MIDTERMS NOTES FOR TOUR 2A AFRICAN CONTINENT Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after

Asia. At about 30.2 million km (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With about 922 million people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.2% of the World's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There are 53 countries, including Madagascar and various island groups, associated with the continent. Southern African Region Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics, consisting of numerous territories. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, five countries constitute Southern Africa: Botswana South Africa Lesotho Swaziland Namibia

Republic of South Africa Capital: Pretoria (executive) Bloemfontein (judicial) Cape Town (legislative) Largest City: Johannesburg Official Languages: Afrikaans, English People: South Africans Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic Currency: Rand (ZAR) South Africa has a generally temperate climate, due in part to it being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, by its location in the climatically milder southern hemisphere and due to the average elevation rising steadily towards the north (towards the equator) and further inland. Due to this varied topography and oceanic influence, a great variety of climatic zones exist. The climatic zones vary, from the extreme desert of the southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the Mozambique border and the Indian ocean. From the east, the land quickly rises over a mountainous escarpment towards the interior plateau known as the Highveld. Even though South Africa is classified as semi-arid, there is considerable variation in climate as well as topography. It may be argued that there is no "single" culture in South Africa because of its ethnic diversity. Today, the diversity in foods from many cultures is enjoyed by all and especially marketed to tourists who wish to sample the large variety of South African cuisine. In addition to food, music and dance feature prominently. South African cuisine is heavily meat-based and has spawned the distinctively South African social gathering known as a braai, or barbecue. South Africa has also developed into a major wine producer, with some of the best vineyards lying in valleys around Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Paarl and Barrydale. Major Tourist Attractions 1. CAPE TOWN a. Table Mountain - Table Mountain (1087m/3566ft), the flat-topped hill to the south of the city center, is the great landmark and emblem of Cape Town. Its summit plateau is frequently covered by a layer of clouds, the "tablecloth". Since weather conditions here are very changeable it is advisable to arrange your trip to the summit, either on foot or by road, immediately you see it clear of clouds. The ascent is rewarded by an immense prospect of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula. At weekends Table Mountain is floodlit after dark. The best view, and the best place from which to take a photograph, is from the road up Signal Hill. b. Victoria & Albert Waterfront - The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is an entertainment quarter with something of the atmosphere of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco and London's Soho. It extends round two inner harbor basins, constructed in 1860, and named after Queen Victoria and her second son Alfred (later Duke of Edinburgh). Only a few years ago this was a rather squalid and rundown fishing harbor: it is now one of Cape Town's leading attractions, lively and bustling all day and much of the night. It now draws more than 13 million visitors per year, attracted by its numerous shops, jazz spots, restaurants and hotels, its two theaters (including the Dock Road Theatre, housed in a former power station), a drama school, cinemas and museums. 2. DURBAN a. Valley of a Thousand Hills - The Valley of a Thousand Hills, a beautiful region of gently rounded hills created since the Mesozoic era by the gradual recession of the Great Escarpment, extends along the Umgeni River between its outflow into the Indian Ocean, to the north of Durban, and the Nagle Dam to the east of Pietermaritzburg, which supplies Durban with water. b. Croc World - South of Umkomaas (4km/2.5mi north of Scottburgh) is Croc World, a crocodile-breeding farm with over 2,000 crocodiles and snakes A particular attraction is the glass tunnel running through the snake house. There is a restaurant in which visitors can sample crocodile meat.

3. GRAHAMSTOWN a. Observatory Museum - Opposite the City Hall Bathurst Street runs south from the High Street. At the near end, on the left, is the Observatory Museum, in a house occupied from 1850 until his death in 1886 by Henry Carter Galpin, a watchmaker and goldsmith who was also interested in astronomy. Here in 1882 he constructed a camera obscura, still the only one in South Africa. In clear weather, with the help of a mirror on the roof, this shows an image of the whole town and its immediate surroundings. The museum, with a Victorian-style interior, displays old furniture and furnishings and a collection of old telescopes. 4. JOHANNESBURG a.k.a. City of Gold a. Gold Reef City - No buildings of the early gold rush period have survived in Johannesburg, but visitors can get some idea of what the town was like in those days in Gold Reef City, with its reproductions of houses, public buildings and shops, the Royal Theatre, a hotel, a Chinese laundry, a tailor's workshop, a chemist's shop, a newspaper office and Johannesburg's first stock exchange. Visitors are also shown round a disused shaft of the Crown Mines, one of the richest gold-mines in the world, which gives a vivid impression of the work of the gold-miners. b. Heia Safari Park - Between Krugersdorp and Randburg is Honeydew, set in beautiful hilly country. Near the little town is the Heia Safari Ranch, where visitors can spend the night in luxuriously equipped rondavels or, more modestly, in reproductions of Zulu huts. Every Sunday there is a typical braai, when great quantities of meat are grilled over an open fire and there are performances of Zulu tribal dances (the Mzumbe Dance Show). The Zulus live in a reproduction of a Zulu village, which was inaugurated by King Zwelethini in 1988. Visitors not spending the night can go on a stalking tour, on which, with luck, they may see buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, rhinos and antelopes. 5. KNYSNA 6. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK - The Kruger National Park is the largest and oldest National Park in South Africa, internationally renowned as one of the world's most important game reserves. It lies in the northeast of the country, extending for 350km/220mi from north to south, with a maximum breadth of 90km/ 55mi and a total area of 19,485sq.km/7523sq.mi. It is bounded on the north by the Limpopo, on the south by the Crocodile River, on the east by the frontier with Mozambique and on the west by a barrier fence. The Kruger National Park has been completely enclosed only since 1975: an,800km/1,100mi long fence now serves to protect humans from animals and animals from humans. 7. PIETERMARITZBURG 8. PORT ELIZABETH a.k.a. Detroit of South Africa 9. PRETORIA 10. STELLENBOSCH 11. SWELLENDAM 12. TSITSIKAMA NATIONAL PARK - Until 1868 there were no roads to the Tsitsikamma area. Now, for travelers coming from Plettenberg Bay, there is a choice between N 2 (a toll road) and R 102. N 2 shortens the distance between Plettenberg Bay and Humansdorp by 7km/4.5mi, crossing the Bloukrans River on the 460m/500yd long Bloukrans Bridge, 270m/885ft above the river. Just after a little place called the Crags R 102 branches off N 2 into beautiful Nature's Valley it then goes over the Bloukrans Pass and rejoins N 2 6km/4mi before Storms River. R 102 is one of the most beautiful stretches of the Garden Route, winding its way through unspoiled natural forest and deep and narrow gorges, with spectacular views of the coast. Eastern African Region East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi members of the East African Community (EAC). Burundi and Rwanda are sometimes considered part of Central Africa Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia collectively known as the Horn of Africa Mozambique and Madagascar often considered part of Southern Africa. Madagascar has close cultural ties to Southeast Asia and the islands of the Indian Ocean. Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe often included in Southern Africa, and formerly of the Central African Federation Comoros, Mauritius, and Seychelles small island nations in the Indian Ocean Runion and Mayotte French overseas territories also in the Indian Ocean Republic of Kenya Capital & Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency: Nairobi Swahili, English Kenyan Semi-Presidential Republic Kenyan (KES)

The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast border. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a very significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa. The area now known as Kenya was known as the British East Africa Protectorate and so there was no need to mention mount when referring to the mountain. Kenya is a diverse country, with many different cultures represented. Notable cultures include the Swahili on the coast, pastoralist communities in the north, and several different communities in the central and western regions.

