#japanese chola

[justforbooks]

With the enigmatic and alluring Queen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt as her mystical muse, Lebanese British journalist Zahra Hankir invites readers on an intriguing journey through time and across continents in Eyeliner: A Cultural History. Hankir, comparing her subject matter to "ink itself," examines how eyeliner helps us deliver messages about ourselves to the world, and its use as a transformative marker of maturity, drama, seduction, sexuality, strength, and rebelliousness that is surprisingly aligned across subcultures and eras.

Hankir (editor of Our Women on the Ground) introduces multiple varieties of eyeliner, including kohl, a word derived from the Arabic, which is used for spiritual and healing purposes as well as for beautification and to repel the sun. Eyeliner opens with the story of Queen Nefertiti and describes how her kohl-rimmed influence reigns supreme across a vast cultural landscape that includes Instagram influencers, drag queens, Mexican American cholas, Japanese geisha, Iranian activists, and celebrities such as Beyoncé.

The author travels far in pursuit of her research, expressing a contagious wonder at the layers of common ground a simple object like eyeliner offers people of diverse backgrounds. To the Bedouin community she meets in Jordan, kohl is a symbol of belonging, while performers in India wear it so they can "dance with their eyes."

Eyeliner features a particularly dazzling chapter on the late Amy Winehouse and the hypnotic, disarming gaze of her heavily lined eyes. Reading Hankir's well-written, absorbing debut, one can't help but admire the versatility and influence of this humble beauty staple, speaking as it does "a universal language of transformation."

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[luckyfortune]

The History of Streetwear in Pop Culture

Hey everyone, it's Adriana. 

Welcome back to this week's topic on streetwear in pop culture. Let's talk about how the upbringing of streetwear in the 90’s and how it’s grown into different styles meshed together to normalized clothing worn in streets. We might have seen celebrities start making streetwear trendy in appearances on the red carpet, movies, and music videos. Let's take it back and share some of our favorite moments in pop culture.

New York hip-hop fashion 

Aaliyah was a R&B singer from  Brooklyn, New York. She was well known for having a “tomboy” unisex look that made it acceptable to all in the 90s hip hop era of dance and music. She would be seen hanging around artists like TLC, Tupac, & others in what we would identify now as streetwear. Simply wearing casual everyday clothing but with a twist. 

Here is a favorite look of Aaliyah in a bandana, oversized varsity jacket and sporty pants with a belt and a long bedazzled chain. 

Source:https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/aaliyah/images/18423472/title/aaliyah-various-pics-photo

Chicano streetwear

Mi Vida Loca (1993) is a drama indie film that portrayed young Hispanic women viewing their lives as gang members in Echo Park, Los Angeles. These women were everyday fighters in the streets of LA watching each other's backs.  In the film, you can view what streetstyle was meant for cholas. These women wore baggy or tight clothing, Nike Cortez shoes, high ankle socks, and big hoop earrings. This style became the norm within hispanic culture, since the film showed the culture of the beauty standards in chola women.

Source: https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2015/03/03/lean-like-chola/

Punk streetwear 

Freaky Friday (2003)

A fantasy-comedy film, a childhood favorite. One of my favorite outfits is Lindsay Lohan and her pairing of cargo pants (classic) with a slightly cropped graphic tank, and of course, a choker. 

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/isaacmaldonado2/freaky-friday/

Thirteen (2003)

A film about a thirteen-year-old girl's relationship with her mother is put to the test as she discovers drugs, sex, and petty crime in the company of her cool but troubled best friend. Because of the film's low budget, the girls' clothes are mostly from their own wardrobe. Catherine Hardwick noted that as filming progressed, the girls began to dress similarly without being told to. This film created the idea of young good girls heading toward the direction of rebellion. The punk rock look played a part of the early 2000's. We love to see it now with brands like IAMGIA, Motel Rocks, and Forever 21, bringing back the low rise jeans, suede lace-up vests and body jewelry.

