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American Festival   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Literary lovers can continue to foster their love for the written word, with the below list of Asian literary events and festivals in London and beyond.
The Asia House London
Think of The Asia House as a cove of Asian Literature. Including the works of renowned writers such as Aravind Adiga, The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature, held annually in May, is the place to sit back and enjoy the best of literature from celebrated Asian writers.
South Asian Literature Festival Nationwide
Founded in 2009, The DSC South Asian Literature Festival aims to promote themes surrounding literature by showcasing the works of both established and emerging voices. With over 35 events in venues across the UK – London, Leicester and Brighton – SALF also aims to strengthen and build ties with local communities, schools and libraries. SALF takes place nationwide each year in mid-October.
Jaipur Literature Festival IndiaImage By: Embassy New Dehli
Called ‘the grandest literary festivals of them all', this yearly Jaipur based literary festival, celebrates the works of both national and international writers. It is also the largest festival in the Asia-Pacific area. All JLF events, from talks to workshops, performances and debates are free and open to the public. Prepare to be dazzled by great luminaries of literature.
Asian American Literary Festival New York
A humble crusade by the Asian American Writers workshop, the not-for-profit AALF is an event devoted to making the stories and voices of a multitude of unknown authors matter. Having previously hosted events for Pulitzer and Nobel Prize nominee Jhumpa Lahiri, and Tony award winning author Bei Dao, this is growing annual event is a hope for budding wordsmiths and one for the black book, should you ever find yourself in its vicinity.

Tags: Asia House, Jaipur, Literature Festivals, India, ...
  

Tourism in Asia   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Although many Asians concentrate on building modern houses, Kampungs in Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia still holds a great history of Asian's traditional house and culture. In Kampungs, traditional houses are built together to enhances defense and stability. Most of the people living in these kampungs are fishermen hence many Kampungs are situated in fishing grounds. Kampungs residents in Malaysia have many recreation activities such as traditional dances, paintings and sculptors. These recreation activities usually attract many tourists all over the world. Malaysian Kampungs are made up of people from different cultural background hence they provide various tradition dances from different cultures with are so entertaining to the tourists.
Image By: ipohkiaMalaysian people are very entertaining and generous. They are kind and serve the tourists with a lot of respect. You can tour Malaysia and spend some of your nights in kampungs with assurance of getting a humble sleep. The villagers can also take you to TelagaTujuh Waterfall in Langkawi for recreation. Telaga Tujuh is one of the legend waterfalls in Malaysia. It has got very interesting stories. Some people says that it contain magic waters. This is because Asians believes that it has got some powers to heal numerous diseases.
Tourism ministry in Malaysia has encouraged Asian tourism industry through constructing roads to various tourism destinations. It has also invested a good percentage of foresight exchange in hotels and other tourism sectors to boost the trade.
The data shows that the number of tourists touring Malaysia has been highly increasing. The tourists' comments about the tourism in Malaysia are also encouraging. Tourism ministry has notified that this healthy increase in the number of tourists is as a result of rich cultures in Kampungs in Malaysia. The government has also encouraged people to uphold their culture in Kampungs. They are also advice to feel proud of their culture in view of the fact that it is their pride. The increase in tourism has helped Malaysian government to earn a lot foreign exchange. In return, the foreign exchange earned in tourism industry is use to promote Malaysian economy.

