Innholdsfortegnelse for 1/2021 i ASIAN Geographic

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world”—Gustave Flaubert They say that travel is the way towards broadening our minds and that through this very experience of travel, we are exposing ourselves to other influences, cultures and experiences, allowing us to have a better understanding of the world we live in. Growing up, I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to explore and travel to different parts of the world, opening my eyes to a world outside of where I was born. For my parents, to be able to give their kids that opportunity to see the world from a different perspective was all they ever wanted – and for that I am very grateful. They taught me that spending on…

The origins of Lombok date back as far as the 14th century but little is known about the island until the 17th century. The local Sasak people, originally animist farmers, converted to Islam around the end of the 16th century The Sasak made their way to Lombok long before most of Indonesia’s other ethnic groups settled amongst the 13,000 odd islands of the archipelago, and they are believed to have migrated from either Burma (now Myanmar) or northwest India In the early years, Lombok was made up of dozens of tiny clans who were each ruled by their own Sasak “prince”. There was constant competition and feuding between the various clans and states, which the neighbouring Balinese princes used to their advantage when they eventually conquered the island. The Balinese…

According to legend, there was once a man named Ta Tai who, with his son, used to go the waterfall to fish. One day, there was a storm and the resulting floods carried away Ta Tai’s son, but after several days, the boy was found at the same spot where he disappeared. The boy said he had been taken by someone who wanted to kill him, but a hermit called Ta Eysei saved him and took him back. Ever since, the waterfall has been called Ta Tai Waterfall or Ta Eysei Waterfall.…

INDIA • Swaraj Dweep, Andaman Islands• Elephanta Island, Mumbai• Majuli MALDIVES • Malé Island• Vaadhoo Island• Utheemu Island { SOUTH ASIA } India Welcome to incredible India – a country occupying the greater part of South Asia and the second most populous country in the world after China. As beautiful as it is bamboozling, India has stunned visitors from around the world for decades, continually bringing new surprises, even to the most seasoned travellers. An intoxicating mix of chaos and serenity, India is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world and is home to innumerable castes and tribes. The history and culture of India reaches back all the way to the beginning of human civilisation, starting with the highly sophisticated and urbanised culture that evolved along the…

Light production is typically a result from chemical reactions from inside the organism. The blue light that is emitted is considered “cold” light because it does not generate heat For bioluminescence to occur in plankton, they have to exist at a constant temperature throughout the day and night. Hence, new moon nights between late summer and early winter are the most ideal times to enjoy this phenomenon…

BOAT TOURS AROUND THE ISLAND One of the best ways to appreciate the island and its rocky islets and arches, this two-hour boat trip around the island lets travellers take in all the sights along the coast, including the areas you wouldn’t normally be able to access. Along the way, you’ll come across the designated sites such as Nammun Rock, Seokhwagul Cave and Doknipmoon Rock. The best comes at the end of the tour when a small boat usually pulls up next to you, and fishermen slice up live fish on the spot, to serve you a plate of freshly cut sashimi. It doesn’t get much fresher than that! VENTURE ON YOUR OWN If a small, crowded boat tour isn’t your thing, there are options to walk around the island…

The Philippines gets its name from Philip II, who was the King of Spain during the Spanish colonisation of the islands in the 16th century. As the country was under Spanish rule for over 300 years and under US tutelage for another five decades, the Philippines has many cultural affinities with the West. This is why the Philippines (behind India) is the second most-populous Asian country that has English an official language and is one of the only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia…

THE BEACHES Sentosa has a 3.2-kilometre sandy stretch divided into Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong Beach. If you’re looking for a day just to soak in the sun and relax, this is the perfect place for you, and if you’re after something fancier, make a stop at one of the many beach clubs found on the island for good food and even better drinks RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA (RWS) One of the main attractions on the island, RWS is a family integrated resort with a casino at its core. Home to Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove Waterpark, and S.E.A. Aquarium, among others, RWS offers entertainment to visitors of all ages and eateries for every food lover…

In February 2012, the National Museum was broken into by a mob of religious extremists during political protests against then-president Mohamed Nasheed. Some of the museum’s most precious items, such as 30 ancient Buddhist coral stone carvings from the country’s pre-Islamic period, were destroyed as they were deemed “idols”. A bust of Buddha, a six-faced coral statue, and assorted limestone and coral statues were destroyed as well. Security at the museum has been extremely tight since…

In the late 1500s, the Portuguese attempted to colonise the Maldives and convert the people living there from Islam to Christianity The Portuguese ruled the country for 15 years during which Muhammad Thakurufaanu and his two brothers left the Maldives to build a small navy In the middle of the night, Thakurufaanu and his brothers began attacking and killing the colonialists an island at a time, until they reached Malé Many Maldivians were imprisoned in Malé and sentenced to death for refusing to convert to Christianity Thakurufaanu continued to fight, ultimately overthrowing them and freeing the Maldivian people. Thakurufaanu became the Sultan of the Maldives, ushering in the Utheemu Dynasty, which ruled for the next 125 years…