Source: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/08/207451/thirteen-movie-cast-anniversary-evan-rachel-wood/

European streetwear

Kate Moss, model, is the queen of being versatile in her outfit choices. She can go from grunge to girly, to urban street style. Moss has had some iconic looks over the years. This time paparazzi spotted her in a casual vest, a tie, and chino shorts, with a hobo bag, strolling in London. 

Source: https://graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/kate-moss-fashion/

Japanese streetwear

FRUiTS magazine (1997) was a monthly Japanese street fashion magazine created by photographer Shoichi Aoki. Though FRUiTS magazine it covered styles found throughout Tokyo. Aoki captured cool people rocking the Harajuku style and found them to be most fashionable with the expressiveness shown walking in look worthy clothing. We enjoy the double layered graphic crewneck sweater. The plaid midi skirt with a pin, with a large Moschino tote bag ready to take on the day.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/fruits-magazine--353180795751969713/

Californian Surf 

Baywatch (1989)

Pamela Anderson, she made wearing beach wear look so easy and effortless. Pamela turned beach wear swimsuit "cover up" the normal everyday wear. Typically, her look consisted of sexy and comfortable. Here she's seen wearing denim on denim. A cute button down oversized denim shirt tied to be cropped and cinched to the waist.  The iconic Levis 501 shorts with a cheeky slit near the pocket, and beaded shell jewelry. What a look!

Source- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188658671869626152

School wear in LA

90210 (1990)

Brenda Walsh, Donna Martin, and Kelly Taylor were fashion icons in the TV series of a group of friends living in Beverly Hills, California as they all transition from high school to college and into the adult world. They always went shopping for clothes that they can afford and put together. During this time, fashion was very experimental while being classic especially as preppy as kids were in the hills. Most girls in the show, wore big t-shirts to school with overalls, blazers with skirts, long button down dresses. Big 90's hairstyles with fringe bangs and attempt to stay on trend.

Source- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/340725528061378169

Skateboarding Youth Culture 

Young adults and teens in the 90s featured in magazines like Alloy. Outfits featured in skate magazines redefined the aesthetic in streetwear. They were made for comfort while riding a skateboard in the streets, while also staying on trend. We got muscle tanks, UFO (parachute pants) Tight fitted graphic t-shirts, and chunky sneakers. This style is still being represented and recreated by women to this day even if they don't skate, it's still gives off I am probably wearing my boyfriends clothing core.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/516647388513788627/

Sportswear Princess 

Princess Diana (left) became a muse in comfort casual clothing/ sporty chic style in the 90s. This photo is a side by side of two influential figures in pop culture making paparazzi catch photos of them wearing a similar outfit out in public and making it streetstyle. Hailey Bieber (right) making athleisure wear into the street. This kind of an outfit would be considered sporty, although you might just like the look of throwing on an oversized jumper, with some fun sneakers for a quick coffee run or errands.

Source: https://www.vogue.com/vogueworld/article/hailey-bieber-princess-diana-athleisure-style

 Performance wear

Jennifer Lopez (2000) also known as JLO performance is always iconic for wearing avant garde looks when out in public. She has a mix of various looks while performing. This look started a trend in what women aspire to look and dress like. As we see many YouTube or TikTok tutorials on "stealing her style" recreating her throwback looks. Here's an iconic one we could see being brought back. Bronx baby tee, waist chain belt, parachute pants.

Source-https://www.vogue.com/article/jennifer-lopez-best-performance-costumes-concert-looks

Charli XCX (2016). Performing in Berlin, Germany. We see more of an urban mix of style being introduced by celebrities on stage. Performers have toned it down for on stage presence and more for comfort while still showing style. Charli is from the United Kingdom and her biggest fashion influences are sporty chic, and tumblr girls from 2014 of #seapunk, #pale goth, and #y2k aesthetic. 

