The tailor of Pantai Besar

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Sun 18 Aug 2013 08:33
Besar means big in Bahasa Indonesia but I don't think the name of the anchorage translates as 'big panties'. Be that as it may...

Today I have been proving conclusively that tailoring/sail repairing is not in my genes! After five hours I've mended half the rip and as 'mad dogs and tailors' ought not to be in the midday Sun I took a break at 1230 and am about to restart  now (1630). Speaking of genes, my birth mother was a hairdresser (as was the chap assisting her at the conception). I've been trying to live that down ever since. OK OK, I've met some fine hairdressers in my time but maybe it explains why I always do the unconventional. Or not, who knows!

Anyway, I was taking a break and an official looking boat pulled up. Oh oh but no problem. It was a local government boat with two of the appointed guides on board. The official anchorage has been moved to just round the corner from where I am so bloody lucky I didn't go into the official anchorage that was, I would have been well and truly stuck about 5 nm away. Anyway my new best mates Wilbert and Luis took me round to inspect the new anchorage so doubtless any moans from the fleet will be directed at me. I thought it looked OK. They twisted my arm and gave me a welcome drink of the local Arak, the stuff the amateur drinkers warn you about. It wasn't bad at all, a little harsh initially but better than Nigerian palm wine and I enjoyed that. Ah, now THAT may explain a lot.. They also have a delightful local custom, one simply cannot have just the one, one must have two.

My mission this afternoon is not so much to finish the sail as to avoid stitching my hand to it!

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