Mac. Rob GHS - Friends & Fun times!

The friends that make going to Mac. Rob worth while!



Tilly's 17th Sleep Over - choco cake, mattress & pillows, photos gallore, Noca cinema - Juno, movie night,




2008 House Swimming Carnical! Go the Dryadian Army! Sumaiya, BJ & Aditi




Cook up & chill night at Em's - promises on the roof, story swapping on the back porch [Juzz's trip to some music festival], a whole lot a love!
2008 Aths Day! Go the Dryadian Hippies! Bj, Danni, Em, Steph & Alice

Teag's 18th Party! Juzz, Steph, Bj & Dani - Danced all night, doof doof music, but the macarena found its way in there




Han & Bj on the tram home a/f a day at school




Lawn Bowls Team! Shoes off, fun in the summer fun! w Cam, our wonderful coach. Our team name ??? - The Bowld & the beautiful!













Em's suprise 18th bday Breaky in the common room - and Em thought she was coming to school to study! Ha! Look at the colourful decorations!

Brown Family Easter 2008, Underbool

- as it appeared in the 'West Express' -

Thirty eight descendents of Mary and Bernie Brown gathered in Underbool over the Easter long weekend. The 6 children of Mary and Bernie; Maureen, Chris, Joan, Kevin, Eileen and Jacinta were present with their own families. Three generations of family members were present, the oldest being Maureen who celebrated her 60th birthday with Christine Brown’s (nee Crow) home baked chocolate cake, a group sing-a-long and some theatrical sharing of childhood stories. The youngest family member present was Allanah Carey at 1year of age; daughter of Katrina Greed.

Most family members arrived on Good Friday afternoon travelling from Melbourne and Adelaide. Chris and Kevin Brown’s families opened their homes to the hordes of visitors. With days filled with conversation, looking through photo albums, meeting new greeting new offspring, there wasn’t much time to squash into caravans, tens and spare beds to catch a few winks!

Oodles of time was spent reminiscing and revisiting childhood landmarks, including old family houses, the old and new shearing sheds and local cemetery. Bridget – Joan’s (nee Brown) daughter shared that “It was a delight to be surrounded by mallee scrub, scenery and sunsets”. Joan added that one of her precious memories included “going for a town walk around Underbool with my children telling them stories about my own childhood; where I lived as a baby and later as a teenager. The children were particularly interested in the original home – the first and second homes of Mary and Bernie Brown in Monash Ave Underbool and their later residence on the Underbool Highway.”

A convoy of 7 cars, piled with a barbecue and delicious food, travelled to ‘Pine Plains’ sandunes on Saturday. The visit bought back childhood memories for the older generation and created new ones for the youngsters . Most family members climbed the sandhills to view the surroundings and slid or walk back down to the lunch awaiting.

Easter Sunday was the day for Easter egg hunts, photos a plenty, chocolate over-consumption, meals galore and afternoon lounging.

A huge thankyou to the Brown family Easter reunion attendees. The weekend was abundant with Easter cheer, memories and Mallee delights!

What I got up to on the 'Army Cadet Exchange' to the US of A

I and the four other Aussies [Lt Jono Giles NSW, CUO Rob Taylor NSW, CUO Josh Hirst WA, WO Travis Grundell NT] met with 'cadets' from Austria, Cayman Islands, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea and the UK in America.

Jet lag had the potential to become an issue [I think the guys worked out we only had bits of sleep over a forty hour period even before we reached JFK Airportlace; however everyone soon got used to thriving off two hours, four if you were lucky, sleep a night. No need for sleep when you’re having fun! [Some other Aussies might dispute this – namely those who fell asleep on the bus rides, through the baseball game, whilst the very loud banging of STOMP production went on, during the IMAX ‘Hell’s Angels’ Space movie, etc etc].

Our first area of travel was New York – big, bold, loud. Staying in Manhattan, we were in walking or subway distance from most of the sites. Times Square was a primary destination – with streets bordered by higher-rise buildings and colourful advertising. Shopping sprees were inevitable due to the cheap prices and good Australian dollar. Jono, our Aussie escort and Josh from WA both had to buy an extra bag to fit in all of the additional luggage.

