Come meet the cliché.
RELIGION
South East Asia is
enormously popular, but at
the same time, if you can
draw yourself away from
the beaches and bars, you'll
find a safe easy region to
travel to with loads to
discover. Just remember
there is a world out there
that is not South East Asia
to also discover. This is
where most backpackers
start and for good
reason. There's plenty to
see/do, life's fun, cheap,
easy, and fairly safe.
However, there's something
clichéd about the region;
many grow tired of the
crowds while a certain type
of backpacker keeps coming
back. Nonetheless, missing
the likes of Thailand's
beaches, Singapore,
Indonesia, and the
Philippines at your peril.
Philippines
The majority of Filipinos (92%) are of Christian
Faith. In general, they are considered Catholic and consider
themselves as such.
Anyway, around 10% of these Christians adhere to
Protestant or other alternative Christian Churches and
Movements, like Iglesia Ni Cristo, Adventist Church,
Evangelicals, and others. Often people practicing their religious
habits with Protestant Churches do not give up on Catholic
traditions and still get baptized as well as receive the other
sacraments within the Catholic Church, though preferring to
join celebrations and prayers with Protestant Churches.
Thailand
According to 2010
estimates, the vast majority of
the Thai population (93.6%)
identify as Buddhist.1 Public
signs of reverence for the
religion are evident
throughout
However,
the
Buddhism
culture.
is
commonly thought of as a
way of life rather than a
religion by many Thai.
Although it is the dominant
religion in Thailand, freedom of religious choice and expression
is protected by law. Of the remaining population, 4.9% identify
as Muslim, 1.2% identify with Christianity, and 0.3% either
associate with some other or no religion.
Indonesia
Indonesia is
the world's
populous Muslim-
most
majority country, with 88
percent of its citizens
identifying themselves
as Muslim. Traditionally,
Muslims have been
concentrated in the
more populous western islands of Indonesia such as Java and
Sumatra. In less populous eastern islands, the Muslim
population is proportionally lower. Around 99 percent of
Indonesian Muslims are Sunnis. The remaining Muslims
are Shia and are concentrated in Aceh province.
Singapore
Religion in Singapore
encompasses Buddhism
(33.2%), Christianity (18.7%),
Islam (14.0%), Taoism
(10.0%), and Hinduism
(5.0%), according to the
2015 General Household
Survey. In fact, according to a
2014 study, Singapore is the
most religiously diverse country in the world with 10 officially
recognized faiths. Here’s a breakdown of the 5 main religions
practiced in Lion City today.
Literature
Thailand
It is certainly such one

Khun Chang Khun Phaen Pareanom has it in him to do just that:

making his reader sit tight in their
chair while devouring his rich tale till
by Unkown Thai Writer the end. It wouldn’t be proper to
call Raden Mandasia vastly
Khun Chang Khun Phaen is one of the most famous
extravagant for its lack of thorough
works of old Thai literature. The plot is a love story, set
descriptions here and there, but it has
against a background of war, and ending in high tragedy.
its charm that strikes almost everyone
This folk epic was first developed in oral form for popular
in awe.
performance with lashings of romance, adventure, violence,
farce, and magic.

PhilippinE
Noli Me TOURIST
Tángere DESTINATIONS
by Dr. José Rizal
PHILIPPINES
Among the great novels in KAWASAN FALLS
Philippine literature. 

Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me If you like jumping into or

Not) is the most controversial swimming in cool
and widely known – it’s cascading waters,
included in the current Kawasan Falls in Cebu hits
education curriculum of Filipino high school students. the sweet spot.

