Demand for meat, traditional medicine, high

Transcription

SPECIAL REPORT
POLITICS
Keeping children
off the Internet
Bizarre episode
in Sabah
FASHION
Vintage
kimono
Febr u ary 22-March 7, 2013
SNAKE
HUNT
Demand for meat, traditional
medicine, high-end fashion
US$3 / Bt100
ISSN 19052650
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05331
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W e
K n o w
A s i a
B e t t e r
F ebrua r y 22-M a r c h 7, 2 01 3 • V o l 8 No 4
SPECIAL REPORT
Sonny Tu mbelaka /AFP
Keep Off Those Trolls  10
Children’s activities online
leave them vulnerable to
sexual predators, cyberbullying and pornography
VIEW  6
SOCIETY  20
ENTERTAINMENT  32
Strategic Approach
South Korea needs a long-term
scheme to counter the North’s
nuclear threat
Snake Hunt
Consumers are caught up in a frenzy
of owning all things snake--with dire
consequences
Feels Like You’ve Seen It Before?
The trend is reversing from small to
big screen, as some of Korea’s beloved
hit films are brought to television
TECHNOLOGY  12
F E AT U R E S
TRAVEL  36
The World Of Modern Living
Within the next decade, people will
be able to control some of life’s
most routine decisions and tasks
right in the palm of one’s hand
LIFESTYLE  24
Eat, Save, Don’t Waste
China has a growing
appetite to cut back on
food wastage
No-frills, No Standards?
Travellers put up with delays and
disruptions, understanding that these
are sometimes beyond the control of
an airline, especially a low-cost one
POLITICS  16
Fashion  30
TRAVEL  42
Fighting Rich Terrorists
Terrorist cells thrive in Indonesia
with members and sympathisers
as new sources of funding
Colourful & Bold
Fashionistas get a blast
from the past with
vintage kimono
Flurries In The Park
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a
wonderful sight to behold, but
make sure you are wrapped
warmly from top to toe
COVE R IMAG E | WAN G Z H AO/A F P PHOTO
Copyright © 2006 of Asia News Network. All rights reserved. AsiaNews (ISSN 1905-2650) is a weekly magazine. Printed by WPS (Thailand) Co, Ltd Subsidiary of Nation Multimedia Group Plc.
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The View
The Korea Herald
Strategic Approach
South Korea needs a long-term scheme to counter the North’s
nuclear threat
❖❖ Seoul
6•
AFP/ Yonhap
A
diversity of views and
suggestions have been
put forward by South
Korean officials, politicians and academics on
how to respond to escalating nuclear threat from North Korea following its third atomic detonation
earlier this month.
This diversified discourse now
needs to converge into an effective,
sophisticated and comprehensive
strategy to solve the prolonged nuclear tension and ensure peace and
security on the Korean Peninsula.
Such a strategic scheme should be
based on national consensus and
pursued beyond changes of government.
This may sound somewhat detached from the complicated reality,
but is the direction South Koreans
should take to free themselves of the
increasing dangers from North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. Pyongyang’s
latest atomic bomb test with more
explosive power, which followed a
successful long-range rocket launch
in December, leaves no room for
internal discord over how to respond
to its nuclear capabilities and intentions.
It should be reminded that the
lack of long-term consistent strategies, coupled with partisan considerations in handling inter-Korean
relations, has seen the nuclear situation deteriorate over the two decades since Pyongyang left the NonProliferation Treaty in 1993. It is
encouraging that the liberal main
opposition party departed from its
reluctance to criticise North Korea’s
provocative acts and joined in condemning its third nuclear test, which
followed previous atomic detonations in 2006 and 2009.
The incoming government under
President-elect Park Geun-hye will
be mainly tasked with building
national consensus around a creative
South Korean soldiers march on a road during a military drill in
Paju near the demilitarised zone dividing the two Koreas on Feb
13, 2013. The country said it would accelerate the development of
longer-range ballistic missiles that could cover the whole of North
Korea in response to a third nuclear test by Pyongyang.
and strategic approach that
hopefully leads to a fundamental
solution to the nuclear standoff. It
is likely that Park’s inauguration on
February 25 will be followed by
further provocations from
Pyongyang, as it has vowed to launch
more long-range missiles, reportedly
n o t i f y i n g B e ij i n g o f a p l a n f o r
additional nuclear tests.
In immediate terms, Seoul needs
to enhance deterrence capabilities
against North Korea by expediting
the deployment of more advanced
antimissile and preemptive strike
systems, and strengthening security
cooperation with the US. In a longterm bid to get Pyongyang to give up
its nuclear arsenal, it should pursue
a delicate diplomatic approach that
could induce the US, China and
other neighbouring powers to take
the course in its best possible interests.
Park’s administration is urged to
show strategic wisdom particularly
in getting China to put enough pressure and sanctions on Pyongyang to
change its attitudes. It seems the
Chinese increasingly perceive North
Korea as more of a security liability
than a security asset. But Beijing’s
thinking will certainly not change
overnight. Seoul may use strengthening cooperation in missile defence
with the US as one form of leverage
to push China to be more active in
pressuring the North. Such an attempt would require extremely
adroit diplomatic skill to strike a
balance between the two giant powers.
Growing calls for South Korea’s
nuclear armament need to be contained to prevent them from blurring the discussion of effective and
realistic responses to North Korea’s
nuclear threat.
It can be argued that the asymmetric threat posed by Pyongyang’s
nuclear arms has reached the point
of compelling Seoul to consider all
strategic options. It may also be
hoped that such discussions would
serve at least as a warning to North
Korea and China to pay more heed
to South Korea’s voice.
But under conditions that make it
realistically impossible for Seoul to
pursue its own nuclear weapons
programme, explicitly abiding by its
denuclearisation policy may be more
effective in achieving its strategic
goal and making the peninsula safer
and more secure over the longer
term.
February 22-March 7, 2013
By Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation
Ending Insurgency
Can Malaysia be a peacemaker in south Thailand?
❖❖ Bangkok
I
AFP
f everything goes well—
augment Malaysian
and it is a big if—by the
Prime Minister Najib
end of this month in
Razak’s leadership credKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ibility.
could broker a framework
Thailand has been
peace plan between the Thai
urging Malaysia to
government and southern
amend the border secuThai-Malay insurgents to
rity cooperation to rebegin a peace dialogue. But
flect the newly perceived
it is not a done deal. Rather,
threats along the Thaiit is a work in progress
Malaysian border. In
showing for the first time
the past, both countries
that Thailand and Malaysia
fought communist inare working closely together Members of the bomb squad inspect the site of bomb blast,
surgents as common
detonated by suspected separatist militants at the clock tower
to bring a long lasting solu- intersection in Pattani town on Feb 17, 2013. A shadowy insurgency
enemies—something
tion to the restive deep south calling for greater autonomy has plagued Thailand’s far south near
older generations of
after years of unfulfilled the border with Malaysia, claiming more than 5,300 lives, both
Malaysians continue to
promises. This continued Buddhists and Muslims, since 2004.
appreciate.
effort coincides with the ofHowever, with the
ficial four-day visit of Yangdi
disappearance of comPertuan Agong XIV and the
representatives of Pattani United
munist threats, both
Raja Permaisuri Agong to Thailand Liberation Organisation who reside sides have yet to come to terms with
as guests of Their Majesties the King in Malaysia, along with low level their different threat perceptions. At
and Queen.
members of the Barisan Revolusi the General Border Committee in
P r i m e M i n i s t e r Y i n g l u c k Nasional across the border, but they November last year, Thailand wantShinawatra’s government, with her failed to strike a deal. When the ed to add terrorism, transnational
b r o t h e r T h a k s i n b e h i n d i t , i s news broke, Thaksin and his associ- crime, and drug and arms smuggling
currently working together with the ates denied vehemently that the to intelligence exchanges as new
Malaysian government through the meeting took place, despite picto- security areas for cooperation. MaSpecial Branch Police to identify the rial proof. Subsequently, bomb at- laysia was reluctant. The Thai offiinsurgents who would be part of the tacks in Yala and Songkhla followed, cials have been hoping—but rather
framework. As a facilitator, Malaysia committed by younger elements in vain—that there are specific
w i l l h a v e a l i m i t e d r o l e i n t h e opposing the meeting.
confidence-building measures that
beginning. Thailand has made clear
Nearly a year has elapsed. Sud- Malaysia could do right away on its
to its neighbour that it owns the denly, Thaksin and his security team own to show goodwill.
process and would move at a pace saw a window to strike a peace deal
Within the next few weeks, Thaithat is comfortable to all. What with the insurgents with Malaysia’s land and Malaysia can together
prompted the government to move full cooperation.
make history if they can overcome
forward essentially has to do with
After all, Malaysia played a com- their differences and find new comthe worsening situation in the three mendable role in assisting the his- mon grounds for cooperation, which
provinces in recent months. A series toric peace agreement last October could eventually lead to an enduring
of continued violent killings oF between the Philippine government peace in the south and in adjacent
innocent civilians and the failed and the Muslim rebels in Mindanao. areas.
attack on a Thai naval camp recently If Malaysia can do the same in forgSo far, a convergence of factors
in Narathiwat added urgency for the ing a peace deal in southern Thai- including domestic dynamics has
government to seek dialogue with land, it would enhance the country’s played out positively in the south.
the various insurgent groups.
prestige and position. Most impor- But for the future, nobody knows
Last March, Thaksin met with tantly, it would also immediately whether peace is at hand.
•7
economy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Prices are seen for different kinds of rice at
a market in Manila. Inflation rates in the
Philippines rose to 3.0 per cent in January,
slightly higher than the 2.9 per cent the
previous month following a rise in prices of
goods and services.
Despite a much-touted performance,
the Philippines is rated as the laggard
in the region
❖❖ Manila
T
he Benigno Aquino III
administration has received much praise from
foreign and local institutions for the “spectacular” performance of the
Philippine economy in 2012. The
International Monetary Fund,
World Bank, Asian Development
Bank and private think-tanks
have all been bullish on the Philippines.
Thus, many were surprised by the
recent release by Malaysian creditwatcher RAM Rating Services of its
inaugural sovereign ratings for five
leading Southeast Asian countries.
In brief, it showed the Philippines
as the laggard among the region’s
major economies.
In an 80-page report titled “Leading Asean Sovereigns”, RAM gave
the Philippines a rating of “BBB” on
its long-term borrowings, meaning
that it had only “moderate capacity
to meet its obligations”.
The Philippines was also given a
short-term rating of P2, also the
8•
Jay D ir ecto/AFP
Pragmatic
Rating
lowest in this category, meaning that
it had “adequate capacity to meet its
short-term financial obligations”.
Malaysia and Singapore got the
highest ratings of “AAA” and P1,
respectively, meaning “superior capacity” to pay long-term debt and
“strong capacity” to settle shortterm obligations. Indonesia and
Thailand got “AA” and P1, the former indicating “strong capacity” to
meet long-term obligations.
RAM was incorporated in 1990
and listed among its shareholders
Fitch Ratings, McGraw-Hill Asian
Holdings (Singapore), and the Malaysian subsidiaries of Bank of
America, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
UFJ, Deutsche Bank, Citibank,
HSBC, JP Morgan Chase and Standard Chartered.
Weaknesses
In explaining the ratings for the
Philippines, RAM noted the country’s strengths in terms of sustained
current-account surpluses, rising
foreign currency reserves and improving economic conditions. But it
said these pluses were being watered
down by a “heavy government debt
burden, mostly in foreign currencies; a small revenue base and hefty
interest expenses [that] strain the
fiscal profile, and a weak institutional framework”.
“Our assessment of the Philippines’ fiscal profile reveals persistent
deficits due to the government’s
weak revenue-generating capacity;
tax revenues are its main source of
income. As a percentage of GDP,
government revenue averaged 15.3
per cent from 1990 to 2011 and is the
lowest among its peers in the region,” it said.
RAM observed that Philippine
budget deficits had largely been narrowing because of better tax administration and collections. “There is
also noticeable improvement in its
debt ratio, from more than 70 per
cent of gross domestic product a
decade ago to 50.8 per cent as of
end-2011,” it said. But it added that
“the government’s debt load is still
hefty and its sizeable foreign-currency-denominated borrowings
amplify foreign exchange risk”.
“While the Philippines’ recent
economic performance is noteworthy, we are also mindful that much
more needs to be done to reposition
its misaligned identity—from a remittance-dependent economy to one
powered by investments and stronger industries,” RAM said. And while
it noted that the Aquino administration was laying the foundation by
focusing on upgrading infrastructure and enhancing human-capital
development, “the Philippines’ ability to attract FDI still pales in comparison to its regional peers at this
juncture”.
