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-NEWS FROM LYN BABER.
+===== News From Lyn Baber. =====
-Extracts taken from letters written home by Lyn during her 17,000 mile journey to England by Landrover with five companions, including John Bookluck from S.B.1ff.
-(See also Bookie's letter in the March magazine.)
+Extracts taken from letters written home by Lyn during her 17,000 mile journey to England by Landrover with five companions, including John Bookluck from S.B.W. (See also Bookie's letter in the March magazine.)
-"The countries through which we have travelled, or intend to travel are Australia via Broken Hill, Port August 4 Fremantle, Broome, thence by the "Charon" to Singapore, then Malaya, Thailand, Burma, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Persia, Iran, Irak, Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland, France to England.
-We lost air trailer ten miles out of Pt. Augusta and came limping in with it. A bolt in the coupling came off even though it had been tightened that morning and we had not been over very rough roads. I was in the back at the time and it was quite spectacular to see the coupling end just rise slowly into the air, skid on the corner for awhile, career across the road, bounce and then turn right over and keep on bouncing amidst frantic screams and yells. We were very lucky ro.Ylly that there was not more damage. A coaple of the petrol tins were bent but stlli useable and nothing else in the trailer was damaged. The trailer itself had the axle and the springs bent and a couple of dents. We dragged it into Port Augusta
+"The countries through which we have travelled, or intend to travel are Australia via Broken Hill, Port August, Fremantle, Broome, thence by the "Charon" to Singapore, then Malaya, Thailand, Burma, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Persia, Iran, Irak, Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland, France to England.
-to a garage, where the boys dismantled it - (the two tyres were ruined but they were only old ones, we had spares). They had the axles and springs reforged (I
-think that is the word) and have now put it together again and we are ready for
+We lost our trailer ten miles out of Pt. Augusta and came limping in with it. A bolt in the coupling came off even though it had been tightened that morning and we had not been over very rough roads. I was in the back at the time and it was quite spectacular to see the coupling end just rise slowly into the air, skid on the corner for awhile, career across the road, bounce and then turn right over and keep on bouncing amidst frantic screams and yells. We were very lucky really that there was not more damage. A couple of the petrol tins were bent but stlli useable and nothing else in the trailer was damaged. The trailer itself had the axle and the springs bent and a couple of dents. We dragged it into Port Augusta to a garage, where the boys dismantled it - (the two tyres were ruined but they were only old ones, we had spares). They had the axles and springs reforged (I think that is the word) and have now put it together again and we are ready for the Nullabor. (This is the beginning of quite a lot of trouble they have had with the trailer.) While they were working we found a caravan park with good washing facilities, put the tent up, and got tea ready. When they came back Bruce casually said "Bring out your dirty clothes and I'll wash them" expecting a few things. He was completely inundated, so while we were fixing tea the three boys did all the washing - rows of it - one washing, one rinsing and one hanging out. Our first wash of the trip.
-the Nullabor. (This is the beginning of quite a lot of trouble they have had with the trailer.) While they were working we found a caravan park with good washing facilities, put the tent up, and got tea ready. When they came back Bruce casually said "Bring out your dirty clothes and I'll wash them" expecting a few things. He was completely inundated, so while we were fixing tea the three boys did all the washing - rows of it - "one washing, one rinsing and one hanging out. Our first wash of the trip.
