It has been almost three months since the Meteorological Department declared in February that Thailand's summer has officially begun. The department also predicted that the heat will only last until mid-May.
But now it looks like the excruciating torridness is not even close to subsiding. The temperature in the northern province of Mae Hong Son, for example, reached almost 43 degrees Celsius a few days ago. Although Bangkok is forecast to see the maximum temperature of only around 35-39 degrees Celsius this week, it feels like 41 already.
In such an oven-like hot day, many are fortunate enough to seek refuge in air-conditioned environments like shopping malls, offices or amid household cooling systems. Others, especially low-income workers, have no better choice but to perspire their way through the scorching heatwave.
To mark Labour Day, Life speaks to various people from the working class whose jobs involve working under the extremely hot weather on how the heat affects them and how they keep away from it.
Thairath Phandow
Fruit vendor
A native of Khon Kaen province, Thairath braves the heat selling fresh fruit from her cart in Klong Toey from 6am-4pm every day except Sundays. For 26 six years in the capital, she has set up her cart right next to the street. Even though she stays under the roof, the heatwave is still too much to bear. And given that she is suffering from hypertension, it is even more difficult for her to work under such a hot spell.
"To lower my blood pressure, the doctor told me, I shouldn't feel stress or think too much, but the heat makes me constantly feel irritated and stressful," she admitted.
To cool herself down, the fruit seller said she drinks cold water and uses a paper fan. Not only is the heat bad for her heath; it also affects her business. During summertime, she has fewer customers than in other seasons.
"Customers prefer to stay inside the building, so I make less money than before."
Pranee Pahanich
Yakult lady
Pranee is an agent of the famous probiotic yoghurt drink who has been delivering her products door-to-door to customers in the neighbourhood of Lat Phrao for almost 20 years. During lunchtime, she can usually be seen at Loong Perm Market behind Thai Airways Headquarters, with no air conditioning. Pranee feels that this year is hotter than ever. While working in the sun, she wears a uniform which has a long sleeve shirt and long trousers and a hat to protect her from the UV radiation. In the morning, the yoghurt lady applies sunscreen. During the day, she drinks water often to make sure she is not dehydrated.
Unlike other selling jobs, Pranee's business isn't much affected by high temperature, because every Yakult agent has regular customers. But as an agent, she has to serve customers politely throughout her daily working hours between 8am to 4.30pm. The hot weather makes it hard for her to keep smiling and maintaining the friendly attitude.
"Heat is an obstacle. I'm a healthy person, but the hot weather sometimes makes me irritable."
The Yakult agent believes that reducing energy and water consumption as well as using fewer plastic bags can help with the climate change.
Bualoy
Street-food vendor
Bualoy, a native of Phayao, has been living in Bangkok and selling Isan food for a living for more than a decade. She is hardworking and barely takes days off even during Songkran. Even in the hot weather, Bualoy cooks from 5am-5pm on weekdays, 6.30 am-5pm on weekends. Cooking in a downtown shopping area next to a street, the strong sun and the hot stove she uses while cooking Isan food makes her sweat.
Although Bualoy has a battery-powered fan hanging on her food stall, she said the battery is too big to carry around, so the fan can't be used.
"There is nothing I can do. I have to be patient and wait for some winds."
Every year, the heat gives Bualoy skin rashes. The red spots will only go away when the rainy season arrives. The food hawker said the high temperature chases away her customers because nobody wants to go out to buy food during lunch like before, so she starts working in very early morning and stays longer in the evening.
Bualoy has no suggestion on how to stop global warming. She thinks people can do nothing, but only wait for the rain to pour.
Siripong Inca
Motorcycle-taxi driver
Situated under a big tree and a nearby pond, a motorcycle taxi queue in Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 22 isn't as hot as many other queues, where there is no shade or surrounding green environment. The queue is right in front of a condominium, so their main customers are from there. The driver said the number of customers hasn't changed, though the weather is extremely hot because the residents still need rides.
While riding the motorbike, Siripong -- who has been a motorcycle-taxi driver for six years -- said he uses a mask to cover up part of his face.
"I'm from Surin, so I'm used to this hot weather. Though this year is hotter than usual, I am fine. When I take a ride, I always look for the shade or sometimes stay in an air-conditioned building," he said.
Siripong really appreciates the big tree and the pond which brings a pleasant and shady atmosphere to the motorcycle-taxi-queue area even on hot days. He wishes people would grow more trees.
"If possible, I wish trees would never be cut. It is better to see them grow very big. I would like to grow trees at my place as well, but I don't have time to take care of them."
To beat the heat, Siripong always carries an inhaler in his pocket.
"An inhaler is also helpful. I use it when I feel dizzy."
Cherdchai Soittikul
Gardener
A native of Samut Prakan, Cherdchai takes care of garden from 7am-3pm from Monday until Saturday. To avoid the sun, in the morning Cherdchai works on the lawn or trees in open-air areas and starts working on plants that are grown under the roof in the afternoon. The planter said gladly that his supervisor understands that sunlight can be harmful and allows all gardeners to keep away from the sun. Despite his understanding boss, Cherdchai once had to visit a doctor due to dehydration.
"On that day, while working, I suddenly felt dizzy and had no energy. I felt better after a doctor let me drink an electrolyte beverage. He told me to drink two glasses of water right after I wake up and drink a lot of water during the day."
As a gardener who lives in Bang Krachao, which has been nicknamed Bangkok's Green Lungs, Cherdchai loves nature. He believes growing trees is good for the environment. He also hopes to see fewer cars on the road.
"Trees are best for the environment. We should have more trees and fewer cars. Old cars cause pollution and global warming. The government should control the quality of cars so they won't produce pollution."
Anuchit Srimuang
Security guard
Being a security guard under this year's scorching heat is a real torment. Anuchit, who is assigned to position at a barrier gate and screen visitors for a private company from 7am-7pm every day, barely gets away from his spot, where there is no roof. The long-sleeved uniform makes him sweat more and feel extremely uncomfortable.
"This year is extremely hot. I feel terrible. An electric fan behind me doesn't help much because it blows hot wind. I just use it to dry my sweat. I drink about 10 bottles of water a day, but I still feel stressed and weak. I used to feel like I was going to faint. Fortunately, I have an inhaler."
Anuchit has been a security guard for six years. Before that, he was a labourer in many countries such as Singapore, Taiwan and Qatar. He said Qatar is hotter than in Thailand, which means the weather here is still bearable. He, however, wishes he could feel more comfortable at work.
"We have a short-sleeved uniform. I wish we could wear it at least during weekends because we don't have many visitors. I wish my supervisor would approve it. I will feel more comfy in a short-sleeved shirt in this kind of weather."
