Innholdsfortegnelse for 5/2021 i ASIAN Geographic

70.7°C From the highest mountain to hottest desert, Asia’s home to many of the world’s superlative natural wonders. Discover what makes this continent the most extreme on the planet. Parked in Iran’s southeast, this large salt desert lays claim to being the hottest location on the planet. The highest temperature ever recorded here was a sweltering 70.7°C, captured by a NASA satellite in 2005. The hottest point is a dark lava plateau called Gandom Beryan, which covers an area of around 480 square kilometres. EXPEDITION IN FORMATION WHEN TO GO The best time to visit the Lut Desert is during spring and autumn–from March to May, and September to November respectively. Summer, of course, should be avoided, as should winter, when nighttime temperatures drop below zero GETTING AROUND It is…

–10,542 METRES Asia’s deepest waters lie in the Kuril Trench, which is situated on the east side of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands, and Japan’s Hokkaido island. It’s the third deepest point in the world, alongside the Mariana Trench and the Tonga Trench in Oceania. All three lie in the Pacific Ocean, the world’s deepest ocean basin. While the Kuril Trench itself isn’t a practical destination for a trip, the nearby Kamchatka Peninsula makes for an adventurous vacation, complete with spectacular volcanoes, forests, lakes, geysers, and hot springs. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The best time to visit the Kamchatka Peninsula is the summer, from early July to mid-September GETTING AROUND Kamchatkha’s amazing natural attractions are best enjoyed with the help of an adventure travel company. Be prepared…

4,900 METRES On the southwestern slopes of Mount Everest is the Khumbu Glacier, the world's highest glacier, with elevations ranging from 4,900 metres at its terminus to 7,600 metres at its source. Located in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal, between Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge, the glacier is followed for the final part of the trail to Everest Base Camp. The massive Khumbu Icefall is found at the head of the glacier and the western end of the lower Western Cwm, which is a glacial valley basin in Everest that climbers often traverse on a popular route to the summit. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The best months for trekking to Everest Base Camp are March, April, May, October and November – either side of the May-September monsoon season…

4,411 METRES At 4,411 metres above sea level, Daocheng Yading is the world's highest civilian airport, surpassing the previous record holder, Qamdo Bamda Airport in Tibet at 4,334 metres. Opened on September 16, 2013, passengers on the airport’s inaugural flight arrived from the provincial capital, Chengdu, on carrier Air China. The airport cuts the travel time between Daocheng and Chengdu to one hour, which previously required a two-day bus trip. AG EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The best time to travel to Sichuan’s western high plateau is during summer, from late May to September. Autumn is also a beautiful time of year GETTING AROUND A week-long driving tour will cover the area’s most worthwhile spots, including the Yading Nature Reserve, Haizi Mountain Scenic Area, and the picturesque Tibetan town of…

LA PAZ BATCHOY Made with noodles, pork, liver, innards and topped with chicharron, Batchoy is a popular dish originating from Iloilo. The noodle mix is served in a steaming pork broth combined with onions and guinamos. To enjoy this dish to its fullest potential, season it with ground pepper and soy sauce CHICKEN BINAKOL The aromatic ingredients of Chicken Binakol are greatly enjoyed by the people of Iloilo. Savour the saltiness from the patis (fish sauce), the bitterness of dahon ng silk (chili leaves) and the heat from red chillies as well as ginger. The addition of coconut water makes the broth sweet PANCIT MOLO Pancit Molo is named after Iloilo’s molo district. This dish incorporates Molo balls made from a good amount of ground pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetables,…

BUTOD “Butod” means “sago larvae” in Kadazan-Dusun. This adventurous dish can be found in both Sabah and Sarawak, and it is considered traditional Sabah cuisine. People eat the sago worms alive or fried; they have a milky taste and chewy texture. AMBUYAT Ambuyat is a traditional dish prepared only during the harvest festival, and is incredibly challenging to track down on regular days. Also known as “Sagu Sabah”, it is esentially starch from the sago palm’s interior trunk. Often used as a substitute for rice, it’s eaten twirled around a stick and dipped into a flavourful sauce. BAMBANGAN Bambangan is a seasonal wild mango with edible skin that’s eaten pickled or fresh alongside sambal belacan, a fiery chilli paste. The fruit’s flesh and kernel are used to make pickles, which…

I believe my desire to visit twice in 2019 the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is well summarised by the quote of Japanese Magnum photographer Hiroji Kubota: “Study the works of the greatest photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Andre Kertesz. Try to travel to many parts of the world and understand what a diverse world we live in.” Hiroji was in North Korea in 1986. So, in February 2019, a week before the second Trump–Kim summit in Hanoi, I travelled to North Korea with Koryo tours, in and around Pyongyang for one week. I decided to go back in November 2019 for one week, this time with Choson Exchange, a Singapore–based social nonprofit organisation focused on economic policy, business and legal training for young North Koreans. For most people it…

