geography and religion of south east asia ( revised and updated)

 Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic and volcanic activity

GEOGRAPHY

SUBREGIONS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

Mainland Southeast Asia (or Indochina).

Maritime Southeast

The physical features of Southeast Asia, contains of Mountains and Rivers.

-Mountains are the dominant landscape. Most of the peaks are below 10,000 feet, which create geographical and political barriers. The Western and Northern highlands separate region from India and China. The mineral-rich volcanic material breaks down and leaves rich, fertile soil, which make Southeast Asia highly productive agricultural.

-Rivers are very significant in the Southeast Asia. It is the waterways for transportation, communication and food.Silt and deposits of sediment create fertile agricultural regions. The mainland rivers originate in northern highlands and flow south to Gulf of Thailand    

Capital of Vietnam

Hanoi

Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin and South China as well as China, Laos and

LOCATION

GEOGRAPHY Climate Tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

Land area- 653,508 sq km Land use a) agricultural land: 34.8% b) arable land 20.6%; permanent crops 12.1%; permanent pasture 2.1% c) forest: 45% d) other: 20.2% (2011 est.)

Population:93,386,630 (est. 2015)

PEOPLE AND SOCIETYEthnic groups Kinh (Viet) 85.7% Tay 1.9% Thai 1.8%Muong 1.5%Khmer 1.5% Mong 1.2% Nung 1.1%others 5.3% (1999 census)

Languages Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian

Religion: Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

PRODUCT INDUSTRY

rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts,

Food Processing, Garments, Shoes, machine-building, mining, coal, steel, cement, chemical fertilizers, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones

LOCATION:Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Capital of Laos

Vientiane

GEOGRAPHYClimateLandlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

Land Area : 230,800 sq km Land use: a) agricultural land: 10.6% b) arable land 6.2%; permanent crops 0.7%; permanent pasture 3.7% c) forest: 67.9% d) other: 21.5% (2011 est) Population: 7 104

925 (January 2016 est.)

PEOPLE AND SOCIETYEthnic groups: Lao 54.6%, Khmou 10.9%, Hmong 8%, Tai 3.8%, Phuthai 3.3%, Lue 2.2%, Katang 2.1%, Makong 2.1%, Akha 1.6%, other 10.4%, unspecified 1% (2005 est.)

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic language

Religions: Buddhist 66.8%, Christian 1.5%, other 31%, unspecified 0.7% (2005 est.)

PRODUCTINDUSTRY sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; cassava (manioc, tapioca), water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh

Myanmar Capital

Rangoon (Yangon)

GEOGRAPHY Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April) Land Area- 653,508 sq km Land use: agricultural land: 19.2% arable land 16.5%; permanent crops 2.2%; permanent pasture 0.5% forest: 48.2% other: 32.6% (2011 est.) Population:55 ,124 104

(January 2016, est.)

FAST FACTS In 2006 the capital of Myanmar was moved from Yangon to Rangoon

“Education For All“The Mons- The first people in Myanmar Japanese OccupationThe Irrawaddy River in Myanmar is believed to be a symbol of ‘Continuity’.Irrawaddy River 

PEOPLE AND SOCIETY Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Languages: Burmese (official) note: minority ethnic groups have their own languages Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%

PRODUCT INDUSTRY

rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; fish and fish

agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade, gems

LOCATION:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Capital of ThailandBangkok

FAST FACTS Thailand’s name in the Thai language is Prathet Thai, which means “Land of the Free.” It is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a European nation

Thailand is home to the world’s largest gold Buddha,the largest crocodile farm, the largest restaurant, the longest single-span suspension bridge, and the world’s tallest hotel

The world’s largest Buddha is 9.8 feet tall

Thailand is the world’s 51st largest country. Russia is the largest. The United States is third largestThailand is home to the world’s hairest child, Supatra “Nat” Sasuphan.

GEOGRAPHYLand Area-10,890 sq kmLand use•agricultural land: 41.2%•arable land 30.8%; permanent crops 8.8%; permanent pasture 1.6%•forest: 37.2%•other: 21.6% (2011 est.

Climatetropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid.

PEOPLE AND SOCIETY Ethnic groups Thai 95.9%, Burmese 2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2010 est.) Languages Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8% note: English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.)

Religions Buddhist (official) 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2010 est.)

Population:68 309 899 (January 2016, est.)

PRODUCTrice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, palm oil, pineapple, livestock, fish products, beverages, tobacco, cement, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice,

INDUSTRY

tourism, textiles and garment weaving agricultural processing, light manufacturing machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, fishing, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Capital of Cambodia

Phnom Penh

GEOGRAPHYClimate:Tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Land Area- 653,508 sq kmLand use:agricultural land: 32.1%arable land 22.7%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 8.5%forest: 56.5%other: 11.4% (2011 est.)

