Marc
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BENGAL PIRATES
Back in '99 I was with my buddies off of the coast of Burma kayaking in the Mergui Archepeligo. The same group of guys I had been with to New Guinea
and Halong Bay in Vietnam and a year later Tahiti. and Rangirora Atoll north of there. We were all experienced open water kayakers paddling five boats
with a support craft following us with the grub and booze.
We had expected hot weather but not the wind and rain that came at us before the monsoon season began. We had difficulty securing campsites because of
high surf, and lost some gear, and had one site literally washed away under us during the night. I was on malaria medicine and had weird dreams when I
did sleep. On a few sunny calm days we got in some great paddling.
Near the end of the kayaking part of our expedition the weather turned bad again and we were running a bit low on food. We were due to finish up the
next day and motor back to Murgui and fly north, so we figured we were OK. Well the "support" craft runs out of gas. We finish up our food supply and
the next day all there is left is a case of Pringles Chips. We did have plenty of the local rotgut rum in plastic bottles.
In the morning three of the strongest paddlers strike out for a Navy base on another island some distance away to beg enough gasoline to get us back
to the mainland. So we just sat around all day nibbling potato chips and then it's sunset and no gas and just chips to eat. By this time we were
feeling no pain anyway; the rum remember?. Along comes these two decrepit looking fishing boats. They pull up to the beach and and out jumps this
jolly bunch of Fisherman. Young guys all; we nicknamed them "Bengal Pirates" although technically we were not in the Bay Of Bengal, but just east of
it. We ended up feasting on their catch. They cooked it for us in oil they carried in a plastic bag and a few tasty peppers. They cooked up some kind
of fish, and squid that was still shooting ink. There was plenty enough to go around and it was great. After dinner along comes the navy with our gas.
Seems the Burmese Navy Commander went to Stanford, so the party went on.
In the morning it was raining like the monsoon had arrived and we packed our Kleppers and gear during a downpour. The Pirates were still with us and
helped out. Of course just as we finished packing the rain stops and the sun comes out. These photos are scanned from prints that my friends gave me.
I have no pictures of my own since Davy Jones had snatched my new waterproof camera the first day.
I gave each one of our new friends part of my gear; a watch, Hawaii sling, goggles. fins, small rod, a knife etc. They had nothing and I was sure this
gear would be put to good use.
We made it back to Mergui a day late and our Twin Otter was still there waiting for us. Air scheduling is very flexible in Burma. We flew to Rangoon,
stored our boats and gear and flew to on Mandalay, Pagan (112º) , and Lake Inley (the jumping cats), and everywhere we saw wonderful things.
When I returned home I found that my wife had left me. But that is another story.
MY PIRATES
SULLIVAN ISLAND, BURMA 1999
[Edited on 2-1-2011 by BajaNomad]
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captkw
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In my opinon,,you forgot to tell us two very important item's,, were the girl's pretty and how was the fishing????
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Marc
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Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
In my opinon,,you forgot to tell us two very important item's,, were the girl's pretty and how was the fishing???? |
The running joke was where's the Sea Gypsy babes? No Sea Gypsies & No babes, and if we were good fishermen we would not have run out of food
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sanquintinsince73
Super Nomad
Posts: 1492
Registered: 6-8-2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Is it me or is the fella to your left just a tad to close to you? Exactly how long were you on that rock?
[Edited on 2-1-2011 by sanquintinsince73]
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Mike99km
Nomad
Posts: 178
Registered: 5-23-2007
Location: San Dimas and ? in baja
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Gotta love those Kleppers!
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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BigOly
Senior Nomad
Posts: 521
Registered: 10-1-2010
Location: Los Barriles, Bandon
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Mood: Easy Birder
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Great story. You painted a perfect picture!
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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I'm still oogling those wild plumerias on the beach in your first pic.
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