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When attacked by a Python... When attacked by a Python...
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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 6 Sep 2007
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When attacked by a Python...
I got this tip yesterday from a young lad on Lantau Island (part of Hong Kong).
There are some very large pythons on the island and he'd encountered a 13ft'er.

He remembered his Grandma's advice. Offer the python your leg...either one, whichever is your least favourite I suppose. The python will try to swallow it, but when it comes to the groin it has to stop as it can't get the other leg in.

This will eventually cause it to choke and release you.

Now, I guess this wouldn't work with animals that can chew, so sharks and lions may just thank you kindly and keep munching up your torso, but as for a python, this guy swears it worked for him.
PS, he did have both legs.
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  #2  
Old 6 Sep 2007
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I was advised to firmly stroke them where their head meets the neck with a K-Bar.
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Old 6 Sep 2007
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A type of knife.
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  #4  
Old 6 Sep 2007
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Pythons have to eat somehow/someone
I have also heard this old chestnut a few years ago - I think it had a few cartoons doing the rounds with it at the time.
Seems to me though that the big snake won't be all that interested in an offering of a leg when it is sqeezing the very breath out of you; assuming that it succeeds in suffocating you, it would then proceed to swallow you head first 'cos that is what they do best.

There was another pic doing the rounds on the WWW of just such a big snake which was cut open to show a guy inside it's belly - very impressive - anyone got a copy still?
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Old 7 Sep 2007
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how fast?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
I have also heard this old chestnut a few years ago - I think it had a few cartoons doing the rounds with it at the time.
Seems to me though that the big snake won't be all that interested in an offering of a leg when it is sqeezing the very breath out of you; assuming that it succeeds in suffocating you, it would then proceed to swallow you head first 'cos that is what they do best.

There was another pic doing the rounds on the WWW of just such a big snake which was cut open to show a guy inside it's belly - very impressive - anyone got a copy still?
How fast can a 13 ft plus python travel?
I understand that they often drop coils from their resting/ambush place in tree branches, or attack from waters edge, but over land can they out slither a running person?
If they can, I'll need to find a slower friend.
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  #6  
Old 7 Sep 2007
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"They taste like chicken", said Billy the boa....
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  #7  
Old 9 Sep 2007
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moved on.
Left HK and now in Hainan the southern most province of China. We pick up our bike tomorrow so spent the day in 92% humity sweating like crazy. The advice here isn't about pythons, but they do have Nepalese Bears, a large-ish cat and water buffalo. The later look benign as they munch roadside grass, but they are untethered and prone to meandering. Keep an eye open for them, as although they have horns, they don't have lights.

There are also kissing fish. We have a spa where these little suckers gather round and eat the dead cells off your body. So if you have anything like psoriasis or even bad dandruff, give them a miss, as you could be eaten alive.
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Old 9 Sep 2007
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would have to agree that offering a Python a leg wont help if it is planning to eat you as it will just kill you first - constrictors all operate by killing their prey then trying to eat it, otherwise they would be at severe risk of an internal wound whilst chowing down. Even venomous snakes wait for the venom to kick in before they even start dislocating thier jaw.

If you are unlucky enough to have a big constrictor decide you are on the menu I would recommend you try and kill it, as much force as you can on the neck behind the head (try and use some sort of weapon). If it gets you wrapped up try not to breathe out too much and hope that someone saves you. It is much more likely that a big snake will try and bite you as a defence mechanism - although there is no venom the salmonella etc in their saliva could kill, so rinse the wound out immediately with the strongest booze you've got. Or medicinal alcohol.

Still, overall risk of any sort of snake attack is very low as long as you make enough vibrations. If you think there might be things lurking just walk heavily!

They are a bit like chicken, so don't waste it after you've wasted it!!
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Old 9 Sep 2007
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The perfect weapon against any and all threats: Vogon poetry, which is known to be lethal...
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Old 9 Sep 2007
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vogon poetry
INDU you wrote "The perfect weapon against any and all threats: Vogon poetry, which is known to be lethal..."

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the only problem is.....those that have heard it....are dead.
so getting hold of it is a little bit like getting hold of the perfect bike.....impossible.
(im not wrong, there is no such thing as a "perfect" bike, EVERY bike I have ever seen has been modified in some way by the owner, henceforth it was never perfect in the first place.
Last edited by Martynbiker; 9 Sep 2007 at 17:28. Reason: spellin as per usual!
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Old 11 Sep 2007
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precautionary horn
When in Sanya, use your horn before you make any under or overtaking manouever. Us eyour horn as you make the manouever, and then use it to thank the gods that you weren't killed while making the manouever:that's assuming you weren't, which is a big assumption.

The traffic is abstract, frenetic, free flowing and free form and absolutely exhilerating after riding the sterile US states. It's an adrenilin rush in town and sensory overload once in the countryside.

Sanya, Hainan Island-riding up into the mountains and the remote villages...highly recommend it.
Pick up your bike from Gary Conway at the Rainbow Bar. It's where all the expat flotsum and jetsom wash up.

I'll add an email address and tel # soon.
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Old 12 Sep 2007
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Originally Posted by Martynbiker View Post
INDU you wrote "The perfect weapon against any and all threats: Vogon poetry, which is known to be lethal..."

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the only problem is.....those that have heard it....are dead.
so getting hold of it is a little bit like getting hold of the perfect bike.....impossible.
(im not wrong, there is no such thing as a "perfect" bike, EVERY bike I have ever seen has been modified in some way by the owner, henceforth it was never perfect in the first place.
Never thought of that... Well. I'll have to rely on the old towel then.
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Old 12 Sep 2007
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loose nut
I've no doubt that the death trap we are riding on has it's share of seized and loose nuts, but today's adventure came courtesy of a ride in the mangrove area of Hainan. Ruddy great breeze blew up from the sea and down they came, coconuts!
Not the little brown things we are used to at the fairground in the UK, great big green things the size of footballs. Bouncing down and across the road.
One minute we were riding a corridor of canopy covered shadows, the next we were running the gauntlet and very glad to be wearing our helmets even in 90% humidity.
Can coconuts understand zogon poetry, when it's mimed?
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Old 12 Sep 2007
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Never underestimate a coconut! You might try to mime Vogon poetry, but I believe you have to do it while in free fall alongside the coconut. The way to achieve this is by throwing yourself off a cliff, then miss the ground completely. I'm not sure if this works when throwing yourself off a coconut palm, though. Might be worth a try.
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Old 13 Sep 2007
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Quote:
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Never thought of that... Well. I'll have to rely on the old towel then.
Just remember "Don't Panic!"
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