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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

City looks at widening Pattaya Beach

City to help manage Utapao Airport

Elderly residents register for special pension

Haunted rail crossing causes a nuisance

Python rescued from bar ceiling

Seminar held to help boost Nile perch export

HIV research team seeks volunteers

City plans new monorail

New tourist police chief starts work

Angry villagers protest beach quarry

Fire destroys Sattahip house

Walking Street urchins causing headaches

Five held for selling fake luxury goods

Pattaya music fest ready to rock

New public health volunteers ready

School donates to YWCA

Likae struggles in life’s play


City looks at widening Pattaya Beach

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Pattaya administrators have formed a beach renovation committee to research the reclamation of land that could see the widening of Pattaya Beach by at least 50 meters.
On March 2 at city hall, Mayor Itthipol Khunplome chaired a meeting attended by Pichet Uthaivatananon, director of the Public Works Office, Dr Terdkiat Sakkamduang, advisor to the mayor, and city councilors. Those at the meeting agreed unanimously to set up a committee to review beach reclamation.

Pichet Uthaivatananon, director of the Pattaya Public Works Office.
Mayor Itthipol said that this consultation on beach landscape had the purpose of gathering proposals and ideas to modify the environment and scenery to make the beach area better for the public, including increasing recreational spaces, especially for the disabled, children and the elderly.
“Our city is an important tourism town and needs to be continuously developed, especially the beachfront. This is the main selling point and the beach is currently narrower due to it being seriously washed away. This might affect tourism if it is left the way it is,” he warned.
The Marine Department, Marine and Coastal Resources Department, and Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning have been tasked with studying this issue and submitting a report for a future decision.
Public works director Pichet reported that Pattaya Beach is 3 km long and 10-20 meters wide. It has significantly been washed away due to geographical changes and if it is left the way it is the beach will continue to narrow.
The issue of the reclamation of land began when the government commissioned the Jaiga Company from Japan in 1990 to study this.
Nine projects to develop Pattaya tourism were also proposed to use a budget of more than 3.6 billion baht. These consisted of constructing a pier, a wastewater treatment system and included the reclamation of beach land using a 666 million baht budget.
But the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning disagreed with the proposal and stated that the beach did not have a problem with being washed away and the project was halted.
Instead the Public Works and City Planning Department was ordered to study beach erosion during a period of three years. They did, and concluded that there was not an erosion problem.
However, Pichet said that more geographical changes have occurred causing several rai of the beach being washed away.
Therefore it is appropriate to review and study the reclamation of beach land again. The city studied this and found that sand can be transported from the Rayong area by sea to replace what was washed away if need be, he said.
That operation can be divided into five phases, and will increase the size of Pattaya Beach by no less than 50 meters.
Pichet also suggested the review of other development projects, such as the South Pattaya Road project.
For that city had hired a consultant company using a budget of more than 10 million baht to come up with a development plan for constructing an elevated expressway 40 meters wide running a distance of 2.7 km to the Bali Hai Pier to improve the flow of traffic.
But the government withdrew the project during the controversy about demolishing the 101 allegedly trespassing buildings on Walking Street.
Pichet suggested that the project needed to be reviewed again.


City to help manage Utapao Airport

Rear-Admiral Surapong Ayasanond, deputy director of Utapao Airport, explains proposed modifications to Mayor Itthipol Khunplome and city administrators.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City administrators recently discussed with Utapao Airport board members the possibility of the city becoming more involved in funding the planned upgrade and management of the airport. The view being taken is that of using the facility as a gateway for tourists coming to the city.
On March 3 Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, city administrators and councilors traveled to meet the director of Utapao International Airport, Rear Admiral Sophon Bunchom, and his officers.
The parties discussed the airport’s upgrading that followed its brief but crucial role recently as the area’s only operating international airport when political protests closed Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.
The meeting focused on improving the airport’s surroundings, expanding the approach road from two to four lanes and erecting a billboard in front of the airport entrance.
Admiral Sopon said the mayor and city councilors were invited to join in the funding and managing the airport’s development and to propose changing the airport’s name to Utapao-Pattaya.
Pattaya officials were asked to appoint a manager for the airport and to help advertise through the mass media.
The Royal Thai Navy has already proposed a 995-million baht budget to the government for constructing a new passenger hall to double the size of the existing one, improving the runway, purchasing a security X-ray machine, and providing a fuel depot and fire engines. This is to be completed between 2010-2012.


