To Tanjang Pinang

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Fri 28 Oct 2016 22:57
To Tanjung Pinang
 
 
 
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This morning at four thirty I sat in the cockpit and listened to a beautiful Call to Prayer, I love the melodic, peaceful and meaningful calls. I loathe the competing ones using speakers that any rock band would be proud to use and the ones where the Imam sounds like he’s just had a punch up with his best mate. Sunrise didn’t happen, more like someone put the light on. A pretty blue this morning which is such a change to the greys of late. Gaultine III sits quietly at anchor behind a fishing platform.
 
 
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At a quarter to six we passed a fishing platform that was a hive of activity.
 
 
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Same at the next one, sorting the catch from last night.
 
 
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More traditional fishermen as we rounded the corner.
 
 
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Nets going out. Much laughter as we both put our hands out in a huge fish pose.
 
 
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The squall to our left didn’t do much but growl a lot and two minutes of the finest rain – made for a nice change......
 
 
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Following Tereva to the shallows and tiny islands.
 
 
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Nary a ripple.
 
 
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A keen eye out for fishing floats, fast ferries and approaching land – all with three metres below.......
 
 
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A very sleek lady.
 
 
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Locals quite mystified as we pass by.
 
 
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We pass some big girls parked out. Well, we don’t have that much water below us and we are in the shipping lane.......Quite odd.
 
 
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Our lowest was 2.4 metres below and by the time we reached the first red buoy we had a whopping 3.2 metres below.
 
 
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We turn left and have the start of the city to our right.
 
 
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A Marine Surveyor, a first for us in Indonesia.
 
 
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A minaret being built (centre).
 
 
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We passed youngsters having fun in brightly coloured, tiny dinghies.
 
 
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A trendy frontage.
 
 
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Just as we were admiring a Beez coloured lady..................
 
 
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.................this fast girl came racing up, took our picture, waved and shot off leaving nothing but her wake. Huh.
 
 
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We found a spot at the back of the anchorage. We had no information whatsoever about what was happening ashore other than a Facebook message from the coordinator that clearance would take three days. I took the decision to leave at dawn the following morning. A good call, as it happens as a storm came through and several boats dragged and chaos ensued. Rather like Bear’s call not to go to Sukandana from Ketapang as the wind had changed and he wasn’t happy about the exposed anchorage – boats dragged there too and damage was done..........
 
 
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The rallies, now together, told us they had a good time ashore but the city was quite a rubbish tip, we could see that from the litter on the surface.
 
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL STRANGE TO BE NEAR A CITY
                     DISAPPOINTEDLY MUCKY