Paradise found
Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Sun 30 Sep 2012 09:17
|
00.19.274 S 121.56.878 E
We are having the time of our life. Anchored off a
small island with a small locally run resort and
a big island with a village in blue water with snorkeling close
by.
Anwar came with us as our guide to show us places
where yachts can anchor. We had an interesting trip from Wakai to Kataput
village and Pangempa Island. He took us through channels between islands,
somewhere where we would never have gone on our own. We had a few occasions when
we had to back up because of shallow coral, but we never hit anything and saw
breathtaking scenery. This anchorage is ideal and the people at the resort are
extremely friendly and helpful. They arranged a local boat to take us various
places. The afternoon after we arrived we went to a lake with stingless jelly
fish, there were three types. It was wonderful to see these creatures swim from
close-up and not worry about them. We also went to a beautiful beach where the
snorkeling was very good. the second day (after a big rain storm had gone
through) we went to a huge reef out at sea. Fantastic snorkeling, I have never
been in the water so long. They build a hut on the reef where guests can have
their lunch, but unfortunately the tide was too low and we could not get near
enough. We then went for a tour around some islands looking for other
anchorages. We also visited a Bajo village; the Bajo people are know as
sea-gypsies and live off the sea.
Although Anwar was showing us interesting places,
we were also advising him on where yacht could go and what they need. Sail
Indonesia 2014 is scheduled to come to these islands and Anwar is the local
person checking out places that are good and safe for yacht to come to. So it is
fascinating to be part of this. Not many yachts have been in this area before.
We are the second yacht to anchor here this year.
We had hoped to stay much longer and check out more
places, but when we did some planning today we realized we do not have that much
time left. So we'll go back to Wakai tomorrow and then go around the Togean
Islands along the south coast.
 
 |