Langkawi to Phuket in Thailand

Finally after what felt like many long weeks waiting and w a i t i n g
 for minor repairs to be done at Telaga marina
 We set off sailing again. What a great feeling.
The sunsets and sunrises the wind in the face.
We really enjoyed the first few days.



There was always something spectacular.
We hope that you can see the rainbow.



On our 10 day long voyage to Thailand we visited this "Hole in the wall"
a natural park in Malaysia. The opening was almost that-a hole in a wall.

It was a very very narrow entry.
Suddenly the water was almost still in here. So protected from the winds.

This was really very special...there were about 20 or so eagles just circling.

Lots of tourist arrive here few times per day to see the eagles.
They have trined them to come for a feed ass soon as they hear the boats.

Taking a great eagle picture was not the easiest task.
This is the best I was able to get.

Our first stop in Thailand. So so different to sleepy Malaysia.
There was a great big party going on till 3 am in the morning.
This is also the time when the toilet broke
we noticed problem with dinghy
 and the very first sign of engine troulble.

The next day our plans were changed
and instead of taking the scenic route to Thailand we took the most direct one.
 Robert was not happy to take any chances with the engine
 that didn't want to start easily.

Arriving in Malaysia - delayed

Not a very interesting welcome.

Singapore to Port Dickson- that was the plan anyway.

Hmm…we got used to Singapore and enjoyed it tremendously and needed to continue on our journey now with our brand new Malaysian flag ready for hanging.

Our next stop Port Dickson was only a short distance away, past the shipping channels again. We made a booking at the very nice Port Dickson marina. That booking was made without electricity and water which they could not provide which was fine with us. We had plans to stay there for a few days and visit Melaca city which we all were really looking forward to since it is such an old city and apparently very interesting too.

Things don’t always work out as planned.

It was getting rather late in the afternoon with a storm building up rapidly. We were so glad to have a safe spot in the marina. This was not to be. Port Dickson could not find 2 bookings and simply turned us away. Apparently that happens a lot at that marina!!! We survived the storm in a small and only bay we found a few miles away. 

The sceenery of the Malaysian coast.Bit gloomy and very industrial.

Hmm just looking around and making sure that we are safe- always.

Our instruments showing us the way to Port Klang.
We felt tired at the end of that day.

Entering Port klang. A very busy and industrial port.
 This used to be Kuala Lumpur
until it burned out one day and
 KL got moved to it's present location about an hour on a train

We had no other option but to keep on going to Port Klang with Apsara the next day. Our previous plan was to separate in Port Dickson where we were going to catch up with Sail Malaysia (which had already taken off) and Apsara was taking part in The Raja Muda International Regatta. We were going to meet again in Langkawi. The way it all worked out we continued on to Port Klang together and took part in Raja Muda together. This was “way” better and fun than the previous alternative.

Batam to Singapore crossing - delayed

Visibility around 200m on leaving Batam marina.
A bit nervous...

21^st of October 2010

Ready to live Batam and Indonesia. We had our Singaporean flag ready.

This was going to be only 40 + mile day and we knew that it would require of us all that we had to offer that day.

We had to cross to Singapore over the major shipping lines. I guess I would compare it to “running across a freeway” on a Vespa.

The weather was bad…this was the day that Singapore and Malaysia launched a protest against forest burning in Indonesia as it left both countries with 100 meters visibility for days. So I guess crossing over the major shipping lines would really be like running across the freeway on a Vespa with one eye and sunglasses on…laugh if you want!!!

In retrospect we thought that it was better not to have been able to see the traffic on water.

The worst parts of crossing The Singapore Straits – low visibility, 476 big vessels” Big mama ones” within 5 mile radius, the emergency channel 16 was so busy that we could not understand a thing and switched it off in the end, the Russian guy who decided to sing long songs on channel 16 and answered to no one, the MEGA ships were REALLY MEGA!!!!!BIG super BIG PAPAS!!!!!!!! 

