Band-Aid Essay Example

Band Band-Aid Essay Band-Aid Essay Essay Topic: A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings The House Of the Seven Gables Places Siem Reap  (literally â€Å"Siam Defeated†) is undoubtedly Cambodia’s fastest growing city and serves as a small charming gateway town to the world famous destination of the Angkor temples. Thanks to those Cambodia attractions, Siem Reap has transformed itself into a major tourist hub. It is laid-back and a pleasant place to stay while touring the temples. Siem Reap offers a wide  range of hotels, ranging from several 5-star hotels to hundreds of budget guesthouses while a large selection of restaurants offer many kinds of food.Preah Vihear is a Khmer temple situated atop a 525 meter (1,722 ft) cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, on the border between Cambodia and Thailand. It has the most spectacular setting of all the Khmer temples. Most of the temple was constructed in the 11th and 12th century during the reigns of the Khmer kings Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II. It was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Preah Vihear is the subject of a long-running territoria l dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and several soldiers were killed in clashes in 2009.Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, is a port city and beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand. The big attraction here are the white-sand beaches and several undeveloped tropical islands. Sihanoukville is a good place to relax and unwind, though be prepared to battle the crows during the high season or a holiday weekend. Angkor is the greatest attraction in Cambodia and one of the most spectacular ancient sites on earth,  Angkor  is a vast temple complex featuring the remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century AD.These include the famous Angkor Wat temple, the world’s largest single religious monument, the Bayon temple (at Angkor Thom) with its multitude of massive stone faces and Ta Prohm, a Buddhist temple ruin entwined with towering trees. Banteay Srei Although officially part of the Angkor complex, Banteay Srei lies 25 km (15 miles) n orth-east of the main group of temples, enough to list it as a separate Cambodia attraction here. The temple was completed in 967 AD and is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still clearly visible today.Banteay Srei is the only major temple at Angkor not built for a king, instead it was constructed by one of king Rajendravarman’s counselors, Yajnyavahara. Koh Ker was the capital of the Khmer empire for a very brief period from the year 928 to 944 AD. In this short time some very spectacular buildings and immense sculptures were constructed. The site is dominated by Prasat Thom, a 30 meter (98 ft) tall temple pyramid rising high above the surrounding jungle. A giant Garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird creature), carved into the stone blocks, still guard the very top, although its partially covered now.Left to the jungle for nearly a millennium, Koh Ker was one of Cambodia’s most remote and inac cessible temple destinations. This has now changed thanks to recent de-mining and the opening of a new toll road. Crafts Indigenous people represent 1. 4 percent of the total population in Cambodia, and the majority of them live in remote rural areas within the country. Often referred to as highlanders, their ways of life are different from the lowlanders, both from the cultural and economic perspective.Handicrafts are part of their traditional culture and their livelihood as they produce textiles, baskets, jars, pottery, and other tools for their daily use. Many indigenous groups have established small enterprises and produce traditional products to generate supplementary income in order to support their livelihood. The handicraft sector provides vital employment opportunities to most indigenous artisans and disadvantaged people, especially women who are struggling for survival. Silk weaving in Cambodia dates to as early as the first century since textiles were used for trading.Mod ern textiles have traces of motifs imitating clothing details on ancient stone sculptures. There are two main types of Cambodian weaving: 1. ikat technique (Khmer term: chongkiet) To create patterns, weavers tie and dye portions of weft yarn before weaving begins. Patterns are diverse and vary by region; common motifs include lattice, stars, and spots. 2. uneven twill It yields single or two-color fabrics, which are produced by weaving three threads so that the color of one thread dominates on one side of the fabric, while the two others determine the color on the reverse side. Traditionally, Cambodian textiles have employed natural dyes coming from: a. insect nests Red dye b. indigo Blue dye c. prohut bark- Yellow and Green dye d. ebony bark- Black dye Cambodias modern silk-weaving centers are Takeo, Battambang, BeanteayMeanchey, Siem Reap, and Kampot provinces. Silk-weaving has been revived in the past ten years and now provides employment for many rural women. Cambodian silk is generally sold domestically, where it is used in sampot (wrap skirts), furnishings, and pidan (pictoral tapestries).Now, it has seen an increase in export viability. Cotton textiles have also played a significant role in Cambodian culture. Though today, Cambodia imports most of its cotton, traditionally woven cotton remains popular. Rural women often weave homemade cotton fabric, which is used in garments and for household purposes. Krama, the traditional check scarves worn almost universally by Cambodians, are made of cotton. INDONESIA Places Bali  is one of the world’s most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel awards.The varied landscape, rugged coastlines, tropical beaches, lush rice terraces and volcanic hillsides all provide a picturesque backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual and unique Hindu culture. The combination of friendly people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and spectacular beaches with great surf ing and diving have made Bali the unrivaled number one tourist attraction in Indonesia. Borubudur is located 40 km (25 miles) northwest of  Yogyakarta  on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the most famous Buddhist temple in the world.The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia. Lombok’s