ငါးမမီသော မောင်တော နေ့ရက်များ
I do not recall whose idea it was, but a fishing trip to the reservoir was confirmed.
Earlier that day, we met for breakfast at Toe Chan teashop, our weekly hangout place in Maungdaw.
At noon, we met again and purchased hooks and weights from the market. Ko Zaw Myint borrowed a fishing rod from Ko Aung Kyaw Than.
We were – Ko Zaw Myint, Ko Tin Tun Khine, Nyi Nyi @Shwe Maung Thein, and myself.
We set out without baits. It was still early in the day, and we could not get the shrimp.
The sun blazed hot as we travelled to the reservoir named “Mya Khan Thar”, which locates the opposite “May Yu” golf course. The distance would be over three miles and a half, the equivalent in Kilometres be five point six (5.6).
We got there by two motorbikes in pairs. Ko Zaw Myint and Ko Tin Tun Khine shared one bike, while Nyi Nyi and I took the other.
We spent around thirty minutes looking for a good spot. We walked to the left side of the reservoir, navigating through overgrown tall grasses and bushes. Eventually, we settled on a slopped area with overhanging branches, providing us with shades.
Ko Tin Tun and I left them to hunt for worms. I retraced the path we came, through the bushes, through the water pipe line. We flipped every stone and brick we came across, digging in the earth under the unbearable sun.
At noon, we met again and purchased hooks and weights from the market. Ko Zaw Myint borrowed a fishing rod from Ko Aung Kyaw Than.
We were – Ko Zaw Myint, Ko Tin Tun Khine, Nyi Nyi @Shwe Maung Thein, and myself.
We set out without baits. It was still early in the day, and we could not get the shrimp.
The sun blazed hot as we travelled to the reservoir named “Mya Khan Thar”, which locates the opposite “May Yu” golf course. The distance would be over three miles and a half, the equivalent in Kilometres be five point six (5.6).
We got there by two motorbikes in pairs. Ko Zaw Myint and Ko Tin Tun Khine shared one bike, while Nyi Nyi and I took the other.
We spent around thirty minutes looking for a good spot. We walked to the left side of the reservoir, navigating through overgrown tall grasses and bushes. Eventually, we settled on a slopped area with overhanging branches, providing us with shades.
Ko Tin Tun and I left them to hunt for worms. I retraced the path we came, through the bushes, through the water pipe line. We flipped every stone and brick we came across, digging in the earth under the unbearable sun.
Our exploration even led us to the golf course. Sadly, our herculean effort availed us nothing. We came back empty-handed. Meanwhile, Ko Zaw Myint and Nyi Nyi were fighting their own battle against leches. I, myself, also fell
victim to one.
In the end, we abandoned that spot and moved near the water tower. I made a few attempts with artificial bait, but the line got entangled with a cofferdam beneath the water tower and lost the blooming expensive artificial bait there. Ko Tin Tun Khine, however, managed to capture some shrimps in the shallow water and took them home to a pet.
Leaving with disappointment, we returned home that day without any fish to show our efforts.
In the mid of October, we made another fishing expedition. We went to a bridge near a village called “Pan Taw Pyin”. This time, we managed to get shrimps for baits.
We found our spot under the old bridge’s foundation. The old bridge and the new bridge are parallel to each other.
The tide was going out. On the opposite riverbank stood a checkpoint.
In the end, we abandoned that spot and moved near the water tower. I made a few attempts with artificial bait, but the line got entangled with a cofferdam beneath the water tower and lost the blooming expensive artificial bait there. Ko Tin Tun Khine, however, managed to capture some shrimps in the shallow water and took them home to a pet.
Leaving with disappointment, we returned home that day without any fish to show our efforts.
In the mid of October, we made another fishing expedition. We went to a bridge near a village called “Pan Taw Pyin”. This time, we managed to get shrimps for baits.
We found our spot under the old bridge’s foundation. The old bridge and the new bridge are parallel to each other.
The tide was going out. On the opposite riverbank stood a checkpoint.
One thing I noticed was that Nyi Nyi was good at making fishing knots. I had him do mine.
A group of Muslim men were also fishing on the other side. A few of them were using cast nets. One of them caught a big fish. I overhead a solider forcing him to sell them at a lower price.
I do not know why but we attracted crabs more than fish. I was not sure it was the strong odour of the shrimps that drew crabs than fish. Believe me, catching crabs is easier said than done. Many would say grab them from the back so that their craws would not pinch you. Sure, it sounds simple until you try.
Unfortunately, we did not catch any fish there, only crabs. So, we tried from the new bridge but no avail. We were so determined even as the day drew to a close, hoping to catch even a small one.
There is always something about the sky’s colour when the sun is about to set. It paints a beautiful scene.
The sun set and the day ended.
In the distance, a group of soldiers were taking a bath in the river.
A group of Muslim men were also fishing on the other side. A few of them were using cast nets. One of them caught a big fish. I overhead a solider forcing him to sell them at a lower price.
I do not know why but we attracted crabs more than fish. I was not sure it was the strong odour of the shrimps that drew crabs than fish. Believe me, catching crabs is easier said than done. Many would say grab them from the back so that their craws would not pinch you. Sure, it sounds simple until you try.
Unfortunately, we did not catch any fish there, only crabs. So, we tried from the new bridge but no avail. We were so determined even as the day drew to a close, hoping to catch even a small one.
There is always something about the sky’s colour when the sun is about to set. It paints a beautiful scene.
The sun set and the day ended.
In the distance, a group of soldiers were taking a bath in the river.
Once again for the second time that day, we returned home with no fish but a few carbs which we enjoyed at Ma Khin Thandar Htay’s house that night.