Opium experiences OVERSEAS. Harvest, production, smoking and purchasing.

[samuraigecko]

hello again

SWIM was wondering if, like SWIM, other SWIM's may have had experiences in the above mentioned topic. As One has mentioned before, SWIM has had a fair bit of experience in a few of these area's (harvesting/making/using O) and used me to outline them (for informational and educational purposes only) in other threads. The majority of SWIM's experience comes from his travels in S.E.Asia, mainly Thailand, Laos, Burma and parts of Cambodia. SWIM also has visited and seen alot of other backwater "lost in the jungle" places in the Indonesian Islands and Micronesia. Please outline any experience people one may know might have possibly had here, SWIM will also do the same from time to time.

If one has a question about something in particular to the subject of the above topic one may ask it as SWIM is quite knowledgeable in these areas as are other people that some of the members here know.

Stories related to the above topic though please.

[keats]

SWIM is so jealous, SE asia is definately his next destination, he's been to east asia a couple times (china and japan) but has always wanted to go to laos/vietnam/cambodia/burma. He also has a great interest in opium (though is not the main reason he wants to visit) and while it may be a year or two before he makes it over there he'd appreciate some advance advice.

You mentioned in another thread that the locals tend to save the good, cooked opium for themselves and give tourists the shitty black stuff. Did you find a way around this? Particular destinations that were more generous/had better stuff or a way to reques the cooked variety? SWIM has found this kind of thing common in his travels, and not just with drugs, and it's always hard as an american, even an informed one, to get a good deal. Any tips on finding the best opium while touring SE asia?

[samuraigecko]

Originally Posted by keats

"while it may be a year or two before he makes it over there he'd appreciate some advance advice."

"Any tips on finding the best opium while touring SE asia?"

SWIM has some very important things to keep in mind while visiting S.E.Asia. The "police" there mainly work off bribes, the more money one has the easier one can stay out of jail. One can practically get away with ANYTHING if one has the cash. SWIM's first time at an O den SWIM was referred to by a German guy was a frightening experience as it also turned out to be an illegal sex trade den and that was what SWIM was paying for also, so make sure one is CLEAR on exactly the prices and what One is to get before One enters into anything - otherwise one may find ones self in a room full of people whom he has paid to have which are of rather questionable age () which SWIM is SURE that no one wants or even should want.

SWIM made the best results eventually by learning the language enough to get by and by visiting the places that are "off the beaten track" this can be dangerous but it proved fun for SWIM. One would be inclined to be careful of some O-dens as occasionally SWIM says it can be a set up and they can cash in on tourists by doing this, both monetarily and with arrest numbers. Ask some of the westerner tourists whom have been there for a while, they are more inclined to know the in's and out's of such places.

As far as finding the best O . . . going off the beaten tracks and finding the places nearer where production occurs, One would more likely find what One is after a hell of a lot easier. It also helps to know what One is looking at. Raw O gum would be black and sticky usually but sometimes hard and black / brown. SWIM says that the "cooked" forms are usually more amber in hue and almost crystalline when you take a better look at it although it is usually still fairly dark.

If SWIY has anymore specific advice he would wish to know he can feel free to ask SWIM at any time.