Source: https://www.celebsfirst.com/charli-xcx-performs-live-concert-astra-berlin-germany/charli-xcx-performs-live-in-concert-at-astra-in-berlin-germany-091119_9/

Thanks for reading this weeks post on the evolution of streetwear, you might've recognized a couple of these celebrity icons or looks. Check back on next weeks topic here on our page.

#urbanstreetwear #fashion #sportychic

[bobcatmoran]

Back from a trip to Palm Springs, California, staying at the house my parents were renting for the winter, which, totally unplanned, overlapped with Modernism Week there. For those who've never been to Palm Springs, it's a town that's very, VERY of that era from post-WWII - 1970s, and there's a significant population of the town that is, shall we say, enamoured of that era of architecture. If you've seen "Don't Worry Darling," it was mostly filmed on site in Palm Springs, and large swaths of the town are to a not-insignificant degree just as unnerving as the environment in that film.

I went to a couple of free lectures on various bits of that era, thanks to the event. And don't get me wrong, there's some seriously amazing buildings that came out of it, and the modernism movement's embracing of merging outdoor and indoor spaces while, especially in those bulidings built in the pre-A/C era, trying to work with both the local climate and the stunning views from the valley and the nearby hillsides.

But despite my dad's reassurances that, "This town is built over an aquifer, so we don't need to worry about water," I was very aware that this was a town built in a desert environment that cannot possibly sustainably hold the expanding population that lives there, especially if people insist on keeping grass lawns and pools — a great many houses I saw had xeriscaped yards with gravel and local flora, but the many, many local golf courses certainly didn't.

I also tired quickly of tours of, "This is where [celebrity] lived!" where you could see little more than a 7-foot high hedge or fence and maybe a sliver of rooftop, since Palm Springs' bulding codes don't allow for buildings more than 1 story tall unless you know somebody or find a loophole like one celebrity house that has a 2nd story that only has 3 walls. The area was a refuge for Hollywood stars during the studio system era, and there still are a couple who live there today in gated communities, but most of those formerly celebrity-occupied-houses now are mostly hidden except for a mailbox and like, the top foot of the roofs. My celebrity-obsessed stepmom nevertheless decided to take us on a tour of them.

It all made me uneasy, especially with the glorification of an era where my very existence, as a biracial Japanese-American, would've held me suspect by my birth alone. Heck, even when my parents married in the mid-70s, my grandparents on both sides got a lot of not-so-subtle commentary from "well-meaning" family friends and neighbors about, "Do you know your son/daughter is marrying someone of a different race?"

However! those bits of the local environment that have been preserved are amazing. I went to Joshua Tree National Park, and marveled at the uncanny rock formations (geologic uplifts of granite and other igneous rocks eroded away by the wind until they look like backgrounds from The Flintstones) and the Dr. Seuss-esque Joshua Trees, which don't even grow an inch per year. I wandered through a "forest" of chola cacti, elbow-high, bristling with easily detachable orbs that could cling painfully to you if you only brushed against them, saw traces of cattle ranchers that had attempted to make a living there during a relatively wet period in the 1920s and then fled as the climate dried out. I took guided tours up the Tahquitz and Andreas Canyons, which are both managed by the Aqua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians and are each amazing in their own way. I learned about the first recorded human explorations of the area and how the Cahuilla used the local plants for food and medicine and shelter. If you're ever in the area, If you're able to handle the hikes (Tahquitz in particular has a LOT of steep steps up and down), I highly, highly recommend the ranger hikes, which absolutely change your perspective of the area.

[monicasaiplayground]

8833 - a young beautiful brunette african american girl as a patrick nagel model chola makeup red lipstick hoop earrings by artist "anime", Anime Key Visual, Japanese Manga, Pixiv, Zerochan, Anime art, Fantia full body picture - OpenArt - RealVisXL V4.0

[monicasaiplayground]

4246 - a young beautiful voluptuous thai girl light blue lace thong panty light blue lace bra chola makeup red lipstick hoop earrings full body picture Ukiyo-e Japanese art - RealVisXL V4.0

[erikalabrujaa]

Ran into some japanese cholas lol Halloween in Shibuya, Tokyo japan!