Whales and porpoises will be among the hundreds of marine species to benefit from a new Mission Blue ‘Hope Spot’ in Portugal’s Azores Archipelago, a grand oasis in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean known for its rare and richly valuable ecological and biological qualities. Rolex and Mission Blue, one of the pillars of the company’s Perpetual Planet initiative, have a shared commitment to preserve the planet. For over a decade, Mission Blue has ignited action to protect critical ocean ecosystems. It has, to date, established more than 130 Hope Spots in parts of the oceans, like the newly announced one in the Azores, that are considered vital to the preservation of species, or places where communities rely on a healthy marine environment to survive. The Azores – Protecting A…

–71.2°C The village of Oymyakon is situated along the Indigirka river in the Oymyakonshy district of Russia’s Sakha Republic. The coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth, with a recorded low of–71.2°C in 1924, has a population of about 800. The only place colder is Antarctica. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO While Oymyakon’s average daily temperature is about–15°C, the summer months (June to August) can be quite warm, with hot days in the 20s or even 30s GETTING AROUND Oymyakon is a small town that can be enjoyed on foot. The surrounding attractions – mountains, passes, forests, hanging with reindeer – require a car, best organised by your tour operator GETTING THERE The two nearest airports to Oymyakon, at Yakutsk and Magadan, are both still more than 900 kilometres away. The…

–423 METRES The surface of the Dead Sea, at the border between Israel and Jordan, is some 423 metres below sea level, the lowest altitude on land anywhere on Earth. Similarly, the road leading to the sea is considered the lowest road on the planet. The Dead Sea is well known for its high concentration of salt, which is 10 times higher than that of the Mediterranean Sea, and as a result, no fish or aquatic plants can survive here. The sea attracts people from all corners of the globe who believe its waters have healing properties. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The best time to travel to Israel is during the spring and autumn seasons (April to May and September to October, respectively). The days are pleasantly warm, with…

6,400 METRES At a height of 6,400 metres above sea level, the helipad on Siachen Glacier is the loftiest of its kind. It perches precariously on the Siachen Glacier in eastern Karakoram, a mountain range that extends into the Himalayas and runs close to the borders of Pakistan, India, and China. The helipad itself is located just northeast of the point where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends, and was built by India to send supplies to troops. To navigate the remarkably high altitude, India developed the HAL Dhruv Mk Ill helicopter to drop fresh food and evacuate personnel. While only the military can use the Siachen Helipad, travellers can enjoy the incredible surrounding scenery of Ladakh. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The best time to visit…

The three points of Southeast Asia’s infamous Golden Triangle are anchored by neighbours Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, whose borders meet at Sop Ruak, the confluence of the rushing Mekong and Ruak rivers. But beyond its opium notoriety lies a rich history as the cultural heart of the region, from which emerged tribal communities that have persevered with tradition till today. How did this come to be? In ancient times, travellers from China and Tibet traversed well-established trade routes connecting northern Asia to its south, and the communities that eventurally settled along this wild tract formed the ancestral foundations for the tribal societies that remain. To date, over 130 distinct groups and subgroups are dotted around the Golden Triangle, most of them living in inaccessible areas. Some of these prominent groups…

1. Miag-ao Church (Zulueta Ave, Miagao) Built in 1786, Miagao Church, also known as the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church is an amazing tourist destination that offers not just a beautiful facade but also a rich history. More than a place of worship, it also served as a fortress. It was designed with baroque features and Chinese and Filipino motifs, making it one-of-a-kind. 2. Gigantes Islands (Carles) Also known as Islas de Gigantes, Gigantes Island is a set of islands that make up a paradise of pristine beaches, clear water, and huge rock formations. But what truly sets it apart are its stunning, secluded beaches. From the city proper, Gigantes Islands is a five-hour trip. Its untouched beauty is one of Iloilo’s best kept secrets. 3. Garin Farm (San…

Given Japan’s long history of customs and traditions, it is perhaps no surprise that traditional practices are still widely upheld in modern Japanese society. While no exact number is confirmed, Japan celebrates an incredible 200,000 festivals, large and small, each year to show gratitude and pay homage to ancestors. Among these, the Bon Festival – or obon matsuri – is one of the largest, and celebrates the dead. The Japanese believe that the souls of loved ones return to the mortal world during this time. Among these, the Bon Festival – or obon matsuri – is one of the largest, and celebrates the dead. The Japanese believe that the souls of loved ones return to the mortal world during this time TOP THREE BON FESTIVALS Here are some of the…

An incredibly diverse country, Turkey is a mesmerising mix of Mediterranean, Balkan and Asian influences, having been colonised throughout history by different empires. Occupying a unique geographic position, many call it the “bridge between East and West”, as it straddles the Asian and European continents. The father of modern day Turkey is Kemal Atatürk, a soldier who salvaged the Turkish state from the Ottoman Empire and united it into a modern, secular republic, over which he ruled as president (1923 – 1938). With over 500 islands and islets scattered across its seas, ranging from the cosmopolitan to the quaint, today’s Turkey offers visitors endless exploration of ancient ruins, cobblestone stress, and the glimmering blue sea. BOZCAADA ISLAND An Aegean island in Çanakkale Province, Bozcaada island along with 17 other islets…