Elderly residents register for special pension

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
On registration opening day, some 1000 elderly residents of Pattaya put their names down for the new government pension payment of 500 baht a month. The handouts will last for six months, starting in April and continuing to September this year.

Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn helps senior citizens register for their special pension.

On February 26 at Pattaya City Hall, the Social Benefit Center was open for registration of eligible senior citizens, according to new government policy.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn was on hand to help with the registration, and with many other officers supported the many elderly people who came.
Wutisak said that the government had urgent policy to give this pension to senior citizens to help maintain their standard of living in current tough economic times.
Criteria for receiving the pension are: 1. Aged 60 years and over from March 30 2009 (born before April 1, 1949) and a Thai citizen. 2. Have a house registration within the municipal district. 3. Not receiving benefits from other state agencies. 4. Hold no official government ranks.
Wutisak said that the 30 communities in Pattaya had been given the information and eligible applicants can produce documents for registration from February 26 until March 15 at the Social Benefit Center at city hall daily from 8.30 - 4 p.m.
Information can be obtained from the phone number 038 253-261. After registration, listed names will be posted in public on March 26 to make sure that eligible people have not been missed.


Haunted rail crossing causes a nuisance

A malfunction in this railroad crossing gate and warning signal has locals thinking it must be haunted.

Patcharapol Panrak
At a rail crossing in Ban Huaytoo Village (Nernsamakkee) in Sattahip where there had been many accidental fatalities, spooked villagers have been seeing the train traffic light signal and gate operating by themselves when no trains came.
The repairman sent to fix it gave up in disgust and boredom because the crossing would work normally when he was there, only for him to be called back again repeatedly later when the crossing again closed off traffic at its whim.
Local residents are left with no other explanation than that the crossing is haunted.
Nothing would happen when the repair technician was on duty, sitting there waiting. But when he had left the signal would turn red and the gate came down to block the road, sometimes for the entire day.
On March 2, Wilai Prachongsilp, 34, and former village head of Village No. 3 in Bangsarae, said that residents trying to cross the rail tracks to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Najomtien were stopped by the stuck automatic train light signal.
Sure enough on that day, the bar was down to close off the road and the warning signal was sounding all the time.
Vehicles had stopped and motorbikes, cars and trucks were trying to back out to take another route, causing a huge jam. Pedestrians were checking left and right before crossing not sure whether the signal was lying to them or not.
Wilai said if whatever it is at the crossing is ever rectified, some residents may still ignore its warning out of habit and cross so more accidents are likely to happen.


Python rescued from bar ceiling

Rescuers show off the snake as tourists scramble
 to have their photo taken with it.

Boonlua Chatree
A foreigner may have thought that he found a good drink when he looked up to see a five-meter-long python hanging down from the ceiling above the bar.
A bar girl rushed out screaming, not to escape from the snake but to buy a lottery ticket or two with the numbers that she thought she saw on its skin markings.
About 3.50 a.m. on February 27, the Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan Foundation received a call to capture a python from the Kevin beer bar in Soi Buakhao.
In a four-storey-high commercial building connected to other buildings, a big python weighing more than 20 kilograms was found above the ceiling, causing understandable consternation among the customers.
It was difficult to capture the snake since the area was very tight. The snake attempted to flee through roof tiles. Rescuers had to break open the roofing to see the snake, which took almost an hour to catch.
Seven men carried the snake out onto the road while onlookers took photos.
A bar girl believed that it was a holy snake and saw the number 72-520 on its skin. Many lotteries tickets subsequently were bought with those numbers.
Jaruwan Saengsrijan, 42, caretaker of the beer bar, said that she had heard noises in the ceiling but thought it was probably a cat.
How long it had been in the ceiling no one knew but now the reason for recent disappearances of puppies and cats may be clearer.
Rescuers released the python into its natural habitat.