most popular tourist destination, the Gili Islands are an archipelago of three small islands:  Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. Note that the name â€Å"Gili Islands† is rather redundant as gili si mply means â€Å"small island† in Sasak and there are many other islands around the coast of Lombok with Gili in their names. Torajaland (Tana Toraja) is a highland region of South Sulawesi, home of the Toraja people. Torajans are famous for their massive peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan and spectacular but gruesome funeral rites.After a person’s death, the body is kept – often for several years – until the actual funeral ceremony which can last for several days. The deceased is then finally buried in a small cave or in a hollow tree. Gunung Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters (7,641 feet) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke.It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The over all effect is unsettlingly unearthly. Crafts The fabric most common to both countries is the Batik. The term â€Å"batik† is an Indonesian Malay word, believed to be related to the Malay word â€Å"titik†, which means ‘point’, ‘dot’ or ‘drop’. The â€Å"drop† action refers to the process of dyeing the fabric by making use of a resist technique: covering areas of cloth with a dye-resistant substance (usually hot wax) to prevent them from absorbing colors. This technique is has been taught for over a thousand years.Shadow Puppetry is famous in Indonesia. Wayang, in modern Indonesian language means show or perform. Kulit means skin, a reference to the leather material that the figures are carved out of. Others say that wayang is also attributed to the Indonesian word bayang which means shadow. Wayang Kulit–is a type of puppet shadow play performed around the Indo-Malayan archipelago, tracing its origins to India. It is derived from a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist tradition, where hand-crafted leather puppets depict epic stories of the gods in shadow play.A traditional Gamelan orchestra would accompany the story-telling. The puppets are moved behind a cotton or linen screen by a Dalang, or apuppetmasterin a shadow puppet play. The Dalang tells the story, interprets and voices each character, producing sound effects with speech and movement and manipulates all the figures between the lamp and the screen to bring the shadows to life. Most shadow play is based on two epic stories from India the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The Balinese and Javanese have combined the Hindu stories with Buddhist and Muslim ideas mixed with their own folklore. MYANMAR PlacesThe  Shwedagon Pagoda;officially titled  Shwedagon Zedi Daw, also known in  English  as the  Great Dagon Pagoda  and theGolden Pagoda, is a 99 metres (325  ft) gilded  pagoda  and  stupa  located in  Yangon,  Burma. Bagan, in the past which was known as Pagan, is the place where the heart of the country ancient architecture lies. It is located in the upper part of Myanmar and is the capital of Myanmar’s first dynasty. Pagodas can be found mostly covered in reddish color and religious monuments which were built more than 1,500 years ago and it can be said that Bagan, is the most memorable place for visitors coming to Myanmar.Golden Rock, in Myanmar language known as KyiteHteeYoe Pagoda is one of the breath-taking and also a sacred place for Myanmar people. It is located in Mon State and perched on the highest mountain of Paunglaung mountain range. Ngapali is located in Rakhine State and stretches along the Bay of Bengal and it lies in Rakhine State of Myanmar. Ngapali is said to be one of the best beaches in Myanmar where most natural are untouched where visitors can enjoy the true nature of the beach itself. It is famous for its natural and unspotted beauty up to this day. MALAYSIA PlacesThe Petronas Twin Towers in  Kuala Lumpur  were the world’s tallest buildings before being surpassed in 2004 by Taipei 101. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. The Petronas Twin Towers feature a sky bridge between the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors. The Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque is Pahangs state mosque. It is located in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.The  Mulu Caves  are located in the Gunung Mulu National Park in Malaysian Borneo. The park encompasses incredible caves and karst formations in a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting. The Sarawak chamber found in one of the underground caves is the largest cave chamber in the world. It has been said that the chamber is so big that it could accommodate about 40 Boeing 747s, without overlappi ng their wings. The  Perhentian Islands  are the must-go place in Malaysia for budget travelers. They have some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and great diving with plenty of  cheap accommodation.The two main islands are Perhentian Besar (â€Å"Big Perhentian†) and Perhentian Kecil (â€Å"Small Perhentian†). Both the islands have palm-fringed white sandy beaches and turquoise blue sea. Crafts Wau Kite in Malay is a uniquely designed Malaysian kite called Wau. This kite-making tradition comes naturally to Malaysian people, especially in the Eastern States of the Malayan Peninsula. Farmers used kites as scarecrows in the fields and as a means to lull their children to sleep, so they could work with little interruption. THAILAND Places Ayuthaya  was founded in 1350 AD by King U Thong as the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai.Throughout the centuries, the ideal location between China, India and the Malay Archipelago made Ayutthaya the trading capi tal of Asia. The city was re-founded a few kilometers to the east of the ruins, which now form the Ayutthaya historical park. Most of the remains are temples and palaces, as those were the only buildings made of stone at that time. Ko Phi Phi is a small archipelago in the Krabi Province in Southern Thailand. Ko Phi Phi Don  is the largest island of the group, and is the only island with permanent inhabitants while the smaller Ko Phi Phi Leh is very popular as a beach or dive excursion.Chiang Mai  is one of the top Thailand attractions. The famous Night Bazaar sprawls along several city blocks along footpaths, inside buildings and temple grounds. It has handicrafts, arts, clothing