Today, the Maasai culture is well known, due to its heavy exposure from tourism, however, Maasai make up a relatively minor percentage of the Kenyan population. The Maasai are known for their elaborate upper body adornment and jewelry. Kenya has an extensive music, television and theatre scene. There is no singular dish that represents all of Kenya. Different communities have their own native foods. Staples are maize and other cereals depending on the region including millet and sorghum eaten with various meats and vegetables. The foods that are universally eaten in Kenya are ugali, sukuma wiki, and nyama choma. Sukuma wiki, a Kiswahili phrase which literally means "to push the week," is a simple dish made with greens similar to kale or collards that can also be made with cassava leaves, sweet potato leaves, or pumpkin leaves. Its Kiswahili name comes from the fact that it is typically eaten to "get through the week" or "stretch the week." Nyama choma is roasted meat - usually goat or sheep- roasted over an open fire. It is best eaten with ugali and kachumbari. Among the Luhyas residing in the western region of Kenya, ingokho (chicken) and ugali is a favourite meal. Other than these, they also eat tsisaka, miroo, managu etc. Also among the Kikuyu of Central Kenya, a lot of tubers, ngwaci (sweet potatoes), ndma (taro root) known in Kenya as arrowroot, ikwa (yams), mianga (cassava) are eaten as well as legumes like beans and a Kikuyu bean known as njahi. Tourist Attractions in Kenya 1. AMBOSELI NATIONAL RESERVE - Amboseli National Park, now Amboseli National Reserve, is home to the largest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, which makes it a popular tourist destination after the Masai Mara. Amboseli also features five different wildlife habitats including the lake bed of Lake Amboseli, sulfur springs surrounded by swamps and marshes, open plains, woodlands, and areas of lava rock thorn bush. The area around Amboseli is home to many Maasai communities as well as six communally owned group ranches surrounding the reserve. 2. CHYULU HILLS NATIONAL PARK - Chyulu Hills National Park is a collection of ancient volcanic cinder cones and craters, with the most recent volcanic peak formed only 500 years ago. Chyulu Hills National Park offers breathtaking views of the landscape including Mount Kilimanjaro. Within Chyulu Hills National Park is the longest lava tube in the world, this was formed by hot lava flowing beneath a cooled outer crust. Caves on the side of the volcano can be explored. Animals commonly seen in Chyulu Hills are buffalo, bushbuck, eland, elephant, leopard, warthog, wildebeest and zebra. The western half of the park is part of the West Chyulu Game Conservation area, owned by several Maasai groups. 3. HELLS GATE NATIONAL PARK - Hell's Gate National Park is famous for its natural hot geysers, eagle and vulture breeding grounds. Driving, walking, camping, cycling and rock climbing can be enjoyed within the park. Bird and animal life abound in Hell's Gate National Park and birds of prey are of special interest especially the lammergeyer. Zebras, baboons and gazelles are common sights and occasionally cheetahs, leopards and ostrich are encountered. Hell's Gate is one of the few game reserves where visitors can explore by foot and walk amongst the elands, zebras and hartebeest. 4. LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK - Established in 1961, Lake Nakuru National Park is an area of grassland, bush and rocky cliffs. Hundreds of birds and mammals have made Lake Nakuru National Park their home. Waterbucks, warthogs and buffaloes are common at the water's edge. Between three and four hundred buffalo inhabit the park and the best time to see them is at dusk or dawn in the forested area. 5. LAMU - Lamu is Kenya's oldest living town and it has retained all the charm and character over the centuries. Lamu Old Town is a well-preserved Swahili settlement built of coral stone and mangrove timber. Features include inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. 6. MALINDI - Malindi is literally two towns in one - an historic Swahili town dating back to the 12th C and a modern tourist center with resorts, shopping and white sandy beaches. 7. MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE - The Masai Mara is probably one of the best-known reserves in all of Africa. The popularity stems from the annual wildebeest migration, the density of wildlife and the variety of bird life as well as the big sky and open savanna. The landscape is spotted with acacia trees, which probably brought about the name "mara" meaning mottled in the language of the Maasai. The altitude of the Masai Mara makes for a temperate climate, the rain generally falls in late afternoon or evening. 8. MOMBASA 9. NAIROBI 10. SAMBURU, BUFFALO SPRINGS & SHABA NATIONAL RESERVES - Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves are located north of Isiolo, along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River. The river supports the variety of wildlife in the three reserves including Grevy's zebra, Sonmali ostriches and giraffes. Large crocodiles and hippos inhabit the river. Samburu National Reserve has public campsites located near the wooden bridge that connects the western portion of Buffalo Springs National Reserve with Samburu. The hot, desolate landscape of Samburu is a preferred home for some mammals that adapt well to the harsh environment. 11. TSAVO EAST/WEST NATIONAL PARK - The main track through Tsavo East National Park follows the Galana River. This is where much of the wildlife is spotted including a plethora of crocodiles and hippos. Tsavo East is a popular park for safaris as it offers true wilderness with a wide variety of vegetation and some of the largest herds of elephants in Kenya. Tsavo East is recommended for photographers offering the landscape of Lugards Falls and the Mudanda Rock, which towers over a natural dam. The watering holes in Tsavo West are found at Mzima Springs, a freshwater pool that provides much of Mombasa's fresh water. As the most popular attraction in Tsavo West National Park, Mzima Springs has two large pools connected by rapids and the early morning is best for catching sight of animals coming for a drink especially if some of the night creatures are still around. Crocodiles and hippos favor Mzima Springs and an underwater viewing chamber allows visitors to see thousands of primitive fish.

Republic of Madagascar Capital & Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency: Antananarivo Malagasy, French, English Malagasy Republic Malagasy Ariary (MGA)

Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic, French: Rpublique malgache), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourthlargest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. They include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species. Cuisine of Madagascar traditionally consists of a base of rice (vary) with some form of accompaniment (laoka), although in the southwest rice may be supplemented or replaced by maize that has been dried, ground and reconstituted. Cuisines of France, China, India, and to a lesser extent East African and Arabian cultures have all made their influence felt in Madagascar. Despite a high potential for tourism, tourism in Madagascar is underdeveloped. Madagascar's tourist attractions include its beaches and biodiversity. The island's endemic wildlife and forests are unique tourist attractions. Madagascar has world class tourism assets, and a high potential for tourism because of its biodiversity, unique wildlife, and long coastline. It is the world's fourth largest island, with almost 5,000 km (3,107 mi) of coastline and a large continental shelf equal to 20% of the island's land area.[3] Tourism is concentrated in three areas; around the Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, and the islands of Nosy Be in the northwest and le Sainte-Marie to the east, where beach tourism is the main tourist attraction. Madagascar has been isolated from the African landmass for approximately 165 million years and its flora and fauna evolved in isolation from that time onwards. The island is one of the world's most biologically diverse areas, with many endemic species. More than half of the island's breeding birds are endemic. Other endemic species include the Redbellied Lemur, the Indri, and the Aye-aye. It is internationally renowned as a wildlife tourism and ecotourism destination, focusing on lemurs, birds, and orchids. The Indri is the largest lemur species. One of the best places to observe the Indri is the Analamazoatra Reserve (also known as Prinet), four hours away from the capital. The presence of the Indri has helped to make the Analamazoatra Reserve one of Madagascar's most popular tourist attractions. One family group of Indri in the park is habituated to humans and are thus easy for tourists for observe. Madagascar is a popular tourist destination with holiday makers looking for a peaceful relaxing holiday. Many holiday makers stay in self catering holiday accommodation in Madagascar. There are some great holiday villas with swimming pools and self catering holiday apartments available to rent as holiday home accommodation in Madagascar. Madagascar is a beautiful and scenic island with clean beaches, palm trees, grassy and green plateaus, volcanoes, forests and natural reserve. Madagascar is abundant with rich wildlife and a large number of unique species that are found only on this amazing island. The island is a mix of vibrant colours of flowers and flora. It is rich in biodiversity and is the fourth-largest island in the world. It includes many smaller islands, a chain of high mountains, lowlands, thick rainforests, dry deciduous forests, savannah and a region of semi desert. The Island of Nosy Be is a major tourist attraction of Madagascar. It is hailed as the fragrant island of Malagasy. The island is exposed to winds but enjoys a pleasant climate during all seasons apart from the summer months. The island has eleven volcanic lakes and gigantic water reserves. The island also has dense vegetation and forests. It is home to innumerable crocodiles too. The popular tourist attractions in Nosy Be are the forest, Jungle Village and the town of Hell Ville. The delectable cuisine of the area also makes it a very popular tourist destination. The major port of Madagascar is Toamasina. It was established in the eighteenth century and was named Tamatave before its present name. The presence of coral reef, in the region makes it a tourists delight. The presence of sharks compels people to stay away from the waters but many tourists visit just to catch a glimpse of a shark. Toamasina has an assortment of lovely golden beaches and the town is situated on a sandy peninsula. The Bazary Be market is a popular attraction of the region. Ivoloina Gardens is an exotic animal and plant reserve in Toamasina. About 14,000 visitors visit this reserve every year. Here you can rent a holiday villa or choose to stay in a self catering holiday apartment in this part of Madagascar. Toliara is a sea-side town in Madagascar and is famous for the water activities that are offered in the place. Many tourists come to this part of Madagascar especially for the water sports. The shell market and the local museum are famous attractions of the region. The Tulear Reef or coral ref also attracts a lot of tourists to this area. The beautiful village of Ifaty is situated in the region with many holiday makers visiting it during their stay. Scuba diving in the region attracts many tourists from across the world. Many tourists rent a holiday villa with swimming pool near to the beach. Ranomafana is yet another famous tourist attraction of Madagascar. Ranomafana National Park conserves the

