December 2019 - Around the World
Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 6th December at Merchistoun Hall to listen to a talk by Andrew Negus (a local favourite) about his trip "Around the World - the Weird, the Wild and the Wonderful."
Andrew entertained the members with reminiscences of his younger days of back packing around the world and hitch hiking across China by rail later in his life. In 1968 Andrew (a hippie type) met Malcolm a Kiwi who invited him to hitch hike to New Zealand. His friend said they could live on two bob a day to include everything.....it wasn't true as Andrew was often starving hungry. They travelled through Europe, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Katmandu. He eventually arrived in Australia with just ten pounds in his pocket. He then took on lots of jobs earning money to return home.
On his return he together with a friend, Dave, hitch hiked across America, visiting the Grand Canyon en route. They met a lady with a car with her two children who offered to put them up in New York where they arrived, with her, two months later. Andrew fell in love with this lady, married her and invited her to bring her children to England - which she did. The children attended Hambledon School and settled into the village which was a huge change from living in the middle of Brooklyn, NY. Sadly his wife died from breast cancer aged only 44, after 18 years together.
Following her death, when he was mid 40's, he gave up teaching and decided to go back to New Zealand where he had lots of friends as he felt it would be therapeutic. A friend Brian at his farewell party told him about his Trans Siberian railway journey to China and he immediately decided to do the trip. On the way he stayed in different cities studying the history and many beautiful buildings which he thoroughly enjoyed. He fell in love with Moscow with its beautiful buildings, its river with bridges reminiscent of Paris and Red Square where he tried to visit Lenin's tomb. However he was disappointed because Lenin was not at home at that time! He considers that the underground stations are a show piece for communism to the rest of the world.
On the Trans Siberian train his travelling companions were Dutch, Russians, Australian, Brits, French and Fins etc. He was disappointed that it wasn't a steam train. The scenery was not inspiring across Siberia. Some Russian engineers, who were poor, invited them into their compartment to share their vodka and food and sang in their deep Russian voices. It was incredible. He commented on the poverty seen at the stations during the trip. The line to Vladivostok took 25 years to build and is about 6000 miles long with single tracks. The railway opened up the land and it was settled by four million peasants from Moscow who farmed the land and grew wheat which the train transported across Siberia to European Russia.
They then went on to Mongolia where it transpired that the rail line was a different gauge so they were all ordered off the train whilst the wheels were changed to fit the track. Then through the Gobi desert into China. Beijing which was so different and nothing like today with no private cars, everyone dressed in drab working type clothes, bicycles everywhere, buses and lorries. He was amazed to find that everyone spat, everywhere and anywhere. Known as the voice of Chinese! He loved visiting the Great Wall, the Emperors Palace and other places of interest and learning about their history. During his stay Andrew grew to be impressed by the culture and history of China.
Andrew told many other stories of his travels (too many to recount here!) and his talk was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Diane Stoner, Speaker Co-ordinator.