SBW Magazine & History Project

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
197612

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
197612 [2016/09/12 11:52] – tyreless197612 [2016/09/12 11:59] (current) – tyreless
Line 52: Line 52:
 This hospitable action apparently set the seal for the rest of our stay in India for we have been overwhelmed and embarrassed by the hospitality here. It is embarrassing because we cannot hope to repay it. This hospitable action apparently set the seal for the rest of our stay in India for we have been overwhelmed and embarrassed by the hospitality here. It is embarrassing because we cannot hope to repay it.
  
-On route to Patna, within minutes of boarding the train we were engaged in conversation by an obviously well-educated Indian whose impeccable English put us to shame. He offered us fruit and after some little time invited us to stop off at his home in Sitamarki. We kept refusing politely till he said, "If you come we shall refresh our minds." For 24 hours we were treated like V.I.P.s. We were fed the most delioious Indian food. We talked on a wide variety of topics, Australia, India, politics of both countries, social customs, religion, etc. etc.+On route to Patna, within minutes of boarding the train we were engaged in conversation by an obviously well-educated Indian whose impeccable English put us to shame. He offered us fruit and after some little time invited us to stop off at his home in Sitamarki. We kept refusing politely till he said, "If you come we shall refresh our minds." For 24 hours we were treated like V.I.P.s. We were fed the most delicious Indian food. We talked on a wide variety of topics, Australia, India, politics of both countries, social customs, religion, etc. etc.
  
 All sorts of people - friends and relations - were invited and introduced to join in the discourse. His children were given the day off school "to listen to this interesting talk". His brother admitted to us that he had neglected his business for the day so that he could spend the time talking with us. He was a B.A. in political science - a little overawing to a non-scholarly person like myself. Every educated Indian seems to be a Bachelor of this or a Master of that but there are few who in vocation follow what their B or M has "prepared" them for. We were told much later by a graduate engineer that the education "they" were getting was of little value in a country that couldn't find them jobs with remuneration commensurate with their standard of learning. All sorts of people - friends and relations - were invited and introduced to join in the discourse. His children were given the day off school "to listen to this interesting talk". His brother admitted to us that he had neglected his business for the day so that he could spend the time talking with us. He was a B.A. in political science - a little overawing to a non-scholarly person like myself. Every educated Indian seems to be a Bachelor of this or a Master of that but there are few who in vocation follow what their B or M has "prepared" them for. We were told much later by a graduate engineer that the education "they" were getting was of little value in a country that couldn't find them jobs with remuneration commensurate with their standard of learning.
Line 78: Line 78:
 Agra has many other places and handicrafts of interest. You can buy "pure" silk shirts that "don't shrink", but when washed only regain 2/3 their former size. You can purchase "very cheap" tiny, small, slightly larger, big, larger still and huge models of the Taj made from every conceivable material. You can buy a sittar at an unnameable sum which you can take back to Australia and hang on the wall or sell(?) at an "enormous profit". Agra has many other places and handicrafts of interest. You can buy "pure" silk shirts that "don't shrink", but when washed only regain 2/3 their former size. You can purchase "very cheap" tiny, small, slightly larger, big, larger still and huge models of the Taj made from every conceivable material. You can buy a sittar at an unnameable sum which you can take back to Australia and hang on the wall or sell(?) at an "enormous profit".
  
-Agra has a Red Fort. Jaipur has a pink city. This is undergoing reincarnation by being repainted in the most ghastly, billious pink unimaginable and will take another 12 months to complete. Some of the billious pink must have got mixed up with the red plaster for the fort, or they ran out of cochineal, because Jaipur has an "Amber Fort". Jaipur is the possessor of a most amazing astronomical observatory from point of age, preservation and'accuracy. Shah Jahan (Taj M.) was responsible of course around the 1740's. Has the largest stone sundial in the world capable of an accuracy of 2 seconds, planet orbit maps and various other goodies.+Agra has a Red Fort. Jaipur has a pink city. This is undergoing reincarnation by being repainted in the most ghastly, billious pink unimaginable and will take another 12 months to complete. Some of the billious pink must have got mixed up with the red plaster for the fort, or they ran out of cochineal, because Jaipur has an "Amber Fort". Jaipur is the possessor of a most amazing astronomical observatory from point of age, preservation and accuracy. Shah Jahan (Taj M.) was responsible of course around the 1740's. Has the largest stone sundial in the world capable of an accuracy of 2 seconds, planet orbit maps and various other goodies.
  