biodiversity of the Ranomafana ecosystem. The pleasant climate, gushing cascades, picturesque park, meandering river and diverse species of flora and fauna, on 43,500 hectares of land, makes it a very popular tourist destination in Madagascar. Bird watchers come here in great numbers since the park offers a chance to view many bird species. The city of Mahajanga is another famous tourist attraction in Madagascar. It is located on the north western coast of the country and is blessed with splendid beaches. Oriental influence is apparent in the region and it houses many colonial buildings. The Port of Mahajanga is a favourite place with the locals and tourists alike. Some tourists rent self catering holiday apartments and explore this vibrant city to the full. For scuba diving, shopping, bird watching, and just unwinding amidst natural setting, Madagascar is a great place to go holiday. The natural beauty of the region and the biodiversity it offers makes it a great tourist destination. The islands unique and exclusive flora and fauna is yet another reason for experiencing the rich island and witnessing rare natural splendour. In recent years the number of holiday home accommodation has increased in numbers in Madagascar. It is now possible rent a holiday villa or self catering holiday apartment in Madagascar direct from their holiday home owners. Northern Africa North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Northern Africa includes the following seven countries or territories: o Algeria o Libya o Sudan o Western Sahara o Egypt o Morocco o Tunisia Arab Republic of Egypt Capital & Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency: Cairo Arabic Egyptian Semi-Presidential Republic Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 82 million live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta. Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East. The Culture of Egypt has five thousand years of recorded history. Ancient Egypt was among the earliest civilizations. For millennia, Egypt maintained a strikingly complex and stable culture that influenced later cultures of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. After the Pharaonic era, Egypt itself came under the influence of Hellenism, for a time Christianity, and later, Arab and Islamic culture. Today, many aspects of Egypt's ancient culture exist in interaction with newer elements, including the influence of modern Western culture. Egyptian cuisine consists of the local culinary traditions of Egypt. Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of legumes and vegetables, as Egypt's rich Nile Valley and Delta produce large quantities of high-quality crops. Meat is less prominent in Egyptian cuisine than in the cuisines of North Africa or the Bilad al-Sham. Egyptian cuisine is characterized by dishes such as Ful Medames, Kushari and Mulukhiyya, while sharing similarities with food found throughout the eastern Mediterranean like kebab and falafel. Bread forms the backbone of Egyptian cuisine. Bread is consumed at almost all Egyptian meals; a working-class or rural Egyptian meal might consist of little more than bread and beans. The local bread is a form of hearty, thick, glutenous pita bread called Eish Masri or Eish Baladi rather than the Standard Arabic khubz. The word "Eish" comes from the verb ", yui" meaning "to live" indicating the centrality of bread to Egyptian life. In modern Egypt, the government subsidizes bread in order to ensure that poor Egyptians have bread to put on the table; as of 2008, however, a major food crisis has caused ever-longer bread lines at government-subsidized bakeries where there would normally be none; the occasional fight has broken out over bread, leading to fear of bread riots. Ancient Egyptians are known to have used a lot of garlic and onion in their everyday dishes. Fresh mashed garlic with other herbs is used in spicy tomato salad and is also stuffed in boiled or baked aubergines (eggplant). Garlic fried with coriander is added to Mulukhiyya (Arabic: ), a popular green soup made from finely chopped jute leaves, sometimes with chicken or (preferably) rabbit. Fried onions are added to Kushari (Arabic: ), a dish consisting of brown lentils, macaroni, rice, chickpeas and a spicy tomato sauce.

Other popular dishes include Kebab and, usually of lamb meat, chops and minced meat on skewers grilled on charcoal. Egyptians are famous for stuffing spicy rice in vegetables like green pepper, aubergines, courgettes and tomatoes to make Mahshi. Mahshi is generally rolled in grapevine leaves, Mahshi Warraq Enab, or in cabbage leaves, Mahshi Koronb. Shawerma is a popular sandwich of shredded meat or chicken, usually rolled in pita bread with Tahina sauce. It is not as popular in Egypt as in the Persian Gulf and the Levant; indeed, many Egyptians regard Shawerma as a Levantine import as opposed to an actual Egyptian dish. Dukkah is a dry mixture of chopped nuts, seeds and Middle Eastern spices and flavors. Although Ramadan is a month of fasting in Egypt, it is usually when Egyptians pay a lot of attention to food in variety and richness, since breaking the fast is a family affair, often with entire extended families meeting at the table just after sunset. There are several special desserts almost exclusive to Ramadan such as Kanafeh and Atayef. In this month, many Egyptians will make a special table for the poor or passers-by, usually in a tent in the street, called Ma'edat Al Rahman which translates literally as Table of (God) the Gracious (Merciful). The Christians of Egypt, mainly Copts, observe fasting periods according to the Liturgical Calendar that practically extend to more than two-thirds of the year, although only a few very observant Copts fast as much as is recommended. The diet for fasting Copts is essentially vegan. During this fasting, Copts will usually eat vegetables and legumes fried in oil as they avoid meat, chicken, and dairy products including butter. Tourist Attractions in Egypt 1. Cairo - City of the Thousand Minarets. Cairo is the largest city in Africa and Egypt's most populous city. Its official name is Al-Qahira, although the name informally used by most Egyptians is "Masr". 2. Aswan. Aswan is where Egypt travelers go for relaxation, besides shopping and sightseeing. About 680 km (425 miles) south of Cairo, just below the Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan is the smallest of the three major tourist cities based on the Nile. 3. The Pyramids of Giza. The Giza pyramids stands on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments is located some eight km inland into the desert from the old town of Giza on the Nile 4. Saqqara. The Egyptian Step Pyramid of Djoser was built for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his Vizier Imhotep. 5. Alabaster Mosque. The Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali is the most popular Islamic mosque among Egypt travelers, because of its grandeur and its location at the Citadel in Cairo, making it the most visible of Islamic monuments in Cairo. It was built during the first half of the 19th century. 6. Philae Temple. The Philae Temple was constructed over a three-century period, by the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman Principate. The principal deity of the temple complex was Isis, but other temples and shrines were dedicated to her son Horus and the goddess Hathor. 7. Dahab. Dahab is a small village situated on the south eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula. Formerly a Bedouin fishing village, most visitors have been backpackers traveling independently and staying in hostels in the Masbet area. 8. Alexandria . Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city and the country's window on the Mediterranean Sea. The city is a faded shade of its former glorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth a visit for its many cultural attractions and memories of a glorious past. It remains an important city, as Egypt's chief seaport on the Mediterranean. 9. Luxor. Luxor is the premier travel destination in Upper (southern) Egypt and the Nile Valley. In antiquity, the city, known as Thebes by the greeks, was the dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom Egypt. 10. Valley of the Kings. Soon after the defeat of the Hyksos and the reunification of Egypt under Ahmose I, the Theban rulers realized the need for a new royal necropolis. 11. Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is an archaeological site comprising two massive rock temples in southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser about 290 km southwest of Aswan. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan). 12. Hurghada. Since the 1980s, Hurghada has become the principal bathing resort on the Red Sea, visited by American, European and Arabs. Holiday villages and first class hotels provide excellent aquatic sport facilities. 13. Sharm-el-Sheikh. Sharm el-Sheikh is located on the Egyptian Red Sea coast, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. It is known as The City of Peace referring to the large number of international peace conferences that have been held there. 14. The Red Sea Coast. The Red Sea coast is famed for its crystal clear blue waters and exotic marine life, attracting thousands of tourists yearly. The reputation is well deserved - in 1989, an international panel of scientists picked the north part of the Red Sea as one of the Seven Underwater. 15. Beni Hasan. Beni Hasan is a small village and an important archaeological locality in Middle Egypt, some 20 km south of the city of Minya. 16. Abydos. Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, about 11 km (6 miles) west of the Nile. The Egyptian name was Abdju, "the hill of the symbol or reliquary," in which the sacred head of Osiris was preserved. The Greeks named it Abydos, like the city on the Hellespont; the modern Arabic name is el-'Araba el Madfuna. 17. Egypt Sahara. Desert travel in the Sahara is challenging but can be immensely rewarding. This short guide to travelling in the southwest desert of Egypt assumes that you are considering making a tour to the area. Desert travel in Egypt is fabulous, and it is even better if you have a few basic guidelines to help you make the most of it. 18. Siwa Oasis. The Siwa Oasis is located between the Qattara Depression and the Egyptian Sand Sea in the Libyan Desert, approximately 50 km east of the Libyan border, and some 560 km from Cairo.