[futuregws]

ive been working all day so just saw the new "G drama", so heres a long ask: she can't joke about a stereotype that isn't hers to reclaim, and think it's not gonna be offensive/antisemitic/racist/etc.. and that's what that shirt is about! as a Latin afab person I can make chola jokes, as a bisexual I can make jokes about bisexual stereotypes, and as a genderqueer/nonbinary person, I can make jokes about stereotypes with that too. However me making jokes about Black stereotypes or Asian stereotypes or gay male stereotypes ISN'T OKAY BC THEY ARE NOT MINE TO RECLAIM. like the privilege to think you can????

also it's not like being gifted a kimono from a Japanese person; a "Pikajew" isn't a cultural piece of clothing?! like, some Black people don't care if white people use the n-word but many do, just bc you personally as an individual is not offended doesn't mean it's not appropriate for HER to wear????

[asjaseikismurasaki]

#Chola #Chicana #Japanese #Hiragana https://www.instagram.com/p/B478bUqDqGGvzGMP-PylZagm1augYp7OL1k8B80/?igshid=1owgu69ew6km6

[yicruz48]

How Adam Glass’s Teen Titans Run Perpetuated Racial Stereotypes

Damian Wayne/ Robin (Arabian and Chinese): 

-> In Teen Titan’s Annual #1 Damian, steran Arabian character, had a BOMB strapped to his chest. This obliviously perpetuates the Arabian suicide bomber stereotype.

It’s unfortunate, and deeply saddening considering this stereotype is infamously attached to Arabs there is even a name for it called “The Three B Syndrome.” Which according to  Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, who is a director for the American-Arab  Anti-Discrimination Committee is, “ Arabs in TV and movies are portrayed as either bombers, belly dancers, or billionaires.”  

And it is horrifying that this annual most likely went through editorial and yet was still published. 

-> During Adam Glass’s Teen Titan’s run Damian arrests criminals under his base (essentially a torture chamber) and after that doesn’t work he proceeds mind-wash criminals along with his teammates. This behavior could be looked at as terroristic, again, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Arabians. 

Xiomara Rojas/ Crush (Half- Czarnian, raised by someone presumably latino):

-> Here I am making the assumption that Xiomara Rojas is Latina although I am pretty certain she was raised by (a) Latino(s) (assuming most likely her adoptive father is Latino). Plus “Xiomara” is a pretty common name in Spanish-speaking countries just as her last name “Rojas’ is.

-> She is portrayed as thickheaded, aggressive, dangerous, violent, and verbally aggressive which pushes the “The Chola” and “The Fiery Latina” stereotype.

-> Xiomara’s adoptive parents (David and Lisa Rojas) are portrayed druggies who are frequently running away from their crimes which are a common stereotype used against Latinx people.

->Me, personally, being Latina, I couldn’t help but feel offended by this. I talked to my mom about this and she told me, “ I don’t like her origin. Her origin is a common stereotype used against Latinos. You’ve heard it before, from Trump, that most of us are apparently drug dealers, rapists and commit crimes.”    

  Wallace West/ Kid Flash (Black): 

-> Despite being a part of the core three of the Teen Titans and being called the “moral compass” of the group, Kid Flash AKA Wallace West’s role in the Teen Titans is small. 

->  He usually is there to emotionally support other characters but like how commonly Black characters are written in media, he seems to have no aspirations of his own despite being written in The Flash as very intelligent and has been mentioned to be a prodigy engineer. Personally, it is disappointing to see that the only thing writers seem to focus on when it comes to Wallace is his romantic relationships.

Emiko Queen/ Red Arrow (Japanese): 

-> Even Red Arrow’s characterization in Teen Titans feeds into the stereotype that Asians are seen as stereotypically  “competent but cold” despite Emiko shown as the opposite in Green Arrow.  