Problems persist
Achieving inclusive growth is also
being made difficult by the Philippines’ burgeoning population, the
world’s 12th highest at more than
95 million. RAM noted the mass
poverty that continued to affect
about a quarter of the population,
as well as the national unemployment rate that stood at 6.9 per
cent in the second quarter of 2012,
and underemployment remaining
widespread at 19.3 per cent.
The “educated unemployed” as
a percentage of the total unemployed labour force exceeded 40
per cent, highlighting the problem of labour mismatch that has
forced Filipinos to work overseas.
RAM’s assessment is the most
pragmatic compared with those
of Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s
and Fitch Ratings. Many in the
Aquino administration and in the
private sector will cast doubt on
RAM’s assessment and point out
that the three biggest credit
watchdogs are in fact bullish on
the Philippines.
But it may be well to recall that
about four years ago, Moody’s and
S&P were criticised for their role
in the global credit crisis that saw
the fall of the venerable investment house Lehman Brothers in
September 2008, leading the
world to a sharp economic decline
that persists today. Then, the
likes of Bank of America, Citi and
Merrill Lynch had sterling credit
ratings, yet all reeled from the
effects of the subprime crisis.
Those glowing ratings appear to
have been flawed.
•9
SPECIAL REPORT
By Prodita Sabrini
The Jakarta Post
Children’s activities online
leave them vulnerable to sexual
predators, cyber-bullying and
pornography
❖❖ Jakarta
N
ew technologies are forever a blessing and
a curse, as in the case of inevitable exposure of the young to unknown abusers in
cyberspace. Just how can we prevent
children from falling victim to sexual
predators?
According to Ecpat International, cyberspace is
home to more than 1 million images of tens of thousands of children being subjected to sexual abuse and
exploitation. A 2010 report from the International
Watch Foundation states that 17 per cent of the world’s
child sex abuse Web addresses are based in Asia.
From a recent two-month survey conducted by Ecpat,
the foundation discovered 137 cases of commercial
sexual exploitation that used social media or mobile
messenger services in Jakarta, Bandung and Batam.
The director of Ecpat Indonesia, Irwanto, said that
the pervasiveness of the Internet in children’s lives
made children vulnerable to sexual predators lurking
online. (Ecpat is an organisation dedicated to “End
Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking
of Children for Sexual Purposes”.)
“This can happen to anyone,” he said.
The mother of a 14-year-old girl from Depok who fell
prey to an online sexual predator and was nearly trafficked to Batam said she hoped the government would
10 •
Sonny Tu mbelaka /AFP
Keep Off
Those Trolls
Children look up Facebook at an Internet shop in
Indonesia. Without protection, children fall prey
to sexual predators online.
take firmer action against sexual predators who exploited the Internet to search for their victims.
She endured sleepless nights when her daughter,
identified as SAS, did not return home in late September after saying that she was going to visit a sick
friend before heading to church choir practice.
SAS was allegedly kidnapped and taken to Bogor,
drugged and repeatedly raped by Catur Sugiarto, 24,
a man who befriended her on Facebook. Child activists believe a child sex trafficking ring was involved
as SAS said that her kidnapper told her she was to be
shipped to Batam, an island that is a notorious sex
trafficking destination.
SAS was found on September 26 at the Depok bus
terminal after her alleged captor left her there. SAS’
lawyer, Dwi Handi Pardede, said her kidnappers
probably became scared because of the media coverage of the missing girl and returned her to Depok.
SAS also said that she saw at least four other girls
between the ages of 14 and 17 in the house where she
was held captive.
Social stigma
SAS’ abduction brought the issue of online-based
sexual violence against children to the fore. But it
also showed a sinister side of some members of the
public against victims of sexual violence. SAS was
denounced and humiliated in front of other students
Bay I smoyo/AFP
Indonesian teens use their phones for access to the Internet,
where lurkers search for victims.
by her former school principal on her first day back
at school after the ordeal.
Education and Culture Minister Mohammad Nuh
made a controversial statement about underage
victims of rape, implying that a lot of girls consented to sex and then claimed rape.
The minister made this comment despite the fact
that consent is irrelevant in sexual relations
between an adult and a minor. Under the Penal
Code and the Child Protection Law, any kind of
sexual relationship between an adult and a minor
is a crime.
SAS’ mother said her daughter was trying to rebuild her life and that she had changed schools. She
worried though about other girls as her daughter’s
kidnapper remained at large. “The police haven’t
caught the perpetrator. The government has to act
more firmly. Other victims are at risk,” she said.
Indeed, SAS’s story is hardly the only incidence
of sexual violence. The National Commission for
Child Protection (Komnas PA) this year received
129 reports of missing children. The commission
believes that 27 of them went missing after meeting
their abductors through Facebook.
With the many risks that come with social media,
parents should monitor their children’s online
activity, a child activist says.
Irwanto, the director of Ecpat Indonesia, said
parents should be aware of the dangers posed by
social media and take active steps to protect their
children.
Irwanto said that one way was to install monitoring software on their computers to monitor their
children’s social media accounts.
Apps for parents
Software developers and security firms have
released applications for parental monitoring.
Among the paid products and services available are
ZoneAlarm SocialGuard, TrueCare and SocialShield.
MinorMonitor also provides free monitoring
software.
These applications allow parents to monitor their
children’s online activity, including alerting parents
to the existence of their chidren’s acquaintances
with a low number of mutual friends and identifying
online friends that might be too old.
Children’s activities online leave them vulnerable
to sexual predators, cyber-bullying, pornography
and sharing too much personal information online.
Irwanto said parents should also try to have an
open discussion about sex education. “Many teenagers do not know who to talk to about sex,” he said.
He said that children were at risk of looking for
answers among their peers, which could lead to risky
sexual behaviour and sexual exploitation.
• 11
TECHNOLOGY
By Julie Jackson
The Korea Herald
Welcome to the world
of self-driven cars,
3-D avatars
❖❖ Seoul
T
he monstrous leaps that technology
has taken and continues to take today have an immeasurable impact on
daily life. These advancements in
technology and telecommunications
are what open up the doors to a future of endless possibilities, inventions and seamless productivity.
Like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie,
the SK Telecom Ubiquitous Museum (T.um) is
a visual splendor showcasing the many yet-tobe mass marketed technologies of tomorrow.
Within the next decade, people will be able to
control some of life’s most routine decisions
and tasks right in the palm of one’s hand. T.um
is a truly unique museum that allows visitors
12 •
to utilise and interact with some of the world’s
state-of-the-art technologies.
U.Home
Living rooms of the future will be controlled
with a wave of an arm, whether it is checking
the weather or email, reading the news, or even
making a phone call. The U.Home section of
T.um is an interactive display of the capabilities
of the new generation of smart homes. Everything one would come to hope for in an entertainment and practical information system is
simply projected onto the walls of one’s home
and equipped with motion control using the
latest in infrared technology.
“It takes a lot of time and money to change
the wallpaper in your house these days, but in
the future, with this technology, it can be done
Photos by Ki m Myu ng-su b/ The Korea H erald
simply,” said Choi Boo-g yung, manager of
T.um, as she waved her hand and made a
picture of a city skyline appear on the wall,
including a nighttime fireworks display.
Even the tables of the future will be equipped
with the latest in computer and communications technology. Envision a giant iPad as a
coffee table that can play music and video, and
store, send and even print photos. And if this
isn’t enough, with a simple flick of one’s finger,
the videos and photos on the table can be
pushed to display on the wall.
U.Driving
U.Driving allows visitors to take a virtual
spin in an actual car that is meant to simulate
what driving will be like in the years to come
with a vehicle that drives itself.
“You won’t need to drive yourself because
automatic driving systems will be available in
the future,” said Choi.
The door locks and interior temperature are
all controlled by one’s smartphone, and as soon
as the driver gets in, the car scans and measures
one’s body condition, from heart rate and blood
pressure to body temperature.
Similar to a video arcade game, the U.Driving
simulation has a large video screen of a futuristic Seoul where gas stations are obsolete and
replaced by electric recharging stations. One
can even purchase and sell electric energy from
cars driving next to it simply by sending an
electronic request to another car.
Equipped with voice automation, the car
narrates to the driver all the personalised features that are available while riding. On a small
• 13
TECHNOLOGY
screen located in the car, optimal destination
routes and nearby restaurant recommendations
appear along with shopping options. There are
even movie downloads available that can be
played on a screen projection that appears on
the windshield of the car to be enjoyed while
the car navigates the roads on its own.
U.Shopping/U.Fashion
In the future, there will be no wasting time
tr y ing on different outfits while shopping.
Rather you can dress up your personal avatar
with ready-to-purchase outfits.
“When you go to the mall these days you have
to go into fitting rooms, but here you can just
use our fitting screens,” Choi said.
By stepping into a very modern looking clear
tube, visitors can have their bodies and faces
scanned to produce a life size 3-D avatar of
themselves in less than a minute.
“We use millimetre-waves that go through our
outfits and reflect thousands of water points on
our skin to measure our body index,” she said.
Once an avatar has been created, one’s body
measurements are immediately stored and clothing stores and recommended outfits are sent
directly to one’s smartphone along with all purchasing information. Shoppers can then view
these outfits on their avatar and swiftly change
views and outfits with the touch of a button.
What may seem like a world of surreal imagination may in fact become a reality sooner
that one may think. Because these technological
developments and capabilities are already possible and in existence, it is only a matter of
marketing and time before these options become
readily available.
“I think people will be able to see all the future
concepts within five to 10 years,” said Choi.
∞∞SK Telecom Ubiquitous Museum
+82 (02) 6100-0601
Location: SK T-Tower, 11 Euljiro2-ga, Jung-gu,
Seoul
Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 9am
to 6pm. (Closed last Friday of every month)
Admission: Free. Reservations are required and
must be made at least one day in advance.
For more information, visit tum.sktelecom.com
14 •
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POLITICS
The Jakarta Post
Indonesia’s presidential
security forces show off
their skills during an
anti-terrorist drill in Bali.
Fighting Rich
Terrorists
Terrorist cells thrive in Indonesia with members
and sympathisers as new sources of funding
16 •
❖❖ Jakarta
S o nny Tum b e lak a /AF P
T
he Indonesian National Police’s crackdown on al-Qaedalinked Jamaah Islamiyah (JI)
as the party responsible for a
series of deadly bomb attacks
targeting foreign interests within the last
decade has in fact not marked an end to
acts of terrorism in the country.
Terrorist cells have continued to seek
and receive funding to carry out recruitment, training and eventually carnage,
albeit on a lower scale.
The country’s law enforcers had long
been aware of the key issue of terrorism
funding, but it took them one year to finally win the House of Representatives’
approval of a bill on terrorism financing.
The bill, unanimously passed on February
12, authorises government institutions,
including the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), to
track down and cut the sources of funding
for terrorist activities, both domestically
and overseas.
It will complement the draconian antiterrorism law passed in 2006 and the
anti-money laundering legislation endorsed in 2003. When the bill comes into
effect, PPATK will be responsible for
freezing bank accounts and confiscating
assets related to terrorism and terrorist
organisations in cooperation with law
enforcement agencies and financial service providers.
The bill will also allow Indonesian authorities to ask foreign governments to
block bank accounts of individuals or
corporations included on the list of world
terrorist groups and vice versa as part of
the international cooperation in the fight
against terrorism.
∞∞Funding sources
According to the police, the terrorism
network in the country has shifted to
members and sympathisers as sources of
funding. The terrorists turn out to justify
funding raised through criminal acts as
apparent in an August 2010 bank robbery
in Medan, North Sumatra, which left a
police officer dead, and the money changer robbery in Bali in March of last year.
Bali bomber Imam Samudra, who was
eventually executed, admitted to raising
funds for the first attack on the tourist
island in October 2002 by, among others,
robbing a jewellery shop.
It has been uncovered that terrorists
collect money through Internet hacking
as evident in the arrest of IT experts
Rizki and Cahya, who worked under Santoso, a terror suspect who now tops the
police most-wanted list for his activities
in Poso, Central Sulawesi. The police said
Rizki and Cahya hacked a foreign exchange trading website and collected
nearly US$700,000 used to launch a
bomb attack on a Surakarta Protestant
church last year and paramilitary training
in Central Sulawesi.
A former terrorist who has served his
jail sentence once said terrorist cells also
collected funds through charity foundations or organisations, whose members
operated door-to-door, in bus terminals
and train stations, without knowing the
money would go to terrorists.
∞∞Drugs connection
With foreign funding no longer to be
expected, terrorists will seek every avenue to secure their access to funding.
Learning from the global terror network
al-Qaeda, it will come as no surprise if in
the future the Indonesian police find a
link between terrorism and drug trafficking.
