Arunachal Pradesh
Overview:
If there is one epithet that can describe Arunachal accurately, it would have to be ‘bewitching’. Arunachal Pradesh which is India’s remotest North Eastern state straddles the Eastern Himalayas and the Brahmaputra Valley. Embraced by Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Assam to the south, the state is nature’s own treasure trove. With a green cover of 63 % it is one of the most pristine eco systems on the planet. The five perennial snow-fed rivers Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit and Tirap have literally sculpted the landscape in Arunachal in the direction of their flow.
With an area of 83,743 sq km, Arunachal is huge and travelling around its vast mountainous terrain can be arduous. Infrastructure is almost non-existent and the only way of getting around is by hiring an SUV. The most fascinating part of journeys through Arunachal are the river crossings; with very few bridges, almost every river here has to be forded by boat. The little river ports are a virtual cultural consommé, this is where the various ethnic groups from different parts of Arunachal congregate occasionally and trade.
Although western Arunachal is easier to access, the most exciting way to commence your voyage of discovery in this state is to start in the country's easternmost village of Dong, where the first rays of the sun strike the subcontinent. This has earned Arunachal the sobriquet - ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. At an altitude of 1,240 metres, Dong is at the confluence of the rivers Lohit and Sati, and is strategically sited at the junction of India, China and Myanmar. From here, one can either sail down the Lohit in country boats or choose to drive along some of the most scenic roads in the country. It is not uncommon for the ro...
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...fly is fair game; even the Great Hornbill, the state bird of Arunachal is hunted for its meat. Their beaks and heads are used as charms by some, while others believe that their flesh possesses medicinal properties. Wild hogs and the domesticated bison are considered a delicacy and every family rears pigs. Rice is the staple food of all the tribe’s of Arunachal Pradesh. ‘Dung Po’ is the most popular version of steamed rice. The rice is generally cooked in green bamboo tubes, infusing it with a unique flavour. ‘Wungwut Ngam’ (chicken with fried rice powder) and ‘Pasa’ a fish soup prepared with raw fish and ground spices are local favourites. Migrants from Bihar have set up numerous roadside kiosks selling vegetarian fare throughout Arunchal, for vegetarians the choices are few, but they can travel to the state with the assurance that their hunger will be satiated.
Now that we’ve made our way through the journey of Ken Jennings’ incredible book I feel as if it’s important for me to try to sway you to become more involved in geography. It’s a truly fascinating subject and can take you places you never thought you could ever visit. If you don’t want to leave your home, at least buy an atlas, map, or visit Google Earth. You never know what you could discover in your journey. If you don’t think maps or an atlas is your thing, you never know if you never try. Jennings created a journey, for me I would have never cared to take had it not been assigned as a college class assignment, but now I’m so glad I did. Jennings shined a different light on geocaching, and map hunting. He made it fun, interesting, and overall thrilling.
In the book “Why Geography Matters More Than Ever”, the author, Harm de Blij, discusses the importance of geography, how it can affect us in any place or any time, and why it matters. But most importantly, he succeeds to advance our perception of the world’s geography. Throughout the book de Blij highlights the many benefits of being educated about geography. He explains that it is important that we are informed about this topic so we can be more prepared for the events happening around the world. This book illustrates just how essential it is to be well-educated when it comes to geography.
Dunn, Margery G. (Editor). (1989, 1993). "Exploring Your World: The Adventure of Geography." Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
The day have broken dry and bright in the Gobi Desert, extraordinarily dry and bright, the young girl walked through the trail that the elders have pointed her to. It must be over 45 degrees. The elders of the nomadic tribe have once said never to travel if the temperature exceeds 40 degrees but the young girl was to prove them wrong. This trail leads to the southeast edge of the desert, China. She had always imagine and dreamt what China would look like under the golden ray of sunshine, would it shine bright like a ruby, reflecting it’s breath taking architect or would it be a rusty old country fill with 500 years of history, 500 years worth of knowledge and culture. The young girl had beg and yearn to go to China, to see the great wall, the Forbidden City and other great architect within the mysterious, Sino country. She have stopped on top of a slope, staring at the sky, it was about ten o’clock, two more hours until she will have to find a shade or shelter to hide from the boiling heat of the midday sun. She had looked down from the slope and the nomadic village is now just a mere dot, next to her was a dog with the fur of gold. It was a gift from the elders before she set off to a journey longer than she will ever imagine. She peered through the sunray and saw a thin line; this hairline is the trail that was build for the villagers to travel.
