Although incredibly diverse, the countries that make up the Asean region share many surprising similarities, revealing close ties and a shared history.
Images: 123RF and Inmagine
In the Philippines, they call the large wok kawali, while in Malaysia, it is called kuali. In Thailand, people kick and pass a rattan ball around using everything but their lower arms and hands; they call this traditional ball game takraw, and it is played throughout the Asean region, from Myanmar to Brunei and Indonesia.
Over the centuries, boundary lines that marked ancient kingdoms have been redrawn time and again, and people have migrated over great distances, settling in new lands. Trade and travel have brought about cultural exchange, connecting people in surprising ways – both big and small. This is reflected in many aspects, from architecture and arts to food and games across Southeast Asia.
FUN AND GAMES
Among the many popular childhood games in Southeast Asia is congkak (Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia) or congklak (Indonesia). This traditional game is played with an elongated wooden apparatus that is much longer than it is wide, with two big holes on each end called ‘stores’ – one belonging to each player. The wooden apparatus, which looks like a boat, has two rows of holes carved in between the stores. These are called ‘homes’ and can range from between 14 and 18 holes, depending on the board.
Image: Inmagine
Each home is usually filled with seven tokens, which can include marbles, saga seeds, tamarind seeds or small stones, and players duke it out through mental prowess to get more tokens into their stores. They do this by picking up all the tokens in one hole and depositing one token into each of the homes, filling up their stores as they pass and skipping over their opponent’s stores. Where the last token lands determines what happens next, which makes this a game of prediction as much as strategy. Different variations of this game can be found in Thailand (mak khum thai) and the Philippines (sungka).
This derivate of the mancala games (from the family of counting-based board games) celebrates the mingling of travel and culture, as it is believed to have made its way to the region in the 15th century through merchants who came to Malacca.
Another classic game is the sport of takraw, which is what volleyball would look like if it was played with feet instead of hands. There are three players on each team, and the ball is usually made of a rattan weave. Similar to volleyball, each rally is limited to three strikes before the ball must be sent to the opponent’s side of the court. This display of athleticism, as players try to spike the ball with their feet, is nothing short of spectacular.
Image: 123RF
This sport sees its origins in both Malaysia and Thailand. It is said that takraw was played in the 15th century during the time of the Malaccan Sultanate, while in Thailand, murals dating back to the 18th century depict the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman, playing the game. In Malaysia, this game is called sepak takraw, a blend of the local Malay language (sepak meaning kick) and the Thai word takraw, which refers to the woven ball.
The sport and its variants are widely played in Brunei, Indonesia, Laos (kataw), Myanmar (chin lone) and the Philippines (sipa). The popularity of takraw has seen the rattan ball move beyond Southeast Asia and into international courts, and there’s even a push for this sport to be included in the Olympics.
FIERCE & FURIOUS
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s fiercest forms of martial arts, both with and without weapons. One of the most famous of these, with origins in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, is called silat. This martial art combines both armed and unarmed combat, with fighting styles as diverse as its roots.
While the rules that govern silat competitions forbid attacks to the head, neck and eyes, when used as a form of self-defence outside of tournaments, silat is ruthless. Using dangerous joint manipulations and deadly weapons such as the keris (asymmetrical dagger) and the kerambit (short hooked knife), silat practitioners are not to be messed with.
The different schools of silat are not unlike the many divisions of kung-fu, which derive inspiration from a wide spectrum of sources.
Silat sendeng, for instance, emphasises close quarter combat through advantageous positioning, and prioritises attacking over defence, while silat gayung harimau is predominantly a keris-based form of silat.
Image: Getty
Just as brutal is Southeast Asian kickboxing sports, of which, Muay Thai is without a doubt the most famous. This martial art from Thailand is known as the ‘art of eight limbs’, as it involves the use of both fists, elbows, knees and shins. The striking styles of this martial art have proved so effective in bringing down opponents that they are now employed by many mixed martial arts practitioners.
Similar forms of kickboxing can be found in Cambodia (pradal serey), Myanmar (leth wei), and Laos (muay lai lao). Some believe that pradal serey may have actually been the first form of kickboxing in Southeast Asia, paving the way for other variations. During the reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 70s, the practice of pradal serey went through a decline, as traditional martial arts were banned in Cambodia. Today, pradal serey is going through a revival, with Khmer fighters training the younger generation to keep this traditional martial art alive.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
A rice farmer harvesting her crop. Image: 123rf.
A road trip across Southeast Asia reveals vast rice fields that serve as a testament to the importance of this crop within the region’s agricultural sector. As a major producer of rice, it is no wonder then that rice is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine, with dishes such as Thailand’s mango sticky rice, the Philippines’ kalamay (a dessert made from ground glutinous rice, coconut milk and brown sugar), Malaysia’s nasi lemak (a dish of rice cooked in coconut milk, served with a spicy chilli paste, sliced cucumber, boiled eggs, and fried peanuts and anchovies), as well as Hainanese chicken rice, which hails from China, and is found in Thailand (kao man gai), as well as Singapore and Malaysia. When preparing Hainanese chicken rice, the rice is often pre-roasted with chicken fat before being boiled in chicken stock. The chicken is simmered in chicken stock, resulting in a yellow-skinned finish that is the dish’s trademark. In Malacca, Malaysia, you can find chicken rice balls, a more creative version of the chicken rice dish. Conceptualised for convenience, the balls, moulded out of short rice, were designed to be eaten on the go.
Mango sticky rice, a delicacy in Thailand. Image: Inmagine.