2 MM OF PRECIPITATION Aden, Yemen’s temporary capital city, is the driest place in the Asian continent and one of the driest places on the Middle East. Located near the eastern approach to the Red Sea, the port city receives just 45.7 millimetres of rain per year on average. September is the driest month, with just two millimetres of precipitation. OFF LIMITS With four World Heritage Sites, including the ancient city of Sana'a and the unique Socotra Archipelago, as well as many other fascinating historical sites, Yemen was once an attractive option for tourists interested in an off-the-beaten-path adventure. However, protests that began in 2011 deteriorated into a country-wide civil war by 2015, sparking a humanitarian crisis that shows no sign of abating. Unfortunately, Asia’s driest place – and the…

8,849 METRES Located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas, this majestic 8,849-metre phenomenon of Mother Nature remains the ultimate dream of climbers the world over. Mount Everest’s summit was first reached on May 29, 1953 by Nepalese sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand. The world’s highest mountain was identified in 1852 by British surveyors measuring the towering Himalayas on the Nepal-Tibet border. The Nepalese referred to the mountain as Sagarmatha, while the Tibetans called it Chomolungma, meaning “Goddess Mother of Mountains,” but the British named it after Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The best months for trekking to Everest Base Camp are March, April, May, October and November. For mountaineers, the climbing window between April…

5,610 METRES At a maximum elevation of 5,610 metres, among the claimants of the title of world’s highest road accessible by transportation is the Mana Pass. Located on the India-China border, it was built between 2005 and 2010 by the Indian military. (Semo La in Tibet, at 5,565 metres, and Marsimik La in India, at 5,582 metres, are two other contenders.) The Mana Pass is off-limits to civilians as the area is heavily controlled by the Indian Army, considering its close proximity to the border. However, travellers can appreciate the wonders of the Himalayan landscape by visiting the nearby village of Mana. EXPEDITION INFORMATION WHEN TO GO The months from March to June are considered to be the best time to visit the colder regions of India GETTING AROUND It…

The Philippines is bursting with an impressively diverse culture, religion and heritage that comes with its long and colourful history. The nation is known best as the ‘world’s festival capital’, with over 42,000 major and minor festivals celebrated around the archipelago. While each festival has its own distinctive flavour, the grand and annually-held Dinagyang festival stands out bolder than them all. Dinagyang originates from the city of Iloilo. More popularly known as the ‘queen of all festivals’ in the country, Dinagyang has gained global recognition and attracted tourists eager to experience the fun-loving spirit of the people of Iloilo. The riveting celebrations of the Dinagyang Festival highlight the complexity and diversity of Filipino culture. History The Dinagyang festival carries a short yet interesting history. It started back in 1968, when…

Every year, the people of Kadazan-Dusun, an ethnic group originating in Sabah, eagerly anticipate the Harvest Festival, also known as Tadau Kaamatan, the marking of the month-long festivities for a bountiful rice cultivation season. In the native language of the Kadazan-Dusun people goes, ‘Kaamatan’ translates to ‘harvest’. Kaamatan has been celebrated in Sabah since way before the 15th century. Its roots are connected to the Kadazan-Dusun tribe and their unique belief system, Momolianism. The followers of Momolianism believe strongly in the balance between the natural (Pomogunan Tulun) and spirit (Pomogunan Tosundu) realms. Central to Momolianism is the belief that the land is a gift from the creator and connects people to the past, present and future. The Kaamatan festival embodies these principles through traditional practices such as appeasing the gods,…

OKONOMIYAKI (PANCAKES) Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake made of flour, eggs, tempura scraps, cabbage, and pork belly. It’s topped with a variety of condiments, including sweet sauce, mayonnaise, dried seaweed, and dried fish flakes. TAKOYAKI (OCTOPUS BALLS) Takoyaki, which translates to “grilled octopus”, is a snack comprising a ball of grilled dough with a piece of octopus tentacle at its centre. The dish has been popular in Osaka since the 1930s, and was originally filled with beef and konjac. YAKITORI (CHICKEN SKEWERS) Yakitori are grilled chicken skewers cooked over a charcoal fire, sometimes accompanied by vegetables including scallions and capsicum, and slathered with a sweet basting sauce. UJIKINTOKI (SWEETENED SHAVED ICE) In Japan, shaved ice, or kakigori, is a top dessert in summer. The traditional flavours in the Ujikintoki-style dish…

Derived from the Arabic term al-bahrayn meaning “two seas”, Bahrain is a tiny island nation situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. An archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and more than 30 smaller islands (as well as over 50 artificial islands), the country has long been an escape for weekenders from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. A country of diverse cultures, Bahrain strikes a wonderful balance between modern and traditional living. Visitors to Bahrain typically take the opportunity to explore ancient UNESCO World Heritage sites set against the skyscrapers and bustling markets. Bahrain is also a hub for regional art and culture, and there are countless activities on offer for those willing to take the plunge. From hidden islands to ancient forts to impressive Islamic architecture, Bahrain…