Solomon Islands cultural question

Greg Mossman wrote:

"Burma?"

Don't you mean Mymmar, or whatever they call it now.

I'd love to see Pagan, and didn't know there was any dive operations going
on there. Perhaps you mean, "the Burma Banks" near the Thai border but
accessed through Thailand.

But the idea of traveling or visiting Mymmar until that horrible regime is
gone is repellant.

On my first dive charter to the Solomons...other divers brought along
chocolates...then I decided on my second trip there, that there would be
no harm (in my case) in joining in the activity that others were
doing...not wanting to be left out!

On Mar 28, 4:33 am, Daniel Kessler <dkess...@pop.cybernex.net> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> "Burma?"
>
> Don't you mean Mymmar, or whatever they call it now.

Actually, they've always called it Myanmar. We're the ones who have
compromised our position. Not me. I like Burma better.

> I'd love to see Pagan, and didn't know there was any dive operations going
> on there. Perhaps you mean, "the Burma Banks" near the Thai border but
> accessed through Thailand.

Our boat sailed out of Thailand, but we weren't about to park in
Burmese waters without stopping in Burma to get the approval of the
proper Burmese authorities. They board the boat and haggle with the
crew for a few hours over our visa applications, while we take in the
sights of Kaw Thaung, which include walking up lots of steps to a
temple and browsing a few souvenir shops. That was enough of Burma
for me. It's a very scary country (whereas I found Castro's Cuba
actually comforting).

> But the idea of traveling or visiting Mymmar until that horrible regime is
> gone is repellant.

I bet they feel the same way about the Bush regime. But Burma is
scary. I only wish they had decent diving in North Korea so I'd have
an excuse to go there.

> On my first dive charter to the Solomons...other divers brought along
> chocolates...then I decided on my second trip there, that there would be
> no harm (in my case) in joining in the activity that others were
> doing...not wanting to be left out!

And I suppose you'd have been fine with my giving out cigarettes if
you saw other divers doing the same on your first dive charter to the
Solomons.

It's called peer pressure. Just say no.

I'll have to tell you about the time a Palauan native gave me a
cigarette onboard a 737 bound for Guam. Half a cigarette, actually,
and we didn't smoke it.

We're heading back to Ecuador in August. I'll get one of the double-
cartons in the IAH duty free so I can give as many gifts to poor
little Incan kiddies as I can. Unlike the spoiled Burmese brats,
Incan kids are grateful for filtered Camels. The coca leaves they
roll in their native smokes are way too harsh for their developing
lungs.

On Mar 28, 4:33 am, Daniel Kessler <dkess...@pop.cybernex.net> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> "Burma?"
>
> Don't you mean Mymmar, or whatever they call it now.

Actually, they've always called it Myanmar. We're the ones who have
compromised our position. Not me. I like Burma better.

> I'd love to see Pagan, and didn't know there was any dive operations going
> on there. Perhaps you mean, "the Burma Banks" near the Thai border but
> accessed through Thailand.

Our boat sailed out of Thailand, but we weren't about to park in
Burmese waters without stopping in Burma to get the approval of the
proper Burmese authorities. They board the boat and haggle with the
crew for a few hours over our visa applications, while we take in the
sights of Kaw Thaung, which include walking up lots of steps to a
temple and browsing a few souvenir shops. That was enough of Burma
for me. It's a very scary country (whereas I found Castro's Cuba
actually comforting).

> But the idea of traveling or visiting Mymmar until that horrible regime is
> gone is repellant.

I bet they feel the same way about the Bush regime. But Burma is
scary. I only wish they had decent diving in North Korea so I'd have
an excuse to go there.

> On my first dive charter to the Solomons...other divers brought along
> chocolates...then I decided on my second trip there, that there would be
> no harm (in my case) in joining in the activity that others were
> doing...not wanting to be left out!

And I suppose you'd have been fine with my giving out cigarettes if
you saw other divers doing the same on your first dive charter to the
Solomons.

It's called peer pressure. Just say no.

I'll have to tell you about the time a Palauan native gave me a
cigarette onboard a 737 bound for Guam. Half a cigarette, actually,
and we didn't smoke it.

We're heading back to Ecuador in August. I'll get one of the double-
cartons in the IAH duty free so I can give as many gifts to poor
little Incan kiddies as I can. Unlike the spoiled Burmese brats,
Incan kids are grateful for filtered Camels. The coca leaves they
roll in their native smokes are way too harsh for their developing
lungs.