-On our way to Broome we travelled through red dust, white dust, and within 10 miles of Broome were inundated with black dust. We had black faces, in fact everything was black. It was so hot and we were so sticky all the dust turned to mud - what a sight. While camping at Broome two Holden's turned up containing
+On our way to Broome we travelled through red dust, white dust, and within 10 miles of Broome were inundated with black dust. We had black faces, in fact everything was black. It was so hot and we were so sticky all the dust turned to mud - what a sight. While camping at Broome two Holden's turned up containing Melbourne people going round Australia. They had met F. Rigby & Co. from S.B.W. We had to stay in Broome for a few days waiting for the boat to arrive. We loved Broome, met lots of people and had a wonderful time. Our pace slowed down to Broome's pace. The boys got jobs at the Meatworks and they really had to work hard. Did two 17 hour shifts, both through the night, and they were exhausted. They had to wrap themselves up in woollen jumpers, sox, jackets, hats and leather gloves, while we were still in our swimsuits. They had to work in the freezing chambers, 10 degrees below freezing point, loading the meat on to the train to go to the ships. They only got £15.10.0 each for the whole time. John had never done any work like that in his life before, but they were all dead beat when they finished so it did not matter. They had meals provided for them at a Cafe and would come home (or rather to the camp) during their breaks and empty sausages out of their pockets for our breakfast. Also they asked the boss for some steaks. We had enough for two meals and it was delicious. John thought it was lovely steak until he found out that it came from the Meatworks and then would not eat any more. The loading and sailing of the ships depends completely on the tide. It looks so funny to see a great big ship left sitting high and dry on the mud with the sea about half a mile further out. Our ship arrived at 9 p.m. Sunday evening. The boys were working so we had to try to pack, had had no official loading time, even though we knew that the ship would sail at 9.30 p.m. Monday on the high tide. At 8 o'clock Monday morning the Dalgety agent came racing round to tell us that the Landrover had to be aboard immediately or else it would cost an extra £28. What panic, as you can imagine. Angela and I started pulling tents down while Louise goes off helter skelter to the Meatmorks to collect the boys. After a few hectic minutes, with things being loaded in record time, we three girls were left stranded, sitting under a tree in the camping ground surrounded by a few scattered belongings, cups, a billy and a dirty frying pan. It was 12 o'clock before we eventually collected ourselves, so we asked our next door neighbours to drive us to the ship. They took us right to the gangplank along the jetty and then had to back off. We really must have looked a scream coming on board because we did not bother to tidy up at all, just went aboard in old shorts and jeans, no lipstick, and carrying odd bundles and string bags, etc. Louise even had the dirty frying pan wrapped in newspaper. There are 2,000 sheep aboard and so far 36 have died. It has been very hot indeed and the Captain is more worried about them than about us. Eric has just brought out the malaria tablets, which we will start taking today. This morning the wharf has been a hive of industry. The Landrover and trailer are ashore. A lot of coolie women came aboard, all dressed alike in black pants and tops with big pieces of brown paper or black cloth tied flat across the top of their heads. They had the filthiest work of all, that of cleaning out the sheep pens and unloading all the straw and muck into trucks. Meanwhile the men, in clean white shirts, were unloading all the clean cargo - what a contrast.
-Melbourne people going round Australia. They had met F. Rigby& Co. from S.B.W.
-We had to stay in Broome for a few days waiting for the boat to arrive. We loved Broome, met lots of people and had a wonderful time. Our pace slowed down to Broome's pace. The boys got jobs at the Meatworks and they really had to work hard. Did two 17 hour Shifts, both through the night, and they were exhausted. They had to wrap themselTes up in woollen jumpers, sox, jackets, hats and leather gloves, -while we were tiU in our swimsuits. They had to work in the freezing chambers, 10 degrees below freezing point, loading the meat on to the train to go to the ships. They only got C15.10.0 each for the whole time. John had. never done any work like that in his life before, but they were all dead beat when they finished so it did not matter. They had meals provided for them at a Cafe and would come home (or rather to the tamp) during their breaks and empty sausages out of their pockets for our breakfast. Also they asked the boss for some steaks. We had enough for two meals and it was delicious. John thought it was lovely steak until he found out that it came from the Meatworks and then would not eat any more. The loading and sailing of the ships depends completely on the tide. It looks so funny to see a great big ship left sitting high and dry on the mud with the sea about half
+We made friends with a young Chinese boy in Singapore one night when we were trying to make out selves understood in a cafe. He recognised us from our photos in the Strait's Times, rescued us, and entertained us until we left Singapore. On our first night out a young Indian boy in the back of a bus recognised us from the same photo, made signs to Eric, who was driving at the time, inviting us to sleep at his place. We did of course. The town was called Batu Pahat. The next day we had several ferry crossings, drove through Malacca, Mucer and on to Kuala Lumpur. We stopped there for a few minutes and very soon had the offer of a Church School Hall to sleep in. We were surrounded by questioning young boys until 12, and one of the school teachers even wanted to come with us. The next day we motored on to a town called Taiping and called at a N.Z. Military base where Bruce knew the dentist - went to school with him. He was not there when we arrived but we were entertained royally in the Officer's Mess. We had a beautiful dinner with them, slept the night on the Sport's pavilion verandah, and the next morning set off for Penang. We were just driving along the street there when we were tooted by some women in a car. We stopped and spoke to them - just as well too - they were Army Officer's wives and one of them from Sydney invited us girls to stay at her place for the night. Penang is really beautiful, lovely beaches, wonderful trees and magnificent homes. The place where the boys stayed was the complete upstairs of a huge old house with fully equipped kitchen, three huge bedrooms, dining room, living room and four bathrooms. The lady we stayed with had a beautiful modern two storey semi-detached house just by the sea. The next day we were entertained at the most exclusive club in town. Consequently we left Penang with very pleasant memories. It is only 48 miles in circumference but there are 2 1/2 million people on it. They range from the rich in palatial homes in tree lined avenues, to the Malays and Chinese living crowded together in dirty hovels. That day we drove on to the Thai border, where we spent the night at the Custom's Post of Changloon - more staring faces. Throughout Malaya the roads are very good, all tar sealed, but everybody drives like crazy. All the road signs are in English as well as Malayan and a lot of people speak English.
