Ten countries, several ethnicities, dozens of fables, scores of cultural symbols, hundreds of places to visit an thousands of delicacies to relish - diversity flourishes across this region of over 628 million people. Here are some possibly lesser known facts about the regional grouping.
Let's take a closer look at some of the remarkable sights of ASEAN's 10 countries.
INDONESIA
Heard of Chicken Church?
Hidden in Punthuk Setembuk hill in Magelang, a few hours drive from Yogyakarta, is an abandoned prayer house built in the shape of a crested dove. Thousands have driven up to see it after it was featured in the box office romantic hit drama Ada APA dengan Cinta? 2 (What's with Cinta? the sequel). It used to be a well kept secret spot for photographers to get view of the Borobudur Temple, but is now a popular place, offering tourists an unforgettable Instagram moment at sunrise. Visitors start queuing from midnight.
Durian hotspot
Jakarta may be known as the Big Durian, but the King of Fruit is the tourism icon of Medan in North Sumatra. The city has several 24 hour durian stalls, but one stands out: Durian Ucok. It draws tourists from all over the region for its durians. The shop offers a free replacement, if their durians don't quite taste right.
BRUNEI
Why the name Brunei
Local legend has it that the first settlers landed near the Brunei River and found an abundance of water and fish. One proclaimed "baru nah!" which loosely means
"now we found it," which over time became Brunei.
A palace fit for every king
The 1,788 room Bruneian palace, the Istana Nurul I man, spanning a mind boggling 120 hectares is the world's largest residential palace, housing the prime minister's office and the seat of the government of Brunei. It is also has a mosque that can hold 1,500 people, and has five swimming pools and even a helipad.
Venice of The East
Hospitals, petrol stations and even mosques on stilts might surprise those passing by Kampong Ayer, the water village along the banks of Brunei River. About 300,000 people live there and the village has rested on stilts for 1,300 years.
THAILAND
World's smallest mammal
Weighing just 2 grams and measuring 29-33 millimeter in length, Kitti's hog nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai) is the world's smallest bat species. Sadly, the bat, aka the bumble bat, is classified at risk of extinction.
Thailand's national dish?
Bangkok based celebrity chef McDang (Sirichalerm Svasti), in an interview for the BBC, said that noodles and stir frying - the two main elements of phat Thai or pad Thai - arrived in Thailand with Chinese immigrants. He did note that the sauces and pastes used are Thai. It turns out that the dish was popularized by military strongman Plaek Phibunsongkhram in the 1930s and 1940s in an effort to create a "national dish" as part of his program of nationalism.
Wombat Metanee - World's most prolific actor
Sombat Metanee is an 80 year old legend of the Thai silver screen who was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific movie star ever, performing in an incredible 617 titles. Introduced to the world of celluloid in 1961, Sombat gained popularity for his good looks, sculpted body and sex appeal.
SINGAPORE
Think coding and programming is hard?
The world's youngest app developer, Lim Ding Wen, created his first app at nine in 2009. It is a drawing app named Doodle Kids. Working from an Apple IIGS computer, he wrote it in a few days before porting it for the iPhone and releasing it for free on the iTunes Store. Ding Wen is now an aspiring game developer with more than 20 apps under his belt.
The smell of cocoa in Singapore's west
Singaporeans travelling to the west of the island might detect the smell of cocoa. The scent originates primarily from two chocolate factories, Cadbury and ADM Cocoa, 1 kilometer from the Boon Lay train station, and which have been in the area for the past two decades. Through roasting, the outer shell of beans open up, and can thus be ground more efficiently into cocoa powder.
MALAYSIA
Catch the world's biggest flower at Gunung Fading
Gunung Gading National Park in neighbouring Sarawak warrants a visit. The mountain - naed after the legendary Princess Gading (a guardian of three mountain peaks) - is touted as one of the best places in the region to see a Rafflesia in bloom. This is said to be the largest and most beautiful flower inbthe world.
'Rice' and shine at Kedah Paddy Museum
Malaysia's agrarian history is carefully curated at the country's premier paddy museum (and only fourth paddy museum in the world after Japan, Germany and the Philippines). Located in Kedah, the country's "rice bowl state," this three storey building features exhibitions on paddy cultivation in Malaysia and around the world.
Food for thought artist
"Eye candy" would probably best represent what Malaysian food artist Samantha Lee does. A busy mother of young children, Lee started devising all sorts of quirky, cool lunchbox meals for her kids to encourage them to eat well, fashioninng scenes from fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood and cartoons like
Spongebob Squarepants from food.
