June 14-20, 2013
SOLAR WARS Commercial interests of China, Europe and US are getting in the way of rapid progress in solar energy and the fight against climate change AFP PHOTO
June 14-20, 2013
Contents
Economy
Solar wars
Environment
Crippling plastic addiction
WRITE, FAX, EMAIL
June 14-20, 2013
Contents Lifestyle
Picking plums in Moc Chau
Singapore’s 50 years of TV
Women plane enthusiasts take flight
Finding a way to Thai chick lit
June 14-20, 2013
Contents Te c h n o l o g y
Travel
A taste of the past
Job hunting goes social
Mystic river, towering hills
>>DATEBOOK
Happenings around Asia
WRITE, FAX, EMAIL Please include sender’s name and address to: asianewsnet@gmail.com | Asia News Network Nation Multimedia Group Plc 1858/129 Bangna-Trad Road (Km 4.5), Bangna, Bangkok 10260 Thailand.Tel: (662)338 3333 Fax: (662)338 3964 Subscription inquries: Nation Multimedia Group Plc 1854 Bangna-Trad Road (Km 4.5), Bangna, Bangkok 10260 Thailand. Tel: (662)338 3333 Call Center: (662)338 3000 press 1 Fax: (662)338 3964
| June 14-20, 2013
ECONOMY
Solar Wars
The trade dispute between China and the EU escalates at the expense of the environment Martin Khor The Star Kuala Lumpur
T
he source of clean and renewable energy is seen as one of the major saviours that could help power the world without emitting greenhouse gases. The drawback is that solar energy has traditionally been more expensive to use than carbon-intensive coal or oil. But in recent years solar power has become much cheaper. Energy experts predict that its cost could match that of conventional fuels in the next few years in some areas. Solar cell prices have been
falling, from US$76 per watt in 1977 to about US$10 in 1987 and only 74 cents in 2013. Between 2006 and 2011, Chinese cell prices dropped 80 per cent from $4.50 per Large solar panels are seen in a solar power watt to 90 cents per watt. plant in Hami, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Factors for this Autonomous Region on May 8, 2013. Beijing has begun an anti-dumping probe into European wine, the include a drop in price commerce ministry said on June 5, 2013, after the EU of the main raw material imposed tariffs on solar panel imports from China, in polysilicon (due to a dramatic broadening of their trade dispute. China oversupply), increasing is the EU’s second-largest trading partner, with efficiency of solar US$546 billion in two-way business last year. cells, manufacturing AFP technology improvements, gigawatt is 100,000 megawatts) economies of scale in 2012 to reach 89.5GW. The and intense competition. 100GW milestone will be The use of solar energy crossed some time this year. has shot up as the cost goes All this is good news for the down. Global installed capacity jumped by 28.4 gigawatts (one fight against climate change.
| June 14-20, 2013
ECONOMY
Now comes the bad news. The growing global demand has prompted the rise of solar panel manufacturers, and the competition is fierce, with a number of companies facing closure. China’s biggest solar energy company Suntech is in serious trouble. But China has even bigger problems. The United States government, receiving complaints from US solar panel manufacturers, has slapped high anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese imports. Now the European Commission also plans tariffs averaging 47 per cent on Chinese solar products which it claims are selling below cost. China is taking these threats seriously. Premier Li Keqiang in a visit to Europe last month took up the issue with European leaders. Senior trade officials say China will retaliate. A full-scale trade
war is thus imminent. In a surprise turn of events, Germany and 16 other European countries have told the European Commission they are against its move. But EC Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht will apparently still slap on the tariffs provisionally, which is within his power to do.
Trade wars
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang review the honour guard at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany on May 26, 2013. Li’s three-day visit to Germany, by far China’s biggest European trading partner, indicates Beijing’s wish to continue its special partnership with Europe’s biggest economy, analysts say. AFP
So the solar wars between China with Europe and the US will likely proceed. This is a real pity, as the commercial interests of the countries are coming in the way of rapid progress in solar energy and the fight against climate change. The expansion of the solar panel industry in China has played a crucial role in getting
prices down, making solar energy more and more competitive, and driving its explosive growth. Yes, China subsidises and promotes its solar industry. But the US and Europe also provide massive subsidies and supports. The US has provided its
| June 14-20, 2013
ECONOMY
solar companies with loan guarantees, research grants and tax deductions including investment tax credits and accelerated value depreciation. European countries have given subsidies to consumers using solar energy, and incentives to producers including through the feed-in tariff scheme, in which solar energy providers are paid prices higher than what is charged to electricity users with the price difference being met by governments. Without the subsidies, the solar industry would not have grown. Trade protectionist measures taken by one against the other, or by all against others, would be a recipe for disaster—for trade, the solar industry and the environment. Well-known solar energy advocate and chairman of Solarcentury Jeremy Leggett uses the following analogy to illustrate the trade war: “A
planet faces an asteroid strike. Its inhabitants manufacture rockets with which to head off the threat. But, as the rock nears, they descend into international bickering over who pockets what from rocket-making.”
Energy security
No one wins in this trade war, because of global solar supply chain, explains Leggett. Solar ingots, the upstream feedstock, are mostly made in Europe and America. The midstream products, cells and modules, are mostly made in China. If China is hit on the midstream products it exports, it could retaliate with tariffs on the upstream products it imports. For example, in Europe, the tariffs against China would wipe out thousands of jobs because most are not in manufacturing but in the companies that install the modules, regardless of where they are made.
The solution, he adds, is for the leaders of the few countries where most solar panels are manufactured to make a deal that coordinates the subsidies required in the various parts of the solar chain, and which is required for the few years that some countries need to bring the price of solar energy to parity with that of conventional energy. An apt conclusion is made by Leggett: “The world will have to embrace common security on a bigger scale. Engaging in international competition while clinging to the illusion that markets always work will never solve our common problems of energy insecurity, poor air quality and resource depletion, never mind development. We will keep on maiming industries that can save us.”
| June 14-20, 2013
ENVIRONMENT
Crippling plastic addiction Andreas D. Arditya The Jakarta Post Jakarta
P
lastic waste is choking the environment— with the world’s population consuming enough each year to wrap 10 layers around the Earth. Once he learned of the dangers of plastic waste, I Gede Ari Astina persistently campaigned to reduce the use of plastic bags. Popularly known by his moniker JRX, the drummer of punk rock band Superman Is Dead, has been distributing cloth bags during the band’s concerts while exposing the dangers of plastic waste since 2004. “We continue giving out cloth
bags while educating our fans until now. It’s very irrational to continue using plastic bags after knowing the devastating effects on nature and human health,” JRX told The Jakarta Post. The tattooed musician said it would be easy to stop using plastic bags after understanding the negative effects. “Awareness is crucial to changing habits. The greater challenge is to campaign for others to do the same,” said the Bali-based musician. “I have a hard time, for example, convincing retail employees that I don’t need the plastic bags, they can even be quite pushy about it.” Author Dewi ‘Dee’ Lestari said the easiest and most effective method for improving the environment
Illustraion by The Jakarta Post
Indonesia has yet to address the mounting problem of excessive plastic use
starts with self-action. “Start doing it yourself, beginning in your own home,” Dee said. Dee, who is also a singer and songwriter, said she had avoided using plastic bags since 2006. “I bring cloth bags for shopping and I carry my own containers when I order takeout from restaurants,” she said.
| June 14-20, 2013
ENVIRONMENT
For this good cause, she said the hardest part was discipline. “We must explain to employees at the cash register that we don’t need plastic bags. We have to do this each time we shop,” said the mother of two. Dee agreed with a campaign to pressure retailers to charge for plastic bags. “I think it’s a good move to make people aware that plastic waste is very costly to the environment,” she said. Verena Puspawardani, campaign coordinator for the climate and energy programme at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Indonesia, said the Indonesian government has not issued any regulations to curb the use of plastic bags. “A number of regional administrations have called for a reduction of plastic bag use, but these incentives do not have any legal penalties,” she said. Last year, the Diet Kantong
An Indonesian worker carries sacks of plastic in a garbage-recycling centre in Jakarta on December 2012. Some Indonesian workers earn their livelihood by running a ‘garbage business’, scavenging recyclable materials to run centres making recycled items to be sold to factories Adek Berry/AFP
Plastik (plastic bag diet) movement encouraged the conception of a regional regulation, No. 17/2012, which stipulates a curb in plastic bag usage in the West Java capital
of Bandung, but the regulation has not been put into effect. The movement was started by green campaign group Greeneration Indonesia in 2010. Last month, Jakarta Deputy
| June 14-20, 2013
ENVIRONMENT
Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama declared a “no plastic month” to encourage people to reduce their use of plastics as the movement gained support. According to Muhammad Bijaksana Junerosano, founder of Greeneration, it takes 1,000 years for a single shred of plastic to decompose, while poisoning the soil. People across the archipelago consume a total of 4,000 tonnes of plastic each day—equal to the weight of 16 Boeing 747 airplanes. Each year, plastic consumption is estimated at 100 billion bags, worth a total of 11 trillion rupiah (US$1.1 billion). In Jakarta alone, out of an average 8,000 tonnes of garbage produced every day, 1,060 tonnes is plastic waste. Of the 1,060 tonnes, some 500 tonnes come from plastic bags. Around 7 per cent of plastic waste in the country is burned, releasing toxic fumes into the air.
“Plastic is an important and very useful invention,” Junerosano said, “but excessive use is dangerous.”
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
50 years of TV From black-and-white to colour, mono to stereo, clunky sets to mobile access, television has come a long way since it arrived in Singapore in 1963 Boon Chan The Straits Times Singapore
A
t 6pm sharp on Feb 15, 1963, a picture of the Singapore flag fluttering in the breeze appeared on more than 2,400 television sets around Singapore. For the thousands more gathered around these magic boxes for the momentous occasion, it must have been a sight to set their hearts fluttering as well. Television had arrived in Singapore. On his nostalgia blog, “Good Morning Yesterday”, Lam Chun See, 61, notes that there was only one TV set in his kampung
(village). The owner would place it outside his house for all the neighbours to watch. Lam adds: “Some of us even brought stools to sit in front of his courtyard to watch television right until the time when they played the Majulah Singapura.” Television cast a lifelong spell for Kwan Seck Mui, 66. She recalls that her brother had bought a huge Sharp TV set early on and she even sewed a cover to keep the precious object free of dust when it was not in use. She herself started acting in TV children’s productions in 1965, went on to dramas in the 1970s and later covered entertainment for Shin Min Daily. She says of her foray into
acting: “It was just out of fun. There was not much money in it and we even had to bring our own costumes and props.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of the goggle box in Singapore. The occasion of the golden jubilee is a time of looking forward as well as looking back in celebration. The first person to appear on screen was then Minister of Culture S. Rajaratnam, and he said with prescience: “Tonight might well mark the start of a social and cultural revolution in our lives.” Says assistant professor Liew Kai Khiun of Nanyang Technological University’s
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information’s division of broadcast and cinema studies: “The role of TV in Singapore in the 1960s was meant as a tool of nation-building where the small screen was supposed to promote materials of educational values to the larger masses.” He adds that another mission was to promote and broadcast news and information pertaining to national policies and directions. Before the glitz and glamour of small-screen dramas came along, newscasters were among the most visible personalities in the early days of TV. Norman Lim joined then Radio & Television Singapore (RTS) in 1967 as a radio announcer and later read the news in English from 1974 to 1991, “when the first Gulf War broke out”. Now 70, he says he is still recognised by older
Singaporeans and adds that he is always happy to greet strangers. As for nailing those tricky foreign names at that time, he says: “If there’s no way or time to check the pronunciation, we simply let fly, but do it with confidence without tripping and no one would be the wiser. Of course, later on, checks have to be made.” Not surprisingly then, the retiree now occasionally teaches a course called Better English Pronunciation at community clubs. Along with educating viewers, a key aim of TV has always been to entertain. On Channel 8, the 1982 copsand-robbers action thriller The Seletar Robbery is officially considered by MediaCorp to be the first locally produced Mandarin drama. It starred, among others, the late Huang Wenyong, who would rocket to fame in historical drama The
Awakening two years later. He played the earnest Ah Shui to Xiang Yun’s steadfast Ah Mei in the landmark show about Chinese immigrants. Xiang Yun, 51, recalls those days of shooting on film and says: “The process was very slow and detailed. You had to measure distances with a ruler in order to get the focus just right. It was much harder then. “But we were very positive, enthusiastic and eager to learn.” Content in other languages flourished as well. While the first English drama series Masters Of The Sea (1994) was ridiculed for everything from the pronunciation to the over-the-top acting, it paved the way for better things to come. The first Englishlanguage sitcom Under One Roof won laughs as well as Best Comedy Programme Or Series Award at the Asian Television Awards in 1996 and 1997.
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Malay programming was available on SBC-12 in 1984 and eventually had a home on the standalone Suria channel in 2000. Khairudin Samsudin started out appearing in children’s programmes such as Mat Yoyo in the 1980s and went on to act and host in dramas and variety shows. The 42-year-old recalls the excitement he felt when Suria was first launched and says: “As a performer, having the first Malay channel then, it was important that our performances were on a par with the rest of the channels.” Meanwhile, veteran Tamil artist V. Suriamurthi was performing on shows such as Kalai Vaanam in the 1970s and Malai Mathuram in the 1980s. Now 53, he muses: “My biggest challenge then was to achieve perfection during our song recordings in the studios. Artists as well as musicians could not afford to make mistakes as any one mistake would require
us to redo the whole song.” Despite the challenges, he adds fondly: “I missed singing with a live band. These days, we do our song recordings using minus-one tracks.” Since those live band days, a lot more than that has changed in the media landscape. For one thing, cable TV was launched. On April 2, 1992, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) launched the nation’s first subscription television channel, NewsVision, through its new subsidiary Singapore CableVision (SCV). The 24hour news service showed mainly news from United States’ Cable News Network (CNN) and also included additional feeds from Independent Television News and delayed telecasts of SBC’s 9pm news. In 2002, StarHub merged with SCV and acquired its cable television operations.
The newest kid on the block is SingTel’s mio TV, which has been available from July 21, 2007. According to Nielsen’s Media Index Report last year, freeto-air TV continues to have broad reach with most popular terrestrial channel Channel 8 reaching 62.3 per cent of the population, followed by Channel 5 with 54.2 per cent. In the pay-TV market, StarHub has about 532,000 subscribers, while SingTel has 404,000. The competition for attention is not just between pay and free-to-air TV. Gui Kai Chong, an instructor at the National University of Singapore’s department of communications and new media, says: “TV now has to compete with new sources of entertainment and new forms of leisure, and that is a big challenge.” He ticks off more families having cable TV subscriptions
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
and more young people turning to the Internet and mobile devices and adds that “TV has a much harder time trying to attract and retain people’s attention”. Film producer Lau Chee Nien, 38, says that growing up, mealtimes were centred around the television and he would watch Channel 8 dramas and kids’ shows. Nowadays, though, he hardly watches TV because he is too busy. And he is not a fan of catching it online or on mobile devices because he is too “easily distracted” by other things he could be doing instead. With free-to-air TV content getting increasingly less tethered to physical television sets and fixed timetables, quality content becomes all the more crucial. Liew asks: “Would TV in Singapore be able to generate good quality programmes that both Singaporeans and the rest of the world can identify with?”
The answer to that question could well determine TV’s fate in the next 50 years.
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, ST File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Mediacorp, St File, Courtesy Of Kwan Seck Mui
| June 14-20, 2013
TECHNOLOGY
Go digital: Job hunting goes social Finding a career match? Update your resume, smile, post a photo online Fe Zamora, Kate Pedroso and Sara Pacia Philippine Daily Inquirer Manila
W
orking on an island resort “in a most beautiful place” was far from Kiali-i Chaluyan’s mind when she updated her resume on LinkedIn.com, a social networking site for job seekers and employers, in mid-2012. Chaluyan, 28, a journalism graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, had been working for some years in Manila when certain unfavourable events occurred. Instead of getting depressed, Chaluyan decided to revive her
dormant LinkedIn account. Chaluyan, an avowed “beach person”, was bowled over by the first message she got. “It was an invitation to apply to the Maldives from the Filipino communications manager of a resort run by a well-known Thai hotel chain. This was heaven for me,” she said. “I sent my CV (curriculum vitae), was interviewed twice over the phone and signed the contract in a week,” said Chaluyan in an interview conducted online from where she is now ensconced—a resort in the renowned vacation hideaway for the wealthy, the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Dream job found
Like Chaluyan, Patricia
Job seekers these days need not apply at an employment agency or go to job fairs. They use social media networks like Facebook and LinkedIn.com to look for potential jobs. Romeo Gacad/AFP
Denise Chiu found her dream job via the Internet. In Chiu’s case, the social networking site Facebook was the matchmaker. Fresh out of college in 2012, Chiu applied for her first job the old-fashioned way. She left an
| June 14-20, 2013
TECHNOLOGY
envelope with her application letter and CV in the drop box outside the main gate of the GMA-7 television network. “It was basically a cover letter asking for a job, with my CV as attachment,” she explained. “I waited but nothing happened. So I decided to send Howie Severino, the editor in chief of GMA News Online, a private message (PM) on Facebook,” Chiu said. In the message to Severino, Chiu talked about her experience working with campus publications, her internship with Reuters and her desire to “enhance the skills gained within the university while working in an environment that will allow me to see journalism in action”. Severino responded to her PM by asking her to e-mail samples of her writing. He also asked her to answer a questionnaire on why she wanted to join GMA. Hours after the first exchange
of emails, Severino told Chiu that the GMA’s human resources (HR) department would contact her for an interview and exam. The next day, Chiu was at Severino’s office for a 30-minute chat about the state of journalism and a possible career for Chiu with GMA. “It didn’t really feel like a job interview,” she recalled. Severino also introduced Chiu to the other editors before leading her to the human resources department for the exam. A week later, Chiu started work as a news producer for GMA News Online.
Changing job hunting styles
Thirty years ago, fresh college graduates went hunting for their first jobs by scanning the newspapers’ classified ads section, typing out application letters and CVs on a typewriter, and sending these through the post office, special delivery. The
To find your dream job, guerilla-market yourself out there by posting your profile, accomplishments and everything unique about your personality. Ed Aljibe/AFP
| June 14-20, 2013
TECHNOLOGY
awaited response came by post, telegram or telephone call. Twenty years ago, they were encoding application letters and CVs on a white-screened personal computer and sending these by fax or post. The responses came either by phone, pager and, in some cases, by text. Ten years ago, they searched for jobs from newspapers’ classified ads and some websites, and sent their application letters by e-mail or fax. The awaited responses came either by e-mail or text, and post. Today, job seekers like Chaluyan and Chiu are finding their career match in social networking sites or social media. Or, just plain “social”.
Job market sites
Jobmarket sites like JobsDB.com, Jobstreet.com. ph and Jobmarketonline. com of the Inquirer Group of Companies are updated daily
with the latest openings from hundreds of companies and organisations in the country. Just as fast as the sites are updated, job seekers sift through thousands of job openings that would fit their specific qualifications. There are certain steps to follow, though. In the Inquirer’s jobmarketonline.com, a job seeker must first sign up before he or she can log in and scan the job offerings. A 24/7 online service, jobmarketonline. com can also be viewed via Twitter: @Jobmarket_PDI. With an account, a job seeker can sift through thousands of job openings, narrow down job offers by industry, region, income and other factors; submit resumes directly to companies and recruiters; and be updated on new job openings in specific fields in the future. To date, the Inquirer’s
jobmarketonline.com has registered a total of 13,446 job seekers and more than 700 employers. The top 10 most searched industry/job categories in the website are NGO (nongovernment organisation) or nonprofit, social services, administration HR, accounting, education, information technology (IT), administration (clerical), nurse or medical support, government and management.
Direct and personal
Job seeking, in the case of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, is a more direct and personal matter. Chaluyan said her Maldives employment came by accident but her account in LinkedIn was not. She said her LinkedIn profile had been well-studied and planned. She made sure to “highlight” her strength
TECHNOLOGY
and achievements “to make myself marketable”, she said. For today’s fresh graduates, Chaluyan shared the following tips: Highlight your achievements in school, participation in extracurricular activities and leadership positions held, if any. Put a decent smiling picture. Check your account from time to time and respond to invitations to apply, even if you have no intention of applying. Keep your account updated and actively join groups involving your profession.
| June 14-20, 2013
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
Taking flight More and more female plane enthusiasts, known as ‘sorami-chan’, are flocking to airports The Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka
“O
h! What a cute plane!” Amid a flurry of clicks and flashes, a group of shutterbugs aimed cameras mounted with telephoto lenses at the arrival of a Japan Airlines plane at Osaka Airport. Decorated with Disney characters on its fuselage, the plane was the main attraction at a women-only photo session held in late March at the airport. Eighty-four women of all ages travelled from all over Japan to participate in the event. A professional photographer
even gave them pointers on how to take good pictures and showed them the best photo spots around the airport. More and more young women are flocking to airports to snap photos of passenger planes. They are dubbed “soramichan,” which means Women snap photos of their favourite planes at Osaka a woman who enjoys Airport. the beauty of the sky. The reasons Yuko Nagai, 32, a company behind the hobby employee from Amagasaki, vary. Some are attracted by the Hyogo Prefecture, who took designs of the planes, while part in the session, said she others said they are looking for a taste of the extraordinary. saw a green plane one day on
LIFESTYLE
the way to work and became interested in the unusual colour. “The same type of planes can look totally different from the front if they’re painted differently. So many planes with colourful fuselages now, which is exciting for us photographers,” Nagai said. After photographing the planes, sorami-chan often enjoy shopping or eating at the airports. Some even write about their experiences on blogs. Looking to revitalise their business, airport operators are seeking ways to attract more sorami-chan, such as holding professional photo sessions, with the aim of harnessing their consumption power and ability to spread news about new planes. Humble beginnings The sorami-chan boom first began at Narita Airport. Volunteers from the public and private sectors created the Narita Kuentai (airport supporters’
| June 14-20, 2013
club) to organise tours of the airport. From there, the group came up with the term sorami-chan to rival “tetsuko” (female train fans) and “yama girls” (women who enjoy mountaineering). Since then, the rapid spread of high-quality digital cameras have also helped soramiA fuselage of a plane decorated with Disney characters chan grow in number. at Osaka Airport. Kuentai, in collaboration with camera makers and Airport in Aichi Prefecture set up hotels, also organises photo an airport tour called “Centrair sessions for sorami-chan and sorami joshikai” (women-only other events at the airport. gathering). About 150 women According to the group, applied for 20 available slots, when participants write and the winners were treated up their experiences and to a special course at a French impressions on blogs, it helps restaurant in the terminal. attract new sorami-chan. Mieko Kato, a spokesperson for Local airports have also caught the airport operator, said: “We onto the sorami-chan craze. never thought the programme In February, Chubu Centrair would be so popular. In the
LIFESTYLE
future, we want to organise a ‘sorami-chan summit’ in cooperation with other airports.” In March, Kansai Airport offered a seminar about planes that also came with a business class meal. The 40 available slots for the seminar were filled within 30 minutes. Other events, in which participants enjoyed in-flight meals and desserts from two European airlines, were also popular. Haneda Airport in Tokyo also tries to lure sorami-chan by opening popular brand boutiques and sweets shops. Aki Shikama, a photojournalist who writes a column on soramichan, said: “As women enjoy travelling, they may become interested in planes. They’re also good at exchanging information. Airports could improve their image if they know how to make good use of them [sorami-chan].”
| June 14-20, 2013
“Doraemon” characters drawn on the fuselage of a plane at Osaka Airport.
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
A Thai lost in DC Expat Tichakorn Khroopan Hill’s first book turns heads on the chick-lit circuit Manta Klangboonkrong The Nation Bangkok
I
f you’re looking for a lighthearted book with a bit of romance, drama and comedy, go to Amazon.com and get a copy of “From Bangkok with Despair: (mis) adventures in DC.” Not only is it fun to read, but the author, Tichakorn Khroopan Hill, is the first Thai to publish a “chick-lit” book in English and distribute it internationally. Heart-warming, hilarious and deliriously refreshing, “From
Bangkok with Despair” shares the story of Joyjira, a Bangkok journalist. Dumped by her anchorman-boyfriend in front of the entire Bangkok press corps, Joyjira decides to leave the humiliation behind and starts a new life as a reporter in Washington, DC, capital of the land of her dreams. But as soon as she arrives, she’s up to her stiletto heels in hot water. Replete with culture shock and a dire situation on the job, the yarn soon transforms into a murder mystery that turns on an unexpected romance with a man
named Luke—who turns out to be Joyjira’s competitor. “From Bangkok with Despair” is like a twist on “Bridget Jones’s Diary”. If you like Bridget, you’ll love Joyjira and her amusing tales. Bangkok-born Tichakorn might not have dreamed she’d publish a book—as she tells us in an interview—but it now seems written in the stars. Good at foreign languages since a very
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
young age, she was anxious to see the world. She raided her school library’s travel section and spent nights writing. After moving to America with her husband, Tichakorn rekindled her passion for writing and took it beyond a mere hobby. Her first novel has been met with positive reviews since its release in March. Q: Did you always dream of publishing a book? I never thought about writing a book until about five years ago, when I came across this hilarious memoir, “Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy”, by Lindsay Moran. I was hooked, so I started looking for books written in a comedic tone, and most of them happened to be romantic comedy or chick-lit. The writers I worship are Jill Kargman, Jennifer Weiner, Curtis Sittenfeld, Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper. But I love books by
Ernest Hemingway. I’ve read “A Moveable Feast” many times and even hung out in front of Hemingway’s first apartment in Paris when I was there last year. The Thai writers I admire are Sopak Suwan, Wanich Jaroongkit-anant, Suwannee Sukhontha and Win Leowarin. Q: How did the ideas of this book come about? I started a blog and kind of rambled on about my daily life. The stories I wrote for my day job were pretty serious because they involved public policy and law, so to be able to write something light-hearted sounded very appealing and exciting. I blogged for a year or two and some other bloggers suggested I write a novel. I quickly accepted the challenge— it was what I’d wanted to do— but I wasn’t completely sure I could do it. I started drafting a plot on my train rides home
from DC every evening. Q: Did you base the character of Joy on yourself? The book is pure fiction, even though the culture shock and some of the problems the characters face are based on the real experiences of Thais living in America. Joy does share some of my characteristics, likes and dislikes. Q: What about the other characters—any basis in reality? No. They’re made up, even though I wish Luke were real! Q: Was it hard to get published? I self-published it on Amazon, so I didn’t have to go through that process. I’d entered writing contests, and from the feedback from the judges, my book definitely had an audience. I actually placed second in one of the competitions. The
| June 14-20, 2013
LIFESTYLE
book was originally titled “DC Diary”, but my editor and I agreed it needed a new title. Q: Are you concerned that the sensation of you being the first Thai chick-lit novelist would somehow overshadow the true value of the work? I never thought of it that way. I wrote simply because I had a story to tell. I’m just happy that the feedback has been good so far. My only goal is to entertain. If people find it entertaining, then I’ve done my job. Q: How has your life changed since the book came out? I feel very accomplished! Writing a novel was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. For the past five years my weekends and holidays were spent on the book. It was hard also because I worked fulltime and was exhausted by the time I got home from work.
So it took time and a lot of determination, but I’m very happy with the end result. I’m now in the process of promoting my book on Goodreads and Amazon. It’s good fun reaching out to people and interacting with readers. I view this as a privilege. I wasn’t in the position to do this five years ago—or even last year. Q: So far your book is available only at Amazon. Will it be in Thai bookstores soon? I don’t know yet, but I would love that. Q: What about a Thailanguage edition? It would be an honour to have my book translated. My mum complains that she can’t read it because it’s in English. Q: Do you plan to have the second book out soon? Yes. I have a few ideas that need to be narrowed down.
Buy “From Bangkok with Despair: (mis)adventures in DC” at Amazon.com as a paperback for US$10.95 or for your Kindle for $5.95. Learn more about the author at TichakornHill.com.
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
Picking plums in Moc Chau Visit a Vietnamese plateau to enjoy a special holiday during the harvest season Features Desk Viet Nam News Son La, Vietnam
M
oc Chau Plateau in Vietnam’s northwestern mountainous province of Son La may be the perfect destination for you if you are looking to escape from the summer heat. Here, average summer temperatures are 20-260 C and there is usually a cool, calming breeze. In particular, visitors between April and June can enjoy a very special holiday as in these months it is plumharvesting season. The fields of plum trees turn luscious pinks, reds and purples, stretching
It is plum-harvesting time in Moc Chau.
out into the distance almost as far as the eye can see. In the early morning, Mong and Thai people call one another to gather plums. Their
conversations and laughter echo out over the hills. Then, when the sun goes down, hundreds of tonnes of plums are packed into baskets in preparation
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
for trade across the country. For locals, the plum tree is a gift from nature because it grows extremely well on highland soil and requires very little care. Furthermore, it produces a particularly valuable yield. Pham Thanh Lam, 50, says that this year plums are selling at about 8,000 dong (30 US cents) per kilogramme, which is 3,000 dong more than last year. As a result, the local people, already known for their cheeriness, are feeling particularly positive this year. Lam’s own plum field covers an area of 2ha and contains 200 trees which are on average 15 years old. Each tree gives him 50-60kg of fruit per year which can be sold for up to 450,000 dong (US$22.5). According to Lam, every household in Moc Chau has around 5,000sq m to plant plum trees. “It is an important source of income for people in the
Plums are an important source of income for people in Moc Chau. VNS Photo
plateau. The plums here can make locals wealthy.” According to Ngo Thanh Dao, a member of the management board of the Moc Chau Tourism Area, they have been given significant investment for the building of a unique
tourism programme. “Visitors go to the plum fields and pay fees of up to 30,000 dong per person to eat, stay at a local home and harvest plums. After the harvest, the tourists are paid for picking the fruit,” said Dao. This option is becoming
TRAVEL
increasingly popular Mong girls go to pick with guests to Moc Chau. plums together. They enjoy the feeling of VNS Photo pulling down plum tree branches, plucking the fruits and dropping them in the harvest basket. If they are thirsty, they can snack on the biggest, most succulent fruit while sitting down and listening to the twittering of the birds. If farming is not your cup of tea, you can spend your free time exploring the abundant grassy hills and tea plantations, taking photos and learning about the simple but charming life in rustic Moc Chau. Just 3km from Moc Chau, you will come across Dai April to September, when the Yem waterfall, known as Ban Vat 70m-wide waterfall crashes by local people. It is a historic down in a dazzling white froth, landscape, closely entwined with imposingly dramatic and poetic. the history of the Thai people. A visit to the waterfall may It looks incredibly stunning whet your appetite for a trip during the rainy season from slightly further afield. Located
| June 14-20, 2013
40km to the south of Moc Chau is the 27,886ha Xuan Nha-Sop Cop Nature Reserve, which boasts a rich flora and fauna system. With its endless plum forests, fields of tea, dairy cows grazing leisurely on the immense green grass fields and beautiful natural landscapes, Moc Chau is certain to give you a very enjoyable holiday.
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
Mystic river, towering hills
Make a pilgrimage to the world-famous Guilin hills and the river that flows through them Pauline D. Loh China Daily Guilin
H
ave you noticed the beautiful scenery on the back of a Chinese 20yuan note? Even in sepia tones, the hills are breathtakingly beautiful, rising almost upright from the banks of the Lijiang, the “flowing water” that cuts right through Guilin in Guangxi. Now we have the geography mapped out, we can get down to real details like how proud the residents of Guilin are of this river. In fact, Guilin natives take pride in all they have—the wonderful moist climate which
the women claim gives them their famous complexion, the snail noodle dish now widely exported to major cities all over the country, the famous chili bean paste, and of course, the unique Arhat fruit or luohan guo, the latest all-natural sweetener to fascinate the health-conscious community worldwide. Guilin literally translates into “osmanthus woods” and the city is similarly famous for its incredibly aromatic osmanthus flowers, frequently used to infuse and scent the green tea which grows on the steep slopes of the karst hills. In season, ancient osmanthus shrubs as tall as trees deodorise the air above the Lijiang River as it meanders through
The picturesque Lijiang River comes alive as local fishermen set out for the morning’s catch. Liu Xianglong/Asia News Photo
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
the Guilin city centre. We were fortunate to stay at the oldest international fivestar hotel in town, the Guilin Sheraton, and we made it our base to explore the river and trawl the food streets just behind the hotel. There is also a convenient traditional Chinese massage centre across the street where we sought much needed relief after a day clambering up and down steep slopes. It is probably also the only hotel where you can gaze upon the Lijiang out of your window and watch its changing mood as it turns clear when the weather is fine, or murky and angry as heavy rains whip up little waves on its surface. The famous Elephant trunk Hill is also mere minutes away. In the early hours, you can see Guilin residents out in full force by the banks, waving lethal-looking swords and huge red fans or little ping-pong
bats, intent on practising their martial arts or dance sequences. You can tell they are a healthy lot, unlike the sedentary lazybones from Beijing exercising vicariously from hotel windows. But we were roused from our osmanthus tea-fuelled comfort by the offer of a trip up the Lijiang to the tourist town of Yangshuo, where Chinese director Zhang Yimou had invested his first major song-and-dance-and-light spectacle, Impression Liu Sanjie. In case you are wondering, Liu Sanjie or Third Sister Liu is a local legend, a peasant girl with the voice of an angel and the quick wit of a vixen who had outwitted and outsung the local tyrant, an evil landlord and his cowardly scholar henchmen. This is all according to a 1960 film, of course. The river is beautiful, and all we needed for that long, leisurely cruise down to Yangshuo were earplugs.