Tags: Buildings, Traditional, Fishing, Activities
  

Diversity in Culture   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
When one visits Kampung villages in Malaysia they are always amazed with the diverse culture and enriching practices in this region. It is fabulous to be there and a good number of people enjoy interacting with people from this community. A Kampung is a little village that apart from embracing their culture they also have a vast knowledge in technology. People from this community are friendly and warmly too. When one tour this place the kind of reception they get is absolutely marvelous and one is ensured an exceptional hospitality in the globe. Since the village is situated away from the city centre; people who visit this place always enjoy a quiet environment that enables them a comfort zones that they hardly get, especially for those people who come from urban areas.
One important culture that is really good and appealing in the Asian community is Kung Fu. This art has prominently put this community in the international standards, from Hollywood veterans such John Woo, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are believed to come Cantonese decent of the community from this region. Bruce a dragon legend was one the people who open ways to western domain that has actively helped in promoting Asian culture in the west. Being an actor and a writer too he successfully able to sell diverse Asian culture to the west. The people here too embrace the art of building houses which been in frontline as a means of communication. When you see their antique materials, truly shows vast information about their culture.
In Asia the art and design of furniture is unique. Their stuffs are exceptional and original and are made in order to promote their culture. Despite the advances in technology, the Asian community here makes sure that the kinds of furniture they come up with are creative. As much as they look stylish and innovative they always maintain the element of traditions in their designs. The houses here are also wonderful and have built with keen interest of promoting their culture. Most buildings are decorated ancient materials that make them look absolutely remarkable. For most people who have been visiting the place, they have burrowing the fantastic ideas and ahead using at their home land. This has really helped to spread the diverse culture of Asians. Today when one visits the web domain you will hardly miss something touching on Asian culture.
Basically, the Asian life style is simple and interesting too. Normally they live in communities. The communities are composed head and other family members. Majority of the families are extended and they live together as one family unit. In the family, they embrace their culture through the attire they wear. Through creative and skillful designs they have been able to come up with quite a good number of clothing that have been used as a tool for selling their unique culture. The life style epitomized in the Kampungs is typical and embrace the traditions of the Asian people. The dances, ingenious body gyrations are just part of the Asian Kampungs heritage. Ideally cultures are sometimes very impressive and far fetch higher prices when only a few embodiments are left.

Tags: Culture, Practices, Knowledge, Hospitality
  

The Cradle of Kampungs   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
The Kampungs adopt a natural way of building to get their architectural designs. They are usually made of very durable wood as that is the prevailing trend. Most people in Malaysia and Indonesia have these kinds of buildings. The Kampungs, however, face many setbacks. The very common drawback is the issue of floods. During the rainy season, the improperly done Kampungs collapse leaving families homeless. That calls for an ingenious incorporation of stilts into the architectural designs. They are made with very large windows in anticipation of the tropical climates. Their walls are thatched cleverly so that they don't get washed away when floods come.The designs on Kampungs are meticulous venturing. The most fundamental structures are first done on the ground before being joined to form a single comprehensive unit.
By laying the foundation gradually, people who don't have enough material get a chance to improve their houses with time. In building the Kampungs, one needs to consider a number of factors. Some of these are: the number of family members, financial capability, material availability, the prevailing traditions of most people and the family expectations like member increase in the future. While it is apparently an overwhelming task to even decipher anything significant on the Kampungs development, it is on the other side compensated by the need of almost no furniture. Most activities taking place in the Kampungs, take place on the floor. That means that one does not need to furnish them. As long as there is abundant space in the house, everyone must reach their happiness peak.The kind of pleasure realized in the houses' set up makes the Kampung village buildings very modest. Life simply takes a different twist when you visit the Kampung villages. Most Kampungs are linked to the diverse regions of Malaysia and Indonesia.
When visiting these Kampungs, the dwellers pay a very hospitable spirit. The environment here is comfy and one probably comes out humbled and appreciative to the dwellers. The life style here is full of culture and traditions. The Kampungs epitomize the real divergent cultures of the Malaysian and Indonesian communities. As opposed o most city life styles which encompass extraordinary siren noises, traffic and traffic jams which cause a lot of disturbance, life in the Kampungs is totally peaceful and makes you enjoy your freedom and experience stress - free holidays in the regions.You have to make your vacation successful by indulging in the Kampung lifestyle.
To fully get your enjoy the freedom in the Kampungs, one has to visitBrunei, Malaysia or Indonesia. These are the cradles of the Kampungs. Each Cluster of Kampungs is different from the next, though hospitality, dance, life style and culture are more or less the same. That means that you can visit Brunei to Indonesia. Indigenous games, food and gyration styles are just part of the warm and serene atmosphere provided by the Kampungs in these regions. Theintricacies of these structures definitely make the remaining ones like Loron Buangkok in Singapore to breathe- takingand fetch higher income to the people living in Singapore. Take some time; ignore city life swallowed by human authenticity, discover your own human nature and heart by visiting the Kampungs. Congrats the Kampung dwellers!