-.
-a mile further out. Our ship arrived at 9 p m. Sunday evening. The boys were working so we had to try to pack, had had no official loading time, even though we knew that the ship would sail at 9.30 p m. Monday on the high tide. At 8 o'clock Monday morning the Dalgety agent came racing round to tell us that the Landrover
+Everybody is friendly. Here in Thailand it is a bit more awkward because no signs at all are in English - all in squiggly Siamese characters - so we have quite a bit of difficulty matching up these funny signs to find out where we are going. Lots of rubber trees and paddy fields and buffaloes in the mud in Malaya, and so far a lot of the same in Thailand. Also funny buses, packed full, and people hanging out the sides, tearing flat out along the road, tooting their horns. In Malaya there were police check-points (you are not supposed to take food into black areas because of terrorists) but we had our flags flying and were waved through.
-had to be aboard immediately or else it would cost an extra E28. What panic, as you can imagine. Angela and I started pulling tents down while Louise goes off helter skelter to the Meatmorkn to collect the boys. After a few hectic minutes, with things being loaded in record time, we three girls were left stranded, sitting under
-a tree in the camping ground surrounded by a few scattered belongings, cups, a billy
-and a dirty frying pan. It was 12 o'clock:before we eventually collected ourselves,
-so we asked our next door neighbours to drive us to the ship. They took:us right to the gangplank along the jetty and then had to back off. We really must have
-looked a scream coming on board because we did not bother to tidy up at all, just
-went aboard in old shorts and jeans, no lipstick, and carrying odd bundles and string
-bags, etc. Louise even had the dirty frying pan wrapped in newspaper. There are 2;000 sheep aboard and so far 36 have died. It has been very hot indeed and the Captain is more worried about them than about us. Eric has just brought out the malaria tablets, which we will start taking today. This morning the wharf has been
-a hive of industry. The Landrover and trailer are ashore. A lot of coolie, women came aboard, all dressed alike in black pants and tops with big pieces of brown paper or black cloth tied flat across the top of their heads. They had the
-filthiest mark of all, that of cleaning out the sheep pens and unloading all the straw and muck into trucks. Meanwhile the men, in clean white shirts, were unloading all the clean cargo - what a contrast.
-We made friends with a young Chinese boy in Singapore one night when we were
-trying to make out selves understood in a cafe. He recognised us from our photos in the Strait's Times, rescued us, and entertained us until we left Singapore. On our first night out a young Indian boy in the back of a bus recognised us from the same photo, made signs to Eric, who was driving at the time, inviting us to sleep at his place. We did of course. The town was called Batu Pahat. The next day we had several ferry crossings, drove through Malacca, Mucer and on to Kuala Lumpur.
-We stopped there for a few minutes and very soon had the offer of a Church School Hall to sleep in. We were surrounded by questioning young boys until 12, and one of the school teachers even wanted to come with us. The next day we motored on to a town called Taiping and called at a N.Z. Military base where Bruce knew the dentist - went to school with him. He was not there when we arrived but we were entertained royally in the Officer's Mess. We had a beautiful dinner with them, slept the night on the Sport's pavilion verandah, and the next morning set off for Penang. We were just driving along the street there when we were tooted by some women in a car. We stopped and spoke to them - just as well too - they were Army Officer's wives and one of them from Sydney invited us girls to stay at her place for the night. Penang is really beautiful, lovely beaches, wonderful trees and magnificent homes. The place where the boys stayed was the complete upstairs of a huge old house with fully equipped kitchen, three huge bedrooms, dining room, living room and four bathrooms. The lady we stayed with had a beautiful modern two storey semi-detached house just by the sea. The next day we were entertained at the most exclusive club in town. Consequently we left Penang with very pleasant memories. It is only 48 miles in circumference but there are 2i million people on it. They range from the rich in palatial homes in tree lined avenues, to the Malays and Chinese living crowded together in dirty hovels. That day we drove on to the Thai border, where we spent the night at the Custom's Post of Changloon - more staring faces. Throughout Malaya the roads are very good, all tar sealed, but everybody drives like crazy. All the road signs are in English as well as Malayan and a lot of people speak English.
