This is a short update.
We have sailed every coast of Malaysia now and our best experiences have been in Borneo.
The Sail Malaysia - Passage to the East brought us over here in June.
After swanning around the Tioman Islands for a few weeks we sailed across the South China Sea. Sounds exotic.. but as usual we were having starter motor troubles.. so engine on and away we went with sails up.
Kuching (malay for Cats) was the first stop, where we anchored in the wonderful Santibong river with 40 other boats.
Wind against tide was the order of the day. The Captain would go into town two hours away and leaving the ordinary seaman to deal with a dragging 30 tonne boat twice. Thank god the engine started and and we had friendly neighbouring boat skippers, Geoff off Arnal and Will off Silent Wings to assist. Think they did not want to be mowed down.
From here we were able to do the Rainforest Festival. Fabulous bands.. I have all the CDs!!!!
Then we made our way up the coast through the river systems, seeing tribal villages and longhouses. Not so long ago these people were headhunters!!
They say the bride price in those days was 3 heads... now its 3 buffalos.. much more pricey and difficult.
Brunei was interesting. The Captain was in heaven.. golf on the Sultan's Course. The Ordinary seaman much preferred the yacht club and afternoon drinks.
Feeling the need to stock up with 16months booze we made for the dutyfree port of Labuan. A filthy harbour, but cheap booze. We are still tripping over cases of wine. It has to last all the back to Oz.
And finally KotaKinabalu. What a wonderful marina and town. On went the airconditioning and out came the golf clubs.
David had lots of boat jobs and Virginia had lots of shopping.
We had been on the rally for 3 months now and had made lots of friends, and so its was party time for Virginia's 60th. We had a pre party on Cat'chus for those people who were taking off to other adventures. On the day another party was at the KK yacht club.
We were very lucky to have friends who wanted to travel to KK from Oz to help celebrate. Roz and Gary Cronin, Kay and Grant Ferguson and Andy and Jenny Birtchnell. What a great few weeks we had. Golfing, sightseeing, drinking ..
And best of all the Ordinary Seaman was promoted to Able Seaman. Not sure that V wants this responsibility. But it was made easier with the diamond earrings!!!
And so time to move on again, our friends had left and we were leaving other boats sadly behind, Sundance, Arnak, Fourstar.
Off we set towards Indonesia, when trouble struck once more. Overheating and NO engine. Was the Captain pissed off!! Means the old girl had to sail, which we did - 80 nm into Kudat. A few weeks and a few dollars later and a lot of sweat and tears the head gasket was replaced.
We were forunate in our anchorage, surrounded by a golf course. Managed to squeeze the odd game in.
Now we are in Sandakan, on the east coast of Borneo. Anchored off a lovely yacht club.
The next stage of the Journey is Sulawesi. Check out the photos.. at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/sailpuravida
Thats all for now
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Vietnam 2009
Just to let you know that the Pura Vida crew has escaped the confines of the boat and the heat of Malaysia and embraced the sights of Vietnam.
The Captain has once again been a reluctant traveller. He said he did Vietnam in the 70's. And of course the budget does not extend to business class flights everywhere.
Vietnam has a population of 84million people, and 70% are farmers, so we were not expecting a very sophisticated trip.
We travelled with yachting mates, Cat'chus- Julian and Sandy. So its been a fairly laidback trip, sampling the local beers and eating fresh baguettes and local food wherever possible.
Only having 13 days has meant that we have had to travel fast and did a couple of internal flights rather than take the longer public transport options. Happy David, happy crew.
The trip started on 25th April, Anzac Day, with the dawn service in Singapore. A few sailing mates came along to join us and then we headed off to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). I am still quivering at the thought of the motorbikes. The local lovers even go "parking" on their bikes. David tried to lose our backpack, but we had an honest taxi driver who brought it back.
The highlight was the Cui Cui tunnels. I cannot believe people were so small to be able to live underground for so long...
It was great to meet up with our mates from Jusroamin, Sharon and Kevin. A few beers on the roadside bar and lots of tips.
Off to Hoi An and shopping.... clothes for the OD and lamps and bags. The captain decided to weigh down Pura Vida with a marble statue or two.
At Hue , next stop, David managed to lose the backpack permanently. Mobile phone, V's best joggers, prescription sunglasses and worst of all the " suduko book".
Hue, being an old city had lots of temples, pagodas, rivers to see. We arrived at Independence Day and May Day so the city was bustling. Managed to secure a great hotel called Amigo Hotel. Very friendly and helpful.
Onto Hanoi for a day before heading to Sapa for 3 days and 2 nights. We went by overnight train both ways. A few gins meant we slept OK.
Sapa was the highlight. The main attribute was that it was cold there and dry. If only we could bottle that cool air. Decided to rough it and spend 3 days trekking with an overnight home stay with a Dzay hilltribe family. The house was basic but well organised and clean. Cooking was a fire burning continually in a hole in the "kitchen". The chicken coop and pigpen was outside next to the outside "toilet" and "bath water". We slept on mattresses on a raised floor under the roof.
