We arrived at Bima at 1730 on Sunday 4th. September. A local boat came out offering services so we bought 100 litres of drinking water for R100,000 (delivered the following morning). At six o'clock Monday the harbour was alive with boats and people. It was like a scene out of Emile Zola where men go for work - hands to be hired. As you can see the boats were full. We went ashore with Graham and Liz. Unfortunately we were picked up by the harbour master. This one did not want money, but he did wish to give us clearance papers. As Graham did not have Ellida's papers, we were told to return at 1600hrs.
Strolling into town in 90 degrees Fahrenheit, we came to a huge "covered" market. Nearly all the stalls sold clothes, but, of course, we were the star attraction. Very few tourists stop here despite it being a travellers' interchange. Eventually we found an equally huge fruit and veg market (the tarpaulins here were only five feet high and even Kathy had to stoop. All of us were soaked by now, so it was with some relief we found a restaurant recommended by the Lonely Planet and had a delicious lunch. We all jumped aboard this pony and trap for a quick trot back to the harbour. The waves were high and we got a soaking going to the boats and returning for the harbour master. It did not matter anyway as he wasn't there so we left the following morning at 0600. "Different field, different grasshopper," as they say. PS we have had no rain for 97 days.
We arrived at Bima at 1730 on Sunday 4th. September. A local boat came out offering services so we bought 100 litres of drinking water for R100,000 (delivered the following morning). At six o'clock Monday the harbour was alive with boats and people. It was like a scene out of Emile Zola where men go for work - hands to be hired. As you can see the boats were full. We went ashore with Graham and Liz. Unfortunately we were picked up by the harbour master. This one did not want money, but he did wish to give us clearance papers. As Graham did not have Ellida's papers, we were told to return at 1600hrs.
Strolling into town in 90 degrees Fahrenheit, we came to a huge "covered" market. Nearly all the stalls sold clothes, but, of course, we were the star attraction. Very few tourists stop here despite it being a travellers' interchange. Eventually we found an equally huge fruit and veg market (the tarpaulins here were only five feet high and even Kathy had to stoop. All of us were soaked by now, so it was with some relief we found a restaurant recommended by the Lonely Planet and had a delicious lunch. We all jumped aboard this pony and trap for a quick trot back to the harbour. The waves were high and we got a soaking going to the boats and returning for the harbour master. It did not matter anyway as he wasn't there so we left the following morning at 0600. "Different field, different grasshopper," as they say. PS we have had no rain for 97 days.
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