Favorite Places

Dave KOHL Faculty

Cathy smith and others...Glad you remember the Taiwan trip of '75...

I was honored to be a class advisor on that trip...Chris Myers and Tom Buckle and Chris Collins, etc. Earl and Mary Kaye and I were chaperones. Fun times, especially in Taroko Gorge.

We went after Operation Interchange with TAS, and on the way back, we decided to do an overnight extra trip to Macau, riding the old HK-Macau Ferry, with bunks in the lower deck. What a riot, and we did play cards all night, and Mike McCoy, I think, spent the entire time in the Casino and made about US $200....at least that's how I remember it.

And no wonder it was blurred in your memory, maybe some San Mig or a little Mateus could be responsible? Hmmmmmm

Cathy SMITH Caviness ‘75

Dave and others who may remember, There were chaperones on that trip?!
(Sr. Class trip 1975)

Actually, the Macau trip was a little later in the year than the Taiwan trip ... but I tend to blur them too. I remember playing cards all night in Taiwan (rather than on that slow boat to Macau). We were outside under an open air canopy ... sort of like a big car port with no cars. In fact, I remember being outside pretty much the whole time we were in Taroko Gorge. Hiking, soaking our feet in the warm springs, and all night playing cards at a picnic table.

I seem to remember watching Brad Sandler making a precarious trip across some kind of swinging rope bridge. And there was a crazy bus trip along steep mountainsides. I remember all that ... but no 'advisers'.

Where were you guys and what were you doing? ... I mean, besides helping Mike McCoy win the big money in Macau. And no, my memories are not blurry because of alcohol (I didn't drink on either of those trips) ... apparently I'm just old.

Here's a question for the group: What was/is your favorite spot in Hong Kong? And why?

Marcus J. WOO 75

Having Dave Kohl and Art Himmler on the two 1975 class trips was one of the reasons both trips were such a success. Re the Taiwan trip in Spring of '75, thanks go to Dave and Art for smoothing things over with Father Paul the morning after we trashed his guest house in Tienhsiang (Taroko> Gorge).

Damage included, but was not limited to, the following: urinating in the fish pond, setting fire to cheap Ng-ga-pei wine on the lawn and in the fish pond (and on Mark Feldman's hand), numerous instances of flattened grass behind certain bushes, as well as assorted littering and pervasive loitering on the bridge, pagoda steps and excessive use of the> lavatories and adjacent and not-so-adjacent surroundings...etc.

Incidentally, I was back in Taroko Gorge in July of this year. The scenic beauty remains magical, but there is now a 5 star hotel at Tienhsiang.

The recent earthquake has badly damaged some sections of the road so if you are planning a visit, wait a couple of months.

Cathy SMITH Caviness '75

So *that's* where they were! Putting out fires ... literally

. Trust you to have the razor sharp memories. Thanks for clarifying. I'll join you in thanking all those chaperones and 'advisors' (especially Dave and Art) who made numerous trips/outings possible. I can't imagine letting my kids go to another country with their teachers from school ... or their teachers being willing to do it!

I know Art Himmler took the chorus on a bunch of choir trips.' One favorite was singing on an aircraft carrier.

Dave Kohl, I think I flunked out of art before you ever came to HKIS ... In fact, I think I flunked out of art in kindergarten. Given everyone else's high opinion of you (and the fact that everyone kept something from art class- even if they think it was no good), I am sorry I missed the opportunity.

Thanks for connecting with so many students, both artistically and personally.

Bill STEAGALL (Class of '75)

I also remember with fondness the senior class trip to Taiwan. The museum, Toroko gorge, the pagoda, Kathy Johnson in a panic because she thought her pictures got ruined.

I also remember trying find people who were still coherent (like Cathy, I chose not to imbibe). The rickety bridge, and the hot springs are also memories.

In the '75 year book, is that Steve Smith on the rickety bridge?

Dave, I don't know why I haven't said anything to you up to now. Probably because I had no stolen articles to talk about, but I also took several classes from you. I still have a painting that I did in your class, what what I really remember is that you got me started on the wheel. I didn't make anything worth while in your class, but I went on to take a class in College, and it became a great release for me. I also believe that having some creative practice made me a better engineer.

Thanks for the influence.I'm writing from the road in Brasil, so don't expect prompt answers.

Sheila, I tried to respond to your email, but my computer crashed just as I was sending. Did you get it?

Regards to all,

Lynn BARRATT Frau 73

I experienced many earthquakes and typhoons when we lived in the Philippines and Hong Kong. The two most memorable were -One in PI when I was home alone and my parents were both in HK. Part of our house was flooded and I had to move furniture and clean up by myself because the cook and amah were too scared. I was 14 or 15 at the time,there were roofs flying off houses, ships up into the roads at Manila Bay,the household staff was hysterical and my parents were worried sick because they couldn't call and check on me because the telephone lines were down. I was oblivious because I was too busy moving furniture (one wall of our house was screen - didn't do much to keep out the rain when there was 120+ mile an hour wind!).

