tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post1804962665686136141..comments2024-03-28T14:47:32.549+10:00Comments on ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA: A PICNIC I'LL NEVER FORGETdiane bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002292118984909883noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-69892575150447472522014-04-24T14:36:19.697+10:002014-04-24T14:36:19.697+10:00I did this myself in the early sixties. I was born...I did this myself in the early sixties. I was born in PNG and left when eighteen. Would not swap my childhood for anyone's. This is just one of the marvellous places in that garden of eden called PNGAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05054306164910260744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-90917747913734275612014-03-11T18:55:36.020+10:002014-03-11T18:55:36.020+10:00I loved the story and it brought back every vivid ...I loved the story and it brought back every vivid memory of the picnic I went on as an 8 year old in 1962. I have almost identical photos - however, somehow we missed out on a photo of the truck. I think because we had lived in PNG for some time that it was just considered normal.Hthrkenyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06980425013204409648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-27574094601672552962014-01-31T23:05:13.576+10:002014-01-31T23:05:13.576+10:00Your stories and photos make for top-notch armchai...Your stories and photos make for top-notch armchair travel - not just to another place but another time :)FruitCakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15660225514077942415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-56319142925092360082014-01-28T10:31:32.478+10:002014-01-28T10:31:32.478+10:00What a beautiful picnic area, that taxi looked lik...What a beautiful picnic area, that taxi looked like it would give you a rough ride............lol Jo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-55937927831181619482014-01-26T16:30:03.942+10:002014-01-26T16:30:03.942+10:00Makes me wish I had been a photographer when I was...Makes me wish I had been a photographer when I was young. <br /><br />I had no adventure as good as this. I remember heading off for a drive to a swimming hole somewhere outside Moresby but after several miles bumping along a corrugated road decided my little car was not up to it and turned back.Joan Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16358008925558240778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-56107403870632765042014-01-26T14:36:16.826+10:002014-01-26T14:36:16.826+10:00Wow, you have had some adventures in your life, an...Wow, you have had some adventures in your life, and I love the fact that you share them with us out here. I loved reading this :)DeniseinVAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08494518513936310345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-15599982140925164612014-01-26T09:51:08.579+10:002014-01-26T09:51:08.579+10:00What an adventure! Love the picnic dresses. I re...What an adventure! Love the picnic dresses. I remember going to a family gathering of Bill's big family (before we were married) wearing pedal pushers... and having all his aunts and grandmas etc be a little horrified! Ladies wore dresses in their world.Sallie (FullTime-Life)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15442598857394838271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-37448956690975816772014-01-26T09:28:04.885+10:002014-01-26T09:28:04.885+10:00What an amazing experience. Somehow the dresses in...What an amazing experience. Somehow the dresses in the photos just add to the antidote of it all!<br /><br />So happy you're sharing this with "Oh, the PLACES I've been!".<br /><br />- The TablescaperThe Tablescaperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13046015889036397874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-22099369023481503782014-01-25T23:55:13.073+10:002014-01-25T23:55:13.073+10:00No wonder that you never will forget this adventur...No wonder that you never will forget this adventure ! That was indeed a very special picnic ! Gattinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636525277807715146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-45915372014462183212014-01-25T16:37:02.367+10:002014-01-25T16:37:02.367+10:00I had to laugh at the taxi but then I really did n...I had to laugh at the taxi but then I really did not expect a yellow cab either. What a fantastic place for a picnic and what a nice break for all of you. I have flown in one of those old DC3's up in AK, it is quite an experience. SquirrelQueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00634513897599275287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-84441418351925870282014-01-25T00:55:36.326+10:002014-01-25T00:55:36.326+10:00Fantastic! What memories AND photos you have Diane...Fantastic! What memories AND photos you have Diane... Its hard to imagine anyone getting on a plane to go to a picnic destination these days, it would be too complicated !PerthDailyPhotohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14077053209100022305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-13861118064642366552014-01-24T19:39:57.611+10:002014-01-24T19:39:57.611+10:00You have had some amazing and memorable experience...You have had some amazing and memorable experiences. I would have thought they would have been small planes up there.<br />Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18126729697434479230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-22572252348810587372014-01-24T18:24:10.934+10:002014-01-24T18:24:10.934+10:00What an adventure Diane .... I love that old Taxi ...What an adventure Diane .... I love that old Taxi Truck and can imagine the bumpy ride ahead.Diannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806482148547283594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-83011454045545763182014-01-24T11:54:11.565+10:002014-01-24T11:54:11.565+10:00I had to smile at your dressy little frocks on boa...I had to smile at your dressy little frocks on board the sweltering plane and truck! Thank goodness you were allowed swim suits! (Yes - that was the 60's at my college, too - very proper for those of us in teacher training!)Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04984171407726520584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-15944523798940281152014-01-24T11:30:08.529+10:002014-01-24T11:30:08.529+10:00I laughed at the taxi. There would not be too many...I laughed at the taxi. There would not be too many people in this world who have been on such a picnic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-13423623999678807462014-01-24T08:43:59.327+10:002014-01-24T08:43:59.327+10:00What a picnic. Loved the details about the plane, ...What a picnic. Loved the details about the plane, the heat, freezing cold water and having to wear a dress.Fun60https://www.blogger.com/profile/08084441984556826917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-22783017633040326782014-01-24T08:00:20.410+10:002014-01-24T08:00:20.410+10:00I'm amazed how much detail you recall from you...I'm amazed how much detail you recall from your early years. I guess having photo prints helps. A lot of our family photos were on transparencies/slides and got damaged and lost over the years. But even so i doubt if I could remember so much.jennyfreckleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12221511824958069710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-15066557910063790992014-01-24T05:32:59.007+10:002014-01-24T05:32:59.007+10:00Oh My Heart... LOVE that waterfall --and swimming ...Oh My Heart... LOVE that waterfall --and swimming area. Bet that water felt good in that heat...<br /><br />Unbelievable about having to wear a dress... Guess it was hard to get on and off that 'taxi'... ha<br /><br />Hugs,<br />BetsyBetsy Banks Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16223591156634767330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-52397300559155261372014-01-24T05:14:37.090+10:002014-01-24T05:14:37.090+10:00This was a picnic of a life time! You went to a b...This was a picnic of a life time! You went to a beautiful and exotic area, and the modes of transportation gave you even more to remember.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06923630536753873113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-69537488552384410512014-01-24T04:47:11.132+10:002014-01-24T04:47:11.132+10:00What a unique and memorable experience! I'm su...What a unique and memorable experience! I'm sure you would never agree to ride on such a rickety plane now, but I bet yiu'd love to revisit this little piece of paradise!Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoritihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08922525910685129822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-37414570212284012512014-01-24T01:43:06.253+10:002014-01-24T01:43:06.253+10:00just amazing to be flown to such a beautiful and r...just amazing to be flown to such a beautiful and remote area. :) love your tales!TexWisGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641962051044162710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-147496477834879842014-01-23T23:46:24.052+10:002014-01-23T23:46:24.052+10:00Oh Diane you have had so many wonderful adventures...Oh Diane you have had so many wonderful adventures in your life what a great way for us to experience the with you through this blog. Crocodiles well that is a little scary not to mention the plane ride but so worth it. Beautiful. HugBButtons Thoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05029439906543077861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-45269198208500432322014-01-23T23:45:15.518+10:002014-01-23T23:45:15.518+10:00What an amazing adventure, and no wonder you remem...What an amazing adventure, and no wonder you remember it so well. love your story here and how wonderful to have these photos. That plane would never pass inspection now for safety... Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08282631333469688624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-27501281306106767352014-01-23T23:37:43.013+10:002014-01-23T23:37:43.013+10:00i can't decide which story i like best, the pl...i can't decide which story i like best, the plane ride or the taxi ride... that pool is stunning and would be worth the trip... to funny on those chairs and seat belts. would you ride like that now?MadSnapperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08163140037276496519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856747756759071827.post-8710814255474528552014-01-23T23:20:47.067+10:002014-01-23T23:20:47.067+10:00" Great report Diane. For the history buffs, ..." Great report Diane. For the history buffs, the pool was blasted out<br />by the US army during WW2. - a favourite place for the soldiers to<br />have fun (R & R ?). It was next to the Mape River, the creek and<br />waterfall, just after a few more small falls ended up near old wharves<br />(US army built - now when I left the Finschhafen area and TPNG for<br />good in 1969 - were nothing but rotten stumps), where if you wanted to<br />be eaten, crocodiles would have been only too eager to oblige. It was<br />from this area that MacArthur started his "return to the Phillipines<br />campaign" with one of his major naval campaigns. On the other side of<br />the Mape River was a major Japanese headquarters, Helensberg<br />Plantation manor house from the days of the German rule, the battle of<br />Scarlett Beach up from Siki. Scarlett beach was so-called as the sands<br />were red with blood of the Allied troops, but it was an Allied victory<br />at terrible cost. Finschhafen or really Dregerhafen -about 4 miles<br />east was a large US/Allies military hospital in 1964 was a boarding<br />school - quite primitive with questionable accommodation for the boys<br />and for classrooms. My father flew in from the Solomon Islands for a<br />staff conference at Dregerhafen - crash landed at Finsch, no injuries,<br />plane a write off. Dad enjoyed the "R & R" and BBQs at this pool. Bob<br />Hope entertained troops at the Dregerhafen Hospital, even left his<br />initials on one of the schools tables -"BH was here!"<br />Some may notice a stump near the pool which was a diving board, that<br />was there one week and gone the next - firewood for the Locals maybe?<br />And as Diane reports, the water from the mountains in the hinterlands<br />was freezing, but with the humidity of this area, was MOST welcome.<br />Great pool and fantastic memories. Thanks Diane.Huggybearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17517411617275367396noreply@blogger.com