VIETNAM
The only place to find squid eggs
Every coastal locality in Vietnam offers visitors many culinary gifts from the sea, but the southernnmost province of Ca Mau has a monopoly on swuid eggs. The province's fishermen fish for squid at night. The catch is put in ice to keep it fresh. Next morning, the squid eggs are taken out and the squid flesh is dried in the sun. Squid eggs are a luxury because for every 10 to 12 kilograms of fresh squid, you can only get 2 kg of eggs.
Underwater sea path
Located in Van Phong Bay (60 kilometer from Nha Trang City in the central province of Khanh Hoa), Diep Son Island is an increasingly attractive destination for many visitors, drawn by its beaches and especially a beautiful "underwater sea path" connecting two islets. The rustic island consists of three small separated islets and is home to about 100 hoiseholds who use it as a base for fishing trips. There are also many hidden coves and caves that are perfect for exploration.
LAOS
Find one of world's top Buddhism monuments
Originally built in the third Century at the same time Vientiane was estanlished, That Luang stupa isbthe symbol Laos. It was built to house bones belonging to Lord Buddha but the original structure was renovated on the orders of King Saysetthathirath when he moved the Lao capital from Luang Prabang to Vientianr in 1560. The stupa is regarded as one of the world's must see Buddhist monuments. Every November, the colorful That Luang festival is staged to celebrate the stupa.
Morning alms
Alms giving early in the morning in Luang Prabang province is a fascinating activity for visitors, who get up very early to gather along the road side with rice, food and sweets to give to passing monks.
Asean's geological wonder
A huge cave in Konglor village in Khounkham district, Khammuan province, attracts thousands of visitors. The Konglor Cave is about 7.5 km in lenght - the longest in the country - and 80-100 meters wide.
CAMBODIA
Khmer architecture is modern
French educated Cambodian architect Van Molyvann led a profound period of architectural change between Cambodia's independence in 1953 and 1975, during which he combined elements of the modernism of the 1950s 1960s with traditional Khmer elements to create Khmer architecture.
Global leader in gourmet pepper
On Cambodia's southern coast, Kampot province's mineral rich red earth and salty coastal winds have created exceptional growing conditions for pepper. The red, green, and white varieties are the favorite of chefs around the world, particularly red, which is used in France for pastry.
The reversing river
A lake named Tonle Sap in Cambodia has a reversing river every monsoon season, with waters flowing upstream back into it. Those living in the area have made this annual flooding a part of their lives, harvesting carp and catfish stranded in small pools of water.
PHILIPPINES
Island in a lake on an island in a lake
While Vulcan Point may no longer be the largest specimen of its kind, it is still a marvel of nature to experience. Vulcan Point is on an island in a lake, on an island. The lake surrounding Vulcan Point, Taal Lake, is a volcanic one formed after eruptions sealed the water body from the sea. After centuries of rainfall, it slowly desalinated and become host to a plethora of species that slowly adapted to the change in the salinity of the water. The volcano holding all of this, the Taal Volcano, is the second most active volcano in the Philippines.
Largest mammal eye to body ratio
The Philippine tarsier has the largest mammal eyes, in terms of ratio to the body, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The diminutive chimp is also one of the smallest primates in the world, ranging from 8.5 centimeters to 16cm tall. Despite this small frame, the tarsier's skull houses a pair of eyes that are 16 cm in diameter.
MYANMAR
Catch the Pyazat, before it dies
Pyazat, Myanmar's traditional drama, is on the verge of extinction due to the influence of foreign cultures. The modern form of Pyazat emerged in the late British colonial period with films. The shows that used to last
three hours are now down to two and they are mostly performed in rural areas. From preaching morality, these shows now dwell on laughing away the stresses of daily life.
A breathtaking cave in an amazing landscape
The Saddan cave, one of the biggest in Myanar, is dotted with several images of Buddha. It takes about 20 minutes to cross the cave, if the bats don't deter you, and the exit opens into a lake, offering a view of a landscape that will leaave you feeling enchanted.
Buddhist mural painting
The Lokahteikpan Temple, in Bagan, is said to have the best collection of Buddhist mural paintings in South east Asia and these were discovered as recently as 1958. The mural paintings emphasise educating people on Theravada Buddhism.