Conclusions:

->  Arabians, black people, and Latinos tend to be portrayed in the media as associated with crime, writing the Teen Titans being involved in locking up prisoners illegally as well as mind-washing criminals just proves this comic consciously or unconsciously agrees with that sentiment.

-> It is sad that this group in the most diverse Teen Titans we’ve seen with Arabian, Latinos, Black, Japanese and Chinese members yet the worst incarnation of the Teen Titans. So much for DC preaching about diversity and representation. 

-> Damian, Wallace and Emiko are portrayed much more positively in other comics as well as shown to have development to not do things such as lock up  and/or brain-wash criminals in their basement. 

For crying out loud, Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) , Emiko’s older brother is against locking up people in prison for the reason already so much people are incarcerated. I believe Emiko would adopt that same belief. 

Wallace West knows Barry’s father was unfairly arrested in jail. HIS OWN FATHER died in priso. Wallace would also be against these actions. 

Damian’s development over since 2006 to 2018 has proven that this regression would’ve never happened, especially with such weak reasons as the events of No Justice and Black Mask blowing up his favorite restaurant. 

-> With the amount of negative stereotypes this comic should literally be shown in an example of how-not-write-about-a-diverse-group-of-characters. 

This is one reason why I made a petition against DC comics and to hold the writers and editors accountable for publishing this content despite portraying harmful stereotypes about people of color. 

I would really appreciate if you haven’t already to sign the petition and re-blog this so more people are aware. 

Also like I said, this is one reason I made this petition, so please read the petition for full context on the other side of this petition that has to do with Damian’s regression. 

[mia-japanese-korean]

Inhabitants of Fourteen Foreign Lands, Unknown Japanese, 18th century, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Japanese and Korean Art

images interspersed with inscriptions of people in different dress standing near trees, or near exotic animals; some grotesque figures This handscroll introduces inhabitants of various foreign lands, some real or semi-legendary and others fantastic, with each represented by a figure and textual description. Of those visible here, the far right figure hails from “Mokukya” (Morocco) and the next figure from “Chōren” (Chola, or southern India). The text describes how “Chōren” is home to some 60,000 elephants, upon whose backs the people build their homes. Next is a person from the land of “Jūri,” whose inhabitants face backward and have only one arm and one leg. At far left is an inhabitant of a land not far from Jūri called “Ichimoku,” or, literally, “One Eye Land.” Many of the descriptions are based on Chinese encyclopedias introduced to Japan in the seventeenth century. Size: 11 13/16 × 154 7/16 in. (30 × 392.27 cm) (image) 11 13/16 × 179 1/8 in. (30 × 454.98 cm) (mount) Medium: Ink, color, and gold on paper

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/122135/

[queen-chulita]

My favorite kind of roses!!! #badbitch #chola #japanese

[monicasaiplayground]

Full-body anime illustration of Dana in a red prom dress, red high heels, hoop earrings, red lipstick, chola makeup, cool-toned anime illustration, detailed eyes, sleek design, professional, best quality, highres, ultra-detailed, anime, key visual, Japanese manga, Pixiv, Zerochan, anime art, Fantia, vibrant red tones, dynamic pose, glamourous lighting

[sailorpendejx]

unpopular opinion: “go loko”

M’kay I don’t have a problem with YG dressing up as a mariachi ‘cause mariachi music is for everyone who wants to enjoy. That’s like saying “ONLY KOREANS CAN ENJOY K-POP” or “ONLY JAPANESE PEOPLE CAN WATCH ANIME”. Also it was inspired by various types of African music. And it’s not like he has a mustache and a fucking sarape and shouting “TACOS TACOS TACOS BEANERS BEANERS BEANERS PANCHO VILLA SELENA QUINTANILLA SHOT HERSELF” but what I do have a problem with how the video portrays Latinx people. 

