Varied Adventures In “Crazy World”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 2

Varied Adventures In “Crazy World”

A revolution, a snake farm, and a flight over the Himalayas in mid-winter were some of the adventures experienced by Mr W. Peers and Mrs Peers, of Christchurch, who returned recently after 10 months overseas. Mr Peers entitled his talk to the Canterbury Travel Club yesterday morning, “A flight across a crazy world.”

“Even the price of haircuts in different countries is crazy—such variation for the same sort of scissors and the same sort of clippers,” he said. The world was divided into an extraordinary variety of units and points of view. “We arrived in Saigon on a Monday. The Friday before, a revolution had taken place. On Sunday the rebels were overwhelmed by a counter-revolution. Things were still pretty muddled on Monday.” He described Thailand as one of the wealthiest countries in the world—exceptional in the midst of so much poverty. In Thailand Mr Peers saw the snake farm run by the Pasteur Institute. The snakes were kept on an island at the bottom of a large concrete pit. .“It was amazing to watch them sunning themselves,” said Mr Peers. “They would twine about each other until all that could be seen was a huge coil with heads poking out in all directions.” The venom from the snakes was taken regularly to be made into serum.

On a trip up the river to see the floating market of Bangkok, Mr Peers saw the huge gilded Royal barges which are used by the Royal couple once a year. The strangest sight in Bombay was a community washing place. “There were acres of concrete slabs, and thousands of people washing tens of thousands of garments,” he slid. Jewelled Carpets In India he saw carpets studded with jewels, and what was reputed to be the largest topaz in the world. Solid granite had been hollowed into a huge cave to make a Hindu temple on an island near Bombay. “Inside were wonderful and intricate carvings, made with the most primitive tools,” said Mr Peers. "I don’t advise anyone to fly into Kashmir in midwinter. In an old plane it is a rather hair-raising experience,” said Mr Peers. The Acropolis at Athens and the Colosseum in Rome, both floodlit at night, were other places which impressed Mr Peers. The speaker was thanked

by Mrs Read Masters. Guests at the meeting, who were welcomed-by Mrs E. B. Kay, included Mrs A Gotoorp, of Western Australia, Mrs B. Iz Blodom, Dominion president of the Federation of Travel Clubs, Mesdames F. W. Chapman, C. E. Thomson and J. T. Owen, president, vicepresident and secretary respectively of the Soujh Canterbury Travel Club, Mrs W. Peers, wife of the speaker, Mrs A. Mountier, of Wellington, and Mrs Calder Mackay, of Auckland. Vocal items were given by Mrs Clara Cogswell, accompanied by Mrs J. Johnston (violin), and Mrs Mabel Mason (pianoforte).