On Mar 28, 4:33 am, Daniel Kessler <dkess...@pop.cybernex.net> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> "Burma?"
>
> Don't you mean Mymmar, or whatever they call it now.

Actually, they've always called it Myanmar. We're the ones who have
compromised our position. Not me. I like Burma better.

> I'd love to see Pagan, and didn't know there was any dive operations going
> on there. Perhaps you mean, "the Burma Banks" near the Thai border but
> accessed through Thailand.

Our boat sailed out of Thailand, but we weren't about to park in
Burmese waters without stopping in Burma to get the approval of the
proper Burmese authorities. They board the boat and haggle with the
crew for a few hours over our visa applications, while we take in the
sights of Kaw Thaung, which include walking up lots of steps to a
temple and browsing a few souvenir shops. That was enough of Burma
for me. It's a very scary country (whereas I found Castro's Cuba
actually comforting).

> But the idea of traveling or visiting Mymmar until that horrible regime is
> gone is repellant.

I bet they feel the same way about the Bush regime. But Burma is
scary. I only wish they had decent diving in North Korea so I'd have
an excuse to go there.

> On my first dive charter to the Solomons...other divers brought along
> chocolates...then I decided on my second trip there, that there would be
> no harm (in my case) in joining in the activity that others were
> doing...not wanting to be left out!

And I suppose you'd have been fine with my giving out cigarettes if
you saw other divers doing the same on your first dive charter to the
Solomons.

It's called peer pressure. Just say no.

I'll have to tell you about the time a Palauan native gave me a
cigarette onboard a 737 bound for Guam. Half a cigarette, actually,
and we didn't smoke it.

We're heading back to Ecuador in August. I'll get one of the double-
cartons in the IAH duty free so I can give as many gifts to poor
little Incan kiddies as I can. Unlike the spoiled Burmese brats,
Incan kids are grateful for filtered Camels. The coca leaves they
roll in their native smokes are way too harsh for their developing
lungs.

On Mar 28, 4:33 am, Daniel Kessler <dkess...@pop.cybernex.net> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> "Burma?"
>
> Don't you mean Mymmar, or whatever they call it now.

Actually, they've always called it Myanmar. We're the ones who have
compromised our position. Not me. I like Burma better.

> I'd love to see Pagan, and didn't know there was any dive operations going
> on there. Perhaps you mean, "the Burma Banks" near the Thai border but
> accessed through Thailand.

Our boat sailed out of Thailand, but we weren't about to park in
Burmese waters without stopping in Burma to get the approval of the
proper Burmese authorities. They board the boat and haggle with the
crew for a few hours over our visa applications, while we take in the
sights of Kaw Thaung, which include walking up lots of steps to a
temple and browsing a few souvenir shops. That was enough of Burma
for me. It's a very scary country (whereas I found Castro's Cuba
actually comforting).

> But the idea of traveling or visiting Mymmar until that horrible regime is
> gone is repellant.

I bet they feel the same way about the Bush regime. But Burma is
scary. I only wish they had decent diving in North Korea so I'd have
an excuse to go there.

> On my first dive charter to the Solomons...other divers brought along
> chocolates...then I decided on my second trip there, that there would be
> no harm (in my case) in joining in the activity that others were
> doing...not wanting to be left out!

And I suppose you'd have been fine with my giving out cigarettes if
you saw other divers doing the same on your first dive charter to the
Solomons.

It's called peer pressure. Just say no.

I'll have to tell you about the time a Palauan native gave me a
cigarette onboard a 737 bound for Guam. Half a cigarette, actually,
and we didn't smoke it.

We're heading back to Ecuador in August. I'll get one of the double-
cartons in the IAH duty free so I can give as many gifts to poor
little Incan kiddies as I can. Unlike the spoiled Burmese brats,
Incan kids are grateful for filtered Camels. The coca leaves they
roll in their native smokes are way too harsh for their developing
lungs.

On Mar 28, 4:33 am, Daniel Kessler <dkess...@pop.cybernex.net> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> "Burma?"
>
> Don't you mean Mymmar, or whatever they call it now.

Actually, they've always called it Myanmar. We're the ones who have
compromised our position. Not me. I like Burma better.

> I'd love to see Pagan, and didn't know there was any dive operations going
> on there. Perhaps you mean, "the Burma Banks" near the Thai border but
> accessed through Thailand.