The house sat amongst the rice paddies which were so pleasant to look at. The trek took us through many villages and rice fields. Have a scan of the photos on Picassa.
Back in Hanoi for two days and one night to do more shopping and see Uncle Ho's tomb and have more beers sitting on a street corner.
Then back to Danga Bay and the start of the rally.
The Captain has once again been a reluctant traveller. He said he did Vietnam in the 70's. And of course the budget does not extend to business class flights everywhere.
Vietnam has a population of 84million people, and 70% are farmers, so we were not expecting a very sophisticated trip.
We travelled with yachting mates, Cat'chus- Julian and Sandy. So its been a fairly laidback trip, sampling the local beers and eating fresh baguettes and local food wherever possible.
Only having 13 days has meant that we have had to travel fast and did a couple of internal flights rather than take the longer public transport options. Happy David, happy crew.
The trip started on 25th April, Anzac Day, with the dawn service in Singapore. A few sailing mates came along to join us and then we headed off to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). I am still quivering at the thought of the motorbikes. The local lovers even go "parking" on their bikes. David tried to lose our backpack, but we had an honest taxi driver who brought it back.
The highlight was the Cui Cui tunnels. I cannot believe people were so small to be able to live underground for so long...
It was great to meet up with our mates from Jusroamin, Sharon and Kevin. A few beers on the roadside bar and lots of tips.
Off to Hoi An and shopping.... clothes for the OD and lamps and bags. The captain decided to weigh down Pura Vida with a marble statue or two.
At Hue , next stop, David managed to lose the backpack permanently. Mobile phone, V's best joggers, prescription sunglasses and worst of all the " suduko book".
Hue, being an old city had lots of temples, pagodas, rivers to see. We arrived at Independence Day and May Day so the city was bustling. Managed to secure a great hotel called Amigo Hotel. Very friendly and helpful.
Onto Hanoi for a day before heading to Sapa for 3 days and 2 nights. We went by overnight train both ways. A few gins meant we slept OK.
Sapa was the highlight. The main attribute was that it was cold there and dry. If only we could bottle that cool air. Decided to rough it and spend 3 days trekking with an overnight home stay with a Dzay hilltribe family. The house was basic but well organised and clean. Cooking was a fire burning continually in a hole in the "kitchen". The chicken coop and pigpen was outside next to the outside "toilet" and "bath water". We slept on mattresses on a raised floor under the roof.
The house sat amongst the rice paddies which were so pleasant to look at. The trek took us through many villages and rice fields. Have a scan of the photos on Picassa.
Back in Hanoi for two days and one night to do more shopping and see Uncle Ho's tomb and have more beers sitting on a street corner.
Then back to Danga Bay and the start of the rally.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thailand
This is the first attempt at a blog. It will give the news about our travels, and some pictures as well. Please feel free to comment.
We have been making the most of our last 3 months in Thailand.
The highlights are:
Xmas .. a group of yachties gathered at a Nai Yang, a northern Phuket beach to do Carols and Cocktails on Xmas Eve and hold a BBQ on Xmas Day. David enjoyed his home made Pina Colodas – 6 of them. We managed to get lamb, turkey, duck rolls, chicken and roast veg. Every boat contributed to a great day of feasting. We even made Xmas Cake and Pud.
New Year’s Eve saw us in Patong (the “in place” in Phuket) watching fireworks and flying lanterns from our boats always keeping an eye out to make sure none of the lanterns landed on the boats as happened last year.
The rest of January and February has been spent traveling up the west coast of Phuket and out to island groups like Ko Phayam, Ko Chang, the Similans and the Surins. Some fantastic snorkeling, beautiful fish, coral and underwater rock formations. While there Virginia, the reluctant OD, learnt how to drive and operate the dinghy with the big outboard – a whole 10HP. She can now escape at will. Will is pretty ugly.
These out of way places attract people (mostly Europeans of all ages) who just want to hangout in simple bungalows or tents wearing the bare essentials which keeps D glued to the binoculars with the odd gasp and oh my God, look at those great ….s. Electricity is limited.. no aircon, but wonderful little restaurants and the beer is really cheap.
This is the end of Thailand for us, and others. We said goodbye to lots of boats that we have met in the last 2 years. Over 100 yachts took off from here to go to the Red Sea via the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. Captain Bligh was seen to shed the odd tear and even contemplated gathering another crew to do the northerly voyage. Of course he wanted a 4 girl crew like a boat we met. Seems girls make better crews but D has always tried to explain that fact to V without much success or conviction.
The final weeks have seen us catching local buses and visiting the Phuket haunts we loved, and then meeting up with any yachties we vaguely knew for that last beer, Papaya salad, Pad Thai and a reminisce.
Our sail down to Langkawi was fabulous, all those islands that you see on postcards. Blue, green water.
So now its down to business again... getting Pura Vida shipshape for the passage south and east.
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