Asian Geographic Passport 2016-2017 | Page 10

{ E D ITOR ’ S NOTE } In a globalised world, where mobility is increasingly ubiquitous, it’s sometimes easy to forget what a privilege it is to travel. Some of us may remember the first time we set foot outside our home countries. If the experience was anything like my own, you may recall that emotional convergence of shock and exhilaration in finding yourself utterly displaced. Then, there is that first encounter with how other cultures stereotype your nationality. It’s frequently funny, more often than not baffling, and, occasionally, it knocks the wind out of you. Many a philosophical quote has gone on to gush how travel allows us to assimilate culture, expand our minds, challenge our perspectives, and so on. But, ultimately, I think that travel is an exchange. Yes, you are challenging your own perceptions and misconceptions about countries and different cultures, but really, it should be a two-way street. Tourism is a loaded word. It often sits rather uncomfortably with many of us given its doubleedged nature, where we stand the risk of taking more than we give. ‘I’m not a tourist, I’m a traveller’, I’ve heard some say. Can you define the difference? This tension is not lost on this issue. © Lars Krutak Let history be your guide in this special issue of Passport – pack a punch with the sacred art of Muay Thai (p28), get inked by a true tattoo master (p62), leave your shoes at the door and take a pilgrimage (p72) or watch a mystical river serpent shoot fireballs above the Mekong (p98) – and share your own cultural knowledge with those whom you meet along the way. “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travellers don’t know where they’re going” ALE X CAMPBELL (Paul Theroux) Newsstand Distribution ASIAN Geographic can be found in the following countries. If you have difficulty finding us on newsstands, please contact our distributors: Australia Gordon & Gotch Australia Pty Ltd; ChinA and HONG KONG Times Publishing (HK) Ltd; INDONESIA Java Books; Philippines Alpha Stream Marketing; Malaysia Pansing Marketing Sdn Bhd; New Zealand Gordon & Gotch NZ; Singapore Singapore Press Holdings Ltd; Taiwan TEP; THAILAND Asia Books Co Ltd; USA Speed Impex media correspondents India, Sri Lanka RMA Media, Faredoon KUKA • [email protected] Nepal, Bangladesh Media South Asia (P) Ltd • [email protected] Thailand Radius • [email protected] China Hainan Periscope Social Media Company • [email protected] Japan Keiichi ARANTANI • [email protected] Other Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd publications & events: ASIAN Geographic can be found on board and at the following locations Airlines & Lounges Clubs & societies CAFÉS & Restaurants attractions tOURISM BOARD commercial centres a ASIA SURF EXPO hotels & resorts