A Collection of Quotes - Rebak Marina, Rebak Island, Kedah State, Malaysia
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Mon 29 Nov 2010 13:09
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06:17.696N 99:41.862E
Quotes collected during Bryan and Michele's visit (compiled
with their assistance):
"Both of us are fairly adventurous
eaters"
This from Bryan in response to my email asking if there was
anything the two of them don't like to eat. Over the course of 2 1/2
weeks, we learned that Bryan's definition of an 'adventurous eater' is a
little loose - especially for one who dislikes most cooked vegetables, mashed
potatoes, raspberries and carrot sticks. Michele's aversion to
fish heads, shrimp heads and fish stomachs is understandable, but
Bryan's aversion to carrot sticks?
"I can't find my
contacts!"
Night #1. Michele's contacts and contact case go
missing. We didn't know it at the time, but this losing stuff thing was to
become a common theme. (Michele did come prepared with
an extra set of contacts and case, which was good. We never did find
the original contacts or case.)
"I'm sorry, there's nothing more I can do for
you."
Muhammad, the Admiral Marina manager, in response to Bryan's
plea for help. Bryan left his credit and ATM cards in the pocket
of a pair of shorts, which were bundled up and shoved in the giant bag of
laundry we presented to the Admiral Marina staff for cleaning. No thanks
to Muhammad, Bryan got his cards back, slightly bent and very clean, after
running into a friendly ex-pat in the marina who took matters into his own
hands and contacted the laundry on Bryan's behalf.
"I don't like her."
Our Indian taxi driver as he drove us back to Admiral Marina
after a day in Melaka. This statement came after explaining the
differences between Indian and Western culture, particularly in regard to
arranged marriages. His own marriage was arranged by his
parents. He has been married for 26 years and has three children.
The "her" he refers to is his wife. There were many raised eyebrows in the
back of the taxi when this pronouncement was made. "I think Mr. Brown needs to
eat."
Our first inkling that all was not well with Mr.
Brown. These were Michele's words to us as we strolled
down the crowded streets of Melaka under the blazing hot
sun. "I'm not feeling so well."
Our first inkling confirmed by Mr. Brown himself as we sat
down for lunch in an air conditioned restaurant in Melaka. Thinking
at the time that it was just a simple case of dehydration, we proceeded to load
Bryan up with Coke. Looking back on it now, we're not so sure
caffeine-loaded Coke was the best choice.
"I feel 100% better."
We heard this from Bryan several times throughout his sickness
ordeal, and most often during the 30-hour motorsail slog from Admiral
Marina to Pangkor Island. It was usually followed five minutes later
by:
"I think I've gotta go lay
down."
Apparently the "100% better" part was a bit
premature.
"Is it ok if we just have instant
chicken noodle soup for dinner?"
A question posed by me to the rest of the crew at the height
of a general state of nausea during the 30-hour motorsail slog.
Five minutes later, I sank even lower and asked Don if he would make
the soup. "Get out of the boat."
According to Bryan and Michele, this was the directive they
received from the captain, causing Bryan to scramble as fast as he could
off the stern of the dinghy into the refreshing chest-high water of Pangkor
Island's southern bay.
"Where's my shampoo, conditioner, body wash
and shaver?"
Asked Michele in a panicky voice when she realized she had
left these precious items in the almost-but-not-quite marina's bathroom.
No worries though, the next day the cleaning lady dug them out of her hiding
spot for lost items (in the bottom of the always empty paper towel
dispenser).
"I don't have a dog in that
fight."
Don to Bryan and Michele when the stench of Bryan's shoes
became so strong that Michele took issue. Don decided it was safer not to
take sides.
"Jazz it up."
Michele to Bryan whenever he wandered off-topic
while telling a story. This happened more frequently as time wore
on. We thought it was a good sign - one that showed Bryan was reaching the
ultimate state of relaxation.
"You might want to take the cap off
that."
Don to one or the other of our American friends on several
occasions when it became clear the wonder of screw top wine closures has
not hit the US yet. It's difficult to pour Australian wine when
the screw top is attached.
"There are plenty of lines on the boat, let's
start using them."
A slightly perturbed captain upon arrival at the Royal
Langkawi Yacht Club when the two boat boys couldn't seem to secure
our spring line to the finger to keep us from floating
backwards into the main dock. Instead, one of the boat
boys stood and gaped at the four sizable bolts sticking out of our
stern where the bumper used to be. "I'm gonna get up early
tomorrow."
Often threatened, but never acted upon. I was just happy
to have another woman on board that likes to sleep in even more than I
do. "I have to go to work on Thursday and I can't find my
other sock!"
Bryan, after a valiant search of the bow cabin. The sock
was eventually found, which was good because we weren't sure how the trainees in
the Penang plant would have reacted to
a sockless American.
"This has never happened
before!"
This is my statement, and I said it an abnormal number of times over
the course of Bryan and Michele's stay. Let's see, there was the time when
the engine room blower died, when we forgot to put the bow thruster pin in
place, when our mainsail grew holes, when we had the night from hell in the
almost-but-not-quite marina, when the fishing line disappeared, when the bow
thruster whined instead of whirred, and when the bow thruster refused to power
up. That about covers it. "You've heard of the Bad News Bears, right?
Well, we had the Bad Luck Browns."
Don's conclusion after reading all these blog updates.
(Said with a smile, of course.)
Bryan and Michele left with their steamer trunks equipped with
wheels on November 16 from Rebak Marina. From Rebak, they took a
short ferry ride to Langkawi Island, where they picked up a taxi to take them
back to Kuah and the main ferry dock. Then it was another,
larger ferry, and a 3 hour ride back to Penang where another taxi ride got
them to a nice hotel and air conditioning. Ahhhhhhh.....
They stayed in Penang two nights - long enough to see some of the sights we
missed when we were there with the boat, and long enough for Bryan to conduct a
training session at the Penang Mattel manufacturing plant. Since then,
they've flown home half-way around the world, gone back to work, and hosted 16
people for Thanksgiving dinner. In contrast, we spent the last two weeks
socializing with John from Storyteller at Rebak (he's since left to join Sue
back in Melbourne), then slowly cruising the Langkawi area anchorages and
dropping in at the Telaga Harbour Marina in time to eat Thanksgiving dinner
at the local Italian restaurant. We've enjoyed cruising around the
Langkawi area, but can't help feeling like something is missing.
While it's true that nothing has gone wrong lately, that's not what's
missing. It's the company of good friends and the fun of sharing
our wacky lifestyle with them that we miss.
The end of Season Three is near, and only two more
blog updates are planned - pictures from the two weeks we spent
cruising around the Langkawi area after Bryan and Michele's departure, and
a short summary of Season Three.
Anne |