K.N.L.A. 7th Brigade Headquarters Burma (Myanmar) in the Karen State.
We would now go along with Hon. Captain Richie and Lt. Colonel Paw Doh, cross the Moei River to meet up with Brigadier General Johnny, Commander of the 7th Brigade. 
Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) the military wing of the Karen National Union (KNU). 
 

In battle, confrontation is done directly,
victory is gained by surprise,
Sun Tzu

All was now set, we would be taken in a few days time to the base camp of the elite 101 Battalion. 

It is easy to be brave,
from a safe distance.
Aesop
Base camp Battalion 101.
After a few more days in Mae Sot where we spent our time visiting Karen refugee camps, under the disguise of Christian missionary workers, we would once again travel up the Moei River to the base camp of the 101 Battalion. 

The first thing we noticed when we arrived at the camp was how many of them were missing arms and legs, which gave us both the chilling feeling, we weren’t there to play Paint Ball. And we also knew we were now entering one of the densest concentrations of land mines in the world. Two/thirds of it lay contaminated by anti-personnel land mine devices. 
It was easy to settle in, they were all so very friendly and seemed happy to have us around. We would now sleep on hard bamboo and eat rice three times a day. The cooks really did a great job with the food, and we had also bought along about 30 cans of tuna for them to put in the rice. Also to supplement their diet, most of them have gings to shoot down tiny little quails from the trees, and they are very accurate with them. 

Over the next few days we did all the normal things you do when you’re at war, watched them make home made anti-personnel devices, played volley ball, watching T.V. at night and of course it was Burma (Myanmar) shows we now watched. And it was lights out every night at 8pm. 

The day had finally come, tomorrow we would be going out with them on patrol, led by Sgt. Major Poe Htoo. His only instructions to us...“I have a happy face and I have an angry face...you believe me, if I say fight, you fight o.k...you understand?” 

Dawn and we set off.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, a quote by Confucious I have once said before, and from here on we would be very careful where we were stepping. 
However we were barely out of the camp when I made my first mistake. I stepped off the track, to video them going by...and was immediately told...“No cannot, land mines.”
Up and down the rugged terrain and within only an hour we were stuck in a land mine area. No one was saying much or moving at all, except for the scout who had gone the wrong way. The concentration and the look in his eyes, was all that we needed to know...don’t move. This was all very new to me, I didn’t even get it on video, and later we realised that they weren’t even the enemies land mines, they were the K.N.L.A. land mines.

This was how we spent our day, climbing up and down rocky tracks, wading through water, up and down valleys and streams, across bridges and planks and stopping at Karen controlled villages along the way.

The first village we stopped at, the village master told the Sgt. Major that the S.P.D.C. Burmese army had been there only 30 minutes earlier, and pointed in the direction that they went. I was happy when we set off in another direction.

 

As I have said before, I have a daughter in the Australian Airforce and she has served her country in Afghanistan. When I told her where I was going she said...“Dad, that’s not a real war.” So I told her more about it and the fact that it’s the world’s longest Civil War. After researching the subject for herself, she spat the dummy the following day saying...“Dad...I went to a secured site in Afghanistan, your going to a non-secured site.” I must say it was really good to know my little war baby cared. She went on and on, how to put on your boots and socks over your trousers to protect your feet. And when I told her I was taking my gym boots, she went off. At around dusk we finally arrived after a long journey, and we were also carrying heavy backpacks with equipment in them. Camera equipment, tripods, also solar panels to charge up the camera batteries, cans of food etc. We were warned to travel light, and the backpack did get the better of me at least twice, throwing me off balance and into the jungle. However it was a good warning for me, to take more care when walking along small edges of the mountain cliffs.

Karen controlled outpost. 
We had a surprise for the soldiers at the outpost, a pig I bought from the last village, this would be a real treat for all the soldiers.
For me a sleepless night, as my preparation in making my bed on a slight slope proved to be insufficient, sliding down during the night especially when the drizzle of rain set in. Also earlier I had asked the Sgt. Major...“Why doesn’t the S.P.D.C. army just come over that hill?”...and he replied...“They already have before.” You see I felt trapped and failed to see the strategic location.

Morning Karen outpost.
I was the first up as I barely went down, however I had learnt something. Take more time making your sleeping area, because with all that walking you need your sleep. 
I was lucky to have my faithful new student Gay Kaw the Medic and training helped pass the time away, over the days to come. 

Boxing techniques .. Aikido locks .. Not only was Gay Kaw a great medic, he was an excellent soldier. Also if you happen to step on a land mine, well that is the easy part. “BANG” and it’s gone, but now the horror sets in and a medic will cut away the flesh, usually with a sharp pocket knife. Then saw off the remaining stump of bone, stop the bleeding, stitch you back up and you’re all done, also without an anaesthetic. 

And to be honest the 101 will never need any of my martial arts tactics, why? Because they never get that close to the enemy, something I would learn in the days to come. 

Leaving our outpost to heaven knows where.
Because their English is not so good, we never really knew what we were doing. And for me now it was going to be very difficult...why? Because of all the times to get sick now was the time. The Sgt. Major has a watchful eye over all, and knows I’m not well...and is trying to get me to eat something knowing that if I don’t eat, I may slow the battalion.