-.
-HEALTH FOOD SHOP cituiVEGETARIAN CAFE*
-ALL BUSHWALKERS
-SHOULD BECO ACQUAINTED WITH OUR SHOP : :
-Prepare yrur Food Lists from our wide range of - , DRIED FRUITS - APRICOTS APPLES PEARS PRUNES
-BISCUITS - RYVITA NEEATFLAKE RYKING EMI
-ME
-CONFECTIONS - NEWPORT ROLLS HONEY KISSES FRUIT ROLLS BREAKFAST FOODS - TERRY 'S NEAL GRANOLA NU-GRIST
-HUNTER ST SYDNEY. BWI725.
-Everybody is friendly. Here in Thailand it is a bit more awkward because no signs at all are in English - all in squiggly Siamese characters - so we have quite a bit of difficulty matching up these funny signs to find out where we are going. Lots of rubber trees and paddy fields and buffaloes in the mud in Malaya, and SD far a lob of the same in Thailand. Also funny buses, packed full, and people hanging out the sides, tearing flat out along the road, tooting their horns. In Malaya there were police clBck-points (Tau are not supposed to take food into black areas because of terrorists) but we had our flags flying and were waved thrcugh.
 At lunch time on our first day in Thailand we arrived at Haadyia, where we had the name of an Agent. We called on him and he took us all to lunch, Siamese style. Beautiful fried rice, lots of things to have with it, prawn soup, Satibaba (pork cooked on little sticks) and coconut sauce, all very similar to Chinese, but better. Last of all Lotus Nuts in syrup and ice - WOW. That night we spent in a small village. We entertained the villagers and they entertained us. Even gave us a mosquito-proof room to sleep in - mossies, etc. are pretty bad. Everybody is scratching right now, despite the repellant. I have lost quite a bit of weight but feel well.
 From Pagaside Village (200 miles into Thailand). 14th November.
-We are staying the night in a small Siamese village, which is not marked on the map. One of the young boys writes English so we have been sending notes. We have been asked to write songs, have learnt how to say "house" "goodbye" "fresh water" and have just learnt the village name, amidst much laughter, mostly at our
-.
+We are staying the night in a small Siamese village, which is not marked on the map. One of the young boys writes English so we have been sending notes. We have been asked to write songs, have learnt how to say "house" "goodbye" "fresh water" and have just learnt the village name, amidst much laughter, mostly at our pronunciation. There is a Temple here and lots of Buddhist Monks, only very young, in vivid yellow robes. We have a house almost to ourselves but at the moment there are all these boys here and I bet they don't go until very late. The Thai people are very friendly and always laughing. Last night we stayed at a similar village in a house with a family. We did not get to bed until after 12 because just about the whole village had to come and have a look at us. Much laughter as we tried to converse with sign language. The roads in Thailand are very bad. It has been raining most of the time so that whenever we go into a pot hole we are covered in mud.
-pronunciation. There is a Temple here and lots of Buddhist Monks, only very young, in vivid yellow robes. We have a house almost to ourselves but at the moment there are all these boys here and I bet they don't go until very late. The Thai people are very friendly and always laughing. Last night we stayed at a similar village in a house with a family. We did not get to bed until after 12 because just about the whole village had to come and have a look at us. Much laughter as we tried to converse with sign language. The roads in Thailand are very bad. It has been raining most of the time so that whenever we go into a pot hole we are covered in mud.
 Continued on 16th November.
-. We arrived at this ton, Takuapa, nearly 400 miles into Thailand on the Kia Isthmus, last night at about 7 with some welding to be done. After much gesturing etc. we found a repair shop and a welder, who started wcrkimmediately and worked flat out for over 4 hours without a break - really flat out - and Saturday night too. This morning the boss would not take any money, he said we were his friends, he spoke English. This sort of thing happens all the time. He even sent a boy into the town for bread for us, and we Slept on his living room floor. Today we set out on a very bad stretch, which is supposed to be a road under construction, but apparently it is little nore than a jungle track. It is 110 miles and we reckon on it taking us 2 days. Have just bought tea at 12/6d. sterling a pound, and sugar at 2/6d. a pound. Bread is unprocurable. Saw 12 oz. tinned Australian butter for the equivalent of 16/8d. Aust. a tin. We have to make rapid calculations from the local money into sterling and then back to Australian. The local currency is tikel or barth and pies. In Malaya it was dollars and cents.