We spent half a day at Coney Island, which boasted of the first rollercoaster ever built – in 1901. We were assured that it had been reconditioned since then before we jumped in for the ride! We took on the challenge of lots of random, spinning rides as well as the typical ‘dodge ‘em carts’, machines you attempt to pick up toys with the electronic hand [Travis from NT was an expert and after numerous quarters, eventually scored two – inc a Yankee baseball doll], and the shooting games.

A live performance of STOMP was truly amazing. Five performers were able to use bin lids, matches, sinks, sand to make some surprisingly great rhythms. The audience was able to get involved – clapping and stomping in time with the artists for the finale. That night, we had the opportunity to take a look over the lights of New York City from the height of the Empire State Building. America in general openly respects its military personnel, and wearing military uniform to the ESB allowed us to not only go to the front of the queue, but enter free of charge.

Next day, after a short ferry ride and some thorough security [we were tested for radioactive substances] we were able to climb the 500+ stairs inside the Statue of Liberty and look out once again over the stunning view of New York, this time during the day. A visit to their eye-opening immigration museum also awaited us.

We lined up to be part of the taping of ‘Total Request Live’ at MTV studio which was an interesting addition to the USA's program. The highlight for me was being able to look out the full-length mirrors over the busy street of New York below.
The streets of New York: lots of scaffolding along the pavement, technology that counts down the number of seconds until the green man flashes to signal you can cross the street, the driving is aggressive, people walk into the middle of the road to wave down a taxi, lots of small stalls on the side all selling similar stuff – prints of New York, caps etc, holes in the road to allow the pollution from the subway escape from underground.

Later that night we watched the entirety of a 4 hour baseball game, of which the NY Yankees claimed victory. Compared to sport matches at the MCG, the 80,000 crowd was much quieter, but indeed funnier, with people dancing on their seats when the speakers pumped out 90s classics. They got extremely excited if a Mexican wave started and went around once – compare that to it happening so often at the one-day cricket matches that it has been banned at the MCG! At a quite random time during the game – with two innings to go, everyone stood up and we were told to remember those serving in ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ and all sung the American anthem.

Afterwards, a small group of us caught a cab to Ground Zero – where the twin towers once were. At twelve/one-ish in the morning, the night was still warm, the streets were (fairly) quiet, all creating a subdued atmosphere. This was one of my personal highlights of the trip.

All of this was fitted into three days, before a 6 hour bus trip to Washington DC which consisted of lots of Australian songs and resting up. On the way we had a tour of the Aberdeen Proving Ground. We stayed at American University - which emanated the summer atmosphere portrayed in all Hollywood college movies. Here we had a formal dinner of authentic Korean food (a welcome change to the ubiquitous Maccas, beagles and pretzels). All were surprised that the Aussies were so custom to Asian cuisine and using chopsticks!

Not much of America’s program was military-based, but that which was focused on their civil war and the Marine Corps. Next day we went to Quantico, Virginia. We had a through look at the National Museum of the Marine Corps which consisted of aeroplanes suspended from the roof, life-sized displays of tanks and soldiers, and plenty of well-chosen photos and stories.

At the Marine Corps Base we got to have a go on basically a WTTS range. It was interesting to note their much more relaxed attitude in terms of safety for these activities. A few of the ACE guys had go at wrestling one of the Marines, though inevitably the Marine won, though DJ, from Netherlands gave him a run for his money. For all of the meals we had at Messes we all noticed the high grease content in all of the food and the prolific amounts of soft drink consumed. The military bases are huge – with Maccas on base, schools, housing, virtually freeways and in one case a train line!

That night a group of us spent some time at various monuments at the National Mall and got to look at the outside of the White House.