Population: 15 900 885.) (January 2016, est.)

FAST FACTS The Cambodian flag is the only national flag that has an image of a building –the Angkor Wat.

Cambodia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. Between the years 1990 and 2005, the country has lost 25,000 square kilometers of forest.In 2001, Cambodia opened its first

across the Mekong River, linking the east and west of the country.

Hollow bricks are used to construct almost all buildings in Cambodia. This is to save cost. Furthermore, there is no skyscraper in Phnom Penh, the country’s capital city. The skyline has been kept low to avoid overshadowing the Royal Palace. The tallest building in the country currently under construction in Phnom Penh is the 42-storey high Gold Tower 42

PEOPLE AND SOCIETYEthnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Languages: Khmer (official) 96.3%, other 3.7% (2008 est.)Religions:

Buddhist (official) 96.9%, Muslim 1.9%, Christian 0.4%, other 0.8% (2008)

PRODUCTINDUSTRYrice, rubber, corn,

vegetables, cashews, cassava (manioc, tapioca), silk, wood and wood products,

tourism, garments and textile weaving construction, rice milling, fishing, gem mining, oil and gas manufacturing

Mainland

Country

Capital Location Population

Language Religion Product Industry

Vietnam Hanoi Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin and South China as well as China, Laos and

93,386,630

Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language

Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%,

rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts

Food Processing, Garments, Shoes, machine-building, mining, coal, steel, cement, chemical fertilizers, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones

Laos Vientiane

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

7 104 925 Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic language

Buddhist 66.8%, Christian 1.5%, other 31%, unspecified 0.7%

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice;, water buffalo, pigs, cattle,

mining ,timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism

Myanmar Rangoon Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh

55 ,124 104

Burmese (official)

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%

rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; fish and fish

agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals;

Thailand Bangkok Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

8 309 899 Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%,  English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.)

Buddhist (official) 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1%

rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, palm oil, pineapple, livestock, fish products, beverages, tobacco, cement,

tourism, textiles and garment weaving agricultural processing, light manufacturing machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, fishing, , t

Cambodia

PhnomPenh

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

15 900 885 Khmer (official) 96.3%, other 3.7%

Buddhist (official) 96.9%, Muslim 1.9%, Christian 0.4%, other 0.8%

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, cassava (manioc, tapioca), silk, wood and wood products

tourism, garments and textile weaving construction, rice milling, fishing, gem mining, oil and gas manufacturing

JAKARTA

FAST FACTS Formerly known as Dutch East Indies (Netherlands East Indies) Used as early as 1884 (German Geographer) Greek indos and nesos Western Guinea (part of Indonesia) Thousands of volcanic islands Beaches, volcanoes, elephants, tigers and Komodo dragons Hot climate

 Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. 

GEOGRAPHYArchipelago 17,500 islands (7,000 inhabited)Most populated country in Southeast Asia

4th largest Asian country4th most populated country in the World

Population:225,708,785 (2015 est.)

Land Area:1.919 sq. km.

Dimensions:East to West - 3,200 miles (5,100 km)

North to South – 1,100 miles (1,800 km)

PRODUCTS

Rice, Palm Oil, Cassava, Petroleum, Coffee, Coconuts, Corn, Rubber, Sugar Cane, Peanuts, Natural Gas, Plywood, Textiles, Clothing, Ebony, Teak

INDUSTRYManufacturing MiningConstruction

PRINCIPAL ISLANDSSumatraJavaBaliCelebes (Sulawesi)Borneo

STATE RECOGNIZED RELIGIONS

Islam (most dominant) 88% Java and Sumatra 12th century – arrival of Muslim traders from India

Between 12th and 15th centuries Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan

STATE RECOGNIZED RELIGIONSChristianity Two main Christian divisions: Protestantism and Roman Catholicism

Protestantism 16th century (Dutch East Indies Colonization) Roman Catholicism Portuguese arrival Spice trading

STATE RECOGNIZED RELIGIONSHinduism earliest religion in Indonesia 1st century Agama Hindu Dharma No caste system Local and ancestral spirits instead of rebirth and reincarnation

Art and ritual instead of scriptures, laws and beliefs

STATE RECOGNIZED RELIGIONSBuddhism second oldest religion 6th century

At Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

LOCATION

CAPITAL

Capital of Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Land UseClimateTropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoon

Lana) agricultural land: 23.2% b) arable land 2.9%; permanent crops 19.4%; permanent pasture 0.9% c) forest: 62% d) other: 14.8% (2011 est.)