and and imported products of all descriptions, and a number of large, well-appointed modern shopping centers. At first, the market was owned by Chinese merchants, but since it grew in size as more commercial buildings were built, it was no longer owned by a single group of people. Crafts WoodcarvingBeau tiful hardwoods have long been used by the craftsmen not only to bedeck wats and homes, but also to fashion charming carriages, palanquins, barges and elephant howdahs. Wood is used to make an array of domestic items. Royal throne and barges are graceful examples of the art of woodcarving. The doors, windows and gables of the temples feature delicate and unique designs. Lacquerware Chiang Mai is known for fine lacquerware. Conventionally, black resin of Lak tree is used to make it. The resin is applied to the base of bamboo or teak, adorned with designs made from natural pigments.However, commercial producers use different techniques. Ceramics Ceramics articles were first developed in Thailand in the Sukhothai era. Glazed green-blue celadon was most famous among these. Then crude but colorful ceramics made in Ayutthaya became popular. The Chinese made ceramics with Thai patterns and exported them to Siam, the then Thailand. The designs incorporated images from Hindu and Buddhist myt hology, as well as flower motifs. Thai Silk The skill of silkworm raising probably came to Thailand from China.Silk of north east Thailand, with its peculiar texture and iridescent colors, has been a traditional folk craft, specially of village women. They raise silkworms, spin and dye the threads, and then weave the fabric of handlooms. The dazzling cloth manufactured by them has always been the prized possession of the nobility. Silverware Silverware has been a popular craft in Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai region. The products incorporate many styles, including flame and floral patterns as well as Buddhist images and mythical figures. The silversmiths were held with reverence in the society.Nielloware This special metalwork is used to adorn betel boxes, trays, vases and other small boxes. It is an ancient art of applying an amalgam of metals to carved portions of gold or selver objects against black backgrounds or vice versa. The Thais learned this art from India. LAOS Pla ces Located in  Vientiane, Pha That Luang (â€Å"Great Stupa in Lao†) is one of the most significant monument in Laos. The stupa has several terraces with each level representing a different stage of Buddhist enlightenment. The lowest level represents the material world; the highest level represents the world of nothingness.The  Mekong  is Southeast Asia’s greatest river with an estimated length of 4,350 km (2,703 miles). Laos actually has the greatest share of the Mekong River. With few good roads and mountainous terrain, the river is Laos’ principal transportation. The Upper Mekong in Laos is considered one of the most stunning journeys of the entire river. Vang Vieng  is a riverside town, located in central Laos about a 4 hour bus ride north of the capital. The main street is full of guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes, tour agencies, and tourists.The area’s main attraction is the dramatic karst hill landscape surrounding Vang Vieng . Crafts In this country, they make paper by hand in the wider region for over 700 years using the bark of the local sa or mulberry tree. The bark is crushed and soaked in water until it dissolves into a paste. The liquid is then scooped out, poured through a bamboo sieve and finally placed in a thin layer on a bamboo bed and dried in the sun. Traditionally sa paper was used for calligraphy and for making festive temple decorations, umbrellas, fans, and kites.In former times it was also used as a filter in the manufacture of lacquerware. VIETNAM Places With seven stories, the Thien Mu Pagoda in  Hue  is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. The pagoda overlooks the Perfume River and is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. The temple was built in 1601 during the rule of the Nguy? n Lords. The initial temple was very simply constructed, but over time it was redeveloped and expanded with more intricate features. Ha Long Bay is situated in north Vietnam round a 120 kilometer long coast line and is literally translated as â€Å"Bay of Descending Dragons†.The top tourist attraction in Vietnam,  Ha Long Bay  features thousands of islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, others islands include lakes and some support floating villages of fishermen. Nha Trang  is Vietnam’s most popular seaside resort town located along the second most beautiful bays in the country. It features beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and clear ocean water with mild temperatures.The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is more lively and urban in character than other beach destinations like Mui Ne and Phu Quoc. It’s also the scuba diving center of Vietnam. Crafts Vietnamese silk painting is one of the most popular forms of art in Vietnam, favored for the mystical atmosphere that can be achieved with the medium. Dur ing the 19th and 20th centuries, French influence was absorbed into Vietnamese art and the liberal and modern use of color especially began to differentiate Vietnamese silk paintings from their Chinese or Japanese counterparts.Vietnamese silk paintings typically showcase the countryside, landscapes, pagodas, historical events, or scenes of daily life. SINGAPORE Places Merlion Park  is located at One Fullerton,  Singapore  near the Central Business District (CBD) area of Singapore. This park is a popular tourist attraction. There are two structures of the  Merlion  located at the park with one standing at 8. 6 metres which is the original Merlion statue and a 2-metre tall Merlion cub located just behind the original statue.The park is also a major tourist attraction and a landmark of Singapore. Beaches of Sentosa This sun-kissed route begins at Sentosa Island’s westernmost beach, Siloso, and ends at its easternmost, Tanjong Beach. For proponents of barefoot running, this route is one of the few in Singapore that allows for a shoeless jog. For those who think that is an open invitation for injuries, a jogging track runs parallel to the beaches. Frequently littered with beautiful bodies, this route is also the best for people-watching or showing off.