Source: The Jakarta Post, Vientianr Times, The Star, Myanmar Eleven, The Strait Times, The Nation, Viet Nam News and Asia News Network. Informmation from several online resources was also used in this listicle.
Let's take a closer look at some of the remarkable sights of ASEAN's 10 countries.
INDONESIA
Heard of Chicken Church?
Hidden in Punthuk Setembuk hill in Magelang, a few hours drive from Yogyakarta, is an abandoned prayer house built in the shape of a crested dove. Thousands have driven up to see it after it was featured in the box office romantic hit drama Ada APA dengan Cinta? 2 (What's with Cinta? the sequel). It used to be a well kept secret spot for photographers to get view of the Borobudur Temple, but is now a popular place, offering tourists an unforgettable Instagram moment at sunrise. Visitors start queuing from midnight.
Durian hotspot
Jakarta may be known as the Big Durian, but the King of Fruit is the tourism icon of Medan in North Sumatra. The city has several 24 hour durian stalls, but one stands out: Durian Ucok. It draws tourists from all over the region for its durians. The shop offers a free replacement, if their durians don't quite taste right.
BRUNEI
Why the name Brunei
Local legend has it that the first settlers landed near the Brunei River and found an abundance of water and fish. One proclaimed "baru nah!" which loosely means
"now we found it," which over time became Brunei.
A palace fit for every king
The 1,788 room Bruneian palace, the Istana Nurul I man, spanning a mind boggling 120 hectares is the world's largest residential palace, housing the prime minister's office and the seat of the government of Brunei. It is also has a mosque that can hold 1,500 people, and has five swimming pools and even a helipad.
Venice of The East
Hospitals, petrol stations and even mosques on stilts might surprise those passing by Kampong Ayer, the water village along the banks of Brunei River. About 300,000 people live there and the village has rested on stilts for 1,300 years.
THAILAND
World's smallest mammal
Weighing just 2 grams and measuring 29-33 millimeter in length, Kitti's hog nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai) is the world's smallest bat species. Sadly, the bat, aka the bumble bat, is classified at risk of extinction.
Thailand's national dish?
Bangkok based celebrity chef McDang (Sirichalerm Svasti), in an interview for the BBC, said that noodles and stir frying - the two main elements of phat Thai or pad Thai - arrived in Thailand with Chinese immigrants. He did note that the sauces and pastes used are Thai. It turns out that the dish was popularized by military strongman Plaek Phibunsongkhram in the 1930s and 1940s in an effort to create a "national dish" as part of his program of nationalism.
Wombat Metanee - World's most prolific actor
Sombat Metanee is an 80 year old legend of the Thai silver screen who was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific movie star ever, performing in an incredible 617 titles. Introduced to the world of celluloid in 1961, Sombat gained popularity for his good looks, sculpted body and sex appeal.
SINGAPORE
Think coding and programming is hard?
The world's youngest app developer, Lim Ding Wen, created his first app at nine in 2009. It is a drawing app named Doodle Kids. Working from an Apple IIGS computer, he wrote it in a few days before porting it for the iPhone and releasing it for free on the iTunes Store. Ding Wen is now an aspiring game developer with more than 20 apps under his belt.
The smell of cocoa in Singapore's west
Singaporeans travelling to the west of the island might detect the smell of cocoa. The scent originates primarily from two chocolate factories, Cadbury and ADM Cocoa, 1 kilometer from the Boon Lay train station, and which have been in the area for the past two decades. Through roasting, the outer shell of beans open up, and can thus be ground more efficiently into cocoa powder.
MALAYSIA
Catch the world's biggest flower at Gunung Fading
Gunung Gading National Park in neighbouring Sarawak warrants a visit. The mountain - naed after the legendary Princess Gading (a guardian of three mountain peaks) - is touted as one of the best places in the region to see a Rafflesia in bloom. This is said to be the largest and most beautiful flower inbthe world.
'Rice' and shine at Kedah Paddy Museum
Malaysia's agrarian history is carefully curated at the country's premier paddy museum (and only fourth paddy museum in the world after Japan, Germany and the Philippines). Located in Kedah, the country's "rice bowl state," this three storey building features exhibitions on paddy cultivation in Malaysia and around the world.
Food for thought artist
"Eye candy" would probably best represent what Malaysian food artist Samantha Lee does. A busy mother of young children, Lee started devising all sorts of quirky, cool lunchbox meals for her kids to encourage them to eat well, fashioninng scenes from fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood and cartoons like
Spongebob Squarepants from food.