Yes, there are cholos and cholas, but that’s mainly Chicano/a culture, not Mexican. I’ve been to Mexico, I have family there, my entire fucking family is from and/or lives in Mexico and I don’t see many, if not any, cholos or a cholas. I’ve even been to Mexico City and no one dressed like a cholo or chola. Like I said, this is mainly Chicano/a culture so it’s not really representing Mexicans as in from Mexico, was fucking born there, all of that. Was it supposed to, though? I’m not sure but if it was that’s not very accurate. Also, the lyrics themselves are kinda offensive because it’s about fucking Mexican (or latina?) women. “Puta behave” is one of the lines that made me cringe a little... Try that with a Latina mom and she’ll whip out a chancla and fucking beat you w/ it.

Yeah, a lot of rap songs are like this and we still listen to them (frankly that’s annoying too but that’s another conversation) but like imagine if it was a white guy singing about fucking black chicks and singing about their “black pussies” (which is a line in the song that the Puerto Rican rapper Jon Z says while talking about ‘Juanita’ who I presume is a Mexican or Latina woman) or like a Latina or white chick singing about Big Black Cock. Can you understand some of the irritation some Latinx people are feeling? 

I like that YG wants to include Latinx people in his music but like maybe in a more positive way? Maybe sing about how beautiful the cultures and traditions are? If there are any songs like that then that’s dope but I’m just saying, there is more to Latinx women (or women in general) than their vaginas, man. 

Also, just in case someone says “well latinos say the n word a lot” as their defense (which was like one of the main defenses when this video was addressed by Latinx ppl) this is true. A lot of Latinx ppl say the n word and I’ve met a couple but all of them but all were dumb as shit in some way or another so you can drop that argument please and thank you. 

[pgrs346-blog]

This is just a series of photos of various American/British celebrities, one of whom comes from an openly Christian family, using bindis as a fashion statement. I really feel like people view bindis as a simply an “alternative” look and do not understand that what is “cool/exotic” when a white woman in America does it is threatening or grounds for discrimination when a brown person does it. There was literally a hate group in New Jersey in the 1980s called the “Dotbusters” that attacked South Asians. 

Gwen Stefani in particular has a history of marginalizing and cultural appropriating things from Latina (chola), Japanese (harajuku), and Indian (bindi/henna) cultures. In the 90s she dated her bandmate, Tony Kanal, the son of Hindu Indian immigrants, but I don’t think that is a justification for using it in music videos etc. 

[gwendolynlerman]

Discovering the world

Malaysia 🇲🇾

Basic facts

Official name: Malaysia

Capital city: Kuala Lumpur

Population: 34.3 million (2023)

Demonym: Malaysian

Type of government: federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Head of state: Ibrahim Iskandar (Monarch)

Head of government: Anwar Ibrahim (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $1.3 trillion (2024)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 40.7% (medium) (2021)

Human Development Index: 0.807 (very high) (2022)

Currency: ringgit (MYR)

Fun fact: It has the biggest roundabout in the world.

Etymology

The country’s name is a combination of the word “Malay” and the Latin-Greek suffix -ia, so it can be translated as “land of the Malays”.

Geography

Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and borders Thailand and Brunei to the north and Indonesia to the south.

There are two main climates: tropical monsoon in the northwest and tropical rainforest in the rest. Temperatures range from 21 °C (69.8 °F) in winter to 33 °C (91.4 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 27 °C (80.6 °F).

The country is divided into thirteen states (negeri) and three federal territories (wilayah persekutuan). The largest cities in Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur, Kajang, Seberang Perai, Subang Jaya, and Klang.

