Still going strong! Seventy three year old Jate still climbing up betel nut trees to earn a living

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Thai media caught up with Jate Bamrungpong, 73, who has been collecting betel nut in Ranong for more than 50 years.

 

Jate shared the tricks of the trade of how he shins 15 meters up to collect the fruit that needs to be cut down by hand when the clusters are ripe.

 

Dressed just in shorts and shoes, he uses a sling to climb up the trees just like his father used to do years ago. 

 

Important details need to be observed - is the fruit ripe yet, what about the condition of the tree - safety has always been a priority for sun-tanned Jate. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Not wearing a shirt is important too - he can just wash off the smell of sweat and betel nut and if there are ants he can easily brush them off. 

 

Jate, who is based in the Ban Khai area of Ranong, gets three baht a kilo for the fruit he cuts. 

 

He said that after leaving school at the end of his primary education he was a teacher's assistant for a while before following his dad into the betel nut cutting trade. 

 

He avoids cigarettes and alcohol and is as fit as a fiddle, he said. 

 

Source: 77kaoded

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-31

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Would have thought at his age he would have more sense

At the  age of 73, why does this Guy even have to do this in order to feed himself

Good for him, he has worked at staying fit and the results show.

Some people find work they enjoy, and never want to give it up. I'd still be working if my skills had not become obsolete.

He isn’t stay indoors... he stay up-trees! ????

I would hazard a guess here that he never uses his product.....

3 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

At the  age of 73, why does this Guy even have to do this in order to feed himself

Cause the age pension ain't enough to live on. Thais don't pay/enough tax to the government to be able to get  a pension  only for government workers and a few Companies.

the secret is the betel nut ????

When we are all screaming into the final darkness as the world economy collapses, old Jate will still be harvesting his betel nut.

 

Modern civilization is a fragile house of cards, and when it goes *poof*, only those on the fringes of civilization with the basic skills of survivial, will survive.

 

Bet ya old Jate isnt on the net whining he is bored, obsessing about bingo tickets or endlessly screeching about politics. Hes building a fire. From twigs. And no matches.

73 is still young.

Good for him.

20 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Would have thought at his age he would have more sense

 

15 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

At the  age of 73, why does this Guy even have to do this in order to feed himself

 

 

TVF some people must look every story negative? 

 

What the problem? 

 

 

Great story. I'm always amazed at the strength that these thin, sinewy guys have. Same in our village. They can hump endless sacks of rice during the harvesting and never seem to tire.

 

My neighbour looks as if he's never had a square meal in his life, yet, at 65 years, he works hard all day, every day, mainly cutting and weaving bamboo cane products and my wife's uncle over the road is always busy at something or other running his smallholding.

 

The rural Thais seem to understand the virtues of hard work and self reliance. For most or course, it's an act of necessity, but we shouldn't let that diminish its value.

2 minutes ago, Yinn said:

 

 

 

TVF some people must look every story negative? 

 

What the problem? 

 

 

Thanks Yinn. I've just added those two miserable characters to my 'ignore list'. Best place for them.

18 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I would hazard a guess here that he never uses his product.....

It does seem to be a bit of a juxtaposition doesn't it. A fit, healthy 73 year old making a living harvesting a crop that is now known to be quite harmful. But I guess when he started down that road he wouldn't have known that.