On Thursday we then had a guided tour of Gettysburg Battlefield which was the site of a prominent battle during the civil war. We got to spend a few hours at Wal-Mart – the excitement for this was beyond proportion! We then were welcomed to Corporal Seamus Garrehy’s ranch – an ex marine. His entire lounge room was covered in Marine Corps memorabilia – posters, photographs, badges. His ‘backyard’ was basically a huge field, which we were told was once the place of a mass grave for the civil war. I tried my hand at America's version of football but after a while the game turned into a much easier game of ‘chasey’. We were then formed up and had the privilege of listening to ‘Taps’ [equivalent to our Last Post] whilst we looked over the field.

Friday we toured Arlingtonl Cemetery [where JF Kennedy is buried]. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to help represent the ACE group by taking part in the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which is guarded constantly. We then visited National Mall again, this time during the day, looking at the memorials for the Vietnam War, Horean War, WWII and the Lincoln memorial. We then walked to the Washington Monument – a tall, thin building from which we had a 360° view of the surrounds, including the White House and National Mall.That night was the evening Parade at the Marine Barracks Washington. The drill was predictably great, as was the band. The parade was attended by a huge number – with people having to sit or stand on the pavement due to lack of seats.

Our exploration of America then took us down to HomeSweet Home Alabama where we participated in a typical American Summer camp and undertook the ‘Aviation Challenge’! On the night before the camp officially started we were lucky enough to have our last night of freedom at the ten-pin bowling ally. At the US Space and Rocket Centre we learnt [some much better than others] how to fly simulator planes. We spent everyday in the water – swimming, rafting or playing out scenarios of parachuting into water or getting out of a sinking helicopter. We all got to experience at least 3Gs of gravity in a variety of simulators, completed leadership-based activities and got to rock climb and zip line on a number of occasions. In our spare time we had fun playing sand volleyball or four-square with a large bouncy ball, as opposed to the Aussie tennis ball.

And then it was on the way back to the real Home Sweet Home – Aussie land. This exchange allowed us not only to experience the culture of the country we visited, but also mingle with cadets from all over the globe and find out about their culture too. We all keep in touch and miss each other so much all ready [they say they especially miss our Aussie humour] but it was definitely a worthwhile opportunity that provided us with a much more practical, fun and varied educational experience than I would have received had I stayed at school for the two weeks instead! Thanks so much to all those involved in allowing this to happen, especially Major Bence and Major Kirk.

Last few days of PNG & Surfers Paradise! *~*

Email sent home whilst we turned from Australian trekers in PNG to Aussie backpackers in QLD:

Michael and I have made it! We can now say we have completed the Kokoda Track. Feeling not so much as excited as content with what we have done.
Since Christmas we did a number of tours around Port Moresby, swam in Ela bay and walked around the shops and craft markets – bought a number of souvenirs and small gifts [Unfortunately many of these were taken from us at Quarantine]. This outing was cut short when a passer-by told Br Ben who we were walking with that we were being followed – so into a taxi and back to MSC.

We went back to the Bomana War Cemetery to find the graves of our relatives who are buried there. Going there after having done the track puts a whole new perspective on the shier number of graves – and what they went through before they died. Very humbling. The words we wrote in the visitors’ book could not adequately describe how we felt towards the men who not only lay there, but were prepared to but were lucky enough to survive.

We had one slight scare when I woke up one morning showing all the signs and symptoms of malaria, but tests have come back negative thankfully.

New Years Eve night we had mass, and stayed up outside looking over the settlements below. The power failed right across the town – but it only meant the flares people sent up looked brighter. And then we did our firsts – first taste of bettlenut with mustard and lime – not the best tasting this in the world, so we each had one SP [South Pacific] beer purely for the PNG taste – you haven’t truly experienced the lifestyle if you don't have a bettlenut and SP.

New Years day we went over to the Seminary – played a couple of games of volleyball with the nuns and brothers and fathers – extremely fun atmosphere. Nuns in habits playing an extremely competitive game of volleyball – the Blues vs the Maroons [everyone is in love with Rugby in PNG – I had to keep reminding them I was Victorian!]. Touch Rugby and then a light lunch before heading back to finish our packing.