Hot of course it was hot, boats travelling at 20 nautical knots onwards just like your freeway traffic, little iny miny one person fishing boats in amongst all this traffic (they must have been on a suicide mission-not sure about fish there) we had to watch out for and one calculated close call and there was no other call to take.

The best parts of crossing the Singapore Straits: we did it!!! we laugh a lot because it was so incredibly chaotic and busy, we sounded OH …”S..T” is that a ship or just smoke or smog and the “bestest” part AND THE ENGINE KEPT ON GOING …considering our temporary electric fuel pump put together by our little Indonesian mechanic from Bali AND delicate state of the engine after our fuel was stolen fiasco. All was well.

The minute we arrived at Raffles Marina we felt totally and utterly exhausted and it didn’t matter. We MADE IT SAFELY. Apsara made it safely too the engine and the wire worked too.

The champagne we were going to drink once we arrived in Singapore had to stay on ice as we were too tired to drink it. The customs were awaiting us at the bay and were free to enjoy civilization again. 
Two days later we drank our champagne.

Our long trip from Belitung to almost Singapore - Batam delayed





 Post delayed We had to live Belitung quite early in the morning as the weather was not the best and the journey was very long. According to our Indonesian information 600NM away- well questionable and definitely an overnighter and couple of days. This was my SURPRISE OVERNIGHTER 33hrs to next short stop from Belitung. I don’t like overnighters (not many sailors do) and of course not surprise overnighters .What is one to do if there is nowhere to stop on the way? Keep on sailing and keep on smiling!

That we did we sailed with a smile for a looong looong time. There were really 4 parts to that journey. The first –the 33hours long overnighter took us to the smallest Lingga Island where we stopped for some rest and as soon as we arrived there was an enormous storm with lighting that was very very frightening welcomed us.We could see all the local fishing boats “running for their life” There is always a chance that a boat can get hit by lightening causing enormous damage. And there is the torrential rain and strong wind. I think we had 4-5 minutes to anchor.

 Day 3 we stopped at tiny picturesque P-Periuk Island and had another storm.

 From P-Periuk we continued on to Benan or Bakan which were part of Riau Islands a very old and traditional fishing village.

We stayed the night and in the morning just before we took of for another stop before Singapore Apsara our sailing companion developed a loose wire problem. Loose wire is normally a small problem and finding the right wire is priceless. We were on our way soon enough. Unfortunately this part of our journey was more challenging that we anticipated. The intense heat made us really exhausted. It was muggy with little visibility We had to really concentrate as this area was becoming really busy with huge ships. We sat in the cockpit with cold compresses on our necks and hand held electric fans to cool us off.

Our boats looked like little peanuts in comparison. There was this storm hovering around us and yes that hit us too.

 Our chosen place for the well deserved rest did not look safe when we got there-we had to continue rather than stop.Apsara called with a technical problem(yes one of the wires) and we had to opt for Batam Marina which was the closest and safest. Our calls were not answered on any channel by the marina so we just arrived. Hmm a little problem.

 The Harbour Master would not let us stay as we have already left the country according to our documentation. We were placed under house arrest and asked to live in the morning. We were all really exhausted and Apsara still in need of technical assistance. After further negotiations with MANY officials and proposed change of visas we were allowed to stay to attend to technical problems which we did we have enjoyed all the lovely marina had to offer together with pool and sort of 5 star restaurant…oh something we had not seen for such a long time. We even visited the city-quite large and such an incredible contrast to the last village. The difference between them a few nautical miles. Absolutely striking.

Langkawi March-April 2011

Back in Langkawi after spending time with family and freinds.
We have worked hard ( even if on a super relaxed island time ) for the past weeks and will be leaving Telaga marina tomorrow making our way slowly to Phuket.

THE BEAUTIFULY PICTURESCUE TELAGA MARINA

MORE OF MARINA OVERLOOKING THE RESTAURANT DISTRICT.
No malaysian food...hmm...we were looking forward to laksa

Entry to the matina

On a shopping trip...thought this view was priceless.

