A meatball seller who identified herself only as Chittra, 42, said it was just too hot for her customers. Numbers are way down on previous years as people balk at venturing outside of air-conditioned offices and cars.

Chittra said she was having to adapt for the lower meatball sales by extending her business hours.

"I'm patient, even though it is so hot. I don't have much choice," she added.

Wiset, a 38-year-old motorcycle taxi driver in the Ramkham-haeng University 2 area, said although there were still plenty of customers, he had noticed a dip in trade because of the heat. His trick to cope with the bubbling mercury was to nip into a nearby air-conditioned building for a while to cool off.

Driving a No 207 bus from Ramkhamhaeng University 2 to Ramkhamhaeng University 1, 45-year-old Surachai said summer had "no effect" on his income, as it depended on the number of bus users who basically remained constant.

Bus conductor Adchara said she tried to battle the heat in a time-honoured way. When the bus reaches the depot, she washes her face and applies prickly heat powder. Although the weather was getting hotter, she said she "tried not to think about it" too much.

A construction worker, 29-year-old Chid, said he had increasing mood swings through working in the punishing heat and his job was taking much longer to complete as he was being forced to take more rest breaks.

Unfortunately, the site he was working on had no space for a shelter from the heat, so he had no choice "but to keep on working".

Jakrapan Seebunruang

The Nation