AsiaNews Magazine June 20-26,2014

June 20-26, 2014

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR How Bhutan's approach to tourism aims to protect its environment and culture

Contents June 20-26, 2014

❖ Travel

❖ Weekly Briefing

❖ Sport

A breath of fresh air

Personalities in the news

An uphill battle for Korea

Contents June 20-26, 2014

❖ Politics

❖ Travel

❖ Society

❖ Lifestyle

Persuading the undecided

A season for tea

Homeless in Kuala Lumpur

Forget starvation diets, eat more to burn fat

Contents June 20-26, 2014

❖ Lifestyle

❖ Entertainment

Datebook

Where to ‘jam’ with your fave K-pop stars

Mandopop's uphill battle

Happenings around Asia

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WEEKLY BRIEFING

June 20-26, 2014

AHMAD TARMIMI MALIKI, 26, a young factory worker from Pahang with links to the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is believed to have become Malaysia's first suicide bomber. He drove a military SUV filled with explosives into Iraq's Swat headquarters in al-Anbar on May 26 blowing up and killing 25 soldiers and himself.

He had reportedly been trained by militants in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, last year before travelling to Iraq.

SHIN HAE-CHUL, 46, a South Korean singer who claims copyright over the country's famous World Cup national chant “Dae-Han-Min-Guk (Republic of Korea)!” followed by five claps.

His agency, KCA Entertainment, said the chant was taken from a song titled “Into the Arena”.

Shin wrote the song at the request of the nation’s official soccer fan club Red Devils in 2002.

AFP

MOON CHANG-KEUK, 66, is the first journalist to be nominated for prime minister in South Korea’s modern history. Moon built his career as a political correspondent at the Joongang Ilbo, a major national newspaper since 1975. He served as the political desk editor and was promoted to chief of the editorial staff.

KEISUKE HONDA, 28, Japan’s star striker made a goal in the 16th minute of the team’s FIFA World Cup opener against Ivory Coast in Recife, Brazil, on June 14.

However, Japan lost the game 2-1.

June 20-26, 2014

SPORT JUNG YEON-JE/AFP

AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR KOREA Taeguk Warriors need a big morale boost as well as steely resolve to win

South Korea's forward Lee Keun-Ho celebrates after scoring during a Group H football match between Russia and South Korea in the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 17, 2014.

SPORT

June 20-26, 2014

JUNG YEON-JE/AFP

Members of South Korea's football team take part in a training session in Foz do Iguacu, Parana, on June 18, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup football tournament in Brazil.

Yu Kun-ha The Korea Herald Seoul

T

he world is gripped by soccer fever with the World Cup underway in Brazil. During the next few weeks, about half of the world’s population will be riveted to their TVs to watch the planet’s biggest quadrennial soccer event.

Many Korean soccer fans are having sleepless nights to watch all the live action from the opposite side of the globe.

They have to stay awake until the early morning, as all games start after 1am.

But World Cup fever here is more subdued than in previous years. One factor is obviously the lessthan-convenient broadcast

SPORT

June 20-26, 2014

schedule. But a bigger reason is the Sewol ferry tragedy that took place two months ago but is still unfolding.

Yet tens of thousands of Red Devils, passionate supporters of the Korean national team, are expected to turn up on the streets of Seoul on the days when the team plays.

In fact, hundreds of thousands of them took to the streets on June 18 to cheer for the national football team against Russia in their crucial World Cup match.

The Group H clash between South Korea and Russia began at 7am on Wednesday (Seoul Time) at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba in the centralwest region of host Brazil.

Several places in Seoul turned into a sea of red with fans sporting Red Devil shirts and hair bands to cheer on the team that ended the match with a draw.

Wearing red T-shirts and devil horns, they will reenact their familiar, enthusiastic street cheering, which is characterised by thunderous chants of “Dae-han-minguk” to the accompaniment of hand-clapping. Daehan Minguk is the formal name of the nation in Korean.

The Brazil World Cup marks the eighth consecutive tournament Korea will be playing since 1986. Korea’s aim is to reach the last eight. In the 2002 event, which it co-hosted with Japan, the Korean squad reached the semifinals, shattering all expectations. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it made it to the round of 16.

Yet the odds are stacked against the Taegeuk Warriors.

Few foreign soccer pundits predict that Korea will be able to get out of the group

phase. Even among Koreans, only 42 per cent believe Korea will be able to advance to the knockout stage, while 44 per cent think otherwise.

Korea is grouped with Russia, Algeria and Belgium in Group H. In this group, Korea is the lowest-ranked nation. In the latest FIFA rankings released on June 5, it slipped two notches to 57th place, while Belgium climbed one notch to 11th and Algeria three notches to 22nd. Russia moved down a spot to 19th.

Among the 32 World Cup participants, Australia, in 62nd place, is the only country ranked lower than Korea.

The opening match was of crucial importance for Korea, as it will determine whether Korea can advance to the next round.

Many predict that Belgium will top Group H, with Korea and

SPORT

June 20-26, 2014

Russia vying for the remaining ticket to the round of 16. Algeria is seen standing little chance of moving beyond the group stage.

Russia has not advanced to the second round since 1994. So its primary goal is to get out of the group. For this, Russia appointed Fabio Capello, a renowned Italian coach who guided England to the 2010 World Cup finals, as manager of its national team.

Korea faces Algeria on June 23. Although many bookmakers predict the Taegeuk Warriors will prevail over Algeria, they should not underestimate their African opponents. Just like Russia, Algeria is determined to advance to the second round as it failed to do so in its three previous campaigns.

The Algerian squad is regarded as a dark horse that can beat the best teams. It proved its strength by winning its three warm-up

games against European teams before heading to Brazil. It beat Slovenia 2-0, Armenia 3-1 and Romania 2-1. Algeria may provide an upset by beating Russia or Belgium or both.

Belgium is the last country that Korea takes on in the group phase. Experts are bullish on Belgium, with some ranking it among the top five participants in the Brazil World Cup, the other four being the host country, Argentina, Germany and Spain.

The European team is studded with stars, including Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Marouane Fellaini and Andan Januzaj.

Barring the unexpected, Belgium is highly likely to advance past the group stage.

For sure, Taegeuk Warriors have been working hard to reach their peak form and put to rest

concerns caused by their poor performance in warm-up games.

In their final tune-up with Ghana, they were clobbered 4-0. The match was especially disappointing as it showed that the national squad had left the gaping holes in its defence unplugged. Before the match with Ghana, the squad was defeated 1-0 by Tunisia. Yet Korean soccer fans pin much hope on the leadership of the head coach, Hong Myungbo, one of its football legends.

He surprised many in 2012 by leading the lackluster Korean football team to a bronze medal at the London Olympics.

Hong also has rich World Cup experience. He played in four consecutive World Cups as a defensive back starting in 1990 and served as the skipper of the national team in 2002. The talented coach is

SPORT

June 20-26, 2014

ED JONES/AFP

believed to have developed a formula for victory based on his experience.

Objectively speaking, the Korean team faces an uphill battle in its bid to advance past the group stage and on to the targeted elite eight.

To attain this goal, it needs a big morale boost as well as steely resolve to win. So ardent support from the Red Devils and other Koreans is strongly called for.

If the national team puts up a good fight against its opponents, it will help lift the gloomy mood following the ferry disaster and energise Korean society. In this regard, the Taegeuk Warriors are charged with a mission of great importance. ÂŹ

A South Korean football fan reacts during a public screening in Seoul of the South Korea vs Russia football match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, early on June 18, 2014.

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

INDONESIA ELECTION

PERSUADING THE UNDECIDED Apriadi Gunawan/THE JAKARTA POST

Prabowo Subianto showing his style in winning votes in a rally in Medan, North Sumatra, one of his support bases.

Hasyim Widhiarto, Sita W. Dewi and Hans Nicholas Jong The Jakarta Post Jakarta

I

n about two weeks or so, Indonesians will troop to the polling stations to select their new president.