 The one thing you can say about Indian rail service is that it is cheap. Even reserved 2nd Class is cheap. 1st Class is treble. One thing you cannot say about Indian trains is that they are comfortable. Another thing you cannot say is that they are not overcrowded. When I saw a local train depart from Patna Station my eyes came out like organ stops. Bodies were clinging outside closed doors and there were bodies clinging to these. There were bodies on the roof - they at least looked comfortable. There were (to my utter amazement) bodies riding the bogies under the carriages. Goodness knows how many human sardines were packed inside. The one thing you can say about Indian rail service is that it is cheap. Even reserved 2nd Class is cheap. 1st Class is treble. One thing you cannot say about Indian trains is that they are comfortable. Another thing you cannot say is that they are not overcrowded. When I saw a local train depart from Patna Station my eyes came out like organ stops. Bodies were clinging outside closed doors and there were bodies clinging to these. There were bodies on the roof - they at least looked comfortable. There were (to my utter amazement) bodies riding the bogies under the carriages. Goodness knows how many human sardines were packed inside.
Line 90: Line 90:
 This reminded me of the Foreign P.O. in Kathmandu. Inside on a large board, beautifully signwritten, was the inscription in English, "The articles listed below are forbidden exports." Underneath in columns the articles were listed for all to see in neat Sanskrit. This reminded me of the Foreign P.O. in Kathmandu. Inside on a large board, beautifully signwritten, was the inscription in English, "The articles listed below are forbidden exports." Underneath in columns the articles were listed for all to see in neat Sanskrit.
  
-Delhi has a Red Fort. In fact, every city in Northern India worthy of the name has a Red Fort. They vary in quality and size and come in assorted shapes. Some have glass palaces (Persian Archetecture), some have meeting places. They all have huge courtyards. They all have mosques. The Moguls built them - they must have been busy boys. How they managed this as well as all the fighting is worth investigating. The Red Fort is in Delhi (Old Delhi) and has lush green lawns for lazing on. It was great after the trials of travelling to luxuriate on the lawn under a tree and ree - lee - aaxx.+Delhi has a Red Fort. In fact, every city in Northern India worthy of the name has a Red Fort. They vary in quality and size and come in assorted shapes. Some have glass palaces (Persian Architecture), some have meeting places. They all have huge courtyards. They all have mosques. The Moguls built them - they must have been busy boys. How they managed this as well as all the fighting is worth investigating. The Red Fort is in Delhi (Old Delhi) and has lush green lawns for lazing on. It was great after the trials of travelling to luxuriate on the lawn under a tree and ree - lee - aaxx.
  
-You must not confuse Delhi and __New__ Delhi. New Delhi doesn't have a Red Fort. It has Connaught Place. This is another fiendish Indian invention to confound the unwary. It has an inner and outer circle like a bull's eye. I haven't yot worked out whether C.P1. is the inner circle (bull) or the outer circle (inner) or the inner and outer. If it is the outer or the inner it will have two sides, inside and outside. It also has radial roads. So to find somewhere in C.P1. you have to nominate whether it is on the inside or the outside of the inner or the outer circle and between X and Y radial roads. If however it is the inner - never mind, we'll leave that till next lesson. Q.E.D.+You must not confuse Delhi and __New__ Delhi. New Delhi doesn't have a Red Fort. It has Connaught Place. This is another fiendish Indian invention to confound the unwary. It has an inner and outer circle like a bull's eye. I haven't yet worked out whether C.P1. is the inner circle (bull) or the outer circle (inner) or the inner and outer. If it is the outer or the inner it will have two sides, inside and outside. It also has radial roads. So to find somewhere in C.P1. you have to nominate whether it is on the inside or the outside of the inner or the outer circle and between X and Y radial roads. If however it is the inner - never mind, we'll leave that till next lesson. Q.E.D.
  
 New Delhi in comparison with other Indian cities is BIG. The business centre is separated from the Embassies by miles of wide-wide streets. The Embassies are sited in "The Diplomatic Enclave" which is itself miles long and a mile wide. So if the bus driver puts you down one stop from your destination (either way) you have about a mile to walk. New Delhi in comparison with other Indian cities is BIG. The business centre is separated from the Embassies by miles of wide-wide streets. The Embassies are sited in "The Diplomatic Enclave" which is itself miles long and a mile wide. So if the bus driver puts you down one stop from your destination (either way) you have about a mile to walk.
  
-N. Delhi has lots of trees and people and is the capital city of India. A visit to "The Super Bazaar" would certainly not convince you of this. Any one of Sydney's small back alley supermarkets would outshine and outstook the "Super Bazaar". It was, I'm afraid, a tremendous let-down.+N. Delhi has lots of trees and people and is the capital city of India. A visit to "The Super Bazaar" would certainly not convince you of this. Any one of Sydney's small back alley supermarkets would outshine and outstock the "Super Bazaar". It was, I'm afraid, a tremendous let-down.
  