Similarities can also be observed in the many sweet treats enjoyed across Southeast Asia, for example, halo-halo, a Filipino classic that comprises shaved ice, kaong (fruit of the sugar palm), white beans, corn, jackfruit, jelly and evaporated milk. Perhaps, it’s the tropical heat that makes ice-based desserts such a hit around the region, for similar icy delights are also enjoyed in Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia (ais kacang) and Indonesia (es kacang). Each country has its own condiments, which include red beans, sweet corn, grass jelly, ice cream and palm sugar syrup. The combination of ingredients delivers a smorgasbord of textures in a single scoop.
A shaved ice dessert called ais kacang. Image: 123rf.
Another dessert that seems to have regional variants is Vietnam’s banh lot. At its most basic, this delicacy consists of sweet and slippery rice flour jelly noodles that are almost always green in colour, served with coconut milk and drizzled with palm sugar syrup. This creamy combo may also include extras such as glutinous rice, red beans, and sweet corn, and is found in Indonesia, Malaysia (cendol), Thailand (lod chong) and Myanmar (mont let saung).
SOUL AND SONG
Wayang kulit (shadow puppetry) is a time-honoured performance art in Southeast Asia. Its origins in the region can be traced to Indonesia, while scholars argue that this theatrical form may have come from India or China. Whatever the provenance, the development of shadow puppetry has been greatly influenced by the Hindu-Buddhist period, particularly between AD800 and AD1500.
Behind the scenes of a nang yai performance in Thailand Image: 123RF.
Most theatrical performances convey tales derived from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Over time, the shadow tales also incorporated Islamic elements, as well as local folklore. Contemporary wayang kulit performances often fuse the old stories with parodies of current events, serving as social commentary.
Puppets are typically crafted from buffalo and goat hide, and manipulated by a dalang (puppet master) – the theatrical mastermind who brings the different characters to life through shadow play, song and dialogue. Shadow puppetry can also be found in Malaysia (wayang kulit), Cambodia (lakhaon nang sbek) and Thailand (nang yai).
A gamelan orchestra after a performance at the Batubulan Village in Bali, Indonesia. Image: Inmagine.
A wayang kulit performance is usually accompanied by a traditional orchestra. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the musical ensemble is called gamelan, and comprises various percussion and string instruments, xylophones, and wind instruments. Thailand and Cambodia have the peephat and pinpeat respectively.
BOUND BY THE CLOTH
One of the most common articles of clothing in Southeast Asia, the sarong, is worn as frequently as t-shirts and jeans. Comfortable and casual, this tubular covering is worn by both men and women, and is usually wrapped around the lower part of the body.
A man in a sarong repairing a spinning top. Image: Inmagine.
It is a commonplace article of clothing in Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar (longyi), Thailand (pa kao mah) and the Philippines (malong), where its popularity may be attributed to its versatility. In rural areas, a simple form of sarong is worn when bathing in rivers or at wells, or even relaxing at home, while more sophisticated versions are incorporated into formal traditional attire, such as the baju kebaya (traditional blouse-dress) in Indonesia and Malaysia, and the longyi.
An Intha fisherman in longyi using an unusual leg-rowing technique to propel his flat-bottom boat across Inle Lake, Myanmar. Image: Getty.
More often than not, sarongs come in chequered prints, but they also feature ikat (tie-dye) designs and batik prints. The latter is an art form that is practised in Indonesia and Malaysia. Like the sarong, batik prints also see a wide variety of uses, decorating scarves, table-cloths, curtains and even bed sheets.
A SHARED LEGACY
Buddhism, which arrived in the region in the first century AD, has forged an impressive architectural legacy, visible in the many stunning temples across Southeast Asia.
A Buddha statue in the morning light at the majestic Borobudur temple. Image: Getty.
For example, take the 1,200-year-old Borobudur temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which is said to form a giant mandala (Buddhist symbol that represents the universe and is used to aid meditation) when viewed from above. This temple features numerous stupas that circle the main stupa, as well as statues of the Buddha. Elaborate stone reliefs here depict the life of the Buddha and the principles of his teachings, and are meant to guide pilgrims through the three realms of existence: kamadhatu (realm of desire), rupadhatu (realm of form) and arupadhatu (realm of formlessness). Scholars believe that by navigating the different realms and understanding the teachings here, enlightenment may be attained.
A temple dancer posing in front of the baluster window in the Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image: Inmagine.
Another world-famous temple is the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Although originally Hindu, this temple features Buddhist elements too, as it is believed that King Jayavarman VII, who commissioned the temple, converted to Buddhism circa the 12th century AD, and infused the temple with love for his new found religion. This temple is so iconic that it is even portrayed on the Cambodian national flag. The temple of Bayon, which was built some 100 years later, is a Buddhist temple characterised by the four faces sculpted onto temple towers, which are said to depict the bodhisattva (enlightened being) of compassion, Avalokitesvara.
Another country where Buddhism is deeply ingrained is Thailand. There is an abundance of Buddhist-inspired architecture here, with some 30,000 temples across the country. Of these, Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok serves as a central landmark and is home to the statue of the Emerald Buddha.
THE ASEAN CONNECTION
These cultural similarities reveal a shared heritage, reflecting the interconnectedness of the rich and diverse Asean community.
RICKSHAW ADVENTURES
A WARM WELCOME
Brunei, it is common for locals to greet each other with the salam. This is sort of a gentle handshake using both hands that ends with the hands being brought to the chest to signify a greeting from the heart. In the Philippines, elders are greeted with a gesture of respect called mano, which entails touching the hand of an elder to the forehead. This custom is also practised by Malays in Malaysia.
WHAT IS ASEAN?
THE ASEAN PASS
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