Toxic honey farming is a real cliffhanger

Hunter ... ancient tribe scale mountainside to reach honeycomb

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By JO SAYER

Published: 28th May 2012

AN ANCIENT tribe scale 250ft up a mountain and risk their lives harvesting honey from the world’s largest bee.

The Rai people, from Nepal, fashion ladders out of braided bamboo to access the prized nests of the Himalayan honey bee.

With no safety equipment, the "honey hunters" come under attack from swarms of the insects as they use a long stick to retrieve the honeycomb.

An adult male bee can get up to 3cm long — just smaller than a Cadbury Creme Egg.

Once the climbers locate the nest, the men spend a pain-staking four hours harvesting the honey by hand.

Photographer Eric Tourneret, 47, who followed a group on a rare trip, said: “It is very dangerous work.

Don't look down ... with no safety equipment, the tribe tie their feet to their homemade ladders

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“Many, many people die doing it. The practice is dying out as the bees slowly become extinct.

“It is now just a ceremonial thing as opposed to a day job.

“Even though the honey is probably some of the world’s most expensive, the Rai people refuse to sell it, instead sharing it among the four villages in their area.”

Swarm ... the world's largest bees attack as their nests are prodded

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Despite being one of the most sought after in the world, the honey — called toxic rhododendron — is poisonous thanks to a toxin in the pollen and nector of the rhododendron flowers used to make it.

It can cause agonising cramps if ingested unknowingly.

But the Rai people believe it has therapeutic healing powers, and leave their homes in the Bung valley every spring to brave the cliffs in the search of bees’ nests.

Pain-staking ... the honey takes four hours to harvest by hand

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They prefer not to sell the honey even though it reaches high prices in nearby South Korea.

Using sharpened bamboo poles to slice their way through the honeycomb, the catchers then drop it to the ground for other members to collect.

To prevent them from falling, their feet are tied to the homemade bamboo ladders.

Eric, from Paris, France, added: “I used one to climb up alongside the Rai people and photograph them close up.

Prize ... honeycomb is dropped onto the floor in a basket

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“Despite wobbling a bit, they feel a lot stronger than a normal metal one we use in the west.

“These people are very wise and know how to make nature work in their favour.

“Even though it is a dangerous activity, none of them looked at all fazed by the climb and process, having been taught the skill by their fathers and their grandfathers before them.”

Rare Aston sells for £1.23million

Rare ... Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Santion II Coupe.

Caters

By ANDREW SNELL

Published: 28th May 2012

A RARE Aston Martin has sold for a record £1.23MILLION at auction.

The vintage motor — a DB4GT Zagato Santion II Coupe — was once owned by the manager of rock star Phil Collins, and was just one of 46 cars which went under the hammer.

In total, sales at the specialist Aston Martin auction fetched a whopping £6.5million.

The second highest price was £611,900 for a 1962 DB4 Vantage Convertible.

Other famous Astons which went at the sale included a 1994 Virage Volante soft-top convertible once used by the Prince of Wales .

The royal motor sold for £122,000, having been estimated to sell for £50,000 to £70,000.

And a car once owned by world boxing champion Lennox Lewis — a 1994 Virage Limited Edition Coupe — sold for £18,290.

Pricey - 1994 Virage Limited Edition Coupe once owned by Lennox Lewis

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The auction — which attracted 2,000 people — was the best sale result for auction house Bonhams since it started the events at Aston Martin’s Works facility in Newport Pagnell, Bucks.

James Knight, International MD of Collectors Cars at Bonhams said: “This sale once again shows the steady rise of interest in Aston Martin cars that we have seen since we started these sales here.

“With only four DB4GT Zagato Sanction IIs made, this represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of these fabulous cars, which will become increasingly collectible.”

Sale ... 1985 V8 Vantage

Eden Hazard to join Chelsea

HERE I COME ... Lille forward Eden Hazard has revealed he is on his way to the Premier League

By MARTIN BLACKBURN

Last Updated: 29th May 2012

CHELSEA have won the race to sign Belgian star Eden Hazard in a £32million deal.

