Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/2019 i ASIAN Geographic

“The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.” Samuel Johnson The momentous 20th year of ASIAN Geographic has sneaked up on us like the restless musings of a curious mind, miraculously taking shape on the whims of a flight of fancy. Over the past two decades, our curiosities have taken us from the meadows of Mongolia to the beautiful peaks of Mount Cook. In our journey through Asia, we have not tethered ourselves to the tried-and-tested but to our inner curiosities about life itself. How does behaviour evolve and change through the…

Belitung – A Private Paradise Text Terence Koh Turquoise, crystal clear waters, beautiful marine life, pristine white beaches, delicious cuisine and aromatic artisanal coffee, Belitung is a spectacular island in Indonesia which offers visitors the unspoilt beauty of Bali in a secluded location just one-and-a-half hours from Singapore. Discover Belitung as we uncover the best spots and cuisine available on the island! http://bit.ly/2Txc2lR In Search of the Next Green Revolution – Advantage or Disaster Text Claire Maneja While there is no doubt that the Green Revolution staved off what would have been a catastrophic famine in the 1960s, the delirious joy that had accompanied the Green Revolution has given way to a sober assessment of its unintended consequences, such as the environmental and health impact of intensive pesticide and fertiliser…

Revisited No. 134 Issue 1/2019 Title East or West: Which Is Greener? Design Benjamin Cheh Ming Hann The deterioration of the Earth’s environment is the most pressing problem facing the human race today. Scientists have stated that an increase in global temperatures by a mere four degrees could unleash catastrophic natural disasters worldwide. We take a look at what each side of the world is doing to preserve the environment for our future generations. Revisited No.124 Issue 2/2017 Title The New Frontier Cultural stereotypes are being challenged by men and women in Asia – from East to West Text Alex Campbell The Wushu Warriors Afghanistan In a viral video clip reminiscent of a scene from Tarantino’s Kill Bill, 20-year-old wushu teacher Sima Azimi, sporting a striking black and yellow satin…

“Qatar is a thriving metropolis that infuses the modernity of 21st-century Western architecture with its own cultural traditions” In this age of Internet memes, anything distinctive and memorable can be repeated ad nauseum until it turns into a stereotype or common joke. Just as some people think of Singapore as one huge shopping mall made up mostly of the Marina Bay Sands, mere mention of Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar often conjure up visions of hot, dry deserts and camels. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Located in Western Asia on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, the State of Qatar is situated on the Qatar Peninsula, which extends out from the Arabian Peninsula approximately 160 kilometres north into the Arabian Gulf with its border with Saudi…

Tomorrow comes again comes , Tomorrows are like rivers that endlessly flow. If all my things are put off till tomorrow, My time wasted to no purpose will brew woe. All mortals are tired for the sake of tomorrow, The passage of time will make them old before they know. In the morning they see water eastward running, At dusk they see the sun in the west low hanging. How many tomorrows are in your lifetime, do you know? Please listen to me sing the Song of Tomorrow. “Song of Tomorrow” is a poem written by Qian Hetan in the Ming Dynasty. The poet wrote “Song of Tomorrow” using himself as an example, advising the “lost” people of the world to cherish each day and live in the present by…

Revisited No.65 Issue 4/2009 Title Insights into the Human Soul The morbid oeuvre from photographer and artist extraordinaire, Dominic Rouse, is not for the faint-hearted. It takes strength to confront the deepest abyss of man’s quintessence Text Lunita S V Mendoza Photos Brooks Jensen Brooks Jensen – exceptional artist, visual architect and aural instigator – comments that Dominic Rouse would be the first to admit that his use of the camera and the darkroom are unusual. “Rouse does not photograph the world,” Jensen muses. “He makes photographs of his mind.” In Rouse’s The Philosopher’s Tomb, profound issues and challenging questions abound. It is as complex as his passion, uniquely combining photography and fine art. Here, description fails and provocation begins. Perhaps the more recognised of Rouse’s complex compositions and an…

“Haggling is a must and be sure to have cash as most shops don’t accept credit cards.” 1) Spices Spices were as valuable as gold in antiquity as traders from all across Asia and Europe travelled by sea or along the Silk Road to get their hands on spices. Here at the souq, you can find spices such as thyme, coriander, mint, turmeric, chilli, cumin and many more wafting aromatically through the air. 2) Textile/Traditional Garments/ Carpets From scarves and tailor-made robes, to beautifully embroidered cloaks and traditional agals that Qatari men wear to keep their headgear (karffiyeh) in place, there’s no shortage of clothes, traditional garments, textiles and carpets you can buy. Haggling is a must and be sure to have cash as most shops don’t accept credit cards.…