History

2nd century-1026: Gangga Negara

200s-1500s: Langkasuka

330-1821, 1842-present: Sultanate of Kedah

449-1454: Old Pahang Kingdom

671-692, 1028-1347: Melayu Kingdom

671-1025: Srivijaya

848-1279: Chola Empire

1293-1527: Majapahit

1351-1767: Ayutthaya Kingdom

1363-1888: Sultanate of Brunei

1400-1528: Malacca Sultanate

1400-1902: Sultanate of Patani

1457-1915: Sultanate of Sulu

1470-1623: Pahang Sultanate

1496-1903: Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam

1509-1641: Malay-Portuguese conflicts

1511-1641: Portuguese Malacca

1528-1855, 1886-present: Johor Sultanate

1599-1641: Sultanate of Sarawak

1641-1795, 1818-1825: Governorate of Malacca

1770-1881: Pahang Kingdom

1821: Siamese invasion

1826-1946: British Malaya

1841-1946: Raj of Sarawak

1941-1945: Japanese occupation

1946-1948: Malayan Union

1946-1957: Crown Colony of Malacca; Crown Colony of Penang

1946-1963: Crown Colony of North Borneo; Crown Colony of Sarawak

1948-1960: Malayan Emergency

1948-1963: Federation of Malaysia

1963-present: Malaysia

1968-1989: Communist insurgency

1969: 13 May incident

2020-2022: political crisis

Economy

Malaysia mainly imports from and exports to China, Singapore, and the United States. Its top exports are palm oil, electronic circuits, and refined oil.

It has natural gas, oil, and tin reserves. Services represent 58.6% of the GDP, followed by industry (24%) and agriculture (6.3%).

Malaysia is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Demographics

Malays account for 57.3% of the population, while Chinese people represent 22.9%, indigenous peoples 12.4%, and Indians 6.6%. The state religion is Islam, practiced by 63.5% of the population, almost all of which are Sunni.

It has a positive net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman. 74.7% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 76.1 years and the median age is 29.5 years. The literacy rate is 88.7%.

Languages

The official language of the country is Malay, but English is an official language of institutions in two states.

Culture

Malaysian culture has Arabic, British, Chinese, Indian, and Persian influences. Malaysia is one of the most tolerant countries in Asia due to its multiethnic society.

Men traditionally wear a long-sleeved shirt (baju), pants (celana), a skirt-type adornment (samping), and a cap (songkok). Women wear a knee-length blouse (baju) and a long skirt (sarong).

Architecture

Traditional houses in Malaysia are placed on stilts, made of wood, and have tile roofs.

Cuisine

The Malaysian diet is based on fish, meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include gulai (curry stew with fish or meat and vegetables), kebebe (a salad with bamboo, chili peppers, fruit, and shrimp paste), kek batik (a cake made of butter, chocolate powder, cookies, eggs, and condensed milk), mee bandung (noodles with chilies, egg, onion, and dried shrimps), and nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk and served with anchovies, chili paste, and cucumber).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Buddhist, Christmas, Hindu, and Muslim countries, Malaysia celebrates Buddha Day, Christmas Day, Diwali, Mawlid, Revelation of the Quran, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Islamic New Year. It also commemorates New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year and Labor Day.

Specific Malaysian holidays include King’s Birthday on the first Monday of June, Independence Day on August 31, and Malaysia Day on September 16.

Malaysia Day

Other celebrations include the Malaysia Water Festival, which features a fishing tournament, kayaking, and sandcastles; the Taday Ka’amatan Harvest Festival, where there are arm-wrestling and blowpipe shooting competitions, and Thaipusam, a Tamil festival with a grand procession.

Thaipusam

Landmarks

There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Archeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex, Archeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, and Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.

Gunung Mulu National Park

Other landmarks include the Batu Caves, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Taman Negara National Park, and the Thean Hou Temple.

Thean Hou Temple

Famous people

Abdul Samad bin Muhamad Samad - poet and writer

Bernice Chauly - artist and writer

Henry Golding - actor

Jimmy Choo - fashion designer

Lee Chong Wei - badminton player

Michelle Yeoh - actress

Nicol David - squash player

Nigel Ng - comedian

Poh Ling Yeow - chef

Siti Nurhaliza - singer

Nigel Ng

You can find out more about life in Malawi in this article and this video.