A significant number of them, however, seem to have remained undecided to this day. And with the margin of one candidate over the other seen to be too narrow, as various surveys indicate, their votes would definitely count.

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

Jerry Adiguna/THE JAKARTA POST

Joko “Jokowi� Wododo (centrE) and running mate Jusuf Kalla (right) greet rival pair Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa before starting their first televised debate in Jakarta

June 20-26, 2014

Taxi drivers cheer as the presidential candidate they support, Jokowi, appears in a televised debate against his rival in Jakarta.

POLITICS

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

Thus, in the remaining days before the July 9 election, the camps of presidential candidates Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Prabowo Subianto are moving heaven and earth to win over the approval of this segment of the voting population.

In the course of the campaign, the two camps—led by their major players—traded barbs and hurled against each other criticisms and accusations that ranged from the very serious to the most trivial.

At one point, the former Jakarta governor told his audience that a leader with an affluent background had less empathy with the people, referring to Prabowo who is a son of a top minister during the administrations of former presidents Sukarno and Soeharto, and whose brother is one of the richest in the country. The former lieutenant general countered this with a statement warning the public against voting for a leader who was just pretending to be a populist and who tended to break his promises.

But these exchanges did very little in winning votes and in addressing the more serious concerns of the people about them.

Both candidates have some heavy baggage that may have damaging impact on their respective bids.

Jokowi struggles in warding off attacks questioning his Islamic faith, which could be a problem for Muslim voters.

In the case of Prabowo, a former lieutenant general, his alleged past involvement in human rights violations, which was said to be the reason for his dismissal from the military, is an issue that may undermine his credibility. Jokowi and Prabowo have only a few days left to address these and answer the so many questions that the people wish to ask to their future president before the actual polling.

What can hopefully be an effective tool for the two candidates to clear the air and make their governance plans known to the people, and eventually win for either one

of them the much needed votes, is the five-part televised Presidential Debate that started on June 9 and will culminate on July 5.

The first two have been done and the third, which would focus on internal politics and national security, was slated for June 22.

Many agree that the first, did not create the big bang that might could have swayed votes but it did show something, that the race between the two would be a very close one.

To the mind of many, the first face-off—which focused on democracy, clean government and law—was marked by Prabowo seemingly losing his cool when asked about his role in the abduction of pro-democracy activists in 1998. It was then that Jokowi and running mate, Jusuf Kaila, who both appeared to have remained composed and firm in their rebuttal, seemed to have earned the points that made them emerge ahead of the race after the first round of the Presidential Debate.

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

The second round, held on June 15 and which had the economy as the main focus, showed both presidential candidates taking a strong nationalist, even protectionist, stance.

In this round, however, it was Prabowo who seemed to have scored as he came across as very strongly for economic nationalism, stressing domestic control of the Indonesian economy.

“Our sources of wealth are controlled by foreign hands, foreign companies, so the wealth flows out from the country… Indonesia’s wealth should be controlled by our country,” Prabowo said.

He also made a vow to plug the leak in the country’s energy sector that caused losses of up to 1 quadrillion rupiah (US$84.56 billion) a year.

Prabowo, citing a 2013 Corruption Eradication Commission data, said total leakage in the state budget could reach 7.2 quadrillion rupiah.

“We want to seal the leakage and save the budget and reallocate the funds for other sectors.”

He said the amount could already finance several infrastructure projects and provide at least 1 billion rupiah per village yearly as stipulated in Law No. 16/2-14 on villages.

“In the neo-liberal economy, the government plays only a referee-like role; but in our vision, the government should be more than that. It should be a pioneer in managing the country’s economic resources,” he said.

Jokowi, while trying to show a similarly strong nationalist stance, focused on boosting productivity by supporting small and micro business, and improving the budgeting systems both at the national and local levels.

During the two-hour debate, Jokowi said his experience both as Surakarta mayor and Jakarta governor had made him aware of the importance of giving ad-

equate space for small and micro businesses to grow.

When asked about the opening up of Southeast Asian economies starting next year, he said: “Every country has barriers… we can make it a bit more difficult for foreign investors.”

It is probably Prabowo's hardline nationalistic/protectionist stance, which he has been open about ever since, that scares the foreign investing community and open economy advocates.

A recent survey conducted by Deutsche Bank indicated that foreign investors’ investment decisions would be significantly affected by the change in the administration.

The survey revealed that 74 per cent of the investors surveyed would invest if the Jokowi-Kalla would win the election and only 6 per cent would sell their shares.

In contrast, the same survey showed that should the Prabowo-Hatta pair win, 56 per cent of the investors would offload

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

their shares while only 13 per cent would buy more shares.

The survey, which was conducted in May and June this year, covered 70 investors.

“We note the approach of the Jokowi-Kalla pair’s 'non-transactional' coalition, compared to Prabowo-Hatta’s pragmatic compromise, is the most important distinguishing factor in the reform,” Deutsche Bank said in an earlier release.

In addition, a survey of the bank—the largest independent opinion poll covering 3,300 respondents in 27 cities across the country—indicated support for the Jokowi-Kalla ticket at 50 per cent and 41 per cent for the Prabowo-Hatta team. The former Jakarta governor’s team was leading in 19 out of 27 cities surveyed, it showed.

“Our base case view still calls for Jokowi-Kalla to win. Still, we note the fluidity of the outcome and the scheduled five presiden-

tial debates may affect the undecided votes,” it added.

The Jakarta Post editorial on June 17, however, pointed that analsysts seemed to be reading too deeply into what they considered strident tones of nationalism and protectionism in the debate between the two presidential candidates.

"But we assure foreign investors within and outside the country that much of the talk about the dominant role of foreign capital and the urgent need to restrict foreign investment is mostly nationalistic rhetoric that usually acquires political currency during the presidential campaign. None of those themes reflect an outright xenophobic stance," it said.

"Certainly, it would aggravate the general public if either of the candidates spoke out too strongly in favour of foreign investments, let alone openly inviting as many foreign investors as possible to tap the country’s natural resources."

It pointed out Jokowi’s firm stance on the inviolability (sanctity) of business and investment contracts; despite stressing the need to empower more domestic businesses to play a bigger role in the economy, especially in natural resource sectors like mining. "Both candidates seem to fully grasp the fact that due to the country’s deep ties to the global economy as well as its continued need for foreign direct investment and portfolio capital, excessive nationalism and xenophobia would be economic, and eventually, political suicide."

The first two rounds of the Jokowi-Prabowo debate seemed to have given the two candidates a point each, further narrowing the gap between them. The next three rounds, and the remaining days for their respective campaign sorties, will determine if either one of them will be able to pull away and clinch a decisive win. ¬

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

PATHOS, LOGOS, ETHOS IN PRESIDENTIAL BETS ADEK BERRY/AFP

Indonesian presidential candidates Joko Widodo (L) and Prabowo Subianto (R) attend the second presidential debate in Jakarta on June 15, 2014.

Sirikit Syah The Jakarta Post Surabaya

T

he presidential race in Indonesia has never been so dynamic. We have two candidates, just like in the United States—we have the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Gerindra Party: Joko “Jokowi” Widodo vs Prabowo Subianto.

Electing legislative candidates and the president has never been so difficult. In the past, it was easy to vote for the PDI-P (1999) or the Democratic Party (2004,

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

2009). Everybody seemed to agree on voting for the most “victimised” candidate. It was Megawati Soekarnoputri in 1999 and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2004.

This year, we are faced with two big, strong, genuine candidates.

Jokowi represents the face of the ordinary people. The public see themselves in Jokowi, a kind and humble person. Like Megawati, and perhaps because of the PDI-P-effect, Jokowi has fanatic and loyal followers.

In the theory of persuasion, he has the quality of pathos. Everybody has empathy for him. A figure with such qualities needs no smart calculations or brilliant thoughts. Take Megawati in 1999: She showed no intelligence, she hardly even spoke and she looked bad in the presidential debate.

