11th May - Port Dickson to Water Isles - putting this up a bit early because we are leaving at crack-of-dawn tomorrow, heading for Pula Pisang (Banana Island)

Sunday 11^th May

Farewell to beautiful Admiral Marina, Port Dickson

We are anchored off a resort on the Water Isles, quite close to Molucca.  LOTS of smog!

On our last night at Admiral marina, we had drinks on 2XS with Wendy and Garry, our neighbors in C Dock. 

They are from Victoria and have a most beautiful yacht, Spirit of Sobraon on which they are soon travelling north – to Alaska, via Japan!  So adventurous and brave!*

They went on the Indonesian Rally in 2010,when there were over a hundred boats.  This proved to be just about unmanageable so they broke off into a small splinter group and went on the southern route, to Roti, Sumbawa etc, which is the same route we took with 2XS.  They too were mightily impressed with Rinca and the Komodo dragons.  Garry came much too close to one when he went for a casual stroll in the undergrowth to find some kindling to light a bonfire on the beach.**  He tripped over what he thought was a large log but…OH NO it was a large dragon!  It was quite startled and not particularly hungry, obviously, because it just lumbered off.  He was lucky!!!

Before the crowd gathered

We had dinner in the Sailor’s Bar, all very pleasant and convivial.  There had been quite a big three-day convention in the hotel and the marina facility – Women Entrepreneurs!  It was their last night and they were all set to have FUN!  By the end of our dinner the room was full of cheery women in headscarves*** in party mode.  As we were leaving the band started to play I Will Survive and the crowd went wild – everybody up and dancing!****

Oh dear there was a problem with the fuel at Admiral Marina…It arrived on a truck and now our tanks are more or less full… But I will leave this tale for Pete to tell.

We have had two visits from the heavily armed Coastguard in the past few days.  They smile reassuringly as they pull up alongside, and they assure us they have our best interests at heart and that they are only a radio call away. Surely this is…A Good Thing??

* And…Wendy gets seasick… The men talked about engines and oceans while Wendy and I had one of the favourite conversations of WomenOnBoats: how to cope with seasickness.  I didn’t have much to contribute other than LOTS of sympathy and empathy because FORTUNATELY I haven’t been sick at all recently, and have even been able to read and play mahjong on my iPad while we are under way.  BIG improvement!

** Bonfires on the beach are a good thing, really.  Every now and then a few yachties will get together to gather up all of the plastic crap on a beach and it all gets burnt and cleared up in one fell swoop.

*** Except for two BadGirls, with long lustrous VISIBLE hair, sitting at the bar having a drink and smoking cigarettes.

**** How could I resist – of course I went back in and danced away very happily with those lovely cheery women, just for the one song… They were so very welcoming, how could I resist?