One of the best spots in Okinawa Island, this area includes Blue Cave (a semi-submerged cave with stunning light), healthy coral, and huge fish schools. Suitable for beginners, the sites have a maximum depth of 40 metres and divers can encounter marine life such as sea turtles, Napoleon wrasses, and more IMAZUNI Here, divers have the opportunity to encounter the famous large marine life around the island, such as arrow barracuda, bigeye trevally, and dogtooth tuna. This dive site has a maximum depth of 25 metres and is suitable for beginner divers. There are also some impressive reefscapes to explore SATAN’S PALACE (SHIMOJI This unique dive site gets it name from the complicated terrain found here and features a vertical hole called “Palace”. Divers are required to dive through dark,…

For the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, the world was like a living laboratory. From the 1930s, he began to use it as a testing ground for his watches, sending them to the most extreme locations, supporting explorers who ventured into the unknown. Long History of Support for Exploration For nearly a century, Rolex has been an active supporter of pioneering explorers, individuals who have pushed back the boundaries of human endeavour by venturing to the most extreme places on Earth to shed light on the natural world. Rolex watches have accompanied these explorers to the highest mountains and to the deepest oceans, serving as precise, reliable tools. In turn, these ground-breaking expeditions have proved to be the perfect living laboratories for the brand to test and develop its timepieces.…

INDONESIA • Komodo National Park• Lombok Island• Flores Island MALAYSIA • Perhentian Islands• Bohey Dulang Island PHILIPPINES • Cebu Island• Boracay Island THAILAND • Similan Islands• Koh Yao Islands MYANMAR • Mergui Archipelago• The Salone (Moken) people VIETNAM • Ba Lua Archipelago• Ha Long Bay• Phu Quoc Islands CAMBODIA • Koh Kong Island• Koh Rong Island SINGAPORE • Sentosa Island• Pulau Ubin { SOUTHEAST ASIA } Indonesia EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO April to December GETTING AROUND The most efficient and cost-effective way of getting around the different cities is by bus. There are also tourist shuttle bus options for those venturing further afield. If you are travelling between regions, the quickest and cheapest way of travel is by air via domestic flights GETTING THERE Travellers can fly into Indonesia via…

The Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago was likely first settled by Malay sailors who arrived from the south. However, it remained largely uninhabited until the 20th century. Malays and Chinese traders used the inner waters to escape the southwest monsoon, while larger ships avoided the complicated maritime geography. Pirates and slavers also used it as a refuge, because it was almost impossible to control. For this reason, the Moken people found refuge here, at least until the modern world intervened. The islands began to be accurately charted only after British occupation in 1824…

Legend has it that Pulau Ubin was formed when three animals from Singapore – a pig, a frog and an elephant – challenged each other to race from Singapore to Johor across the Straits and the animals that failed, would be turned to stone. The three animals all faced difficulties along the way and were all unsuccessful in reaching the shores of Johor. The frog was turned into Pulau Sekudu, or Frog Island (an island just off Pulau Ubin), whilst the pig and elephant turned to stone, together forming Pulau Ubin.…

BANANA REEF One of the first dive sites to be discovered in the Maldives, this site, as its name suggests, is shaped like a banana and is a protected region situated in North Malé Atoll. There are a variety of different underwater landscapes to discover, ranging from pinnacles and dramatic cliffs to overhangs and caves. With depths from 5 to 30 metres, the site is popular amongst divers of all levels KUDA HAA This protected marine area attracts divers from around the world to see its famous pinnacle shaped like a camel’s hump. This dive site features steep slopes, a ridge and a wide variety of marine species. Suitable for divers of all levels, the site is best known for its macro life such as nudibranchs, leaf fish, flatworms and…

SOUTH KOREA • Ulleungdo Island• Hongdo Island• Jeju Island JAPAN • Yakushima• Okinawa• Tohoku CHINA • Weizhou Island• Putuoshan Island• Xiapu Island { EAST ASIA } South Korea EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO March to May (for cherry blossoms in bloom), September to November (for cooler temperatures) GETTING AROUND The most convenient way of travelling around Korea is by train, which connects major towns and cities. Additionally, if you are looking to travel longer distances, domestic flights are an option, as many cities have their own airports GETTING THERE Getting to South Korea is relatively easy, as the country is a major travel hub and caters to many domestic and international carriers. Travellers can fly to South Korea either via Seoul Incheon International Airport or via Busan Gimhae International Airport Time…