It all started in 2005, when during my first trip to Asia, I fell in love with Thailand!
Bangkok by night
This country is also known as “the land of smiles” and it was not a metaphor at the time. Victim of its tourist success, things have changed somewhat since…
I was seduced by the beauty and diversity of the landscapes and by the warm welcome of the inhabitants. From there was born my passion for Asian culture, the finesse of its craftsmanship, the kindness and spiritual wisdom of its inhabitants, as well as its incredible culinary richness, its spicy and tasty dishes…
So I naturally wanted to create Arasia to share all my discoveries with you!
Cambodia
After several months in Thailand with Jérôme, the co-creator of Arasia, we continued our adventure in Cambodia.
After an incredible journey in a dilapidated coach, we visited the sumptuous ruins of Angkor. Then we continued to the capital Phnom Penh, then the seaside resort Sihanoukville. Finally we discovered “Rabbit Island”, a quiet island without any civilization, road or means of communication near the Vietnamese border.
Cambodia is a very poor country, with a very violent history, which has deeply affected us.
Indonesia
During our second Asian trip in 2008 we landed in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. We suffered an impressive cyclone following which the city was largely flooded for several days. Everything stopped, there was no longer any means of communication and it was almost impossible to leave the city.
Once things were back to normal, we headed to Bali, “The Island of the Gods”. I had my second crush, for this island full of charm, traditions and spirituality!
Malaysia and India
We visited modern Kuala Lumpur, then crossed northern Malaysia by bus to the Thai border. From there we flew to South India with Chennai, Pondicherry and Auroville, then Mabalipuram, Cochin and Goa.
I discovered India, a fascinating and refined country, with millions of Gods and facets!
It is quite naturally that we came up with the idea of setting up a website offering articles from these countries! Now Jérôme has left Arasia and I continue to manage the shop with as much pleasure as at the beginning!
It’s a job that suits me very well and that gives me many opportunities: to meet interesting people, to travel, to visit places outside the tourist circuits, and to combine business with pleasure 🙂
Zen Buddhist monk, poet and author of many books (more than 130, including Vietnam: a lotus in a sea of fire; There is neither death nor fear; The Fullness of the moment, living in full consciousness; Peace in itself, peace on the move.), Thich Nhat Hanh is a tireless peace activist who traveled the world and founded many religious and social institutions.
He is affectionately nicknamed Thay, which means “teacher” in Vietnamese.
Thich Nhat Hanh in 2007 in Vietnam
Youth and ordination
Born in French Indochina (now Vietnam) in 1926, Thich Nhat Hanh has been a Zen Buddhist monk since 1942, when he was 16 years old.
In his youth, he befriended a French soldier who wondered about the usefulness of war. Thich Naht Han was against the Vietnam War and did not want to take sides.
Vietnam War and exile
In 1961, he went to study at Princeton University in the USA, in 1963 he returned to his country and founded a non-violent resistance movement to war.
Accused of communist propaganda, he was forced into exile from 1967. He obtained the right of asylum in France.
Also in 1967, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, but the prize was not awarded that year.
Martin Luther King born in Georgia (USA) in 1929 and assassinated in 1968 is a nonviolent activist for the civil rights movement
Plum village in France
In 1982, he settled in the southwest of France, and founded Plum village, the largest Buddhist monastery in the West.
In this Buddhist community, which has 200 resident members and welcomes 10,000 visitors a year, many practices are taught: the art of mindful living, meditation, inner smiling and conscious breathing.
End of life of Thich Nhat Hanh
In 2005 he returned to Vietnam, to the temple of Tu Hieu in Huê, where he had begun his career as a monk, and he died there in 2022 at the age of 95.
Some quotes from Thay, Thich Nhat Hanh
“The miracle is not walking on water, it is walking green Earth in the present moment and appreciating the beauty and peace that is available now.”
“It is very important to know how to listen with compassion. To listen with compassion is to listen with the will to relieve the other of his suffering, without judging him or seeking argument.
“Meditation is not escaping from society, but coming back to ourselves and seeing what is happening. Once you see, you have to act. With mindfulness, we know what to do and what not to do to help.”
“Christians are my brothers. I don’t want to make them new Buddhists. I want to help them deepen their own tradition. »
Both ancestral and contemporary, the poncho is a garment that is part of the Peruvian textile tradition. The poncho has cross time and borders : present in Asia, but also in the Incas, Nazcas and Paracas cultures.