Tags: Architecture, Design, Wood, Flooding, Stilts
  

Traditional Indonesian Houses   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Indonesian Living
Although most Asian countries have adapted to a western type of living with apparent influences in the structure of their homes; the majority of people in Indonesia still live in traditional villages. Almost 60% have their dwellings set up as kampungs or smaller groups of houses in the village. A kampung is a constituent of a larger administration of villages which is called a desa.
The domestic set up involves extended families so the people living there truly embody the true meaning of community. Life is simple and hassle free since their main livelihoods are agricultural in nature such as farming and fishing.
The Kampung Houses
To begin with, these houses are naturally made from durable wood. The usual and ideal design of kampung houses are stilts and large windows. Since the seasonal floods are something that needs to be countered, the stilts are ingeniously incorporated into the design of the houses. The large windows are for the year round tropical weather. The thatched houses are also another trademark of the kampung house.
Making a kampung House is a methodical venture. The parts are first built on the ground before they are assembled to form the house itself. It is also ideal for people who can't afford more materials so they can gradually add improvements as time passes and they acquire the means to further build on their homes. The common aspects considered in building a kampung house is the financial capacity of the family, the number of family members, traditions, and growing needs of its members.
Although a kampung house is a seemingly daunting task to even conceptualize, it is compensated by the need for less furniture since most of the activities of the family take places on the floor. So as long as there is a spacious floor, it would surely provide for the productivity and happiness of everyone in the house.

Tags: Kampung, Desa, Indonesian, Indonesia, Family
  

Kampung Life & Activities   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Life certainly takes an opportune turn when you are in Malaysia visiting the Kampung villages. A Kampung is a small village, and those in Malaysia are located in Kuala Lumpur, linked to neighbouring town centres by the Sungai Besi way.
Life in these villages is modest, but not lacking in culture and tradition. The spirit of hospitality offered by Malaysians to any touring guest is admirable and is certain to leave you humbled. The hush away from city traffic, noise and sirens allows for one to relax and reflect on life and things that do not have anything to do with work or the usual fast pace of life. For you to enjoy this freedom and experience a stress free vacation, you have to indulge in Kampung life, which is calm, peaceful and quiet.
To fully experience the way of life in Kampungs: it would be necessary to travel to Malaysia, Indonesia or Brunei. Each village differs, one from the next, yet somehow the sense of hospitality is similar in all the villages. Dance, cultural shows, locally prepared meals and games are just a part of the warmth shared in these villages.
Not too far from this traditional lifestyle is the bustling city, of Malaysia or Indonesia. The proximity of the city, the modernity and sudden shift of lifestyle certainly brings out the authenticity of the Kampung way of life. The art further depicts the traditions that are the foundations of these communities. Batik making is highly upheld using candle wax which certainly varies from the technology created batik works in the city. The intricacy of this Kampung art is breath-taking to say the least. These works of art are sold around the world at high fetching prices.
Unfortunately Kampungs may not be around for much longer, but the inhabitants of these homesteads have done well to hold on to their tradition and culture. Currently in Singapore, only one Kampung remains, Lorong Buangkok. Take some time to feel removed from the modern ways that have swallowed up human authenticity, discover your own human nature and experience the heart of the Kampungs. A visit to these villages is a welcome change and will be hard to forget.