Once we arrives in Brisbane on the 2nd Jan we immediately started deciding what we were going to do - only a few days to pack in as much as we could. We were staying in Surfers Paradise. We looked from the observation deck of Q1 – the 20th tallest building in the world, and tallest residential building on the world – 79 stories high! Stayed there for a few hours so we could see the 360 view of Surfers Paradise from day and night – everyone has a pool, everyone has a tennis court – lots of colourful lights at night.

Went on a speed boat ride in Marina Cove, had a go at jet skiing – I am thoroughly addicted to jet skis now – by the end Michael and I were able to do our turns at quite a nice speed. Both went up on the Paraglide – view of the city and water was as stunning as ever. At the ‘Adrenaline Park’ we both went Bungy jumping! Not as high as Louise did in Africa, but none the less Bungy Jumping. Very exciting – scary for a total of three seconds before you get up to jump out. 40 metres up doesn’t sound high until you start looking down and thinking about leaping off with some rope tied to your ankles. So I tried not to think! Dived off and glad I did! The ‘Vometron’ [how elegant!] was probably more terrifying – three sixty turns and rotations at 170 km per hour!

A more sedated day on our last day – short tour of the city and waterways before spending some hours at the beach bodysurfing and just laying on the sarong in the sand. We did a lot of just walking around the city – looking in all the shops and buildings.

And now we’re home. Reality has sunk in, and we wish we weren’t. We’d definitely do it again, but until then, goodbye!

All about the Kokoda Track & The Northern Beaches, PNG

A copy of a letter Michael and I sent back home:
Date written: Sunday. 24th. December. 2006 – Monday. 25th. December. 2006
Date written about: Monday. 4th. December. 2006 – Monday. 25th. December. 2006
Written at Missionary of the Sacre Coure (MSC)Provincial 2 mile, Port Moresby, PNG

We are in Port Moresby!
We arrived on the 4th of December in 35degree heat, but we acclimatised fairly well, and I now have a fairly good tan, on my arms at least.
We were very relaxed when we first arrived. The PNG people have been so happy and welcoming all over – lots of smiles, lots of waves and lots of staring at the ‘white people’. You can feel the respect they have for you when you say you are going to do/ have walked the Kokoda Track.
The Brothers and Priests here at Sacred Heart have been wonderful – very enthusiastic and supportive and helpful. Here in Port Moresby we have seen the War Cemetery – very well kept and moving. We will go again to look more specifically at the Graves of our relatives.

Streets of Port Moresby – highest crime rate in the world!
Before we left to go on the Track we drove around the streets to see Kokoda Track Authority, went food shopping, bank etc. Utes are the main vehicle – you never see less than five on one. Most sit in the open area in the back, even on the rim. Passenger numbers can get up to 14! There are always lots of people on the streets – just sitting/ standing around. This is due to the 85% unemployment rate. Some are at their little markets on the side of the road, or in the middle median strip. The most popular sale is bettlenut, mustard stick and lime. Brother John who doesn’t (he detests) smoke or alcohol has about 30 per day. Others, though, have 100 a day they say! Teeth are often red from it, and the grounds are covered in red spit from everyone. Despite this, many people walk around bare foot, and we have often seen people walking with only one thong. We don’t know if they lost the other one, or they found that one.
Rubbish is everywhere, if you’re lucky in piles along the street, despite ,many signs that say ‘Keep PNG Clean. Don’t litter.’
Security is huge – banks have double doors, security men carry batons, security wonders around shopping store car parks and petrol is paid before someone else fills it up for you.

The first day of the Kokoda Track we got to the southern side of the Golden Stairs – an easy, short Day I. We swam in the Golden River along the way – gorgeously refreshing! We got used to bathing at the end of the day – in streams, or gravity running taps. Clothes were often washed whilst on us because of the lack of doors. None the less, my T-shirts are discoloured and I will implore your help to hopefully (I doubt it!) get them a cleaner shade of white.
I had fun climbing the Golden Stairs and when we reached Imita ridge I was very proud of us.