But out of empathy, she

was voted in. Megawati represented the “victimised” (by the New Order) Indonesian people: It’s the power of pathos. Now Jokowi seems to have such a quality. Wherever he goes, whatever he says, people applaud and cheer him.

Prabowo, on the other hand, doesn’t have such qualities. He obviously does not represent the Indonesian people. He is from the

elite. His party is new, incomparable with PDI-P, which has roots all over Indonesia. He has a tainted past record and he couldn’t even manage a family. He certainly doesn’t have fanatic or loyal followers like Jokowi does.

But, within a short period of time, he gained support from unpredicted areas: Islamic parties, young people and even popular singer Rhoma Irama and former Constitutional Court chief Mahfud MD. If Jokowi has Slank, Prabowo has Rhoma, and both artists are quite equal in popularity.

Without having the quality of pathos, Prabowo can be seen as having the possible quality of logos. People will choose someone on the basis of reason. It’s about logic. At present, Indonesia needs a leader who can reignite the dignity

POLITICS

June 20-26, 2014

of this nation. Indonesians see charisma, bravery, independence, capability and dignity in Prabowo. Perhaps, with Prabowo as president, our neighbouring countries wouldn’t dare to build on Indonesian soil, nor inhabit (“steal”) our outer and remote tiny islands. With reason and logic, even though lacking empathy and loyalty, the people might vote for Prabowo.

If Mahfud or Anies Baswedan, the founder of the Indonesia Mengajar movement, or StateOwned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan were also candidates, they would be categorised as having the quality of ethos.

Perhaps they have few fanatic followers, but their track records might lead to success.

Mahfud has occupied several significant positions and he has always come out clean.

Dahlan succeeded in managing a big media corporation, with branches throughout the archi-

pelago. So, perhaps, he has established roots in the remote areas.

He knows Indonesia.

Anies represents the younger generation with an international reputation. Their ethos proves for themselves. Somebody might not gain a lot of empathy nor enough reason or logic to be voted for, but there are people who don’t see pathos and logos, they see ethos instead.

Unfortunately, the three candidates with ethos failed to enter the race.

We are now faced with two strong candidates. Both are Javanese but both have vice president candidates from outside Java. Both have support of Islamic communities and music fan bases.

The “clean” people like Anies and Mahfud are split in their political support, making it more difficult for us to decide who to choose. Mass media moguls are also split: The group of Aburizal Bakrie and the MNC Group

support Prabowo, Media Group (Surya Paloh) and presumably Dahlan’s Jawa Pos support Jokowi.

As an Indonesian citizen, I am rather galau (slang for anxious) for the first time in my life. Both candidates have similar degree of good and bad elements.

While Jokowi lacks national and international experience, plus his potential of becoming a “puppet” president, he has proven to be successful in Surakarta and Jakarta and he seems genuinely a good person.

While Prabowo has a tainted history, he brings new hope and promise to a more dignified Indonesia. I believe I am not alone in having this dilemma.

However, I invite my fellow citizens to vote; make the effort, by voting, to make Indonesia better.

And whoever becomes our next president, let’s hope he will be blessed in leading this nation.

The writer is a lecturer at Stikosa-AWS, Surabaya, and also founder and director of Media Watch. ¬

SOCIETY

June 20-26, 2014

HOMELESS IN KUALA LUMPUR

The ever-growing number of homeless people highlights the need for a policy that protects their interests and looks after their welfare and security S. Indramalar The Star Kuala Lumpur

S

he refers to them as her “sisters� but the five women living with Ruby (not her real name) in her rented home in Petaling Jaya were homeless and living on the street when she invited them into her home a few years ago.

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June 20-26, 2014

“They had nowhere to go. I’d met them on the streets over the last few years, either loitering around my neighbourhood or near the hospital where I go for my check-up.

“In the beginning, I’d bring them food and clothes a few times a week but after getting to know them a bit more, I felt I could and must do more. I was living on my own and had more than enough space and so I decided to take them on as boarders,” says Ruby, a 60-year-old former teacher.

The women she houses are all aged between 40 and 55. The circumstances that led to them living on the streets are different for each but they are all vulnerable and share a sense of abandonment.

The welfare department conducts exercises to get homeless people off the street. For the homeless, these exercises are not rescues but raids.

Kesthuri, 53, was turned out by her sister who couldn’t cope with her mental health issues. Aida, who looks to be in her 70s, has no recollection of who she is or if she has any family (Ruby fond-

ly gave her the name Aida after a dear friend). Jessica ran away from an abusive husband and was too embarrassed to return home as her family blamed her for the unsuccessful marriage.

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June 20-26, 2014

The one thing the women have in common is that they all don’t have families or friends to whom they feel they can turn to.

This, observes Justin Cheah from non-profit organisation Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) which provides food and basic medical care for the homeless and urban poor, is a common thread among the homeless.

Cheah contends that while the general perception of homelessness is that it is a self-inflicted problem rooted in complacency or laziness, most people who end up on the streets are victims of circumstance—personal, social or economic.

Rarely, he points out, do people who experience homelessness ask the public for money; in fact, not all are jobless—many work as cleaners or security guards or in restaurants but they just earn way below minimum wage and cannot afford the high rentals in the city.

“People assume they are lazy because they see them sleeping on five-foot ways or at bus stops during the day. But it’s not that they’re lazy. They are exhausted.

It’s not easy living on the streets ... as if the cold and rain are not bad enough, they are also under constant threat of being robbed, assaulted or shooed away from their ‘living spaces’ and have to look out for each other’s safety.

“They rarely get a good night’s sleep and feel safer sleeping in the day time. Many of them can’t hold on to their jobs because they are just too exhausted to work having had no sleep at night,” explains Cheah. He has been working with the homeless via KSK since 2007.

According to a 2010 street census by the Social Welfare Department, there are some 1,378 homeless people in Kuala Lumpur alone. This figure, however, is merely an estimate because the two-month survey, carried out

with the cooperation of non-governmental organisations (NGO), was a broad-scale sampling.

Harsh stereotypes

The problem is largely misunderstood, asserts Rayna Rusenko, a policy researcher who has been working for the past three years with local NGO Food Not Bombs.

“People who are homeless are largely blamed for (it). The media and public perpetuate myths about homeless women and men, branding them as being unmotivated people who are a burden to society.

“Stereotypes like this are harsh and inspire prejudice against people experiencing homelessness.

No one has complete control over the events and outcomes in their lives. All human beings are just as flawed as they are gifted,” says Rusenko, whose paper Homelessness, Human Insecurities And The Government Agenda In Malaysia

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June 20-26, 2014

was recently published in the Asian Journal Of Social Science.

Ruby and Cheah are among the few good samaritans and NGOs who have taken it upon themselves to address the issue of homelessness by providing them food, clothing, medical assistance and shelter.

This, observes Rusenko, marks not only concern among Malaysians about people who experience homelessness but also a willingness to address the problem.

The aid provided by NGOs and samaritans is essential in helping people experiencing homelessness with their day-today survival.

Rusenko feels it is, however, essential for the government to address the issues that underlie the problem of homelessness in Malaysia, such as enforcement and review of the minimum wage order and labour-related laws that leave workers vulnerable to

exploitation or introducing unemployment or under-employment aid programmes that can supplement the income of people unable to earn an adequate monthly income.

Unfortunately, such public policy is a long way off judging by a recent statement by women family and community development minister Rohani Kassim, who said the generosity of Malaysians was a contributing factor to the problem of homelessness in the country.

‘Generosity to blame’

She was quoted as saying recently that “The issue of beggars in this country has never been entirely solved despite all efforts and enforcement taken by government agencies. Public generosity is a major contributor to the increasing number of beggars and due to this, groups of destitute individuals become bolder and continue their activities and way of life.

