As I have mentioned before, I was working in PNG in the 60's when it was a territory of Australia. On Sundays my friends and I would go for a scooter excursion usually including a picnic and a swim. It is always hot and humid in Pt Moresby as PNG is a tropical country. It was cooler in the mountains and we often drove into the foothills of the Owen Stanley Mountains which snake through the middle of the island longways making like the backbone of a huge animal.
Once again we took the road up to the village of Sogeri and stopped at the market for some fresh fruit.
We climbed further up the mountain and turned back towards Pt Moresby on a rough road which followed the ridge. It was called Hombrom's Bluff. Looking towards Moresby in the distance we could see the road we had come along. It was a breathtaking view.
photo-Charles
Sitting on the ridge overlooking the world below us. From L to R Bob, Graham, me, Pam behind me then there is Elwyn and Del. Del lives not far from me now and she enjoys reading these stories of our time n PNG.
L to R Graham, Del, Charles, Pam, Bob, me, Elwyn.
Everyone helped with the lunch but the boys usually made a BBQ. I have the blue pants and striped shirt.
photo - Charles
My new found friends, Elwyn (left) and Del (right). I lost contact with them after a few years and never heard of them again until in 2008 when I was found on the internet. Since then we have had yearly reunions but we haven't found everyone yet. Elwyn, Pam and Bob haven't been found.
It is interesting how the net has connected you people from the past. With all respect of course, not everyone your age has or knows the internet.
ReplyDeleteYou may have mentioned it, but did you have air con in buildings and your accommodation then? Nothing will stop you getting used to heat and humidity more than if you have air con inside.
Another wonderful adventure not too far from Australia.
ReplyDeleteMore wonderful memories Diane, those old slides have come up a treat.
ReplyDeleteSo nice you made so many photos at that time. They still look very good, had to smile at those glasses, we called it a "butterfly glasses" and I had them myself too in blue.
ReplyDeleteWe are both so lucky that we have so many photos from the past. Our teenage years though are quite different as my whole life was horses.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you have managed to find some of your friends again through the internet. Lots to talk about I am sure.
I have just recently met up with two friends that I was at school with in Rhodesia who I have not seen or heard of since I was 15! One lives here in France and the other has a holiday home here. Small world.
Have a great week Diane
What fun times you had. And I love finding old friends.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, there was no air conditioning in our accommodation, our car, our workplace or the shops. In the big Burns Philips store they still had punka fans but operated by a motor not black boys.
ReplyDeletemy favorite pic is the stunning view with the twisted tree in it. spectacular. number 6 and 9 are really great photos, love that winding road and the bikes on the road are just way cool to me and isn't the internet amazing at finding old friends?
ReplyDeletelove that last photo! really glad you've been able to reconnect!
ReplyDeleteHow neat that you have reunions with your friends from PNG. What great memories you have ---plus terrific photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat views from up there.. I'd love seeing that area.
Maybe Spring is finally coming to our area this week... I hope so since it has been a LONG winter and a crazy one!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
That was quite brave of you taking photos when riding pillion! How good to have linked up with some of your friends again.
ReplyDeleteThose are some dense jungles. And what an incredible view you had from Hombrum's Bluff. Great that you have reunions with people from your most interesting past.
ReplyDeleteHow cool you were found again by your long-lost friends via the Internet! I am sure so many connections are being made these days like that.
ReplyDeleteI can see you have been an adventurous traveler all your life. What amazing views you captured from this particular jaunt.
Wow...what a view.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun that would have been whizzing along on those classy Italian style scooters. I had to smile at the helmets!
ReplyDeleteDiane, the views are beautiful. What a lot of fun riding the scooters all around! It is nice that you were able to find some of your old friends. I hope the others show up too. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteYour old scanned pictures look wonderful on my IPad....so much better than on the PC, where I usually blog. Nice you got back in touch with at least some of your cohorts. The power of the Internet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing another fascinating excursion with us. The view from the ridge is magnificent. I'm glad you've reconnected with so many of your fellow teachers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a view from the top! I've just been asked to teach for a year in Indonesia but I'm not sure I could stand the heat.
ReplyDeleteA real trip down memory lane for you. Gtreat you have been able to reconnect with some of your friends from that season. The views from Hombrom's Bluff are spectacular.
ReplyDeleteWhat nice memories and such still beautiful pictures !
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be able to get together with your old friends after all those years. Lovely photos! Did you ever take a spill on those scooters? I was wondering because of the gravelly looking roads.
ReplyDeleteGreat views of the river and valey.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Hi all. I have known Diane since her first days in Port Moresby. How I came to meet her was strange. It was a beautiful Sunday morning on Ela Beach and I had my own scooter then. Anyhow,I saw this young woman was having problems with the seat on her Honda scooter, it was quite loose. I went up to her and asked if I could help and when she told me about the seat problem I saw that the long bolt that the seat hinged on had broken. I was at that time the automotive parts manager of Burns Philp, so I raced back on my scooter to the parts department, found a replacement bolt and lock nut,raced back to Ela Beach and fixed up Diane's scooter seat for her, and from that I got her into the Judo Club and Scooter Club, and the rest is "history" as they say. Diane has the perfect knack of describing her "Adventure before Dementia" articles for she was a great school teacher and no doubt a lot of those children learnt a lot from her. She is a truly fantastic person. Thank you Diane from all of us for your inspiring articles.
ReplyDeleteThose mountains look like the perfect place to escape the heat. I love the views you had from up there. It is fascinating to me that you have reunited with many of your former friends from that time.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness - just as well you weren't using a mobile phone to take photos from the pillion seat. Tsk tsk tsk.
ReplyDelete