The US security authorities discovered
evidence of al-Qaeda’s alleged involvement in large-scale drug sales to finance
its and its associates’ activities worldwide. They said ever since the Taliban
took over Afghanistan, heroin production
soared each year. The Taliban produced
400 out of 500 metric tons of heroin in
1999 alone. The media and several intelligence agencies also reported that bin
Laden once exchanged $500 million
worth of heroin for four suitcases with
nuclear devices from the Chechens.
The passage of a bill that will cut the
lines of terrorist financing marks a progress in the country’s fight against terrorism. Sooner or later terrorists will arm
themselves with high-tech unless the law
enforcers succeed in blocking their access
to funding.
But all the efforts and initiatives to
combat terrorists should not distract us
from the root of terrorism: radicalism.
• 17
POLITICS
Bizarre Episode
In Sabah
❖❖ Manila
A
lmos t a week since a
large group of men and
women identified with
the Sultanate of Sulu
made a mysterious mass
landing in Lahad Datu town, in Sabah, much remains to be sorted out.
But the excursion’s impact on the
peace process with the Philippines’
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) is becoming clearer by the
day.
The number of people involved
remains undetermined. Many news
reports have pegged the total at “100
armed Filipinos”, with other stories
bringing the number up to 200. The
man in charge of the expedition,
Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram,
said about 1,000 of his followers left
Tawi-Tawi for Sabah on February 11.
A report in The Star asserts that “the
number of armed men has increased
from 30 from Saturday to about
300”.
There remains some doubt whether the men were indeed armed.
Malaysian authorities said they were
and responded accordingly; The
18 •
Star report said they were “armed
with M16 rifles, M14 grenade
launchers and Colt 45 pistols”; Agbimuddin, the expedition leader,
told the Inquirer that his followers
had “M-14, M-16, M203, Baby Armalite, basta assorted ang dala
namin [we brought assorted weapons].” But two Malacañang spokespersons, both quoting Defence
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, said the
men were not armed.
(That women joined the expedition is an assertion of Agbimuddin’s.
“We won’t go hungry here because
the women who are with us are
cooking for us,” he told the Inquirer
in Filipino.)
But what were they doing in Sabah
in the first place? According to both
Agbimuddin and his older brother,
Sultan Jamalul Kiram, the expedition was meant to press their claim
to Sabah. “I sent my brother in [sic]
Sabah in the name of peace and in
exercise of our historic, ancestral
and sovereign right over Sabah,” an
ailing Jamalul told the Inquirer.
Agbimuddin said the resolution of
the age-old claim to Sabah was an
“integral and essential aspect” of any
MO H D RASFAN/ AFP PH OTO
The Philippines’ policy on the Sabah
claim is not to relinquish but wait
for the right time to push for it
Malaysian armed policemen return
from a sea patrol in Tanjung Labian
near Lahad Datu, on the Malaysian
island of Borneo on Feb 16, 2013.
The Philippines called for a peaceful
resolution to a tense stand-off in a
remote area on the island, where
hundreds of Filipinos with arms have
landed.
peace agreement. But, he said, “they
are not interested, this government
and the previous governments, so we
decided to act on our own.”
News reports out of Malaysia,
however, suggest that Malaysian
authorities either see Jamalul as
part of the solution (“A Sulu Sultan
has been called in to resolve a standoff”—the very state of affairs he had
caused with his order to Agbimuddin) or that the members of the
landing party wanted merely to be
acknowledged “as citizens of the
Sultanate of Sulu”.
No wonder news reports from
around the world have characterised
the episode as bizarre.
Because Sulu is part of the Philippines, the claim to Sabah is a national prerogative. Last year, President Benigno Aquino III described
the Philippine claim as “dormant at
this point in time”, a pragmatic
policy in keeping with a long list of
presidential precedents. The policy,
as we understand it, is never to relinquish our claim, but also to wait
for the right time to push it.
Does the Lahad Datu excursion
present the right opportunity to
promote our claim? Some legal experts and political opportunists
think so. We are not so sure.
It has been suggested that mere
physical presence of descendants of
the Sultan of Sulu in Sabah would
bolster the claim; this is rash and
unrealistic, and would only prejudice Philippine standing in any
international court.
The immediate danger the excursion presents, however, is to the
peace negotiations between the
government and the MILF. Read the
statements of both the Sultanate
leaders and the official responses of
Nur Misuari’s faction of the Moro
National Liberation Front, and it is
hard to escape the conclusion that
the Sabah adventure was designed
precisely to throw a spanner in the
works. The Sultanate leaders felt
aggrieved, a spokesperson said, that
“the framework agreement [with the
MILF] was finished without even
the shadow of the Sultanate of Sulu
and North Borneo”. This is an interesting rationalisation, considering
that Misuari, their fellow Tausug,
negotiated the 1996 peace agreement with the national government
that failed to promote the Sabah
claim too.
The peace negotiations are far
from a done deal, but the two parties
have never been this close to a peace
agreement—the very compact that
will put the Philippine claim to parts
of Sabah on firmer footing. The illadvised excursion to Lahad Datu
should not be a cause for distraction.
• 19
Society
By Natalie Heng
The Star
Bay I smoyo/AFP
Snakes with unique colours and skin
patterns, such as those of the corn
snake, are popular among pet owners.
But this hobby is said to be driving an
illegal trade in wild-caught snakes.
Snake Hunt W
❖❖ Kuala Lumpur
Consumers are caught up in
a frenzy of owning all things
snake—with dire consequences
20 •
ith the Year of the Snake, some
animal lovers are seeking out
snakes as pets, just like how rabbits were popular in 2011, the Year
of the Rabbit. But without being
churned through the Chinese New Year branding machinery, snakes are already in demand for
their meat, in traditional medicine, and in highend fashion.
In January 2012, over 47,350 pieces of cobra
bile and 1,680 cobra eggs were seized at Jakarta’s
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. In November, a report estimated that half a million
python skins are exported from Southeast Asia
annually, in a trade worth US$1 billion.
“There is a higher demand for snakes right
now, probably more than there has ever been,”
says Chris Shepherd, deputy director of wildlife
snakes is fast gearing up to become another crisis.
Scientists admit that few studies
have attempted, or been able to
determine, the scale of the illegal
trade in snakes, and the effects of
illegal harvest. What we do know
is that there are hundreds of species of reptiles and amphibians
harvested from the wild every year
for trade.
Phi lippe Lopez/AFP
∞∞Captive breds
As Hong Kong prepares to usher in the Year
of the Snake, an increasing number of the
reptiles are slithering their way into local
households, with sales of the uncuddly pet
rocketing.
trade monitoring network Traffic
Southeast Asia. “The global reptile trade right now, for pets, is
huge, and the trade in skins is really huge.”
According to an article published in the journal Conservation
Biology last October, the wild
harvesting of amphibians and
reptiles is driven chiefly by consumer demand, largely from developed nations but increasingly,
from Asian countries.
At the losing end of the bargain
are Southeast Asian countries, the
source of these wildlife. We’ve
already encountered the “Asian
Turtle Crisis” which saw drastic
declines in tortoises and freshwater turtles in the region. Now, it
l o o k s l i ke t h e t ra d e i n A s i a n
From the few studies that have
been done, it looks like there is
good reason for consumers to be
cautious. The green tree python
(Morelia viridis) is a popular snake
in the global pet trade. It is one of
Indonesia’s top exports, and stocks
are declared as captive breds. In
2011, however, scientists Jessica
Lyons and Daniel Natusch from the
University of New South Wales
found that at least 80 per cent of
Indonesia’s green tree python exports were poached from the wild.
This f ind highlights two
important points: the potential for
widespread fraud in the reptile
export market and the difficulties
pet owners face in differentiating
between wild-caught and captivebred stock.
There are many responsible
snake owners who genuinely care
for their pets and think that their
hobby is harmless to populations
in the wild. After all, snakes like
the green tree python are not classified as a “threatened” species.
Unfortunately, simply looking at
an animal’s global conservation
status does not reflect the damaging impact that harvesting might
have on local wild populations. For
example, the green tree python is
listed as of “least concern” on the
International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List but the
assessment is based on global distributions. In Indonesia’s Papua
province and Maluku Islands, the
researchers say traders have reported a decline in snake numbers,
which indicates over-harvesting on
a local scale.
∞∞Illegal trade
Last year, both scientists conducted another survey in the same
area but discovered that efforts to
find out the long-term impacts of
the pet trade on local populations
were hampered by poor understanding of the biology and trade
of the snake species, and the fact
that they inhabit remote provinces.
They found a great need for increased monitoring and enforcement to curb illegal trading activities. Aside from improving our
knowledge of the species being
traded, there is also a need to educate consumers. Pet owners need
to be aware of the effects their
demand for exotic wildlife can
have on species and their habitats,
as well as the illegal means used to
supply animals for the trade, such
as wild-caught animals being
passed off as captive breds.
According to the Wildlife and
National Parks Department (Perhilitan), nine species of snakes are
traded locally—the reticulated
python, Burmese python, blood
python, Borneo short-tailed python, ball python (or royal python),
Oriental rat snake, king cobra,
monocled cobra and equatorial
spitting cobra.
Perhilitan said 406 live snakes,
297,956 pieces of skin, 12,508kg of
meat, and 82 snake-based products were exported from Malaysia
in 2011. Eight Malaysian snake
species listed were in CITES
(multilateral treaty on anti-wildlife trade) Appendix II and so,
subjected to controlled trade.
The local trade in snakes will
soon be affected by an amendment
to the Pet Shop Regulations 2012
under the Wildlife Conservation
Act 2010. Perhilitan says not all local species will be allowed for trade
under the regulation, citing this as
a way to control the possession of
harmful and dangerous snakes.
C u r re n t ly, t h e Ac t l i s t s 1 69
species as “protected” (permit
is required for any trade) and 14
as “totally protected” (no trade
allowed).
• 21
Society
By Pam Pastor
Love In Time
Of Social
Networking
It’s a new era for dating, where your relationship status
can change with a click of a button
❖❖ Manila
K
itty, a preschool teacher,
thought she had found the
love of her life when she
met Bong.
“We dated regularly for
a few months. He said we were
exclusive so I changed my Facebook status to ‘In a relationship.’
His status stayed `Single’ and he
refused to change it. We broke up.
If he wasn’t going to be truthful
about our relationship on Facebook, how can he be truthful about
it in real life?” Kitty said.
Welcome to love and courtship
in the time of social networking.
It’s a new era for dating, where
chocolates and roses have been
replaced by “likes” and Instagram
pictures, and your relationship
status can change with a click of a
button.
“That relationship status feature
of Facebook is evil,” said Carmela,
a writer. “I’ve seen angry friends
change theirs to ‘It’s complicated’
22 •
every time they fight with their
boyfriends. Then friends flood
their pages with questions: ‘Why?’
‘What happened?’ ‘What did he
do?’ ‘It’s so messy.”
Princess Dasky, a PR manager,
agreed. “I’ve decided that I will
never change my dating status in
Facebook or anywhere online, except maybe if I’m changing it to
‘engaged’ or ‘married’”.
Dating tool
Social networking sites have
become a necessary tool for this
generation of daters, offering a
venue for low-risk and convenient
courtship.
Backg round checks are now
easier too. Char, an account supervisor in a marketing communication company, said, “By adding him
on Facebook, you see your common friends and you can text or
call them right away.”
“It’s not stalking, it’s research,”
said Bunny, an admin assistant.
Bernard, a copywriter, said, “Job
companies you apply for do it—
why not on someone you potentially will spend the rest of your
life with?”
Denise, a housewife, met her
husband online. Before they were
married, he lived in the United
States and she lived in the Philippines.
So they used Facebook to stay
connected. “We would post pictures so the other could see what
we were up to,” she said. The two
now live together in the United
States.
It was also through Facebook
that Melanie, a PR executive, reconnected with her childhood
sweetheart after 10 years of not
seeing each other.
They used to exchange handwritten letters when they were in high
school. Now, they are back together
and use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep in touch, especially
since they both travel a lot for work.
“Communication has been easier,
checking up on each other can be
Robyn Be ck/AF P
Is Facebook helping or hurting you? Social media sites put unwanted strain on relationships.
done in an instant,” she said.
Viber, other apps
For people in long-distance relationships, sites like Facebook and
Twitter and apps likes Viber, Whatsapp, Skype are heaven-sent.
Princess Dasky said: “I’m in a
long-distance relationship now. Six
to eight years ago, this might not
have worked for me. But social networking sites are a great way to
continue to get to know each other.
It’s a great way to introduce him to
my family and friends too.”
Neil, a senior art director, said
social networking sites were a big
help when he was living in Toronto
and his girlfriend was in Vancouver.
“Social media is an excellent
venue to know whether your partner is having a bad day at work, the
food she is craving, and how she
feels in general, depending on how
much she shares on her page.” The
two are now married. “I eventually
moved to Vancouver and lived happily ever after,” Neil said.
Make or break
But not all stories end happily.
Joseph, a human resources business partner, said, “Facebook can
make or break relationships so use
it responsibly.”
TriggerFinger, a photographer,
felt the same way. “Social networking sites can both be a
blessing and a bane. They can
amplify issues from the past that
should not be remembered.”
Jellybean, a case manager, said:
“If one of you is a jealous person,
these sites can make a relationship
difficult. My husband and I don’t
really use them to declare love for
each other or have online fights.
We think that some aspects of our
relationship should stay private.”
Isabel, an ER nurse, said the
convenience of social networks
could be dangerous.
“You have a constant access to
their daily lives and their interactions, whether you like it or not.
In the thick of being in love, your
insatiable urge to know about your
partner will use this. You want to
know what they’re doing, who
they’re interacting with, what
they’re thinking about.
“This can cause friction in relationships. Couples, my past relationships included, have had so
many fights that were brought on
by very petty things on the Internet,” Isabel said.
Other couples have decided to
deal with this by staying away
from each other’s social networks.
Isabel said: “The guy I’m dating
is in a band. A lot of girls try to
flirt with him on Facebook and he
will always be tempted to flirt
with them. We fought about it
once. I’ve decided to unsubscribe
from him. It’s the best decision I
made online.”
Alta, a plus-sized model, said
she and her boyfriend were no
longer friends on Facebook. “Now
we have less arguments. We just
use iMessage and Viber.”
Cerise, a marketing consultant,
believed that social networking
sites also made it easier for partners to cheat. “Because these sites
make hooking up easier, cheating
is easier too.”
But the very same sites make
catching infidelity easier too.
Resisting urge
Moving on can become more difficult, too, because Facebook and
Twitter make it easy to see what
people’s ex-boyfriends and girlfriends are up to. “I think the
amount of times you spend checking your ex’s profile can tell you
how far you’ve moved on,” said Janis
Ian, an editor.
Some save themselves from the
trouble by resisting the urge. Random Perignon, a graduate student,
said, “I don’t stalk exes because I
don’t want to commit emotional
suicide.”
B, president of a tourism company, said: “I have blocked ex-boyfriends from finding me on any social media offering a ‘block’ option.
Who wants that kind of drama?”
Finding balance
The key is balance—finding a
way to use social networks to keep
love alive both online and offline.
Jonha, a community manager, says,
“Tagging someone you love on a
Facebook status isn’t as powerful
or as sweet as actually spending
time with them in person.”
Neil said, “I’m the type of guy
who would send flowers to her office in the same way I would randomly tweet about how much I
love her just so people could tease
her the whole day.”
Ruth, a writer, said: “I still get
flowers and chocolates on important dates. I get to brag about it on
Facebook minutes after receiving
it. That, to me, is awesome.”
• 23
LIFESTYLE
By Cecily Liu, Caroline Berg and He Na
China Daily
Eat, Save, Don’t Waste
China has a growing appetite for cutting
back on food wastage
24 •
❖❖ Beijing
E
very few weeks, Lu Jinhua’s
family meets for dinner at
a restaurant close to her
home in Beijing’s Chaoyang
d i s t r i c t . B ut t h e h a p py
mealtime almost always ends with
an unhappy scene: Her children will
insist that Lu leaves the table before
she can embarrass them by asking
to take the leftover food home in
takeaway bags.
But on Sunday, the 63-year-old
Beijing resident was delighted to
discover that the restaurant had
implemented a number of changes.
A poster on the table clearly stated,
“Save food, don’t waste it”. Instead
of persuading customers to order a
wide range of expensive dishes, the
waitress suggested a small order that
could be supplemented l ater if
people were still hungry. At the end
of the dinner, Lu’s daughter even
volunteered to ask the waitress for
doggy boxes.
“This is the happiest dinner I had
in that restaurant so far, and I am
so glad to see these changes. I used
to live in a rural area and I’m well
aware of the hardships farmers endure,” Lu said.
A campaign against food wastage
is sweeping China, a country where
128 million people live below the
poverty line.
Every year, food valued at 200
b i l l i o n y u a n ( US $ 3 2 b i l l i o n) i s
thrown away in China. The volume
is equivalent to the amount consumed by more than 200 million
people during a 12-month period.
A proposal published in January,
opposing waste, is part of a drive
by China’s new leaders to fight
extravagance and advocate thrift.
Following suit, many provinces
have launched their own, moredetailed versions. Central China’s
Henan province has ordered that
business meals for cadres should
feature no more than four dishes,
and alcohol is prohibited. Meanwhile, the southwestern province of
Guizhou has set a time limit of 45
minutes on meals paid for by the
public purse.
The public has also adopted the
idea, resulting in a surge in antiwaste rhetoric. For example, the
Beijing Catering Trade Association,
Beijing Cuisine Association and
Beijing Western Food Association
launched a joint anti-waste initiative
in late January, which garnered a
rapid response from many catering
enterprises.
Smaller portions
At Quanjude Group, one of
China’s biggest restaurant chains,
cards written in red print remind
customers to order sparingly, while
also pointing out that they are encouraged to take leftovers home to
eat later. To discourage customers
from ordering more than they can
eat, the group has started to use
smaller serving plates for portions.
The new plates are roughly half the
size than before and hold half the
amount of food. Prices have also
been altered to suit.
The campaign has also attracted
large numbers of young people. In
January, a proposal initiated on the
micro blog service Weibo calling on
Beijing residents to eat everything
on their plate attracted the participation of 2.74 million people within
the first two weeks.
Liu Qinglong , a professor at
Tsinghua University’s School of
Public Policy and Management,
was happy to see the change in
attitude toward food wastage, but
he said he’s waiting to see how
things pan out over the long term.
He expressed concern that the new
move may be short-lived and will
fade away in the face of traditional cultural pressures.
“Ostentation and preserving face
have been part of Chinese culture
for thousands of years,” he said,
pointing out that people don’t like
to be seen taking food home from
restaurants for fear that neighbours
and friends may think them stingy
or poverty-stricken.
He sug gested the government
should introduce a media and social
supervision mechanism to combat
these perceptions, while also advocating the establishment of a special
office to oversee payments made
with public funds.
“Without effective and detailed
implementation, the phenomenon
will not last long,” said Liu.
Although research by China Agricultural University in 2008 estimated that 50 million metric tons
of food—one-tenth of China’s total
grain output—is wasted every year,
the problem is equally, if not more,
acute in industrialised countries and
the phenomenon can be observed
in almost every developed nation.
Roughly one-third of the food
produced in the world for human
consumption every year—approximately 1.3 billion metric tons—is
wasted, according to a study commissioned by the United Nations’
Food and Agriculture Organisation.
• 25
LIFESTYLE
By Fiona Ho
The Star
Carefully choosing what to
eat and the amount of
exercise we do will
determine whether we’ll be
having a ball, or looking like
one, later in life.
AFP
Going Grey
A practical guide on the art of ageing
❖❖ Kuala Lumpur
A
geing is a process that affects
not just your physicality; it
also affects your brain, as well
as your attitude and belief systems.
The only way to address that is by
changing your lifestyle habits and
belief systems.
You’ve probably heard this some
5,000 times before, yet the undisputed truth remains that good eating habits and regular exercise are
factors that can help determine
whether you’ll be having a ball or
looking like one in your golden
years.
Like eating and sleeping, growing
older is an inevitable fact of life. In
bygone days, old age was regarded
as a measure of wisdom and survival worthy of respect.
These days, far from being a celebrated journey, ageing is often
treated as a dreaded phenomenon
that spawns wrinkles and diseases
in its wake.
26 •
Whatever your view on ageing,
the undisputed truth remains that
not even the richest, most powerful,
or most beautiful of us are exempt
from the ravages of time.
Changing habits
That said, it is a common misconception that ageing is a chronologically-driven event that happens
automatically when people reach 50,
says Rico Ricketts, a Canadianbased consultant and coach on wellness and ageing.
“People start to lose their dignity.
They assume they will become diseased and automatically discarded
by the rest of society with age,”
Ricketts, 70, says.
While the thought of growing
older doesn’t always paint a rosy
picture, the road towards your
golden years doesn’t have to be a
bumpy one.
Adequate nutrition and regular
physical activity are important factors that can help ease the ageing
process, says Ricketts.
But you already knew that, having
heard about it some 5,000 times
before. That doesn’t stop you from
tucking into your regular fix of
burgers and fries.
Yet, it is these simple choices that
we make on a daily basis, including
what we eat and how much we eat,
that can help determine whether
we’ll be having a ball, or looking
like one, later in life.
Many Malaysians take their health
for granted. “I can see that Malaysians love to makan-makan (eat),”
Ricketts points out with a laugh.
Indeed, with food and incessant
eating being part of our national
culture, Malaysians are well-known
for stuffing our faces with obscene
amounts of food at any given time
of the day. Given these habits, it is
no wonder that Malaysia is now the
fattest country in Southeast Asia.
Current findings by the Health
Ministry reveal that two in every five
adults are either overweight or obese.
Ong S o o n Hin/ the sta r
Dr Rajbans: The common
misconception is that you
have to join a gym to
exercise. Actually, you can
do all of this from home.
Citing statistics from the National Health and Morbidity Surveys, Health Minister Liow Tiong
Lai says that 15.1 per cent of Malaysians aged 18 and above were suffering from obesity as of 2011. “This
is an increase from the 14 per cent
figure of the same demographic in
2006,” he points out.
Being over weight or obese increases one’s risk of developing
heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and
cancer. The presence of such diseases can have a debilitating effect
on one’s quality of life, says Ricketts.
atrician and president of the Malaysian Wellness Society.
Understanding the ageing process
is more important than ever as
people are now living longer.
The average lifespan of Malaysian men and women today are 74.2
years and 79.1 years respectively,
compared to 7 2.6 years and 7 7.5
years respectively in 2010.
However, instead of taking the
right measures to ensure a healthy
ageing process, many people are
busy shopping for solutions to
fight ageing, Ricketts notes.
Longer life
The number of cosmetic surgeries
performed in the United St ates
increased by 155 per cent last year.
Sales of anti-ageing products are also
estimated to hit a total of US$274.5
billion in 2013.
Cosmetic products and procedures
that claim to have the ability to
curtail or reverse ageing are equally
popular with Malaysians.
However, many of these products
are minimally effective at best, and
are often costly and impermanent.
Worse, you could end up looking
like Cher.
“Most of these anti-ageing products address ageing from the outside, using things like lotions and
p o t i o n s , a n d b o t ox a n d pl a s t i c
surgery.
“ B ut a c t u a l l y, g ra c e f u l a g e i ng
occurs from the inside out. That’s
how biology operates,” says Ricketts.
“Ageing is a process that affects
not just your physicality; it also
affects your brain, as well as your
attitude and belief systems. T he
only way to address that is by
changing your lifestyle habits and
A 2009 report by the Health
Ministry estimated that about one
in every four deaths in government
hospitals were attributed to either
heart diseases or strokes.
Despite the apparent health risks
that can develop from making poor
lifestyle choices, a staggering 75 per
cent of Malaysians do not exercise
at all, the ministry reported.
“A healthy lifestyle can have a
significant impact on your biology,” Ricketts notes. “By making the
right lifestyle choices, you don’t
have to lose your mind, lose your
faculties, or lose your limbs and
digits, and suffer in old age.”
The robust coach recently spoke
on the subject of healthy ageing at
a public forum held at a medical
centre in Selangor.
The talk, which addressed the
popular myths of ageing, was part
of a community ser vice project
organised by the Canadian-based
non-profit organisation, Friends to
Mankind.
Ricketts was joined by Dr
Rajbans Singh, a consultant geriFebruary 22-March 7, 2013
Ageing with grace
Ricketts: Graceful
ageing occurs from
the inside out. That’s
how biology operates.
belief systems.”
Unfortunately, health problems like
obesity are not exclusive to the ageing
population. “I have seen young boys
with breasts,” Ricketts shares with a
chuckle.
The good news is, even if you have
been on a fastfood and soda diet all
your life, it is never too late to start
making healthy changes to your lifestyle.
The best thing that you can do for
your heart is getting rid of your love
handles.
For those unacquainted with physical activity, Rajbans advises: start small.
“Start by doing simple things like
going to bed 10 minutes
earlier and waking up 10 minutes
earlier to do some simple
exercises.
“You can start by doing exercises like
push-ups and squats, and progress
from there,” he shares.
Rajbans adds: “ The common
misconception is that you have to join
a gym to exercise. Actually, you can
do all of this from home.”
Some important aspects to note
when considering your new fitness
routine are: cardiovascular activities
such as aerobics to promote optimum
heart health; weight-bearing exercises
to help improve muscular and core
strength; and exercises that help promote flexibility such as yoga and Pilates.
“Flexibility becomes an issue for
most of us as we get older,” says Rajbans.
He concludes: “The simplest thing
that you can do is just to
e at ‘simple’ foods that have not
been processed, genetically modified
or doused with chemicals. Eat something that your grandma can
recognise.”
• 27
LIFESTYLE
By Cheche V. Moral
Need cash? Designer bags
are the new currency
❖❖ Manila
D
esigner purses have transcended their arm-candy
s t a t us a nd h ave b e c o m e
currency for wealthy women and salary-earners alike.
Bags these days are traded and
exchanged over and over to fulfil
not just fleeting desires, but to get
one through a financial bind, in
much the same way jewellery used
to. In a way, bags have become the
new jewellery.
“Women from all walks of life are
now in on this,” says Hazel Aguilar,
a young mother of two who resells
designer purses on the side. “We’re
no longer talking of just ‘bag addicts’. Everyone wants to own one.
And because of that, it has created
a business for those who want to
unload their collection to make
room for new ones.”
Aguilar, who started collecting
luxury purses in college, began reselling bags six years ago “when
only a few women were doing so”.
She only wanted to dispose of
styles she was no longer using. She
found the upkeep of too many
purses difficult.
“They’re leather and they’re hard
to maintain,” she explains. If unused and not aired regularly, leather becomes brittle and deteriorates.
“And unlike jewellery, they don’t
appreciate in value.”
Trisha Cruz Cuason, co-owner of
28 •
AFP
Confessions Of
Bagaholics
Vintage Restore, a bag restoration
shop, agrees. Cuason also sells vintage jewellery and luxury purses.
∞∞Monogram
“You sell bags at a loss,” Cuason
says. “I advise clients to resell only
when the bags they bring to us are
beyond repair, say, a Louis Vuitton
Vernis, which is very difficult to fix.
The reselling price is usually very
cheap.” Cuason typically gets higher-end designer purses, like Chanels,
on consignment, from rich clients.
Aguilar started with mostly
L o u i s Vu i t t o n s , t h e u b i q u i t o u s
Monogramme styles that “everybody
knows.” “If you’re a newbie, that’s
what you want, something easily
recognisable,” she notes. After all,
that’s what most women are after,
she says. “They want it known that
they own something designer.”
Her clients then graduate to Pradas and Balenciagas. These days,
Aguilar sells mostly handbags from
Celine, Marni, Alexander Wang,
brands only the in-the-knows are
familiar with.
Aguilar’s clients have different
budgets, including those who want
to pay only in installments. Preowned purses, depending on their
state and condition, can go as low
as 40-per-cent off the price at a
boutique, she says. Sometimes, if
you get lucky, a woman might unload her wares for spare change
when she needs “fast cash”.
“Women have varied reasons for
b uy i n g p r e - o w n e d , ” s h e s a y s .
“These are those who are not too
eager to have it absolutely right
now. They would rather wait. Of
course, there are also those who just
don’t want to pay full price.”
Carla Torres (not her real name)
is one such buyer. A top human
resources executive for a big company, she likes to buy pre-owned
bags for the cheap.
“I think that’s the motivation: the
brand and the feeling that you got
it cheaper,” she says. One time, she
purchased a used Prada purse for
only 4,000 pesos (US$98); restoration cost her more at 5,000 pesos
($123). But for her, it was a steal
nonetheless. While Torres doesn’t
sell her bags, she likes to hunt for
good bargains. She belongs to a
close network of women who pass
their purses around.
∞∞Paradox
It’s paradoxical, in fact, these
women’s desire to own a so-called
status symbol: They want something that people can easily recognise yet they don’t want what everybody else is carrying. Hence the
desire to upgrade.
“You know what, it has become a
venue for bonding for my friends
and me,” says Torres. “A lot of them
go to the stores to check the retail
Most first-time luxury bag buyers
want an easily recognisable brand,
like a Louis Vuitton.
Some women would starve to
own a ‘status symbol’ like
this Louis Vuitton.
Newbie collectors go for logos,
like this hobo style by Gucci.
prices. Some are always online. We
compare.”
Aguilar’s cousin-in-law in the
province, for instance, had told her
about a woman who comes in to
their office to sell “entr y-level”
purses—Tor y Burch, Kate Spade,
Coach—on an installment basis. Her
in-law works in a bank.
Politicians as well as office workers count among Roe Quiambao
Dillera’s clients. She sells purses via
her Facebook page called The Duchess of Luxury.
Dillera’s “backyard industry”, as
she calls it, has proved so lucrative
that she had left her corporate job,
the same job that brought her on
quarterly trips to Japan and introduced her to the world of “preloved” bags, parlance for things
secondhand or pre-owned.
“I think these became popular
when ordinary women started seeing actresses like Ruffa Gutierrez
and Gretchen Barretto c arr y ing
them,” Dillera says. “Before people
only knew Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Now everybody wants a Celine.
When I post a Celine online, it’s
gone in half a day.”
∞∞Meticulous
Mothers now also buy luxur y
purses as gifts for their teen daughters, says Dillera. “They put down
‘reservation’ money,” she adds. Dill e ra s e l l s b o t h b ra n d - n e w a n d
When buyers have had their
fill of logos, they graduate
to brands like Prada.
Photos provide d to Inquire r
A Celine luggage, one of the most
in-demand styles of late,
according to online bag resellers.
secondhand from suppliers abroad.
Filipino women, she says, are quite
meticulous, demanding that their
purses come in their original boxes,
dust bags and authenticity cards—
often with the intent of reselling at
a later time.
Dillera admits she doesn’t pay
taxes for her business. “I don’t have
a [physical] store, and even my
customers don’t demand for a receipt. I also have resellers under me.
They don’t want to be charged the
12 per cent [VAT].” Most online
vendors don’t pay taxes, she claims.
“On Multiply, there are a lot who
sell items that are even more expensive.” She has been in business for
2 1/2 years.
These women are bemused at the
lengths other women would go to
own a luxury handbag.
∞∞Scrimp and starve
“I know women who travel but
scrimp on food so they have money for shopping,” says Aguilar. In
her circle, Torres tells of women
who practically starve, subsisting
on crackers, just to save up for a
purse.
These are no different from reported tales of women from other
Asian cities who live on ramen
noodles for weeks to save up for
that purse.
“I have a friend who only had
water and bread for a month so she
Kate Spade considered an
‘entry-level’ brand by resellers.
could buy two bags, a YSL and a
Givenchy,” says Torres. “She would
go out with friends for coffee and
she wouldn’t order food. She’s a
mom with other responsibilities.”
In Japan, says Dillera, she heard
tales of young women who would
have three boyfriends, ask each
boyfriend to buy her the same style
of bag, keep one, and sell the other
two for cash.
A lot of women end up lying to
their husbands, claiming the purses
they bring home are either on loan
or “donated” by a friend. Some
husbands act panicked when they
see Dillera. “But I tell them, you
buy gadgets, and in months those
gadgets’ value drop quicker than
these bags.”
Torres likes to suspend her judgement. To each her own, she says.
“ T hose are choices we make.
Some think of it as an investment,
better than shoes or furniture. Bags
don’t get worn and scuffed like
shoes, so they’re easier to sell. And
you can carry bags [to show off ]
unlike furniture, that’s what some
say.”
Ultimately, it’s an addiction, Torres admits, one that needs to be fed
and sustained.
“You raise the bar,” says Torres.
“It’s no longer just about wanting
to own a red or a green bag. Once
it’s gets posted on Facebook, trust
me, it’s gone in 10 minutes.”
• 29
By Midori Yamamura
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Colourful
& Bold
Fashionistas get a blast from the past
with vintage kimono
❖❖ Tokyo
V
intage kimono have a unique character
that’s missing from modern fashion.
Fresh, bold patterns and vivid colours
catch the eyes of fashionistas who are
looking to try something a little out of
the ordinary.
Vintage kimono, known in Japan as antique kimono, were made during the Taisho (1912-1926) and
early Showa (1926-1989) eras. At the time, the trend
was to wear vivid, flamboyant kimono that often
featured designs of plants, f lowers, birds and
polka dots. When modern-looking “fruit parlour”
dessert shops began opening on every street corner,
kimono patterns became even more diverse with
designs such as apples and grapes on plates.
Today, there are a number of vintage kimono
specialty shops that rent or sell traditional Japanese
clothes for less than 20,000 yen. In 2003, kimono
stylist Rafu Ono opened one such shop, called
Ponia-pon, in the Nezu district in Bunkyo Ward,
Tokyo.
“Antique kimono developed when Western clothing became the preferred fashion of choice over
Japanese clothing,” Ono said. “I imagine antique
kimono were made as a statement against that
trend.”
Ono, a lecturer and stylist for magazine photo
shoots and exhibitions, offered a few tips on choosing the right kimono.
30 •
“For starters, look at as many kimono as possible until
you start noticing your favourite patterns,” she said.
One tip is to consider seasonal items when choosing
a kimono. For example, plum blossoms and camellia
are good motifs for the winter season.
However, the real challenge is finding an appropriate
obi to match the bold patterns of vintage kimono.
“Don’t put too much on following colour coordination rules for Western clothing or modern kimono.
You’ll find that you’re often advised to pair solids with
patterned cloth,” Ono said.
Instead, she suggests trying an obi with the same
type of seasonal flower or pairing a kimono with a
running water motif with a fish-patterned obi.
“Make a ‘story’ when coordinating kimono and obi.
That’s one idea,” she said.
For novice kimono wearers, Ono recommends a set
of vintage obi and simply patterned kimono, with
motifs such as tsumugi (pongee). If you’re lucky, you
might find such kimono hiding at the bottom of a
drawer at home.
“A wide selection of obi will give a new look to the
kimono in your wardrobe,” she said.
For hair, a simple style is best when wearing antique
kimono.
“Instead of an elaborate, formal hairstyle, an easy,
simple updo will suffice,” she said.
Hair accessories are another option. For example, for
a chic kimono, find an elegant hair accessory to go
along with it.
For footwear, Ono recommends matching like with
like. “A pair of dark tabi socks should go with zori
sandals with darkly coloured straps to bring unity to
your outfit,” she said.
For patterned tabi, Ono recommends small, noncoloured prints that can be worn with any type of
kimono.
However, there are a few things to look out for when
purchasing vintage kimono.
Women back then were of a smaller build, meaning
kimono sleeves tend to be shorter. In kimono terminology, the length from the back of the neck to the wrist
is referred to as yuki. When Ono measures the yuki
of her customers, she has them spread out their arms
before lowering them by about 10 degrees.
A 160-centimetre-tall woman, for example, needs a
yuki of about 63 centimetres.
“Try them on and get the advice of a clerk before
purchasing,” she said.
It’s also important to check the condition of the
fabric and look for frays, ravels and spots. Ironing the
kimono with steam can help get rid of any smells.
“You can express your style with antique kimono
just as easily as with Western clothing. Take a look at
how clerks wear their kimono and then find your own
way to wear them elegantly,” Ono said.
• 31
ENTERTAINMENT
By Jean Oh
The Korea Herald
Level 7 Civil Servant (working title), the
drama remake of the film 7th Grade Civil
Servant (right), nabbed top viewer
ratings when its second episode aired.
The series, starring Choi Gang-hee (left)
and Joo Won, has been riding high since.
The trend is reversing
from small to big
screen, as some of
Korea’s beloved hit
films are brought to
television
❖❖ Seoul
I
f there was a notable TV drama trend this year, it
would be the remake.
The start of 2013 has already seen three adaptations
of original works hit the small screen, including SBS’
comic book-based Queen of Ambition.
That is just the beginning. A slew of remakes are in
the pipeline, ranging from revivals of old television
series to comic book-based dramas to sequels and spinoffs of previous shows.
Joining this year’s mix are a few f lick-turned-TV
deals, something that, until now, has been more of a
small screen rarity.
While viewers have had their fill of comic book-based
dramas, and, when the Internet became another conduit
for the genre with webtoon-inspired series, audiences
have not been given the chance to surfeit themselves
on the movie-to-drama genre.
This year marks a change in that trend, with two
drama remakes of movies in the lineup.
Add to that another unintentionally like-minded
32 •
H ari mao Pictu res
Feels Like You’ve
Seen It Before?
remake, a work based on a Japanese TV series previously remade into a Korean movie, for a total of three.
Of even more interest is the fact that these are not
just any movies. Two of them were huge hits.
What films are we talking about?
The movies in question are the spy caper 7th Grade
Civil Servant, Jun Ji-hyun’s iconic My Sassy Girl and Moon
Geun-young’s sobfest Love Me Not.
7th Grade Civil Servant drew in over 4 million viewers
when it was released in 2009. The comedic take on the
classic secret agent genre and the chemistry between
the leads Kim Ha-neul and Kang Ji-hwan proved a
winning silver screen combination.
My Sassy Girl was a massive success in 2001, so much
so that American and Chinese film versions of the flick
were subsequently released.
On the other hand, Love Me Not failed to make a
major splash in the box office, which may have viewers wondering whether a drama version will fare better.
Nevertheless, all three films boast a certain degree
(some more than others) of recognition among local
audiences.
Apple Tre e Pict ure s
Why, then, would a promovie attracted 4.87 milduction company take the
lion v ie wers and was
risk of drawing from higheven remade for the US
profile material? Well, it
and Chinese markets.
turns out that k ind of
RaemongRaein planpopularity can rub off in a
n i n g t e a m h e a d Yu n
good way.
Hee-kyoung agrees that
Take 7th Grade Civil Servthere “is pressure beant, for instance. Apple
cause the film was so
Tree Pictures, the company
popular. However, beco-producing the movie’s
cause it was so well redrama version, felt adaptceived, we decided that
ing a box office hit into a
the content of the origiTV series was well worth
n a l p oss e ss e d e n o ug h
7th Grade Civil Servant, starring Kim Ha-neul (left) and Kang
the risk.
v i e w e r a p p e a l ” , Yu n
Ji-hwan, drew over 4 million viewers when released in 2009.
Apple Tree Pictures CEO
wrote via email.
Yoon Shin-ae broke down
A 16-episode drama
the reasoning behind revisiting a successful original.
version of My Sassy Girl is slated to air in the second
“ The reason why people do remakes is probably half of 2013.
because the works are tried-and-tested and because one
According to Yun, the plot of movie has proven
can get a sneak peek at how the tone of a remake will difficult to translate into a miniseries format.
play out,” Yoon said over the phone.
“We are going to try to maintain the charms of the
“There are pros and cons to remakes, but because original characters while taking the story in a new
the original works are so well known, that is a major and different direction,” Yun said.
plus for us. If we just take that familiar code and twist
On why 2013 seems to be the year for remakes, Yun
it a little, twist it well, then there are always good said, “When you tune into a work that is based on
results,” Yoon added.
an original, it feels familiar and friendly, but it also
Yoon said one of the reasons why Apple Tree Pictures gives rise to expectations as to how it will be new
was willing to take a leap of faith with 7th Grade Civil and different. Watching a proven hit revamped in a
Servant was because the original film’s scriptwriter Chun new style is, I believe, very attractive to viewers.”
Seung-il would be on board.
What happens when you take an original that did
“We thought that not just anyone could write char- not perform well when it was remade into a movie
acters like that,” Yoon explained.
for Korean audiences?
In Yoon’s opinion, a good remake begins with the
That is the enigma of one of the most anticipated
original.
dramas of the year.
Yoon explained that 7th Grade Civil Servant was not just
Technically, SBS’ Baramibunda is based on the Japayour standard spy fodder. It was unique in that it took nese TV series Forget Love that aired on TBS in 2002.
a lighthearted and comedic approach to an age-old
Nevertheless, the upcoming series will likely be
genre.
compared to the Korean film version, which failed to
Once a work with a strong foundation that sets it become a box office success when released in 2006.
apart from the crowd was selected, the second challenge
Despite the less-than-desirable track record of its
was to avoid regurgitating the original and boring view- film predecessor, the buzz surrounding the series has
ers. A well-thought out twist was needed.
been at fever pitch, partly because it is actor Zo InWith 7th Grade Civil Servant, the drama version would sung’s first drama since he completed military service
focus on how the two leads became secret agents, a and also because his co-star is Full House actress Song
subject that was not addressed in the movie.
Hye-kyo.
The approach worked. When the drama, Level 7
The fact that high-profile scriptwriter Noh HeeCivil Servant (working title), aired its second episode on kyung is penning the upcoming series is also heightJanuary 24, the series, which features actress Choi ening the anticipation for the drama which started
Gang-hee and actor Joo Won, nabbed top viewer rat- airing last week.
ings. Level 7 Civil Servant has been riding high ever since.
Noh is famed for putting out compelling works like
Naturally, this is the scenario that any producer KBS’ Worlds Within. Yet, despite her widely acknowlwould hope for.
edged scriptwriting prowess, viewer ratings of the last
For production company RaemongRaein, which is two feature-length dramas she scripted were less than
planning the drama version of the movie My Sassy Girl, stellar.
matching the success of the original might prove a tall
With the airing of Baramibunda, it will be interesting
order.
to note if the star power and talent of Song, Zo and
When Jun Ji-hyun charmed audiences with her Noh will be enough to overshadow the previous, less
quirky antics in the rom-com over a decade ago, the successful Korean remake of the Japanese original.
• 33
LIFE
By Prateebha Tuladhar
The Kathmandu Post
The Women
In
in Blue
The Chorepatan Police Station in the city of Pokhara in western
Nepal is a model station in the country’s context, manned as it
is by a force of all-women officers
❖❖ Pokhara
“S
ir will be here in a
few minutes,” subi n s p e c t o r P a r va t i
Nepali tells you
when you ask for the
head of the Chorepatan Police Station in the city of Pokhara in Nepal’s west, who is currently out on
patrol duty.
You wait in the office, looking
over the certificates of appreciation and the awards. On the table
stands the national flag alongside
the Nepal Police flag, and in the
centre, a wooden plaque that reads
‘Inspector Sushila Pradhan’. And
after a short wait, ‘Sir’ walks in.
“It would’ve been all right if they
called me ‘Ma’am’, but in the force,
women have always been
34 •
addressed as ‘Sir’, which I guess is
m e a n t t o i n d i c a t e t h a t we ’ r e
equals,” smiles Inspector Pradhan,
who stands a couple of inches
above five feet in her blue Nepal
Police uniform, topped with
maroon cap. Seven years ago, when
Pradhan had expressed interest in
becoming a police off icer, her
brother, Inspector Nabin Pradhan,
had told her it was going to be an
uphill task.
But lured by what she calls a
‘clean service’ in the force, she’d
gone ahead with her decision.
T h e 2 7- y e a r - o l d h a d b e e n
working at the police headquarters
in Kathmandu until eight months
ago, when she was posted to the
C h o re pa t a n Po l i ce St a t i o n i n
Pokhara—a model station run by
women officers. A few blocks away
from the entrance to the city’s
famous Devi’s Fall, the station is
located along the highway, on the
border of the Kaski and Syangja
districts.
The concept of an all-women
police station was pioneered some
three years ago by the deputy inspector general of Nepal Police,
Upendra Kanta Aryal, a concept
that many had rubbished at first.
But once the headquarters gave the
green signal, the idea gained support, and the Chorepatan Police
station was established.
“I thought if there was a police
station that was run by women, it
would give the message that female
officers can independently tackle
all kinds of crime. I thought it
would be a great way to empower
women in the force,” says Aryal.
Prate e bha Tula dha r
A typical day for the 25 women at
the station begins with some cleaning up, followed by physical training. “It’s a barrack, but it still feels
like home because we’re all women
here, like a family,” says Pradhan.
The station is also equipped with
a day care centre that not only looks
after the staff ’s children but also
those who have been rescued.
Sometimes, orphans are taken in
too. “A model station of this nature
needs to have the kind of physical
infrastructure that supports women,
and the centre is an example of
this,” says Aryal.
There are over 60,000 police personnel in Nepal, out of which 3,457
are women. In August 2012, the
government said it was preparing to
create 1,035 more vacancies for
women in the force to deploy them
on cases of violence against women.
“When it comes to issues like gendered violence, female personnel
can deal with these better. Women
understand women’s pain,” says
Pradhan. She adds that policewomen are given trainings periodically on counselling victims and
perpetrators of domestic violence.
The number of women officers
has been increasing since the Nepali
government introduced the 20 perFebruary 22-March 7, 2013
cent reservation for females in the
force. Even so, most continue to
serve in lower positions, while many
operate in the technical and engineering departments, or in nursing.
Only two women—Parvati Thapa
Magar and Bimala Sharma—have
made it to the position of deputy
inspector general.
“More women join the force now,
and the status of women in the
service has definitely improved,”
says Nepali. “The government has
also raised the bar in terms of academic qualification for recruitment, so there are a lot more educated applicants
coming in now.”
But it isn’t enough,
Sushila
argues Pradhan.
Pradhan
“If the government
really wants to encourage women, it should
offer them more opportunities. In-charge positions are still only given
to men. Women need to
be granted command
at mixed-gendered
stations; setting up allwomen stations is not
enough,” she says.
One of the biggest problems faced
by the women at the Chorepatan
station has to do with cases that
necessitate dealing with men who
are physically stronger. Then there
have been times when they have had
to drag men in and out of toilets,
which has put them in an uncomfortable position. “The headquarters
decided to post some male constables here last month to help out with
these kinds of situations,” says Nepali.
The station deals with a number
of accidents, cases of theft, domestic
violence, gang fights and drug abuse,
and the staff is constantly pulled in
various directions. “Last month, we
had to pursue some men involved in
a gang fight using khukuris and
talwaars (traditional weapons) close
to midnight,” describes Pradhan.
“We drove for an hour, then walked
a couple of hours uphill, before
chasing the men. The locals actually
hid them that night and we managed
to arrest them only a couple of days
later.”
But there are greater challenges
for the women officers than the
physical. Although these women are
in a profession where they rub shoulders with men, they are simply not
seen as equals.
Pradhan recalls a case where a boy
had drowned in a swimming pool
and the force was trying to remove
the body for autopsy. “The boy’s
mother lay herself down in front of
our vehicle and refused to let us take
him,” she explains. “She said I was
just a woman and I had no right to
exercise my power as a member of
the police.”
Some have had it even worse.
“A man actually stopped his car in
front of the station once and asked
one of my colleagues on duty to go
with him, calling her a ‘whore’. It’s a
term that gets flung at us by people
often,” says Nepali. They eventually
arrested the man and charged him
under the Public Offence Act, after
which he was detained for two
months.
Being located in a village where
literacy levels are low makes their
task more challenging, the women
officers believe.
“We work as hard as our male
counterparts, but the fact that
we’re women means we have to
work even harder to convince people of our credibility,” says Shanta
Chettri, a traff ic policewoman
stationed at Chorepatan for the last
two years. “We can’t have them
thinking we’re weak.”
• 35
TRAVEL
By Karamjit Kaur
The Straits Times
Travellers put up with
delays and disruptions,
understanding that
these are sometimes
beyond the control of
an airline, especially a
low-cost one
AFP
No-frills, No Standards?
❖❖ Singapore
O
ver the last decade, there have been repeated calls from frustrated travellers for
regulation in the low-cost carrier business.
Scooting off on a holiday was no fun for
thousands of travellers stranded at Changi
and other airports in recent weeks.
On January 19, frustrated travellers booked on Scoot
kicked up such a fuss that police had to step in.
A faulty emergency slide had meant that seats near
the exit of the Singapore Airlines-owned long-haul
budget carrier had to be left vacant. It took seven hours
before 23 volunteers stepped forward to give up their
seats.
Two weeks later, a problem with a fuel tank led to
a group of more than 400 Singapore- Qingdao-Shenyang
travellers waiting for 15 hours for their flight to take
off.
With just four planes and a tight schedule, each
delay had a knock-on effect. It took days for Scoot to
recover fully. By then, as many as 20 arrivals and departures were late.
Asked to comment on the disruptions, Scoot reiterated that travellers on budget carriers pay low fares so
they should not expect meals and accommodation when
flights are disrupted.
The terms and conditions which customers must
acknowledge they have read and accepted before making their purchase are clear, the airline said. Inconvenienced passengers really should have bought insurance,
it added.
36 •
In the end, it was Changi Airport Group—the airport,
not the airline—that gave out blankets and meal vouchers to passengers stranded overnight in some cases. The
only compensation Scoot offered was a S$50 travel
voucher to offset against the next new Scoot booking.
The lengthy disruptions reignited debate on whether there should be a set of rules to ensure that airlines
meet minimum operational and service standards, with
penalties imposed if they don’t.
Over the last decade, there have been repeated calls
from frustrated travellers for regulation in the low-cost
carrier business.
Travellers put up with delays and disruptions, understanding that these are sometimes beyond the control of an airline, especially a low-cost one.
But what if services promised are not delivered?
Shouldn’t there be a framework for consumers to be
compensated?
Another common complaint is that budget carriers
take ages to process refunds and reply to e-mails.
One can argue that expecting quick responses and
refunds are “extras” in customer service for tightly run,
margin-obsessed carriers. But some basic level of customer service must surely be maintained. Like being
informed of likely delays, and getting regular updates
so they are not left hanging around at the airport not
knowing what to expect next. For long delays, food
and drinks are essentials.
Airlines should also deploy staff to manage upset
travellers instead of leaving it to airport staff or ground
handlers to deal with the mess.
Yet the authorities here have shied away from wielding the stick to mandate basic standards of customer
service.
The official view is that in an intensely competitive
industry like the airline business, market forces should
suffice to motivate airlines to serve their customers well.
It is self-correcting. If service sucks, customers will
vote with their feet and switch to another airline. According to this school of thought, regulating airlines
and imposing minimum service standards could drive
fares up, and not be good for consumers.
Better protection elsewhere
In mature markets like Europe, Australia and New
Zealand where consumer laws are strict, travellers are
better protected.
Within the European Union, for example, a traveller
is entitled to compensation which includes cash of up
to 600 euros (US$807) when flights are disrupted. Airlines must also provide accommodation when there are
overnight delays.
In Asia, regulation is more scarce but things are
changing.
In the Philippines, a law has just been passed to hold
airlines accountable for operational and service lapses.
Indonesian authorities are also contemplating a similar
approach.
Passengers’ wish list
In a competitive industry where profit margins are
thin, it is not in Singapore’s interest to go the EU way.
There, any disruption—whether it is the airline’s fault
or an act of God—is treated the same.
Excessive regulation with heavy penalties could end
up backfiring if it drives carriers away and reduces
Singapore’s competitiveness as a premier air hub.
Doling out cash for delays is not recommended either, unless it is to refund passengers who cancel their
flights. Deciding how much to give, whether more if
it is the airline’s fault or less if not, can also be a
complicated and messy affair.
But there should, at the very least, be clear guidelines
on what travellers can expect when there are service
disruptions.
Beyond a certain delay period, meal and drink
vouchers must be provided. If the delay is overnight,
the least carriers must do is offer blankets to those
stranded.
Where possible, senior citizens and families with
young children should be provided with hotel rooms.
Staff must also be on the ground to manage disgruntled
travellers and provide regular updates.
Instead of leaving it to the airlines, common guidelines should also be set on the maximum delay tolerable before a traveller can demand a refund. And there
should be guidelines on how long he should have to
wait before getting his money back.
Regulation need not be limited to just managing flight
disruptions. It can go one step further to include
regular tracking of airline performance.
What proportion of flights depart and land on time?
What is the airline’s response time to consumer calls
and feedback?
For the stick to work, the Civil Aviation Authority
of Singapore, which regulates the industry, and Changi
Airport Group must work together.
If the worry is that over-regulation and hefty fines
may affect the competitiveness of Singapore carriers, a
good middle way to help consumers and punish errant
carriers is to make public information on service
lapses and operational hiccups easily available.
This will keep airlines on their toes and empower
consumers to make the right choices.
Yes, regulation may drive costs up for budget airlines.
But as consumers have shown, they are willing to pay
a bit more for basic service—be it a confirmed seat or
extra baggage allowance.
There is little doubt they will do the same to fly an
airline that they know will take good care of them
when turbulence hits.
• 37
TRAVEL
By Chusri Ngamprasert
The Nation
Massive snow sculptures
depicting Chibi Maruko Chan
always woo the crowds.
Flurries In The Park
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a wonderful sight to behold,
but make sure you are wrapped warmly from top to toe
❖❖ Sapporo
Ch usri Nga mpras e rt/ The Nati o n
S
The winning sculpture from Thailand:
‘The artist from the wild’
38 •
nowflakes shaped like diamonds land gently on
my face as I step outside from the warmth of my
hotel into the cold Sapporo day. Their icy touch
makes me shiver and I quickly pop back inside to grab
another couple of kairo, those wonderful disposal warmer packs so much part of chilly Japanese life, and slip
them inside my boots. I figure that at least my feet won’t
freeze as I take in the sight of snow statues and ice
sculptures in the Sapporo Snow Festival.
Sapporo’s festival got off to rather a humble start. It
was held for the first time in 1950 in the town’s Odori
School kids wait for a chance
to quiz visitors about their
impressions of the festival.
The best way to fight the cold weather is to feast on hot food.
Park and featured only six snow statues made by local
high school students. In 1955, the Japan Self Defence
Force joined in and built the first massive snow sculptures, for which the Snow Festival has now become
famous. Today the event has grown into an annual
snow and ice extravaganza and attracts more than two
million visitors from Japan and around the world.
Around 6,500 five-ton truckloads of snow are transported from locations in and around Sapporo for these
beautiful sculptures. This year, the gleaming white
snow has come from Takino and Satozuka cemetery
parks, Sapporo Satoland, Moerenuma Park and Ishikari Bay New Port.
The main festival site is still Odori Park, which
stretches from east to west through the centre of downtown Sapporo. Around 131 snow sculptures line the
entire 1.5-kilometre length of the park and tourists are
crowding around the main attractions, the gigantic
sculptures depicting Japanese historical landmarks and
famous characters in Japan. This year, the Japanese
historical landmarks are Ise Shrinein, a Shinto shrine
complex in the city of Ise in Mie Prefecture, the Hoheikan, a historical building in Nakajima Park in Sapporo and Kabuki-za in Ginza, the principal Tokyo
theatre for the traditional Kabuki dramas.
I immediately recognise Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok Marble Temple, recreated to mark the 50th anniversary of the Thai royal family’s first visit to Japan in
May of 1963. Another international landmark is the
National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei.
Understandably, the all-time favourite with visitors
is the snow sculpture contest site in International
Square. Here, contestants brave the cold and sculpture
the snow into sophisticated and meaningful statues and
sculptures from morning until night.
Out and about
First time visitors to Japan may raise their eyebrows
or even laugh out loud when they see Japanese of all
ages lining up to take photographs of their favourite
cartoon character snow sculptures, among them Ultraman, Pichachu, Totoro, Peroro, Anpanman and Chibi
Maruko Chan. But blending in with the crowd is a
great way of learning more about these famous cartoon
characters, both foreign and Japanese, and gives you
get an idea of who is who around the park.
The best way to fight the cold weather, apart from
wearing the same kind of clothes that you would don
for a polar crossing, is to feast on hot foods and drinks.
Sapporo is famous for tasty miso ramen, soup curry,
scallops, potatoes and fresh seafood and I don’t hesitate
to stop at a couple of the dozens of food booths offering Hokkaido’s delicacies.
Before long, the wind rises and the snow starts to
falls even more heavily. My face is now entirely numb
yet to my amazement, the park is becoming increasingly more crowded. The powdery snow is covering
ground just like icing on a cake and the branches of
the leafless trees are bending with the weight of the
snow. Some children are trying to catch the f luffy
snowf lakes in their mouths while waiting for their
turns at the Donbei-kun Slide.
Laughter fills the air and smiles are everywhere. The
weeklong snow festival, now in its 64th year, may be
arctic but it sends out warmth to every corner of Sapporo.
If you go
The Snow Festival 2013 has now ended but skiing,
snowboarding and other outdoor activities involving
the white stuff continue until early April.
Always wear good solid boot or snowshoes because
the snow covered ground is slippery. Otherwise buy
“suberi dome” (shoe grips) from convenience store. Simply slip them on the outer part of your shoes so you
can walk more comfortably on the slippery snow. If
you have no idea how to use them, ask the shopkeeper. Prepare small packs of tissue paper since you
will almost certainly may a runny nose because of the
cold weather.
• 39
TRAVEL
By Mary Baines
The Jakarta Post
The steaming Child of Krakatau shows her
moodier side. On one side of the island is
lush, verdant plant and animal life. On the
other, a dead and eerie wasteland of new
lava and dead trees.
Escape to Krakatau
Have a splendid getaway at the base of an
isolated, steam-spitting, active island volcano
❖❖ Krakatau
L
ike castaways, hours away
from any form of civilisation in the abyss of the
Sunda Strait, there we were
—camped at the base of an
isolated, steam-spitting, active island volcano.
Only hours before, we had been
navigating our way through a heaving mass of some 16 million people
in Jakarta. Now, there were just six
of us, alone on Anak Krakatau
(Child of Krakatau), covered in
sticky, black sand, barbequing fresh
fish on an open fire, unable to contact the outside world.
Towering over us was the Child
of Krakatau (also known as
Krakatoa), the emerging son of the
volcano that shook the world in
1883.
Although three islands remained
after the colossal eruption—Rakata,
Sertung and Panjang, it wasn’t until
1930 that Anak rose from beneath
the sea.
The young, volatile volcano now
stands some 1,200 feet above sea
level, reportedly growing about 6.8
metres every year. Often on high
alert, the bolshy teenager has a tendency to spurt hot gases, rocks, lava
and ash.
“Don’t worry,” our guide Epoy
said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Anak is only at the first alert level
today.”
So without hesitation, we made
the uninhabited island volcano our
40 •
home for the weekend—camping on
one of the nearby islands with volcanic activity seen only from a
distance didn’t seem nearly as exciting.
Getting there
To get to Krakatau, we had taken
a three-hour pot-holed and trafficj a m m e d d r iv e f r o m Ja k a r t a t o
Carita Beach, West Java. From there,
we were taken on a speedboat,
“very safe, with radio”. An hourand-a-half l ater the remains of
Krakatau emerged on the horizon.
My s e l f a n d t w o o t h e r s we r e
joined by Epoy, our captain Warta,
and boat mechanic Yani, who have
all lived near Carita Beach their
whole lives. The six of us set up
base by Krakatau’s black-sand beach,
dotted with fresh pumice, and began to explore the island.
At sea level, the island is thick
with a lush, pre-historic looking
forest growing in the fertile volc anic soil. While Krakatau was
completely sterilised by the 1883
explosion and Anak only emerged
in 1930, it is now home to more
than 500 species of plant and animal
life. There are butterf lies, birds,
land molluscs, insects, spiders, bats
and monitor lizards—one of which
came to greet us at our campsite.
The mini ecosystem is a goldmine
to biologists studying how life can
recover from utter annihilation.
But as we started to climb the
volcano, the landscape soon
The beach at Rakata,
one of the three islands
remaining after the
colossal eruption of
1883, offers splendid
views, and is the best
for snorkelling of the
four islands that make
up Krakatau.
Ma ry Ba ine s/ The Ja ka rta P o st
At the first level of
Anak Krakatau, Epoy
shows the new
red-rock lava created
only three months
earlier. Only minutes
after, a fierce and
heavy rainstorm
moved in and we had
to make our way
down the volcano.
Boat captain Warta cooks fresh Travelli
caught that afternoon on a handmade
barbecue at the camp on Anak Krakatau.
descended into what looked like a
nuclear wasteland—dead trees, hot
ash and piles of red and white
rocks, eerily uninhabited by
animals.
Clouds of thick smoke escaped
ominously from cracks in rocks and
the smell of sulphur dominated the
air. Some parts were covered in
white ash, making the volcano look
almost like a snow-capped mountain. Epoy told us that he had been
there, watching from Rakata, when
the rock lava had been created only
three months earlier.
It seems appropriate that locals
once saw Krakatau as being like “a
big spirit, like a giant dragon or
kingdom of genies which from the
nose and mouth comes the fire”.
But we’re told that while some
still like to believe in this spiritual
connection, it is a tradition becoming less and less believed by local
youths.
Explore away
As we reached the first level of
Anak Krakatau, a heavy rainstorm
and high, hot winds swept in from
what was before a clear-sky day.
The ground hissed as hard rain hit
the molten rocks, and we were
drenched in less than a minute.
“Not good, not safe,” Epoy said,
leading us hastily back toward our
campsite.
From up there, at the centre of
what was once Krakatau, now on
the rise again and so violently at
times, I understood the aura of terror the volc ano e xuded. I saw
Krakatau’s moodiness firsthand and
realised the potential for disaster it
held.
The 1883 eruption caused fragments of land to collapse into the
sea creating a 40-metre-high tsunami with a blast heard over 4,000
kilometres away. It had an explosive
force 13,000 times the power of the
atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima, changing worldwide weather for several years and killing more
than 36,000 people.
And the young Krakatau, already
showing signs of boiling over, could
well follow in its parent’s footsteps
one day to cause havoc around the
world. But Epoy assured us the next
big one was still 100 years off.
In an attempt to avoid feeling too
philosophical while on holiday, we
decided to see the calmer side of
Krakatau and dabble in a bit of
snorkelling.
We were not disappointed. We
saw clownfish, starfish, sea horses,
flying fish, angelfish and sea slugs
camouflaged in bright gold, orange
and green coral. Thousands of newborn Travelli circled us like we were
prey and the many friendly coral
fish were not afraid to introduce
themselves, happily eating food out
of our hands.
As night fell, we spent the evening drinking Bintang and sitting
around a fire as Epoy, Warta and
Yani prepared dinner. The trio sat
with lights strapped to their heads
as they barbequed fish they had
caught earlier that afternoon, fresh
prawns, rice and water spinach. We
enjoyed dinner while admiring the
eerie, orange glow emanating from
the volcano’s peak with the outlines
of Java and Sumatra in the distance.
