as the 11th century. Indonesia THE ART OF WAYANG The shadow puppet genre of…

ASIAN Geographic brings you the best stories on Asia, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the depths of the Dead Sea. Covering culture, heritage, science, environment, arts, language, literature, adventure and other fascinating nuggets of knowledge, we bring you the region in all its beauty and complexity. AG PASSPORT is now incorporated into the flagship title, ASIAN Geographic, offering readers a new perspective on travel in Asia. It features riveting accounts of life and sights across the best-known cities and remotest corners of the region. AG PASSPORT also appears as an annual special edition. AG JUNIOR is an exploratory journey of Asia for youngsters aged 7 to 13. The bi-monthly title stimulates curiosity in the region among children and youth with its entertaining and accessible stories. AG JUNIOR receives…

VIII Whether at Naishapur or Babylon, Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run, The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one. IX Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say; Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday? And this first Summer month that brings the Rose Shall take Jamshyd and Kaikobad away. XXIV Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, Before we too into the Dust descend; Dust into Dust, and under Dust to lie Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and – sans End!…