VIETNAM
The only place to find squid eggs
Every coastal locality in Vietnam offers visitors many culinary gifts from the sea, but the southernnmost province of Ca Mau has a monopoly on swuid eggs. The province's fishermen fish for squid at night. The catch is put in ice to keep it fresh. Next morning, the squid eggs are taken out and the squid flesh is dried in the sun. Squid eggs are a luxury because for every 10 to 12 kilograms of fresh squid, you can only get 2 kg of eggs.
Underwater sea path
Located in Van Phong Bay (60 kilometer from Nha Trang City in the central province of Khanh Hoa), Diep Son Island is an increasingly attractive destination for many visitors, drawn by its beaches and especially a beautiful "underwater sea path" connecting two islets. The rustic island consists of three small separated islets and is home to about 100 hoiseholds who use it as a base for fishing trips. There are also many hidden coves and caves that are perfect for exploration.
LAOS
Find one of world's top Buddhism monuments
Originally built in the third Century at the same time Vientiane was estanlished, That Luang stupa isbthe symbol Laos. It was built to house bones belonging to Lord Buddha but the original structure was renovated on the orders of King Saysetthathirath when he moved the Lao capital from Luang Prabang to Vientianr in 1560. The stupa is regarded as one of the world's must see Buddhist monuments. Every November, the colorful That Luang festival is staged to celebrate the stupa.
Morning alms
Alms giving early in the morning in Luang Prabang province is a fascinating activity for visitors, who get up very early to gather along the road side with rice, food and sweets to give to passing monks.
Asean's geological wonder
A huge cave in Konglor village in Khounkham district, Khammuan province, attracts thousands of visitors. The Konglor Cave is about 7.5 km in lenght - the longest in the country - and 80-100 meters wide.
CAMBODIA
Khmer architecture is modern
French educated Cambodian architect Van Molyvann led a profound period of architectural change between Cambodia's independence in 1953 and 1975, during which he combined elements of the modernism of the 1950s 1960s with traditional Khmer elements to create Khmer architecture.
Global leader in gourmet pepper
On Cambodia's southern coast, Kampot province's mineral rich red earth and salty coastal winds have created exceptional growing conditions for pepper. The red, green, and white varieties are the favorite of chefs around the world, particularly red, which is used in France for pastry.
The reversing river
A lake named Tonle Sap in Cambodia has a reversing river every monsoon season, with waters flowing upstream back into it. Those living in the area have made this annual flooding a part of their lives, harvesting carp and catfish stranded in small pools of water.
PHILIPPINES
Island in a lake on an island in a lake
While Vulcan Point may no longer be the largest specimen of its kind, it is still a marvel of nature to experience. Vulcan Point is on an island in a lake, on an island. The lake surrounding Vulcan Point, Taal Lake, is a volcanic one formed after eruptions sealed the water body from the sea. After centuries of rainfall, it slowly desalinated and become host to a plethora of species that slowly adapted to the change in the salinity of the water. The volcano holding all of this, the Taal Volcano, is the second most active volcano in the Philippines.
Largest mammal eye to body ratio
The Philippine tarsier has the largest mammal eyes, in terms of ratio to the body, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The diminutive chimp is also one of the smallest primates in the world, ranging from 8.5 centimeters to 16cm tall. Despite this small frame, the tarsier's skull houses a pair of eyes that are 16 cm in diameter.
MYANMAR
Catch the Pyazat, before it dies
Pyazat, Myanmar's traditional drama, is on the verge of extinction due to the influence of foreign cultures. The modern form of Pyazat emerged in the late British colonial period with films. The shows that used to last
three hours are now down to two and they are mostly performed in rural areas. From preaching morality, these shows now dwell on laughing away the stresses of daily life.
A breathtaking cave in an amazing landscape
The Saddan cave, one of the biggest in Myanar, is dotted with several images of Buddha. It takes about 20 minutes to cross the cave, if the bats don't deter you, and the exit opens into a lake, offering a view of a landscape that will leaave you feeling enchanted.
Buddhist mural painting
The Lokahteikpan Temple, in Bagan, is said to have the best collection of Buddhist mural paintings in South east Asia and these were discovered as recently as 1958. The mural paintings emphasise educating people on Theravada Buddhism.
Source: The Jakarta Post, Vientianr Times, The Star, Myanmar Eleven, The Strait Times, The Nation, Viet Nam News and Asia News Network. Informmation from several online resources was also used in this listicle.
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