+We arrived at this town, Takuapa, nearly 400 miles into Thailand on the Kia Isthmus, last night at about 7 with some welding to be done. After much gesturing etc. we found a repair shop and a welder, who started work immediately and worked flat out for over 4 hours without a break - really flat out - and Saturday night too. This morning the boss would not take any money, he said we were his friends, he spoke English. This sort of thing happens all the time. He even sent a boy into the town for bread for us, and we slept on his living room floor. Today we set out on a very bad stretch, which is supposed to be a road under construction, but apparently it is little more than a jungle track. It is 110 miles and we reckon on it taking us 2 days. Have just bought tea at 12/6d. sterling a pound, and sugar at 2/6d. a pound. Bread is unprocurable. Saw 12 oz. tinned Australian butter for the equivalent of 16/8d. Aust. a tin. We have to make rapid calculations from the local money into sterling and then back to Australian. The local currency is tikel or barth and pies. In Malaya it was dollars and cents.
 Continued 7.30 p m. in some unknown village.
-We are now well established in one room of a prefab. aluminium hut, the only one I have seen. Everything else has been thatched. We have the usual audience of people peering in the windows, but nobody has ventured inside yet. We have had rice and cigarettes provided amidst lots of laughter. We did not start driving until about 11 a m. and did 40 miles of the bad stretch. It is the only road to Bangkok from Malaya and certainly would be impossible without a 4-wheel drive vehicle. We spent the whole time hopping in and out of the Landrover and guiding it and the trailer across dozehs of small bridges with no middles, and only just making a lot of the m too. Some we had to back to negotiate and others we had to bounce the trailer to stop it from falling through. On one the front wheel broke through a plank and we had to back off very smartly.
+We are now well established in one room of a prefab. aluminium hut, the only one I have seen. Everything else has been thatched. We have the usual audience of people peering in the windows, but nobody has ventured inside yet. We have had rice and cigarettes provided amidst lots of laughter. We did not start driving until about 11 a.m. and did 40 miles of the bad stretch. It is the only road to Bangkok from Malaya and certainly would be impossible without a 4-wheel drive vehicle. We spent the whole time hopping in and out of the Landrover and guiding it and the trailer across dozens of small bridges with no middles, and only just making a lot of them too. Some we had to back to negotiate and others we had to bounce the trailer to stop it from falling through. On one the front wheel broke through a plank and we had to back off very smartly.
 Continued 24th November.
-We are now on our 9th day of the attempt to do 110 miles. We have at least
-more miles to do before we reach Renong then we have nearly 700 miles to Bangkok and if we don't hurry our Burmese visas will expire. At the moment we are waiting for a mountain river to go down. We arrived here in this small village yesterday afternoon and the water was waist deep and we were informed that it mould be lower this morning, but this morning it is higher still so we are still waiting. About midday we hope it will be right. All our trouble has been caused by rain, which has been almost continuous. It is supposed to be the dry season but something is haywire. The sun is out now so we all feel a bit more hopeful. Our spirits really have been down. We have all earned a practical degree in bridge building, road building, and getting out of bogs - mostly just plain hard work."
+We are now on our 9th day of the attempt to do 110 miles. We have at least 30 more miles to do before we reach Renong then we have nearly 700 miles to Bangkok and if we don't hurry our Burmese visas will expire. At the moment we are waiting for a mountain river to go down. We arrived here in this small village yesterday afternoon and the water was waist deep and we were informed that it would be lower this morning, but this morning it is higher still so we are still waiting. About midday we hope it will be right. All our trouble has been caused by rain, which has been almost continuous. It is supposed to be the dry season but something is haywire. The sun is out now so we all feel a bit more hopeful. Our spirits really have been down. We have all earned a practical degree in bridge building, road building, and getting out of bogs - mostly just plain hard work."
-. (To be continued)
+(To be continued)
+----
+=== Sanitarium Health Food and Vegetarian Cafe. ===
+__All bushwalkers should become acquainted with out shop__!!
+Prepare your Food Lists from our wide rnage of -
+__Dried fruits__ - apricots, apples, pears, prunes.
+__Biscuits__ - Ryvita, Wheatflake, Ryking, Kavli.
+__Confections__ - Newport rolls, Honey Kisses, Fruit rolls.
+__Breakfast Foods__ - Terry's meal, Granola, Nu-grist.
+Hunter St., Sydney. BW1725.
+----
 V.AtKING GUtIEFOk
 Walk No.