Long ago (and very far away) I paddled for a few weeks out of Hong Kong. There are about a dozen (I forget exactly) islands between there and Macao, and the great Hainan Island not too far away by train. I took a folding Feathercraft K1 and had a wonderful, challenging and rewarding time. Camping was easy on almost all of the islands. No-one could read the Chineese character flash cards I had an educated HK man draw for me (May I sleep here? Where can I get water? Is this water safe to drink? I need medical attention - can you assist me? etc. etc.). I saw a giant sea monster sort of like the Loch Ness monster: several undulating humps, about 50' long. It turned out to be four dolphins in a row, perfectly synchronized. I saw the "edge of the earth" since the southern-most island has nothing except water between it and Australia. I found burried treasure while sifting my toes under the sand on my first island camping beach - an ancient abacus and weighing stick. The marvelous things which happened on that trip have filled several articles and many slide shows. But you get the idea. What was tough? I could get NO local knowledge because it was impossible to communicate with anyone who was close to the sea, fishermen and the like. I developed what knowledge I could by four days of observations before putting my kayak in the water. To cross to the islands one must traverse hydrofoil lines, between and among the islands which reduce sight distances. Hydrofoils go at 55 knots, and they close the distance as they pass each other in opposing directions at 110 knots. There were over 40 passings during daylight hours while I was there.... Dealing with the local authories was impossible. They could not grant me permission to do any paddling either in HK or in China (two different countries when I paddled there. But, after much "debate" I learned that they also could not deny me permission. After all, they had no laws or precedents! These debate stories could fill an hour of story telling. Way out to sea, at about noon one fine day, all by myself, this was the conversation... Chineese Coast Guard: "Where is your motor?" Joanne:"I have a paddle." CGC: Where are you going? J: To the island named xxxxx in that direction. CGC: No, that is impossible- it is too far! (There happened to be no closer land so where else might I be heading?) CGC: Where have you come from? J: The island named yyyyyy in that direction. CGC: No, that is impossible, it is too far! (No closer land, again). CGC: Where is your passport? J: In the back of my kayak. CGC: Will you show it to us? J: Certainly - just hoist my kayak upon your ship and I'll unpack it right away (one never says the "no" word in Asian countries). And, finally after a half an hour of this... J: May I have permission to proceed? CGC: No, we can not give you permission. J: I need to be on my way because the tide will soon turn and the current will be against me so I will never make it to the island xxxxx. CGC: Well, we can not give you permission and you will not make it there anyway because it is too far. J: (finally, after several rounds) Will you deny me permission? CGC: No, we can not deny you permission. J: Well, then I will be on my way now. CGC: We will only allow you to pass if we are your escort. You will be crossing the hydrofoil lines and it is very dangerous. J: Certainly, let's go then. And off we went, at four knots, with them yelling at three hydrofoils over their loud speaker system to stop them all in their paths. Of course I could not understand the verbal salvos passed among them all, but I certainly could tell that these on-time hydrofoil captains were very unhappy with being stopped so some tiny red kayak could slowly pass.-- So, to answer the original question, I have no idea whether there might be a kayak store or instruction there, but I would suggest your friend go to the Dragon Boat Association on the back waters of Tai-O village on Lantau island and seek assistance from the club members there. They were most hospitable to me (but that's another story) and did have some olympic style K1 kayaks in addition to their dragon boats. They will know what ever is knowable about kayaking locally. Joanne Turner Southwind Kayak Center, Inc. 17855 Sky Park Circle #A, Irvine, CA 92614 U.S.A. 949-261-0200 or 800-SOUTHWIND (800-768-8494) info_at_southwindkayaks.com doug_at_southwindkayaks.com joanne_at_southwindkayaks.com http://www.southwindkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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