Tags: Kampung, Life, Art, Malaysia, Experience
  

Brunei, Indonesia & Malaysia   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Brunei, the Abode of Peace, Shares its Island, Borneo, with Malaysia and Indonesia. The population is over 400,000, with most of the inhabitants speaking Melayu Brunei. English and Chinese are spoken to a lesser extent. The official religion is Islam with the Sultan as the head of their religion. This is a conservative nation following predominantly Malay culture. Four periods had a hand in influencing the culture in Brunei: Animism, Hinduism, Islam and the West.
The music in Brunei consists of many different types of native folk music as well as dance. Islam has a strong influence on these dances, keeping them relatively restricted. Some examples include:
Folk Music:
• Adai-adai = while fishing, the fisher people would sing this song in a group.
• Benari or Joget Baji Putih = performed by three men and three women during different festivals.
Kedayan Music:
• Aduk-aduk = Performed by the Kedayan people at the end of harvest season and during other holidays. This is a ceremonial dance where dancers dress in traditional warrior attire.
Malay Music:
• Jipin or Zapin = Accompanied by native instruments, six men and women will perform this dance at festivals and special feasts.
• Alus Jua Dindang = A song which is part of traditional wedding music whereby the groom declares his devotion to the bride, whom he has never met before.
Indonesia, a republic with an elected president and legislator, has a population of over 238 million people. The local rules have slowly been saturated with foreign culture, political models and religious views. There are noticeable religious, linguistic and ethnic groups of which the Javanese are the most prevalent. Most of the population in Indonesia are Muslim and have a long history of rebelling against the ever-resilient colonialism. Austronesian-speaking people are the main ancestors of most Indonesians resulting in 742 different languages and dialects and about 300 noted ethnicities. The language which is officially taught in schools is a form of Malay and spoken by nearly every Indonesian. The culture in Indonesia has been influenced by sources such as: Indian, Arabic, Chinese and Europe.
The music in Indonesia is a display of cultural diversity, ranging from the traditional type of music all the way to the other spectrum of contemporary music.
Malaysia is a federal constitutional Monarchy with a population of over 27.5 million. Its economy has traditionally been kept afloat by the sale of natural recourses but has been able to expand into other sectors, namely: science, medical tourism, commerce and tourism. Multiple ethnicities and cultures influence the culture of Malaysia as well as its politics. As in Brunei, the state religion is Islam, but a secular constitution protects freedom of religion. With striking resemblance to Indonesia, Malays, who make up 50.4 percent of the population, are Muslim, and they practice Malay customs. The official language is Bahasa Malaysia. What is interesting about citizenship is that a child whom is born in Malaysia is not granted citizenship automatically, however, if a child is born to two Malaysian parents outside of Malaysia, automatic citizenship is granted.
Music in Malaysia reflects the differences in many ethnic groups, including: Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Dayak, Kadazandusun and Eurasians. The music is categorised into classical, folk, syncretic, popular and contemporary art music.
With so much in common and so much diversity, these three areas have such rich culture and unique living to enjoy.

Tags: Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, History, Music
  

The Korean Wave   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
The Last Stronghold of Asian Film
The Hollywood market has greatly influenced the Asian movie industry but it has difficulty breaking through the virtually inflexible market of Korea. It was after all, dubbed as the Hermit Kingdom in the past when it closed off its doors to the world. Because of the country's state of war history both internationally and domestically between the north and the south, most of the early movies were lost but naturally the general narrative is greatly influenced by their Japanese conquerors.
The Koreans show that Asians are very passionate and determined no matter what endeavour they venture into. Their film industry is validation of their ambitions to make challenging films that reach the world stage and can equally go head to head with Hollywood's contenders. Their government not only encourages their inbred artists morally but through ample sufficient financial backing as well. This is the epitome of art being a means for a country's progress, not only relying on physical and manual labour or technological pursuits but rather on the skill to entertain and to inspire.
From TV to the big screens
The Taiwanese and Chinese soap operas did lead the Asian wave but the Korean's take on similar stories that are basically melodramatic in nature gave way to the Korean wave. Their movies have successfully gained international accolades. Korean movies are a major constituent in the country's worldwide influence. One such example is the movie called The Isle by director Kim Ki-duk and features the cryptic celebrity Jung Suh.
When the Korean TV dramas were viewed as highly entertaining and relevant to a younger audience, the movies had that instantly achieved halo effect. The romantic comedy 200 Pounds of Beauty is a Korean-turned-international hit subbed and dubbed in many languages. It showed that this group of Asians has a penchant for the funny and are truly versatile artists. But in every movie and even in their actual national history, Koreans show the character of resilience and share these admirable traits that continually wow the world audience.