Written by the country’s national hero, Dr. José Rizal, this It is a multi-layered
novel sparked the social awakening of Filipinos during the waterfall in the town of
Spanish colonial era. As Rizal cannot fathom the unfairness of Badian and is best known
the Spanish priests and the ruling government at the time, his for its turquoise waters.
purpose in writing the book was to expose the ills of Philippine With a height of 40 meters,
society at the time. In this revolutionary book, you’ll learn about the first cascade, or level,
the story of Crisostomo Ibarra, how he dealt with Spanish is where most visitors stay, swim, and enjoy a natural water
authorities, and how he prepared for his revenge, as told in massage on board a bamboo raft. A 10-minute trek takes you
Rizal’s 2nd book, El Filibusterismo. up to the quieter second cascade. Kawasan Falls is also the
endpoint of the popular adventure activity, the Kawasan Falls
canyoneering tour package. This tour starts in Kanlaob River

Singapore
in the town of Alegria, where you make your way to Kawasan,
swimming along streams, rappelling through natural rock walls,
and finally jumping off mini-waterfalls.

The Immolation THAILAND

by Goh Poh Seng
Regarded as one of the CHIANG MAI
pioneers of Singapore literature, Goh NORTHERN
Poh Seng takes on larger-than-life Those heading
themes in his most ambitious novel, up north for mountains
which is set in post-war Vietnam. and elephants might just
In The Immolation, Goh’s take on find themselves surprised
issues of national identity, war, and when they touch down in
self-discovery has contemporary Chiang Mai. Whilst the
relevance not just to Asian readers, city has the two in
but to an international audience. abundance, it also has so
much more. Home to a
noticeably young and
trendy crowd, Chiang Mai
– which is easily

Indonesia accessible by flights from

Bangkok and other airports in the country – is every bit a city
as it is the gateway to the countryside. Chiang Mai’s cooler
climate makes exploring the city a pleasure, with hip coffee
Raden Mandasia Si houses nestled between its sprawling streets and boutiques
and malls in abundance. However, just a short journey out of

Pencuri Daging Sapi 

the city leads you to another world. The rolling hills, mystical
mountains, and traditional temples that can be found in Chiang
Mai are among its major attractions, and its world-famous
by Yusi Avianto Pareanom elephant sanctuaries provide travelers with memories that don’t
infringe upon morals. Perfect for nature lovers, the jungles and
waterfalls of Chiang Mai make for a pleasant change to Silkworms, grasshoppers,
Thailand’s much-vaunted beaches and are some of the giant water bugs, and
country’s most amazing features.  crickets are a few of the
most popular insects to
snack on around
SINGAPORE Thailand. Yes, you read
that correctly. Snack on,
not try eating for a dare.
Gardens by the Bay As interesting as it might
sound to anyone
unfamiliar with the tradition,
Once you've glimpsed this beautifully designed green space
insects, worms, and bugs for
(from the top of the Marina Bay Sands, perhaps) you won't be able to
snacks are the norm in Thailand.
stay away. Wander through the Bay East Garden, perfect for enjoying
the vibrant plant life and escaping the city bustle for a moment. You
The insects are fried and
won't want to miss Supertree Grove, where you'll find a cluster of seasoned typically with Thai
iconic, futuristic structures designed to perform environmentally pepper powder or the famous
sustainable functions. Then, head to the Cloud Forest Dome to see Golden Mountain Sauce. You will often find locals enjoying
the world's tallest indoor waterfall and learn a bit about biodiversity. their insect snacks in the company of friends with a beer.
Check the website for ticket sale prices and tour times. Trying insects has become more popular among tourists
visiting Thailand. You can often find them sold by street

INDONESIA
vendors, markets, and always at Temple Fairs throughout
Thailand. Would you dare to give one of these insects a try?

