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D - B r i e f

Bangkok, 26 October 2011

Dear Partners,

This edition of D-Brief takes you on a journey through Myanmar, China and India to

explore traditional make-up techniques. Under the popular theme, “Faces of Asia”, we give

you an insight into unique traditions, such as the full facial tattoos of the Chin tribe in

Myanmar to the famous Chinese “face changers” of the Sichuan province.

Have you ever wondered what the yellow paste so many women in Myanmar apply to their

cheeks is made of? Or have you asked yourself why the Sadhus, the holy men of India,

paint colourful designs on their foreheads and bodies?

We will reveal these and more secrets in this month‟s D-Brief and hope to share with you

these fascinating “Faces of Asia”. Be inspired and get fresh ideas for your customers‟

journeys to the region!

Sincerely,

Your Diethelm Travel Team

This month we explore different “Faces of

Asia”. Asia consists of hundreds of

different ethnic groups and nationalities,

all with unique features. We are looking at

this popular theme from a different angle

- that of unique facial make-up and face

masks.

In Myanmar, “thanakha” is widely used by

women and girls as a natural sunscreen

and moisturiser. This tradition survives

despite the many modern cosmetic

products available nowadays. Conversely

the Chin tribe, living in the north western

part of Myanmar, is slowly losing its

tradition, which has been part of the

tribe‟s culture for hundreds of years - full

face tattoos.

Come with us to India, where the Sadhus,

the holy men, smear their foreheads with

sandalwood paste or ash and devote

themselves completely to

Faces of Asia

Myanmar

India

China

spiritualism. In Kerala, the colourful

Kathakali dancers sport faces painted in

an elaborate process to make the

characters seem mysterious.

Lastly, in China, the Beijing Opera is

known throughout the country for its

colourful facial make-up, whilst the local

opera of Sichuan, the “chuanju”, is the

home of the highly skilled face changing

artists who leave every observer baffled.

Join us on a magical journey through

India, Myanmar and China to learn more

about these unique traditions.

Myanmar

Some traditions disappear, while

others are rediscovered

Myanmar is a country of many wonders

and stunning landscapes where visitors

seem to go back in time. While the

country offers spectacular sights such as

the Shwedagon Pagoda, Inle Lake and

the temples of Bagan, it is almost

always the Burmese people who, with

their openness and warmth, fascinate

travellers the most.

In a country that has so far seen little

access to western influences such as

fashion, some traditions have been

preserved and are still being practiced

by a large part of the population.

Every traveller will, for example, come

across women and girls with yellowish

painted cheeks.

This “make-up” is a common sight in

everyday Burma, whether one is travelling

overland in the north or shopping in the

markets of Yangon. We will look more

closely at “thanakha” and examine exactly

which additional benefits this natural

sunscreen brings.

On the other hand, some traditions, do

not withstand the progress of time. An

example is the Chin tribe whose women

used to tattoo their faces for centuries.

Nowadays, there is only one last

generation of women left who show off

their tattooed faces with pride.

Learn more about these unique traditions

over the next couple of pages and dive

into a Myanmar where some old traditions

are fading whilst others are being

rediscovered abroad.

When arriving in Myanmar, you immediately notice

smiling faces with cheeks covered in yellow paint.

This golden paste is known as “thanaka” and has

been used as a traditional skin conditioner in

Myanmar for centuries.

Thanaka is said to be an excellent protector from the

sun‟s heat as well as a wind shield, especially for

those working outside. A natural UV-A and UV-B

sunblock, it smoothes the skin and unclogs pores and

also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial qualities.

Because of its fragrance, the powder can also be

applied as an after bath body powder.

Surprisingly, despite the many modern cosmetic

products available nowadays, thanaka has not lost its

popularity and still remains, even today, the preferred

choice of Burmese women. In 2006 thanaka was

approved to be exported from Myanmar and is now

used worldwide by Burmese emigrants or as scrub in

spas. Who knows, with more and more demand for

organic products without any added chemicals and

preservatives, thanaka might even become the new

cosmetic choice of the twenty-first century.

Thanaka: The Cosmetic Choice of Burma

Thanaka originates from the bark of several trees

which grow abundantly in Myanmar. Primarily the

bark comes from the thanaka tree but also the

wood apple tree can be used. Different types of

thanaka trees produce varying qualities of the

paste, depending on the age and origin of the tree.

Thanaka trees need to be at least 35 years old

before they are considered ready to produce good

quality bark. The wood can be bought on local

markets or in front of temples and is usually sold in

small logs or bundles.