Seminar held to help boost Nile perch export

Patcharapol Panrak
A seminar discussed ways for Thailand to increase its lucrative export of the Nile perch, which earned 1,014.6 million baht for growers in 2008.
On February 27, Nikorn Jumnong, advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, presided over the third seminar on Nile perch export at the Ambassador City Jomtien, attended by 381 aquaculture farmers from 13 provinces the eastern region to exchange ideas on the world market demand for their product.

Nikorn Jumnong, advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, talks about Thailand exporting Nile perch.

Nikorn said that the Agriculture Ministry collaborated with the Thai Frozen Food Association to organize this seminar, entitled “Nile perch - agriculturists meet exporters,” to plan better production of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), commonly known as Pla Nin in Thai, originally introduced to Lake Victoria in Africa and can grow to a meter or more in size.
The best strategies must be planned so that by 2010 Thai production of Nile perch can reach 300,000 tons, designating 50,000 tons for export to meet worldwide demand, especially from the US, Western Europe and the Middle East, he said.
Dr Jirawan Yamprayoon, deputy director of the Fishing Association, said the fish is exported both live and frozen. In 2008, 16,733 tons worth 1,014.6 million baht were exported, 3255 tons more than 2007. The EU had imported 1,514 tons in the past 10 months from Thailand.
Our main competitors in this market are India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines. This seminar aims to boost Thai production to be the leader in export of the fish in ASEAN. In the future Thailand may export Nile perch to be used for collagen in cosmetics, leather, decorations or even production of biodiesel, Dr Jirawan said.


HIV research team seeks volunteers

Pramote Channgam
Thai and US researchers cooperating with Pattaya City are beginning to research groups at risk of contracting HIV. They want to enlist the help of 500 Thai sex workers and homosexuals as volunteers in their 10-year study.
On February 26 in the conference room at city hall, Mayor Itthipol Khunplome chaired a meeting of Thai-US researchers from the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences.

Mayor Itthipol Khunplome presides over the research meeting.

The meeting was attended by Dr Somchai Sriplianchan, permanent physician of the project, and representatives from Hop Group and Friends Foundation, Swing, Fountain of Life Center for Women, Peoples’ Development Association, Sister Center, Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, Auspice Foundation, Duang Pratheep Foundation and the Chonburi Office of Disease Prevention and Control.
Mayor Itthipol said that this meeting sought study volunteers from 18-50 years of age to represent the age group at risk of contracting HIV. Researchers plan to study a group of 250 female sex workers and a group of 250 male homosexuals and sex workers.
The aim is to contribute to worldwide research into developing a vaccine against AIDS.
Dr Somchai said that this project would seek to advance our knowledge regarding the first step of contracting HIV and how the body reacts when contracting it. They also hope to learn more about how AIDS destroys our anti-AIDS immunizing agents.
People at the first stage of AIDS will be studied to learn about the body’s physical reaction and the development of microbes.
This research project’s data will be an important foundation in developing anti-AIDS medicine and a vaccine in the future, he said.
This research project is the first international project since AIDS first spread 30 years ago, being conducted at the same time in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Thailand.
Each country will gather 500 volunteers and divide them into the two research groups. After two pilot years, researchers will monitor for eight continuous years of the life of each of the volunteers during those contagious stages.
The Research Institute of Medical Sciences was established in 1958 as a cooperative effort between the Royal Thai Army and the US Army to conduct many projects to research the spread of diseases including malaria, dengue fever and AIDS.
The research institute was the first laboratory in Thailand to be certified by the College Of American Pathologists.


City plans new monorail

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya is once again looking to spend 3.6 billion baht on a six-kilometer-long monorail over the heart of the city to ease road traffic and improve public transportation for residents.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome attended the meeting at city hall with relevant officials and councilors to discuss the development of a monorail for the future.
Based on his research, Dr. Vissanu Palayanont proposed a new transportation plan aimed to solve the traffic problem, gain a better balance in the environment and add value to properties in the city.
The proposal details a monorail project of some six kilometers starting from the Dolphin roundabout, running down through Walking Street and ending at Bali Hai Pier. This is to be built with a budget of 3.6 billion baht over the next three years.
The mayor said Pattaya is a main tourist destination in the country attracting six million visitors each year. The city ranks third in earning income from tourism after Bangkok and Phuket but is the second most visited city after the capital.
New convenient, cheap and safe transportation will bring more revenue to the city and raise the quality of life of those living here, said the mayor.


