texascavers Digest 11 Aug 2011 16:17:29 -0000 Issue 1366
Topics (messages 18327 through 18333):
Bats on a Plane
18327 by: Mark Minton
Mexico this weekend
18328 by: Jim Kennedy
How Bats Avoid Clutter
18329 by: Mark Minton
18330 by: Jim Kennedy
The good old days aren't over!
18331 by: BMorgan994.aol.com
18332 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
18333 by: Fritz Holt
Administrivia:
To subscribe to the digest, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
To post to the list, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
Amusing story about a bat on an
airplane:
<http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/bat-on-delta-plane-leaves-passenger-in-a-flap/story-e6frfq80-1226111524314#ixzz1UX63Ruqv>
There are links at the bottom to other stories about animals on
planes wreaking havoc.
Mark Minton
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
We have a couple more spaces available on a quick trip into northern
Mexico this weekend, leaving from Austin. We will be going to the
Bustamante area. Leaving before 1pm tomorrow and returning Sunday.
Contact me offlist if interested.
-- Jim
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
New research has shown how bats use their sonar to
distinguish between intended targets and background
clutter: <http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/07/bats>. Check
out the video. It's weird that they include a couple of photos of
bats with WNS, which isn't mentioned and has nothing to do with their research.
Mark Minton
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Mark, thanks for that link. Yes, it was strange that they use some WNS
bat images. I suspect that they just glommed a bunch of video and still
images from the internet for that piece, since the interview was
obviously done over the phone. There were multiple species of bats
shown in the video, some of them not even from North America. They
didn't identify the test species in the article, but the abstract from
Science says they were big brown bats, which is what the first couple of
still images show.
BTW, if anyone has a subscription to Science and can download the full
PDF of the article from their website, I would appreciate a copy.
-- Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Minton [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 10:20 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] How Bats Avoid Clutter
New research has shown how bats use their sonar to distinguish between
intended targets and background clutter:
<http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/07/bats>. Check out the
video. It's weird that they include a couple of photos of bats with
WNS, which isn't mentioned and has nothing to do with their research.
Mark Minton
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Rod says: "Cheapskate travels weren't just in Mexico. Cavers found ways to
travel cheaply wherever we went back then."
What? Are you guys getting too old to have inexpensive fun?? The good old
days still aren't over for those willing to go far enough afield in search
of adventure!
I've seen my fortunes rise and fall, and for the last seven years or so
they have been on the rocks, but that hasn't stopped me from having fun by
going caving in far away places. Since my last major infusion of cash I've
been to Thailand twice with side trips to Laos, Cambodia, and Burma, and
several shorter trips to Central America. People say, "Well, it must be nice
to
be rich!" To which I reply that I am nearly destitute which even my
friends barely believe. The secret is to live a debt free life, use frequent
flyer miles derived from credit card use, and to be willing to travel by the
seat of your pants and to live like a local.
Two years ago I flew to Bangkok for a total of $61 in fees and taxes, then
took a perfectly acceptable room in Banglamphu (AKA Hippie heaven!) for six
big bux. Then I took a sleeper train all the way across the entire country
to Viengtiane Laos for thirteen dollars. A comfortable modern bus then
took me south to Khammouane province in the heart of the karst (right next to
where the world's largest cave was discovered in Vietnam). Unfortunately I
fell ill in Thakek, but if one must be sick, what a great place to do it
in! My spacious comfortable room was $5. The food was spectacularly good and
dinner averaged $2. After I recovered a bit I started renting motor
scooters for the inflated tourist price of $7/day and began to explore the
unbelievably beautiful karst. Ancient villages with huge caves and azure karst
resurgences were everywhere I looked. Eventually I pissed off the Commie
authorities by entering closed areas, and especially by sneaking around in the
jungle (actually monsoon forest) by myself, an activity that they considered
suspicious when undertaken by an American "of a certain age" (At 63 I
could have been the guy who bombed their village!). So they sent the army
after
me. It seemed wise to find a fresh venue for my ongoing adventures so I
fled the country back to Thailand where nobody cares what you do.
Thailand has a great National Park system similar to our own. The main
difference is in style of management. In America our national parks are full of
handrails and signs saying "Stay on the trail. Do this. Don't do that!",
and the rangers are glorified possum cops there to make sure you don't have
any fun. In Thailand it is assumed that you will play nicely with others so
everyone does. It is also assumed that you will not be so foolish as to
follow elephant trails so there are no signs saying not to. Delicious food
and ice cold beer are always available because it would never occur to the
authorities not to invite several of the local Grannies to set up thatched
roof concessions catering to your every whim. The whole idea is to have fun!
So I took busses to National Parks in all corners of the country. Entry
fees were generally around $3. Many of the rangers I met were so impressed by
my self sufficient camping style that they charged nothing for camping no
matter how long I stayed, after all, I was causing no impact! I mountain
biked, hiked, illegally followed elephant trails for many miles, canoed down
rivers, and visited countless beautiful waterfalls and caves.
When it was all said and done the two month trip didn't cost me much more
than it would have cost to stay home.
Now I'm still destitute but my Sweetie and I are going back this winter
for another two months, Yahoo! The tentative plan is to spend a month in
northern Laos following the Nam Ou from its confluence with the Mekong near
Louang Prabang all the way upstream to the remote region where China, Vietnam,
and Laos all come together. The Nam Ou is the largest trib to the Mekong in
Laos. There is only one bridge, the entire watershed is effectively
roadless, all traffic is along the river in small boats or on forest trails.
The
whole of northern Laos is mountainous and densely forested. Imagine West
Virginia hundreds of years ago, only inhabited by wild and woolly hill
tribes who dress in colorful costumes while carrying ancient muskets and
rusted
swords on their way to tend the opium patch in the bottom of the sinkhole.
Needless to say, there are caves everywhere!
That should wear our butts out, so a bit of R&R on the glorious beaches of
southern Thailand will be in order. Once our tans have recovered it will be
time to head up to Umphang along the Burmese frontier to continue my
explorations there. Umphang is considered to be the most remote place in
Thailand and is culturally part of Burma. Last time I was there I visited the
stunningly beautiful Ti Lor Su waterfall (google it), which, though heavily
visited is remote and surrounded by wilderness. The entire enormous waterfall
is made of travertine, think rimstone pools 500 feet high by 1500 feet
across.
While in Umphang I heard of a place downstream called La Ka To lake. The
only available description is "a blue lake surrounded by jungle and wild
animals". It is clearly visible on Google earth as an azure karst window in
the verdant wilderness. If you would like to creme your jeans here are the
coordinates: Lat 15.659265, Long 98.813834. The last time I tried to go there
the area was off limits due to fighting along the nearby Burmese border
(The brave Karen against the evil Burmese government).
Getting to La Ka To (if I can get there?) will be the only significantly
expensive part of the whole two month trip because I will have no choice but
to hire a licensed outfitter with rubber rafts. I purely hate that!
So I hope this serves as an inspiration to other impoverished old farts,
and as a rebuttal to those on this list who don't know me and have been
saying that I am not a "real" caver (Because I don't go to grotto meetings or
map nerd holes?). Get a life, it's easy to do and even cheap!
Sleazeweazel
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Great post, Sleaze!
Always enjoy your tales and good luck on your trip!
Keep 'em coming!
Mark A.
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 10:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] The good old days aren't over!
Rod says: "Cheapskate travels weren't just in Mexico. Cavers found ways
to travel cheaply wherever we went back then."
What? Are you guys getting too old to have inexpensive fun?? The good
old days still aren't over for those willing to go far enough afield in
search of adventure!
I've seen my fortunes rise and fall, and for the last seven years or so
they have been on the rocks, but that hasn't stopped me from having fun
by going caving in far away places. Since my last major infusion of cash
I've been to Thailand twice with side trips to Laos, Cambodia, and
Burma, and several shorter trips to Central America. People say, "Well,
it must be nice to be rich!" To which I reply that I am nearly destitute
which even my friends barely believe. The secret is to live a debt free
life, use frequent flyer miles derived from credit card use, and to be
willing to travel by the seat of your pants and to live like a local.
Two years ago I flew to Bangkok for a total of $61 in fees and taxes,
then took a perfectly acceptable room in Banglamphu (AKA Hippie heaven!)
for six big bux. Then I took a sleeper train all the way across the
entire country to Viengtiane Laos for thirteen dollars. A comfortable
modern bus then took me south to Khammouane province in the heart of the
karst (right next to where the world's largest cave was discovered in
Vietnam). Unfortunately I fell ill in Thakek, but if one must be sick,
what a great place to do it in! My spacious comfortable room was $5. The
food was spectacularly good and dinner averaged $2. After I recovered a
bit I started renting motor scooters for the inflated tourist price of
$7/day and began to explore the unbelievably beautiful karst. Ancient
villages with huge caves and azure karst resurgences were everywhere I
looked. Eventually I pissed off the Commie authorities by entering
closed areas, and especially by sneaking around in the jungle (actually
monsoon forest) by myself, an activity that they considered suspicious
when undertaken by an American "of a certain age" (At 63 I could have
been the guy who bombed their village!). So they sent the army after me.
It seemed wise to find a fresh venue for my ongoing adventures so I fled
the country back to Thailand where nobody cares what you do.
Thailand has a great National Park system similar to our own. The main
difference is in style of management. In America our national parks are
full of handrails and signs saying "Stay on the trail. Do this. Don't do
that!", and the rangers are glorified possum cops there to make sure you
don't have any fun. In Thailand it is assumed that you will play nicely
with others so everyone does. It is also assumed that you will not be so
foolish as to follow elephant trails so there are no signs saying not
to. Delicious food and ice cold beer are always available because it
would never occur to the authorities not to invite several of the local
Grannies to set up thatched roof concessions catering to your every
whim. The whole idea is to have fun!
So I took busses to National Parks in all corners of the country. Entry
fees were generally around $3. Many of the rangers I met were so
impressed by my self sufficient camping style that they charged nothing
for camping no matter how long I stayed, after all, I was causing no
impact! I mountain biked, hiked, illegally followed elephant trails for
many miles, canoed down rivers, and visited countless beautiful
waterfalls and caves.
When it was all said and done the two month trip didn't cost me much
more than it would have cost to stay home.
Now I'm still destitute but my Sweetie and I are going back this winter
for another two months, Yahoo! The tentative plan is to spend a month in
northern Laos following the Nam Ou from its confluence with the Mekong
near Louang Prabang all the way upstream to the remote region where
China, Vietnam, and Laos all come together. The Nam Ou is the largest
trib to the Mekong in Laos. There is only one bridge, the entire
watershed is effectively roadless, all traffic is along the river in
small boats or on forest trails. The whole of northern Laos is
mountainous and densely forested. Imagine West Virginia hundreds of
years ago, only inhabited by wild and woolly hill tribes who dress in
colorful costumes while carrying ancient muskets and rusted swords on
their way to tend the opium patch in the bottom of the sinkhole.
Needless to say, there are caves everywhere!
That should wear our butts out, so a bit of R&R on the glorious beaches
of southern Thailand will be in order. Once our tans have recovered it
will be time to head up to Umphang along the Burmese frontier to
continue my explorations there. Umphang is considered to be the most
remote place in Thailand and is culturally part of Burma. Last time I
was there I visited the stunningly beautiful Ti Lor Su waterfall (google
it), which, though heavily visited is remote and surrounded by
wilderness. The entire enormous waterfall is made of travertine, think
rimstone pools 500 feet high by 1500 feet across.
While in Umphang I heard of a place downstream called La Ka To lake. The
only available description is "a blue lake surrounded by jungle and wild
animals". It is clearly visible on Google earth as an azure karst window
in the verdant wilderness. If you would like to creme your jeans here
are the coordinates: Lat 15.659265, Long 98.813834. The last time I
tried to go there the area was off limits due to fighting along the
nearby Burmese border (The brave Karen against the evil Burmese
government).
Getting to La Ka To (if I can get there?) will be the only significantly
expensive part of the whole two month trip because I will have no choice
but to hire a licensed outfitter with rubber rafts. I purely hate that!
So I hope this serves as an inspiration to other impoverished old farts,
and as a rebuttal to those on this list who don't know me and have been
saying that I am not a "real" caver (Because I don't go to grotto
meetings or map nerd holes?). Get a life, it's easy to do and even
cheap!
Sleazeweazel
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hey Sleaze,
What a great post. I envy your brave, adventurous spirit and frugalness. At 76
I have the will and ability to follow in your footsteps but not the freedom. I
would play it safe (except for the highways) and confine my travels to the many
as yet unseen glorious places within the confines of the USA. You and yours
take care in those strange and exotic lands so you may return to tell us of
your great adventures.
Fritz in the caveless flatlands of Houston.
________________________________
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 10:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] The good old days aren't over!
Rod says: "Cheapskate travels weren't just in Mexico. Cavers found ways to
travel cheaply wherever we went back then."
What? Are you guys getting too old to have inexpensive fun?? The good old days
still aren't over for those willing to go far enough afield in search of
adventure!
I've seen my fortunes rise and fall, and for the last seven years or so they
have been on the rocks, but that hasn't stopped me from having fun by going
caving in far away places. Since my last major infusion of cash I've been to
Thailand twice with side trips to Laos, Cambodia, and Burma, and several
shorter trips to Central America. People say, "Well, it must be nice to be
rich!" To which I reply that I am nearly destitute which even my friends barely
believe. The secret is to live a debt free life, use frequent flyer miles
derived from credit card use, and to be willing to travel by the seat of your
pants and to live like a local.