The Trekkers & Food
We would always read about where we were going/ were/ had been. The others who walked with us were very interested in the Bill James book.
In the end, ten of us walked the Track together – Michael, Bridget, Br. John, Br. Ben, Ivan (the Guide), Flora (his 18 yr old wife), Max (our porter), Jack (our porter), Emmanuel and Johnson (friends who wanted to come along).We would not always walk together – different speeds, but would have lunch and of course sleep together. Max would steam on a head and have the water boiled by the time we got to our destination, ready for our noodle lunch or dehydrated dinner. Breakfast we could have wheatbix (I could never have another one in my whole life!) and army ration cordial (with all the electrolytes). It would make us feel gooey in the stomach, but better once we started walking. Malaria and vitamin tablets became habit. We didn’t rush ourselves in the mornings – did things methodically and surely. Usually got up 5/6 am and left at 6:30/ 7:30am.
Snacks along the way were a trail mix we made (of nuts, dried fruit, chocolate balls) and PNG biscuits (as hard as stone) and water. We would fill up from running water of creeks or rivers.

We slept at Ofi Creek Day II. To get there we had to cross a number of shallow creeks – stepping on stones and being supported by those who were walking bare foot anyway and didn’t mind getting their feet wet. Emmanuel cut some sticks for us – very beneficial (once we got used to them) for going down steep parts. They have become our most prized possessions of the trip.

Day III lunch at New Nauro Village. I played with some of the children there - gave them balloons and small animal figurines Michael had bought. They loved them! Everyone in PNG wears an assortment of clothes put together. It is normal to wear things inside out to get more days out of them. The children don’t wipe their noses and have many scabs/ sores on their skin. Village women brought up a plate of bananas and coke cans. We bought and shared the bananas (yummy after having had none in Australia for ages) (but no Coke for us trekkers!) We detoured to War time Nauro and the war air strip. We saw a crashed allied helicopter.
We didn’t make it to our intended destination at Brown River due to rain, so camped at another spot along the way. Fun! Deepening the trenches, lighting lots of little fires and collecting the rain water from the roof tarp.


Some steep climbing Day IV. We had lunch and slept at Menari. They have a school there and I wouldn’t mind going back there and spending some time there after Year 12. We were given a paw-paw – I didn’t mind it. Spoke with the owners of the Guest House for a very long time and had a lesson in Pidgin with Br. Ben. We were the source of great amusement.

Day V we spent a lot of time at Brigade Hill- finding significant points (HQ, Company pits, the Japanese route up Brigade Hill. How they did it we still can’t fathom – it is no exaggeration that that side of the mountain is almost vertical. We could walk off the Track because Michael had brought his GPs and Bill Jaime’s book gave the grid references for such features. We even found some things Bill James hadn’t mentioned. This day was our very hugemongous day. Down to Efogi 1 for lunch and hopefully some energy resupply. Despite the large town, not many people were there at the time. We saw one woman carry three big loads of firewood in a ‘bilom’ on her head. Everyone in PNG has a bilom. The can put the strap around their head, their neck or over their shoulder. Some are small to carry bettlnut, some are large to carry small children! All are colourful. It was not far to Efogi II, but across a river and a short steep climb that comes hand-in-hand with river crossings. I would have liked to stay there – very lovely people and I got to hold my first PNG baby. Here is the only monument along the Track dedicated to the Japanese. But we continued on forever – down for ever and then back up forever. Even the porters said it was hard. Finally we got to Kagi village.

The next day, Day VI we slept in and I was feeling exhausted and ill. We went to see a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel – 102 years old, one of two left living. We had a very good talk with him and his son. Michael and I walked off the Track to do a four-hour detour to Moyola – saw many mines, grenades and an ally plane crash. Arrived at 1900 crossing and I didn’t want to move. But briefly washed in the freezing stream and ate what little dinner I could (not much!). Br. John was my own Fuzzy Angel for the day- always close by. He got me a delicious tea which went down well. I slept as soon as I could.