Here is the history of the poncho, the secrets of its popularity today, and the many ways to wear it.
Origins and history of the poncho
The poncho is a typical garment and a traditional heritage of Peru, it is designed as a simple coat that protected people from the cold of winter. It consists of a thick piece of fabric in the shape of a rectangle, cut in the middle to allow the head to pass. The fabric falls on the body and allows the arms to move freely.
Arasia-Shop whoolen poncho
The wool poncho is an outer garment that was originally used by the country folk and was a must for traveling on horseback. It is an ideal garment for protection against rain, dust, hot and cold. Among the Peruvians, each man had his own poncho and its use depended on the context and the situation.
In winter, the poncho was wrapped around the body to protect it from the cold, and in hot weather it was worn around the shoulder. On horseback, it was either wrapped around the belt or worn naturally to protect the body and thighs. The wool poncho was also widely used as a blanket for sleeping.
Why is the poncho so successful?
The poncho is a timeless piece of clothing that has crossed time and borders without aging. It can be worn in many ways and brings style, comfort and elegance. Whether at home or in the street, the poncho offers a relaxed style as well as a bohemian and ethnic look.
It is a garment that brings a cocooning aspect, while being chic and trendy and above all very practical. The poncho is indeed easy to wear and effectively protects from the cold and rain, and this is what makes it so popular.
If originally the poncho was worn in winter, for protection reasons, today it has been able to transform into a real fashion phenomenon, available in several versions. The ways to wear it are endless, and its cut advantageously emphasizes the silhouette by highlighting the legs. Just pair the poncho with slim fit jeans or leather pants and heeled ankle boots to be perfectly stylish.
How to wear the poncho in style?
The poncho easily adapts to all styles, all body types, and whatever the occasion. It certainly does not replace a large coat or down jacket but it is perfect in the fall period, to keep warm, with style and elegance.
The poncho is a garment that instantly revamps an outfit, even the most basic and classic. Do not hesitate to adopt it, for a furiously trendy look. Inspired by Latin American cultures, it brings an ethnic and fantasy style. You have the choice between a modern poncho that you find in supermarkets, or a handcrafted poncho, with Nepalese know-how.
Hand Made by Nepalese Art Craft Men
The poncho in total black look
Being considered a universal coat, the black poncho is suitable for sophisticated outfits as well as a chic look. It is perfectly suited to all types of occasions and can be worn with a black dress or black pants. The total black look with a poncho is easy to compose, practical, and elegant.
Daring colors with the poncho
Originally, the poncho was made with organic fibers, and the peoples of America who wore it favored natural colors. Thus, the dominant colors were brown, burgundy, black or beige.
Today the range of colors and shades is much more varied and richer. It is found in the tones that are the trend of each winter and it adapts easily to all fashions. The modern poncho never goes unnoticed and it attracts attention by the class it brings to an outfit.
It comes in bright colors like red, pink or bright yellow, to enhance a classic outfit or to emphasize a more sober look. Otherwise a poncho in soft pastel colors is ideal for gray days to add some sunshine.
Dare the colorful poncho with a short skirt and boots, or with pants in classic colors.
Wear a poncho with a short dress
What if you could enjoy the good weather while staying warm under your poncho? According to your desires, and the colors you like, associate a light poncho with a dress in the same tones or black. Whether in cool weather or on milder days, the poncho will adapt and bring you the necessary comfort.
Don’t hesitate to try the black poncho with ethnic patterns, over a little black dress, for a chic and trendy look.
Add a beanie or hat
Get inspired by the peoples of America, and reproduce their look, by matching your poncho with a beanie. Whether with a modern hat or with a woolen hat, you can play with accessories to bring more style to your outfit.
Adopt a boho chic style with a poncho
If you are a fan of the hippie style or the bohemian trend, then the poncho is the garment you need. It is a fashion accessory that has re-appeared in the West with the rise of the hippie movement. This style has been so successful that today it has become a fashion must-have.
For a boho chic look, the poncho can be worn with a long dress, playing on layers of colors and tones.
Adapt the poncho to your body type
If you are small, prefer the graphic-chic poncho, with a contrast of colors at the edges. If you are taller, you can play it elegant by wearing your bohemian-chic poncho. For women who have a few curves, it is better to adopt flexible materials such as mesh, for a cool and easy-going style.