Our boat sailed out of Thailand, but we weren't about to park in
Burmese waters without stopping in Burma to get the approval of the
proper Burmese authorities. They board the boat and haggle with the
crew for a few hours over our visa applications, while we take in the
sights of Kaw Thaung, which include walking up lots of steps to a
temple and browsing a few souvenir shops. That was enough of Burma
for me. It's a very scary country (whereas I found Castro's Cuba
actually comforting).

> But the idea of traveling or visiting Mymmar until that horrible regime is
> gone is repellant.

I bet they feel the same way about the Bush regime. But Burma is
scary. I only wish they had decent diving in North Korea so I'd have
an excuse to go there.

> On my first dive charter to the Solomons...other divers brought along
> chocolates...then I decided on my second trip there, that there would be
> no harm (in my case) in joining in the activity that others were
> doing...not wanting to be left out!

And I suppose you'd have been fine with my giving out cigarettes if
you saw other divers doing the same on your first dive charter to the
Solomons.

It's called peer pressure. Just say no.

I'll have to tell you about the time a Palauan native gave me a
cigarette onboard a 737 bound for Guam. Half a cigarette, actually,
and we didn't smoke it.

We're heading back to Ecuador in August. I'll get one of the double-
cartons in the IAH duty free so I can give as many gifts to poor
little Incan kiddies as I can. Unlike the spoiled Burmese brats,
Incan kids are grateful for filtered Camels. The coca leaves they
roll in their native smokes are way too harsh for their developing
lungs.

Thus spake "Becky" <brenners84-dive@yahoo.com> :

>I'm off for the Solomon Islands soon. I have a cultural question for folks
>who have been there. The books all say that if you visit the villages, which
>we will, people will give you presents and that you should be prepared to
>reciprocate. But they don't give any clues about what might be appropriate.
>When our dive group went to Fiji, the boat captain suggested school supplies
>for the children, which were joyously received but dreadfully heavy objects
>to cart around in bulk.
>
>Does anyone who's been there have any suggestions?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Becky in Austin
>

Email me. Pisces is now diving Wed nights at the dam. With all sorts
of grilled goodies after. And, since it's only 53 or so, most of us
are ground diving right now.
--
dillon

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but I've never
seen a .sig beat a Sig.

Thus spake "Becky" <brenners84-dive@yahoo.com> :

>I'm off for the Solomon Islands soon. I have a cultural question for folks
>who have been there. The books all say that if you visit the villages, which
>we will, people will give you presents and that you should be prepared to
>reciprocate. But they don't give any clues about what might be appropriate.
>When our dive group went to Fiji, the boat captain suggested school supplies
>for the children, which were joyously received but dreadfully heavy objects
>to cart around in bulk.
>
>Does anyone who's been there have any suggestions?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Becky in Austin
>

Email me. Pisces is now diving Wed nights at the dam. With all sorts
of grilled goodies after. And, since it's only 53 or so, most of us
are ground diving right now.
--
dillon

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but I've never
seen a .sig beat a Sig.

Thus spake "Becky" <brenners84-dive@yahoo.com> :

>I'm off for the Solomon Islands soon. I have a cultural question for folks
>who have been there. The books all say that if you visit the villages, which
>we will, people will give you presents and that you should be prepared to
>reciprocate. But they don't give any clues about what might be appropriate.
>When our dive group went to Fiji, the boat captain suggested school supplies
>for the children, which were joyously received but dreadfully heavy objects
>to cart around in bulk.
>
>Does anyone who's been there have any suggestions?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Becky in Austin
>

Email me. Pisces is now diving Wed nights at the dam. With all sorts
of grilled goodies after. And, since it's only 53 or so, most of us
are ground diving right now.
--
dillon

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but I've never
seen a .sig beat a Sig.

Thus spake "Becky" <brenners84-dive@yahoo.com> :

>I'm off for the Solomon Islands soon. I have a cultural question for folks
>who have been there. The books all say that if you visit the villages, which
>we will, people will give you presents and that you should be prepared to
>reciprocate. But they don't give any clues about what might be appropriate.
>When our dive group went to Fiji, the boat captain suggested school supplies
>for the children, which were joyously received but dreadfully heavy objects
>to cart around in bulk.
>
>Does anyone who's been there have any suggestions?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Becky in Austin
>

Email me. Pisces is now diving Wed nights at the dam. With all sorts
of grilled goodies after. And, since it's only 53 or so, most of us
are ground diving right now.
--
dillon

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but I've never
seen a .sig beat a Sig.