5th August - Papua news - Hobart - snow - Pulau Birie

Wednesday 5^th August 2015

All is well in Papua – Pete has overcome all of the Immigration/visa issues so I will not have to fly back to Sorong and then sadly scour the sea for a sight of 2XS.

This is NOT Raja Ampat!!

All is well in Hobart; much beauty, much wintriness, family, friends.

Rose and Katy

A few weeks ago…

Pulau Birie was gorgeous, a lovely place to snorkel and explore.

Right next to the anchorage there was a large and beautiful bommie, deep and full of life.  It was only a few metres from the back step – what a treat!

Many MANY fish on this bommie.  But I best loved a mother and daughter, or father and son, team of…well I’m not sure what they were.  Quite big, maybe one metres (with son/daughter half the size of the parent.)  These fish had great big eyes, very wide-set and they looked very worried at the sight of a human, as well they might.  They would scurry off to the side of the bommie, and then tip onto one side, to look at me with one big anxious eye.

I tried not to worry them too much but…I just had to follow them around and gaze at them with fond amusement…

4th August - Papua to Hobart - snow

Tuesday 4^th August 2015

2XS is still in Western Papua but Pete may have to scarper out of it today.  Issues with Immigration…I hope I will be able to find the boat, and him, when I go back on the 18^th…

I am in a state of shock having gone from mornings with this view from my bedroom

to this one…

Love it all!

Monday was a spectacular (and unusual) day in Hobart.   Snow right down to sea level; most of the major roads closed; most of the schools closed.

FUN in the snow!

1st August - Pete on Doom Island anchorage - Marguerite Sorpng-Makassar-Denpasar-Melbourne-Hobart

Saturday 1^st August 2015

Eco loves PETER!!

Pete on 2XS

00 degrees 52.969S

131 degrees 14.198E

Pulau Doom, Sorong, Papua

We found a very nice little cafe opposite the airport because we were many hours early to lurk in the dingy lounge area waiting and waiting for me to board

2.30pm

No waypoints for anchorages here for me…I am in Makassar airport, having a long wait.  It will take me 24 hours to get from Sorong to Hobart…

Very funny, mind you.  I don’t know anyone in this part of the world but my time at the airport in Sorong, and now here in Makassar, has been CHAT and CATCH-UP and FUN!

First I met up with Ollie and Irina (Switzerland) – friends from Pef Island.  With Sefry (see below…)

And then Camilla, and Ariana, 

and Guido

and Anna, and Alessandro, 

from Anna's Facebook page

and Claudio and Marina!  

No time to be bored at all!  Love the Europeans!

Ollie and Irina were desperate for a smoke when we arrived in Makassar, and they found a dismal ghastly room at the end of the airport.  Hardly worth going in there, but…they gamely went in and lit up.  I took a photo

and l then left them.  Starbucks had nice spearmint tea, internet connection and…when they came to find me…there was a very salubrious smoking area!

It is very hot here but…tomorrow I will be in THIS!!

Catherine and Billy, loving it!

Ha!

10.30pm

I wrote the previous jolly stuff a few hours ago in Makassar.  I am now in Denpasar and very t-i-r-e-d…only another 14 hours to go...

The flight was fine.  I was sitting next to one of the very few only remaining people I know in Indonesia…lovely Sefry, also from Pef.  I had actually already taken a photo of him at the airport in Sorong, with Ollie and Irina.  He was on his way home to Singgarajah (Lion King!)  I really don’t like talking to people on planes; it is all too close and personal and there is NO ESCAPE.  But…I was very happy to make an exception for Sefry.

Sunday 2^nd August

I am no longer perky at all…in fact I am hiding in a dim corner of Melbourne airport, hoping NOT to see anyone I know.  Very much looking forward to seeing any offspring coming my way today, but I don’t think I would be capable of a civil conversation with anyone else…The flight went well, no hitches.  My only issue was…I didn’t sleep at all.   All around me were snores, gentle or raucous, but not from me.  I watched a romantic comedy, and then five episodes of various TV programs, and then…we landed!

Today's birthday boy - Jeff Thomas!