Return to ChaGaau Pt2

On the trip across the river, I took compass bearings of the piers so I could find them on the Google Earth photos. I had a bit of difficulty with the compass as I hadn’t used one since Army Daze and because I was trying not to attract attention to myself.

Taking compass bearings and photos of major landmarks and photos of all main road intersections (to the left and to the right, in front and behind) made me feel like a spy. Twenty five years ago it was impossible to buy a map and you couldn’t go anywhere without a minder. If I’d done then what I do now, I would probably have been arrested.

I wouldn't have made a good spy as I had difficulty trying not to speak HK Cantonese in the village and then not to speak village Cantonese once back in HK

When I reached the fork of the road, I stopped at the corner store to ask which was the road to Cha Gaau. I was told that “All roads lead to Rome” so I decided to go straight ahead instead, remembering “Never take the Left Hand Path,”

Left Hand Path to Cha Gaau Village

After about 30 minutes of fast walking, I realised I wasn’t getting near the village, but having come so far, I still carried on to see what was beyond the next bend and the next 2 bends. It was a very hot day and by this stage, I had drunk all my water, so I decided to turn back for the fork in the road.

All the while on that long stretch of road, the words of the song sung by Sir Harry Lauder came to mind. It used to be popular on the radio Request Session in long gone days when songs were beautiful poetry set to music that had melody and harmony.

Keep Right On To The End of the Road
Ev'ry road thro' life is a long, long road,
Fill'd with joys and sorrows too,
As you journey on how your heart will yearn
For the things most dear to you.
With wealth and love 'tis so,
But onward we must go.

Keep right on to the end of the road,
Keep right on to the end,
Tho' the way be long, let your heart be strong,
Keep right on round the bend.
And tho' you're tired and weary, still journey on,
Till you come to your happy abode,
Where the one you love and you’re dreaming of
Will be there at the end of the road.

Sir Harry Lauder wrote this song after his son was killed in action in World War I.

Click on link below to hear “Keep right onto the End of the Road”
http://ethelred.vox.com/library/audio/6a00c225267788549d00d09e82997ebe2b.html

I love this song and have always done ever since I first heard it. I have always been enchanted by the skirl of the pipes, the swirl of the kilt and legends of Scotland. (Maybe I was Scottish in a previous incarnation).

The other words that came to mind were the words from Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale” that we studied in the 6^th form

O for a draught of vintage that hath been
Cooled a long age in the deep-delved earth,
Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene
With beaded bubbles winking at the brim

I was panting for a long cool drink of lemonade with beaded bubbles winking at the brim.

Also drumming into my brain was the song and words of “Cool Water” that was taught to us by Barry Hogan our High School music teacher. (We were very lucky to have extremely good teachers in those days. Some of our men teachers had been through the war and knew about what was important in life)

Also the words of another popular song “Cool Water” drummed into my brain.
All day I face, The barren waste
Without the taste of water Cool water
Poor Dan and I, With throats burned dry
And so I cry for water Cool, clear water

Keep a-moving, Dan
Don't you listen to him, Dan
He's a devil, not a man
And he spreads the burning sand with water
Dan, don't you see that big green tree
Where the water's running free?
And its waitng there for me and you

Shadows sway, They seem to say
"Tonight we'll pray for water"
Cool water
Way up there, They'll hear our prayer
And show us where there's water
Cool, clear water

Keep a-moving, Dan
Don't you listen to him, Dan
He's a devil, not a man
And he spreads the burning sand with water
Dan, don't you see that big green tree
Where the water's running free?
And its waitng there for me and you

All day I face, The barren waste
Without the taste of water Cool water
Cool clear water

Written by Bob Nolan 1936; Sung by L. Buckingham,

Copy and paste link into browser to hear the song
http://ethelred.vox.com/library/audio/6a00c225267788549d00e398995ffa0001.html
To hear the song, Press and hold down the Ctrl key and click the following link http://www.buckinghamnicks.net/bn/mirage/coolwater.html