Hands Namaste( prayer-like gesture with the head slightly bowed) is performed when a younger family member meets older relatives. Also, the person of lower status or prestige performs namaste first to show respect for the higher station the other person has achieved. Feet If someone touches another person with his feet by accident, he has to apologise and reinstate respect by tapping the other’ s shoulder, and then his own forehead.
Hands In many cases, holding hands with people of the same gender is considered a display of friendship.
Feet When sitting cross-legged, the feet and shoes must not point towards anyone because the soles are considered unclean.
IRAN
Hands When sitting cross-legged, the feet and shoes must not point towards anyone because the soles are considered unclean.
Feet During an Iranian betrothal ceremony, women from the man’ s side put new shoes before the bride-to-be. When she slides her feet into the shoes, she symbolically demonstrates that she has become the rightful life partner for her husband-to-be.
INDIA
NEPAL
Hands Nomadic Arab people passed down the most pertinent principle of dining culture to India and some parts of Southeast Asia, which is to use one’ s right hand to eat, even if one is left-handed.
Feet Feet are the most unclean part of the human body. However, the feet of God and seniors are considered to be sacred.
During an Indian wedding, the bride’ s parents will wash the newlyweds’ feet with milk so as to purify them.
{ publisher’ S NOTE }
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AG No. 95 Issue 2 / 2013
2013
ASIAN PUBLISHING AWARDS
25. Best Cover Design
AG No. 95 Issue 2 / 2013
MPAS AWARDS
26. Special Edition of the Year
AG No. 93 Issue 8 / 2012
27. Best Single Article Design
AG No. 90 Issue 5 / 2012
28. Best Front Cover( Consumer)
AG No. 88 Issue 3 / 2012
29. Best New Journalist of the Year Selina Tan ASIAN Geographic THE READ
ASIAN GEOGRAPHIC COLLECTOR’ S EDITION 100 th Issue
AG No. 102 Issue 1 / 2014 AG No. 105 Special Edition / 2014
2014
ASIAN PUBLISHING AWARDS
30. Best Editorial Brand Projection | Gold ASIAN Geographic Pte Ltd
31. Best Photo
Documentary | Gold
AG No. 95 Issue 2 / 2013
32. Best Feature on Asian Travel | Excellence
AG No. 97 Issue 4 / 2013
33. Special Edition of the Year | Merit
AG No. 95 Issue 2 / 2013
MPAS AWARDS
34. Publisher of the Year | Merit John Thet
35. Editor of the Year Lunita S. V. Mendoza
36. Designer of the Year Eng Chun Pang
37. Special Edition of the Year | Merit
AG No. 95 Issue 2 / 2013
38. Marketing Campaign of the
Year | Merit ASIAN GEOGRAPHIC HOT SOUP CHALLENGE 2013
39. Feature Article of the Year( Consumer) | Merit
AG No. 95 Issue 2 / 2013
2015
MPAS AWARDS
40. Publisher of the Year | Winner John Thet
41. Media of the Year | Winner ASIAN Geographic
42. Travel Media of the Year | Winner ASIAN Geographic PASSPORT
43. Special Edition of the Year World Heritage Edition
AG Special Issue / 2014
44. Designer of the Year Zoey Lim & Justin Ong
45. Single Article Design of the Year First People In The Artic
AG ISSUE 1 / 2014
46. Marketing Campaign of the
Year | Winner HOT SOUP CHALLENGE
2014
2016
SEPTEMBER 17 th Anniversary Issue
AG No. 120 Issue 5 / 2016 Languages of Asia
ASIAN Geographic specialises in bringing compelling stories, groundbreaking research features and exciting news updates about Asia to readers across the region. The largest and most populous continent, Asia boasts 4.4 billion inhabitants, accounting for 60 percent of the world’ s population. The world’ s two most populated countries, China and India, together constitute about 37 percent of the world’ s people. It is unsurprising, therefore, that our coverage has demonstrated that there is a never-ending reserve of fascinating stories behind Asian culture, society, history and science.
When it comes to the spoken and written word, Asia is also blessed with an astonishing diversity of languages and dialects. We celebrate our 17th anniversary by honouring this linguistic diversity with the theme Languages of Asia. In this issue, we examine current languages, endangered dialects, and those that we have lost for good.
Further ahead, we are looking forward to presenting an exhilarating list of Expeditions in Asia, the unique Images of Asia photo competition, and exciting photography workshops lead by some of the world’ s most prominent photographers. We will also launch a new webpage to showcase the best of Asia!
ASIAN Geographic published its very first issue in September 1999. It owes a large part of its success to a talented and resourceful pool of writers, photographers, researchers, designers and editors. After nearly two decades on our journey together, I’ d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported ASIAN Geographic and whose involvement has been so valuable.
JOHN THET Publisher / Editorial Director Founder, Asian Geographic Society
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AG No. 90 Issue 5 / 2012
NEPAL
BANGLADESH
IRAN
SOUTH ASIA
BANGLADESH
INDIA
On the cover
Novice Burmese monks at a monk temple school by Manuel Libres Librodo Jr.
“ If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”