To One Who Lives on the Mainland

Melanesia and Verse Novel Blogs Find New Home

Dear Readers:

I'm keeping this blog up as a reminder of posts past, most of which I just couldn't see succumb to the delete button.

I've moved active posting, however, to two new spaces: http://oceanandislands.blogspot.com (for Melanesia and Oceania stories) and
http://versenovel.blogspot.com (for reviews and such on the novel-in-verse form) to which, I hope, you'll be clicking soon.

In the meantime, please enjoy these short films, photos, and book notes.

Thanks much!

Holly

Tiki Timecapsule: Kelbo's of Metro Los Angeles

Who, within the sound of my voice, remembers Kelbo's?  All locations have been closed if not torn down, but back in the mid-1960's these places were dark hangouts draped with fishnets, blowfish lamps, diving bells and tikis. Lots of tikis.  Platters of Hawaiian BBQ ribs and big fruity drinks in Hurricane glasses were on every table.  Did the waitresses wear grass skirts?  Probably, though after a few of those big fruity drinks who could remember?  Certainly not my fat, cigar-smoking grandpop...though he did have an overactive (embarassing) interest "in the ladies."

 

 

Bougainville Funeral II

Melanesian Funeral, with pan pipes.

Bamboo Band on Island of Bougainville

I've been thinking about Melanesian music, lately, and found this: Bougainville Funeral. Driving, sustaining beat. What, I wonder, if the significance of cutting down the trees? A sign of mourning, perhaps? Or clearing the way of the dead for their departure?

Life, Death and Magic: 2000 Years of Southeast Ancestral Art

http://nga.gov.au/Exhibition/LIFEDEATHMAGIC/

Check out this amazing exhibit at the National Gallery of Australia before it closes October 31st!

If you can't make it to the gallery, enjoy the beautiful art of their website. Lovely.

A Tour of Cartimar Animal Market, Manila -- from "Peephole" Show

!

Six Philippino Fighter Pilots Against Fifty-four Japanese Raiders

"Fighting Filipino pilot. Manila. Captain Jesus Villamor, commanding officer of the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps, is pictured getting out of plane after returning from a flight to Batangas Field. The youth, who leads a daredevil squadron of six Filipino pilots in erstwhile training planes who took on fifty-four Japanese air raiders over Batangas and shot down two, said he "got so mad" he forgot to be scared. One of the Filipino pilots was wounded and parachuted to safety and another was killed, Captain Villamor said, when seven Japanese planes "rode him down." He is the son of the late associate justice of the Philippine Supreme Court and trained as a pilot at Randolph and Kelly Fields" Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [LC-USE6-D-009642 (b&w film nitrate neg.)]

Next in my Pacific series: This appears to be a post-luncheon group photo of Arthur MacArthur, Jr. and his peeps in the Philippines.  I'm guessing this was taken in Manila during the time of the Philippine-American War (or probably shortly thereafter) around 1902.  And yes, Arthur Jr. is Douglas MacArthur's dad.  Photo from the National Archives.

Vella Lavella

I've added this to illustrate the density of the jungles in which the Pacific war was fought.

Also, these jungles fringed the lives of people in the late plantation era (1920's-30's)  in which To One Who Lives on the Mainland take place. 

Vella Lavella.  Infantrymen of Co. "I" await the word to advance in pursuit of retreating Japanese forces.  Stepping Stone Island on the Vella Lavella Island Front, Southwest Pacific.  (13 Sep 43)  Signal Corps Photo: 161-43-4081 (Schuman) (From http://www.history.army.mil/)