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...
... middle of paper ...
...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.
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.
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.
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.
provinces of Canada, bordered on the north by the Bay of Fundy, the province of
The meat is sliced paper thin. It is served sparingly (Barber, 179).” Even though jamón has origins of poverty, scarce resources and infertile land, it has become a food that is loved by all. It is produced in a way that is dependent on the ecosystem: the grass and acorns that feed the pigs, the pigs which fertilize the trees and grass. The self-dependent cycle of the dehesa may not be economically viable, but it creates a product that is delicious and rich, and one that can feed many with so little.
Maine is a state in northern New England in the United States. It is bounded by the Canadian provinces of Québec on the northwest and New Brunswick on the northeast. To the southwest lies New Hampshire, and to the southeast, the Atlantic Ocean. Maine entered the Union on March 15, 1820, when it was separated from Massachusetts to form the 23rd state. Augusta is Maine’s capital. Portland is the largest city. Its nickname is “The Pine Tree State.” Maine’s motto is Dario (I lead). The state song is entitled “State of Maine Song.”
The geography of a land usually plays a large role in the development of a culture by forcing an early civilization to adapt to what it has to offer. Where there are fertile lands, there is agriculture. Where there are trees, there is lumber. Where there is a large body of water, there is fishing as well as ports for boats, and so on. Often, an area’s geography can become a facet of a culture that is synonymous with the culture itself. Take the Nile River for instance, in which the ancient Egyptians based their entire civilization around, dubbing it the “life-giver.” The Nile not only provided water to quench the thirst of an entire empire, but it also fertilized its surrounding land for agriculture and made way for communication and trade with other ancient peoples, essentially becoming a driving force in the Egyptian’s prosperity. This was acknowledged by the Egyptians themselves, who worshipped and celebrated the Nile River, even going so far as to write songs of the river’s glory, some of which have been discovered, translated, and preserved in modern times. As a result of the Egyptians’ admiration, the Nile River represents a part of their culture that remains reflected upon even today, and it demonstrates how the geography of an area can be imperative to providing for and shaping a
3. Blij, H.J. de and Peter O. Muller. Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts 2000 Ninth Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.
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
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.
Consumption is one of the biggest areas of disagreement in regards to animal rights. Throughout the world there are many different laws and regulations regarding the treatment of animals. Each country has their own set of standards, many of them religious and others more along the lines of common sense. While it is normal to regularly consume cattle meat (such as cow) in America, many Hindu Indians refrain from it...
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...
De, Blij Harm J., and Peter O. Muller. Geography: Realms, Regions, and Concepts. New York: J. Wiley, 1997. 340. Print.