PEOPLE AND SOCIETYPeople of AsiaEthnic groups:Malay 50.1%, Chinese 22.6%, indigenous 11.8%, Indian 6.7%, other 0.7%, non-citizens 8.2% (2010 est.)

RELIGIONIslam - 61.3% of the country - Arab traders sailed to the Malay archipelago as early as the seventh century. Buddhism - 20% of the country - Chinese Influence - Nirvana Hinduism - 6.3% of the country - Indian Influence - Shaivite tradition

PRODUCTSINDUSTRY

rubber, tin, palm oil, tropical hardwoods, cocoa, and pepper. petroleum, natural gas, and manufactured items, especially electronics and semiconductors Peninsula Malaysia - rubber and

oil palm processing and manufacturing, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semiconductors, timber processing

Sabah - logging, petroleum and natural gas production

LOCATIONLies at the tip of the Malay Peninsula;Borders Malaysia Indonesia, and BruneiArea: 248 square miles (642 square kilometers) Consists of the diamond-shaped Singapore Island and some 60 small isletsLike Vatican City, a Citystate)

DEMOGRAPHYPopulation: 5,674,472 (July 2015 est.)Million: Citizens and permanent residents, 300,000: Foreign workers)Chinese: 78 %Malays: 14 %Indians: 7 %Others: 1 %

RELIGION One of the most religious countries in the world Major religions:Islam (Malay)Hinduism (Indians)Buddhism (Chinese)Taoism (Chinese)Folk religion (Chinese)

LANGUAGES Mandarin (official)

36.3%, English (official) 29.8% Malay (official) 11.9%, Hokkien 8.1% Tamil (official) 4.4% Cantonese 4.1% Teochew 3.2% other Indian

languages 1.2% other Chinese dialects

1.1%, other 1.1% (2010 est.

PRODUCTS Top 10 Exports:1. Electronic equipment: US$124.9 billion (30.5%

of total exports)2. Oil: $68.7 billion (16.8%)3. Machines, engines, pumps: $54 billion (13.2%)4. Organic chemicals: $18.3 billion (4.5%)5. Plastics: $16.4 billion (4%)6. Medical, technical equipment: $15.9 billion (3.9%)

7. Gems, precious metals, coins: $8.2 billion (2%)8. Pharmaceuticals: $7.1 billion (1.7%)9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $5.8 billion (1.4%)10. Books, newspapers, pictures: $5.7 billion (1.4%)

INDUSTRYEconomy is liberalizedMajor Industries:1. Construction2. Banking and Finance3. Tourism4. Biomedical Sciences

•Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

LOCATION

Capital- Manila

GEOGRAPHYClimate Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Land Area- approximately 343, 448.32 sq. km Land Use a.) agricultural land: 41% b.) arable land 18.2%; permanent crops 17.8%; permanent pasture 5% c.) forest: 25.9% d.) other: 33.1% (2011 est.)

FAST FACTS The Philippine flag is the only flag in

the world that is displayed upside-down when the country is in war (red on top and blue at the bottom when in war)

Cory Aquino’s favorite color was RED, not YELLOW

The first same-sex marriage in the Philippines was between two NPA members.  In the 1970s, a

22.6-foot reticulated phyton terrorized Luzon and swallowed an Agta Negrito

PEOPLE AND SOCIETYEthnic groups: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Languages: Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Population- 101,802,706 (2015)

Country’s Share of World Population- 1.39%

World Population- 7,324,782,225

Global Rank- 12th

RELIGIONReligions: Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9% Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

PRODUCTSINDUSTRY

Woodcraft, rattan furnituresugar, banananatural sea salt, milkfish, rice, coconuts, corn, cassava (manioc, tapioca), pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

construction industry, mineral resourcestourism,  semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits

GEOGRAPHY

Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Capital of Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawa

Climate :Tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Land Area-5,265sq kmLand Use a) agricultural land: 2.5%b) b) arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent pasture 0.6% c) c) forest: 71.8% d) d) other: 25.7% (2011 est.)