In the morning, with Day VII all ahead, I tried to remain positive (I was walking the Kokoda track! Be excited!) We got to Mt. Bellamy – the highest point of the Track and had a celebratory sip of Coke. Down to Templeton’s Crossing 1 where we had lunch. We stayed at Templeton’s Crossing II for the night. A cemetery and small museum there.

Day VIII to Eora Creek village for lunch – yet another creek crossing over a ‘bridge’ of logs sometimes tied together, sometimes not, and possibly some sort of flimsy hand rail. At Alola village I helped out Flora with some of the cooking of ‘chao-chao’ – a green vegetable. Michael, with the seven other boys played volleyball for almost two hours with the village people on their uneven dirt surface.

The next morning, Day IX I felt sick and feverish and a headache and in the end took panadol for the second time in my life. It helped. It was only a short hour to the Isurava battle site. The memorial was very sophisticated. We had a thorough look around – including at the place Pte Bruce Kingsbury won his Victoria Cross. Another hour to Isurava village – very lively with everyone outside – either playing handball (with 5 bases!) or volleyball or watching. A young girl, perhaps four years old was washing a big pate.

Day X to Hoi village. We did a big load of washing in the creek. And Michael had three not-so-good bananas that we believe were the sources of his sickness.

And to Kokoda on the last day. Michael was feeling ill, but once we started walking he was very efficient. Flat for a change. Ensured Aussie flag and boxing kangaroo were secured on our packs and sung all of the Australian songs we knew – from true Blue, Waltzing Matilda, I was only 19, Khe Sanh, Working Class Man.

And we got there. We did it.
We can now say we have trekked the Kokoda Track.
Some of the books we had read had said that arriving at Kokoda was a bit of a let down. But I was sure I would be excited and doing cartwheels. But it was more of a ‘We’ve finished? This is the end?’ It is a very subduing feeling and a sense of fulfillness, perhaps.

As soon as we got to Ivan’s friend’s house (houses are made of bamboo sticks and leaves) Michael lay down. The wife gave us a delicious meal. The young 5 year old daughter Franklin was gorgeous – so talkative. I went down to the street to buy toilet paper and bread from the corner store. It is run by Asians like most stores in PNG, with metal bars separating the customers from the goods and servers.

Sunday we went to the Catholic mass which alternated between four languages! Most PNGns know English, Pidgin, Mother’s tongue, father’s tongue as a minimum. Saw the hospital, War museum and memorial. Walked around the streets.

Achievements of Walking the Track:
Despite no tour groups walking the Track at this time of the year due to the Wet Season the weather didn’t trouble us. We took longer than most to do the Track and this was a benefit. We were able to spend more time at villages which meant we could spend more time with the village people and be in contact with more of the cultures along the Track. We certainly fulfilled all the reasons we wanted to do the Track for – the physical, mental and spiritual challenges, the war history and the cultural experience.

We caught the PMV at 4am Sunday to Popondetta. A very bumpy and cramped ride. People were even sitting on the tarp roof.

We went to Flora’s home village. “Oro oro oro kiwa!” the all shout, which means “Welcome! Welcome!” Went to Rabaul Shipping Office to confirm times and they said ‘Only 2pm Mondays.’ ‘Does that mean there is one today?’ ‘Yes.’ We made the decision that we would rather spend a week in Milne Bay where Great Uncle Peter and Granddad [mum's side] served. So we rushed to Oro Bay to get that – no ferry at all that day. That was one of strike three to get out of Popondetta.

We stayed at Popondetta’s Catholic Church in their classroom. We appreciated the proper toilets and taps and proper roof.

We spent the next three days touring the Northern beaches where most Australians died. 1, 400 died at the beaches compared to 500 along the Track. We could spend one day each at Gona, Sanananda and Buna. They were very full days (leaving at 9 am and arriving back at 9pm) and we saw so much more than we had dared hope to expect.


Gona’s sand was black. We walked along it and through the swampy areas where the Australians advanced from before heading back to the village. They have their own market there where they just sit and sell food to each other. We didn’t see anyone buying or selling. We also drove to Haddy’s village which is further West along the beach – the entire village decided to come with us on our tour – and generously gave us a massive watermelon!