“There are NGOs that provide food and feed the less fortunate in certain areas around Kuala Lumpur. It is certainly not an offence if people like to help but it’s preferable that help is directed through the appropriate channel so that the goods, money and services can really be beneficial to those in need.

“The practice of preparing and feeding the homeless and beggars should be corrected and adjusted to prevent the influx of these people in the capital.”

Cheah counters that those who are homeless often have little choice but to live or spend most of their time in public spaces.

“Who would choose to live out in the hot sun or rain? These people all have sad stories which have resulted in them living on the streets. We get to hear all sorts of stories.

“Some of them are ex-convicts who aren’t welcome or don’t want to go home, some are victims of domestic abuse who have run away

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June 20-26, 2014

from home, some were cheated and have lost all their money and are too embarrassed to return home, some just got mixed up with the wrong crowd and got into drugs, some have mental health issues which make it hard for them to keep a job.

“There are also many who are foreigners who are stuck without a visa and can’t get employment.

“There really is no single reason why people end up on the streets.

It could happen to anyone. What the homeless need is help to get back on their feet. This isn’t as simple as finding them jobs. A lot of them need a lot more help. Most of them have a lot of baggage ... a lot of issues which they will have to work through before they can actually hold a job. They need help, whether it is psychological or psychiatric counselling,” says Cheah.

Rusenko, who strongly disagrees with the minister’s statements, says the first step to tack-

ling the problem of homelessness is understanding the root issues that underlie the problem. Income insecurity, housing insecurities, low wages and poor labour conditions are a few key issues that need to be dealt with.

“Disparities that prevent rural or poor communities from accessing education, employment or upward mobility leaves some youth with little choice but to migrate to urban areas in search of work to support their families.

“Also, people with addiction disorders, mental illness or developmental disabilities are vulnerable to being homeless as few people have access to accurate diagnosis or quality treatment. The social stigma surrounding mental and psychological health issues add to the judgment against them and the challenges they face.

“These and other insecurities stem from social and economic problems.

“It is unrealistic to expect that people who are struggling with homelessness can tackle such hardships on their own,” she stresses.

Homeless, not hopeless

Homelessness has its roots in poverty and social exclusion. Although homelessness is fundamentally a problem brought on by poverty—where people have insufficient income to pay for housing or basic needs—the solution requires much more than just finding them jobs, says Cheah.

“Many of them suffer from depression, mental illness and addiction. Many are unemployed, ill, have gone through family break-ups or are victims of abuse. Then there are those who are old and have no families to turn to. They need more than just charity. We need public policies and comprehensive strategies to help improve their circumstances

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June 20-26, 2014

which will get them off the streets,” he points out.

In Malaysia, homeless people come under the purview of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, in particular its social welfare department.

The department often works with other government agencies such as the police, city hall, the labour department as well as the National Anti-Drug Agency in joint operations to get the homeless off the streets and into welfare homes or institutions, some of which offer skills training to those who can work.

The ministry initiated the setting up of Anjung Singgah, a temporary shelter for the homeless.

It provides food and shelter and aims to help those experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet by preparing them for the workforce and finding them employment where possible.

Run by the National Welfare

Foundation (an auxiliary body aligned with the ministry), the centres are open to anyone except those with substance abuse problems or transmittable diseases—these groups will be referred to the relevant agencies for treatment and help.

Anjung Singgah works with the National Anti-Drug Agency, the Health Ministry and the labour department among other agencies to provide holistic support for the homeless. There are currently three such centres—one each in Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Kuching, with one in Penang due to open very soon.

“Bear in mind, Anjung Singgah is not a rehabilitation centre, a refuge or a protection centre. We are a temporary shelter. So we don’t accept those with substance abuse problems,” says National Welfare Foundation CEO Rafek Abdullah.

“People who are homeless but are healthy and show that they

can work—not drug addicts or alcoholics—are welcome. They have to be screened for us to find out what job we can match them to. We try and get them a job within two weeks unless the counsellors say they need more than two weeks. Some of them are depressed and have other social problems and so we let them stay for a month so they get more counselling,” he adds.

Rusenko feels the shelter programme’s approach may not ultimately be all that helpful.

“Anjung Singgah offers a bare minimum of resources to people who have been experiencing homelessness, little more than a bed, food, and employment referrals,” she says. “It advocates ‘self-reliance’ through work as a solution to homelessness but the reality is that the jobs it introduces—most of which are concentrated in security, car washes, and other low-income positions

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June 20-26, 2014

—provide no exit from income and housing insecurity.

“It is overly optimistic to expect that ‘productive’ work will fix homelessness when the quality of jobs is so low.

Moreover, such an employment-centred approach is too narrow.

“Homelessness is a complex issue. While many people are unemployed, there are multiple other factors to consider too ... debt, chronic illness, trauma, the need to support family ... There needs to be a long-term programme or plan to ensure that a plurality of factors can be addressed together.”

Issues that contribute to the problem of homelessness need to be addressed, such as living and housing costs, low wages, poor labour conditions, as well as rural and urban disparities that limit access to

Justin Cheah

education, employment and upward mobility for those from rural areas.

“Malaysia has no national system for unemployment assistance despite the fact that many retrenched workers do not receive compensation through private employment contracts. The Social Welfare Department offers only limited financial assistance to persons unable to earn a living wage, such as single mothers,

senior citizens and people with disabilities.

“Unemployed people are at a high risk of losing assets and falling into poverty. Public policies or programmes to supplement the income of those unable to earn an adequate monthly salary are necessary,” says Rusenko, who has also worked with homeless communities in Japan.

Rusenko feels that while the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry encourages families to be responsible for the welfare of their members and take care of each other, the situation on the ground indicates that this policy is not realistic.

The first order for policy makers would seem to be: stop blaming those who are experiencing homelessness for their situation and get to the actual root of the problem. ¬

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June 20-26, 2014

Rayna Rusenko

LIFESTYLE

June 20-26, 2014

FORGET STARVATION DIETS, EAT MORE TO BURN FAT So says sports nutritionist Harvie de Baron, whose weight-management programme is less about portion control than it is about well-planned meals

Milk –free carbonara

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June 20-26, 2014

Marge C. Enriquez Philippine Daily Inquirer Manila

T

he chocolate chip cookie was a chewy, whole wheat, six-inch affair.

Its generous size offered moisture, mild natural sweetness and the unmatched flavour

Chocolate chip cookies

of melted chocolate chips that overpowered the apple sauce.

“If you’re trying to lose weight, you can eat this without a problem. This will give you energy,” says financial plannerturned-sports nutritionist Harvie de Baron.

In the past five years, the Baron Method weightmanagement programme has been quietly treating clients who want to look better, cure attention deficit disorder or diabetes and boost their sports performance.

Unlike other diets which restrict food portions to reduce fat, the Baron Method encourages clients to eat more judiciously prepared meals.

“What makes this method different is that

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June 20-26, 2014

NELSON MATAWARAN

Somoma’s steak flank with miso and asparagus

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June 20-26, 2014

I’m not going to starve you.

Instead, I will give you a great variety of recipes, and the ingredients are locally available,” he says.

Looking younger than 41 years old, De Baron suffered from ulcerative colitis, a disease of the colon characterised by inflamed bowel movement. He gained more weight from the steroid treatments.

Searching for alternative cures and wanting to make a dramatic change in lifestyle, he studied sports nutrition at Oxford College. He lost 60lbs and has since joined triathlons.

Fat burning

De Baron often meets people who claim they eat 1,000 calories a day and exercise at the gym. Still,

Former beauty queen Eizza Lim de Baron lost all her postnatal fat by making the right food choices instead of restricting calories.

they aren’t getting any results. He says they are eating too little.

Most calorie-restricted diets supply energy that merely covers the body’s basic function of assimilating nutrients and maintaining the systems for survival.

The disadvantage of cutting back on food is that the body tends to compensate by eating more, and will go back to its former unhealthy habits.

