Comments on: The Las Balsas expedition: A crewman reminisces http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/ Regular information and comments on the Ballina Shire. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:36:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jean-Claude Gassee http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-107611 Jean-Claude Gassee Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:48:16 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-107611 What a memory that 1970 expedition! I was a student at McGill university in Montreal and a ham radio operator who kept contact with the expedition until it got to Moolloolabah, for the wife of Marc Modena the frenchman abord; I was very impressed by the stories and the tenacity of the crew, the king of people who help our great planet been discovered. Saludos de canada What a memory that 1970 expedition!
I was a student at McGill university in Montreal and a ham radio operator who kept contact with the expedition until it got to Moolloolabah, for the wife of Marc Modena the frenchman abord; I was very impressed by the stories and the tenacity of the crew, the king of people who help our great planet been discovered.
Saludos de canada

]]> By: Is it time we promoted Aztlan, a significant part of Ballina’s history? | Ballina Information Blog http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-107088 Is it time we promoted Aztlan, a significant part of Ballina’s history? | Ballina Information Blog Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:40:10 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-107088 [...] Gabriel Salas’ reminiscence of the Las Balsas [...] [...] Gabriel Salas’ reminiscence of the Las Balsas [...]

]]> By: Sue Haynes http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-107081 Sue Haynes Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:06:50 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-107081 Hi Gabriel, The neighbours have just been tripping around Queensland and NSW and mentioned La Balsa at Ballina. I vaguely thought they were referring to one of Thor Heyderdahl's crafts, and couldn't believe or understand that this La Balsa made it to Australia. I am 50, not incredibly ignorant, and have been hugely interested in many sea craft, and yet honestly I had never heard of this journey. It is very exciting, and pretty unbelievable that it is not being exploited to attract tourists. In fact, in all the promotional literature the neighbours brought back we could find no mention of the raft. I had to google it to find out more. The Council must be mad. If that council are not interested in promoting this phenomenal story, perhaps another council would like to house the raft and do its journey justice, not to mention bringing some cash into their community. Hi Gabriel,

The neighbours have just been tripping around Queensland and NSW and mentioned La Balsa at Ballina. I vaguely thought they were referring to one of Thor Heyderdahl’s crafts, and couldn’t believe or understand that this La Balsa made it to Australia. I am 50, not incredibly ignorant, and have been hugely interested in many sea craft, and yet honestly I had never heard of this journey. It is very exciting, and pretty unbelievable that it is not being exploited to attract tourists. In fact, in all the promotional literature the neighbours brought back we could find no mention of the raft. I had to google it to find out more. The Council must be mad. If that council are not interested in promoting this phenomenal story, perhaps another council would like to house the raft and do its journey justice, not to mention bringing some cash into their community.

]]> By: Jeff Johnson http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-105513 Jeff Johnson Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:56:12 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-105513 Hi Gabriel, It was great to meet you when you visited Ballina. You have some amazing stories about your adventures. Keep in touch, Kind regards Jeff Johnson Hi Gabriel,

It was great to meet you when you visited Ballina. You have some amazing stories about your adventures. Keep in touch,

Kind regards

Jeff Johnson

]]> By: Cristy Sulek http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-104056 Cristy Sulek Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:12:14 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-104056 Hi Gabriel, I grew up in Ballina and remember as a child visiting the the museum and seeing the Aztlan on a school excursion. It is a memory that has always stayed with me, so much so that I recently told the story to my partner for reference in a university assignment. I am sure there are many others like myself. I dont know if the schools still take children to the museum, but it would be a shame if they didnt. It is certainly very inspirational to see the raft itself and hear the story of how it came to be in Ballina. Thank you for posting your memories of the voyage here! Regards, Cristy. Hi Gabriel,
I grew up in Ballina and remember as a child visiting the the museum and seeing the Aztlan on a school excursion. It is a memory that has always stayed with me, so much so that I recently told the story to my partner for reference in a university assignment. I am sure there are many others like myself. I dont know if the schools still take children to the museum, but it would be a shame if they didnt. It is certainly very inspirational to see the raft itself and hear the story of how it came to be in Ballina.
Thank you for posting your memories of the voyage here!
Regards,
Cristy.

]]> By: Jim Leslie http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-101868 Jim Leslie Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:42:29 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-101868 Ah, bless you all for your dedication to the 'balsas'. I am a writer who has completed a 670 page novel, 'The Mal'lam Voyagers' about the people who explored the Pacific Ocean, circa 1500 B.C., long before the Polynesians entered Oceania. In this story is a meeting between Amerindian voyagers and the 'Mal'lam' during which one side discovers the sweet potato and the other, the coconut and also the Mal'lam discover metal (copper) for the first time. My novel is being considered presently by an Australian publisher. I suspect you folks at the La Balsa museum are all familiar with the growing controversy about who was first into the Pacific. Verrry interesting! I would be very interested in establishing a dialog with some of the interested people down there. Since I am now working on Book Two of ' the Mal'lam Voyagers' I am looking to exchange ideas with other interested parties as well as to learn more about your organizations progress and if I might be of some value in increasing awareness about the la balsa voyages. Most people here in the Mooloolaba area have never heard of them! Sincerely............Jim Leslie Ah, bless you all for your dedication to the ‘balsas’.
I am a writer who has completed a 670 page novel, ‘The Mal’lam Voyagers’ about the people who explored the Pacific Ocean, circa 1500 B.C., long before the Polynesians entered Oceania. In this story is a meeting between Amerindian voyagers and the ‘Mal’lam’ during which one side discovers the sweet potato and the other, the coconut and also the Mal’lam discover metal (copper) for the first time. My novel is being considered presently by an Australian publisher. I suspect you folks at the La Balsa museum are all familiar with the growing controversy about who was first into the Pacific. Verrry interesting!

I would be very interested in establishing a dialog with some of the interested people down there. Since I am now working on Book Two of ‘ the Mal’lam Voyagers’ I am looking to exchange ideas with other interested parties as well as to learn more about your organizations progress and if I might be of some value in increasing awareness about the la balsa voyages. Most people here in the Mooloolaba area have never heard of them! Sincerely…………Jim Leslie

]]> By: Deborah Rose http://www.ballina.info/blog/2008/11/20/the-las-balsas-expedition-a-crewman-reminisces/comment-page-1/#comment-99119 Deborah Rose Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:45:41 +0000 http://www.ballina.info/blog/?p=2103#comment-99119 Hello Gabriel, I have just stumbled across your website! I was one of the girls who lived in the house in Mosman, Sydney where some of the boys stayed briefly. Hard to believe all these years have passed, seems like yesterday. When next passing through Ballina I will definately call in to see the raft! Regards, Deborah Hello Gabriel, I have just stumbled across your website! I was one of the girls who lived in the house in Mosman, Sydney where some of the boys stayed briefly. Hard to believe all these years have passed, seems like yesterday. When next passing through Ballina I will definately call in to see the raft!
Regards,
Deborah

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