The other memorable one was the one in HK that I think others have talked about in 1972. It was Father's Day - my sister was born at Canosa Hospitalon June 7th, 1972 - and this was our family's first Father's Day with two kids! I went to HKIS Chapel for church services that morning but couldn't make it home for the celebration for quite awhile . The pak pai driver and I got caught between two landslides and couldn't go anywhere. Luckily for me Debbie Overton lived in an apartment building that was between the two landslides. I'm sure he was a nice fellow but I didn't relish the idea of spending the night in a pak pai!

I can't remember now if I had to stay at Debbie's for one or two nights but as usual we had fun!

I was also there for the burning of the floating restaurant and the sinking of the Queen E. When I lived in Manila, we often went to Corrigedor for school outings, etc.We explored the caves, tunnels, etc.

My most exciting experience there was swimming with classmates around the boat we had taken to get there when the boat issued a few blasts as a warning that there were sharks in the area. Unfortunately when I started swimming for the boat I got a cramp and couldn't move! And that was even before the movie Jaws.

My other boating memories are those wonderful trips out to the University in the New Territories with the Marine Biology class (now that was one terrible class!). We got to go aqua lung diving to collect specimens for class but at least one of us had to stay topside to watch for Chinese patrol boats!

A bunch of us also went several times on a junk for the day sailing out into the harbour but I can't remember where the boat came from. I don't think we rented it but I don't remember - maybe it belonged to a company that somebody's dad worked for?

Alan, did you come on those trips and do you remember whose boat it was? I get terribly motion sick but for some strange reason I don't remember being sick on the junk. I do remember that I was always asked to bring my famous chocolate fudge on those trips!

I also remember the sights and smells and wind blowing through our hair since the guys had long hair too.I remember that trip to Lantau that Alan referred to. I didn't remember that some of the kids had stayed over night. I think we messed up on the ferry times and almost missed the last ferry. I vividly remember my mother freaking out by the time I got home since it was so late! Though where she was and why she wasn't worried when I was wandering around Wanchai late atnight eating at the American restaurant and clubbing (can't remember the name of the club we used to go to) is beyond me. If she was still alive today I'd have alot of questions to ask her about that!

The trip we took in 1972 to Manila - the basketball team and cheerleading squad - both of which won top prizes at that tournament with other International schools through Asia. The only problem was the return trip to HK when security at Kai Tak saw our school uniforms, decided that we must all be a bunch of druggies and searched everything we owned. They went through all our clothes, jars of cream, the guys hair and also wanted us to strip for a body search. When they took me into one of the rooms and told me to take off my things I responded, and I quote, "Get your hands off me sister!", picked up my bags that were falling apart after the search and stormed out, highly indignant!

On that note, I'll end - everything else was kind of anticlimatic after that experience.

Except of course that time a hooker tried to beat me up when she thought I was dancing with a US serviceman on R&R . . .

MaryJo LUEDTKE Reimann 75

I vividly remember the Taroko Gorge trip. I loved the bus ride on the East-West highway and would love to take my family there at some point. I still have a piece of marble that I picked up there.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I may have been the only girl to cross the rickety rope bridge that was suspended above the gorge. I distinctly remember the burned out boards in the middle and the rushing water. I pulled some gorgeous crystals out of the mountainside on the other side, too. If only I could find them now!

I went on many camping trips to Lan Tao and slept out on Mile Long Beach too.(? Was that it's name?) I even took my family once for an overnight weekend trip. We were almost trampled by cows or water buffalo or something in the middle of the night. Sleeping on the beach under the stars was the best!!!

We primitive camp now as a family and I can still name many constellations thanks to Del Harnisch.

What a great time those trips were. Alan C, Gary A, and others, remember traipsing through rice paddies in the New Territories to get to a beach campsite? I don't even know where we were. But, I remember chopping branches for our fire that night. It was a blast!

I can't remember the # of times I camped up at Sunset Peak. Remember one time in 74 or 75 when we went up for only one night? We slept on top of the bungalos. Someone's mom came along as chaperone. Who was that? Greg Acompora, Judi, were you on that trip? I hate it when my memory only gives me half of the details!

I also remember going to CYF on Friday nights. Betsy Templeton, Tim and Greg Harvey, and many more were regular attendees.

My last memory for tonight, for darkness is closing in, is that of crossing the harbor to go to school early in the morning in Sept-Oct of 1966. You see, Luedtke's were one of the "charter" families of HKIS. When it first opened, but before the building was up, we had class in an apartment bldg near Stanley. Chung Hom Kok to be exact and 4th grade was in the living room. We took a ferry, two buses, and then walked over a mile from the bus stop, rain or shine. Once, when it was pouring, the Ketterers picked up a whole wad of us in their black car and drove us all soaking wet to school, I laid across the top of everyone's laps and bookbags. Yes, Scott Jimmerson, I do remember!!! I also remember you as the Grinch in sixth grade! Do you still like to act?

This is the end of my little epistle. There is so much more, but not enough time. What wonderful years those were. I am dying to see everyone again. Maybe I can save my pennies and get to a reunion one of these years!

Love to all!!