New tourist police chief starts work

Boonlua Chatree
New commander of the Tourist Police, Pol. Maj-Gen. Adit Ngamjitsuksri visited the Pattaya Tourist Police Station after taking up his new position two weeks ago. He has vowed to support tourists and suppress crime in Pattaya.

Thai and foreign Tourist Police volunteers line up to salute new commander of the Tourist Police, Pol. Maj-Gen. Adit Ngamjitsuksri.

On March 5 the commander officially visited Tourist Police Office 4, accompanied by Pol. Col. Supapol Arunsit, deputy commander in chief of the Tourist Police, Pol. Col. Krit Warit, superintendent of Tourist Police 2, Pol. Lt-Col. Bunrod Angkab, deputy superintendent of Tourist Police 2 and other officers.
Some 30 Thai volunteer police officers, 30 international volunteer police officers and 38 Pattaya Tourist police officers stood in line to salute the new commander as he arrived.
At his official welcome, Maj-Gen. Adit said that at this international tourist destination Tourist Police must work strictly and efficiently to suppress crime to protect the lives and property of tourists, including providing prompt and effective serviced when required.


Angry villagers protest beach quarry

Excavators are hard a work removing rocks
 and sand from Hin Look Chang Beach in Sattahip.

Patcharapol Panrak
Angry seaside villagers in Najomtien Sub-district in Sattahip filed a protest petition with police for the destruction of Hin Look Chang Beach after the Aiyara Management Bangsarae Company began to quarry rocks, armed with a license from the Marine Department.
On March 3 village headman Somsak Tabklad submitted a complaint signed by some 100 villagers from villages number 3 and 8 with Pol. Lt. Supawat Lattapreecha at the Najomtien Sub-District Police Station. They also sent a protest letter to the governor of Chonburi.
They said that a Thai businessman “outsourced by a foreigner” had for three days been using heavy equipment to quarry rocks and boulders from their beach which destroyed its environment.
They are particularly angry that a rock called “Hin Look Chang” (baby elephant rock), that fishers and villagers believe to be sacred and worship each time they go out to sea for safety and good catches, had been taken away.
Police had been to the scene but said that the company had a license from the Marine Department to do the work.
Two boats, six backhoes, a crane and trucks were brought in to quickly quarry the natural sea material and their work is continuing while villagers urgently seek ways to stop it.
Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun asked the villagers to provide documentary photos to be sent to the director-general of the Marine Department for further procedures.
Headman Somsak said that Wittaya Chaiyanukulkitti, chief of the Marine Department 6 Pattaya Branch, issued the license to the company to modify the beach, and the license may be illegal as it was causing the destruction of the environment affecting inhabitants and their livelihood in fishery and tourism.
Sattahip district chief, Chaichan Iamcharoen, said that he knew of the complaint filed by residents but did not know the details, leaving deputy district chief, Surachet Kaewkam, in charge of this matter.
As the quarrying proceeds, villagers gather to curse those who have taken their “Hin Look Chang” away, believing that the destroyers will surely face a catastrophe.


Fire destroys Sattahip house

Patcharapol Panrak
A rental house owned by the president of Sattahip Municipality Council, Tawee Kongsawat, near the Payub Temple in Sattahip burned in the middle of the night, sending residents from the crowded slum escaping to safety. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt.

The house was gutted, but luckily no one was hurt.

