Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/2020 i ASIAN Geographic

“With the possible exception of the equator, everything begins somewhere.”—C.S. Lewis I have lived in Singapore all my life and have spent a good chunk of that lamenting the unexciting, humid weather. Why can’t it just snow a little? But the lands near – and on – the equator have their own perks and quirks – be it in regards to weather, biodiversity, life, or culture. And spoiler alert: You can get snow on the equator! So, dear reader, welcome to our second installment of the ASIAN Geographic + Asian Diver series. Travel along the equator with us and soak in some of the strange cultures of our planet, then dive into the best Southeast Asia has to offer and meet the fascinating marine mammals that reign over our seas…

Everybody knows about this imaginary line on the Earth’s surface that lies equidistant from the North Pole and the South Pole. Almost half the world’s rainforests are concentrated on the equator, and, naturally, it serves as the world’s greatest concentration of natural biodiversity. From its seasons to its people, the equatorial region is a unique and fascinating place. What Is the Equator? An invisible line that runs around the centre of the Earth at zero degrees latitude, the Equator may not seem like the most exciting line of topic. Halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole, the equator divides the planet into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. This roughly 40,075-kilometre line is where the Earth is at its widest. Some 78.8 percent of the equator lies…

Trance dancing: questions still abound with regard to this mysticism in Asian cultures. A common belief of worshipping a supreme being through dance cuts across the region. I recalled a dancer becoming deeply possessed. His display of ecstatic frenzy with big jerking movements and his vacant eyes that seemed in oblivion was quite a hair-raising experience. And to put some order to it, I wonder what makes a dancer go into a mystic state or surrender to an enactment of a role in an event that will expose him to danger. While some folk trance performance in the present day serves to entertain, this mysticism in such cultures is still much in question as to its meaning. Despite the fact that much of the trance state dance carries strong themes…

The anti-religious communist government banned it in the former Soviet republics. In Tajikistan, it was renamed “Tulip Celebration” to avoid the ire of authorities. When the Taliban were in power in Afghanistan, it was outlawed – an ancient pagan holiday centred on fire worship that was against Islam. The theocratic leaders of Iran felt the same way when they came to power in 1979. Today, in better times, it is a four-day public holiday in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, and a day off for Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. Alongside the Muslim festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, it is the biggest celebration in Central Asia. If you’re travelling to this part of the world, you’ve got every reason to come in spring: It’s time to celebrate Nowruz. To understand…

Cities: Bishkek (capital), Osh, Dzhalal Abad, Karakol, Tokmok Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian  Time zone: UTC+5/6 Dialling code: +996  Power: 220–240 V Euro round 2-pin, French/German Schuko 3-pin Climate: The effects of the continental climate depend on elevation. Lowland areas drop a little below freezing in winter and can reach up to 30–35°C in summer. Wintertime temperatures in the highland areas go as low as –20°C with year-round on the peaks. The best time to visit is generally July to September. Currency: Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)  Exchange rate: USD1 = KGS75 More information: www.discoverkyrgyzstan.org VISIT • JETI-ÖGÜZ ROCKS: A well-known landmark that is the subject of songs, paintings and various local legends, Jeti-Ögüz is a unique geological formation that resembles seven angry red bulls. A favourite among hikers, the region, located at an altitude…

The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Founder Hans Wilsdorf instilled a quest for excellence that underpins all the company’s activities, from its watchmaking to its long-term support for those who strive to push the boundaries of human endeavour and achievement. Since the 1930s, Rolex has equipped pioneering explorers on expeditions to the world’s most remote places, the deepest oceans and the highest peaks. As the 21st century unfolds, however, the era of pure discovery is changing to one of exploration as a means to preserve the natural world. Under the banner of a Perpetual Planet, Rolex is joining forces with key individuals and organisations to help find…

In the Chinese philosophy of wu xing, earth is the changing point of the matter. As the third phase of wu xing, the pause between the rising elements of wood and fire, and the descending elements of metal and water, is the energy of earth. Stability is the best way to describe the element. Like a mother, earth feeds the child, provides compassion and care, and engenders feelings of safety and protection. The earth element signifies a space to pause, soak in the moment, and prepare for growth. Earth is a balance of both yin and yang. Its motion is inward and centring, and its energy is stabilising and conserving. It is associated with the colour yellow and the planet Saturn, and it lies at the centre of the compass…

The Northern Hemisphere refers to the half of the planet that is north of the equator, while the Southern Hemisphere is everything south of the equator. Some continents run through both hemispheres. All of Europe and North America are in the Northern Hemisphere. Also in the Northern Hemisphere is almost all of Asia, as well as the majority of Africa). The Southern Hemisphere encapsulates all of Antarctica, South Asia, approximately one-third of Africa, all of Australia and approximately 90 percent of South America (below the mouth of the Amazon River). The North Pole, of course, is in the Northern Hemisphere, while the South Pole is at the most southerly part of the Southern Hemisphere. DID YOU KNOW? Earth is a little over five million kilometres closer to the Sun in…

