Maldivian Culture

It is difficult to define the culture of Maldives because its origin is cloaked in mystery. It is a blend of various cultures because of the seafarers who finally settled here too. The most important are the ones closest to it, Sri Lanka and South India. Their language is Indo Iranian with Arabic influences. The African were brought as slaves by the kings and noblemen. One can say, Maldives has been a melting pot for Indian, Sri Lankan, Arabian, African and South East Asian settlers. The to-and-fro flow of people and their cultures left a marked effect on the Maldivian people, the language, beliefs, arts, and attitudes. The looks of the Maldivian people may differ from one atoll to the other, attributing to the genes passed on by South and Southeast Asians, Africans, and Arabians. Maldives is probably the only country with a 100% Sunni Muslim population. No other religion except Islam is permitted. They celebrate all the festivals on the Muslim calendar.

Art in Maldives

The fact that the Maldivians are sheer craftsmen is evident when you visit mosques, cemeteries and tomb stones. The delicate carvings are witness to their intricate skill. They are master calligraphers and their work has strong connection to Islam. The Islamic centre is the biggest example of this. Maldivian handicrafts, sculptures, wood carvings and other forms of art and craft have their own unique charm and beauty. The skills have been passed down through generations and the craftsmen take pride in possessing these artistic skills. The are deft at producing beautifully crafted pieces of what is available locally. The island is known for having strong cultural heritage with Indian, African, Sri Lankan, Arabian and South East Asia influences. They produced ornaments with black corals and tortoise shells for years. But that has reduced now and become almost obsolete due to awareness with regards to preservation of nature and the environment.

Sightseeing in Maldives

Maldives is a place known for its beautiful atolls. Male, being the hub of commercial trade, is the most happening place in Maldives. Its local markets and the fish market are worth visiting. There is a big reservoir of tourist places in Maldives. Since the first resort island opened on the Male Atoll in 1972, tourism has been developed to become the most important industry in this country, there are now over 90 resorts in the Maldives, each of which is on its own island, with its own unique natural beauty, style and concept. Apart from the beautiful resorts and beaches, Maldives has a unique lifestyle, culture and architecture which are very impressive. So, take out your cameras to click the photos of these picturesque places.

Magical Maldives

The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both size and population. It is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by approximately 1,190 islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, lying just off India’s Lakshadweep Islands. The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with more than 80% of the country’s land less than one metre above sea level. The Maldives waters are noted for their colourful coral reefs, home to 300 species of fish. The coral reefs act as a natural barrier against the tropical storms, floods and tsunamis. Seaweeds grow on the skeletons of dead coral. The corals reefs are like the rainforest for marine life. The lack of vegetation and wildlife is supplemented by the abundant marine life. The largest island of the Maldives is Gan.

Cuisine in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s eclectic cuisine includes a taste from many parts of the world. A gastronomical tour of Asia without a visit to Hong Kong would be incomplete. Hong Kong is a food lover's paradise and for aficionados of Cantonese, Chiu Chow, Hunan, Szechuan, Peking or Shanghai cuisine, there really is no finer place to indulge your taste buds, also a place which offers superb cuisine ranging from Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese to Indian, Malaysian and Singaporean cuisines. You will find an infinite choice of restaurants. Yum cha ('drinking tea') is an integral part of Hong Kong's culinary culture. A cup of steaming fresh tea is the perfect complement to many sumptuous dishes or dim sum. As any tea lover will tell you, the traditional drink, whether Chinese, Indian, English or Hong Kong-style - sends forth its unique, delicate fragrances to help shape daily life in Hong Kong. There are many tea houses in Hong Kong. All-time favourites are congee, noodles and rice dishes, Chinese BBQ, dim sum and hotpot.

Shopping in Hong Kong

Despite of being a very small city, Hong Kong has shops that rival any other international city. There is something for everyone, whatever your budget may be. All the international branded items have a store Hong Kong, the reason being it is one of Asia’s most vibrant, lively and important city. Central houses a lot of these. For reasonably priced quality clothing, Causeway bay is perfect, which gives you Times Square, Sogo and New World Centre. Great markets are scattered throughout the city. The best ones to browse include: Li Yuen Street, Ladies Street, Temple Street and Shanghai Street. There is also the famous, fabulous and vibrant Stanley Market. You would find that Tsim Sha Tsui sells everything under the sun too. Harbour Terminal is right next to the Star Ferry Terminal  and Mong Kok is very interesting too.

Hong Kong Art Attack

When the name Hong Kong comes, the first thing that comes to mind is its arts and crafts. For centuries, Chinese arts and craft have formed a significant part of China's total exports. In Hong Kong, ancient Chinese arts and craft are widely available in several department stores and retailers in Wan Chai, Kowloon, and in Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong's close proximity to China enables these artefacts to be brought in for sale. Furthermore, the cost of manufacturing in Hong Kong is much too high. Hong Kong is a city that has the mixture of both Eastern and Western flavour. Various ancient artefacts of Chinese tradition still exist in the city. Porcelain, embroidery, brocade, carpets, jade products, carvings and paper decorations called 'scissor-cuts' are considered traditional Chinese arts and craft.

Cultural Kaleidoscope of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has gone through over 150 years of colonialism, making it like no other place on earth. Despite the strong Chinese and British influences on the island, it has a distinct identity. They are more inclined towards Eastern culture and do adhere to Chinese traditions, significance is given to eastern values like family solidarity, respect for elders, courtesy and saving face. Hong Kong has an extraordinary past which matches its extraordinary present. It is a unique experience shaped by a distinctive past and dreams of the future, an age-old synthesis of cultures and traditions that opens a window into what will be, while embracing what has passed. Tea Tasting and appreciation, Tai Chi, Chinese medicines, Cantonese Opera, Kung Fu, Feng Shui are all very much a part of the Hong Kong culture.

