The results of Daryl's entertainment while on watch
We thought we were all organised to move on until Daryl remembered on Sunday night that he had forgotten to check out with Customs and the Port Captain in Langkawi. He set off optimistically at 7.45am on Monday morning saying ‘I won’t be long’. I’m thinking –this is Malaysia, it will take half the morning so we won’t be leaving until tomorrow. But sometimes you get lucky. Daryl arrived at Customs before 8am to find him in and ready for business. Within 5 minutes he was out and heading for the Port Captain. Miraculously he was also ready and waiting. Then there was a quick stop at the dairy, whose only three loaves of bread happen to be the ones we like and lo and behold he was back by 8.20am. I had to eat my words, as we were away by 8.30am and in good time to get to Penang by late afternoon.
Local fishing boats along the way - this one heading straight for us
But we were not happy campers, though, when we got in to Penang City Marina to find half the marina without power. After some shouting with the line boys, as Daryl hovers our yacht between the rows of boats with a current running, we decide there is nothing for it but to stay. Apparently the rats have chewed through the power wires. Which reminded me that this was the marina that Judy, on Braveheart, wakes to a rat peering at her from the hatch straight above her. I hadn’t thought it a problem because with air conditioning we have our windows closed. Now this is a dilemma – sleeping in the stifling heat with the windows closed or risk them open. Open wins, with no ill effects noticed!! The next morning Daryl is up to the office pretty promptly and we are able to move to a powered berth, one previously thought to be too shallow but long as we move on before the spring tides, we'll be right – ahhhh bliss. But still we are struggling to keep the temperature under 30 deg inside in the afternoons, even with the air conditioning going. Daryl has made a shade cover which helps immensely.
Daryl in the chemical shop buying some acid
I take advantage of Georgetown being within walking distance and head off to find what I need to make some new cushions. I find some handmade batik pictures, which are really too good to use for cushion making, but will probably use them if I don’t find something better. The haberdashery shop is like stepping back in time, walking in to long wooden and glass bench height cabinets running full length down the shop. For the Opotiki people reading this, it reminded me of old Mr. Gray Day’s shop.
The girls head off early one morning to catch the local morning market. It is refreshing to wander the streets as the city wakes up. We stumble across a Buddist temple where Judy buys a bird in a cage so she can set it free as an offering. We also meet a colourful local character who swaps our right to take his photo for us buying him a Guinness. Obviously he’s managed to get to a ripe old age on Guinness for breakfast!!
Local characters....................................................Fi and Judy trading photos for guinness
Buddist Temple
Judy with her bird offering.............Tough job
Judy and Fi checking out the fresh eggs
The next rally stop is at the very new Pangkor Island Marina. They have kindly waivered all marina fees and are extremely hospitable. As soon as we arrive we are whisked away on a tour of the Lumut University haulout facility which Daryl finds interesting. That night we are treated to an amazing dinner. The marina owner had brought in bins of fresh local fruit that we could help ourselves to. We were also presented to lovely embroidered towels - All very thoughtful gestures. What a great start to the rally.
Rally cruisers at Lumut University facility
The next few nights we are on anchor as we make our way down to Melaka. To avoid crossing Port Klang at night we anchor behind a little island just before the port. The next morning at first light we cross the channel relatively uneventfully - that is apart from deciding to take a shortcut and ending up on a sandbar. The next dive will determine whether we scraped off any of relatively new paint!!
Native hornbills fed at the Pangkor Hotel
Seriously good Chinese restaurant.........................Fish farm
The security staff welcomed us back like long lost friends. They can’t believe we’re back for the third time. Today saw the completion of Daryl’s dentistry work. The final bridge was fitted today and apart from Daryl‘s mouth feeling like he has too many teeth, all is good. I cooked him soft curried fish for dinner and by tomorrow he should be good as new.
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