Originally an ancient Taoist healing method, the inner smile is an extremely powerful meditation ritual that begins at the level of the eyes to go into all the organs of the body. The Taoists have been using the power of the inner smile for 2500 years.
It can also be seen as a broader concept designating a smiling and positive attitude towards every person and every event in life.
A relaxed smile, inside ourselves, can dispel the fears, tensions and negative emotions of life.
Scientists have shown that the smile releases chemical substances in the brain (serotonin, dopamine and endorphins) that instantly cause well-being.
There is a Chinese saying that says that a smile makes the face breathe.
Smiling is also the opening of the heart, a voluntary action that has the effect of feeling happiness in oneself.
But how to practice the inner smile?
It can be practiced at any time, and the more you practice it, the more it will become natural, as a way of being in the world.
You can close your eyes, but it’s not mandatory. Think of your safe place, become aware of your breathing and the present moment … you are alive, you are happy!
Imagine the corners of your lips which rise slightly. Observe this smile, let the joy invade and spread around you …
You can also visualize someone you love who smiles at you and you smile back.
By smiling at yourself, others and the world, you send out waves of positive energy.
“Joy engenders a smile,
And the smile engenders relaxation, calm and joy.
To smile, I do not expect to feel joy;
The feeling of joy can very well be born later.
Being alone in my room, I sometimes smile at myself.
I do it out of kindness to myself, to take care of myself, to give myself love.
I know that if I do not take care of myself, I cannot take care of others. “
Ethnic fashion is a set of clothing criteria that invites the eye in a colorful trip.
It a style that seeks to be authentic, refined with sometimes a spiritual meaning and a strong exoticism influence.
Outfits from afar
Ethnic fashion is inspired by the traditional attire or dresses of numerous Asian, African, etc. ethnicities. It is a mix of many styles with a wide range of varieties that have common features:
• Ethnic clothing is often colorful or even multicolored with fringes, feathers, and beads • The fabrics bear geometrics or stylized patterns such as elephants, spiritual figures, trees, flowers and animals… • The jewelry is made from natural and raw materials as wood, leather, rope and is sometimes adorned with small shells, mirrors semi-precious stones and/or metal. • Ethnic fashion is mostly hand-made and from an age-old traditional expertise practiced by tribes, ethnicities and craftsmen of the world.
A trendy trend
Those traditional dress codes are now used by fashion designers who updated them. Ethnic fashion can be chic as well as inexpensive but it is always laden with history and symbolism.
Arasia Shop, Etnic Boutic
You can find in our online shop Arasia clothes inspired by Asian ethnicity such as the Hmong – they live in the mountains between China, Thailand and Vietnam – characterized by singular and original prints. You can also fin on our website the typical Thai pants !
We invite you to take a moment to relax and travel with us…
It’s probably because I was born under the sun of Martinique, a beautyful french island of the Carribbean sea … but I have always felt an irresistible urge to venture elsewhere: the distant horizons are at the heart of my dreams … and my life ! Travel wise, I’ve immerged myself into foreign cultures, admiring particularly the Asian culture: my favorite countries are Thailand, Indonesia, India or Nepal. I like to share my findings, and I often talk on facebook, twitter, or on my blog!
Arasia-Shop, the story of a small human and fair trade!
In France, I worked in markets with street vendors and I gradually started to sell my findings … Over time and meetings, I have established relationships with small craftsmen and willingness to work fairly imposed itself on me as obvious: Respect people and the value of their work, contribute (even on a small scale!) The development of the local economy, offer prices that are both accessible and fair and encourage environmentally responsible solutions … So many objectives, many steps, gradually defined in Arasia’s Code of Ethics .
Today, I still think about the best ways to take action:
“My mind is either my worst enemy or my best friend”
Take control of your mind by meditating to deprogram yourself.
Get rid of negativity in the form of anxiety, discomfiture, greed, hatred, ignorance, fear, or anger by familiarizing yourself with positive states of mind: contentment, patience, kindness and wisdom.
Stay calm and accept the events that you have no control of, and eventually you will be in harmony with the universe.
A fundamental concept that teaches Buddhism is the impermanence of all things and itt is therefore important to not get too attached to anyone or anything
“Do not want what you already have! “
Know yourself more through the spiritual development and you can look inside you and know who you really are.
“He who is a master of himself is greater than he who masters the world. “