19. Dendera. Dendera is an archaeological locality in Egypt just outside the town of Qena (62 km north of Luxor) in the region of Middle Egypt. Kingdom of Morocco Capital: Rabat Largest City: Casablanca People: Moroccan Official Languages: Arabic Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD) Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in North Africa with a population of nearly 34 million and an area just under 447,000 km2. The capital is Rabat, and the largest city is Casablanca. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco has international borders with Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with two small Spanish autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla), and Mauritania to the south via its Western Saharan territories. Morocco is the only country in Africa that is not currently a member of the African Union. However, it is a member of the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, Francophonie, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Mediterranean Dialogue group, and Group of 77. It is also a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Morocco is an ethnically diverse country with a rich culture and civilization. Through Moroccan history, Morocco hosted many people coming from East (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews and Arabs), South (Sub-Saharan Africans) and North (Romans, Vandals, Andalusians (including Moors and Jews)). All those civilizations have had an impact on the social structure of Morocco. It conceived various forms of beliefs, from paganism, Judaism, and Christianity to Islam. Moroccan cuisine has long been considered as one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. This is a result of the centuries-long interaction of Morocco with the outside world. The cuisine of Morocco is a mix of Berber, Spanish, Corsican, Portuguese, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cuisines. The cuisine of Morocco has been influenced by the native Berber cuisine, the Arabic Andalusian cuisine brought by the Moriscos when they left Spain, the Turkish cuisine from the Turks and the Middle Eastern cuisines brought by the Arabs, as well as Jewish cuisine. Spices are used extensively in Moroccan food. While spices have been imported to Morocco for thousands of years, many ingredients, like saffron from Tiliouine, mint and olives from Meknes, and oranges and lemons from Fez, are home-grown. Chicken is the most widely eaten meat in Morocco. The most commonly eaten red meat in Morocco is beef; lamb is preferred, but is relatively expensive. Couscous is the most famous Moroccan dish along with pastilla, tajine, and harira. The most popular drink is green tea with mint. The tea is accompanied with hard sugar cones or lumps. Morocco has been one of the most politically stable countries in North Africa, which has allowed tourism to develop. The Moroccan government created a Ministry of Tourism in 1985. In the second half of the 1980s and the early 1990s, between 1 and 1.5 million Europeans visited Morocco. Most of these visitors were French or Spanish, with about 100,000 each from Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Tourists mostly visited large beach resorts along the Atlantic coast, particularly Agadir. About 20,000 people from Saudi Arabia visited, some of who bought holiday homes. Receipts from tourism fell by 16.5% in 1990, the year the Gulf War began.In 1994, Morocco closed its border with Algeria after an attack on a hotel in Marrakech. This caused the number of Algerian visitors to fall considerably; there were 70,000 visitors in 1994 and 13,000 in 1995, compared to 1.66 million in 1992 and 1.28 million in 1993. In 2008 there were 8 million tourist arrivals, compared with about 7.4 million in 2007 i.e. a 7% growth compared to 2007 30% of the tourists in 2008 were one of the 3.8 million Moroccans living abroad. Most of the visitors to Morocco continue to be European, with French people making up almost 20% of its all visitors. Most Europeans visit in April and the autumn, apart from the Spanish, who mostly visit in June and August. Tourist receipts in 2007 totalled US$7,55 billion. Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Morocco, after the phosphate industry.The Moroccan government is heavily investing in tourism development. A new tourism strategy called Vision 2010 was developed after the accession of King Mohammed VI in 1999. The government has targeted that Morocco will have 10 million visitors by 2010, with the hope that tourism will then have risen to 20% of GDP. A large government sponsored marketing campaigns to attract tourists advertised Morocco as a cheap and exotic, yet safe, place for European tourists. Morocco's relatively high amount of tourists has been aided by its location, tourist attractions, and relatively low price. Cruise ships visit the ports of Casablanca and Tangier. Morocco is close to Europe and attracts visitors to its beaches. Because of its proximity to Spain, tourists in southern Spain's coastal areas take one- to three-day trips to Morocco. Since the Algeria-Morocco border has opened and air services between the two countries have been established, many Algerians have gone to Morocco to shop and visit family and friends. Morocco is relatively inexpensive because of the devaluation of the dirham and the increase of hotel prices in Spain. Morocco has an excellent road and rail infrastructure that links the major cities and tourist destinations with ports and cities with international airports. Lowcost airlines offer cheap flights to the country. While Morocco was a French Protectorate (from 1912 to 1956) tourism was focused on urban areas such as the Mediterranean cities of Tangier and Casablanca. Tangier attracted many writers, such as Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. There was a period of beach resort development at places such as Agadir on the Atlantic coast in the 1970s and 1980s. Tourism is increasingly focused on Morocco's culture, such as its ancient cities. The modern tourist industry capitalizes on Morocco's ancient Roman and Islamic sites, and on its landscape and cultural history. 60% of Morocco's tourists visit

for its culture and heritage.[1] The country's attractions can be divided into seven regions: Tangier and the surrounding area; Agadir and its beach resorts; Marrakech; Casablanca; the Imperial cities; Ouarzazate; and Tarfaya and its beach resorts. Agadir is a major coastal resort and has a third of all Moroccan bed nights. It is a base for tours to the Atlas Mountains. Other resorts in north Morocco are also very popular. Casablanca is the major cruise port in Morocco, and has the best developed market for tourists in Morocco. Marrakech in central Morocco is a popular tourist destination, but is more popular among tourists for one- and two-day excursions that provide a taste of Morocco's history and culture. [3] The Majorelle botanical garden in Marrakech is a popular tourist attraction. It was bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Berg in 1980. Their presence in the city helped to boost the city's profile as a tourist destination. As of 2006, activity and adventure tourism in the Atlas and Rif Mountains are the fastest growth area in Moroccan tourism. These locations have excellent walking and trekking opportunities from late March to mid-November. The government is investing in trekking circuits. They are also developing desert tourism in competition with Tunisia. ASIAN CONTINENT Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population. Chiefly in the eastern and northern hemispheres, Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasiawith the western portion of the latter occupied by Europelying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas. It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. Given its size and diversity, Asiaa toponym dating back to classical antiquityis more a cultural concept incorporating a number of regions and peoples than a homogeneous physical entity. Eastern Asia East Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms. Geographically, it covers about 12,000,000 km, or about 28 percent of the Asian continent, about 15 percent bigger than the area of Europe. More than 1.5 billion people, about 40 percent of the population of Asia or a quarter of all the people in the world, live in geographic East Asia, which is about twice the population of Europe. The region is one of the world's most populated places, with the population density of East Asia, 131 per km, being about three times the world average of 45 per km. Historically, many societies in East Asia have been part of the Chinese cultural sphere, and East Asian vocabulary and scripts are often derived from Classical Chinese and Chinese script. Major religions include Buddhism (mostly Mahayana), Confucianism or Neo-Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion, and Shinto in Japan. East Asian calendars are often derived from Chinese Calendar. This combination of language, political philosophy, and religion (as well as art, architecture, holidays and festivals, etc.) overlaps with the geographical designation of East Asia for the most part, ] with a few exceptions, such as the overseas Chinese (including those in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the West). East Asia and Eastern Asia (the latter form preferred by the United Nations) are both more modern terms for the traditional name the Far East, which describes the region's geographical position in relation to Europe rather than its location within Asia. However, in contrast to the United Nations definition, East Asia commonly is used to refer to the eastern part of Asia, as the term implies. The following political entities are consistently seen as located in geographical East Asia: People's Republic of China (Including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau) Japan South Korea (Republic of Korea) North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Republic of China (Taiwan) Mongolia Siberia, Russia (considered either East Asia or North Asia) Peoples Republic of China (The Sleeping Dragon) Capital: Beijing (old name: Peking) Largest City: Shanghai Official Languages: Chinese National Language: Putonghua (Standard Manadarin) People: Chinese Form of Government: Socialist Republich, Single Party Communist State Currency: Yuan (CNY) The People's Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and the most populous in the world with over 1.3 billion people, approximately a fifth of the world's population. It is a socialist republic ruled by the Communist Party of China under a single-party system and has jurisdiction over twenty-two

provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two capitalist Special Administrative Regions. The capital of the PRC is Beijing. At 9.6-million square kilometres, the People's Republic of China is the world's third or fourth largest country by area. It has a diverse landscape; in the north, near the PRC's borders with Mongolia and Russia's Siberia, the Gobi Desert and forest steppes dominate the dry expanse while lush subtropical forests grow along its southern borders with Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. The terrain in the west is rugged and high altitude, with the Himalayas and the Tian Shan mountain ranges forming the PRC's natural borders with India and Central Asia. In contrast, the PRC's eastern seaboard is low-lying and has a 14,500-kilometre long coastline bounded on the southeast by the South China Sea and on the east by the East China Sea beyond which lies Korea and Japan. Ancient Chinese civilizationone of the world's earliestflourished in the fertile basin of the Yellow River which flows through the North China Plain. For 4,000 years, China was ruled by hereditary monarchs or dynasties beginning with the Xia until the Qing (though not unified until the Qin), which finally ended in 1911 with the founding of the Republic of China (ROC). The first half of the 20th century saw China plunged into a period of disunity and civil wars that divided the country into two main political camps the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China. Major hostilities ended in 1949, when the People's Republic of China was established in mainland China by the victorious Communists. The Nationalist led Republic of China government retreated to Taipei, its jurisdiction limited to Taiwan and several outlying islands. As of today, the PRC is still involved in disputes with the ROC over issues of sovereignty and the political status of Taiwan. The PRC is considered to be a major power and an emerging superpower, holding a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and memberships in the WTO, APEC, East Asia Summit, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China is a nuclear state and has the world's largest standing army and fourth largest defense budget. China is one of the world's fastest growing economies in terms of nominal GDP growth, and is the fastest-growing major economy. It has the world's third largest GDP in nominal terms or second largest in purchasing power, and consumes as much as a third of the world's steel and over half of its concrete. The PRC is also the world's second largest exporter and the third largest importer. Since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in 1978, the poverty rate in the PRC has decreased from 53% in 1981 to 8% in 2001. However, the PRC is now faced with a number of other economic problems including a rapidly aging population, a widening rural-urban income gap, and environmental degradation. For centuries, opportunity for economic and social advancement in China could be provided by high performance on Imperial examinations. The literary emphasis of the exams affected the general perception of cultural refinement in China, such as the belief that calligraphy and literati painting were higher forms of art than dancing or drama. China's traditional values were derived from various versions of Confucianism and conservatism. A number of more authoritarian and rational strains of thought have also been influential, such as Legalism. There was often conflict between the philosophies, such as the individualistic Song Dynasty neo-Confucians, who believed Legalism departed from the original spirit of Confucianism. Examinations and a culture of merit remain greatly valued in China today. In recent years, a number of New Confucians have advocated that democratic ideals and human rights are quite compatible with traditional Confucian "Asian values." The first leaders of the People's Republic of China were born in the old society but were influenced by the May Fourth Movement and reformist ideals. They sought to change some traditional aspects of Chinese culture, such as rural land tenure, sexism, and a Confucian education, while preserving others, such as the family structure and obedience to the state. Many observers believe that the period following 1949 is a continuation of traditional Chinese dynastic history, while others say that the CPC's rule has damaged the foundations of Chinese culture, especially through political movements such as the Cultural Revolution, where many aspects of traditional culture were labeled 'regressive and harmful' or 'vestiges of feudalism' by the regime and thus, were destroyed. They further argue that many important aspects of traditional Chinese morals and culture, such as Confucianism, Chinese art, literature, and performing arts like Beijing opera, were altered to conform to government policies and propaganda at the time. However, simplified Chinese characters are not used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Today, the Chinese government has accepted a great deal of traditional Chinese culture as an integral part of Chinese society, lauding it as an important achievement of the Chinese civilization and emphasizing it as vital to a Chinese national identity. Since the Cultural Revolution ended, various forms of traditional Chinese art, literature, music, film, fashion and architecture have seen a vigorous revival, and folk and variety art in particular have gained a new found respectability, and sparked interest nationally and even worldwide. Chinese cuisine originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in many other parts of the world from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa. In recent years, connoisseurs of Chinese cuisine have also sprouted in Eastern Europe and South Asia. American Chinese cuisine and Canadian Chinese food are popular examples of local varieties. Regional cultural differences vary greatly within China, giving rise to the different styles of food. There are eight main regional cuisines, or Eight Great Traditions: Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang. There is also Huaiyang Cuisine, a major style and even viewed as the representation of the cuisine. Occasionally, Beijing cuisine and Shanghai cuisine are also cited along with eight regional styles as the Ten Great Traditions. There are also featured Buddhist and Muslim sub-cuisines within the greater Chinese cuisine, with an emphasis on vegetarian and halal-based diets respectively. In most dishes in Chinese cuisine, food is prepared in bite-sized pieces, ready for direct picking up and eating. Traditionally, Chinese culture use chopsticks at the table. However, many non-Chinese are uncomfortable with allowing a person's individual utensils (which might have traces of saliva) to touch the communal food dishes. In areas with strong Western influences, such as Hong Kong, diners are provided individually with a heavy metal spoon for this purpose.

Tourism in China has greatly expanded over the last few decades. The emergence of a newly rich middle class and an easing of restrictions on movement by the Chinese authorities are both fueling this travel boom. China has become one of the world's most-watched and hottest outbound tourist markets. The world is on the cusp of a sustained Chinese outbound tourism boom. China is the world's fourth largest country for inbound tourism. The number of overseas tourists was 55 million in 2007. Foreign exchange income was 41.9 billion U.S. dollars, the world's fifth largest in 2007. The number of domestic tourists totaled 1.61 billion, with a total income of 777.1 billion yuan. According to the WTO, in 2020, China will become the largest tourist country and the fourth largest for overseas travel. In terms of total outbound travel spending, China is currently ranked fifth and is expected to be the fastest growing in the world from 2006 to 2015, jumping into the number two slot for total travel spending by 2015. Top Tourist Cities 1. Beijing 2. Xian 3. Guilin 4. Kunming 5. Lijiang 6. Shangri-la 7. Shanghai 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Guangzhou Hong Kong Hangzhou Suzhou Chongging Chengdu Nanjing 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Changchun Changsha Xiamen Dalian Pingyao Macau

World Heritage Sites Cultural Sites: Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (1994) Ancient City of Ping Yao (1997) Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui Xidi and Hongcun (2000) Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (2004) Classical Gardens of Suzhou (1997) Dazu Rock Carvings (1999) Historic Centre of Macao (2005) Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet (1994, 2000, 2001) Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing (the Forbidden City) (1987) and Shenyang (Mukden Palace) (2004) Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (2000, 2003, 2004) Longmen Grottoes (2000) Lushan National Park (1996) Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (1987) Mogao Caves (1987) Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (2000) Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (1994) Old Town of Lijiang (1997) Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (1987) Summer Palace: an Imperial Garden in Beijing (1998) Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu, Shandong province (1994) Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (1998) The Great Wall (1987) Yin Xu, Anyang, Henan province (2006) Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi province (2001) Natural Sites: Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Sichuan province (1992) Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (1992) Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries (2006) Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (2003) Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Hunan province (1992) Famous Mountains : Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (1996) Mount Huangshan (1990) Mount Taishan (1987) Mount Wuyi (1999) Classical Chinese Gardens Travel Summer Palace in Beijing Mountain Resort of Chengde in Hebei Grand View Garden in Beijing Garden of the Master of the Nets in Jiangsu Li Garden in Jiangsu

Classical Gardens of Suzhou o Humble Administrator's Garden o Lingering Garden o Master-of-Nets Garden o Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty o Lion Forest Garden The Dragon Boat Festival The Moon Festival Double Ninth Festival

o o o o

Couple Garden Retreat Canglang Pavilion Garden of Cultivation Retreat and Reflection Garden

Festivals in China The Spring Festival The Lantern Festival The Pure Brightness Festival

2009 Chinese Holiday Calendar Chinese Dining Customs and Etiquettes

Japan (Land of the Rising Sun) Capital & Largest City: Tokyo Official Languages: Japanese People: Japanese Form of Government: Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY) Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters which make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin country", which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun". Japan is comprised of over 3,000 islands making it an archipelago. The largest islands are Honsh, Hokkaid, Kysh and Shikoku, together accounting for 97% of Japan's land area. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japans highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the world's tenth largest population, with about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents. Archaeological research indicates that people were living on the islands of Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan begins with brief appearances in Chinese history texts from the first century A.D. Influence from the outside world followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Japan's history. Since adopting its constitution in 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament, the Diet. A major economic power, Japan has the world's second largest economy by nominal GDP and the third largest in purchasing power parity. It is a member of the United Nations, G8, OECD and APEC, with the world's fifth largest defense budget. It is also the world's fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer. It is a developed country with high living standards (8th highest HDI), the longest life expectancy in the world (according to UN estimates) and is a world leader in technology, machinery, and robotics Japanese culture has evolved greatly over the years, from the country's original Jmon culture to its contemporary culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include crafts (ikebana, origami, ukiyo-e, dolls, lacquerware, pottery), performances (bunraku, dance, kabuki, noh, rakugo), traditions (games, tea ceremony, Bud, architecture, gardens, swords) and cuisine. The fusion of traditional woodblock printing and Western art led to the creation of manga, a typically Japanese comic book format that is now popular within and outside Japan.[108] Manga-influenced animation for television and film is called anime. Japanese-made video game consoles have prospered since the 1980s. Japanese music is eclectic, having borrowed instruments, scales and styles from neighboring cultures. Many instruments, such as the koto, were introduced in the ninth and tenth centuries. The accompanied recitative of the Noh drama dates from the fourteenth century and the popular folk music, with the guitar-like shamisen, from the sixteenth.[110] Western music, introduced in the late nineteenth century, now forms an integral part of the culture. Post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European modern music, which has led to the evolution of popular band music called J-pop. Karaoke is the most widely practiced cultural activity. A November 1993 survey by the Cultural Affairs Agency found that more Japanese had sung karaoke that year than had participated in traditional cultural pursuits such as flower arranging or tea ceremony. The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jomon culture to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America. After several waves of immigration from the continent and nearby Pacific islands (see History of Japan),the inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation from the outside world under the Tokugawa shogunate until the arrival of "The Black Ships" and the Meiji era. Through a long culinary past, the Japanese have developed a sophisticated and refined cuisine. In recent years, Japanese food has become fashionable in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Dishes such as sushi, tempura, and teriyaki chicken are some of the foods that are commonly known. The Japanese diet is believed to be related to the longevity of Japanese people.

