7:49.95s 131:16.96e

Tuesday 1^st September 2010

Saumlaki Market, Yamdena Island

Next morning, we take a walk to the fish market, and meet up with Higi to collect our laundry.  The huge variety of fish for sale,  made us realise how abundant the seas around these isolated Indonesian islands still are.  Here are some of them:  Below is the spotted half beak

These look like bone fish, as there are plenty of mangrove waters around which is where they proliferate.

The larger snappers only cost 20,000 Rupiah (1.50 GBP, 2.25 $ Australian)

Which I had filleted to vacuum pack in the freezer.

Red snapper and rock cod above

Red coral trout with snappers

Wahoo

These milkfish are the fish that are farmed in the bamboo fish pens that plague the anchorage at night

This grouper is a prize catch for this fishermen!

Barracuda

The fruit and veg market is across the road, plenty of choice, but all the tomatoes and beens and herbs were in tiny little mounds, like 5 tomatoes for 5,000 Rupiah (30pence) but very delicious and sweet.

Whilst waiting for David to collect the receipt from the quarantine man, we had soup from this Muslim’s portable trolley.  David duly came along with Higi, and we all sat on the step and enjoyed the home made food

Whilst watching the world go by in front of us

Ollie had to carry back this haul of fruit for our basket on the boat!

We were lucky enough to meet Jean and Jerry on OEMA, who were on their way back to Australia having spent last year in Phuket and Langkawi, Malaysia.  There were goof friends of other sailing friends of ours.  Most importantly, they gave us way points for the anchorages we needed on the way to the main island of Flores, so that we could day hop from this island, and not have to worry about any more night sailing!  Needless to say, they were worried about their homeward journey back across the sea of Carpentaria and the Torres Strait.  We reassured them that if they got the right weather forecast, it should be just fine!