Botia kubotai in natural habitat

[Graeme Robson]

Good to see they are enjoying the environment with wood!

[MaryJ]

What a lovely place, why would you want to leave it? How did you get back up that hill with the vehicles???????

[MaryJ]

I just noticed the water wheel, what is this person doing?

[Martin Thoene]

I don't know exactly what they're doing Mary, but I can tell you how it works.

The water wheel turns towards us and rotates the whole large log that runs from it left/right across the shore. The flat wooden planks projecting out from this large log act as cams and as they come around, they push down on the far end of those angled logs, one of which is propped up. I suspect there is a loose joint where the smaller left/right log is notched.

The planks touch the end of the log, force it down, raising the end closest to the viewer. As the plank continues to rotate, it releases the log and the end with the round-ended piece mounted at 90 degrees comes crashing down into the hard receptacle on and partially in the ground.

I suspect this contains something that gets pounded, maybe a grain. Possibly making flour?

Martin.

[Nonn]

The total distance from where we parked our car at the last ranger station and the closest paved road is approx. 85 km., yet it took us about 8 hours to drive, that is how we get back up those hill.

Yes Martin that is exactly how its work, the woman is using that tool as a rice mill. I will post some more picture of before-after when I get home.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Right, and she's got a beam in place so she doesn't get bonked by it. Very clever Martin, and good of MaryJ to mention it. I can't wait to see more.

[Nonn]

ฺBefore:



After:

[JD]

Nonn, as if the other responses weren't enough, I wanted to say thanks for the cool shots!! I find it extremely interesting to see where these fish come from. The stream shots, especially the under water ones are very cool. I also find the surrounding shots just as interesting if not more so. The rice mill was a shot that can really put into perspective the "Feel" of the place.

Thanks again, anxiously awaiting the next installment.
JD