We first
anchored in Fannie Bay, just outside Darwin to clear quarantine again in case we
had brought any nasties from the Torres Strait. This time it also included an
inspection of our bottom by a diver who pronounced us clean but squirted some
pink fluid into our underwater orifices in case they were harbouring any
unwanted shellfish. There is a particular mussel that they are worried about
that can spread very quickly especially in the marinas. The good news was that
we did not have to pay for this service and the diver considered our hull quite
clean, so we have decided to postpone an expensive lift out and antifoul. I may
regret this decision once we reach Indonesia and gain a coral garden on our
underneath!
Once cleared,
we motored around to Tipperary marina , a small friendly waterside development
with a really helpful harbourmaster. There is a tide
here of up to 8 metres so we had to lock in.
There then
ensued a few busy days getting Lorraine ready for her trip home. The Indonesians
go in for red tape in a big way and
Lorraine was told that she not only needed a visa for our trip to Indonesia but
also a separate transit visa prior to her
flight as there is a stop in Bali.
The information was wrong. Visas are
necessary but easily obtainable at the airport on arrival. The result was some
fraught moments when we thought she was not going to be able to get the Visa in
time and some expense too. Ah well the delights of developing countries. We have
already been warned that the only thing to do is smile. The culture is that a
person who loses their patience is
demeaning themselves and loses respect. To quote from the Sail Indonesia
information “You will be surrounded by confusion and continually changing plans.
This is the way of Indonesia so you will just have to enjoy the experience, be
patient and smile.”
Anyway a
rather tired Lorraine went to the airport by taxi at 2 am and apparently had an
uneventful flight
home.
