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Newsletter #9 - August 16-22, 1959 |
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Newsletter #9
August 16 to 22, 1959 Mailed Melbourne, Australia 8/24 Received Philadelphia, Pa, 9/5/59 Here We Are Again -- Another Sunday [August 16] at sea and it is a beautiful day, but the ocean is very, very rough and everyone is taking it easy. During the afternoon, Forun Fagerland, the captain's daughter, put on her Norwegian national costume so Meredith could take her picture. We were up on the bridge and I took 2 pictures and when Meredith went to snap his picture the lens closed without completion of the firing and the lens locked, so that he cannot advance the film, which means no more pictures until we get to a reputable camera repairman. (He sure is downhearted!) The remainder of the day was spent quite leisurely by all passengers so the captain decided to give us a movie Sunday night. We saw Deanna Durbin in one of her old films, which was good entertainment after so much sitting. Since everyone is minding the rough waters of this Indian Ocean, most of us decide to take some type of motion pills to help us get a good night's rest. When we awaken Monday [August 17] morning we still have a very rough bobbing ocean, but most of us are making the best of it as the captain says it won't get better and more likely it will be worse, as in this area they have so much wind. We play ping pong, shuffleboard and ring toss, but the leaning ship makes it quite difficult. After 11 of clock broth I usually write my bit for the day and before you know it the bell rings for dinner, so the days go quite quickly, and between times I do our family washing and ironing, mending, etc., — it is surprising how little repair jobs need to be done so often. We're now in our third month of traveling and wearing many of the same articles every other day is hard on them. During our evening meal the telegraph operator brought the captain a message that we are to proceed on to Fremantle and not stop at Geraldton so that's one more port we will not see. Meredith, Mignon, Forun and I have been playing Bolivia (a type of canasta) almost every evening and we play a pretty close game, but Forun and I have managed to beat Mignon and Meredith practically all of the time, but tonight they came through and won one game, which made them happy. (I might add that Meredith thinks Forun is another Rose Stouch, as we play so well together and she is always getting the piles.) Today is the captain's daughter's birthday, so we plan to have a birthday celebration tonight. Most of us bought her a gift for the occasion in Penang. She will be twenty years old and she surely is a pleasant girl. For dinner we have our usual meal plus a fish course, a beautyfully decorated turkey, wine and a lovely birthday cake. We are all quite gay and again we are shown a movie — Tyrone Powers and Dorothy Lamour in "Johnny Apollo." There is the usual chatter after the movie but about |
| about midnight we get some music and we have a dance session until after 3 A.M. with the ship lurching and sending us back and forth on the dance floor without too much effort put into, actual dance steps. News for today [August 19] is we'll be at Fremantle tonight but since no customs officers come aboard at night we won't leave the ship until Thursday morning, so this news means I'll have to pack today, which is a job I do not like too well. It surely was nice to have sixteen days aboard ship living at one place and not packing so often. Had a farewell dinner tonight with champagne and all the trimmings and the "Ellen Bakke" turned off her engines about 7 P.M. in the harbor. We had our coffee and almost everyone had brandy or Drambuie with theirs, except me, and then we had music and dancing, gaiety galore and good-byes, etc. until about 2:30 A.M. Went on deck with the captain while he personally showed me the Southern Cross and a gorgeous full moon. Our last two nights were certainly nights Meredith and I will always remember as we all had such a wonderful time. Two of our new Australian friends want to entertain us in Perth on Saturday [August 22]. They are James and Nellie Bartlett. Thursday [August 20] morning we were dressed early as the customs officers wanted to see all of us before breakfast. After our last breakfast we again had a round of kissings and farewells and soon our luggage was being checked and we were on a taxi to go twelve miles from Fremantle to Perth. This was a very picturesque trip since you see the Indian Ocean and the Swan River almost at the same time and the shore lines of both are most interesting. Found a camera shop and we are hoping he can repair the camera as soon as possible for Perth has some very scenic places. Kings Park is one of the greatest prides of Perth and it is a most unusual place since it is to be preserved as a heritage for the people forever. Host of this park is still in virgin state and since it is now almost springtime we are enjoying all the fragrance and charm of the bush bedecked with a profusion of lovely and unusual wildflowers. The one which I have particularly loved is the Kangaroo Paw, which is a definite Christmas red and green and is only found in Western Australia in its Wild state. It is a serious offence to pick or destroy this flower and I hope we get a few pictures of it to show all of you its beauty. It is extraordinary! There are scenic drives through this park and the front of the park overlooking the river and city has been picturesquely laid out with lawns, flower beds and striking memorial statues. Beside Kings Park is Queens Garden where the sylvan beauty of these gardens is heightened by graceful willow trees which droop their long, slender leaves Into the Swan River. Here you find miniature lagoons formed on graceful curved lines and with lovely grassy banks, and rustic bridges span the channels and the waters will be covered soon with a profusion of flowering water lilies. (Hate to miss this color.) Other parks and gardens are the Stirling Gardens, the Supreme Court Gardens, Hyde Park and the Zoological Gardens. Surprisingly, Western Australia is said to possess one of the richest florae of the world because of its many numbers of species of flowers and also for the infinite - 2 -
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| variety of forms and the colors of its blooms. Its types of flora would compare with Southern California and include tropical and temperate plants, My Garden Club friends would love it here as the Acacia Tree is seen by the millions aid is known as a Wattle Tree, which is the State Tree in Western Australia. There are hundreds of varieties of this acacia or Wattle Tree, the most popular being the Golden Wattle and the Silver Wattle. We are glad to be here while they are in bloom. Today [August 21] I got slightly sick about 3:30 P.M. and had to leave my shutterbug husband at the University of Western Australia, which has an outstanding campus and buildings of lovely architectural structure with the unusual flame tree gracing many of its grounds. I went back to the city by bus and left him to get more pictures, as he has his camera once more. When I got into bed quite sick and rocky, I discovered my bed seemed to be moving and was later to learn that I had land sickness and had to take motion pills. By Saturday [August 22] I felt better and our ship friends took us out touring the coastline, beaches and places of interest around and outside of Perth and along the Indian Ocean. We were touring from 10:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., only stopping to eat and take pictures. We ended our tour by going to one of their popular fishing piers for Fish and Chips and they were delicious. (My first time at eating Fish and Chips). Next they took us to their lovely home and we sat by the fire and talked until time for us to be at the airport (11:30 P.M.) to leave for Adelaide during the night. Before closing I must tell you it is terribly cold in the hotels and homes here as they have no central heating, only fireplaces and electric heaters, and we have been sleeping in leotards, stockings, sweaters, etc., and two in a single bed to keep warm and even then we are cold. It is not bad in the sun, but most of the hotels and homes never really get warm, at least not in August, which is their last month of winter. (Their finest hotels are not heated and they have very few hotel rooms with bath and rates are high considering the lack of what we Americans call comforts.) I will say they are really hale and hearty Aussies and a very friendly type of people. We'll write more when we arrive in Adelaide the capital of South Australia. (Perth was the capital of West Australia.) Neglected to also tell you about the street our hotel was on, St. George's Terrace. It has Government House, Parliament House, Historical Banks and Churches and just gobs of unusual Gothic architectural old buildings which would cost a fortune to construct today, and they are very well cared for and kept in good repair. Everyone remember not to write to us in Jerusalem, Israel, as we are not sure we can go there. Also, please remember to save your stamps (and envelopes) from mail or packages. Many of my pupils are stamp collectors and I am anxious for the children to have some of them. Thanks! Until you hear from us next week, we are fine but COLD. Love, Charlotte and Meredith - 3 -
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