Thursday, July 2, 2009

The footprint

I know they were here although have never met them before. They always appeared while I was not around. And they traveled in groups.

There are numerous evidences in the jungle that prove their existence.

I manage to dig out some of their information. They like to mark their trail with paper and their traditional symbol is the outline of a human foot.

They are the hashers.

I heard that they pre-laid their trails hours or days before the hash began, which involved chopping down of bushes and grasses. It must be very interesting to join them, except time is not on my side.

They may walk a long journey, trek from one hill to another, which takes hours to be completed.

At the end, I do still know not much about them.

HHH, 3H, Penang Hash House Harriers & Harriettes?

21 comments:

Icy BC said...

You have me all curious now! What are they? What is it?

betchai said...

i am just as curious too, if they are a group of trekkers?

Willie a.k.a Reptoz said...

Hmmm ... blur a bit.

Mike said...

Hash house harriers are runners who follow a trail left by other members of the group.

A quaint old colonial tradition which I am pleased to see is alive and well in modern day Malaysia.

It is also popular amongst foreigners in Thailand.

I think you should join them!

Sharkbytes said...

This looks like fun- sort of a forest game?

Kirigalpoththa said...

Me too curious..who are they? We used to mark our trails using stones / dried leaves etc...

Anonymous said...

I was wondering too what are hashers until I saw Mike's explanation. I learned something :)

Rick (Ratty) said...

Human tracks! This does look like a fun game. I saw something similar at one of my nature parks. This was something sponsored by the park for one time though, and I missed it.

Glennis said...

We have hash harriers here too, they set a trail and you must try to follow the signs, not that I have ever joined them.
Interesting post, kept everyone guessing.

Harshi said...

That's kinda cute way of marking trails.. lol

Were you referring to this? Also found a link about their history in here. It's such an interesting topic.. and wonder why I never heard of it before.

Thanks for sharing plus piquing our curiosity. =D

rainfield61 said...

Harumi:: You have done a good job to refer us to these valuable links.
Hashing is very popular over here in Malaysia.

Icy BC:: It is not my intention to make you all guessing. After all, you may have your doubt cleared by now.

betchai:: You got it right, but they are more than that.

Willie:: No more blurr-lah my friend by now.

rainfield61 said...

Mike:: Thanks for the explanation. Penang Hash House Harriers & Harriettes had held a special Run at DANOK, Thailand in last Feb.

Sharkbytes:: It must be very fun enough for me to envy.

Kirigalpoththa:: Better be careful, curiousity kills a cat. Hopefully you are not.

Mei Teng:: I have learned something too. Many people are as curious as me. Hahaha..

Ratty:: I can't tell how interesting it is until I join them later, if. And you can tell yours if you are able to...

Glennis:: You got it right. And seems like we are having the hash groups throughout the world.

Unknown said...

Ah, those are called hashers. Very informative and like Icy was curious at first til I saw Mike's explanations. Great post here rain as always. Not a little bit boring, always new to me.

Megaa said...

2 of my friends are serious hashers and have a big group. They are always wandering around my area, where this big bush at the back of my condo. I've never done one before but I always see them having a beer or 2 after the hash. Perhaps I'm gonna give it a try joining my friends the next time.

Unknown said...

Your trip sounds fascinating. Thanks for inviting us along.

Harshi said...

=D Really? That's cool. Not sure if it's popular in our country though.

Heather Dugan Creative / Footsteps said...

Sounds fun! They do this without GPS or compasses, just the papers?

WiseAcre said...

Good thing I'm not a Hasher or people would be walking around in endless circles trying to follow my trail.

rainfield61 said...

Pacey:: I always learn from comments. Sometimes they are even more interesting than the post.

Megaa_V:: Wah!! you must update me later after the fantastic run!!

Judy Sheldon-Walker:: Thanks for your visit. Trip in the jungle is always fascinating.

Harumi:: These Hash groups travel to many places, I do not know whether SL was one of them.

Footsteps:: They may not have used GPS, but actually I do not know much of them.

Wiseacre:: Ya!! Here come back your usual "lovely" comment. If it is you, then I shall run in endless circles.

Eng said...

interesting post.never heard of hash before. i am learning something new each day...

thanks for sharing this bit of info...

Joanne Olivieri said...

This seems like a forest scavenger hunt. Very mysterious and exciting. Can I play? :-)