At 4 a.m. on March 4, Pol. Lt. Ekachai Mullee at the Sattahip Police Station received the fire alert from Somptob Deeying, 61, and leader of the Payub Welfare Center Community. Two fire engines were dispatched to the scene.
The two-story wood-and-cement house was completely ablaze. Sattahip Municipality Public Disaster Protection officers turned off the power and sprayed water to stop the fire from spreading to neighboring houses. It took more than an hour to put out the fire that was believed to have been sparked by an electrical short circuit.
The house was completely burned but no one was injured as the house was not occupied at the time. Primary estimation of damage is 200,000 baht.
Tawee came to the scene saying that the house belonged to him and that he had leased it out to navy personnel. Luckily the renter removed his property from the house only one day before it caught fire.


Walking Street urchins causing headaches

Pramote Channgam
Popular Walking Street is a headache for Pattaya City as officials continuously receive complaints from tourists about the nuisance of child vendors, beggars, child pick-pockets and protected wild animals being used for photos, all of which are proving a real handful for busy municipal police.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh consulted with Sunthorn Kangsirikul, president of the Walking Street Community, and Somchai Sirorat from the Social Development and Human Security in Chonburi, on March 4 at city hall.
The deputy mayor said that the lively street is an important evening entertainment location well-known for its active nightlife.
“But allowing these problems to continue will affect Pattaya’s tourism image,” Ronakit said.
Somchai proposed a solution concerning child vendors requiring more effort from police to strictly control and arrest them. This includes driving the urchins back home after being rounded up by police.


Five held for selling fake luxury goods

Police show off bags full of confiscated fake brand-named goods.

Boonlua Chatree
In a police crackdown on the selling of fake brand-named goods, deputy commander of the Chonburi Police Theerapol Jindaluang announced the arrest of vendors selling pirated goods to foreign tourists.
Five vendors were arrested as they were allegedly selling clothing, handbags, satchels and watches on Beach Road, at Thepprasit Market Fair and Grand Hall Market Fair in Nongprue.
Arrested were Sasithorn Srianusorn, 22, from Samutprakarn, Chaweewan Surai, 31, from Chonburi, Somkit Supachinee, 41, from Chonburi, Worapol Mayom, 34, from Pathumthanee, and Jesada Leehokseng, 23, from Petchaburi.
Police confiscated as evidence 297 brand-named clothes, 11 pairs of shoes, 70 wrist watches, 8 belts, 284 handbags, 608 hats and trousers, valued at more than 700,000 baht.
Police charged the five with selling copied brand-named goods which had already been registered in the Kingdom.
Police said the vendors purchased the copied goods from the Rong Klua Market at the border of Cambodia to sell to foreigners at higher prices.


Pattaya music fest ready to rock

Over 100 artists will rock out on stage
at the Pattaya International Music Festival 2009.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Amazing music may be added to the slogan “Amazing Thailand, amazing value” as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) again organizes the annual Pattaya International Music Festival by the sea on March 20-22.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome took the media, TAT and management organizations of Chonburi and Pattaya City to a promotional meeting at Central World Bangkok on February 26.
The festival has the support of many international recording labels such as Korean S.M. Entertainment, EEG from Hong Kong, Ocean Butterfly from China, House of Indies from Vietnam, Hala Music from Malaysia, AMJPHEAD from Australia, INDEE records from Laos and AVEX Taiwan.
Performances will be on three stages at Bali Hai Pier, Central Pattaya, and Pattaya Soi 4.
International artists include Golf-Mike, Pek Palitchoke, The Star, B.O.Y., Rynn Lin (Malaysia), Auf Pongsak, Ice Saranyu, Chin Chin Wut, Bee, The StarCirque de Freak (Australia), Kym Jun-sha (China), Minh Thu (Vietnam), Shinee (Korea), Girls’ Generation (Korea), Boy Peacemaker, Hangman, Zeal, Clash, No More Tear, Cell (Laos), Potato, Ebola, Paradox, Big Ass, Bodyslam, So Cool, Abnormal, Sweet Mullet, Taxi, Black Head, Playground, Pancake, Nologo, Joey Boy, Jay Jetrin, Rose Saranthip, Beam Jaruwan, Mint Sawanya, Lookpad, Toffee, Ploy, Kob Savanit, and many more.


