Last Stop in Indonesia

After the exciting day we went ashore for a final dinner for the SIR. Here the Brits were invited to sing their songs and everyone had a very good time. Many boats had left in the afternoon, but we were going to remain a little longer so Graham and Liz could get better. Next to the anchorage was an amazing rock formation which Kathy I explored. The rocks were like granite and suffered from exfoliation (I think that's right where they get terrifically hot with the sun and then either rain or sea cools them down so fast they split or cast off a layer.) 

On Saturday, 15/10/11, we left Belitung. We had a 48 hour sail to a small island called Kentar. After 32 hours Jeremy went down with vomitting and diarrhoea. Somehow we got through the second night. At dawn we crossed into the Northern Hemisphere. We had a day and a night's rest at Kentar, but misssed the Equator Party celebrations on shore, before pressing on to Benan. We arrived at Pangkil Island and Kathy got the bug during the night. She was very poorly. By now the ships were pretty big and getting rather close. Jeremy helmed most of the day and we arrived in the afternoon at Nonsa Point Marina. This is a luxury leisure complex with beach resort, marina and golf courses, with a view across the Strait to Singapore - the busiest shipping channel in the World. We cross it next.

The Pesident's Visit

There was no response from Ellida the next day so Jeremy took the dinghy over to find Liz very poorly in bed. Graham, still ill with an upset stomach, had gone for the Doctor. Vertigo was diagnosed and rest ordered. Meanwhile the Vice President of Indonesia had set up on shore and security was tight with sub machine guns mounted on inflatables and fast military and Police boats zipping about.

After several performances and speeches, the local fishing fleet which had been arriving for two days was to do a sail past. This was a truly awe inspiring sight. Kathy and I had front seats as Sal Darago was the second closest boat to the shore. We reckoned 1000 local fishing boats filed past. All of them were decorated and many had been repainted for the President's Visit. What a pity he could not make it.

Belitung

After 54 hours on passage, we reached Kelayang Beach, Beltitung in the middle of a four hour severe thunderstorm. Visibility was down to 20 yards and anchoring in gusty winds was no fun. The following day we organised refuelling and water. In the evening there was the Gala dinner with the Regent and all went well, except most nationalities had practised a performance, which they duly performed. Sadly the Brits were missed off the list so we could not sing "Spanish Ladies" and "Whisky Johnny". The following day we were taken on a tour with police escort. The lads in red above "became" horses and went into a trance until they were whipped to the ground. Very odd. A local said it did not hurt.
On the way back to the beach we visited a Chinese Buddhist Temple. On Wednesday morning, Graham, Liz, Kathy and I hired a car and took Novi, one of the guides provided, into the local big town. Here we had Ellida's AIS aerial repaired; I had taken Sal Darago too close to Ellida to return Graham's hat and our spinnaker pole had snapped the aerial. We bought Batik clothes for the party and did some shopping and admin. Graham and Liz both became ill during the day and were unable to catch the buses to the dinner with the President. The President also could not make it and neither could the Vice! However, there were seven government Ministers and quite a few speeches as well as live music and a banquet.

Java to Karimunjawa

Sal Darago and Buddy Boat "Ellida", sought anchorage behind a reef just west of Telek Lumut. It was the best anchorage we had had for a week! The local boats just outside the reef were extraordinarily colourful. We crossed to Raas the next day and entered through a tricky reef. The boat boys here were a nuisance. One boat in particular was insistent. Kathy had given them a t-shirt and two hats, but they wanted my swimming trunks and my goggles. Nearly everywhere else has been so good; this reminded us of St Lucia.

The two boats had a 28 hour sail to Bawean - to be honest we motored quite a bit of the way. We all walked about 2 miles to the market in Tambak. All the locals were incredibly friendly and helpful. We had lunch at a rumah makan and I think it cost about £6 for the four of us. Again we had a 140+ mile sail, so there was no dallying. At 1033 on Monday 03.10.11, we anchored off a reef near the village of Karimunjawa on the island of that name. We ate ashore for three days and wandered about in the heat of the day. Most of the locals were much amused by this and Graham and I kept going into song "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun..." (Noel Coward ). The washing was done, diesel and water purchased and we were ready for the off again. Rumour has it that the President of Indonesia will be at the final Dinner in Belitung.

Bali still

Graham, Liz, Kathy and I hired a mini bus for the day and apart from the six temples, we saw the fantastic layered rice fields. Photos really don't do them justice. Each small level had its own path of grass which had been cut very recently. There were thousands of levels and all the cutting had been done by hand. In addition all the levels were fed by a stream which had been ingeniously divided up for irrigation.


The lady here was removing the grass which she had cut from a single level. I thought I would help, but I was amazed at how heavy the basket was. It was a struggle for me to place it on my head! Kathy developed a cold and I had a repeat of my Aruban urinary infection. We had a day off then motored to a small island on the NW tip of Bali. It was very windy all night and we were plagued by flies. The snorkelling was meant to be great, but we decided we could do without the annoyances for another night so we left for Java.