Hard work on super hot days all this shopping.

more hunter gathering...now time to put it away

Belitung - the way it should have been...delayed

Rujak the famous fruit salad. Sweet sour and surprising.
Fruit maybe washed and maybe not...which water...oh well let's try anyway.
It was beautifull and so refreshing on such a HOT day.

10 -15 October 2010



Island on the East coast of Sumatra on the Java Sea


Belitung Anchorage at Tanjung Klayang Regency of Belitung-known for pepper and tin.

02 degrees 30 South and 107 degrees 40 East. Distance travelled Kumai Belitung 250NM

Heterogeneous environment pluralism in ethnicity and religion has made Belitung interesting. Religions- Chinese Javanese Sudanese Balinese Hindu and so on…

This was the final chapter of our journey in Indonesia and it was also a place we were welcomed and expected. Everything was organized. The beach where we anchored was set up like a carnival with lots of food stalls, dinghy boys, our personal guides that spoke English and couldn’t do more to please us, tour cars, tour busses and people everywhere happy to see us interact with us and make our stay here really pleasant.

We visited the city centre which was busy and unbearably hot. Had coffee at the local Coffee House which was an experience not to be forgotten (see video and photos)We went to the local market and met so many colorful characters friendly happy cheeky. The banana lady the petrol lady the banana cat little kid eating his or her food with abandon in the midst of the hustle and bustle(no place here for airplane spoons and encouragement to eat…ha…ha)bikes everywhere chickens with heads half cut (definitely fresh) little merchants selling home ware and piece the resistance – little baby deers ready for soup cooking.

We saw a Bali village in Belitung(the village was moved here from Bali due to natural disaster) we have learned about Hinduism from the local Hindu priest. According to him Hindu definitely came before Buddhism.

We even visited the local orphanage which turned out to be well let’s say not exactly an orphanage.

The Gala Dinner was also great with many speeches just as many as choices of food which was all great. My personal favorite-jelly Robert’s…hmmm undecided. Oh we as a group had time to present during the evening “There is a hole in the bucket” was not everyone’s idea of entertainment and it will be a joke for a long time… We will always have great memories from Belitung.



We chose Belitung to be our final destination in Indonesia as we were really looking forward to reaching Singapore. By making this choice it meant that we were given a few days by the Indonesian Customs to remain in Indonesian waters just as long as we did not step on land again.

Belitung is famous for this rock that lookslike a bird and
 it has so many different faces at different times of day....

The dinghy boys waiting to help us with the dinghys.
Luxury and they did not ask for anything in return.
This town made us really welcomed they lined flags out on the streets...
how lovely

The local Coffee Shop...what an amazing experience that was.
It is a card club a place to voice one's opinions
 meet new friends and drink "KOPI"
 which comes in a glass with condensed milk. It is yummmy

Oh well seats have many uses here....all part of the charm

Bikes...this place is full of bikes.Trere are cheap to buy
and safety for the baby is not of utmost importance here.
This picture was taken at the local market in 40+ degrees celcius....

Well this still at the market was something else.
 I was being asked to buy this baby deer and cook a soup.
They even gave me the recipie...well no thanks

Market still. Not cooking oil!!!! Selling petrol with a difference.

Yet another Amazing Grace moment...splendid.
This remainded me of gold velvet the way it looked and moved...
Taken on the way to Belitung.

On arrival in Belitung...we were late almost got lost and made it safely

That beautiful bird again...can't help but take pictures of it

The locals welcoming us at the beach....lovely
and there was so much police presence.
 Also watch the fencing between us and them

Our Last “Gala Dinner” and we have had a few of these the menu  ranging from different variables of dried fish and rice + burned fish…We will most certainly not be having any fish in a hurry. I was also warned not to even contemplate to cook rice on board by the captain. We will always have a great laugh about “Gala Dinners”

More police presence and more happy faces
looking for one of us to talk to...to practice english.
This was the best place we visited and felt so welcomed!!!!
THANK YOU BELITUNG!!!!!

Last chapter for Sail Indonesia 2010