“You are just eating for your basal metabolic rate, your energy expenditure in relation to your weight. If you eat bad calories, you won’t feel good. On the other hand, you’ve got to eat more so there’s energy for maintaining body

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June 20-26, 2014

PHOTOS BY NELSON MATAWARAN

HARVIE de Baron developed the Baron Method, which is not a diet but a “lifestyle upgrade.”

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June 20-26, 2014

function, burning fat, healing and building muscle. As you build muscle, your metabolism increases, so it’s easier to lose weight,” De Baron explains.

The Baron Method eliminates processed and refined food such as white flour, white sugar, white rice and convenience food. Ideally, everything has to be made from scratch.

On his greatest learning from Oxford School, De Baron says: “On a daily basis, you don’t have to live your life on a diet just to keep in good shape. The essential foods you need are consumed for your purpose in life. You need to eat to perform your tasks. A programme should make one become a great boxer, and not just look like one.”

Each programme is individualised. “Just as there are no two people who are alike, no two diets are the

same. Although you and I may have the same physical goal, our life purpose or pathway is different,” he explains.

For 60,000 pesos (US$ 1,372), the six-month programme includes close consultation with De Baron and a programme manual of easy recipes. “I take your measurements such as the body composition (muscle and fat ratio); study your eating habits and how much is too much or too little for you; get doctor’s reports and lab tests. The more information I have, the more accurate the programme.”

Clients, who lost weight dramatically under the Baron Method, ate two eggs a day and lots of fruits in between meals.

Enjoy the food

“You have to eat in the zone where the body burns

fat more efficiently. It’s not about lowering the calories but increasing the good calories,” according to De Baron.

“The weight will come off once the body realises that you are trying to eat well.”

At the press conference of the Baron Method at Somoma, a Japanese fusion restaurant at Capitol Commons (in Pasig City, Philippines), De Baron told us we could order pasta and a cookie and eat them, too.

The appetiser at the restaurant was a medley of arugula and romaine lettuce, topped with walnuts caramelised with muscovado sugar, fresh parmesan cheese and sundried tomatoes and drizzled with a light, tarty dressing.

The main course was Somoma’s specialty, steak flank with miso. Although beef or steak is considered fatty food, it’s the lean offering that is

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June 20-26, 2014

nutritious and packed with protein, says De Baron.

The pasta was creamless carbonara, made luscious with organic eggs and bacon. Pasta is known for satiating cravings and is recommended for people with blood sugar issues. The egg is considered a superfood because of its dense nutritional content.

The meal ended with chocolate chip cookies which used homemade organic apple sauce as a binder.

“I want people to enjoy their food,” says De Baron.

“At home, we eat longganisa (Filipino sausage), fajita, siomai and yakudon, using the freshest ingredients.”

The family enjoys tocino (Filipino bacon) for breakfast like most Filipinos. However, De Baron chucks the traditional greasy pork fat for skinless chicken breast, sweetened with muscovado sugar and coloured

with fresh annato seeds. There is no MSG or processed seasoning.

Their sinigang (sour soup with pork, shrimp or fish) recipe uses fresh tamarind instead of powdered mix.

Clients of all ages

De Baron gets all kinds of clients, from children with ADHD, to obese professionals with diabetes and hypertension, to swimmers who can’t get rid of their muffin tops.

There’s even Olympic long jumper Marestella Torres. At 5’5”, the 31-year-old elite athlete needs to lose at least two kilos from her 52-kg or 115-lb frame.

“Her body fat is already low, but she needs to maintain a certain weight,” said De Baron.

“She took out the carbs and ate more veggies. She’s not allowed to have cheat days.”

De Baron’s wife, Eizza Lim, is a perfect example of the Baron

Method success story. When she won the Mutya ng Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) Tourism International in 2004, the 5’6” stunner was sickly at 94 lbs due to a diet of junk food.

“I would be in the hospital four times a year for severe migraine,” she recalls.

After giving birth two years ago, she bloated to 145 lbs.

Her husband put her on a wholesome diet of one cup of brown or red rice, egg, viand and vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and lots of fresh fruits and corn for snacks.

Although the doctor didn’t let her exercise for two months, she lost weight dramatically.

Eizza doesn’t like working out on the gym. Still, she’s got a knockout 34-24-35 figure.

“After five years of being married to Harvie, I don’t like to eat candy anymore,” she said. ¬

LIFESTYLE

June 20-26, 2014

TATIN YANG/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

WHERE TO ‘JAM’ WITH BIG BANG, 2NE1, PSY

Go in the evening and see why the Starry Garden’s view is a favourite among photography enthusiasts.

Tatin Yang Philippine Daily Inquirer Seoul

D

ongdaemun in Seoul is one of South Korea’s most popular shopping districts, while Gangnam draws many people who hope to get a glimpse of their favorite Korean pop stars.

These fans, however, should make Dongdaemun one of

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June 20-26, 2014

their first stops because it offers the latest attractions that will make their Hallyu dreams come true.

At the ninth floor of the Lotte Fitin shopping centre is Klive, an interactive concert experience currently featuring Big Bang, 2NE1 and Psy. Check out the elevator panel and you will see an augmented-reality screen with 2NE1’s Sandara or Big Bang’s Tae-yang waving at you to come and see them.

The elevator doors open to a life-size mural of Big Bang, ready to start your Instagram diary of the Klive experience.

According to Sung Jin, our tour guide from the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), Klive opened just three months ago, but it has already attracted such a huge number of visitors that it has become one of KTO’s top tourist spots.

The signage announcing what's in store for visitors.

Entrance to Klive is about US$33; you can reserve tickets online or purchase them at the booth on the ground floor of the mall.

There are three to four concerts a day, starting at 2pm. Each show runs for about an hour each, with featured artists or groups performing two songs each.

While waiting for the concert to start (make sure to come two hours ahead of show time to enjoy the other attractions), Klive has several tricks up its sleeve to excite K-pop fans. On display are memorabilia from Big Bang’s concerts; various merchandise spread out in a big area, and photo booths with 3D screens where you can pose with Psy and your favourite members from Big Bang and 2NE1.

There are other cool augmented-reality stations.

The square AR show allows

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June 20-26, 2014

make sure to have your photo taken inside the concert hall's photo booth and be a part of the concert.

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June 20-26, 2014

you to get inside a limo van where your favourite K-pop stars are hanging out, while the star photo box gives you carte blanche to pose and have photos taken with your favourite group.

At the secret window, meanwhile, you face blank, flickering screens. Move behind the secret viewing area and the screen comes to life with special unseen footage of K-pop idols.

At the top floor is a gallery where you can see the works of featured Korean artists.

A cafe serves snacks before the concert. Though the crowd is thinner during the afternoon shows, we recommend you go in the evening because the Starry Garden, or the balcony area, affords a view of the street’s busy intersection overlooking the futuristic Dongdaemun stadium and the avenues filled with cars whizzing by. The view is so fabulous that the rails can

the photo booth that features 3d screens welcomes everyone.

be obstructed by photography enthusiasts toting tripods for long-exposure shots. You may have to elbow your way for a good spot on which to take a snapshot.

But nothing will prepare you for the space-age hologram concert. Just like a live gig, there’s a DJ opening act, as well

as three amazing dancers.

The concert hall is flanked by photo booths; don’t skip this part, and have your photo taken for a great surprise.

The first artist who appears is Psy, and the hologram is so realistic that he looks as if he’s just a few feet away from

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June 20-26, 2014

be early and find the best spot for your long-exposure shots of the fabulous view

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KLIVE IN ACTION

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PSY IN HOLO

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ON DISPLAY ARE MEMORABILIA FROM BIG BANG'S CONCERTS AND VARIOUS GOODS FOR SALE.

you. Klive’s hologram technology blows ObiWan Kenobi and Jerrica/ Jem out of the water.

Of course, “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman”

play on, with dialogue interaction in between.

