Waigapu, Sumba

After a night sail we arrived in Waingapu, Sumba in a rather mucky harbour. We had two guides vying for our custom and chose to look for dinghy glue with Jimmy that afternoon. No luck on the glue, but we got our bearings in a thriving town. The next day we were supposed to meet Andreas, but he did not show so we went to the huge area where Sumba were celebrating 66 years of Independence. It was an impressive show and Andreas joined us. Later, we hired ojek bicycles to go to the King's house where the Queen gave Jeremy Betel Nuts and leaves plus ground coral to chew. It was utterly disgusting. We had a meal in a local shack - tasty and cheap (with no chilli). Then Andreas took us to a village where ikat is made. Jimmy turned up furious as we had agreed to do the village the next day with him! Andreas knew this but WE did not know Andreas had taken us to "Jimmy's" village. There was some fantasic ikat here, much more ornate than previous examples, but when I enquired how much a modest wrap around for me would be, I nearly fell off my chair - R2,500,000. Kathy's dress in Suba was R200,000. After the village we paid Andreas and found our own way home.