 Here again we met friendly and hospitable people - mostly on buses - who invited us to take coffee at the "India Coffee House" (a very inexpensive place for a light meal) and then invited us to visit them. We accepted the invitations. One fellow really embarrassed us by taking us to a restaurant and spending Rs.50 - to an Indian a small fortune - and refusing to let us pay half the bill. Here again we met friendly and hospitable people - mostly on buses - who invited us to take coffee at the "India Coffee House" (a very inexpensive place for a light meal) and then invited us to visit them. We accepted the invitations. One fellow really embarrassed us by taking us to a restaurant and spending Rs.50 - to an Indian a small fortune - and refusing to let us pay half the bill.
Line 106: Line 106:
 ====S.B.W. Epicurians.==== ====S.B.W. Epicurians.====
  
-Dinner prior to the january General Meeting will be at Namroc Chinese Restaurant, Pacific Highway, Crows Nest - very clost to the club rooms, near the shopping centre. Gather there at 6 p.m. Everybody welcome.+Dinner prior to the January General Meeting will be at Namroc Chinese Restaurant, Pacific Highway, Crows Nest - very close to the club rooms, near the shopping centre. Gather there at 6 p.m. Everybody welcome.
  
 ---- ----
Line 288: Line 288:
 The descent from Pantoney's on the northern end required the use of Ray's little piece of rope again in a couple of places and possibly an old pair of snow skis would be nice for going down the rather loose and steep slope along the ridge which we followed down to Cooee Creek. From here we had a short road bash back to the cars. The descent from Pantoney's on the northern end required the use of Ray's little piece of rope again in a couple of places and possibly an old pair of snow skis would be nice for going down the rather loose and steep slope along the ridge which we followed down to Cooee Creek. From here we had a short road bash back to the cars.
  
-As a general summary I would consider the trip to be easy-medium and well worth the effort. The best approach to climb Pantoney's Crown is from the southern end. During the warmer months water in the area is scarce and it would be wise to carry drinking requirements. A short leagth of rope to use as a hand line would also be very valuable.+As a general summary I would consider the trip to be easy-medium and well worth the effort. The best approach to climb Pantoney's Crown is from the southern end. During the warmer months water in the area is scarce and it would be wise to carry drinking requirements. A short length of rope to use as a hand line would also be very valuable.
  
 This area presents a splendid variety of walks and scrambles and I am looking forward to seeing more walking done here, especially trips that include Pantoney's Crown. This area presents a splendid variety of walks and scrambles and I am looking forward to seeing more walking done here, especially trips that include Pantoney's Crown.
Line 294: Line 294:
 Sunday's day trip to Tayer Pic went as planned. Unfortunately I was unable to go as I had come down with a very bad bout of influenza and as a result I remained in a rather motionless horizontal position whilst the intrepid five took off on a rather quick trip to Tayer Pic and back again. From all accounts this was also quite a delightful and worthwhile trip. Sunday's day trip to Tayer Pic went as planned. Unfortunately I was unable to go as I had come down with a very bad bout of influenza and as a result I remained in a rather motionless horizontal position whilst the intrepid five took off on a rather quick trip to Tayer Pic and back again. From all accounts this was also quite a delightful and worthwhile trip.
  
----+----
  
 ====Tent Record?==== ====Tent Record?====
Line 326: Line 326:
 Hans Stichter also visits the Cox's River, by way of Carlon's Farm, Tinpot Hill and Breakfast Creek. He also promises swimming, and the date is January 22 and 23 (Saturday morning start). Hans Stichter also visits the Cox's River, by way of Carlon's Farm, Tinpot Hill and Breakfast Creek. He also promises swimming, and the date is January 22 and 23 (Saturday morning start).
  
-Another meekend trip with swimming occurs on the Australia Day weekend January 23, 29, 30 and 31, with Barry Zieren at the helm. The walk will be from Bundeena to Marley. The swims? Lots.+Another weekend trip with swimming occurs on the Australia Day weekend January 23, 29, 30 and 31, with Barry Zieren at the helm. The walk will be from Bundeena to Marley. The swims? Lots.
  
 ===Day Walks/Swims.=== ===Day Walks/Swims.===
  
-January 9th's swim is in the Hawkedbury River region, taking the ferry to Little Wobby and a walk to Rocky Ponds. Margaret Reid takes you there.+January 9th's swim is in the Hawkesbury River region, taking the ferry to Little Wobby and a walk to Rocky Ponds. Margaret Reid takes you there.
  
