Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Cobra Show
Before the dive trip, we were bored, haning out in Phuket town. We decided to go check out a cobra show. It was a bit of a mission to get to the show. We hopped on a bus, got off at the wrong place, and then some locals got on their cell phone and helped us out.
Arriving at the sight, we first walked around the cages. There were several snakes and different animals as well. Some things we saw were, king cobras ( HUGE), and mangrove snakes, pythons, mongoose, and monitor lizards.
On one hand, to see these animals caged, and on display for tourists was a sad sight, but at the same time, it was a rare experience to see animals that you would not otherwise be able to see. At least, not see safely..
The snakes that "perform" are given breaks. That is, they are rotated, so that they don't get too overworked. Apparently, if they are overworked, they could die in a month.
During the show, the snakes are put into a ring, with a trainer. The trainer then provokes the snakes, sometimes 3 at a time. If you watch carefully, you will notice that the trainer moves his legs, while keeping the rest of his body relatively still, and looking into the snakes eyes. The snake is looking at him, but the movement of the legs will attract it more. Therefore, when the snake does strike, he knows that it will "most likely" strike the legs, and he moves it out of the way just in time. For some strange reason, I was convinced to go into the ring with some snakes as well. I bent down next to the snakes, while my friend took a photo. Meanwhile, the trainer is next to me, and I hope is keeping most of the snakes attention on him, rather than me.
Sometimes, the trainer gets bitten. If bitten by a king cobra, he is sent immediately to a hospital. Not only is a serum injected, but also, the area where the snake bit, most also be "cut out" from the body, as it has rotted. Then, he is kept in the hospital for a week, using an oxygen mask to breathe out of.
It was exciting to watch the show. At times, the trainers would poke the snake in the mouth, somehow without it striking. And then even kiss the cobra!
While the show is going on, an announcer is playing music, and bantering. He works very well with the trainer himself, and the show kept us riveted the whole time. We tipped the trainers after the end of the show. Takes guts and skill to do that with a snake.
Arriving at the sight, we first walked around the cages. There were several snakes and different animals as well. Some things we saw were, king cobras ( HUGE), and mangrove snakes, pythons, mongoose, and monitor lizards.
On one hand, to see these animals caged, and on display for tourists was a sad sight, but at the same time, it was a rare experience to see animals that you would not otherwise be able to see. At least, not see safely..
The snakes that "perform" are given breaks. That is, they are rotated, so that they don't get too overworked. Apparently, if they are overworked, they could die in a month.
During the show, the snakes are put into a ring, with a trainer. The trainer then provokes the snakes, sometimes 3 at a time. If you watch carefully, you will notice that the trainer moves his legs, while keeping the rest of his body relatively still, and looking into the snakes eyes. The snake is looking at him, but the movement of the legs will attract it more. Therefore, when the snake does strike, he knows that it will "most likely" strike the legs, and he moves it out of the way just in time. For some strange reason, I was convinced to go into the ring with some snakes as well. I bent down next to the snakes, while my friend took a photo. Meanwhile, the trainer is next to me, and I hope is keeping most of the snakes attention on him, rather than me.
Sometimes, the trainer gets bitten. If bitten by a king cobra, he is sent immediately to a hospital. Not only is a serum injected, but also, the area where the snake bit, most also be "cut out" from the body, as it has rotted. Then, he is kept in the hospital for a week, using an oxygen mask to breathe out of.
It was exciting to watch the show. At times, the trainers would poke the snake in the mouth, somehow without it striking. And then even kiss the cobra!
While the show is going on, an announcer is playing music, and bantering. He works very well with the trainer himself, and the show kept us riveted the whole time. We tipped the trainers after the end of the show. Takes guts and skill to do that with a snake.