In Japanese tradition some dishes are strongly tied to a festival or event. These dishes include: Botamochi, a sticky rice dumpling with sweet azuki paste served in spring, while the term Hagi/Ohagi is used in the fall season. Chimaki (steamed sweet rice cake): Tango no Sekku and Gion Festival. Hamo (a kind of fish) and somen: Gion Festival. Osechi: New Year. Sekihan, literally "red rice", is served for any celebratory occasion. It is usually sticky rice cooked with azuki, or red bean, which gives the rice its distinctive red color. Soba: New Year's Eve. This is called toshi koshi soba (ja:) (literally "year crossing soba"). Chirashizushi, Ushiojiru (clear soup of clams) and amazake: Hinamatsuri. In some regions every 1st and 15th day of the month people eat a mixture of rice and azuki ( azuki meshi), see Sekihan). It is customary to say itadakimasu (lit. "I receive") before starting to eat a meal, and gochissama deshita,(lit. "It was a feast") to the host after the meal and the restaurant staff when leaving. Hot towel. Before eating, most dining places will provide either a hot towel or a plastic-wrapped wet napkin. This is for cleaning of the hands prior to eating and not after. It is rude to use them to wash the face or any part of the body other than the hands. Bowls. The rice or the soup is eaten by picking the relevant bowl up with the left hand and using chopsticks with the right, or vice-versa if you are left handed. Traditionally, everyone holds chopsticks in their right hand and the bowl in their left this avoids running into each others' arm when sitting close together and this is safest in formal situations, but left-handed eating is more acceptable today. Bowls of soup, noodle soup, donburi or ochazuke may be lifted to the mouth but not white rice. Soy sauce. Soy sauce is not usually poured over most foods at the table; a dipping dish is usually provided. Soy sauce is, however, meant to be poured directly onto tofu and grated daikon dishes. In particular, soy sauce should never be poured onto rice or soup. Noodles are slurped. Chopsticks are never left sticking vertically into rice, as this resembles incense sticks (which are usually placed vertically in sand) during offerings to the dead. Using chopsticks to spear food or to point is also frowned upon. It is also very bad manners to bite on your chopsticks. Communal dish. When taking food from a communal dish, unless they are family or very close friends, turn the chopsticks around to grab the food; it is considered more sanitary. Better, have a separate set of chopsticks for the communal dish. Sharing. If sharing with someone else, move it directly from one plate to another. Never pass food from one pair of chopsticks to another, as this recalls passing bones during a funeral. Eat what is given. It is customary to eat rice to the last grain. Being a fussy eater is frowned upon, and it is not customary to ask for special requests or substitutions at restaurants. It is considered ungrateful to make these requests especially in circumstances where you are being hosted, as in a business dinner environment. Good manners dictate that you respect the selections of the host. Drinking. Even in informal situations, drinking alcohol starts with a toast when everyone is ready. It is not customary to pour oneself a drink; but rather, people are expected to keep each other's drinks topped up. When someone moves to pour your drink you should hold your glass with both hands and thank them. Tourist 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Attractions in Japan Buddhist Monuments, Horyu-ji Temple Area Himeji-jo Castle Yakushima Island Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto Hiroshima Peace Monument Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Historic Monument of Nara 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Shrines and Temples of Nikko Mt. Fuji Ryuku Islands Setonaikai National Park Cinder Cone Island of Okinawa

Mongolia Capital & Largest City: People: Official Languages: Form of Government: Currency:

Ulan Bator (Ulaanbaatar) Mongols Mongolian Parliamentary Republic Togrog (MNT)

The area of what is now Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Rouran, the Gkturks, and others. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Mongolia came under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism. At the end of the 17th century, most of Mongolia had been incorporated into the area ruled by the Qing Dynasty. During the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Mongolia declared independence, but had to struggle until 1921 to firmly establish de-facto independence, and until 1945 to gain international recognition. As a consequence, it came under strong Russian and Soviet influence: In 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was

declared, and Mongolian politics began to follow the same patterns as Soviet politics of the time. After the breakdown of communist regimes in Eastern Europe in late 1989, Mongolia saw its own Democratic Revolution in early 1990, which led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and the - rather rough - transition to a market economy. The main festival is Naadam, which has been organised for centuries, consists of three Mongolian traditional sports, archery, horse-racing (over long stretches of open country, not the short racing around a track practiced in the West), and wrestling. Nowadays it is held on July 11 to July 13 in the honour of the anniversaries of the National Democratic Revolution and foundation of the Great Mongol State. Another very popular activity called Shagaa is the "flicking" of sheep ankle bones at a target several feet away, using a flicking motion of the finger to send the small bone flying at targets and trying to knock the target bones off the platform. This contest at Naadam is very popular and develops a serious audience among older Mongolians. In Mongolia, the khoomei, or throat singing, style of music is popular, particularly in parts of Western Mongolia. The ornate symbol in the leftmost bar of the national flag is a Buddhist icon called soyombo. It represents the sun, moon, stars, and heavens per standard cosmological symbology abstracted from that seen in traditional thangka paintings. Mongolian Culture has been heavily influenced by the Mongol nomadic way of life. Other important influences are from Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, and from China. In the 20th century, Russian and, via Russia, European culture have had a strong effect on Mongolia. Not only Genghis Khan but also the nomadic peoples have had an influence on Mongolian fine arts. The Mongolian cuisine is primarily based on meat and dairy products, with some regional variations. The most common meat is mutton, supplemented in the desert south by camel meat, in the northern mountains by beef (including yak). Dairy products are made from mare's milk (Airag), from cattle, yaks, and camels (eg. clotted cream). Popular dishes include buuz (a type of meat dumpling), khuushuur (a meat pastry), khorkhog (a meat stew, usually a special meal for guests), and boortsog (a sweet biscuit). The meal commonly known as Mongolian barbecue is not Mongolian at all, but Taiwanese in origin. Starting in the second half of the 20 century, vegetables are increasingly becoming a part of the Mongol diet as well. In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, there is a wide range of imported food available. Tourist Attractions 1. Uvs Nuur Basin 2. Gobi Dessert South Korea Capital & Largest City: Official Language: Form of Government: People: Currency: 3. Deer Stone 4. Khatgal Seoul Korean Presidential Republic Korean Korean Won (KRW) 5. Ruins of Ongi Monastery

South Korea is a developed country and a fast emerging economic power. It is the second most prosperous major economy in Asia and a High-income OECD member, classified as an Advanced economy by the CIA and IMF. South Korea's exponential economic growth is called the Miracle on the Han River and earned the distinctive reputation of Asian Tiger in the world. Today, it is leading the Next Eleven nations and its economic success is a role model for many developing countries. South Korea has a high-tech and futuristic infrastructure, and is a world leader in technologically advanced goods such as electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery, petrochemicals and robotics, headed by Samsung, LG and Hyundai-Kia. It is a global leader in the fields of education, having the world's highest scientific literacy and second highest mathematical literacy. Since the 21st century, South Korea's modern culture has become popular in Asia and beyond in a phenomenon known as the Korean wave. South Korea shares its traditional culture with North Korea, but the two Koreas have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture since the peninsula was divided in 1945. The South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism actively encourages the traditional arts, as well as modern forms, through funding and education programs. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea have brought many changes to the way Korean people live. Changing economics and lifestyles have led to a concentration of population in major cities, especially the capital Seoul, with multi-generational households separating into nuclear family living arrangements. Korean cuisine as a national cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Its roots can be traced back to myths and legends of antiquity. Evolving from a cuisine which was highly influenced by Chinese culture with Buddhism and Confucianism, the cuisine eventually came into its own by differentiating itself in a number of ways. Ingredients and dishes vary by province. There are many significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional. Many dishes that were once regional, however, have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day. The Korean royal court cuisine once brought all of the unique regional specialties together for the royal family. Meals consumed both by the royal family and ordinary Korean citizens have been regulated by a culture of etiquette that is unique to Korea. Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Kimchi, a fermented, spicy vegetable dish is usually served at every meal and is one of the best

known Korean dishes. Korean cuisine usually involves heavy seasoning with sesame oil, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, and gochujang (red chili paste). Soups are a common part of any Korean meal. Unlike other cultures, in Korean culture, soup is served as part of the main course rather than at the beginning or the end of the meal. Soups known as guk are often made with meats, shellfish and vegetables, formal soups known as tang are prepared with meats offered at ancestral rites, and jjigae are a thicker, simple soup or stew. Tourist 1. 2. 3. 4. Attractions in South Korea Andong Folk Village Dogo Hot Spring Biryong Falls Jirisan National Park 5. Anapji Pond 6. Bosingak Belfry 7. Mins Club

Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea Capital & Largest City: Pyongyang Official Languages: Korean People: Korean Form of Government: Juche Socialist Republic, Single-Party Communist State Currency: North Korean Won (KPW) North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a state in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The border between North Korea and South Korea is called the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The Amnok River is the border between North Korea and China. The Tumen River in the extreme north-east is the border with Russia. The peninsula was governed by the Korean Empire until it was occupied by Japan following the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. It was divided into Russian and U.S. occupied zones in 1945, following World War II. North Korea refused to participate in a United Nations-supervised election held in the south in 1948. This led to the creation of separate Korean governments for the two occupation zones. Both North and South Korea claim sovereignty over the entire peninsula and both were accepted as members of the UN in 1991. North Korea is a one party state. The country's government styles itself as following the Juche ideology of self-reliance, developed by Kim Il-sung, the country's former leader. Though nominally a socialist republic, it is widely considered by the outside world to be a de facto totalitarian stalinist dictatorship. The current leader is Kim Jong-il, the late president Kim Il-sung's son. Following a major famine in the early 1990s, due partly to the collapse of the Soviet Union (previously a major economic partner), leader Kim Jong-il instigated the "Military-First" policy in 1995, increasing economic concentration on and support for the military. There is a vast cult of personality around Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il and much of North Korea's literature, popular music, theater, and film glorify the two men. A popular event in North Korea is the Mass Games. The most recent and largest Mass Games was called "Arirang". It was performed six nights a week for two months, and involved over 100,000 performers. Attendees to this event report that the anti-West sentiments have been toned down compared to previous performances. The Mass Games involve performances of dance, gymnastic, and choreographic routines which celebrate the history of North Korea and the Workers' Party Revolution. The Mass Games are held in Pyongyang at various venues (varying according to the scale of the Games in a particular year) including the May Day Stadium. Culture is officially protected by the North Korean government. Large buildings committed to culture have been built, such as the People's Palace of Culture or the Grand People's Palace of Studies, both in Pyongyang. Outside the capital, there's a major theatre in Hamhung and in every city there are State-run theatres and stadiums. Korean culture came under attack during the Japanese rule from 1910-1945. Japan enforced a cultural assimilation policy. Koreans were forced to learn and speak Japanese, adopt the Japanese family name system and Shinto religion, and forbidden to write or speak the Korean language in schools, businesses, or public places. In addition, the Japanese altered or destroyed various Korean monuments including Gyeongbok Palace and documents which portrayed the Japanese in a negative light were revised. In July 2004, the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs became the first site in the country to be included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. In February 2008, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra became the first US musical group ever to perform in North Korea, albeit for a handpicked "invited audience." Rice is the staple food of Korea. Having been an almost exclusively agricultural country until recently, the essential recipes in Korea are shaped by this experience. The main crops in Korea are rice, barley, and beans, but many supplementary crops are used. Fish and other seafood are also important because Korea is a peninsula. Fermented recipes were also developed in early times. These include pickled fish and pickled vegetables. This kind of food provides essential proteins and vitamins during the winter.

A number of menus have been developed. These can be divided into ceremonial foods and ritual foods. Ceremonial foods are used when a child reaches 100 days, at the first birthday, at a wedding ceremony, and the sixtieth birthday. Ritual foods are used at funerals, at ancestral rites, shaman's offerings and as temple food. Temple food is distinguished as it does not use the common five strong-flavoured ingredients of Korean cuisine (garlic, spring onion, wild rocambole, leek, and ginger), nor meat. For ceremonies and rituals rice cakes are vital. The colouring of the food and the ingredients of the recipes are matched with a balance of yin and yang. Today, surasang (traditional court cuisine) is available to the whole population. In the past vegetable dishes were essential, but meat consumption has increased. Traditional dishes include ssambap, bulgogi, sinseollo, kimchi, bibimbap, and gujeolpan. Tourism in North Korea is organized by the state owned Tourism Organisation ("Ryohaengsa"). Every group of travelers as well as individual tourist/visitors are permanently accompanied by one or two "guides" who normally speak the mother tongue of the tourist. While tourism has increased over the last few years, tourists from Western countries remain few. The majority of the tourists that do go come from China and Japan. For citizens of the US and South Korea it is practically impossible to obtain a visa for North Korea. Exceptions for US citizens are made for the yearly Arirang Festival. In the area of the Kmgangsan-mountains, the company Hyundai established and operates a special Tourist area. Traveling to this area is also possible for South Koreans and US citizens, but only in organized groups from South Korea. A special administrative region known as the Kmgangsan Tourist Region exists for this purpose. Tourist Attractions in North Korea 1. Pyongyang 2. Baekdu Mountain SOUTH ASIA South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is a southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the subHimalayan countries and, for some authorities (see below), also includes the adjoining countries on the west and the east. It is surrounded (clockwise, from west to east) by Western Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Asia, and Southeastern Asia. South Asia typically consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and British Indian Ocean Territory. Some definitions may also include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Tibet, and even Iran. South Asia is home to around a fifth of world population. The region has often seen conflicts and political instability, including wars between the region's two nuclear-armed states, Pakistan and India. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation an economic cooperation organization in the region. Republic of India Capital: Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency: New Delhi Mumbai Hindi, English Indian, Hindi Federal Republic Parliamentary Democracy Indian Rupee (INR) 3. Kumgangsan 4. Korea Central Zoo

India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: Bhrat Gaarjya; see also other Indian languages), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers (4,671 mi).[13] It is bordered by Pakistan to the west;[14] China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean. The five major regions of India are North India, South India, West India, East India and North-East India. Home to the Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. [15] Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated there, while Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam arrived in the first millennium CE and shaped the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by the British East India Company from the early eighteenth century and colonised by the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread nonviolent resistance. India is a republic consisting of 28 states and seven union territories with a parliamentary system of democracy. It has the world's twelfth largest economy at market exchange rates and the fourth largest in purchasing power. Economic reforms since 1991 have transformed it into one of the fastest growing economies;[16] however, it still suffers from high levels of poverty,[17] illiteracy, and malnutrition. A pluralistic, multilingual, and multiethnic society, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

India's culture is marked by a high degree of syncretism[122] and cultural pluralism.[123] It has managed to preserve established traditions while absorbing new customs, traditions, and ideas from invaders and immigrants and spreading its cultural influence to other parts of Asia. Indian cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of regional styles and sophisticated use of herbs and spices. The staple foods in the region are rice (especially in the south and the east) and wheat (predominantly in the north). [124] Spices originally native to the Indian subcontinent that are now consumed world wide include black pepper; in contrast, hot chili peppers, popular across India, were introduced by the Portuguese.[125] The cuisine of India is characterised by its sophisticated and subtle use of many spices and vegetables grown across India and also for the widespread practice of vegetarianism across its society. Considered by some[who?] to be one of the world's most diverse cuisines, each family of this cuisine is characterised by a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. As a consequence, Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically diverse Indian subcontinent.[1] India's religious beliefs and culture has played an influential role in the evolution of its cuisine. However, cuisine across India also evolved with the subcontinent's cross-cultural interactions with the neighboring Middle East and Central Asia as well as the Mediterranean, making it a unique blend of various cuisines across Asia.[2][3] The colonial period introduced European cooking styles to India adding to its flexibility and diversity. [4][5] Indian cuisine has also influenced cuisines across the world, especially those from Southeast Asia.[6][7][8] In particular, curry has been widely adopted in cuisines around the world. Tourist Attractions 1. Taj Mahal 7. Corbett National Park 12. Hanging Gardens in 2. Goa 8. Agra Fort Mumbai 3. Kerala 9. Moti Masjid 13. Delhi Zoo 4. Himalayas 10. Haji Ali Mosque 14. Red Fort 5. Khajuraho Temples 11. Elephanta Caves 15. St. James Church 6. Ganges River 16. Garden of Five Senses Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Capital & Largest City: Kathmandu People: Nepalese Official Language: Nepali Form of Government: Republic Currency: Rupee (NPR) Nepal (Nepali: [nepal] (helpinfo)) is a landlocked nation in South Asia. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by India. Kathmandu, the nation's capital, is its largest city. Nepal has been a monarchy throughout most of its history. Prithvi Narayan Shah, a nobleman, unified the many small kingdoms in the Himalayan valley in 1768. Since then, the country has been ruled by a dynasty of kings, until a civil war between monarchist forces and the Communist Party of Nepal led to the abdication of King Gyanendra and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in 2008. [3] Nepal is a country of highly diverse geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. Although Hinduism is practiced by a majority of the population, the nation also has a strong Buddhist tradition, as the birthplace of Siddharta Gautama. Nepalese culture is diverse, reflecting different ethnic origins of the people. The Newar community is particularly rich in cultural diversity; they celebrate many festivals, well known for their music and dance. A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat-tarkari. Dal is a spicy lentil soup, served over bhat (boiled rice), served with tarkari (curried vegetables) together with achar (pickles) or chutni (spicy condiment made from fresh ingredients).. The Newar community, however, has its own unique cuisine. It consists of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian items served with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Mustard oil is the cooking medium and a host of spices, such as cumin, coriander, black peppers, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, methi (fenugreek), bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chillies, mustard seeds, etc., are used in the cooking. The cuisine served on festivals is generally the best. Tourist Attractions in Nepal 1. Annapura Circle 3. Langtang 4. Lumbini 6. Pokhara 2. Daman National Park 5. Mount Everest 7. Tansen Republic of Maldives Capital & Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency:

