The JEST Way

[jeroboam]

Never saw this thead, quality! Top work Dan

Here Here!
An excellent read!

J

[BODknife]

No we didn't. It's not necessary and I'm not sure why you'd do that.

It seems to be for rice in case the water boils too quickly, I think.

But your guys cooked rice without leaves right?

[Dicken]

"....My first reaction on seeing the very cheap and nasty bolos was that the super-hi-tech blade would leave the bolos standing. In fact, this was not true...."

A picture is worth 426 words ( ah I see there is a pic by the time I got to the end of the excellent thread I had forgotten... shape and grind are somewhat different though )



Handle was some sort of horn, steel rivets

Been planning to re handle it but it handle is not flat and it is very hard , files do not do much to it

[daveathall@btin]

What an absolutely marvellous review.

[ZDP-189]

It seems to be for rice in case the water boils too quickly, I think.

But your guys cooked rice without leaves right?

The rice was cooked in a sealed pot made of bamboo. It's in my first post.

If anyone wants to come to Asia, I'll take a couple of days off next to a weekend and we can go to the Phils.

[BODknife]

The rice was cooked in a sealed pot made of bamboo. It's in my first post.

If anyone wants to come to Asia, I'll take a couple of days off next to a weekend and we can go to the Phils.

So you did. I missed it. They use leaves and vertical tubes for cooking rice in Borneo.

Actually there are quite few members already in Asia so a Phillipine trip may get a few responses. Why don't you start a new thread?

[ZDP-189]

Useful info provided to a member today:

Yes, I would recommend the courses.

The guys in the Philippines were originally set up by the US military to run their Jungle Environmental Survival Training (JEST) training during the US-Vietnam War but have had no support since the US pulled out in the early 1990s. The good news is it's in the Subic Bay closed area so the rainforest has remained pristine and the skills taught are timeless.

They do an afternoon's tourist demo, or a 3 days and 2 nights hike (or longer as long as you pay). They can do small or large groups. 10 pax is financially optimal, but one single person is fine. Explain to them that you are a serious survivalist and that you are here to learn skills and they will treat you as such. Watch and listen carefully and take good notes, otherwise it is just a tourist attraction.

It's as safe as you can get for a Philippine jungle. There is spotty GPS coverage, clean water, low kidnapping risk and at the overnight campsite the possibility of MEDEVAC/CASEVAC by road to a good local medical facility.

Contact details:

+63 47 252 9072

JEST CAMP
Aparri Road
Upper mau
Subic Bay Freeport
Olongapo City
Philippines

JEST CAMP staging area 14°47'26.39"N 120°17'43.61"E

Overnight Campsite (Small Groups) 14°47'8.82"N 120°18'51.13"E

[ZDP-189]

Additional comments:

For MEDEVAC/CASEVAC, you'd be carried over the weir, then 280m up a driveable service track, then 9km by US-spec paved roads to Subic Bay Medical Center. Aerial transport to Manila, Quezon City or overseas is then possible from Subic Bay Int'l Airport.

Ordinary travel involves a 3+ hour trip in a hirecar from/to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).

I realise I sound to be obsessing about disaster, but if you are doing stuff like climbing up cliffs without rope, using bolos, working with sharpened bamboo and playing with fungle fauna and flora, it's best if you plan for the worst.

[ZDP-189]

So you did. I missed it. They use leaves and vertical tubes for cooking rice in Borneo.

I would be tempted to compare techniques. I wonder if Survivalists and bushcrafters spreading knowledge among previously separate cultures would be considered anthropological tampering. Showing a pacific islander a firebow may contribute to the decline of the fire plough. Showing a Borneo tribesman the AETA bamboo rice trick may change the way they do that too. It's so yummy. Mmmmmmmm. I wonder if Lee knows a source of fresh 2-3" bamboo stems in HK.

[Lee Bray]

Mmmmmmmm. I wonder if Lee knows a source of fresh 2-3" bamboo stems in HK.

How many do you need?
I'm back in the 'bush' again chasing pigs and was just this morning hacking through some thin bamboo.
Get yourself up here of a morning and we'll go out with the dogs.

[xavierdoc]

Wow, Dan! I'd never come across these thread before -fantastic, Thanks!

[ZDP-189]

How many do you need?
I'm back in the 'bush' again chasing pigs and was just this morning hacking through some thin bamboo.
Get yourself up here of a morning and we'll go out with the dogs.

I'd love to and it's good to hear your back's working again (mine just seized up this last week and I'm on lots of meds. It's that time of year.)

[Noddy]

Thanks for this Dan. Only just seen it!!

I have relatives in/from the Phillipines - not sure they would recognize much of what you describe. But you never know - oddly resilient under all the gloss, my sister in law Looking forward to another read through soon

EDIT: I meant to ask if you had a recommendation for this

[*]Flashlight, preferably LED, head mounted with a tight beam and a wide flood (otherwise your day ends at 6pm)

[ZDP-189]

I found this on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eCYDzEkpQs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BHjYywo1_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUjgR5rgrvc&NR=1

It's the demo they do for tourists at the camp. The lunch is great and nice to join in on the way into the jungle.

[mojofilter]

This is one of the best threads on BB, thanks Dan!