Overview of Southeast Asia

• According to Aristotle, excellence is not an act but a habit formed by repeatedly doing something.

Overview of Southeast Asia

• Southeast Asia is a diverse land.

Climate

• The climate is mainly hot and humid year-round.
• It experiences wet and dry seasons caused by seasonal shifts in winds or monsoons.
• The tropical rain belt results in additional rainfall during the monsoon season.

People and Food

• Southeast Asia is considered one of the world’s "great melting pots."
• Diverse people moved into the region in search of a better life and greater security.
• Over three-quarters of the population is agriculture-based.
• Fish is a commonly consumed food, due to the long coastlines and river environments.
• The staple food throughout the region is rice, cultivated for thousands of years.
• In Southeast Asia, food is typically eaten with hands.
• Chopsticks are utensils of choice where food served onto individual plates or bowls.
• Western cultural influences have brought the use of spoons and forks into modern Southeast Asian households.
• Popular meals consist of rice, fish, vegetables, fruits, and spices.
• Coconut milk is used to bind sharp flavors.
• Palm sugar is used to balance the spices.
• Fish sauce is used in almost all Southeast Asian curries and in cooking fish and pork.
• Common flavor combinations are sweet and sour, hot and sour, or hot and sweet.
• Popular vegetables in the region include sweet potatoes, maize, taro, tapioca, legumes, blossoms, and leaves of many green plants.
• Popular fruits include pineapple, coconut, star fruit, jackfruit, papaya, bananas, rambutan, mangosteen, and durian.
• Tea and coffee are abundant, but water is the popular drink with meals.

Religions

• Major Religions include;
• Hindu in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia
• Buddhist in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore
• Muslim in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
• Christian in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia

Vietnam

• The capital is Hanoi.
• The flag features a golden star with five points, representing farmers, workers, intellectuals, youth, and soldiers.
• The red background symbolizes the bloodshed during wars.
• Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet, is the most important festival; Water puppetry is a popular art form that dates back to the 11th century.
• The world's largest cave, Hang Son Doong, is located in Vietnam.
• Rice flour is a crucial ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine.
• Rice flour is the main element of a Vietnamese pancake/crepe, banh Xeo.
• Integral fruits in meals are bananas, mangoes, papayas, oranges, coconuts, and pineapple.
• Vietnamese coffee is made with condensed milk for sweetness.
• Hot green tea is also very popular.

Laos

• The capital is Vientiane.
• The former name of the country was "Lan Xiang," meaning "Kingdom of a Million Elephants."
• Most Laotians practice Theravada Buddhism.
• Phat That Luang is a sacred national monument in Vientiane.
• Sticky Rice (Khao Niaw) is the country's staple food.
• The “Nop” is a recognized greeting form that shows respect to an individual's status and age.
• It is taboo to use one's foot to touch a person or an object.

Cambodia

• The capital is Phnom Penh.
• Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure ever built.
• Sampeah is the Cambodian way to greet and bid farewell to people.
• Tarantulas are eaten as a snack.
• Between 1975 and 1979, Khmer Rouge guerrillas and Pol Pot were in power introducing a radical and brutal form of communism.

Thailand

• The capital is Bangkok.
• The name of the country in the Thai language is Prathet Thai, meaning "land of the free."
• The national flower is the orchid.
• Bangkok was named the world's hottest city.
• The annual Monkey Buffet is held in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi province.
• Thailand hosts the King's Cup, also known as Elephant Polo.
• Thailand can be broken into four regions: Food from the northeastern part of the country contains food from Laos.
• Glutinous rice is the staple grain, eaten in meals and desserts.
• Traditional Thai cuisine includes rice, fish, vegetables seasoned with garlic, fish sauce, black pepper, and an abundance of fresh fruits.
• "Kin khao" is a Thai expression that translates to “to eat rice."

Myanmar

• The capital is Naypyidaw.
• It was formerly known as Burma
• It is the westernmost country in mainland Southeast Asia.
• Yangon (Rangoon) is the former capital and serves as the largest commercial center, housing the Shwedagon Pagoda.
• Myanmar's culture is influenced by Buddhism.
• It is considered disrespectful to touch someone's head, seen as the most respected part of the body.

Malaysia

• The capital is Kuala Lumpur.
• One of the oldest names for Malaysia is Aurea Chersonesus, meaning "peninsula of gold."
• Tongkat Ali, a small tree with thick, deep, and straight roots and very common in the forest hills of Malaysia, is referred to as Malay Viagra.
• The Petronas Towers, located in Kuala Lumpur, were the world's tallest buildings from 1998-2004.
• Malaysia does not have a fourth floor in some buildings instead it is replaced by 3A.
• Malaysian dishes are seasoned with curry, shallots, garlic, shrimp paste, tamarind, lemongrass, or coconut milk.
• East Asian spices affect the flavors of many sauces.
• Majority of Malays are Muslims who consume rice, but not pork or alcohol.
• Similar to its Thai neighbors in the north, Malays use coconut milk and chile peppers a lot.