-The same day sports the only day walk for the month which does not advertise swimming (but there is swimming just the same). This is Kath Bruwn's walk from Bundeena to Deer Pool and Little Marley. The Royal National Park in summer uniform.+The same day sports the only day walk for the month which does not advertise swimming (but there is swimming just the same). This is Kath Brown's walk from Bundeena to Deer Pool and Little Marley. The Royal National Park in summer uniform.
  
-January 16, and Barry Zieren appears again, to show the splendours of The Basin, Macherel Beach and West Head. With the grading very easy, I suspect swimming is the prime objective.+January 16, and Barry Zieren appears again, to show the splendours of The Basin, Mackerel Beach and West Head. With the grading very easy, I suspect swimming is the prime objective.
  
-This day also has Sheila Binns walking and swimming from Engadine to Heathcote via Tukawa Rill, Kangaroo Creek and Karloo Pool. Kangnroo Creek contains some excellent swimming spots.+This day also has Sheila Binns walking and swimming from Engadine to Heathcote via Tukawa Rill, Kangaroo Creek and Karloo Pool. Kangaroo Creek contains some excellent swimming spots.
  
-Frances Christie walks Heathcote to Kingdom Come via Lake Echersley on January 23. I have never seen Lake Eckersley. Why not swim down and see it.+Frances Christie walks Heathcote to Kingdom Come via Lake Echersley on January 23. I have never seen Lake Echersley. Why not swim down and see it.
  
 And finally, Otford to Burning Palms, on January 30. Tony Denham swims again, and you're invited to join him. And finally, Otford to Burning Palms, on January 30. Tony Denham swims again, and you're invited to join him.
Line 392: Line 392:
 The worst part of the heat and radiation from a large bushfire which passes around and over a car lasts for only 3 to 5 minutes and a person who has remained in his vehicle until the fire has passed can get out and walk to safety over burnt ground. Tests conducted at the same time showed that even fierce fires should not cause car petrol tanks to explode. Seven unprotected tanks of various popular model cars, each containing about 18 litres (4 gallons) of petrol were placed on 61 cm (2 ft) thick piles of pine. None exploded as the timber was burnt. In each case, the heat forced petrol vapour out of the filler cap vent and this then burnt strongly. But no explosion resulted nor did the tank seams rupture. In tests involving the car, vapour from the petrol tank did not ignite. The worst part of the heat and radiation from a large bushfire which passes around and over a car lasts for only 3 to 5 minutes and a person who has remained in his vehicle until the fire has passed can get out and walk to safety over burnt ground. Tests conducted at the same time showed that even fierce fires should not cause car petrol tanks to explode. Seven unprotected tanks of various popular model cars, each containing about 18 litres (4 gallons) of petrol were placed on 61 cm (2 ft) thick piles of pine. None exploded as the timber was burnt. In each case, the heat forced petrol vapour out of the filler cap vent and this then burnt strongly. But no explosion resulted nor did the tank seams rupture. In tests involving the car, vapour from the petrol tank did not ignite.
  
-The experiments were carried out in Stromlo Forest near Canberra. For the test involving the car, windous of slah pine 15 x 4 1/2 m (50 ft long, 15 ft wide) and 1.3 to 1.8 m (4 ft to 5 ft) high were situated 3 m (10 ft) from one side of the car in one test and the same distance from both sides in another. Flames 7.5 to 9 m (25 ft to 30 ft) high were produced when the timber fuel burnt most intensely. The tests disclosed that closing the car's windows cut down the amount of radiation entering the cabin by two-thirds. The Acting Director of the Forest Research Institute (Mr. A.G. McArthur) said the tests proved beyond doubt that the safest action for people caught in cars by bushfires was to remain in their vehicles. He said that the tests on petrol tanks had shown there was no need to fear explosions from this source. Also investigations of 1200 cars burnt in the Hobart fires of 1967 had not shown that any petrol tanks had exploded.+The experiments were carried out in Stromlo Forest near Canberra. For the test involving the car, windows of slah pine 15 x 4 1/2 m (50 ft long, 15 ft wide) and 1.3 to 1.8 m (4 ft to 5 ft) high were situated 3 m (10 ft) from one side of the car in one test and the same distance from both sides in another. Flames 7.5 to 9 m (25 ft to 30 ft) high were produced when the timber fuel burnt most intensely. The tests disclosed that closing the car's windows cut down the amount of radiation entering the cabin by two-thirds. The Acting Director of the Forest Research Institute (Mr. A.G. McArthur) said the tests proved beyond doubt that the safest action for people caught in cars by bushfires was to remain in their vehicles. He said that the tests on petrol tanks had shown there was no need to fear explosions from this source. Also investigations of 1200 cars burnt in the Hobart fires of 1967 had not shown that any petrol tanks had exploded.
  
 ---- ----
197612.txt · Last modified: 2016/09/12 11:59 by tyreless
Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki