Myanmar
19
May 2018, Saturday
It
is a Saturday, a weekend for most to enjoy, a day of rest for some, but not for
this old geologist who is working the field in search for that precious metal,
gold.
After
heavy rains yesterday, that marks the start of the monsoon season in Myanmar,
we were able to head to do some field work. Yesterday, we sent a scout to
assess the road accessibility to the outcrops. After a couple of hours, they
came back reporting the river crossing had high water level with strong
downstream flow that made it risky. Also, the summer long dried and dusty road
is now saturated, muddy, slippery making the four-wheel drive veer off the
road. Yesterday's field work was a write-off.
Today, however, the sun showed its face. We had quick breakfast and
geared up, excited to see some good outcrops.
We
took the Toyota Land Cruiser up to the field camp in a village called Kame. The
village of Kame looks like an old and humble village. I observed no
televisions, computers or even smart phones! Houses were all constructed of
hard wood with corrugated galvanised iron sheet roofs. Only very few houses had
painted exteriors that are now cracked and faded. The houses are on stilts of
about 3 to 4 metres above ground. The lower portion is used for storage of farm
equipment and other amenities. Around
the village I noticed the rice paddies and peanuts laid out on a wicker mat for
the sun to dry. Farming is their main livelihood.
At
Kame, this is the end of the 4X4 ride. Looking back, the Toyota Land cruiser
was a luxury ride and from this point on there are no longer accessible road by
four-wheel drives. What lies ahead are old logging road, no longer maintained,
that only motorbikes and water buffalo or cow drawn carts are able to trek. For
us, it is a motor bike ride moving forward.
Each
of us were given a motorbike and driver. We had a convoy of eight bikes. I am
very impressed by these Chinese made Kenbo motorbikes. They were designed as
city road bikes but are used by these experienced bike-drivers to the hilt!
These
drivers know its mechanical limits, not to run them to destruction as it would
cost several harvests to get a new one. These motorbikes can really take it,
imagine carrying this 80Kg stubby geologist? During the uphill drive, you can
hear the full throttle, loud rumble, see the bellowing smoke and feel the
grumbling of a stressed-out engine.
The
road was not forgiving to these motorbikes, there were uphill sections that it
could not move forward due to the wet and slippery road. We had to walk these
uphill stretches. Some downhill sections were deemed too dangerous that our
drivers asked us to walk downhill as well. It was good to know they cared about
their passengers.
There
is no petrol station in the village, nor one nearby. What they have are
villagers selling petrol in 750ml whisky bottles. To save on petrol, during
downhill sections of the path, they switch-off the engine and glide downhill,
just at it levelled and slowed down, they release the clutch that starts the
engine once again. From petrol power to gravity power then back to petrol
power. During the gravity power, we did not have any engine brake to count on
and the speed is a tad faster. What an adrenalin cycle. They know these paths very well indeed.
These
motorbikes and skilled drivers safely brought us to the outcrops where we
conducted our geological work. The details of this work and results is not covered
in this journal, but in a separate field investigation report submitted to my
employer.
Lunch,
men ate first while the women and children watched and served by the side. This made me feel uncomfortable and awkward.
At home, we always eat together. We say a prayer before meals and partake on
the food at the table. We enjoy each others' company that we always have
extended meal time for conversations after meals. Meal time is part of our day
that keeps us together as a family. Sharing and communicating. For these
villagers, they may not have known any other that they keep this tradition. Not
knowing of the complex political correctness and gender equality issues of the
modern world, their lives are simple, content and happy.
After
lunch, the men gathered around sitting in a crossed legged fashion and
individually prepared their betel nut chew. Some made their own cigarette from
locally grown tobacco using old newspaper strips as wrapping. All the while I
did not comment, just observed and took their photos. My mind was thinking how
unhealthy or toxic inhaling the burnt chemicals from the newspaper ink. I was
offered, but tactfully declined. I can see teasing in their eyes and smiles
that knew I would not try.
We
hit the trail, visited three other outcrops. Panned in two areas where both
showed three and two colours respectively. That means we found three and two
specs of very fine gold from the panning. I marked the locations with a GPS,
took photographs, made some notes and headed back to Pinlebu. We found gold and
called it a day!
