About Basho

Bio: Philosopher, filmmaker, writer and AI expert. Occupation: Head of AI for a large corporation. Interests: Watches, debate, cooking, computer-gaming, reading, writing, videoing, martial arts, air­soft, movies, diving, skiing… (The list goes on — Basho is a philosopher and therefore into everything!)
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Magpul PTS AEG – Part Two

2021-03-29T10:47:55+01:00

The first thing that hits you when you are trying to sling the Magpul PTS is that it is not heavy. Even with a battery and loaded P-Mag in, it still is lighter than many AEG’s. This is due to mainly to the size of the gun, the skeletonised stock and the light but strong plastic in the hand guards. I slung it to a Chalker “Tactical Bra” sling that hangs the gun directly on the bodies centre line. It was short enough that when I knelt it did not strike the mud, but of course if you are tiny then this may still happen to you.

Magpul PTS AEG – Part Two2021-03-29T10:47:55+01:00

Tactical Man Watch?

2016-10-18T18:53:02+01:00

My friend, “Big D”, gave me a going away present when I announced that I was leaving for a year. It was, what he called, a “Tactical Man Band”. That is the classic macramé bracelets beloved of Girl Guides, made out of super strong and manly paracord used by soldiers. Not girly at all. Seriously. You, stop laughing.

Tactical Man Watch?2016-10-18T18:53:02+01:00

Tokyo Marui Pro Goggle Review

2021-03-29T10:49:42+01:00

After coming home from my travels I accessed my secure shipping container and got out all my airsoft gear. GZ is coming and I wanted to do a ops check and full clean so I would be ready. My old, fantastic, HFC mesh mask had seen better days. After considering the risk of using rusty mesh, I benched the mask and started hunting around for another solution. There was something else too. My team now play 24h milsim games. As I was going to join them, I needed a face rig that would enable me to eat and sleep in the field, but not be a compromise on safety.

Tokyo Marui Pro Goggle Review2021-03-29T10:49:42+01:00

Vietnam – Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh city

2016-10-18T18:53:14+01:00

Vietnam was always on our list of countries to visit, but I must admit to having been slightly nervous about it. Not because it was Communist or “different” from home- by then, Cesca and I had been through all sorts of strange cultures including Muslim nations, Eastern Block style Communist havens and even Australia. What was actually getting us nervous was the constant reports from our friends about the Vietnamese unfriendliness. Time and time again people, who had already been through Vietnam, would display a sort of nervous laugh and glance at each other before answering our questions. This was exacerbating our reaction to another incident right back before we even left English shores.

Vietnam – Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh city2016-10-18T18:53:14+01:00

Cambodia – devils and angels

2016-10-18T18:53:19+01:00

One of the things that strikes you in Cambodia is the lack of any social services. Thus, it is very common to be approached by beggars missing various limbs or even their eyesight. Indeed, it is so common that since experiencing Cambodia I have been totally impervious to other countries beggars; none could reach the suffering of these poor souls.

Cambodia – devils and angels2016-10-18T18:53:19+01:00

The American War

2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

They say the better part of travelling is meeting the people from the countries you visit.  They do not say how much that meeting will affect you, neither how heartbreaking such encounters can be.  The first time I met a one legged man in Laos, while visiting COPE – the charity for the war injured, I asked him how he lost his leg? “The American’s took it,” he replied.

The American War2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

Slumdog Millionaire Movie Review

2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

Cesca and I sat in the heat of the Mumbai movie theatre around the corner from the Victoria Station – that defining landmark at the centre of the city – and waited for the film to start. All around us were packed in hundreds of the Mumbai crowd. I scanned their faces. The film was in English with no subtitles, other than those found in the international edition, so most of the audience were those more educated types who understand English very well. None-the-less, I was sure that all over the city a large variety of people packed in to cinemas and movie houses to see this film and its greatest star.

Slumdog Millionaire Movie Review2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

ATC 2K video camera review

2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

There are times in film making when you want to be able to capture environments that destroy normal equipment.  There are times when you need to be able to get a strange view point of the action.  There are times when you need to be able to leave the camera running and concentrate on something else.  These are also times when a full size camera would interfere with what you are shooting.

ATC 2K video camera review2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

Christopher Ward Kingfisher Diver-Pro review

2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

What makes a man’s watch? It seems to me that the big names in male watches are struggling to sell their brands. Unfortunately this has led to truly hideous watches that have all the hallmarks of a marketing department struggling with not only reality, but also a sense of the times. The times are hard.

Christopher Ward Kingfisher Diver-Pro review2016-10-18T18:53:25+01:00

Malaysia: Highlands to Langkawi

2016-10-18T18:53:26+01:00

The Cameron Highlands, well named that they are, are the tea growing centre of Malaysia.  The temperature up the top is a good 4 degrees less than in the cities and a nice breeze helps take off a few more.  It is a place of gentile rolling tea fields under mountainous peaks.  I found this much more to my liking!

Malaysia: Highlands to Langkawi2016-10-18T18:53:26+01:00

Malaysia: Melaka to Kuala Lumpur

2016-10-18T18:53:26+01:00

Our first port of call in Malaysia was the UNESCO town of Melaka, which is nestled on the west coast of the peninsula below Kuala lumpur.  The journey from Singapore to the town was uneventful being mainly two good roads (the 1 and the 5), but I was feeling an increasingly vivid sense of excitement about truly getting into SEA and taking that first footsteps on our journey. 

Malaysia: Melaka to Kuala Lumpur2016-10-18T18:53:26+01:00

Singapore: Gateway to SE Asia

2016-10-18T18:53:26+01:00

The hottest cold One of the first things that hits you on arrival to Singapore airport is the intense cold.  Litres of Icy cold air is blasted at you from almost all directions from a myriad of air-conditioning machines the size of skyscrapers and it is quite nice to get outside and experience a little heat for a while.  Air-conditioning has been taken to new heights by the Singaporeans, indeed the entire Tube system is frosty cold conditioned, as is every single mall and many of the pavement steps surrounding them.  To walk around Singapore is to be blasted by heat and cold at such extremes you wonder if you have wandered into a new form of torture.

Singapore: Gateway to SE Asia2016-10-18T18:53:26+01:00

Auckland

2016-10-18T18:53:40+01:00

Basho and Cesca visit the largest city in New Zealand

Auckland2016-10-18T18:53:40+01:00

Welcome to New Zealand

2024-06-06T17:03:01+01:00

New Zealand is a country Cesca and I have longed to visit for many years. Tales speak of this island and its seemingly unique people. That they are more friendly than the most sociable of Australian’s, more “outdoors-loving” than even Scottish highlanders and more into extreme sports than anyone outside Cirque-de-soleil! Moreover, all of the “Kiwis” I have met have been the most persuasive of ambassadors as they have a deep and abiding love of their country, a great love of sporting life and and all of them stand a pint.

Welcome to New Zealand2024-06-06T17:03:01+01:00
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