Back to Malaysia (again!) - Rebak Marina, Langkawi, Malaysia
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Thu 1 Mar 2012 01:14
| 6:17.710N 99:41.848E January 25, 2012 - February 1, 2012 Ok! Back to the business of sailing. That's why we're out here, right? We left Laos and flew back to Phuket where Harmonie was waiting patiently for us in Yacht Haven Marina. Once there, we spent a frenzied two days unpacking, reorganizing, provisioning, getting teeth cleaned, and buying kayaks. Provisioning consisted of buying everything in Phuket that is hard (or impossible) to buy in Langkawi, Malaysia. Like bacon, and pork tenderloin and Australian licorice. Yeah, licorice. The previous owner of our boat had a fetish for licorice, which we seem to have inherited. Maybe it's contagious? In between bacon runs, I had my teeth cleaned in a very posh office near the Boat Lagoon Marina complex. It was half the price of the same procedure done at home, but this cleaning included a bonus saltwater pressure wash. If you think that sounds unpleasant, you're right. It is. It's like water boarding torture, with saltwater. Not that I or anyone I know has ever been subjected to water boarding, but if you want a hint of what it must be like, go ahead and have your teeth pressure washed with saltwater. Don skipped this treatment (maybe he knew something I didn't?). In spite of the torture, my teeth are sparkly. About the kayaks. We pride ourselves in owning a cruising sailboat that does not constantly look like a yard sale. Our decks are clean, smooth, empty, uncluttered…pleasing, you might even say. Some others are not. They have diesel jerry cans and dinghies and fenders and coils of line and life rafts and fishing gear and fruit and vegetables and water sport gear and scuba gear strapped to their decks. It's a wonder they can see the bow of their boat, let alone beyond it. So, why would two people so proud of their uncluttered decks buy two kayaks? Two kayaks that don't fit in Harmonie's garage (lazarette)? After many long discussions and much angst, we decided the fun we could have with the kayaks in the Maldives, Chagos and eventually the Caribbean, would far outweigh the embarrassment of having them (and the paddles too, ugh!) lashed to the deck. So we bought two kayaks and promptly had them delivered to us at Yacht Haven Marina, where we lashed them to the deck. They do add a splash of color… Another good-bye. We departed Yacht Haven Marina for the last time on January 27th. We weren't all that sad about leaving the marina (although it's a perfectly fine marina), but we were sad to leave Lady Kay. Wasn't it just yesterday we reunited in Langkawi? Our reunion was really about six weeks before, but we blinked and six weeks flew by. We were very glad to have done the Laos trip with Michael and Jackie, we had a great time and found them easy peasy (as some Brits would say) to travel with. We hope to get to London in our travels (air travels), so perhaps we'll see them again sooner rather than later. As for Lady Kay, however, we're not sure when we'll see her perky profile again -sigh-. South to Langkawi. For the fourth time, we set off to cover the 135 miles separating Phuket from Langkawi. We covered the distance in five daysails, stopping first in Ao Chalong on the south coast of Phuket to clear out of Thailand, then moving on to Koh Muk to see our favorite hong, then Koh Phetra a new island stop for us, and last, Koh Tarutao, the southernmost Thai island positioned across a narrow channel from Langkawi. As usual, the trip was uneventful with little wind. We squeaked out 4 or 5 hours of sailing from 24 total hours of travel. We do look forward to doing some real sailing again soon, but at least with the little wind around here there is also very little weather-related drama. We gave the new kayaks a good work out along the coast of Koh Phetra. What a fabulous spot! Around every corner is a cave or tunnel or giant rock formation to explore like this one. More Koh Phetra coastline. The water was so clear Don spotted a shark swimming below him. Sometimes there is something to be said about traveling on the water and not in it. We arrived back in Langkawi at our home away from home, Rebak Marina, with plans to stay two weeks. We decided two weeks would be long enough to complete the rest of the provisioning for our Indian Ocean crossing, as well as complete the few remaining boat projects. We vowed to take off for the Maldives no later than February 20th. What's this? February 20th? Hmmm….today is the 29th and we don't seem to be sailing west yet. Yes, there's been a slight delay, but that's a story for another time. Next up: Decisions, Decisions - Rebak Marina, Langkawi, Malaysia Anne |