Sights and Sounds of Hong Kong

For the compact island it is, Hong Kong offers a host of memorable tourist attractions. Hong Kong can be divided into 3 main sections. Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. Apart from these places one can discover, there are pretty islands dotted around its coast. Hong Kong island is the heart and soul of the city. Hong Kong itself is subdivided into districts like Central, Wanchai, Admirality and Causeway Bay. What you can cover in this part is The Peak, Man Mo temple, Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong Convention Centre. You can take the Star ferry to Kowloon, extremely popular with travellers. Again is divided into districts. Tsim Sha Tsui with Nathan Road is one of the busiest places in Hong Kong. The Waterfront and Mong Kok are the other areas. The New Territories include a lot of beaches, and actually is residence to a lot of people who have moved there. You cannot stay here if you are a visitor, because its too far and there isn’t much to see apart from its beautiful beaches. The Outlying Islands include Lamma Island and Lantau Island, home to Hong Kong Disneyworld and Giant Buddha.

Fragrant Harbour Hong Kong

Hong Kong can overwhelm you. The busy streets, the traffic, the densely populated city, the packed pavements, bustling lifestyle, the aromas of food on almost every street – all these attack your senses. But once the initial wave is over, you find that Hong Kong is an absolutely delightful place, safe and extremely well organised. Hong Kong’s personality is mostly Chinese bearing strong British influences due to the long term British Colonization. It is one of the major tourist destinations in South East Asia. Along with Macau, it is the Special Administrative Regions (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China, though the economic and political system differs from the one governing China. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and is one of the leading international financial centres. The Hong Kong Dollar is in the top 10 most traded currencies in the world. Hong Kong sits at the mouth of Pearl River and means Fragrant Harbour.

Malling in Manila

All tourists love a bit of shopping. Nowadays, malls are the venues for you to shop, dine, catch a movie, or even do a little bit of grocery shopping for the home. You want to go to the mall that not only caters your needs, but also your heart’s desires. Something that catches the eye or something ethnic, perhaps a souvenir. People who feel Bangkok and Hongkong are the destinations in Asia will be pleasantly surprised. Manila has some of the biggest malls in Asia and crowds throng the place. The people call going to the malls, malling. Air conditioning is a relief from the heat in Manila. Shopping, especially at malls, is a passion with many Filipinos. There are huge malls all over the greater Manila area. Although often very crowded and noisy, they are clean, air conditioned and generally safe. For many, who may not find mall shopping quite as interesting, there are some wonderful book stores, handicraft stores, antique shops, and true "specialty" stores", for custom made items, like shoes, furniture etc. A day in a mall offers a selection of restaurants, theatres, all types of stores, beauty salons, spas, clinics, play areas and wonderful rides for children, furniture shops, etc. under one roof.

Filipino Food

The food in Philippines is often labelled as a unique mix of eastern and western cuisine. With 400 years of outside influence, the food is a fascinating blend of Malay, Spanish and Chinese cultures. Filipino food is often labelled as mild and bland. Rice is their staple food and served with almost every meal. Coconuts are used liberally. The waters surrounding Philippines provide over 2,000 species of fish, which is why fish is eaten very regularly. For a country comprising of over 7,000 islands, there are just a handful of 'national' dishes found in the Philippines' common menu. These 'national' dishes include adobo, lumpia, sinigang, bistek and lechon among others.

Art Zone in Manila

Unlike most other countries in the region, the Philippines culture was almost completely transformed by the Spanish and American influences it was subjected to for centuries. Under American occupation, the Philippines rose to become one of the most westernized nations in Southeast Asia. Yet, especially among Muslim and upland tribal groups, certain old Malay traditions related to dance, sculpture and music still remain. Under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church, architecture drew on religious icons for expression.

Culture and Customs in Manila

The culture of Philippines is reflected in the blending of many diverse heritages. It is Asia’s only predominantly Christian country. Spanish, American and other Asian cultures merging to make the Filipino customs and traditions. Spanish colonization lasted 300 years, and most of the time, the islands were governed by Mexico, and later Spain. So there is a significant amount of Spanish and Mexican influence on the Philippine culture, music, customs, traditions. After that Philippines was an American territory for 50 years and the American influences are evident in their pop culture such as fast food, music and basket ball. Japanese and Chinese too have been settling since colonial period and their influences too reflect in lifestyle, food and games. Muslim Filipinos celebrate their own customs and traditions. The unique mix of culture is reflected in the monuments that dot the city.

Sightseeing in Manila

The capital follows the curve of Manila Bay approximately from north to south. It is the largest city in Southeast Asia with approximately 10 million people. Manila today is a vibrant metropolitan area and consists of 17 cities within it. Initially Manila grew from a Muslim settlement on the banks of River Pasig to a Spanish colony for three centuries. This was the time one sees much of the culture getting intertwined and it is reflected in the architecture, dress, food, religion, music and dance and many others.

Manila

Manila is the heart, soul and capital of the archipelago called Philippines. Philippines is made up of more than 7000 islands, and Manila is its pulse and its very core. Manila is the gateway and the seat of education, political, commercial activity. It used to be called the Pearl of the Orient at one time. After massive destruction of the city during WWII and being the second most devasted city in the world, after Warsaw, the city has been re built. The hardships have made its inhabitants resilient and resourceful. Manila as a whole may put you off, but when you enjoy Manila is parts, its individual areas, like Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, you will find the city grows on you.