2002 ARK TRUST INTERNATIONAL AWARDS 1. Genesis Award AG (Bear Witness) No.7 Issue 2/2001 Text: Cortian Bennett, Photos: Paul Hilton 2006 ASIA TRAVEL & TOURISM CREATIVE AWARDS 2. Travel Photograph Scenic | Winner AG No.33 Issue 6/2005 Photos: Lester V. Ledesma 2009 MPAS AWARDS 3. Best Cover/Feature Story AG No.58 Issue 8/2008 4. Best Visual/Photography AG No.61 Issue 11/2008 MPAS AWARDS 5. Visual Photography of the Year AG No.69 Issue 8/2009 6. Feature Story of the Year AG No.65 Issue 4/2009 7. Best Front Cover Design AG No.65 Issue 4/2009 8. Magazine of the Year | Bronze ASIAN Geographic 9. Travel Magazine of the Year ASIAN Geographic PASSPORT 10. Best New Magazine of the Year ASIAN Geographic JUNIOR ASIAN PUBLISHING AWARDS 11. Best Design & Layout | Excellence AG No.70…

Revisited No.134 Issue 1/2019 Title The Reality of Recycling Plastic It is no secret that only 9 percent of our global plastic waste is recycled. The rest ends up in incinerators, landfills and our oceans. Knowing the identity of the plastic you use is key in making sure that more of what is used is successfully recycled Text Rachel Kwek While the RIC labelling system seeks to promote recycling by facilitating the separation of different types of plastic, the effectiveness of it is unclear. Awareness of the importance of knowing and categorising our plastic waste – as well as how to recycle – is still low amongst many Asians. I cringe each time I see people throw plastic straws, bags or food containers into the bin. Do we realise that…

Revisited No.129 Issue 1/2018 Title Science of the Times Science is moving fast in China and Japan as researchers progress on discoveries ranging from new drone technologies to knowledge of ancient life. We round up six highlights from the past year Text Lim Jun Xi Sonali Roy Paleontologists say China is now the world’s leading source of pterosaur research, after hundreds of fossilised eggs, some with the embryos’ bones intact, were discovered in the far northwest of the country. The eggs of the Hamipterus tianshanensis species are well known for their fragile shells, making the discovery an absolute windfall. To date, only 10 other eggs have been uncovered, five of which are also from China. Dr Wang Xiaolin from Beijing’s Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Paleoanthropology, and Dr Alexander Kellner…

Revisited No.119 Issue 4/2016 Title China’s One Belt One Road Connecting to the rest of the world Text Shakila Rajendra China is increasingly becoming one of the world’s biggest economic players, and in order for the country to sustain its rapid development well into the 21st century, it has set its eyes on making bigger and better connections to the rest of the world. To do this, China’s President Xi Jinping in 2015 announced the implementation of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative; an ambitious plan that seeks to connect both land and sea trade routes to enhance cooperation and connection with China and the rest of Eurasia. The “belt” in question refers to The Silk Road Economic Belt, which is a land route designed to link China to…

WHEN November to early April when it’s cooler. The cooler temperatures allow for sightseeing and outdoor activities across the country and is considered peak season in Qatar. Avoid June to September when temperatures are very hot with minimum rainfall. Note that the working week in Qatar is from Sunday to Thursday with Friday and Saturday being weekly holidays. WHERE Doha, Qatar HOW There are daily flights connecting Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong to Qatar directly via the award-winning Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways covers more than 140 destinations worldwide including the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and North and South America. Hamad International Airport is located just south of Doha. Taxi transfer time to the city centre is about 30 minutes. For more information on Qatar, visit the Qatar Tourism…

JAVAN RHINOCEROS Rhinoceros sondaicus IUCN status: Critically Endangered The Javan rhinoceros is the most threatened of the five species of rhinoceros left on Earth. Also known as the Sunda rhinoceros or the one-horned rhinoceros, the Javan rhinoceros was once found all over Southeast Asia and Northeast India. Today, however, there are only about 60 of them left in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia, as they were widely hunted by poachers for their horn. Their small number and the loss of their habitat due to deforestation has also caused their numbers to decline. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) studies animals around the world, and assesses the threats they face, ranking them on its Red List of Threatened Species. Extinct (EX) – The animal no longer exists…