Mantas 3 Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Originally Posted By: spook i haven't surfed israel but have seen the pics. wouldn't take a board there but would definitely borrow or hire one, just for the novelty value. That's pretty much what it was. Though I must say Tel-Aviv has a pretty strong surf scene and some consistent punchy 3 foot peaks. The world still has loads of unexplored surf spots . I just dont think the quality of surf would be that good when you find them. Most of the best waves have already been discovered.IMO. A couple of other off the beaten track places I've surfed are Guatemala and Nicaragua. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 so you did surf in israel mantas? israelis are up there with brazilians in my book for being animals in the water. plus none of them can surf. they finish their national service and go travelling, all pumped up and they're all mental. sometimes in a fun way, sometimes not. just my opinion. i've met some cool isaeli's in my travels, but on the whole i find them kinda aggro, especially in the surf, and especially as they're mostly kooks Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 how bout a country count then. me (a paltry 11): oz nz indo maldives vietnam (ankle to knee high windslop, but i got at least a dozen decent ride so i'm counting it! my parents lived there and my old man reckons it got pretty good at time) england france spain portugal morocco south africa Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 I agree what you say about the Israeli's. I never met any in a group smaller than ten. We bought a car off a bunch of them in Costa Rica, man were they hard to deal with. It took 3 days to broker the deal, we nearly called Bill Clinton in to mediate. OK My brag list. Oz( WA and SA included) Indo Fiji New Caledonia Chile Peru Costa Rica Mexico (mainland) Nicaragua Guatemala USA (Hawaii) South Africa Portugal Israel Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 what were you doing in israel, and when were you there? out of curiousity, how much were you arguing about for the car? the difference of a even a thousand bucks is only $100 per sleer in that situation. ridiculous. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 I was there for only a couple of weeks in 1990. We came up from Eygpt through the Sinai. We had a military escort through the Gaza strip. As far as the middle east goes, things were pretty stable at the time, still freaked me out a little, all those machine guns. The car- We paid $800 US. It was worth about $200, but it was the only car for sale with Canadian plates (that's where we were going). We made it all the way to Canada in it. 12000 miles. The Quebec Provincial Police took it off us on our way to Mount Tremblant. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 did you need a carnet to get the car across borders? and if not, why the need for canadian plates - can you take a central american registered car into the US? Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 Bear in mind this was 12 years ago Spook. At the time it was the best option, as far as all the authorities were concerned, we were just a couple of Gringos on our way home. Each border crossing was a hassle with loads of bribes paid. Nicaragua/Honduras was the worst. We were pulled over loads of times in the states, mainly due to the condition of the car. We had 3 squad cars on us one day in Ohio because I admitted to owning a machete. I told them the truth, it was for coconuts, (which probably wasn't the best line, not to many coconuts in Ohio). He was sure I was a drug running murderer. They stripped the car on the road side. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 that's hilarious. we got pulled over many times in europe, with cops usually searching the van for drugs. the first trip we did i was very blase and had heaps of weed from the netherlands stashed, but wasn't at all concerned about crossing borders with it, even back to the uk. got through 2 or 3 thorough searches and they didnt find it. it was quite a dumb thing to do. on our second trip i was smart enough not to keep stuff on us, especially crossing from morocco to spain. once in belgium often we had the music in our van pumping so loud we didn't hear the sirens and kept driving for several kilometres before realising. the cop made us pull everything out, and when he saw my boards he was fascinated by them and then promptly let us go Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 >once in belgium often we had the music in our van pumping so loud we didn't hear the sirens and kept driving for several kilometres before realising> That happened to us too Spook, in South Carolina. We were pulled over by one of those good ol boys with mirrored sunnies. Had had his gun out and all. He said "where the hell you from boy?" I said "Australia" He said "yawl do that shit in Orrrstralya"? I thought I just stepped into a Smoky and the Bandit film. I think the best part of any foreign road trip is the run-ins with the law. I wish I could show you a photo of the car. It was a 1978 Cutless Sierra Coupe. Pimped up to the max. We had lashed to the roof with rope. surfboards, snowboards, skis, camping gear, spare wheels, mexican pottery.... We didn't quite cut the scene when we pulled up in the carpark in Vail Colorado. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 23, 2008 Author Share Posted February 23, 2008 Had some good waves the last few days. A solid E/NE swell, 4-6 foot with occasional bigger sets. Surfed 5 hours yesterday, arms are like jelly. Just thought I'd mention that. Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 i am very happy for you mantas. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 f#ck off Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 23, 2008 Author Share Posted February 23, 2008 he..hee..he Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Originally Posted By: Mantas he..hee..he Now let's not be a smart ass Me, 3ft and offshore Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 the surf at merewether was going off today. a solid six foot or so. pity i could not go out. roflmfao Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 Originally Posted By: Indo Originally Posted By: Mantas he..hee..he Now let's not be a smart ass Me, 3ft and offshore Your either very very short or very very deep. I feel for ya Koko. A real winter pattern today. Struggled for waves up here. I copped a flogging. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I'd say I'm much bigger than the regular garden gnome variety! Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 so is it always overhead when you're surfing too? surf is flat as a pancake here, and i can't be arsed driving down south to battle the crowds for some fun. did a senior first aid course on the weekend instead. 5 weeks to indo...... yeeeuuuuuwww! Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Not here.. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 Originally Posted By: spook so is it always overhead when you're surfing too? surf is flat as a pancake here, and i can't be arsed driving down south to battle the crowds for some fun. did a senior first aid course on the weekend instead. 5 weeks to indo...... yeeeuuuuuwww! Ever had to stitch anyone up Spook? Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 nup. not looking forward to it either. for minor stuff you can get those bandages which pull wounds together, similar to stitches. you boys ever had to do it? Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Yep.. my mum gave me a course in stiches.. Came in very handy.. with some courage from a bottle of arak as I'm a bit weak around the old insides! Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 I stitched my mates foot at Red Bluff years ago, not really sure if he needed it. I think we just did it so we could be 'knarly dudes'. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 One of the problems with going to places like you are going is tending to the locals. If you take pity on some poor kid with a wicked infected foot, then treat him using your supplies. Along come a dozen more kids with the same or even worse problems. You end up watching your precious little medical kit dwindle away leaving bugger all for yourself if you need it. It's a hard call. Link to post Share on other sites
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