The Lille flier, 21, had been a top target for Manchester City and United.

But last night Hazard tweeted: “I’m joining the European champions.”

The capture of Hazard is a clear sign Blues owner Roman Abramovich will continue to pump money in following their glory night in Munich.

City were believed to be in pole position to sign one of the hottest young talents in Europe after watching him several times.

But they went cool on him as they were concerned about his £170,000-a-week wage demands plus the agent’s fee.

Hazard also made it clear he would like to play just off a frontman and City already have title hero Sergio Aguero in that position.

That made it a straight shootout between Chelsea and United — and Hazard has chosen the Blues.

Ramai kakitangan awam tidak mampu miliki rumah sendiri

Cuepacs

MACHANG - Kongres Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja Di Dalam Perkhidmatan Awam (Cuepacs) mendapati kira-kira 60 peratus penjawat awam yang berpendapatan bawah RM3,000 sebulan, terutama di Lembah Klang, tidak mampu memiliki rumah sendiri.

Setiausaha Kewangan Cuepacs, Jaapar Mansor berkata, fenomena itu akan berterusan jika kerajaan tidak mengambil langkah tertentu, termasuk mengurangkan kadar faedah pinjaman dan menaikkan gaji kakitangan awam terbabit.

"Kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan 4 peratus yang dikenakan institusi kewangan ke atas penjawat awam pada masa ini wajar diturunkan kepada 1 peratus," katanya kepada Bernama di sini, semalam.

Beliau tidak menolak kemungkinan penjawat awam yang berpendapatan di bawah RM3,000 sebulan hanya mampu menyewa atau memiliki rumah kos rendah bertaraf Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT).

Jaapar yang juga Pengerusi Cuepacs Selangor berkata, saranan supaya kerajaan menurunkan kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan itu adalah antara tuntutan yang pernah dikemukakan kongres itu kepada kerajaan sebelum ini.

"Walaupun ia bukan merupakan tuntutan utama Cuepacs, namun ia akan terus diperjuangkan oleh penjawat awam melalui kongres itu," katanya .

Kongres itu juga sedang melancarkan gerakan mengesan penjawat awam yang belum memiliki rumah di seluruh negara untuk dijadikan garis panduan untuk tindakan yang akan diambil demi kebajikan anggotanya.

Sementara itu, beliau berkata Cuepacs mahu kerajaan mempercepatkan cadangan penubuhan Suruhanjaya Mengkaji Skim Gaji dan Elaun Penjawat Awam seperti yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri 8 Mac lalu.

Kongres juga akan terus mengadakan gerakan penerangan kepada anggotanya ke seluruh negara mengenai peluang yang dinikmati mereka melalui penambahbaikan Skim Saraan Baru (SSB). – Bernama

Muda di hati

BUKAN BERSANTAI...Walaupun sudah berusia 64 tahun, aktor kelahiran Austria ini perlu sentiasa aktif.

Arnold berpakaian kulit lengkap.

DIA dulu dikenali sebagai “cyborg” masa hadapan yang mempunyai otot seperti besi dan tidak dimamah usia.

Tapi sayangnya, kehidupan di layar perak tidak sama dengan realiti, dan Arnold Schwarzenegger nampaknya sudah seperti seekor silver fox (rubah berbulu perak.

Aktor Terminator itu dilihat menunggang motosikalnya yang mempunyai kereta sisi, ketika keluar bersiar-siar di Santa Monica.

Lengkap berjaket kulit, aktor aksi itu masih terasa muda di hati dan masih belum bersedia untuk bersantai dengan releks menikmati matahari di pantai.

Malah, hanya janggutnya yang berwarna putih itu menunjukkan usia sebenarnya, manakala cermin mata hitam dan helmet ala tenteranya pula membuatkan dia kelihatan lebih “bersahaja” walaupun berusia 64 tahun.

