The ASEAN Culture and Tourism Fair 2011

It is the 2011 ASEAN Cultural and Tourism Festival. Now into its 3rd year, it features traditional performances, cultural experience programs, food and tourism information from 10 Southeast Asian nations.

[Interview : Kim Beom-yeong, Visitor] "There are many things to see here. I've been to Southeast Asia before, but this fair still provides something new."

[Interview : Cho Young-jai, Secretary-General
ASEAN-Korea Centre] "The objective of this event is to introduce the cultures of 10 nations from Southeast Asia and to help establish closer ties between Korea and the rest of Asia."

The festival was planned by the ASEAN-Korea Center, an intergovernmental organization consisting of Korea and the 10 member states of ASEAN.

An average of 400,000 Korean tourists go to Cambodia each year. One of Cambodia's biggest attractions is the well-known Angkor Wat temple complex.

[Interview : Kim Sang-cheol, Visitor] "I went to Angkor Wat from Siem Reap, and what I remember the most was the Tonl

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Come and buy some delicious food!"

Thai and Vietnamese food are familiar to most Koreans. However, other dishes are quite unfamiliar, so visitors waste no time to taste them..

[Interview : Hong Seong-jin, Visitor] "It's a new experience because the scent is different from what I'm used to, but it was good and unique."

[Interview : Pat, Vistor
Hong Kong] "There was much to see, and the food was great. I am more interested in Southeast Asia than I was before."

The food acts as a gateway to more information about each country.

In one booth, something unique is being prepared. Its main ingredient are bananas.


[Interview : Jina, Participant
The Philippines] "Turon. This is a Philippine sweet dish made with banana and fried with oil and sugar."



In the Philippines, bananas are the main ingredient for many dishes.

Out of the 20-some different dishes, there is one dish that visitors crave the most.



[Interview : Seo Hye-ok, Visitor] "Pho. Pho is very popular in Korea. I want to try some here."

Visitors could enjoy the festival to the fullest thanks to Vietnamese pho, and other Southeast Asian dishes.

[Interview : Lee Hyeon-ji, Visitor] "It's great to see the culture of each country through their food. It's also delicious, too."

The festival's highlight was a set of traditional performances by each of the 10 Southeast Asian countries.



First up is Indonesia and the Panyembrama dance.

"Panyembrama"
Indonesian traditional performance

Following Indonesia is Cambodia and the Robam Tep Apsara.

"Robam Tep Apsara" Dance
Cambodian traditional dance performed during the Khmer rule

[Interview : Park Bo-hwa, Visitor] "I feel like I'm in Southeast Asia right now. It's great."

The spectators are busy snapping pictures.

The Cambodian peacock dance has grabbed everyone's attention. The colorful movements of the peacock have been translated into a dance. At the end, everyone breaks out into applause.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "The peacock is Cambodia's beautiful bird. Many Cambodians have created a dance inspired by peacocks. This is a traditional Cambodian dance."

[Interview : Jeong Yong-hwa, Visitor] "We've never seen these dances before. I think this was an opportunity to see a new culture."Myanmar showcased a traditional puppet show, a performance thought to be solely Czech in origin.

The Philippines prepared a traditional music show. Every instrument in the troupe is made out of bamboo.Vietnam also presented a music show with a bamboo instrument.
Spectators swayed altogether to a rendition of a popular Korean song.

Source - arirang.co.kr