Each household owns a circular stone slab called

kyauk pyin, similar to a mortar, in which the bark of

the tree is ground and mixed with water. The

yellow liquid dries quickly when applied, leaving a

powdery protective film on the skin. Every day,

after taking a bath, children and women apply the

thanaka cream in a light coat or thick mask, either

as two smears on their cheeks or in elaborate

patterns covering the whole face.

Source and Preparation

Chin Tribe: Vanishing Traditions

The legend goes that because the women of the

Chin tribe are among the most beautiful in Myanmar,

the Burmese Kings used to choose them as their

concubines. Every year the king and his entourage

would pass through the hilly land of the Chin tribe,

located in the far north western part of Myanmar,

and take away the clans‟ beautiful teenage girls. The

tribe elders, who happened to be women, decided to

start tattooing the face of their girls so that they

would lose their appeal to the kings and remain

safely at home.

What started as a protective measure intending to

destroy the beauty of the Chin women, slowly

turned, over the years, into a symbol of strength and

beauty.

Although full facial tattoos might not look appealing

to westerners; the Chin still appreciate them as a

unique tradition. Unsurprisingly however, as a result

of globalization, face tattoos are becoming extinct,

even in the remote areas of the Chin State.

As a girl enters puberty, the village elders perform

the payae or facial tattooing on her. This rite of

passage is as painful as one can imagine. The girls,

aged between 10 and 15 years at the time of the

tattooing, had to be held down by helpers in order to

tolerate the pain. The tattoos are applied with

traditional instruments which include a pine needle

and ink made from a plant found in the hills of the

Chin State.

Over time, different tribes developed tattoo patterns

unique to their tribe, so that it was easy to know

from which tribe a women originated, even if she

was married. Thus, the face of a girl from the Dai

tribe will look different than the one of a Mun girl.

Nowadays, payae is no longer practiced. What used

to be a necessary practice to undergo in order to be

considered beautiful and be able to marry, is

forbidden in today‟s Myanmar. The last generation of

Chin women proudly wearing their payae are in their

late twenties and soon this extreme tradition will

only be remembered from photographs.

Payae: The Art of Facial Tattooing

China

China is not only world renowned for the

Great Wall, its food and the Forbidden

City, but also for its ancient art forms.

Performing arts are, just like in most other

countries, an essential part of Chinese

society. Live or on television, Chinese of

all age groups love to watch an opera,

theatre, a puppet show or acrobatics.

What distinguishes performing arts in

China is that all the artists are highly

skilled and have gone through years of

training, since their early childhood,

before they are even allowed on stage.

Whether it is dance, acrobatics or music,

the hard work pays off and famous

performing troupes are now touring the

world with huge success. So whilst

actually in China, it is an ideal opportunity

to experience the renowned Beijing opera

or any local theatre or dance show in

order to watch the masters of the art

perform.

It does not matter that visitors to China do

not understand what is being said, since the

graceful movements and vivid costumes are

what makes the shows so enjoyable.

Explore the secrets behind the celebrated

face changing technique and learn what

significance the different masks of Chinese

opera have over the next couple of pages.

The Beijing opera is, without doubt, one of China‟s

great cultural treasures. With more than 1,400 works

based on history, legends as well as modern themes,

each performance is a unique example of Chinese

traditions.

Whilst the opera combines singing, dancing, martial

arts and acting, the artists are evaluated according to

the technique of their movements. This is why in

addition to the skills of singing and speaking, the

performers receive years of training in acrobatics,

dancing, pantomime and martial arts.

You will notice that the Beijing opera uses only a few

props, usually a table and chair, as more importance

is given to the colourful and elaborate costumes. The

distinctive masks (facial make-up), which form part of

each costume, boast a long history dating back to

400 A.D. They were first used in a dance type called

nuo, which was performed to fight off evil souls and

bad spirits, and only later became part of theatrical

performances.

Beijing Opera

Significance of Chinese Opera Masks

Mask colours refer to different personalities and are

an easy way for the audience to identify the different

characters in the play. Here‟s a little Chinese opera

101 for your next visit to Beijing:

Red is the Chinese‟s favourite colour and stands for

courage, locality and devotion.

Black refers to roughness and determination. It

usually indicates a fearless and bold character.

Yellow represents ambition and cool-headedness.

Purple usually indicates a noble character that is

sophisticated and respected.

Blue stands for faithfulness, intensity and

cleverness.

