Trip to Guadalcanal

[Mark VII]

No, Savo Island. Just reinforcing statement made earier that Savo was seen almost every where I went. It was just alittle wierd seing it all of the time.

Tulagi was also visable though faintly of in the distance.

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: Mark VII

We are now heading to the top of Hill 27, which I believe is in the middle of the Gifu. Looking right after exiting the village. Guess what we can see out in the water?

Tulagi?

[Nikademus]

Are there any remenants of the Japanese seaplane base left at Tulagi?

[Cap Mandrake]

MarkVII;

In regard to mines lying about...I see you chose wisely by picking a guide with two feet [:)]

The most surprising things about your pics are the scale of the terrain (quite close) and the beauty (and prevalence)of the kunai grass mixed with jungle.

I expect close quarters at Gettysburg but I am surprised by the same thing at Guadalcanal.

[Brady]

I asume you hired the guide? Or was he from the Hotel?

[Mark VII]

Yes, they were hired and I would highly recommend them. So far you have seen a couple shots of John Warden who was very good. Warden works with/for (not sure) John Innes.

John Innes is the person who I contacted first.(found him through internet searches) Innes is probably the most knowledgeable person on the planet about the Battle for Guadalcanal. He has personly met hundreds of Vets who served on the Canal including a few Japanese. He has been to reunions of the 1st Marine Division. He has had Vets back on the Island showing him where they were at certain times and relating to John their experience on the island. He has taken Vets(those who were not sure) to where John thought they were based on what unit they were in and then the Vet would remember land marks and realise he was now "there!". I think he had sometime to do with the American Memorial. He also efforts to help out the locals in the battle field areas in hopes that they will take care of what is left. I told Innes that he needs to write a book but that is not high on his list of things to do at this time. Innes owns a computer company and (to bad for me) was in the middle of a major sales pitch to the government while I was there so he was unavailable to tour me except for Friday morning which was our last day there. It was a great trip which will be related later on this thread. though was able to have drinks with him a couple of nights talking about things.

If any one ever gets the chance to go(its only a three hour flight from Brisbane)please contact these guys. They know their way around and will save alot of time getting from location to location and know the locals and will smooth the way through some of the Villages(but not all as will be noted soon).

ORIGINAL: Brady


I asume you hired the guide? Or was he from the Hotel?

[Mark VII]

Over at Tulagi there is:

"Kawanishi Sea Planes Japanese 4 engined reconnaissance/ VIP transport seaplane, there were 13 aircraft sunk. The two main sites lie in 30m and wrecks are big enough to keep you occupied for an entire non-decompression dive and more."

We did not go over to Tulagi so I don't know what if anything is left on the ground. But the above is available if you dive.....terry

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Are there any remenants of the Japanese seaplane base left at Tulagi?

[Nikademus]

I'd love to scuba.....but have to wonder.....

"are fish our friends?"

[X(]

[Mark VII]

Did not notice any sharks during our two dives and besides, they are not interested in divers unless provoked. Can give you the email of the guy who took us diving who happens to be based at Tulagi. Depending on how deep you are willing to go there are many more (far better than the two I was over) wrecks that can be dived including the Aaron Ward (between 46 and 70 meters) which is in pristine condition.

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

I'd love to scuba.....but have to wonder.....

"are fish our friends?"

[X(]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

"The Thin Red Line" shouldn't be dissed for being made in New Zealand, but because it was SUCH A BAD MOVIE!

I second that.

[Brady]

I am I corect in asuming that the only way their is to get a conecting flight from some more Magor point, like Brisbane? That is no direct fights from Hawai, for example?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Mark VII

Did not notice any sharks during our two dives and besides, they are not interested in divers unless provoked.

Just wondering - is hunger a provocation? [X(]

[Terminus]

Well, just don't swim up and punch them in the snout.[;)]

I saw something on CNN a while ago, about personal protection for divers. A portable electrical field emitter that screws with the shark's senses; makes them uncomfortable enough to swim away but doesn't harm them permanently.

[Mark VII]

Yes, a fare amount of unexploded ordinance is found each year. Normally, the correct authorities are called in and they blow it up at a appropriate location. Don't think there have been any(recently)accidental explosions when the proper authorities were called in.

However, some people want to take the device(told this happened with torpedoes found on the shoreline or just underwater) apart to recover the explosive material and use it to help them fish, home made depth charge so to speak. Of course when one messes with unexploded stuff that has been laying in the jungle for over 60 years ...... sometimes .....KABOOoooom.

That website that timtom found shows some dude holding a couple of mortar rounds.....ahhhh...."put that /@#$%? stuff down or get the ?#$% away from me!!!". Have zero interest in picking up anything that might go boom.

ORIGINAL: Brady

Any unexploded ordance or mines being found still? I know they are not uncommon in other areas, but with all the heavy fighting in such a small place I would expect them to still turn up from time time, and with all the gathering of war debrie going on I bet some have been seriously hurt if not killed by such things.

[Terminus]

There's always someone who doesn't get it, isn't there? "Duh, this rusty old mortar bomb can't be dangerous. It's been here for SO long and hasn't exploded yet, duh..."

The only thing one can hope for with that sort of people is that they don't kill others when they blow themselves up by accident...[8|]

[Mark VII]

Solomon Air flies in from Brisbane, Port Vila, Nadi and I think Auckland. Check out http://www.solomonairlines.com.au/. There could be other Pacific airlines that might fly in from other Pacific locals but don't know.

ORIGINAL: Brady


I am I corect in asuming that the only way their is to get a conecting flight from some more Magor point, like Brisbane? That is no direct fights from Hawai, for example?

[Mark VII]

Well, that worked for Lora Croft, then the damn thing gave her a ride[:D]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Well, just don't swim up and punch them in the snout.[;)]

[Terminus]

And you wouldn't give Lara Croft a ride?[:D] She wouldn't have to punch me in the snout!

[Mark VII]

Any woman who can handle those H&K's like she can is my kind of woman

ORIGINAL: Terminus

And you wouldn't give Lara Croft a ride?[:D] She wouldn't have to punch me in the snout!

[Brady]

Thanks for the link, I checked the exchange rate, Solomons Dollars are like 7 for each US dollar? is it prety cheap their?

Found this sight, gives some interesting back ground on the unrest:

http://journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fi ... icity.html

[Nikademus]

appreciate it.

but i doubt i'll be going there anytime soon. I may be getting to Hawaii in November however.