Everything is virtual reality, right down to the artists’ interaction with the concert audience.

What’s truly amazing though are the dancers who move seamlessly with the holograms, dancing like they are really onstage.

Those who have their photos taken at the booths will have the opportunity to “join” the stars onstage.

A Japanese fangirl is so thrilled when Holo-T.O.P gives her a hug that she and her friends scream; the chosen ones not only get to interact with the hologram versions of the stars, they also get to take home a special token from Klive.

Though there are only three K-pop stars headlining the “concerts” now, Klive plans to add more artists soon. ¬

June 20-26, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT AFP

MANDOPOP'S UPHILL BATTLE Mandopop groups are being squeezed by K-pop bands and falling record sales

Taiwan band Mayday

ENTERTAINMENT

June 20-26, 2014

Gwendolyn Ng The Straits Times Singapore

W

hither the Mandopop group?

Gone are the kind of debuts that Taiwanese boy bands such as F4 and girl groups such as S.H.E once enjoyed, with massive crowds turning up to see them and buy their albums across Asia. Mandopop groups these days are facing an uphill task in making their mark in the music industry.

Snazzier South Korean pop exports and a slump in the Taiwan music industry have led to a squeeze for wannabe Mando-popsters - especially if you are not a solo singer and counting on safety in numbers in a packaged act to appeal collectively to fans.

Due to poor physical album sales and digital downloads, most Mandopop record labels now are finding it tougher to invest in grooming new groups, says Colin Goh, co-founder and managing director of home-grown record label Ocean Butterflies Music.

Successful acts making it beyond the shores of Taiwan in recent years

have largely been solo singers, such as piano-plonking singer-songwriter Yen-J and powerhouse singer Jia Jia. For instance, Yen-J played to a 10,000-strong full house in the Taipei Arena in July, and went on a world tour that included a stop in Singapore in January.

Singer William Liao, who is part of Taiwanese boyband

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June 20-26, 2014

Lollipop@F, made his group debut alongside three members in 2010. They were formerly from six-man boyband Lollipop.

He and some bandmates regrouped and underwent 200 days of intensive training in 2010 before relaunching as Lollipop@F. Liao, 28, says much has to be invested in the visual packaging, which includes outfits, of a pop group. "That's why I've noticed that record labels these days tend to promote solo singers, balladeers," he adds.

That disparity boils down to simple maths: grooming and managing a multi-member act costs significantly more compared with that of an individual artist - and the returns no longer justify the cost.

The sagging Taiwanese economy has meant shrinking investment in its local entertainment industry says Nanyang Technological University Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information assistant professor Liew Kai

Khiun, whose research interest covers popular music in Asia.

According to an article discussing the state of the Taiwanese music industry, published in Taiwan's CommonWealth economicpolitical magazine in March, out of the more than 300 venture capital firms in Taiwan, "fewer than 10 per cent" have put funds into cultural and creative industries in the past five years.

The soft-power of pop often co-relates to the harder economic power of a nation. In recent years, Mandopop has had to contend with the unstoppable force of K-pop, as South Korea rose in influence as an electronics and manufacturing giant.

A significant blow to Mandopop has been the rapid ascendancy and dominance of K-pop machinery, says Liew.

The impressive K-pop machinery churns out "highly regimented boy and girl groups", he adds, "distinguished by their

sophisticatedly manicured and stylised presentations" and "unprecedented synchronised dance choreographies".

In other words, K-pop stars who sing and dance like perfect-looking automatons.

Thus, Mandopop groups have had to deal with a shift in consumer preference towards "all things Korean in the music industry", says James Kang, artists and repertoire director of Warner Music.

The value of the South Korean recorded music market increased from US$148.5 million in 2008 to US$195.8 million in 2011, according to data on the website of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the recording industry worldwide.

By 2012, it was the 11th largest recorded music market, up from 33 in 2005.

Even Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan is jumping on the bandwagon and launched his own

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June 20-26, 2014

K-pop boyband JJCC in March.

The quintet, made up of four Korean members and an Australian Chinese member, have performed their debut single, "At First", on South Korea's top music variety shows M! Countdown and Inkigayo.

Warner Music's Kang estimates that top Korean companies typically invest three to five times more than what Mandopop labels sink into their acts.

With most K-pop groups trained and marketed for the global stage - girl group Wonders Girls have tried to crack the United States market, and Gangnam Style mega-star Psy has just released his single "Hangover" featuring American rapper Snoop Dogg Korean entertainment companies allocate more resources in hopes of reaping larger profits once the act makes it internationally.

A representative from megaartist agency SM Entertainment revealed in 2011 on a variety show, reported K-pop news site allkpop,

that it cost US$2.5 million to train each member in girl group Girls' Generation before their 2007 debut.

The influx of Korean acts makes it inevitable that the newer Mandopop groups will be measured against their Korean counterparts because they have the same target audience, says Liu Xin Hui, promotions manager at record label HIM International, which counts girl groups S.H.E and Popu Lady in its stable.

Aspiring K-pop stars undergo intensive dancing, singing and even language lessons for three to five years. For instance, the nine members of Girls' Generation each trained for three to seven years.

In contrast, Taiwanese Mandopop groups typically train for one or two years before their debuts.

Ocean Butterflies' Goh says: "Training for the Mandopop groups will not take such a long period. Companies launch the group as soon as possible

when they have found the ideal members to form the group."

For instance, Taiwanese female quintet Popu Lady reportedly underwent training for a year before making their debut in 2012.

To win back market share, industry experts say Mandopop groups could train as rigorously as the Korean groups to hone their showmanship.

"Although the Taiwanese had tried to meet the K-pop challenge by following its styles with groups such as Super 7, it is evident that they lack the training and energy of their Korean competitors," says Liew. Super 7 call themselves the Taiwanese version of Girls' Generation and even wore outfits that were blatant copies of Girl Generation's costumes.

Similarly, Warner Music's Kang says that Mandopop groups would "have to build themselves up to a high standard" before they make their debuts: "This includes years of training and having an

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June 20-26, 2014

'international' sense in terms of packaging and marketing."

However, he feels that a bigger problem is that Mandopop groups need to find their own niche, instead of "copying K-Pop groups in terms of music and style".

A blatant ripoff of the K-pop style is a no-no, judging from the negative reception to Taiwanese girl group Super 7: Netizens have set up an anti-Super 7 Facebook page and blasted the group for trying to copy Girls' Generation.

Keeping the scene fresh by investing in new acts would be another way to go, says Liew: "I think Mandopop should learn from K-pop to place greater emphasis and investment on new stars at an earlier age, rather than continuously cash in on the veterans."

Lollipop@F's Fabien Yang, 28, feels that substandard Mandopop groups that bank on weird selling points to get famous will only give the Koreans an edge in the music market.

Though he did not mention names, he said in Mandarin: "There have been a number of such Mandopop groups that have come on the scene. It could be the lack of budget, or something is wrong with their sense, or their choice of songs. This will only give the Koreans a chance to say that this is the standard of Mandopop groups."

Another way is for Mandopop groups to tap into the K-pop craze by collaborating with Korean stars, says HIM's Liu. She cited Taiwanese boyband Fahrenheit member Aaron Yan's duet with Korean singer G.NA, on the track "1/2", which is the opening theme for the Taiwanese drama Fall In Love With Me and was released last month.

Not all is bleak for Mandopop groups, though.

They have the advantage of knowing the language to access a vast Chinese-speaking market, and are able to connect with such fans directly, without needing

translators - although some K-pop groups are getting around this by recruiting ethnic Chinese members or singing Chinese songs.

"K-pop music still has the language barrier in the Chinese market, and this is something where Mandopop group has the advantage," says Goh. Although the K-pop wave has been nothing short of phenomenal, Liew points out that its "regional presence stretches less than two decades"; in comparison, Mandopop has been around for close to a century.