Beaches of Bali
Arguably
Indonesia's most popular
SINGAPORE
vacation spot, Bali has
several cultural landmarks
and traditions that make a Address people older than yourself
visit here worthwhile. But, for
many people, Bali is about
as 'uncle' or 'aunty'
the island's beautiful
beaches. If a beach vacation
is what you're looking for,
For people
you may want to head to one of Bali's luxury beach resorts and from other
spend some time soaking up the sun. parts of the
world, 'aunty'
Anyone who travels to Bali is going to have warm sand and
and 'uncle'
blue water on their mind, and the island doesn't
disappoint. Kuta is the best-known beach and is great for those
might be used
who like to combine sun, surfing, and socializing. Because of for people to
its popularity, you'll find no shortage of restaurants and things whom you are
to do here. biologically
related. But
over here in
Singapore, 'aun
TRADITION ty' and 'uncle' a
re typically the ways to address anybody that's
Philippines significantly older than you, even if you're not
related. It might seem strange, but in our culture,
it's a form of respect and the terms stem from a
The Bayanihan Spirit place of warmness and affection. Isn't it nice to be
addressed as a relative even though you're not
one?
The Bayanihan
(pronounced as
buy-uh-nee-hun)
INDONESIA
is a Filipino
custom derived
from the Filipino
Metatah, Bali
word “bayan”,
The religious ritual of Metatah or
which means
teeth-cutting is one of the rituals
nation, town, or community. The term Bayanihan that must be done by a Balinese
itself means “being in a bayan”, which refers to the Hindu child as a rite of passage.
spirit of communal unity, work, and cooperation to Meta-tag participants will have
achieve a particular goal. their teeth cut up to
approximately 2 millimeters, not
as scary as the name suggests.

THAILAND
The teeth that have been cut will then be placed on a yellowish-
brown cloth that will be prayed along with a plate of offerings.
After having their teeth trimmed, the participants will be asked to

Insect Snacks taste six flavors bitter, sour, spicy, astringent, salty, and too sweet.
Every taste has meaning in it. The bitter and sour flavor symbolizes
toughness in facing hardship. Spicy flavor symbolizes patience in
experiencing anger. Astringent flavor symbolizes faithful obedience
to norms and customs. Salty flavor symbolizes wisdom while
sweetness symbolizes happiness.
It looks simple, but the Metatah tradition is a pearl of local wisdom
that requires a significantly large amount of funds. As a result,
many people delay the traditional process of teeth cutting.
However, the Balinese have overcome this problem by
conducting metatah masal, or large-scale teeth-cutting
ceremonies.
MUSIC
INDONESIA
Singing has become one of the talents of Indonesians.
Not just a common Indonesian but even the president
sings his favorite song during gatherings. Indonesian
music was enriched with interaction with other cultures
such as Indian, Arabic, Chinese, and European leading to
a wider range of musical styles. Its contemporary music
has reached countries outside its boundaries. Gamelan
or gamelan orchestra is an Indonesian ensemble
composed of 50 to 80 instrumentation accompanying
shadow puppet plays and other major events like
special ceremonies and weddings.
Here are the instruments in gamelan:
• Metallophones metal xylophones) o saron (with seven
bronze keys and no resonators, played with hard
mallets) o gender (with bamboo resonators, played with
soft mallets). o slentem is similar to the gender except it
has lesser keys.
• bonangs (small bronze kettles mounted on the frame
and struck by a pair of long sticks bound with chords),
• gambang (xylophone with hardwood bars struck with
sticks made of buffalo horn),
• suling (bamboo flute)
• rehab (two-string fiddle of Arab origin)
• site or clamping (zithers)
• clamping has 26 strings organized in 13 pairs that
stretch over a coffin-like soundboard supported by four
legs.
• gongs - kenong, ketuk and kempul
• drums - Kendnag is drums beaten by hand. The bug is
a drum struck with a stick.
Popular gamelans in the country are the Javanese
gamelan which is used in court music and the Balinese
gamelan which plays sacred music. Slendro and below
are two different tuning systems used in the Indonesian
gamelan orchestras.
The former refers to five (5) equidistant tones in octave
while the latter adopts a heptatonic (7) tone scale with
semi-tone.
THAILAND
The Music of Thailand flourished despite occasional
oppression from monarchs like Rama and the burning of
Ayutthaya. However, European and American music has
become extremely influential as well as Asian music.
There are two popular styles of traditional Thai music.
First is the ‘Luk Thung’ which is developed in the mid-
20th century whose music usually tells about the daily
trials and tribulations of rural Thai. The second one is
‘more lam’ which is dominant folk music that speaks
about the poor conditions in rural areas.
There are three musical ensembles in Thailand:
Piphat – performs with a hard and padded mallet on
occasions like funerals, cremation ceremonies, and
during the holding of shadow puppetry.
• khongwong (gong circles)
• renat (Thai xylophones)
• long (different kinds of drums)
• klui (recorder)
• diddley bow (a large single-stringed
instrument that sounds like a bass)
• kaen (reed mouth organ)
• picnai (oboe-like instrument)
Khrueangsai – combines percussion and wind • three-string saw samsai fiddle
instruments for indoor performances used to
accompany the stick-puppet theater.
• saw duang (a high-pitched two-string bowed
lute)
• saw u (the lower-pitched bowed lute)
• jakhe (the three-string plucked zither).
• khlui (vertical fipple flute) in several sizes and
ranges • goblet drum (thon-rammana)
• a small hammered Chinese dulcimer
SINGAPORE
Mahori – traditionally played by court women which Due to British Empire colonization, Singapore’s culture
prefer small-sized instruments combined with Piphat and population are highly influenced by the Western
and way of life. Its folk music was influenced by Chinese,
Indian Malays, Tamils, and other minority Asian ethnic
groups.