FAST FACTS In Brunei, alcohol sale

and drinking in public is strictly prohibited

One of the wealthiest people on earth, Sultan Hassanal , was the world’s richest man in 1993 and has a collection of more than 500 luxury cars and a palace that has more than 1500 rooms Brunei is among the few countries

where women have still not been granted the right to vote

PEOPLE AND SOCIETYEthnic groups: Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)

Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects

Population: 441 201

RELIGIONMuslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, oother (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)

PRODUCTINDUSTRY

rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, transportation

Maritime Capital Location Population

Language Religion Product Industry

Indonesia Jakarta Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

225,708,785

Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese)

Islam (most dominant) 88%, Christianity: Protestantism and Roman CatholicismHinduism

Rice, Palm Oil,Cassava, Petroleum, Coffee, Coconuts, Corn, Rubber, Sugar Cane, Peanuts, Natural Gas,

Manufacturing MiningConstruction

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

At Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

30,513,848 Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai

Islam 61.3% , Buddhism 20% , Hinduism 6.3%

bber, tin, palm oil, tropical hardwoods, cocoa, and pepper. petroleum, natural gas, and manufactured items, electronics and semiconductors

rubber and oil palm processing, manufacturig, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semiconductors, timber processing

Singapore Singapore

Tip of the MalayPeninsula; Bordering Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei

5,674,472 Mandarin (official) 36.3%,English (official) 29.8%Malay (official) 11.9%,Hokkien8.1%Tamil (official) 4.4%

Islam (Malay)Hinduism (Indians)Buddhism(Chinese)Taoism (Chinese)Folk religion(Chinese)

Electronic equipment, OIL, Machines, engines, pumps, organic chemicals, Medical, technical equipment, plastics

ConstructionBanking and FinanceTourismBiomedical Sciences

Philippines

Manila Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

101,802,706

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Religions: Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9% Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%,

Woodcraft, rattan furnituresugar, banana, natural sea salt, milkfish, rice, coconuts, corn, cassava, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

construction industry, mineral resourcestourism,  semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products ,petroleum, coconut oil, and fruits

Brunei Bandar Seri Begawa

Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

441 201 Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects

Muslim (official) 78.8%,Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7%

rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, transportation

CHRISTIANITY Christianity is the world's largest religion, with over 2.4 billion adherents,  known as Christians.  Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity whose coming as Christ or the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament.

BELIEFS OF CHRISTIANITYBible is the only inspired, infallible, and authoritative written Word of God, penned by man with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Believe in the death, descent into hell, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, the holiness of the Church and the communion of saints ,theChrist's second coming, the Day of Judgement and salvation of the faithful.

ISLAM/MUSLIMHistorians claim that the prophet Muhammad founded Islam in 622 CE. They believe that it started in the city of Mecca, when according to Muhammad, the angel Gabriel began reading the first revelation.

 Today Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with approximately 1.3 billion adherents.  Approximately 22% of the world’s population is Muslim.

ISLAMIC BELIEFSBelieve in The Quran, the sacred text of Islam states,

Muslim Beliefs about Allah

Muslim Beliefs about the Afterlife

Believe in the Five Pillar of Islam

HINDUISM

Hinduism is thought to have gotten its name from the Persian word hindu, meaning "river," used by outsiders to describe the people of the Indus River Valley.

There are a total of 900 million Hindus worldwide, making Hinduism the third largest religion (after Christianity and Islam).

Scholars describe modern Hinduism as the product of religious development in India that spans nearly four thousand years, making it the oldest surviving world religion. Indeed, as seen above, Hindus regard their religion as eternal (sanatama).

THE TWO MAJOR SECTS OF HINDUISM

Shivaism refers to Shiva as the ultimate deity. People who worship Shiva consider him to be everything: creator, preserver, and destroyer. Overall Shiva is known for being the destroyer, because without destruction there can be no recreation. Shiva is the source of both good and evil who combines many opposing elements and he is associated with fertility.

Vaishnaism refers to Vishnu as the ultimate deity. Vishnu is known as the preserver and is believed to be associated with the sun god and is considered by worshipers to be the greatest of all the gods. Vishnu preserves and protects the universe and save human kind from natural disasters and oppression

HINDU BELIEFSHindus worship many gods and goddess. Hindus believe that certain Gods and Goddesses represent certain aspects of life. Brahma (creator of the universe) Vishnu (preserver of the universe) and Shiva (destroyer of the universe)Hindus believe in reincarnation and the caste system.Considers cow as a sacred animal.The Vedas are the ultimate authority.

Vedas are Hindu scriptures that contain revelations received by ancient saints and sages.

A religion and philosophy that originated in India in the 6th. Century B.C., based on the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, called Buddha or Enlightened one.

BUDDHISM

Today Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, with 360 million Hinduism

Three Major Categories of Buddhism1. Theravada Buddhism ("Way of the Elders") is

also known as southern Buddhism because most of its followers are located in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand and some of Vietnam. Buddhism started in many of these countries when missionaries came over from India.

