Lagoi anchorage is situated within the confines of the 5 star Nirwana beach resort. 5 star facilities and 5 star prices. A small can of beer (Bintang) around 11 Singapore dollars, that's about the same in Australian dollars! Rally participants get a 20% discount on some things. Given that, we weren't too hopeful of a great gala dinner. We were wrong.
I have to say the resort did us proud. It was a 5 star send-off, a three course buffet and the food was Indonesian dishes but resort standard. Superb is the only word for it. Mind, the resort is empty, maybe even Singaporeans blink at their prices.
The exit paperwork has been completed and we have 24 hours to go. Today will be a lazy day by the pool then it's off tomorrow. We've been told that it's acceptable to anchor overnight en route provided we don't go ashore so the plan is to make our way up the Indonesian side of the Malacca Straits until we are directly opposite Jahor Baru, anchor for the night then cut across the shipping lanes. The trip should take most people two hours but most likely me and Trouters three, unless mutual panic sets in and the engine feels like higher revs! I have 40 litres in the tank so that should be enough!
It will take me a day or so to get Internet sorted out in Malaysia, so probably this will be the last post for a week unless I get a 3G signal in the anchorage. I'll confirm my departure.
Indonesia has been a magical place to visit. The people made the trip. Friendly, welcoming and generous. Generous with their time and their hospitality. The rally organisation has had a few glitches but in the main has worked well and Sam or somebody else has usually been on hand to smooth out any problems but generally there haven't been any problems. we could have done with another month and I predict that once the Indonesian government has made life less bureaucratic for visiting yachts the country will become a major cruising ground. The infrastructure is a little lacking at the moment but that will change. Given that I always intended to remain in this area for a couple of years, once Trouters has had some much needed work done (after I've come up with a cunning plan to fund the work) I think I'll return to Indonesia. In fact I would happily do the rally again.