Chili bean paste is one of the hottest products in Guilin.
Guilin and Yangshuo are the twin attractions on every Chinese tourist’s must-do travel list, and it did seem that every Chinese tourist and his uncle, aunt, second cousins twice removed were on our boat that day. The excited cacophony became so overwhelming that we forked out an extra 600 yuan (US$98) for a private cabin. Even so, it was in need of better soundproofing because the noise was dimmed but still intrusive
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
as we gazed pensively out at the calm of the hills and fervently wished it were the hill songs that were echoing in our ears. But the scenery was worth the trip, above all else. The karst hills were awe-inspiring, fringed on the water’s edge by phoenixtail bamboo, which veiled little hamlets of small holdings. The cruise guide’s commentary also allowed our imagination to take flight. “Here is the five-horses mural which nature painted on the hillside ... This is the Goddess of Mercy, flanked by her two child attendants This is the hill that looks like a three-pronged pen-holder” And then his voice was drowned out by a burst of excited chatter as everyone whipped out their 20-yuan bank note and tried to identify the scenery that inspired the design. It was long past lunchtime when we finally reached the Yangshuo
jetty where a fisherman and his cormourants were waiting. Be careful, though. Every time you snapped a photograph of the birds, you have to pay their owner 5 yuan. Some enterprising tourists foiled his mercenary attempts with a number of surreptitious under-arm shots. More evidence that Yangshuo depends almost solely on tourism for its livelihood are the twin rows of souvenir stalls that lined the jetty walkway for a full 500-metre. Resist the temptation of the “genuine Miao tribal silver bracelets”, the “root carvings from real bamboo”, the colourful sarongs that looked as if they had been made in Bali or Phuket, and the pretty sunhats that must have been made in Dongguan, Guangdong province. About five to 10 minutes’ walk away is the main pedestrian mall in Yangshuo. Read “more shopping”. But here at least,
the prices will be a fraction of those at the jetty. There is plenty of natural beauty to be seen in Yangshuo, if you leave the well-beaten tourist paths in the company of a local friend. Red-earthed country lanes lined by lush bamboo groves seduce the hiker or the cyclist. When you climb high enough, you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Lijiang River, and that is when you will truly understand why it is one of the most beautiful waterways in the whole of China. Any place you travel to in China will boast regional dishes that you will be urged to enjoy. In both Guilin and Yangshuo, there is braised river fish in beer sauce, stuffed snails not unlike a very spicy escargot, and chilies, lots of chilies. Wash it all down with Arhat fruit tea. It will leave a sweet aftertaste you will keep with you long after the Guilin hills are a fading picture in your memory.
TRAVEL
| June 14-20, 2013
Fan Zhen/China Daily
TRAVEL
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
| June 14-20, 2013
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
Galloping Gourmet
The scenery is peerless. The air is fresh and moist, and it’s like living in a temperate spa. Being near a cool, clear, clean river definitely has its advantages. For example, you get fresh fish at your doorstep, and also river prawns that make up for their lack of size with almost sugary sweetness. Then there are baby crabs no larger than walnuts that are deep-fried and crunched up along with a couple of tankards of the local beer. And speaking of beer, good beer needs good water, and Guilin is well known for that. That is why one of the signature dishes in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is the river fish braised in beer. The rich, deep malty tones of the beverage actually go extremely well with the river fish, if you don’t mind a few bones and carefully avoid the lethal red chili peppers that are diminutive
but fiery enough to have you reaching for a lot more beer. At the Cathay Restaurant on the ground floor of the Sheraton Guilin, chef Huang Yong has tempered the heat with the addition of red and green bell peppers—cleverly avoiding combustion in the mouth, but still keeping the taste of capsicums strong. His version of fish in beer comes in an elegant small castiron cauldron, balanced on a matching warmer. The fish, cut into large chunks and deep-fried before they are braised in the beer sauce, is simply delicious. The batter is soft and tender, having soaked up the sauce, but it still retains a slight crunch from the deep-frying. The fish inside is snowy white, tender and delicate, which makes for a very interesting contrast with the bold flavours outside. It is a bit like marrying beauty and the beast, and this is
probably why it is such a popular order among locals and visitors, served from Guilin to Yangshuo and every small town in-between. It is obvious that Huang, Guilin born and bred, is proud of his culinary heritage. He serves up a stuffed water chestnut, crisp to the bite until the sweetness of the aquatic corm meets the sweetness of the minced prawn filling. He wisely leaves the strong flavouring aside, and lets the ingredients speak. All that is needed is the crystal glaze that makes the dish shine. Another ingredient he proudly displays almost naked is the steamed betel-nut taro that is served with nothing more than just a little saucer of sugar. The mauve hues of the root are laced with darker purple, just like the grains of a cut betel-nut, hence its name. The taro grows abundantly along the water’s edge and Guilin’s Lipu region is famous for its yams, another
TRAVEL
name for this root vegetable. Both water chestnut and taro are local produce, exported all over China and abroad when they are in season. The Sheraton in Guilin is one of the first, and now its oldest, international five-star hotels, and that it has stuck to its benchmarks is apparent from the offerings at its signature Chinese restaurant. And while we have homebred chefs like Huang guarding Guilin cuisine, we can be sure that here at least, the legacy is safe. —Pauline D. Loh/China Daily