Although we slept squished together on thin pieces of foam, my
sleep on Krakatau was the best I
have had in Indonesia—with no
loud street vendors or notorious
Jakarta traffic noise to disturb me.
For us, that was the beauty of the
place—it was the antithesis of the
bustling Jakarta we had left behind,
perfect for a weekend getaway.
• 41
TRAVEL
By Phoowadon Duangmee
The Nation
The Wild Himalayan Cherry
in full bloom.
Love Under The
Cherry Blossoms
Chiang Mai is the hot place to be
in the winter, as the cherry trees
burst into bloom
❖❖ Chiang Mai
O
ften referred to as the
“Rose of the North”, Chiang Mai is indeed famous
for its beautiful roses, which
burst into blossom as the cool
season arrives around November
and continue to offer their fragrant blooms until around February. Less advertised but equally
as beautiful are the many other
flowers the former Lanna capital
is proud to share with its visitors.
Brave the ribbon of high and
often vertiginous roads to the
mountains where the hilltribes
live on small strawberry, flower
and coffee farms and enjoy the
pure beauty of the cherry blossom.
At this time of year, Chiang
Mai’s hilly roads are a breathtaking pageantry of loveliness, as
the Wild Himalayan Cherry is
bursting in bloom. You’ll have to
head up there now though if you
want to witness the splendour—
l i ke a f l a s h i n t h e p a n , t h e
blooms last only brief ly after
they peak.
42 •
The Wild Himalayan Cherry
was introduced more than 10
ye ars to T hail and’s north.
Spreading out from Doi Phu Kha
in Nan to Doi Suthep and Doi
Inthanon ranges in Chiang Mai
province, the cherry trees were
planted on high terrain to improve the land that had been
badly damaged following deforestation. Ten years later, and
Thais are benefiting from their
beauty. Over the last three years,
the cherr y trees have draw n
crowds of flower-lovers, romantic weekenders and small-time
photographers to Chiang Mai to
admire their puffy pink blooms.
Getting there is simple. Take a
budget flight to Chiang Mai over
the weekend, and drive from the
airport into the high ranges.
The first stop is Khun Wang
Royal Agricultural Research Centre about 90 k ilometres from
downtown Chiang Mai. Tucked
away be yond the high range
of Doi Inthanon, the research
centre studies cold-climate and
high-altitude crops including
Arabica coffee, macadamia nuts,
peaches and f lowers before
Phoowadon Duangmee/ The Natio n
There are other
flowers along the way
so snap away.
The cherry trees are a
must-see when in Chiang Mai.
passing on the knowledge to the
hilltribe farmers.
Here, where coffee plants and peach
trees spread out as far as the eye can
see, cherry trees line both sides of the
path, snaking their way through the
research centre. The leaf less trees
explode in pink-and-white blossoms,
reminding even hardened souls of
their first romantic moment. Their
aged, bent and gnarly trunks and
branches make a dramatic contrast
with the young, fragile blossoms, one
∞∞Tips
The cherry blossom season peaks from
now until mid February before fading out in
early March. For the best dose of tranquil
beauty and cherry blossom, rent a car at
Chiang Mai airport and drive into the mountains. The Royal Agricultural Research Centre
can accommodate the visitors in decent cottages, but you have to wait for a long time
for a reservation. Pitching a tent is the best
alternative.
that can only be appreciated by walking beneath the floral canopy.
Yes, walking. Some tourists disgrace
themselves by driving cars through the
canopy and only see the scenery beyond the windshield. Give flowerlovers a break. This is nature, not a
drive-in burger. You don’t have to
write a Haiku on Japanese’s haute art
of cherry blossom gazing but, at least,
have the courtesy to give a tranquil
place some respect.
Hill-tribe village
Another place in full bloom is
Khun Chang Khian, a hill-tribe village
on Doi Suthep.
Within an hour’s drive from downtown Chiang Mai, you’ll be strolling
beneath the feathery canopy of pink
and white cherry blossoms.
Khun Wang Royal Agricultural
Research Centre and Khun Chang
Khian village are about 100 kilometres
apart. Be sure to detour, as you drive
between the two, through other
royal agricultural research centres and
hilltribe villages and admire the terraces of strawberry and colourful
flowers. The scenery is spectacular
and it’s well worth lingering.
• 43
TRAVEL
By Ko Chuk-wun
Asia News Network
The Remains Of The Day
Thailand boasts of 2,800 kilometres of coastline offering
different sunset views
❖❖ Bangkok/Phuket/Koh Samui
A
s one of the world’s
most visited countr y,
Thailand has long been
known for its Buddhist
a r t a n d a rc h i t e c t ure ,
beaches with cr ystal blue water,
elephant trekking through tropical
jungles and streams, floating markets, ladyboy cabaret shows, relaxing Thai massage and even tom yum
kung, the spicy and sour seafood
soup with an exotic flavour of lemongrass.
So forget about the meet-cute in
t r ave l r o m a n t i c - c o m e d i e s . T h e
“Land of Yellow Robes” offers more
than enough for you to eat, pray,
roam and revel. To maximise the
fun with a tight schedule, devote
daytime to exploring and nighttime
to revelry. What results is a refreshing moment for the body and soul.
With more than 2,800 kilometres
of coastline shared between Anda44 •
man Sea and the Gulf of Thailand,
the littoral country also embraces
mountain resorts in the north, thus
hosting sunset views with different
characteristics, be it in metropolitan
Bangkok, the “Pearl of Andaman”
P h u ke t o r c o c o n ut i s l a n d Ko h
Samui.
Little Luxury of serenity
Chao Phraya River runs through
Bangkok, and a river excursion—
entrancing you with views on both
sides—is a must. A view of the
river where one can see the city’s
most famous landmark, the Temple
of Dawn, seems a perfect location
for watching the sunset. However,
it is not easy to find an unhindered
view with tourist boats, the noise
from tuktuks and streetfood stalls
threatening to spoil the tranquility.
The Deck bar at the Arun Residence, which is just five minutes
away from the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is perhaps the best
place where you can avoid the
aforementioned and enjoy a little
luxury of serenity.
Come to the bar around 5:30pm
to secure a riverside table, spend a
hundred-odd baht on a drink and
bathe yourself in soul-soothing
smooth jazz before the sun sinks.
The breeze, the hustle and bustle
of Chao Phraya River and even the
curious faces popping out to catch
a glimpse all become elements to
the sunset glow. The sun is still
like a huge fireball in the west
while in just a few minutes, it dips
like a f laming pink ball finally
melting from the horizon. T he
clouds catch the last red-orange
rays of the setting sun.
T he temple’s image becomes
blurred as night fal ls, but the
remains of the day offer a reason
for you to linger awhile. The bar
is lighted by candles and the illuminated temple on the other
side stands magnificently against
the grey sky as the glow slowly
fades out.
If you’re not exactly a budget
-conscious traveller, have a nice
dinner downstairs before you leave
the residence. On your way to the
pier, savour the spectacular night
view of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha from outside.
Less is more
If you prefer to delay the sunset
pleasure through a little hill trekking, Phromthep Cape, the southern-most point of Phuket, is the
ideal location. Enjoy your sunbathing on Phuket Island’s west coast
by day, or visit the famed SinoPortuguese style architecture in
Phuket Town. You can also take a
day trip to Phi Phi Islands. Enjoy
snorkeling at the coral reefs of Maya
Bay or feed assorted fishes before
kicking off your little adventure on
Phi Phi Islands, and you would
come back before 5pm, just in time
for the sunset in Phuket. Riding a
scooter all the way to the southern
tip of the island is a delightful experience.
Climbing staircases to the viewFebruary 22-March 7, 2013
Buddha’s delight
point at Phromthep Cape is not at
all tiring and holidaymakers can
stop here and enjoy some leisure
time. For those who want a more
“private” spot to admire the sunset,
follow the trail down to the cape’s
promontory. This is a bumpy jungle
trail covered with rocks and weeds.
Prepare for a sweaty journey, but it
will turn out to be rewarding.
Sunset at Phromthep Cape is
nothing like the one in the capital’s
Chao Phraya. From the cape’s promontory, you may spot a loaded ship
p a s s i n g b y o r i f y o u’ r e l u c k y
enough, a lonely fisherman.
There is no music nor mocktail
at Phromthep Cape. All that remains is your exhausted body and
soul waiting to be revived.
Like the oasis at Phromthep Cape,
sunset in Koh Samui is just as enjoyable but with some religious flavour.
Although another sunset viewpoint
is marked on the tourist map, the Big
Buddha in the northeast of the island
is a much better spot.
Like T he Deck bar near Chao
Phraya, the cafés located next to the
entrance of the island’s landmark entertain customers with smooth jazz,
but the music is mixed with bells calling for prayer from the Big Buddha.
The white sand beach lined with coconut trees not faraway is also a feast
for the eyes.
After the golden sun sinks at last
behind the hill on the other side of the
bay, spend some time visiting a nearby
local market, where a variety of tropical fruits stay incredibly fresh and
cheap.
Sunset at the Big Buddha will certainly refresh your body and soul before you set out for one of the wildest
parties on Earth, the full-moon party
on the beach of Koh Phangan, which
is just 30 minutes from Koh Samui if
you take the speed boat.
• 45
DATEBOOK
SEOU L
Michael Lau AR+OY Exhibition
Michael Lau’s art toy collections
are on view in Seoul. Toys as
playthings have long been a bygone
perception. They have become
objects to admire for adults who
treat them as valuable collectibles
on the same level as artwork,
including more than 100,000 fans of
Lau’s art toy collections worldwide.
The Hong Kong-based artist’s
famous toy collections have arrived
in Seoul for the first time amid
much anticipation from local fans.
When: Until April 14
Where: Sejong Centre Exhibition
Hall, Seoul
OSAKA
Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
BANG KO K
Art Of A Princess
Stepping inside the Queen’s Gallery
where her solo show “L’art de Marsi”
is currently on display in Bangkok,
visitors see intricate paintings of
surrealistic fantasy. Her Serene
Highness Thai Princess Marsi
Sukhumbhand lived in Annot in the
south of France for 40 years.
The gallery displays the chronological development of Princess Marsi’s
artwork through four main themes:
rocks and flowers, real and fantastic
animals, architecture, and ornaments.
They date back to her early works in
the 1960s.
The Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
showcases works by the country’s
finest modern artists at the Osaka
Municipal Museum of Art. Visitors
can view paintings, sculpture and
calligraphy from both established
professionals and talented
newcomers.
When: February to March
Info: www.nitten.or.jp/index.
html
H O N G KO N G
Hong Kong Salsa Festival
Whether you’re a natural or have two left feet,
salsa gets everyone up and moving. The Hong
Kong Salsa Festival celebrates the Latino-inspired
rhythms and footwork with a programme of
workshops, shows, parties and the Asian Salsa
Open Competition.
When: Until February 26
Where: Queen’s Gallery, Rajadamnoen Klang Rd, Bangkok
RAJAST HA N
Desert Festival
The golden city of Jaisalmer in
Rajasthan comes alive each year for
the Desert Festival. The event kicks off
with an incredible parade of camels
and locals dressed in fine Rajasthani
mirrored clothes, with accompanying
musicians.
When: February 18 to 24
Info: www.hksalsafestival.com
Acrobatic troupes, puppeteers,
fakirs and jugglers pass through the
massive red sandstone fort before
performing in the desert surrounding
the town. Camel races and polo
matches on camels (a legacy of the
Raj) take place at the Dedansar Polo
Ground.
When: February 23 to 25
Where: Rajasthan, India
46 •
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“If we want sustainable architecture to
be popular, we have to make it look good.”
Building Asia together.
Kenneth Yeang, global Holcim Awards finalist
W hether you’re building or investing in factories, homes, bridges,
schoolhouses or shopping malls we’re the perfect partner to make
your project happen. As the No. 1 supplier of building materials in
Asia we can deliver the right solutions when and where it counts.
Holcim in Asia-Pacific:
Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Caledonia,
New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
www.holcim.com
Out of 6051
submissions in the 3rd International Holcim Awards competition, two from Asia Pacific made it to global final. Left: Mahanama
Ralapanawa, CEO Holcim Malaysia, handing over the finalist certificate 2012 to Kenneth Yeang for the design of a retail and commercial building
in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Right: Isavaret Tamonut and Singh Intrachooto with the finalist certificate 2012 for their project “Urban Farm Urban Barn”
in Bangkok, Thailand. Read more about all winning projects and their design teams at: www.holcimawards.org/apac
Strength. Performance. Passion.

Demand for meat, traditional medicine, high

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