Tags: Korean, Asians, International, Korean Drama
  

Cradle of Onscreen Kung Fu   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Cantonese vs. Chinese
John Woo, Bruce Lee, and Jackie Chan are Hollywood icons of Cantonese descent. Cantonese isn't the same as Chinese as some people generalise. Cantonese is understood by both Chinese and those from Hong Kong since the language was developed from Mandarin. But natives of Hong Kong who speak mainly Cantonese would not easily understand Mandarin if they are not schooled in it.
Cantonese films usually centre on genres such as slapstick comedy and high flying action utilizing the Chinese martial arts of Kung Fu as popularized by famous home grown talents. This choice in film mirrors the fast paced life of Hong Kongers dwelling in a region that is essentially an urban trade centre.
Enter the Dragon
Bruce Lee is the dragon that opened the great western gates and promoted Asian culture especially the martial arts. His works and his skill as an actor, writer, and director are forever immortalized into the hearts of fans all over the world even after his death. He did not advertise an art but a way of life as inspired by his cultural environment. The highly acclaimed and internationally awarded film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which features Chow Yun Fat, a Hong Kong based actor; presented Asian movies as a formidable force to be reckoned with in international cinema. Jackie Chan also influenced mainstream Hollywood cinema with his trademark style of fight scenes and comedic pair ups with famous Hollywood actors. Another Hong Kong based director, John woo has also been recognised for his edgy and seemingly western styled films which sits well with a worldwide audience.
Although the region is currently experiencing a losing local battle with Hollywood films, piracy, and Chinese handovers, Hong Kong filmmakers yield to that steady desire in reviving their industry and exhausting their resources. Persistence to succeed is the silent voice that says nothing is really over unless everyone gives up: and giving up is not an action Asian people consider above all else.

Tags: Bruce Lee, Chinese, Kung Fu, Dragon, Hong Kong
  

Asian Architecture Pt 1   [Report Abuse]  

Posted by: kampungs     
Architectural Influences
Necessity is the mother of invention, and the reason why houses and buildings exist today is because our early ancestors realised the need for shelter from the harsh elements of the primitive world. Each Asian country's distinct housing style is the product of the resourcefulness of early inhabitants. By making use of available material in that particular part of the world, they were able to make a safe haven. Their imagination and creativity to the design is naturally considered as art and a craft.
Asian architecture, as a result of many influences has different and varying attributes. Chinese architecture greatly influences Japanese and Korean edifices but although the Chinese style is dominant, the Japanese have their distinct national trademark when it comes to homes and buildings.
Asian Furnishings
Furniture is also unique to an Asian country accompanied by skill sets and crafts that is inherently their own. There are many modern establishments and places of human habitation that play with the idea of diversity. In a diversified house, one room possesses a particular theme and in another, a completely different style. So it's not new that in contemporary homes it's like travelling to farther sides of the world.
These are customised homes for those keen on details and people who digress from the norm of monotonous type of dwellings. It doesn't mean that the whole structure of the house is reconstructed to match an Asian country's domestic building so it can completely stand out from the rest of the neighbourhood (although occurrences of such buildings are not rare) but simple modifications only in selected parts of the house like the living room of bedroom. Of course, it goes without saying that these professionally altered interior designing drains one of budget and resources. In this day and age of economic stagnation and fast paced lifestyle, that attempt of having an internationally contrastive home is possible even for middle class people. However, it doesn't guarantee a completely expenditure-free scheme of redecorating but at least some courses of action that are more convenient and financially suitable.

Tags: Asian Architecture, Japanese Home, Tatami
  

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