Aktor kelahiran Austria itu tidak menunjukkan tanda-tanda untuk mengurangkan kariernya, sebaliknya beberapa filemnya ditunggu untuk tayangan hingga 2014.

Arnie baru saja selesai penggambaran “The Expendables 2”, dan tidak lama lagi akan dilihat bersama aktor Forest Whitaker di dalam filem Last Stand dan Sylverster Stallone dalam filem “The Tomb.”

Awal bulan ini, ada pengumuman mengatakan dia akan bergandingan bersama direktor David Ayer untuk filem “Ten.”

Ia mengenai kisah anggota elit pasukan pertugas DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) atau Pentadbiran Penguatkuasaan Dadah yang membuat sesuatu di luar operasi biasa dan mencuri berjuta dolar daripada organisasi dadah. -DM

Bilionair cinta alam sekitar

ECLIPSE... Kapal layar terbesar dunia itu dimiliki oleh ahli perniagaan Russia Roman Abramovich, berlabuh di persisiran Antibes, dekat Nice, di selatan Perancis.

BUAT masa ini dia adalah lelaki kesembilan terkaya di Russia dan yang ke 68 dalam senarai lelaki terkaya di dunia dengan kekayaan AS$12.1 bilion (RM38.2 bilion).

Namun begitu, dia menunjukkan sisi mencintai kehijauan apabila dia memandu kereta elektrik kecil Cap d’Antibes, di C�te d’Azur, di selatan Perancis.

• 

  MEMANDU...Roman Abramovich membawa kereta kecil Cap d’Antibes untuk bersiar-siar.

• MEWAH... Harga Eclipse pada asalnya adalah RM1.63 bilion tetapi meningkat hingga hampir RM4.95 bilion kerana hiasan dalam mewah dan sistem keselamatan yang diletakkan di kapal itu.

Roman Abramovich dilihat seronok menikmati matahari sambil memandu kereta kecil elektrik bersiar-siar di bandar itu baru-baru ini.

Lelaki berusia 45 tahun itu kelihatan releks sambil memandu kereta tanpa pintu bersama rakannya.

Pemilik Kelab Bola Sepak Chelsea itu kelihatan sangat bersahaja menayangkan sisinya yang santai sambil mengenakan cermin mata gelap berwarna biru.

Dia turut mengenakan sepasang seluar pendek yang dipadankan dengan baju T polo dan kasut Toms hitam.

Pemandu yang sangat berhati-hati itu mengambil kesempatan atas saiz kereta yang kecil dan meletakkan kenderaan itu antara dua kereta normal lain.

Bapa kepada tujuh anak itu bersiar-siar ke tepi pantai dan membuat satu panggilan sebelum kembali ke kereta dan memandunya pergi.

Kereta kecil itu bukanlah seperti kereta mewah yang biasanya digunakan oleh bilionair itu.

Pada 2004, dia membeli dua kereta limosin Maybach 62 yang dibuat khusus, di mana kedua-duanya kalis bom dan peluru dan dikatakan berharga 1 juta pound (RM4.95 juta).

Abromovich juga memiliki Ferrari FXX berharga AS$2.2 juta (RM6.94 juta), iaitu antara 29 yang hanya dibina untuk perlumbaan dan juga sebuah Bugatti Veyron serta beberapa kereta sport mahal yang lain.

Perbelanjaan terbesarnya setakat ini adalah kapal layar mewah sepanjang 560 kaki yang dinamakan Eclipse.

Kapal itu direka oleh Hermidas Atabeyki dan dibina di Jerman oleh syarikat Blohm dan Voss.

Kapal itu dikatakan berharga 1 bilion pound (RM4.95 bilion) dan mempunyai kolam renang, pad helikopter, ruang disko, kira-kira 30 kabin, kapal selam mini dan juga sistem pertahanan peluru berpandu.

Bilik tidur utama Abramovich dilengkapi dengan perisai dinding, tingkap kalis peluru dan sistem laser untuk menghalang gambar jarak jauh diambil.