1. Asher, Frederick M.. 1980. The Art of Eastern India, 300-800. NED - New edition. University of Minnesota Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctttssqv {November 16, 2015}
Madagascar’s cuisine can be clearly marked by its sheer simplicity. The food is prepared without too many spices, but the lack of spices does not make the food dull and bland. Cuisines of France, China, India and also East African and Arabian cultures have all made their influence felt in Madagascar. The traditional cuisine of Madagascar consists mainly of rice. The rice is called “Vary” and it is typically eaten with some accompaniment, which is called the “Laoka”. As you move down the country towards the southwest regions, you will get to eat rice that may be supplemented or replaced by ground maize. However rice is the main diet of the natives, and is available in bounty. The native people have become very resourceful in developing huge numbers of scrumptious preparations with this one simple grain.
Blij has clearly put this book into historical significance by mentioning the idea of geography and how it plays a role in societies all over the world. However, the five themes of culture regions, cultural diffusion, cultural interaction, cultural ecology, and cultural landscapes are all clearly defined within a specific context to a particular nation. Through reading this intriguing piece of literature I received the underlying notion that Blij firmly believes that landscapes of the world realm are not going to change. De Blij worldview of regions, diffusion, interaction, ecology, and landscapes has allowed him to simultaneously link issues together from the United States all the way to Southeast Asia.
Don eats foods that are native to her culture. For her culture, these are mainly rice dishes. Her favorite is called Mohinga which is a noodle dish. Don states, “mohinga is a comforting noodle soup considered one of the national dishes of Burma. The hot and sour fish based broth is poured over noodles in generous bowls. The recipe includes intense aromatic ingredients such as lemongrass, chili and shrimp
In 1271, Marco Polo, Niccolo Polo, and Maffeo Polo decided to set out for Asia again. In order to reach China, they had to cross the Gobi desert. Their journeys took place on land, and were forced to cross through harsh ter...
Geography Alive!: Regions and People. Palto Alto, CA: Teacher's Curriculum Institute, 2006. N. pag. Print.
It is very difficult to survive in such a place. The river will be hungry always. It has taken away many lives, and the women in the villages are almost widows. There are many harmful animals and insects which may destroy the lives of the people who live there. Even though there are many dangerous situations, Amitav Ghosh portrays beautifully and describes the forest Sundarbans, two thirds of Sundarbans are in Bangladesh and one third is in India. This is the place where the sea water and fresh water mingles and the rare species of Irrawaddy dolphins, which survive in this
2. In the South, they prepare a more vegetarian style meal, which includes many rice dishes, Moong daal halwa, and carrot and almond
Bhutan is a small country located in the Himalayas. It does have a richly scenic land though. There are broad, grassy valleys; forested mountain ranges, and heavily wooded jungle areas. There are three geographic regions in which the country is divided. Northern Bhutan lies in the Great Himalayas where the mountains reach as high as 24,000 ft. and the weather is cold. Central Bhutan is in the middle of the Himalayan region where there are several fertile valleys. The Duars plain, along the southern border of Bhutan is a hot, humid, and rainy area. This jungle region is filled with malaria infested swamps. (Karan, 224)
India is well known as a nation of contrasts, and the nation itself is a paradox. It is one of the world’s oldest known civilizations, yet it has only existed as the nation the world now know sit for 67 years. Similarly, it has produced some of the most important contributions to mathematics, science, philosophy, and trade, yet it is still considered to be a developing nation. The country’s history is a long, winding journey that has led it to its current state – the world’s largest democracy featuring both the same technological advancements enjoyed by the first world and the same challenges and problems faced by the rest of the developing world.
Rice is also a common food, especially in South India. Since rice symbolizes good fortune in India, rice porridge is usually the first solid food fed to babies (Sheen 8). Rice is also the most crucial crop to India, which is why it is usually prepared in a spiced dish, called pilau. Even though there are...