Manta Ray Sighting
We saw two manta rays swimming in Koh Bon. These creatures are about 5 meters from wingtip to wingtip ( 16 feet). Massive things, that move silently through the water. You couldn't hear one if it passed right by you. Scary thought, but these guys are harmless to humans. They are super manueverable. If they come toward you, I was told to just stay still, as it will simply swoop up over you as it comes near. Of course, it is different when it's only your second day on the trip, and this giagantic thing comes swooping past you. You try to tell yourself that there is nothing to worry about- but inside I was thinking "please move up now!! Don't run into me".
As I saw it coming, I was thinking Steve Erwin, Crocodile hunter.. but that was a stingray, not a manta.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
First Liveaboard Trip
I have just returned to terra firma in Phuket, Thailand. I was on a liveaboard dive trip for 10 days. Imagine living on a boat for 10 days, constant moving, and shaking, and scuba diving 4 times a day!
It was both exciting and scary at first. What will the boat be like? who are the other people on the boat? What if we have bad weather? Will I get bored of diving, or eaten by a shark underwater. All these thoughts and more came into my head for the last 5-6 months before I took part of the trip. However, all doubts and worries were laid to rest, as I had an amazing trip.
Our boat was great. 29m ( 100 foot) boat, with 4 decks and stabilizers. A good crew and also good divemasters on the boat. There were 14 guest, from 8 different countries. Met all sorts of people from German police officers, to Tanzanian Diamond Miners/engineers.
Living on the open seas is of course for serious divers. People had logged 50-700 dives each. I only had 15... so I was the most inexperienced person on the boat to be sure! However, I improved so much, and I learned alot about marine life. I also did my advanced training, and learned how to dive with Nitrox mix instead of air.
I always enjoyed just looking at stuff underwater, and being able to do something "different" like Scuba. But diving is about exploration, and sighting of wildlife. After each dive, people discussed the different kinds of fish they found underwater, and the types of corals etc. etc. Many people had underwater cameras ( I did not..) and everyone had high tech dive computers.
Thankfully, Dallas had bought me one just before I left! Man, that thing saved me life 30 meters ( 100 feet) below the waves.
I saw so much, but our 2 big goals were realized. We saw Manta Rays, and Whale sharks! Two of the largest things in the ocean, swimming with us. On top of that, I saw white tip sharks, leopard sharks, massive moray eels almost as big as me, etc. etc.
if only I had a camera.. I will be getting photos from friends I met on the dive, and will put them online once I get them.
I didn't get seasick on the boat, but I am in fact, landsick right now. Everything is still moving, and I can't keep my head still.
I'm staying at Phuket town. It's much quieter, and "real" than the Patong beach, which is like a massive tourist trap. It's almost hard to see Thai people among all the farangs ( foreigners) on the streets. I like this small town here, where the foreigners are much in minority. We shuffle through the streets standing out, but at least it's quieter, and things are cheap. Just ate dinner~ bowl of noodles, and an order of satay chicken. it only cost me $2. no other foreigners in the restaurant, and no english menu. Just point at the ingredients.
On the boat, we ate like kings. The food was so good, and they just kept feeding us. I was very happy with my dive team's dive master. She is a thai woman. There are very few Thai dive masters, and very very few women. So needless to say, she has a different personality than many locals. She was a great diver, and took care of my useless butt for the first while. During our surface time, she was fun to talk to as well.
So where did we go? yeah, forgot to mention that.
We dove the similan islands, richelieu rock, Koh Bon, the Mergui Archepelago and the Burma Banks. We actually left Thailand, and entered Myanmar ( burma) by sea. It took us several hours to cross customs each time on the water. Officials boarded the boat and we had nothing to do but sit and wait. Everything went smoothly though.
We didn't have permission to make landfall in Myanmar, which is a shame. The diving was alright, but we saw more in Thai waters. In Myanmar the current was very fast. When the ocean is carrying you across it, while you are at depth is kinda scary and cool at the same time. You are literally flying weightlessly through an expanse of water.
The first time you see a shark? Super thrilling! Night diving was a great fear of mine. When you dive at night, you can't see anything except what is in your beam of light. Meaning, if something were to come, you won't see it coming until it's too late..
but it turned out to be very exciting. Then you come up, and all you can hear is water, and you see the moon and the stars, and the light of your ship in the distance. It's magic.