White is reserved for the dominant villain, a

character with sinister and treacherous traits.

Green symbolises impulsiveness, stubbornness and

often indicates a violent character.

Clown Painted Face is reserved for the clowns of

the drama. The make-up only covers a small white

patch around the characters mouth.

Gold and silver masks are usually used for gods

and spirits.

The Sichuan opera is well known for bian lian or face

changing, an ancient art which has been dazzling

audiences from all over the world for centuries.

It takes many years to learn the art of changing one‟s

face in a flash and whilst many artists from

uninitiated families are intrigued to learn the art, they

might discover the basics of the technique, but

cannot master it to perfection.

The secret of face changing has been passed down

from father to son for over 300 years and only around

200 families still know how to practice the art.

Attending a performance when visiting China is a

must-do! Skilled masters can change their face

colours 10 times in around 20 seconds. Face

changing shows can be experienced every evening in

Beijing at the Baguobuyi Restaurant or in Chengdu,

the capital of Sichuan, at the Shufengyayuan show.

Reservations for the dinner or show can be made via

Diethelm Travel China. Contact us for more

information and prices.

The Secrets of Face Changing

Three Techniques of Bian Lian

Even though face changing techniques are closely

guarded family secrets, it is known that performers

make use of three different types of bian lian:

• Smearing: In this routine, the actor applies

cosmetic paint on specific points of his face and

“smears” it, during the performance, with a quick

movement of his hand over his face. The paint is,

for example, applied on the forehead if the artist

wants to change the color of his whole face.

• Blowing: Here, the performer works with

coloured powder which is hidden on stage in a tiny

box. To change the colour of his face, the actor

“blows” at the powder which will puff off and stick

to his face.

• Pulling: This routine is the most complicated and

at the same time most well known. The artist

layers up to fifteen painted silk masks on his face

and pulls them off in a millisecond, with a twist of

his head or flick of his hand.

India

India is a country of many mysteries and

the country‟s unique spiritual traditions

certainly contribute to this image.

The most famous piece of facial

decoration in India, known throughout

the world, must be the bindi, or red dot,

which married Indian woman wear on

their forehead to indicate their married

status. The mark is said to protect its

wearer against bad luck, retains energy

and helps concentration.

Colours and ornaments play an important

role in India and, thus, face paintings are

not an uncommon sight.

The Sadhus, for example, with their frail

semi-naked bodies, long tightly tied hair

and foreheads smeared with sandalwood

paste or ash, are the subject of many

photographic series.

The Kathakali dance, a well known art

form of the state of Kerala, features

performers with beautifully painted faces.

Before every show, the artists need to get

their make-up applied in a three hour long

procedure!

Learn more about the holy men of India

and the secrets of Kathakali dance over

the next couple of pages and explore the

magical world of India with us.

A very common sight of India and Hinduism is that of

a saffron-clad hermit with matted locks carrying only

the minimum of possessions. Sadhu is a common

name for an ascetic or a wandering monk whose sole

focus is to achieve the final stage of life through

meditation and contemplation. Some Sadhus lead a

nomadic life travelling from one holy place to another,

while others settle down in ashrams in peaceful

locations to meditate for the rest of their lives.

A person who wants to become a Sadhu must follow

a guru for several years, acting as a servant and

performing all the teacher's tasks until it is

determined that the initiate is prepared to wander

alone.

The Sadhus bathe every morning, washing off the

body art applied the previous day, and then daily

reapply and paint it back. The body art is a form of

identity, defining which deity the Sadhu belongs to.

Sometimes the Sadhus even write on their bodies in

devanagari, the Indian alphabet used to write such

languages as Sanskrit and Hindi.

The Enigmatic Holy Men of India

Sadhus are divided into various sects, but the most

followed ones are the sects of Lord Shiva and Lord

Vishnu.

The shaivite Sadhus are the followers of Shiva.

Through myths and legends, it is known that Shiva

himself followed a life of Sadhu. His body was

covered with ashes which is symbolic of death and

regeneration while he remained naked which

signifies the non-attachment to the world. The

Shaivites try to resemble their god and usually wear

the three lines of the god‟s trident drawn in ash from

funeral pyres, which may be applied vertically or

horizontally, on their forehead while remaining

naked.

The vaishnavaite Sadhus are devoted to Lord

Vishnu‟s incarnations. Vaishnavaites do not

emphasize the ascetic extremes of the Shaivites.

Their common identification mark is the white U

drawn on the forehead, with an added line in either

white or red in the centre. They normally wear white

or yellow and carry beads of the tulsi (sacred basil).