| June 14-20, 2013
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
A taste of the past Hita is a heady combination of sake, beer and shochu; atmosphere and interesting people Katsuo Kokaji The Yomiuri Shimbun Hita, Oita
“T
his is a sake town, so I want to drink some good alcohol,” I thought as I set out on a glorious spring day. A row of houses with oldfashioned tile roofs punctuated by a single brick smokestack reaching up into the sky against a mountain backdrop made me feel as though I’d stepped into a sumi-e ink painting from another era. The Mameda district of Hita is famous for its old buildings, foremost among which is the
Kuncho sake brewery. Though the smokestack isn’t used anymore, it remains a town landmark. The area is home to five old sake warehouses, the oldest of which was built in 1702. One has been turned Fumio Ishimaru carries sweets for sale from a shoulder pole into a museum. among the old houses of the Mameda district in Hita. Inside among the old sake-making tools in the dim sweets for sale from a shoulder light, you feel shut off from the pole among the old houses of world. I tasted some of the sake the Mameda district in Hita. they make—it was fantastic. Fumio Ishimaru carries “The water’s good here. It’s
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
because of the cold winters in this basin,” said brewery director Yuko Tomiyasu, 54. Hita is in Kyushu, where the climate is milder, but temperatures still plunge below zero in winter. At times, the harshness of nature does have its blessings. Back out on the streets of Mameda, the traditional buildings sport a variety of walls, from white plaster with namako grid patterns to black and brown walls made of mud. Early in the Edo period (16031867), Hita was put under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the homes of the town’s old families reflect the styles of the different eras. Amid this unusual atmosphere, a voice called out: “Moist anpan, moist! Ishigaki manju, ishigaki!” Dressed in a top with a kasuri splashed pattern, traditional loose-legged pleated hakama trousers and straw sandals, Fumio Ishimaru, 56, walks
the streets selling sweets from wooden boxes that hang on a pole draped across his shoulders. He seemed interesting, so I tagged along and found his treats actually sold quite well. He fit right in with the Mameda atmosphere in his Meiji era (1868-1912) costume, which would have looked odd anywhere else. Ishimaru’s main job is running a local hardware store, but he started dressing up to sell treats at events about 25 years ago. Around the time he turned 40, he started coming out to “peddle” on his days off, except during the hottest days of summer. Though selling sweets isn’t making him rich, “I just want people to have fun”, Ishimaru said. He’s been doing it for so long now that he has become part of the scenery. In addition to the sake made in Hita, south of Mameda is the Kyushu-Hita plant of
A virgin sawtooth oak forest on the grounds of the Iichiko distillery.
Sapporo Breweries Ltd. But why is “Sapporo” in Kyushu? Yep, it’s the water again. A frosty mug after a tour of the brewery tasted outstanding. But when one thinks of Kyushu, it’s usually shochu that
| June 14-20, 2013
TRAVEL
springs to mind first, and indeed an Iichiko distillery lies north of Mameda, at which tours and tastings are also available. Inside the grounds of the distillery, which originally produced whiskey, is a virgin sawtooth oak forest, a great place for a walk among the birds’ songs. “The microbes you need to make shochu thrive in the water here,” says Kiyotaka Uematsu of Sanwa Shurui Co., producer of Iichiko. The delicious sake, beer and shochu of the region all contain its condensed essence by way of its air, water and scenery, as well the personalities of people like Ishimaru. Even after I leave, just a sip of Hita alcohol brings to mind the old streets of Mameda and the spacious sawtooth oak forest.
The Kuncho sake museum converted from an old sake warehouse.
Travel tips After a 1-hour-and-50-minute flight from Haneda Airport to Fukuoka Airport, an expressway bus will take you into Hita in 1 hour and 15 minutes. For more information, call the Hita city tourist association at +81 (0973) 22-2036, or visit www.oidehita.com
DATEBOOK KUALA LUMPUR
PJ laugh fest: Men in Tutus Ballerinos in tutus from New York’s Les Ballet Eloelle all-male troupe return to Malaysian shores for another instalment of hilarious classic and contemporary ballet parodies. Tickets start at 100 ringgit (US$32.35) When: Until June 23 Where: PJ Live Arts Info: www.timeoutkl.com
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards Preview the work of some of the best amateur and professional photographers from across the globe at this exhibition, as they vie for the coveted awards. This year’s awards fall under two categories: Portrait Single and the new Smartphone Story: “1,000 Yards”. When: Until June 23 Where: Petronas Gallery, Suria KLCC Info: www.klphotoawards.com
| June 14-20, 2013
DATEBOOK
| June 14-20, 2013
SINGAPORE
Trading Stories: Conversations with Six Pioneering Tradesmen
BEIJING
Beijing Music Day The one-day music festival will fill the streets of Gulou with sound, with 33 local acts playing at 14 different venues in the district. When: June 21 Info: www.beijingmusicday.com
Discover the world of Singaporean tradesmen from the “old world� and see time through their eyes. Through their personal stories, this exhibition brings its participants through the experiences of various tradesmen from the past, from goldsmiths to letter writers to farmers. When: Until June 23 Where: National Museum of Singapore Info: www.nationalmuseum.sg
DATEBOOK TOKYO
Iriya Asagao Matsuri (Morning Glory Festival) Visitors from all over the world visit the Kishibo-Jin Temple as early as the crack of dawn to buy morning glory flowers and plants, which symbolise the beginning of summer, and are said to bring good luck. When: July 6-8 Where: Kishibo-Jin Shrine, Taito Ward, Tokyo
| June 14-20, 2013