To speak much further would be boring to non-divers, and really without photos, it's hard to say too much as well. Being in the ocean is something you have to experience. It's part of our world, but it's so different than what we see, and deal with on land everyday.
It was both exciting and scary at first. What will the boat be like? who are the other people on the boat? What if we have bad weather? Will I get bored of diving, or eaten by a shark underwater. All these thoughts and more came into my head for the last 5-6 months before I took part of the trip. However, all doubts and worries were laid to rest, as I had an amazing trip.
Our boat was great. 29m ( 100 foot) boat, with 4 decks and stabilizers. A good crew and also good divemasters on the boat. There were 14 guest, from 8 different countries. Met all sorts of people from German police officers, to Tanzanian Diamond Miners/engineers.
Living on the open seas is of course for serious divers. People had logged 50-700 dives each. I only had 15... so I was the most inexperienced person on the boat to be sure! However, I improved so much, and I learned alot about marine life. I also did my advanced training, and learned how to dive with Nitrox mix instead of air.
I always enjoyed just looking at stuff underwater, and being able to do something "different" like Scuba. But diving is about exploration, and sighting of wildlife. After each dive, people discussed the different kinds of fish they found underwater, and the types of corals etc. etc. Many people had underwater cameras ( I did not..) and everyone had high tech dive computers.
Thankfully, Dallas had bought me one just before I left! Man, that thing saved me life 30 meters ( 100 feet) below the waves.
I saw so much, but our 2 big goals were realized. We saw Manta Rays, and Whale sharks! Two of the largest things in the ocean, swimming with us. On top of that, I saw white tip sharks, leopard sharks, massive moray eels almost as big as me, etc. etc.
if only I had a camera.. I will be getting photos from friends I met on the dive, and will put them online once I get them.
I didn't get seasick on the boat, but I am in fact, landsick right now. Everything is still moving, and I can't keep my head still.
I'm staying at Phuket town. It's much quieter, and "real" than the Patong beach, which is like a massive tourist trap. It's almost hard to see Thai people among all the farangs ( foreigners) on the streets. I like this small town here, where the foreigners are much in minority. We shuffle through the streets standing out, but at least it's quieter, and things are cheap. Just ate dinner~ bowl of noodles, and an order of satay chicken. it only cost me $2. no other foreigners in the restaurant, and no english menu. Just point at the ingredients.
On the boat, we ate like kings. The food was so good, and they just kept feeding us. I was very happy with my dive team's dive master. She is a thai woman. There are very few Thai dive masters, and very very few women. So needless to say, she has a different personality than many locals. She was a great diver, and took care of my useless butt for the first while. During our surface time, she was fun to talk to as well.
So where did we go? yeah, forgot to mention that.
We dove the similan islands, richelieu rock, Koh Bon, the Mergui Archepelago and the Burma Banks. We actually left Thailand, and entered Myanmar ( burma) by sea. It took us several hours to cross customs each time on the water. Officials boarded the boat and we had nothing to do but sit and wait. Everything went smoothly though.
We didn't have permission to make landfall in Myanmar, which is a shame. The diving was alright, but we saw more in Thai waters. In Myanmar the current was very fast. When the ocean is carrying you across it, while you are at depth is kinda scary and cool at the same time. You are literally flying weightlessly through an expanse of water.
The first time you see a shark? Super thrilling! Night diving was a great fear of mine. When you dive at night, you can't see anything except what is in your beam of light. Meaning, if something were to come, you won't see it coming until it's too late..
but it turned out to be very exciting. Then you come up, and all you can hear is water, and you see the moon and the stars, and the light of your ship in the distance. It's magic.
To speak much further would be boring to non-divers, and really without photos, it's hard to say too much as well. Being in the ocean is something you have to experience. It's part of our world, but it's so different than what we see, and deal with on land everyday.