Sadhus: Facial Painting and its Significance

Kathakali, a nearly 300 year old classical dance form,

is renowned throughout the state of Kerala. This

unique art form combines aspects of ballet, opera,

masquerade and the pantomime. Kathakali narrates

ideas and stories from famous Indian epics and in

particular recounts the stories of the Hindu gods

Rama and Krishna.

Kathakali meaning “story-play” is one of the ancient

forms of dance theatre. The dance combines the five

major fine arts which are literature (Sahityam), music

(Sangeetham), painting (Chitram), acting (Natyam)

and dance (Nrithyam), and is thus dubbed “the king

of performing arts”.

It‟s easy to notice that the costumes and make-up

are the most typical characteristics in Kathakali

dances. Each character is immediately identifiable by

their distinctive make-up and costume, making it

easier for the audience to follow the play.

Whilst in Kerala, do not miss the opportunity to watch

a Kathakali Dance. Diethelm Travel India would be

happy to arrange this fabulous experience for your

clients.

The Divine Art Form: Kathakali Dance

Kathakali make-up is applied in an elaborate process

lasting for over three hours. Whether it is a man's or

woman's make-up, the work is only conducted by a

make-up expert and helps in giving the performer a

mystical look.

The process to apply the make-up is tedious:

Paints used in Kathakali make-up are always freshly

prepared and applied on the spot. The white colour

is made from rice flour, the red is made from red

earth such as cinnabar, while black is made from

soot. The performer lies flat on the floor while the

make-up artist draws the designs and patterns on

the actor‟s face with a thin rod. Once the expert is

finished, the performer gives his character the

completing touches himself.

The colourful designs and costumes are intended to

portray each character. For example, if a character‟s

feet are painted red, this means that the character

has evil intents.

Kathakali Make-Up

Thai Pork Larb Salad “Larb Moo”

Preparation Method

1. Heat a wok over medium heat. Add the rice

and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes or until

lightly golden brown. Transfer to a mortar

and gently pound with a pestle until crushed.

Set aside.

2. Heat oil in wok over high heat until just

smoking. Add the pork and cook, stirring with

a wok charn or metal spatula to break up any

lumps, for 10 minutes or until pork changes

colour and begins to brown. Add the

lemongrass, garlic, ginger and chilli and cook,

tossing, for 2 minutes or until aromatic.

Remove from heat. Add the lime juice, fish

sauce and sugar and stir to combine. Set

aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.

3. Add the bean sprouts, green onion, shallots,

half the coriander and half the mint and

gently toss to combine.

4. Place lettuce on serving plates. Spoon pork

mixture among serving bowls. Top with

remaining coriander and mint and sprinkle

with rice. Serve immediately.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (50g) jasmine rice

• 1 tbs peanut oil

• 500g pork mince

• 1 stalk lemongrass, white part only, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 tbs finely grated ginger

• 1 long fresh red chilli, seeded, finely chopped

• 2 tbs lime juice

• 2 tbs fish sauce

• 2 tsp brown sugar

• 2 cups (110g) bean sprouts

• 4 green onions, trimmed, thinly sliced diagonally

• 2 purple Asian shallots, thinly sliced

• 1 cup coriander leaves

• 1 cup round mint leaves

• Baby cos lettuce leaves, to serve

Recipe source: www.taste.com.au

Chicken mince can be substituted for the pork

mince. For a crisp herb flavour, replace the mint

with Vietnamese mint and add Thai basil. Serve

with lime wedges for a citrus punch.

Recipe

Monthly Festival: Diwali, India (26 Oct 2011)

Deepawali or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest

of all Hindu festivals and is celebrated with great

enthusiasm across India. The festival is truly a

“Festival of Lights”, as it not only involves lighting of

lamps but it is supposed to bring happiness,

togetherness, spiritual enlightenment and prosperity

to everyone.

Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil and the

glory of light. It also marks the beginning of the

Hindu New Year and Lord Ganesha along with the

Goddess Laksmi is worshipped on this day. It is

believed that the Hindu goddess of good luck visits

homes that are brightly lit.

Diwali celebrations spread across five days, with each

day having its‟ own significance and set of rituals.

This year, the festival of Diwali will be celebrated on

26th October. Travellers also get a chance to

experience Diwali at the hotel which generally

celebrates it with a small prayer, lighting of lamps and

burning a few fire crackers.

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with exclusive value and

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your behalf.

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