2.2. Mahayana Buddhism is also known as eastern Buddhism and is predominantly found in China, Japan, Korea, and some of Vietnam. Mahayana entered East Asia during the Han dynasty (206 to 220 BCE) in China. It was first practiced by the working class and then began to spread to the rulers of China. Missionaries traveled to surrounding countries and where it soon became popular.

3. Tibetan Buddhism is also known as Northern Buddhism and is widely popular inTibet, Mongolia, Russia and parts of China. Tibetan Buddhism began in Tibet around 640 CE. In the beginning, there were many conflicts with the native Tibetan religionon Bon. After the Cultural Revolution, Tibetan Buddhism began its revival

Buddhist beliefs•Buddhists do not believe in a god or gods

•Do not believe in prayer, the need for eternal life or salvation•They do believe in reincarnation, which is the cycle of rebirth, life and death before they reach their ultimate goal of nirvana •Buddhists also believe in the four noble truthsright thinking, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration)

TAOISMTaoism is more than just a “philosophy” or a “religion”. Taoism should be understood as being: A system of belief, attitudes and practices set towards the service and living to a person’s own nature

Taoism is so old; the complete history of Taoism cannot be traced through written records. 

BELIEFS AND PRACTICESHealth, vitality and living in

accordance with nature

An early surviving text to describe the Tao is the Tao-Te Ching,written by Lao-Tzu (The old master).

T'ai Chi Ch'uan, also called T'ai Chi, is a popular Taoist martial art that combines the principles of yin and yang into a sequence of slow, flowing movements designed to stimulate and harmonize chi -- or life energy -- for health, vitality and self-defense.

Dietary Practices

Taoist Meditation

The goal of this meditation is to calm and empty the mind and circulate chi.

The Taoist diet is one of simplicity, focusing on whole foods that are easy digest. Avoiding chemicals and processed foods is also important.

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

FAST FACTall Sikhs are to keep every hair intact from birth

 Sikhs are expected to do honest work with their hand and maintain cleanliness in order to perform community service.

Intoxicants dull are forbidden to Sikhs because it dulls the consciousness and impairs judgment

CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism ((551- 479 BCE))means "The School of the Scholars"; or, less accurately, "The Religion of Confucius") is an East Asian ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the early Chinese sage Confucius.

Confucianism was part of the Chinese social fabric and way of life; to Confucians, everyday life was the arena of religion

Regarded as a diffused religion

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES social harmony is the ultimate goal of every follower, thus

they believe in Five Relationships

RULER FATHER OLDER BROTHE

RHUSBAND FRIEND

PEOPLE SON YOUNGER BROTHER WIFE FRIEND

Filial piety or Xiao is the virtue of respect for one's ancestors and elders.

Confucius taught the importance of developing human-heartedness, a deep caring or empathy for others

Temple Worship The Graves of Ancestors

References:

Workman, D. (2015). Singapore’s Top 10 Exports, Retrieved from: http://www.worldstopexports.com/singapores-top-exports/2592.

Rogger, B. (2011). Singapore, Retrieved from: http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Singapore.html.

Singapore. (2011). New World Encyclopedia, Retrieved from: http://www.factmonster.com/country/singapore.html.

Kennard, A. (2014). Singapore, Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/place/Singapore#toc52614.

Mainland and Maritime ( December 15, 2010) http://mainlandandmaritime.blogspot.com/

REFERENCESAustralia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) 2013. Retrieved on

January 8, 2016, from http://www.anzbusiness.com/content/anz- insights/thailand.html#.VpB3gVXQGkN

National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eight Edition. Retrived on January 8, 2016, from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/thailand-facts/

Backler A., Lazarus S., World Geograph

REFERENCESIndonesia. (2015, May 12). Encyclopedia Britannica,

Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia#toc2283Indonesia. Encyclopedia of the Nations,

Retrieved from: http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Indonesia.htmlIndonesia. (1997) The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 10, pgs. 226-237. USA: World Book Inc.Religion in Indonesia. (2008, December 13). New World Encyclopedia,

Retrieved from: http://newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Religion_in_Indonesia&oldid=878306

Mark Mcginley, September 18th, 2011 http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152952/

Fatland,K. (August 2, 2013) Malaysia’s three main religionsRetrived from:

http://www.expatgomalaysia.com/2013/08/02/malaysias-three-main-religionShimonski, J. (2009) the geography and history of malaysia Retrived from: http://www.malaysiaflora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:the-geography-and-brief-history-of-malaysia&catid=8&Itemid=104 http://www.britannica.com/place/Kuala-Lumpur Gale, T. (2007) Malaysia Retrived from: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Malaysia.aspx