ACE Class Report #87 : Geography and Travel, Asia.
Begin: 1/7/2025
Finish: 3/25/2025
Title: Geography and Travel, South East Asia.
Instructor: Chris Housley
Why I choose to take this class:
This is a geography class about: Malaysia, Bali, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Laos. This class will expand my knowledge of South East Asia and improve my analytical and critical thinking skills.
What I learned from this class:
Laos:
It is a landlocked country in South East Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Vietnam to the East, Cambodia to the South and Thailand and Myanmar to the West. Much of Laos is mountainous. The Mekong River forms most of the Western Border. Vientiane is the nations capital and largest city. Laos has many ethnic groups. The ethnic Lao make up a majority of the population and the country is named after them. Laos came under the French rule in the late 1800’s. It regained independence in 1953. The communist Pathet Lao movement has control since it seized power in 1975. Most of Lao are Buddhist. But Lao Thoeng from the mountainous areas and Northern Laos and Oy in the South, most are animist who worship a variety of nature spirit and carry out animal sacrifices. Laos has few roads and most of them are unpaved.
Cambodia:
Also known as Kampuchea. Most Cambodians live in the fertile plain created by the flood water of the Mekong River, or near the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and Tonle Sap River Northwest of Phenom Penh. Phenom Penh is Cambodia’s capital. About a thousand years ago, Cambodia was the center of a great empire of the Khmer people, who controlled much of the South East Asian mainland. The ruins of Angkor Wat, the capital of the Khmer Empire, featured magnificent sculpture and architecture. Cambodia is a monarchy with a king. Most of the Cambodia’s people are Khmer, Vietnamese make up the second largest ethnic group in Cambodia. The vast majority of Cambodians are Buddhists. The Khmer reigned from 800’s to 1400’s and their capital was Angkor. Thai forces captured Angkor in 1431 and Khmer abandoned the city. In the middle of late 1800’s France took control of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and the region was known as French Indochina. Cambodia gained independence in 1953.
Vietnam:
Vietnam is bordered by China to the North and Laos and Cambodia to the West. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. The population of Vietnam is concentrated in the Red River delta in the North and Mekong River delta in the South. Although Vietnam has a number of ethnic groups, most of the people are classified as Kinh – ethnic Vietnamese. Half of all Vietnamese workers are farmers who live in small villages. Rice is the country’s main crop. Vietnamese fought many foreign invaders, frequently the Chinese. French governed Vietnam from mid 1800’s until Japan occupied it during World War II. In 1954 the French was defeated in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. In 1957 war broke out between the North and the South, US became chief ally of the South. In 1973 US withdrawn its last combat troops. In April 1975 communist defeated South Vietnam. The national dish of Vietnam is a rice noodle soup called Pho. A fish sauce called Ngoc Mam is used as seasoning in many dishes. Green tea is the most popular beverage. Most Vietnamese practice a combination of three teachings: Mahayana, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, they also have some Christians and Muslims.
Bali:
is a small island off Java’s East Coast. Bali has an area of 2,175 square miles. Balinese are the largest ethnic group and speak Balinese. Most of them are Hindu, Bali has several volcanoes mountains. The highest is Gunung Agung; a volcano sacred to the Balinese. Tourism is important to the economy and has encourages the preservation and development of Balinese arts. Bali is Indonesia’s most important tourist destination. Rice is Bali’s largest crop. They used an intricate systems of dikes and flood gates for intensive wet rice agriculture. Between 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Dutch incorporated Bali into the Dutch East Indies Colony.
Malaysia:
Malays, Chinese and Indians are the largest ethnic groups in Malaysia. More than 80 percent of the people live in Peninsular Malaysia. Most of the nations’ urban areas are also there, including Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s largest and capital city, Malaysians use many languages, the main language is called Bahasa Malaysia. Rural life – most people in the rural area of Peninsular Malaysia are Malays who farm and fish and lived in villages called kampongs. Their houses are built on stilts with wooden or bamboo walls and floors an thatched palm roof. In Sabah and Sarawak people live in isolated villages. Several families often live together under a rood called a Long House. They have vegetable gardens, hunt fish and gather edible plants. City life – half the population live and work in the city. Kuala Lumpur is a bustling city with lofty skyscrapers including the Petronas Towers. The government created the city Putrajaya to be Malaysia Administrative capital. Malaysia has a tropical climate with hot humid weather. Many kinds of animals flourish in Malaysia, Malaysia’s plant are equally varied, with many types of tropical fruits, wild orchids and exotic hardwood trees.
Hong Kong:
Is one of two Special Administrative Regions of China. Hong Kong lies on China’s Southern coast, near the mouth of the Zhu Jiang (Pearl River). Hong Kong is a major port of Asia. It is also a center for finance, trade and tourism. Hong Kong is Chinese for Fragrant Harbor. Hong Kong consist of the island of Hong Kong; Lantau Island (Hong Kong’s largest island); about 260 islands; and a Peninsula attached to the mainland China. The Peninsula has two sections – the New Territories in the North and Kowloon Peninsula to the South. The Hong Kong Metropolis is a center for business, commercial services and tourism.
Hong Kong has many modern skyscrapers that serve as headquarter for many banks, and multinational corporation. The Metropolitan area of Hong Kong is among the world’s most crowded places. About 95% of the people of Hong Kong are Chinese. Majority of the population speaks Cantonese. Hong Kong is a center of international trade, finance and tourism. It is a free port, it collects no import duties in goods brought in except for alcohol and tobacco. On July 1, 1997 Hong Kong was transferred from British to Chinese rule. The basic law upholds the principle of “one country, two systems”. This principle gives Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy (self rule) as a Special Administrative Region of China.
How will this class contribute to my success upon release:
This geography class teaches me a lot about cultures, history, traditions, customs and people of South East Asia. This knowledge acquired will be shared with other communities when I volunteer my teaching, tutoring and mentoring services.