{Barong – Bali, Indonesia} This mass trance ritual is held exactly eight days after the Kuningan religious holiday, where it is believed to be the day of ascension back to heaven for ancestral holy spirits and deities. The ceremony takes place in the Petilan Temple in East Denpasar, which houses old heirlooms and sacred artifacts such as the barong (goodness) and rangda (evil) masks, which represent mythical creatures of black and white magic. The ritual commences when followers of the Hindu faith pray together. With a background of gamelan (Indonesian musical instruments) music, two possessed mediums or barongs – with the masks on – start to leap and bound. The crowd will then go into a half-conscious state attempting to stab their chests with traditional daggers known as keris. For…

Cities: Dushanbe (capital), Khujand, Kulob, Qurghonteppa  Languages: Tajik, Russian Time zone: UTC+5  Dialling code: +996 Power: 220–240 V Euro round 2-pin, French/German Schuko 3-pin Climate: With Central Asia’s highest mountains, the Pamirs, occupying half the country, winter (November– February) is not the time to visit for most; Nature lovers should plan to go in summer (June–September), though temperatures in the lowlands at this time can be extremely hot (above 40°C). Spring (March–April) and autumn (September–October) are the best times of year to visit. Currency: Tajikistani somoni (TJS) Exchange rate: USD1 = TJS10 More information: www.traveltajikistan.tj VISIT • PAMIRS: Negotiated via the famous Pamir Highway linking Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan to Osh in Kyrgyzstan, the Pamir Mountains contain many of the highest peaks on Earth and are nothing if not deserving of the…

Our human ancestors started innovating nearly 2.5 million years ago. They developed stone tools, discovered fire and formed small communities. Today, their ways of life can be gleaned from rock paintings and archaeological evidence. The following list (by no means exhaustive) chronicles some of the most important innovations that took shape over the eras. The Stone Age AROUND 2.5 MILLION YEARS AGO TO 3,000 BCE Divided into three periods – Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age) – the Stone Age is marked by the use of tools by our early human ancestors and the eventual transformation from a culture of hunting and gathering to farming and food production. The end of the Paleolithic period (about 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 BCE) marked…

Cities: Nur-Sultan (capital, previously known as Astana), Almaty, Shymkent, Taraz, Aktau, Atyrau Languages: Kazakh, Russian Time zone: UTC+5/6 Dialling code: +7 Power: 220–240 V Euro round 2-pin, French/German Schuko 3-pin Climate: The four distinct seasons make visiting a varied experience depending on time of year and location, with most travelling between late April (spring) and late October (autumn). Springtime temperatures in the south reach about 18°C, while summer temperatures can reach well into the 30s Celsius. Autumn can be rainy and misty in the mountainous areas but still be quite hot in the desert areas. Currency: Kazakhstani tenge (KZT) Exchange rate: USD1 = KZT404 More information: www.visitkazakhstan.kz/en VISIT • USTYURT PLATEAU: A stony desert of around 200,000 square kilometres, Ustyurt is an otherworldly realm of breathtaking rock formations and awesome canyons…

Cities: Ashgabat (capital), Turkmenabat, Turkmenbashi, Mary Languages: Turkmen, Russian Time zone: UTC+5 Dialling code: +993  Power: 220–240 V Euro round 2-pin, French/German Schuko 3-pin Climate: Punishingly hot temperatures (50°C) hit the lowlands, including Ashgabat, in summer, so the July– August period should be avoided. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, though wintertime in the south is tolerable, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. The climate is generally very dry, but the occasional summer thunderstorm brings heavy bursts of rain. Currency: Turkmenistan manat (TMT) Exchange rate: USD1 = TMT3.50  More information: www.tourism.gov.tm VISIT • YANGYKALA CANYON: Central Asia’s answer to the Grand Canyon is the most spectacular and most remote part of Turkmenistan. Camel and 4WD treks in the area take in some truly wonderful scenery, and camping out in…

Cities: Tashkent (capital), Samarkand, Namangan, Bukhara, Termez  Languages: Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian Time zone: UTC+5 Dialling code: +998  Power: 220–240 V Euro round 2-pin, French/German Schuko 3-pin Climate: Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best times to go, when daytime temperatures are mild and nights don’t drop below freezing for most of the country. Mid-July through August is the hottest period, when temperatures are well into the 40s Celsius in lowland areas; highland trekking is best at this time of year. In Tashkent, winter temperatures (December– February) hover around freezing.  Currency: Uzbekistani som (UZS) Exchange rate: USD1 = UZS10,178 More information: www.uzbektourism.uz/en VISIT • SAMARKAND: Capital of Timur’s empire (and the site of his mausoleum), UNESCO World Heritage listed Samarkand is one of Central Asia’s finest historical cities. The menu of…