"One is not sure when the Korean wave would ebb and join J-pop," adds Liew, referring to the wane of made-in-Japan pop acts, which enjoyed regional popularity in the 1980s and 1990s.

"The Korean wave is a fad, and the fervour around it will pass one day," says Liu. "Mandopop will always be there.

We just have to wait for the right time for it to make its comeback." ÂŹ

ENTERTAINMENT

June 20-26, 2014

TAIWANESE MANDOPOP GROUPS S.H.E

Who: Selina Jen and Ella Chen, both 32, and Hebe Tien, 31 Debut Year: 2001 The female trio is Taiwan's heavenly girl group. It is a befitting title seeing how they are still on top of their game after 13 years, despite competition from younger, more nubile female groups.

Their latest and 13th album, "Blossomy" (2012), made it to the top 10 albums, in terms of sales in Taiwan, with 46,000 copies.

The group has weathered periods of uncertainty, such as Jen's serious injuries and long recovery period after

suffering third-degree burns in a filming accident in Shanghai in October 2010, but remained together.

Their appeal has likewise remained intact even after two members went from fun-loving Miss to respectable Mrs: Chen tied the knot with Malaysian businessman Alvin Lai, 36, in 2012 and Jen with 41-year-old lawyer Richard Chang in 2011.

The bachelorette Hebe has found success in her well-received solo singing career and released three solo albums "To Hebe" (2010), "My Love" (2011) and "Insignificance" (2013).

Her latest album "Insignificance" (2013) has peaked at the No. 1 spot on Taiwan's authoritative G-Music album charts.

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June 20-26, 2014

Popu Lady Who: Female quintet made up of Ting Hsuan, 24, Hung Shih, 26, Da Yuan, 24, Bao Er, 24, and Liu Yu-shan, 22 Debut Year: 2012 Avid followers of Taiwanese entertainment scene will find the Popu Lady girls familiar, as most have prior showbiz experience.

Most notably, Da Yuan made her debut on popular Taiwanese talk show University in 2010, and has acted in movies such as Bad Girls (2012) and The Fierce Wife Final Episode (2012) as well as in TV drama Onsen Beauty (2013).

All five members have doe eyes, sweet faces and long tresses. They even put out a 68-page photo book that

accompanied their first EP, "Keep Keep Loving" (2012) —the EP-book package made the Top 10 best-selling charts in Taiwan when it hit stores.

However, netizens have commented that the girls are a far cry in terms of singing prowess from their record label seniors S.H.E.

June 20-26, 2014

Dream Girls Who: Tia Li, 29, Puff Kuo, 25, and Emily Song, 31 Debut Year: 2011 As the allgirl trio’s name suggests, they are the stuff of nerdy boys’ dreams. One of the members, the doll-like Tia Li, has earned the title of “goddess for otaku” (a Japanese nickname for geeks, usually obsessed with anime and manga).

The group have Korean connections: Song is Korean and started out modelling in her home country before moving to Taiwan to try her luck; and Taiwanese model-turnedsinger Kuo played pretend wife to K-pop’s Super Junior member Kim Hee Chul on the celebrity marriage reality show We Got Married in April.

ENTERTAINMENT

June 20-26, 2014

JPM Who: Modi (Chiu Yi-cheng), 23, Prince (Chiu Sheng-yi), 25, and LilJay (Liao Yeun-chieh), 27 Debut Year: 2011 This boyband is made up of former members of other boybands.

LilJay and Prince were formerly from boyband Lollipop, which split in 2009 (the remaining members became Lollipop@F).

The youngest member, Modi, was from boyband Choc7; he is also Prince’s younger brother.

The group have released two albums "Moonwalk" (2011) and "365" (2012).

ENTERTAINMENT

SOCIETY TRAVEL

June 20-26, 2014

A season for tea M

ay heralds the season of new tea leaves, and when I learned the largest expanse of tea fields in Japan lies just beyond the longest wooden bridge in the world, I decided to visit Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, where they are located.

A 10-minute walk from JR Shimada Station brought me to the wooden Horaibashi bridge over the Oigawa river. The tea fields, called the Makinohara Tea Estate, spread across the plateau on the other side of the river.

The tea plantation covers about 5,000 hectares, accounting for 10 per cent

A visit to Shimada, home to thousands of acres of green tea, offers some delicious surprises

Hitomi Seki The Yomiuri Shimbun Shimada, Shizuoka

of all tea fields in Japan. It was cultivated to grow tea after the Meiji Restoration (1868)

by Kageaki Chujo, a former retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The Horaibashi bridge, built for people who started working the tea fields, was repeatedly washed away when the river rose, so the bridge piers were rebuilt with cement in 1965.

June 20-26, 2014

The bridge, 897.4 metres long and about seven metres high, was registered by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest wooden pedestrian bridge. It is still used by local residents walking to and from work and also often serves as a film location.

As the number 8974 can be read as "yakunashi", a homophone of "no misfortune" in Japanese, people visit the bridge for good luck, according to Yoshitsugu Haramiishi, a 71-year-old local tour guide.

The bridge is 2.4 metres wide, and the railing comes only up to the knees of the average adult so with nothing blocking the view, it feels rather like walking on air.

The landscape changes dramatically on the other side with a sea of tea leaves that stretch as far as the eye can see. The contrast between the blue sky and the yellowish green tea leaves shining in the bright sunlight is amazing.

And from the open space that's home to a statue of Chujo and Oi-

SOCIETY TRAVEL

gawa river in the background, it's possible to glimpse Mount Fuji still lightly dusted with snow.

The development of a tea processing machine by a local inventor enabled the mass production of tea here, which eventually developed the tea industry in Shimada.

The World Tea Museum in the city helps visitors learn about the tea industry and tea culture both at home and abroad. The museum also has a Japanese garden and a tea ceremony room. While viewing the pond in the beautiful garden, I slowly sipped foamed matcha green tea from a tea bowl. It was a pretty tasteful event.

In the city, an event that allowed visitors to experience tea picking was under way. A guide at the event invited me to taste a new tea leaf, which was pretty tender as I felt its pleasant flavour fill my mouth. I heard that new tea leaves also taste good as tempura, boiled and seasoned with soy sauce, or as an ingredient in fried noodles.

June 20-26, 2014

TRAVEL

June 20-26, 2014

TRAVEL

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Shimada and neighbouring Kanaya are known for having offered places for travellers to stay on both sides of the Oigawa river in the past.

Crossing the river was a challenge for travellers along the old Tokaido, a thoroughfare during the Edo period (1603-1867) connecting Edo (present-day Tokyo) with Kyoto.

The city has many old temples and shrines, as well as a historical site that shows what the inns were like back in the Edo period.

Shimada is also said to be the birthplace of the Shimada topknot, a type of traditional Japanese coiffure. An annual festival held in September features a procession of women dressed in kimonos with their hair done in a Shimada topknot.

The Oigawa Railway is another local attraction, fascinating even those who are not railroad fans. Steam locomotives have been operating between Shin-Kanaya

Station and Senzu Station for the last 38 years, and it is very difficult to procure components for the old-fashioned steam locomotives and their passenger cars, according to the railway operator's public relations department.

Shimada has many more mustsee places, such as Rose Hill Park, where nearly 360 species of roses are grown.

It might make for a tight schedule but all these places are certainly worth a visit. ÂŹ

If you go

From Tokyo Station, a Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari train takes you to Shizuoka Station. The journey takes about an hour. From there, an approximately 30-minute train ride on the Tokaido Line brings you to Shimada Station.

June 20-26, 2014

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR Bhutan takes the light approach to tourism to protect the mountain kingdom's environment and culture

TRAVEL

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June 20-26, 2014

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul The Nation Thimphu

T Taktshang, or Tiger's Nest is Bhutan’s most famous monastery and ancient highlight.

ucked away at the eastern end of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan has never figured prominently in the geography textbooks of Thai schools. Thus, like many Thais, the country only really came to my attention in 2006 when its soon-to-be monarch, Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, flew to Thailand to take part in the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

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June 20-26, 2014

The 26-year-old, who became king six months later, caused a sensation among Thais, especially the women, and his visit give birth to a fledging tourist trade, which has steadily increased over the last seven years.

