First Asian Countries and Cities you knew about as a kid? (cultures, famous)

[kool hand luke]

When I was 5, we lived on an Air Force base in Turkey. I didn't mind it- I had a typical little boys life. My family hated it however, as ther was nothing for adults to do. I remember the country as barren and very backwards.

[Goshio22]

Originally Posted by Susu Enrico

that's why I asked goshio
he only knew about malaysia back in 2007, he was 17 at that time

14 years old to be precise, i loved geography and i learned about the world map etc, but the thing is i didn't really care about neighboring countries back then and i wasn't exactly bright either... :P i've heard about Malaysia a few times and few friends did went there, but never really bothered about it apart from several image i saw on ads showing the petronas tower. And then i saw Manohara and royal prince issue in Kelantan on news and eventually maid abuse, culture etc only then i get more ideas about Malaysia.

[kent_moore]

Blame it to media.

When I was a kid, I knew of Japan and Brunei. During the 80's and 90's, there are many Filipinas were working as a entertainers and GRO's in Japan.

Brunei was also popular then since some of the sexiest Filipina celebrities were linked with the Sultan of Brunei. It was all over the media.

And I thought Singapore is part or nearby China. And yes, China is also popular due to numbers of Chinoys in the Philippines.

Saudi Arabia is also popular destination of male Filipino seamen and construction workers.

Hongkong and Singapore is popular destination for domestic helpers!

Indonesia/Thailand were always placed as the same bowl as the Philippines interms of economy back then.

We always thought of Vietnam as a country that is poorer than the Philippines, and that was back then either.

[Susu Enrico]

Originally Posted by Goshio22

14 years old to be precise, i loved geography and i learned about the world map etc, but the thing is i didn't really care about neighboring countries back then and i wasn't exactly bright either... :P i've heard about Malaysia a few times and few friends did went there, but never really bothered about it apart from several image i saw on ads showing the petronas tower. And then i saw Manohara and royal prince issue in Kelantan on news and eventually maid abuse, culture etc only then i get more ideas about Malaysia.

oh OK. i thought you were born in 1990. must be someone else

[Davy-040]

It seemed almost everything i enjoyed in the early-mid 90's as a kid like action figures and toy cars etc. were "Made in China/Taiwan" completely dominated by Japan in the late 90's.

[Davy-040]

Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta were among the first 8 cities i would think of as a kid, now 14 years later they are not even in my top 15.

[Aztecgoddess]

I was born in 1985
As cities goes, two come to my mind:
Peking
Tokyo
These two I knew about since I remember. Others such as Bombay, Baghdad, Jerusalem; either I learned about them as I was 6/7 years old but wasn't sure where were they.

Countries:
Japan
China
India
I remember knowing about them since early age, probably 6 or so.

[Goshio22]

It seem for most people china, japan and india becomes the most popular... It wasnt surprising considering their economic and cultural influence.

[Hermosaa]

Japan --- worldwar 2 that destroyed a lot of good architecture in the Philippines, Sony, Toyota etc.
China -- because of the Chinese people in the Philippines and Jackie Chan
Indonesia and Malaysia -- as they were connected to our history being the 2nd and 3rd inhabitants of the Philippines
Brunei ( didn't know it was in SouthEast Asia though )

[danielsa1775]

Vietnam
Cambodia
Japan
China
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Lebanon
India
Pakistan

I grew up in the early 80's the first 8 were always in the news for various reasons, India and Pakistan because they play cricket. Though It is very questionable that I associated Lebanon, Iran or Iraq with Asia.