$100 Million Giant Pearl

The world's largest natural pearl will be put on display in the Philippines soon, after the $100 million treasure was recovered from a burned down house.

This giant pearl could be the world’s largest natural pearl weighing over 34 kg. The treasure’s worth is pegged at around USD 100 million. The identity of the man who found the pearl has not yet been disclosed, but according to the Daily Mail, the man discovered the priceless gem around a decade back in the sea off the coast of Palawan Island in Philippines. He decided to keep the pearl in his wooden shack for 10 years as a good luck charm.

Reports in Daily Mail suggest that a fire struck his property, which burnt his house to the ground. The person was then forced to clear out and hand over the gem to the local tourism office in Philippines’ remote Puerto Princesca. The pearl measures around 1 feet wide and 2.2 feet long, which is way more than the world’s current biggest Pearl of Allah that weighs approximately 6.4 kg and worth USD 35 million.

The world’s largest natural pearl will be put on display in the Philippines soon, after the $100 million treasure was recovered from a burned down house.

According to Aileen Amurao, a Philippine tourism officer, the pearl was first discovered in 2006 by a fisherman of the Palawan Island, when he threw the anchor down and its got stuck on a rock. The officer said when he swam down to pull up the anchor, he noticed it was lodged in a shell which he brought with himself. Since then it has been with him at his home.

The tourism officer said they were amazed when the fisherman brought it to them and now they’re waiting for gemologists to fully certify this piece of treasure. “We now need help from gemologists to fully certify it,” Amurao said.

The previous record was held by the Pearl of Lao Tze, which weighs 6.4 kg and is worth $35 million. It was also retrieved near Palawan Island.

First Published on: August 23, 2016 10:16 pm
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The Smart WiFi Auto rickshaw

  Only a year and a half old, the auto rickshaw boasts of a wi-fi that operates from a dongle and charging portals that are I-phone friendly. With four fans, attractive lighting and Bhojpuri movie posters, the auto begins with attracting a customer in. Once the customer is seated, they are greeted with a water flask, an ash tray, ear buds, a candy box, tissue papers and daily newspapers along with a first aid box, a dustbin and a fully stocked cigarette container.

  Ranjit Singh is the 28-year-old auto rickshaw driver that conceptualised his vehicle after the television show he was working on wrapped up. “I was working in the costume department of the film and television industry and was working on the Mahabharat Serial on Star Plus. Once the show wrapped up, I had nothing to do so I decided to drive an auto. I earlier worked in a shift for auto owners but it didn’t suit me. I bought my own and made it the way it looks right now,” he said.

  Still looking for acting roles in his spare time, Singh tries to keep up with customer’s demands. He keeps them entertained with music videos on his flat screen monitor while he finds their destinations on his GPS. When it comes to family, things are a little different. “My wife has still not seen this auto, neither has my 3-year-old son. Maybe one day, when they come to visit me, they will know what it looks like,” he said. His wife Rita lives in Bihar where Singh is from. He lives with his brother who is a production manager in the Bhojpuri film industry. “My family is supportive of this. They are happy with what I do,” he said.

  All Singh wants is the happiness of the customer, besides a credible movie role. “I wanted to design it in such a way that
, be it rich or poor, feels that this rickshaw is for me and has a happy journey. Just the positivity that they give off when they sit inside is what keeps me running. A lot of people crowd my auto because of its uniqueness but I have made peace with it.”
Singh gets calls from many customers who are his regulars and takes up local fare when time permits. “I work from 3 pm to 5 am and only charge the fare. everything else is free except the cigarettes. I sell them by MRP,” he said.

  The dimpled driver routinely gets interrupted by curious onlookers who click his pictures on their smartphones.  If you can’t manage to get a ride in it, make sure you at least get a glimpse at his labour of love.

Source : homegrown.co.in

Photos : Karan Khosla ( @thekhos )

Words: Preksha