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Section Warm-Up: Take a Ride on the Bamboo Railroad

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Section Warm-Up: Take a Ride on the Bamboo Railroad

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Cambodia's main train service only runs four times a month and derailments are common. It is no wonder locals prefer a different option. Norries are little more than bamboo slabs with wheels and run on the state-built track.

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This interactive map of the world shows the various regions we are going to cover in this course. Select a region to zoom in and see the different countries within each region. Explore Southeast Asia and the Pacific to learn a little about the geography of the region we are covering in this unit. Then download the following map (DOCX) and study guide (DOCX) to help you study the capitals of Eastern Asia.

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Southeast Asia is a region of Asia found south of China, east of India, and north of Australia. This region has intense seismic and volcanic activity because of its location along the borders of a series of geologic plates. Southeast Asia has an area of approximately 1.6 million square miles. The largest concentration of people can be found on the island of Java, in Indonesia. Java has more than 125 million people living on the island – that is 1/5 of the total population of Southeast Asia! The following bullet points below list a fact about each of the countries commonly considered part of Southeast Asia.

Brunei - The full name for the country of Brunei is actually Negara Brunei Darussalam, which means The Country of Brunei, Abode of Peace. Located on the northern shore of the Island of Borneo, Brunei is the only sovereign nation on the island – although it occupies less than 1% of the area of the island.

Burma (Myanmar) – Burma is officially called the Union of Myanmar. It is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia.

Cambodia – The country of Cambodia has been described as "a country with a history both inspiring and depressing, an intoxicating place where the future is waiting to be shaped." The country borders Thailand to its west and northwest, Laos to its northeast and Vietnam to its east and southeast.

Indonesia - Indonesia has a population of about 237 million people and is the world’s fourth most populous country. Indonesia is made up of 17,508 islands!

Laos – Laos is a landlocked country. Most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand.

Malaysia – Malaysia is a federation that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. Malaysia has been referred to as a bubbling, bustling melting pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups live, work, and play together.

Philippines – The Philippines is a tropical country with fascinating landscapes, active volcanoes, splendid beaches, coral waters, and tropical forests. This archipelago consists of over 7,100 islands.

Singapore – Singapore is known as one of the cleanest nations in Southeast Asia. Singapore is also one of the most prosperous nations in the world.

Thailand – Thailand has the interesting distinction of being the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been taken over by a European power.

Vietnam – Although when many westerners think of Vietnam, they think of the Vietnam War, the country is actually a place with amazing natural beauty and peaceful village life.

East Timor – East Timor is the youngest country in Southeast Asia. As with other young democracies, it has been experiencing a decent amount of civil unrest and it is currently not advised to travel there unless absolutely necessary.

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Oceania is the term used to describe the region that encompasses the nations in the Pacific – mostly islands. As with any region of the world, the exact definition varies. The following chart compares the area, population, and population density (the number of people per square kilometer) of some of the countries considered to be part of Oceania.

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Important Cities in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

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Important Cities in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

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There are many cities in Asia important to international business or banking, hot spots for international tourists, or simply places of great historical importance.
Singapore holds the most unique position in Southeastern Asia. It is a city-state! Singapore is one of the last three surviving city-states in the world (the others are Monaco and Vatican City). Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, is grounded in Islamic tradition, and exudes a sense of peace that makes it one of Asia’s most distinctive capital cities. In the span of over two hundred years, Bangkok has been the political, social, and economic center of not only Thailand, but also for much of Southeast Asia. Bangkok is also a tourist destination because of its incredible arts, education, fashion, and entertainment. These are just a few of the important cities of the region. The following chart displays the five most populous countries in Southeast Asia:

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Bodies of Water in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

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Bodies of Water in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

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There are many important straits that travel between the many islands of the region. The Sunda Strait connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean and travels between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. The Strait of Malacca connects the Pacific Ocean to the east with the Indian Ocean to the west and runs between Indonesia and Malaysia. Unfortunately, the Malacca strait has long been a haven for pirates. The Makassar Strait travels between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi in Indonesia and is a common shipping route for ocean-bound ships too big to fit through the Strait of Malacca.

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Oceania has a wide array of different bodies of water throughout the region.

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Oceania has a wide array of different bodies of water throughout the region.

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The Torres Strait is a body of water which lies between Australia and the island of New Guinea. The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea. The Coral Sea is ecologically an important source of coral for the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia. The Tasman Sea is nicknamed The Ditch, meaning that the expression "crossing the ditch" means going to Australia from New Zealand or vice versa. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name – this Australian state is promoted as the Natural State and the "Island of Inspiration" due to its large and relatively unspoiled natural environment.

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Southeast Asia has had to work hard in recent years to combat pirates. The Malacca Strait between Indonesia and Malaysia offers a direct route between India and China and has long been a haven for pirates. In 2006, 21 seamen were killed and a further 71 were missing or presumed dead following pirate attacks. The threat was enough to unite the Indonesian, Malay and Singaporean navies into protective action. Since 2007, these nations have been jointly patrolling the Straits. Whether or not this will be enough to deter terrorists remains to be seen.