14th December - Rebak marina - Langkawi

Saturday 14^th December

Planes fly over the marina several times a day

Yesterday I struggled just a bit with the internet.  It worked, eventually, but v-e-r-y slowly. I kept finding people, sitting in the café, or near the pool, furrowed brow, look of anguish, bent over some screen or another.   Oh the horrors of ComputerStress!  (So now I am actually in Kuah, sitting at a cool table by the water at the yacht club, with internet access a bit more speedy... I caught a speedy little ferry, then shared a taxi.  All is well!  I have left  CaptainPete aboard 2XS, with his computer, a furrowed brow, and the Big Fan blowing cool air upon him.)

A glorious giraffe sculpture in the Singapore orchid garden

Most of us gave up and went for a swim, which helped clear the furrowed brow, look of anguish etc.

When I got out of the pool, there was a woman lying on the concrete near the showers, with a towel under her head and several people ministering to her needs.  I didn’t stop to stare but when I got back to my deckchair, where my computer was waiting to say NO, the girl on the chair next to me said, “What happened to that woman??”  I had no idea, and asked her what she thought.  “Wild animals from the jungle must have attacked her!!”  She was from Kazakhstan…no jungle there… 

Between Telaga and Rebak

When we went to the beautiful beach on mainland Langkawi, before our final rallydinner,  there were lots of little bars and restaurants along the shore.  The tribe moved restlessly from one to the other.  We could hear people say, Twelve ringgits??  No, there will be cheaper beer somewhere else.  Ah yes, five ringgits, that’s more like it!*

Myra from the Irish boat SV Saol Ella later told us a joke:

A very rich man, Dave, decided that what he really wanted was a cheery, convivial pub, where he could sit and relax in the bar, surrounded by happy people, every night. 

I don’t need the money, he said, all drinks will be free.

One of his lawyer friends told him this was a bad idea – he wouldn’t get a liquor licence if he didn’t charge at least a nominal fee.

Oh OK – all drinks will be 10 cents, regardless.  Beer, wine, champagne, cocktails, spirits – all 10 cents.

The bar was – no surprise here – a roaring success, full of very happy people every single night.

But one afternoon Dave walked into the bar to find a group of very sober people, sitting edgily at a table, no drinks in hand.

What’s up with them? he asked the barman.

Ah well…those blokes…  Yes… They are yachties, waiting for happy hour.**

* 12 ringgits = $4; 5 ringgits = $1.80

** Happy hour, just in case you don’t know, means…half price drinks…