Karimata Island - 19 Oct 2015

Tashi Delek
Mike & Carol Kefford
Mon 19 Oct 2015 08:09

01:35.17S 108:48.04E

 

From Ketapang we went to Karimata Island with and overnight stop at the Island of Pulau Belubang on the way.  The visibility was poor all day (18 Oct), despite the 15 to 20 knots of wind from the south.  The sea was rather rough and as we approached the group of island and reefs around Pulau Belubang in the late afternoon it was all very foreboding.  As soon as we anchored the wind changed direction to the east and continued to blow like that through the night, exposing us to the swell from the east.  We had Bali Hai and Fruit de Mer for company but we all left early after an uncomfortable night.  Getting the anchor up by hand in a rolling sea was no fun.

 

We had a very fast sail to Karimata arriving in the anchorage about 1500.  Most of the fleet were already there and ashore joining in the last day of the Karimata Festival.  This was very much about the islanders and not us so it was fun to watch their events.  Dozens of fishing boats were also anchored in the bay with others arriving throughout the afternoon, all packed with people.  Having said that, the visitors dingy race around the anchored boats was only for us and won by Heather from Pyscho Puss (Aus) with Jason on Allure (NZ) a close second!  Size of dingy and outboard counted for nothing!

 

The meal was very simple but excellent and all produced on open fires by the village. Everyone who attended was fed, yet Karimata is the poorest, least developed place we have been to so far.  The islands looked very pretty but the whole place is shrouded in the smoke haze.  The village is built on stilts over the water and there is no shop, ATM, telephone signal or internet. 

 

cid:image002.jpg@01D1184A.B0593D60

Luckily a space on the crowded jetty was reserved for us

cid:image004.jpg@01D1184A.B0593D60

And we just joined the line for the meal