Sunday 18th May 2015
5 degrees 28.161N
125 degrees 28.579E
Port Patuko
Sarangini Island
(Mindanao) Philippines
 |
| So pretty, along the way |
This was probably
our last night in the Philippines… Off towards Indonesia today, after an early
start.
 |
| Going into the lagoon, past these pretty houses with their protective stone walls |
Yesterday we also
left very early, just after sunrise, and it was such a nice trip down the coast
of Mindanao because…the sun didn’t shine!
It was overcast, with a tiny hint of cool breeze! Bliss..
We arrived just in
time to anchor, in a most beautiful, expansive lagoon. I had seen it on the Navionics map but…didn’t
really believe it would be quite so deep and spacious, calm and beautiful.
We had visitors at
sunset…Maribel, and her six children- a gang of bigboys at the back of the
boat, Queen Sybelle and Raymar at the front.
(I gave the little ones a ball, and a small clip-on koala…The bigboys got
nothing!)
 |
| Maribel with Queen Sybella and Raymar |
With a bit of luck
we will get the internet this morning as we go past a tower on one of these
little islands but from now on…who knows?
 |
| Maribel's silent bigboys at sunset |
Monday 18th May
4 degrees 39.100N
125 degrees 25.981E
Kawio Island
7m depth
Indonesia
Indonesia
Kawio Island was
just beautiful. Crystal clear water,
some interesting coral, lots of fish. We
arrived there in the early afternoon so we were able to make the most of our
small mount of time there. Maybe on the
way back…
At five we had a
very cheery visitor, Martin, who clambered aboard and was full of chat in spite
of the fact that he spoke as much English as we speak Bahasa. (And we have forgotten most of our Bahasa…)
I entertained him
by taking his photo at the helm, and then getting out my little Selphy printer
and making him a copy. He immediately
wanted a photo with…Captain Pete!
And also (very much an also-ran) with the
crew…
Along the way we
saw a most unaccustomed sight – a yacht!
On the water!! Heading towards
Sarangini Island! Pete called them on
the radio and had a nice long chat.
Holger (aka PK) and Michelle (Germany) are on their way north after
several months in Raja Ampat. They have
been sailing for ten years and they said it was the very best place they had
ever been. Wild with enthusiasm! And full of useful information.
Tuesday 19th May
3 degrees 36.416N
125 degrees 30.136E
Teluk Tahuna
Sangihe, Indonesia
Mooring
22m depth
 |
| Teluk Tahuna (Sangihe) |
Another very early
morning and a long but peaceful cruise to Sangihe, where we will be able to
clear into the country. MUCH
paperwork! Customs, Immigration,
Quarantine…
I have made a new
Indonesian flag, using, very creatively, an old red teatowel and a new white
hand towel, bought for the purpose on Davao.
So really, we are ready to be Indonesian again!
There are lots of
moorings here along the sea wall, ready for the rally which will arrive here in
August. We had our pick of about
seventeen spares, and we were very grateful because this is a very deep harbor
and it is hard to find a place to drop the anchor.
Our mooring is big
and solid but the rope, when I hauled it out with the boat hook, looked much
more like a creature of the deep than a mooring rope.
Wednesday 20th May
Back in the world
of mosques…This one, very pretty, is very close to 2XS…so we get the Call to
Prayers at 5am…
This morning we
took the dinghy into the wharf and went in to try to find all of the offices we
needed to visit.
We were very lucky
– it was all getting a bit complicated in the Immigration Office and then
suddenly – an angel from heaven came to our rescue! David, who speaks very good English. He sat with us and acted as a buffer zone. He
works for Immigration but his role is rather loose – he has been designated to
Meet and Greet, as far as I can tell. He
came hotfooting to the office because he had had a Facebook message from PK and
Michelle telling him we were on our way.
Lucky! He took us to town, where I was able to get a
swift photo of some of the fashions available in the shops.
And – I got a new
simcard and a month’s worth of internet connection. HappyMe!!
On the way back we
discovered that the tide had gone out and that the steps from the jetty to the
dinghy were out of reach. We would have
had to swing like monkeys and drop…NOT a good idea! So David and Pete towed the dinghy gently along until
we came to a nice steep concrete wall, and we abseiled down a thin rope
attached to a fishing boat…
This looks like a
beautiful island so we are going to stay here tomorrow and go for a trip with
David – he can drive and show us The Sights; we can be tourists!
No comments:
Post a Comment