JAKARTA: Indonesia is set to launch Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway on Monday (Oct 2), a delayed multibillion-dollar project backed by China that will cut travel between the capital Jakarta and another major city by hours. The Chinese-made bullet train named “Whoosh” is built to take more than 600 peopleContinue Reading
Away from the farms, it has also been a gruelling summer for some workers in urban centres.
Hong Sung-wan, for example, is perched on a cherry picker for several hours a day, installing network cables for South Korean broadcasting company LG HelloVision, “doing something that someone must do under the hot weather”.
“When I have to stay (by) the utility pole for an hour and a half or two, sometimes I get dizzy,” he said. “Whenever that happens, I think about my family, my colleagues around me, and overcome it.”
It could be an episode of heat exhaustion, which occurs when the body overheats. At worst, it could lead to heatstroke, a potentially fatal condition.
Hong feels he must tough it out. “The workers feel that they can’t help but do their jobs,” said the 51-year-old, who has been on the job for 20 years.
Today, Jeju’s close-knit haenyeo community numbers some 3,200 women scattered along the island’s gorgeous coastline. In Seogwipo, the district where JW Marriott is located, there are around 50 active members, though a generation ago, they numbered 150.
At the local Beophwan Haenyeo Experience Center, a few minutes drive from the hotel, we were collected by Mija Ko, a petite, sprightly, bright-eyed woman who, at 19, began working as a haenyeo to help raise her family. That was 50 years ago. “I was born and raised in the ocean,” she said as she checked my wetsuit. I couldn’t help but marvel at her smooth snowy-white skin. She had no pores. It was like looking at a dolphin. “My mother-in-law was a haenyeo, but we’re the only ones in our family.”
Every day at 8am, Ko scrambles across a narrow strip of basalt rocks out to the bay and ocean. From January to May, the sea yields a harvest of shellfish, abalone and sea cucumber. From the end of June to July, it’s all about uni, though this year, the season lasted just five to six days on account of the high waves. On a good day, she collects a kilo of seafood which she sells at a fixed rate of 150,000 KRW (S$153), of which 2000 KRW (S$2) is donated to the haenyo community as a kind of tithe.
Rainfall over the country during June to September was 94 per cent of its long period average, the lowest since 2018, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement. The IMD had anticipated a rainfall deficit of 4 per cent for the season, assuming limited impact from El Nino.Continue Reading
MALE: The Maldives began voting Saturday (Sep 30) to decide their next president in a referendum on whether to hitch their fortunes to China or India, both vying for influence in the tropical paradise. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, 61, faces an uphill battle to secure a second mandate after a termContinue Reading
He accidentally landed the role of security cat after his predecessor, Mingming, died – reportedly from gum disease, not in the line of duty. Grieving guards wanting another furry friend to liven up their shifts decided to appoint Conan as Mingming’s replacement. “If Conan isn’t around then I’m not motivated,”Continue Reading
“It’s in those moments that I feel an immense sense of pride in my work. I’ve come to realise that my role extends beyond merely cutting hair. It’s about mastering the art of not just cutting hair, but shaping their confidence and identity.”
It’s been said that women treat their hairdressers like therapists, and it’s easy to see why. Sitting in a comfortable chair with the undivided attention of a total stranger has a peculiar effect that men, apparently, aren’t immune to.
“The barber’s chair can sometimes serve as a place where clients share their stories, concerns, and joys. My relationships with them are multifaceted and deeply personal,” he said, joking that visiting a good barber is cheaper than seeing a therapist.
“Being a barber demands that I radiate positivity and create an environment where my clients feel at ease. After all, the energy we bring into our workspace can make or break an experience… I take pride in providing that sense of comfort and care to those who sit in my chair.”
In fact, Cam Do’s presence is so palpable – even if only through a screen – that female viewers have been converted into clients.
“I was very surprised and shocked when she came to look for me…She came looking for me after watching my videos and liked the energy, vibe, and experience I exude and offer. I am very grateful for her trust in me and her support for my business.”
At the same time, PWA said it has received a 24 per cent increase in the number of customers it is meant to service this year, due to the dry conditions.
“Some residents on Samui are not our customers; they use water from their own deep well or shallow well. But once the drought comes, we have to provide our services to all of them as well because their wells are dry,” Mr Prateep said.
There is unlikely to be any major relief to the situation soon. While September and October are the usual wet months on Koh Samui, the onset of El Niño climatic conditions is expected to result in warmer temperatures and less rainfall.
The onset of climate change could result in permanent changes to seasonal weather patterns and prolonged hotter periods, providing less certainty around local water availability.
“Regarding the El Nino effect, this year is just the beginning. But next year will be more serious,” he said.
While a second pipeline to Koh Samui is being planned, it will likely not be operational before 2025. And a proposal to upgrade pipelines on the island itself to improve water delivery – a lack of pressure means any highland areas cannot receive water at present – has a price tag of THB1.5 billion (US$42 million).
Mr Prateep said his team has also been ordered to repair a desalination plant on Koh Samui that remains out of working order.
Given it has not been operational for several years, it needs major repairs for which there is no budget approved. The plant is normally too expensive and energy intensive to run.
Another reservoir at Chaweng Beach that could feasibly help ease the burden on the water shortage situation cannot function due to saltwater intrusion.
“Actually the government has its master plan and each agency concerned is coordinating with each other but the budget of each agency is being allocated at different times, which makes it look like it’s a lack of collaboration between state agencies,” Mr Prateep said.
Authorities have resorted to cloud seeding operations to induce rain over the island in previous dry years. But the idea is generally dismissed even by those requesting it due to its unpredictability.
“It did not work well because the rain mostly missed the target as it dropped into the sea, not on the island,” he said.Continue Reading
On Friday, a State Department spokesperson said that during their meeting, the two “discussed a full range of issues impacting the important, strategic, and consequential relationship between the United States and India” and the key issues were noted in the official readout. “Secretary Blinken also took the opportunity to urgeContinue Reading
SINGAPORE: China will resume visa-free policies and consider adding more countries to its visa-exemption list to help boost the country’s post-pandemic tourism business, according to a policy document released on Friday (Sep 29). More international flights will be resumed or added, China’s State Council said. In a statement posted onContinue Reading