Male Dhivehi Maldivian Presidential Republic Maldivian Rufiya (MRF)

The Maldives, or Maldive Islands, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching south of India's Lakshadweep islands between Minicoy Island and the Chagos Archipelago, and about seven hundred kilometres (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea of Indian Ocean. The twenty-six atolls of Maldives encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, of which two hundred and fifty islands are inhabited. The inhabitants were Buddhist, probably since Ashoka's period in the 3rd century BC and possibly Hindu before that. Islam was introduced in 1153. The Maldives then came under the influence of the Portuguese (1558) and the Dutch

(1654) seaborne empires. In 1887 it became a British protectorate. In 1965, the Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands"), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area; it is the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world. With two meters from sea level, it is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world. Maldivian culture is derived from a number of sources, the most important of which are its proximity to the shores of Sri Lanka and South India. Thus the population is mainly Dravidian from the anthropological point of view. The language is from Indo-Iranian Sanskritic origin, which points at a later influence from the North of the Subcontinent. According to the legends, the kingly dynasty that ruled the country in the past has its origin there. Possibly these ancient kings brought Buddhism from the Subcontinent, but it is not clear. In Sri Lanka there are similar legends, but it is improbable that the ancient Maldive royals and Buddhism came both from that island because none of the Sri Lankan chronicles mentions the Maldives. It is unlikely that the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka would have failed to mention the Maldives if a branch of its kingdom would have extended itself to the Maldive Islands. Since the 12th century AD there are also influences from Arabia in the language and culture of the Maldives because of the general conversion to Islam in the 12th century, and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean. In the island culture there are a few elements of African origin as well from slaves brought to the court by the Royal family and nobles from their Hajj journeys to Arabia in the past. There are islands like Feridhu and Maalhos in Northern Ari Atoll, and Goidhu in Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll where many of the inhabitants trace their ancestry to released African slaves. SOUTHEAST ASIA Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia, sometimes abbreviated to SEA, is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic and volcanic activity. Southeast Asia consists of two geographic regions: the Asian mainland, and island arcs and archipelagoes to the east and southeast. The mainland section consists of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia (or to be more precise, Peninsular Malaysia); the population of which are primarily Tibeto-Burman peoples, Tai peoples and Austroasiatic peoples; the dominant religion is Buddhism, followed by Islam, and Christianity. The maritime section consists of Brunei, East Timor,[1] Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Some definitions include Taiwan at the north. Austronesian peoples predominate in this region; the dominant religion is Islam, followed by Christianity. COUNTRY OLD NAME CAPITAL FORM OF CURRENCY LANGUANGE GOVERNMENT Cambodia Kampuchea Phnom Penh Constitutional Riel Khmer Monarchy Laos Vientiane Socialist Republic Kip Lao Burma Myanmar Naypyidaw Military Kyat Burmese Dictatorship Thailand Siam Bangkok Parliamentary Bhat Thai Democracy Brunei Bandar Seri Islamic Absolute Brunei Dollar Bruneian Begawan Monarchy East Timor Dili Parliamentary US Dollar Tetum, Republic Portugese Indonesia Jakarta Presidential Rupiah Indonesian Republic Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Federal Ringgit Malaysian Constitutional Elective Monarchy Singapore Singapore Parliamentary Singapore Dollar Singaporean Republic Philippines Manila Unitary Peso Filipino Presidential Constitutional Republic Vietnam Hanoi Socialist Republic Dong Vietnamese WESTERN ASIA Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. The term Western Asia is sometimes used in the United Nations subregion geoscheme and in writings about the archeology and the late prehistory of the region. Unlike the Middle East, which is broadly defined to include several North African countries such as Egypt, Southwestern Asia is a purely geographical term reserved for the southwestern extremities of the Asian continent. Southwest Asia is partly coterminous with the traditional European names the Middle East and the Near East, both of which describe geographical position in relation to Europe rather than location within Asia. Because of this perceived Eurocentrism, international organizations such as the United Nations,[1] as well as countries like India and Australia that lie to the east of the region,[citation needed] have replaced Middle East and Near East with Western Asia. Another reason for changing the name[citation needed] is that, in terms of cultural and political geography, the traditional Middle East often includes North African countries, particularly Egypt.

The United Nations considers Turkey, Cyprus, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan to be in Western Asia. However, these countries lie in regions that straddle both Asia and Europe and have sociopolitical ties to both. The Asian part of the Arab world (including Arabia proper) is called the Mashreq in Arabic. Republic of Iraq Capital & Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency:

Baghdad Arabic, Kurdish Iraqi Developing Parliamentary Republic Iraqi Dinar (IQD)

Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq (Arabic: , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert. It shares borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, and Iran to the east. It has a very narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (35 miles) between Umm Qasr and Al Faw on the Persian Gulf. There are two major flowing rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates. These provide Iraq with agriculturally capable land and contrast with the desert landscape that covers most of Western Asia. The capital city, Baghdad , is in the center-east. Iraq's rich history dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is identified as the cradle of civilization and a birthplace of writing. Throughout its long history, Iraq has been the center of the Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Sassanid and Abbasid empires, and part of the Achaemenid, Macedonian, Parthian, Roman, Rashidun, Umayyad, Mongol, Ottoman and British empires. In the most recent millennium, what is now Iraq has been made up of five cultural areas: Kurdish in the north centered on Arbil, Sunni Islamic Arabs in the center around Baghdad, Shi'a Islamic Arabs in the south centered on Basra, the Assyrians, a Christian people, living in various cities in the north, and the Marsh Arabs, a nomadic people, who live on the marshlands of the central river. There are also the Bedouin tribes primarily in southern and western Iraq, with smaller groups scattered throughout the country. Markets and bartering are the common form of trade. Iraq has one of the world's oldest cultural histories. Iraq is where the Mesopotamian civilization began, which went on to influence the European and Asian civilizations. So as far as culture is concerned, Iraq has a rich heritage. The country is known for its poets and its painters and sculptors are among the best in the Arab world, some of them being world-class. Besides this, Iraq is also known for producing fine handicrafts, including rugs and carpets. The architecture of Iraq is best seen in the sprawling metropolis of Baghdad, where the construction is almost entirely new, with some islands of exquisite old buildings and compounds. Unlike many Arab countries, it embraces and celebrates the achievements of its past in pre-Islamic times. What is now Iraq was once part of the Cradle of Civilization in ancient Mesopotamia and the culture of Sumer, from which the first known wheel was recovered, flourished there. In the 8th century and 9th century the Islamic Abbasid Caliphs presided over what was then the world's leading civilization, rich in science, art and literature. The Iraqi cuisine is generally a not heavy cuisine with more spices than most Arab cuisines. Iraq's main food crops include wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, and dates. Vegetables include eggplant, okra, potatoes, and tomatoes. Beans such as chickpeas and lentils are also quite common. Common meats in Iraqi cooking are lamb and beef; fish and poultry are also used. Soups and stews are often prepared and served with rice and vegetables. Although Iraq is not a coastal area, the population is used to consuming fish, however, freshwater fish is more common than saltwater fish. Masgouf is one of the most popular dishes. Biryani, although influenced by Indian cuisine, is much milder with a different mixture of spices and a wider variety of vegetables including potatoes, peas, carrots and onions among others. Dolma is also one of the popular dishes. The Iraqi cuisine is famous for its extremely tender kabab as well as its tikka. A wide variety of spices, pickles and Amba are also extensively used. Tourist Attractions: 1. Baghdad 2. Tall Kayf 3. Zakho 4. Hit 5. Al Kot 6. Mosul