At Sanananda we saw many vehicle wrecks which had been dumped by the Japanese when they realised they weren’t much use in the swampiness of the beaches and narrow path of the Track.

At Buna we saw some Japanese bunkers and an ally bomb shell just to the left. There was a war time radio and a Japanese machine gun there also. We walked a long way along the beach, and a bit further inland following the Australian troop advance. We saw the place where three nuns had been executed. We swam in the warm water.

Friday morning we helped out with preparing the church for Christmas – scrubbing the floor, pews, windows, decorating the nativity scene. After lunch we walked around the streets and shops.

Saturday the ferry debacle. When we arrived again at Oro bay two and a half hours early, we had in fact arrived half an hour late. Ten other Native Papua New Guineans had been given the wrong times also. But they weren’t as frustrated as we were. When we got back to the church they all laughed and exclaimed “Papua New Guinea!” It’s their excuse for everything.

In the end we got back to Port Moresby by plane. We didn’t get to Milne Bay, but that is just an excuse to come back again, hopefully with mum and dad next time. I would like to walk the Track again (it’s easy to forget how hard it is after it’s completed). We were very relaxed when we got to Port Moresby.

Michael got sick after dinner so we didn’t go to the parish vigil mass, but did Christmas morning. The church is decorated in palms and tinsel. We went to a parishner’s for lunch, and to a Sister’s place, but Michael was sick again so back early to MSC to rest.

Our mottos for this expedition have been:
Keep positive
It’s all part of the adventure [this helped at Popondetta]
It doesn’t matter when we get there, as long as we get there [for the Track]

Kerala, India - Houseboat & Canoe Trip

CHILLED OUT HOUSE BOAT AND CANOE TRAVELS DOWN THE BACKWATER CANALS OF KERALA.

Here is a message that BJ wrote in the message book after the house boat experience:

Mum and two daughters: We had such a relaxing time laughing or sitting on the upper deck with the view of the backwaters- canoes and coconuts, villages and water lilies. The chef allowed us to watch in awe as he cooked us delicious food – our favourite were the bean and coconut dish and coconut pancakes. He was also generous enough to give us a dish of coconut oil which mum used to give each of us a foot massage. We all fell asleep on the upper deck, looking at the half moon and the shadows the palm trees cast onto the still, yet rippling water. We then went t bed looking at the fun glow in eh dark stars on the ceiling. The sunrise could be seen through the window and the roosters’ crows heard. Up early, we had time to explore a village – and a caught memorable scene of hundreds of white birds on the acres of green rice paddy fields. There was lots of waving to the smiling locals. We will remember this house boat experience forever – it is a shame this boat is not available tonight, for we most certainly would have stayed on, given the opportunity.
With much thanks to our three lovely staff, Joan, Louise and Bridget, Australia











Here is a message that BJ wrote in the message book after the canoe experience:

Canoe Trip, Allepey A 6am start enabled us to see the beauty of the backwaters and canals in varying shades of light – predawn, dawn and bright sun. The purple and pink and white water lilies were close up, the sound of eth oars rhythmic and the guide/ front rower’s commentary enhanced the experience. We were able to visit off-the-beaten-track villages by foot: Prasenan’s aunty making beetroot pickle, farmers digging trenches in the rice fields, school children delaying their walk to school to look at the white women, women washing clothes and dishes by the side of teh canals in their colourful clothes. The boat was comfortable and shady to be in. Prasenan’s good English and knowledge of the area ensured most of our questions about the canals and villages were answered. We will most certainly write a letter to ‘Lonely Planet’, recommending his friendly, committed and obliging services to all tourists of Kerala.

Joan, Louise & Bridget Australia

PS. If you also enjoy the experience, please support Prasenan’s canoe service by accessing the Lonely Planet website and clicking the ‘feedback’ option. By writing a favourable comment you can assist other tourists to also have a positive canoeing experience in Allepy. J&L&B Pianta Aust