Two years ago I flew to Bangkok for a total of $61 in fees and taxes, then took
a perfectly acceptable room in Banglamphu (AKA Hippie heaven!) for six big bux.
Then I took a sleeper train all the way across the entire country to Viengtiane
Laos for thirteen dollars. A comfortable modern bus then took me south to
Khammouane province in the heart of the karst (right next to where the world's
largest cave was discovered in Vietnam). Unfortunately I fell ill in Thakek,
but if one must be sick, what a great place to do it in! My spacious
comfortable room was $5. The food was spectacularly good and dinner averaged
$2. After I recovered a bit I started renting motor scooters for the inflated
tourist price of $7/day and began to explore the unbelievably beautiful karst.
Ancient villages with huge caves and azure karst resurgences were everywhere I
looked. Eventually I pissed off the Commie authorities by entering closed
areas, and especially by sneaking around in the jungle (actually monsoon
forest) by myself, an activity that they considered suspicious when undertaken
by an American "of a certain age" (At 63 I could have been the guy who bombed
their village!). So they sent the army after me. It seemed wise to find a fresh
venue for my ongoing adventures so I fled the country back to Thailand where
nobody cares what you do.
Thailand has a great National Park system similar to our own. The main
difference is in style of management. In America our national parks are full of
handrails and signs saying "Stay on the trail. Do this. Don't do that!", and
the rangers are glorified possum cops there to make sure you don't have any
fun. In Thailand it is assumed that you will play nicely with others so
everyone does. It is also assumed that you will not be so foolish as to follow
elephant trails so there are no signs saying not to. Delicious food and ice
cold beer are always available because it would never occur to the authorities
not to invite several of the local Grannies to set up thatched roof concessions
catering to your every whim. The whole idea is to have fun!
So I took busses to National Parks in all corners of the country. Entry fees
were generally around $3. Many of the rangers I met were so impressed by my
self sufficient camping style that they charged nothing for camping no matter
how long I stayed, after all, I was causing no impact! I mountain biked, hiked,
illegally followed elephant trails for many miles, canoed down rivers, and
visited countless beautiful waterfalls and caves.
When it was all said and done the two month trip didn't cost me much more than
it would have cost to stay home.
Now I'm still destitute but my Sweetie and I are going back this winter for
another two months, Yahoo! The tentative plan is to spend a month in northern
Laos following the Nam Ou from its confluence with the Mekong near Louang
Prabang all the way upstream to the remote region where China, Vietnam, and
Laos all come together. The Nam Ou is the largest trib to the Mekong in Laos.
There is only one bridge, the entire watershed is effectively roadless, all
traffic is along the river in small boats or on forest trails. The whole of
northern Laos is mountainous and densely forested. Imagine West Virginia
hundreds of years ago, only inhabited by wild and woolly hill tribes who dress
in colorful costumes while carrying ancient muskets and rusted swords on their
way to tend the opium patch in the bottom of the sinkhole. Needless to say,
there are caves everywhere!
That should wear our butts out, so a bit of R&R on the glorious beaches of
southern Thailand will be in order. Once our tans have recovered it will be
time to head up to Umphang along the Burmese frontier to continue my
explorations there. Umphang is considered to be the most remote place in
Thailand and is culturally part of Burma. Last time I was there I visited the
stunningly beautiful Ti Lor Su waterfall (google it), which, though heavily
visited is remote and surrounded by wilderness. The entire enormous waterfall
is made of travertine, think rimstone pools 500 feet high by 1500 feet across.
While in Umphang I heard of a place downstream called La Ka To lake. The only
available description is "a blue lake surrounded by jungle and wild animals".
It is clearly visible on Google earth as an azure karst window in the verdant
wilderness. If you would like to creme your jeans here are the coordinates: Lat
15.659265, Long 98.813834. The last time I tried to go there the area was off
limits due to fighting along the nearby Burmese border (The brave Karen against
the evil Burmese government).
Getting to La Ka To (if I can get there?) will be the only significantly
expensive part of the whole two month trip because I will have no choice but to
hire a licensed outfitter with rubber rafts. I purely hate that!
So I hope this serves as an inspiration to other impoverished old farts, and as
a rebuttal to those on this list who don't know me and have been saying that I
am not a "real" caver (Because I don't go to grotto meetings or map nerd
holes?). Get a life, it's easy to do and even cheap!
Sleazeweazel
--- End Message ---