But travelling to this country that's variously known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, the Land of Gross National Happiness and even the Last ShangriLa, is not easy. Fearful that mass tourism will negatively affect the largely unspoiled natural environment and rich cultural heritage, the Bhutanese have imposed a strict limit on the number of tourists allowed to visit each year. All foreigners, except Indians and Bangladeshis, are required to sign up with

a Bhutanese tour operator and travel on a planned itinerary that costs US$250, making the average five-day, four-night package at 40,000 baht to 60,000

baht excluding air fare, untenable for many Thais.

"The fact is we don't want many tourists. We want to share our country with tourists so that they can enjoy Bhutan and they can have a good experience in Bhutan and the Bhutanese can have a good experience with them but without damaging our environment, our culture and our value system," says Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, during an audience with the Thai media at his office in Gyalyong Tshokhang, the national assembly hall, in Thimphu, Bhutan's capital.

"We want them to enjoy the mountains, the air, the scenery, the culture, but we need to ask ourselves how to diversify the product, how to give them a better experience.

These are issues we will look at but they are to improve tourism quality not to increase numbers."

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June 20-26, 2014

It's hard to argue with such sentiments.

Disembarking from Bhutan Airlines' Airbus A320 at Paro International Airport on an unusually balmy March morning, we inhale not just the gloriously fresh air but also appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery.

The bus drops us off in downtown Paro and we walk slowly up the main street lined with traditional buildings housing small shops, institutions and restaurants.

It is here that I begin learning some basic Dzongkha words such as kuzuzangpo la (hello), kadrinchhe (thank you), zhim bay (delicious), ing (yes) and men (no).

We also enjoy our first Bhutanese meal which includes the traditional dish emadatshi made from chilli peppers and cheese, as well as

popular beverages like naja (milk tea) and suja (butter tea). Despite the chilli, I find it tasteless though that's probably because it isn't cooked with fish sauce or salt.

I also try on the national attire

for men. The gho, a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt, is worn by most Bhutanese in their daily life, as part of efforts to preserve their culture.

Our sightseeing trip first takes

This traffic police booth is Thimphu's best known tourist attraction.

June 20-26, 2014

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Phallus arts & crafts at Sobsokha Village.

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the Dzong in Punakha is the most photogenic.

us to the Taktshang, or Tiger's Nest, Bhutan's most famous monastery, built in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley. The temple complex

was first built in 1692 around the Taktshang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava, credited with bringing Buddhism

to the country, is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the eighth century.

We refuse the offer of mounting a horse or mule—a ride costs 800 to 1,000 Ngultrum ($13.53 to $16.90)—and hike up to the monastery buildings. It's not a walk for the fainthearted: the round trip stretches over 14 kilometres and the altitude is about 900 metres.

We are driven from Paro to the capital Thimphu on a surprisingly good road though the journey takes more time than we had anticipated due to ongoing construction works.

It does however allow vehicles to stop for long enough to buy some food and drink from the local vendors.

Arriving in the capital, we are amazed to see

June 20-26, 2014

TRAVEL marijuana plants all along the street. It's not for human consumption though— that's illegal—but grows so well in Bhutan's climate that it is used to feed pigs.

Our guide takes us to Buddha Point, a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains from where we can see the entire Thimphu valley. We also visit the National Memorial Choeten, whose stupa was built in 1974 in the memory of Bhutan's third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Here, we see the Bhutanese circumambulating the building with their prayer wheels and beads in hand, spinning the large red prayer wheels that flank the front entrance.

The next stop is Punakha, home to the country's most photogenic dzong (fortress), which stands on an island between the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha-Wangdue valley.

We stop in nearby Sobsokha village and are amazed to see phalluses painted on the walls of homes, hanging from the eaves and the rooftops, as well as on sale at a few arts and crafts shops. The phallus remains a staple of Bhutanese culture

June 20-26, 2014

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The following day, as we board the flight back to Bangkok, I remember PM Tobgay's words about wanting tourists to have a

good experience in Bhutan—the mountains, the air, the scenery and the culture. We certainly enjoyed every minute.  The National Memorial Choeten reminds the Bhutanese of King JigmeDorjiWangchuk.

that the Bhutanese believe the "scandalous" yet integral image aids in fertility, offers protection from evil and dispels malicious gossip.

Walking along a muddy and dusty path bordered by fields of mustards and rice to Chhimi Lhakhang temple, we stop for a moment to take in the magnificent scenery and breathe in the cold air.

June 20-26, 2014

¬ Sarawak, Malaysia Rainforest World Music Festival The annual music festival featuring reknowned world and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the island of Borneo is back. The 16th installation of the festival will showcase Sarawak’s efforts in conservation and preservation of the rainforest through world music. Visitors will also learn about cultures, natures and adventures that are unique to Sarawak

When: June 20-22 Info: www.ticketpro.com.my/jnp/ festivals/1299822-rainforest.html

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June 20-26, 2014

¬ Jakarta Shinee World Tour 3 Live in Jakarta Fans of South Korean contemporary R&B boy group, known as Shawol will get their fix when the group makes a stop at Jakarta. Shawols will be lulled by the 24 songs including SHINee’s hit songs like Replay, Lucifer, Sherlock, and Everybody by Onew, JongHyun, Key, MinHo, and TaeMin during the three-hour concert. Formed in 2008, the group consists of Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, and Taemin.

When: June 22 Where: Mata Elang International Stadium,

Ancol, Jakarta

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June 20-26, 2014

ÂŹ Hong Kong International Arts Carnival The International Arts Carnival is held during the summer months to provide children, young people and their families with cultural diversions during the summer holiday. The performances include music, dance, drama, puppetry, film, magic, acrobatics, musical, multimedia theatre, physical comedy, electroluminescent puppetry and more. All are suitable for family audiences and are intended to nurture the interest of children and young people in the performing arts.

When: July 11-August 17 Info: www.hkiac.gov.hk

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June 20-26, 2014

¬ Busan, South Korea CNBLUE Can’t Stop in Busan Korean rock band CNBLUE takes their latest tour, Can’t Stop, to Busan, the hometown of band leader Jung Yong-hwa and lead guitarist Lee Jong-hyun. The tour is coined from their 5th mini album "Can’t Stop", released in February.

Known for their high-energy performance, CNBLUE is undoubtedly one of the most prominent band in Korea’s music industry. Aside from the Busan natives, the other two members are bassist Lee Jung Shin and drummer Kang Min Hyuk.

The Busan leg marks the band’s return to the port city after four years. They debuted in 2010 with the EP "Bluetory".

Since then, they have won countless music awards on South Korea’s music chart shows and toured Asia, the US and South America.

When: June 21, 7pm Where: KBS Busan Hall

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June 20-26, 2014

¬ Shanghai/Singapore Arashi Waku-Waku Gakkou Live Viewing For the first time, there will be a public viewing for top Japanese popular group Arashi‘s "Waku-Waku Gakkou 2014".

Called “ARASHI no Waku-Waku Gakko 2014 Deepening the Bonds of Friendship, Live Viewing”, it will be simulcast in Shanghai and Singapore from the live event in Tokyo Dome.

After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Japanese citizens took every step to live economically, and Arashi held the first Wakuwaku Gakko to share the spirit of “Everyday, we should do what we can”. With this year’s theme of “friendship”, Arashi’s five members become teachers, with each member heading a class to learn the value of friendship, together with the audience.

When: June 29 Shanghai Where: Shanghai Shallow Water Bay Culture Centre, 4pm Tickets: weibo.com/rainbowlinesh/ Singapore Where: Shaw Theatres Balestier (Hall 1), 4pm Tickets: www.shaw.sg

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