It has two types of an orchestra:

• Singapore Symphony Orchestra – known for playing

music with western influences

• Singapore Chinese Orchestra – performs ethnic music

with Malay and Indian influence.
Khrueangsai instruments during special occasions. At Traditional instruments of Singapore include:
present, a regular-sized instrument is used.
• Kulintang

• Kompang

• Angklung

• Gamelan instruments

PHILIPPINES

Music of the Philippines (Filipino: Musika ng

Pilipinas; Spanish: Música de Filipinas) includes musical
performance arts in the Philippines or by Filipinos
composed in various genres and styles. The https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/
compositions are often a mixture of different the-10-best-books-in-philippine-literature/
Asian, Spanish, Latin American, American,
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-
and indigenous influences.
experience/top-tourist-spots-philippines
Primal Music
A series of recordings have been made of music played
on the spot. Music that does not have to be repeated
and has to be performed only once. Some styles use
traditional musical instruments in a primal way. There is
also prareuctiothe ns of primal musical instruments and
the use of found objects as new instruments. There is a
need to create new forms and styles. Also, influenced
by the Spaniards.

Indigenous Music Notable folk song composers include

the National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro, who
composed the famous "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan"
thawhichcalls the loving touch of a mother to her child.
Another great composer who's known as a patriotic
composer is Antonio Buenaventura.

 Gong music[edit]-Philippine gong music can be

divided into two types: the flat gong
commonly known as gangsà and played by the
groups in the Cordillera region of the bossed
gongs played among the Islam and animist
groups in the southern Philippines.
 The Rondalla is a traditional string orchestra
comprising two-string, mandolin-type
instruments such as the bandurria and laud;
a guitar; a double bass; and often a drum for
percussion. The rondalla has its origins in the
Iberian rondalla tradition and is used to
accompany several Hispanic-influenced song
forms and dances.
 The Harana and Kundiman are popular lyrical
songs dating back to the Spanish period and are
customarily used in courtship rituals. The
Harana is rooted in the Mexican-
Spanish tradition and based on the rhythmic
patterns of the habanera. The Kundiman,
meanwhile, has pre-colonial origins from
the Tagalophone parts of the country, uses a
triple meter rhythm, and is characterized by
beginning in a minor key and shifting to a major
one in the second half.

https://www.tropicalexperiencephilippines.com/
answer-religion