Dining Etiquette in Southeast Asia.

• Every grain of rice is sacred, so clean your place and only scoop enough rice for own consumption.
• One should not speak while chewing and should take each morsel in small bites.
• The elder is given the honor to go first, if two guests reach for the same dish.
• If something is unliked, it should not be put back in the communal dish, but put aside on ones own plate.

Singapore

• It is one of only three surviving city-states in the world along with Monaco and the Vatican City.
• "Singapura" means "Lion City" in Sanskrit.
• The red on Singapore's flag is for universal brotherhood, while the white symbolizes purity and virtue.
• Malay is the national language with English, Chinese, Tamil, and Malay serve as the four official languages of the country.
• The Merlion is the official mascot, represented as a mythical sea creature.
• Crab dishes are particularly famous.
• Chili crab includes pieces of shellfish smothered in tangy chili and tomato sauce.
• Black pepper crabs are seasoned in a thick black pepper and soy sauce.

Dining Etiquette in Singapore

• Singaporeans don't usually get appetizers or anything to drink.
• Singaporeans have their meal set on the table along with all of their other dishes with food.
• When meal is finished with acquaintances, it would be polite leaving some of your meal in the plate to recognize their kindness.

Indonesia

• It is the 4th most populous nation in the world.
• The population is about 90 percent Muslim, with hundreds of tribes, subcultures, and languages.
• The language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia and its capital is Jakarta.
• The primary religion is Islam.
• Satay (grilled meat, poultry, or seafood served with spicy peanut sauce) is one of Indonesia's best-known dishes.
• The vegetarian tempeh (made from soybeans) remains a unique food.

Dining Etiquette in Indonesia

• As a guest, wait to be shown to your place and be aware that you will have a specific position.
• Food is often taken from a shared dish in the middle; While you will be served the food, its okay to help yourself afterwards.
• If food is served buffet style, it is considered polite in that the guest(s) insists others proceed before them.
• Men are served before women in formal situations.
• Wait to be invited to eat before starting.
• A fork and spoon are often the only utensils supplied.
• Consume and/or pass food with your right hand.

Brunei Darussalam

• The capital is Jakarta.
• The primary religion is Islam and main language is Bahasa Indonesia.
• It is the smallest state located on the island of Borneo; The name Darussalam means "Abode of Peace.".
• The name Brunei was derived from Baru Nah! that means “Now we've found it".
• Kampong Ayer is a floating village, also known as "Venice of the East".
• Brunei gets its wealth from oil and natural gas; It's the third largest oil producer in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest producer of liquefied natural gas in the world.
• Brunei is an absolute monarchy.

East Timor (Timor-Leste)

• The capital is Dili.
• The primary languages are Portuguese and Tetun and major religion is Roman Catholic.
• A former Portuguese colony and the youngest nation in Southeast Asia, recognized as a state under the name of Democrat Republic of Timor-Leste in 2002.
• The population is mainly believe in Roman Catholic faith.
• Coffee is a major industry.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• ASEAN was established in 1967.
• Its members include Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.
• There was no regional group in Southeast Asia before ASEAN
• The organization was born from responses to Conflict-resolution: Indonesia-Malaysia conflict called Konfrontasi, Communist rebellions that were against pro-Western government in the region, Superpower intervention during the Cold War-Indochina, and Economic Nationalism and underdevelopment

The ASEAN Emblem

• Represents a stable, peaceful, united, and dynamic ASEAN; The emblems colors are blue, red, white, and yellow.
• Blue - represents peace and stability.
• Red - depicts courage and dynamism.
• White - shows purity.
• Yellow - symbolizes prosperity.
• Stalks of padi in the center of the Emblem represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding Fathers.
• Founding Fathers had the dream for an ASEAN comprising of all the countries in Southeast Asia, bound together in friendship and solidarity.
• The circle represents the unity of ASEAN.
• The five Foreign Ministers; Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand would ultimately be hailed as the founding fathers of the inter-governmental organization.

East Timor and ASEAN

• It is currently not a part of ASEAN due to accession delays.
• Indonesia has pushed for membership, as Timor-Leste gained its independence from Indonesia.
• Other countries, such as Singapore and Laos, have objected, citing Timor-Leste's underdevelopment.