Ketika ditempah, harga asalnya adalah sekitar 330 juta pound (RM1.63 bilion) tetapi pada masa ia diserahkan kepadanya, harganya meningkat hingga ke 1 bilion pound (RM4.95 bilion) kerana hiasan dalaman yang mewah dan sistem keselamatannya. - DM

Majestic kingfisher enjoys taking a dip

Feathered feat ... kingfisher swoops on prey

A BEAUTIFUL blue kingfisher dive-bombs straight as an arrow into a lake — and soars majestically back into the air clutching its catch.

Becks’ pay slashed by 2m bucks

Settled in California ... David Beckham

But he still makes £29million

FOOTIE’S David Beckham has taken a wage cut of more than two million dollars — a 40 per cent drop.

It means the LA Galaxy star has been knocked off the top of the US soccer pay league by old pal Thierry Henry, who plays for New York Red Bulls.

Becks, 37, had been on more than £4million ($6.5million) a year.

But he accepted a £2.5million deal after deciding to settle in California with wife Victoria, 38, and their four kids.

However, he gets a cut from Galaxy ticket sales and merchandising. And he still nets £29MILLION a year through ad deals, clothes lines and business interests, according to a Forbes rich list.

Ex-England captain Becks could have earned more by joining Paris Saint-Germain. But he has an £11million mansion in Beverly Hills — and put his sprawling Hertfordshire pad up for sale earlier this year.

David Beckham is pretty in pink

Flamingo pose ... Beckham's boots were the same colour as the pink waterbird

DAVID Beckham famously wore a sarong skirt — and now he’s wearing pink boots.

Perhaps it is no surprise that Becks is favouring female fashion, especially as his wife Victoria is quickly establishing herself as one of the world’s leading fashion designers for women.

Or maybe the pink boots are a nod towards baby daughter Harper Seven. Family man David has the names of all his children stitched onto his boots.

Either way, the colourful footwear made sure all eyes were on the LA Galaxy captain as he warmed up ahead of his team’s game against San Jose Earthquakes.

In the pink ... Beckham's LA Galaxy were recently crowned Major League champions

The match ended in upset as the Earthquakes pulled off a 3-2 victory against the Major League champions.

Beckham’s hot pink boots sadly did not guarantee a red hot performance and it was his foul which gave the Earthquakes the free kick they needed to equalise.

And Golden Balls, 37, was still sporting the dodgy Colonel Sanders-style ’tache and beard which earned a dig from Barack Obama when Galaxy were honoured at the White House last week.

Becks is clearly proud of his face-off with the President.

Hot to trot ... Beckham warms up

He revealed: “Obama said, ‘David, why all the facial hair, man?’ I just laughed it off.

“To even be in the White House was a big honour but to get a little bit of stick off the President was huge.”

Meterai bukti kota Baitul Laham wujud

GAMBAR yang disiarkan dalam laman web Pihak Berkuasa Antikuiti Israel kelmarin menunjukkan meterai kuno yang tertera nama Baitul Laham. - Agensi

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BAITULMUQADDIS - Sepasukan ahli arkeologi Israel menemui sebuah meterai (cop mohor) berusia 2,700 tahun yang tertera perkataan Baitul Laham dalam bahasa Ibrani, kata Pihak Berkuasa Antikuiti Israel kelmarin.

Ia dipercayai bukti terawal kewujudan kota Baitul Laham seperti yang disebut dalam kitab Injil.

Penganut Kristian percaya bahawa Nabi Isa dilahirkan di kota Baitul Laham.

Diperbuat daripada tanah liat, meterai itu ditemui semasa kerja ekskavasi di Kota Nabi Daud, berhampiran Bandar Lama di sini.

Pengarah ekskavasi berkenaan, Eli Shukron berkata, artifak berdiameter 1.5 sentimeter itu dihasilkan antara 700 hingga 800 tahun Sebelum Masihi ketika raja-raja Yahudi memerintah kerajaan Judah atau 700 tahun sebelum kelahiran Nabi Isa. - Agensi

Interesting web : www.gepp.my/epages.