New public health volunteers ready

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Ministry of Public Health held a meeting on the new public health volunteer scheme which will send 987,019 volunteers into the community in the next six months to help improve public health standards all over the country.
Chonburi Deputy Governor Pisit Boonchuang welcomed some 2,500 health professionals at the Ambassador City Jomtien Pattaya, on February 27, including Wittaya Kaewparadai, Minister of Public Health, Pisit Pattanachote, advisor to Minister of Public Health, Dr Prart Boonyawongviroj, deputy head of the Public Health Ministry and Dr Somyot Deerassamee, dean of Health Support.
Also discussed at the meeting was the token payment of 600 baht per month for public health volunteers starting from April and continuing to September 2009 to help them do their work.
Public Health Minister Wittaya said that the main objective of the scheme is to promote health in the community for people to take care of themselves to ease the burden on doctors and nurses in public hospitals.
The scheme will also support the growing number of senior citizens that is forecast to increase from seven million in 2007 to 12-14 million in 2025.
Some 80% of the aged suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, heart diseases and paralysis. So a good strategy is to encourage people to stay in good health at home as well as to improve public medical treatment, he said.
The minister said that this meeting would make sure that the program is run smoothly within budget.
Tasks for the new volunteers include:
Registering all pregnant women from March 2 and provide necessary support where possible, visiting infants and their mothers, encouraging mothers to breast feed their babies for at least six months and helping the elderly and disabled in the villages, such as providing transportation to hospital if necessary.
Wittaya reported that 987,019 volunteers showed up when the government only set the budget for 834,000 volunteers. But the government wished to pay all volunteers with token support, even if they do not want monetary gains in return.

Thousands of health volunteers turned up at the Ambassador Hotel in Jomtien.


School donates to YWCA

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Srisuvit School Education Day 2009 raised 100,000 baht for charity through the YWCA as the school’s primary students graduated.

Nonglak Fakroek (left), head of financial management of Srisuvit School presents a donation for the YWCA to Nittaya Patimasongkroh, president of YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya, and Elfi Seitz.

On February 28 at the Alcazar Theatre on Pattaya 2nd Road, Dr. Chalong Tabsri, director of the international program of education at Burapa University, handed out the diplomas with Nonglak Fakroek, head of financial management of Srisuvit School, guests, parents, teachers and 395 students in attendance.
Nonglak said that this diploma presentation event was a time for students to be proud of their academic achievement and to gain inspiration towards further knowledge. The event should also help build tighter relationships within their families.
A total of 395 students graduated from elementary school in 2008. At the event the school also gave a cash donation to YWCA-Bangkok Pattaya Center, which was received by Nittaya Patimasongkroh, president of YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya, and Elfi Seitz, a committee member.


Likae struggles in life’s play

Patcharapol Panrak
For one troupe of traditional Likae actors hard up for money the repeated script of their daily reality is tough.

During performances, dancers pass around a bowl to try and make some money to live.

The dancers of Saengmanee Duangnapa Group now perform on a mat at the vast Sattahip market at night and pass a bowl around for cash from the meager audience of housewives and transvestites gathered to watch them.
The actors, who paint their faces and sing and dance in their show that is similar to Chinese opera, go around to find money on the ground at the market and hold out bowls like beggars.
Owner of the group, Saengmanee Duangnapa, 47, said that it was always a struggle now to make enough to feed her mother, children, nieces and nephews, adding up to 20 souls.
The troupe can’t afford the 2,000 baht a night fee to rent a stage so now performs at the market. On a good night, there might be 10 transvestites and widows as the audience but some nights there are as few as two. But the show goes on.
Audiences pity them and give jasmine and cash, making the troupe more confidence with their performance.
As the main actor appeared to dance on the mat, other performers came out with a bowl asking the audience and visitors for some cash. There were not many watching but these gave generously and thousands of baht was earned.
Saengmanee said that they used to perform with Somsak Pakdee but had left and performed all over the country for 30 years.
As prevailing popular taste shifts towards modern singers and bands, along with TV and movies, the Likae has been very much left behind as a folk art form.
In a year there may only be some 20 shows to do, therefore the group needs to perform like this in order to make a living, she said.