Fai Tira blog Tuesday 19th October

 Kupang 10:10.12S 123:33.50E

 

We had a calm windless passage to Kupang.  We motored for three days and only sailed when we had a squall come through. 

 

In the evening, we were treated to the arrival of the white faced Brown Booby, , seeking out a spot for a night’s roost. Initially it plonked itself not feet away on the aft deck before deciding that Pete and his camera were too near,  heading for the safety of the bowsprit where it spent the night. It was not phased at all with the headsail being pulled out then back in.

We stopped the boat in the morning to take a dip.  Who needs trunks when you are miles away from anywhere.  The sea was beautifully clear and very warm.  We always had someone on board looking for sharks.

 

This reminds me of swimming in the Atlantic.

 

The last evening on the Fai Tira saw Cumulus Nimbus clouds forming all around us.  We were expecting a rough night but luckily we sat in the middle of four electrical storms each giving us a spectacular display of lightning flashes.   

 

Our first sighting of an Indonesian fishing boat.  They gave us a wave as they past us by.

We arrived at 3.00am anchored and hit the bunk. 

 

The next morning the ramshackle sight of the city of Kupang was there in front of us.  Kids swimming in the sea and fishing boats chugging past us with their single cylinder engines.

 

The first night in Kupang we went to the local street eatery and experienced authentic Indonesian food.  We later headed back to a bar where a lady boy completion was taking place.  Boy! Most of them were gorgeous.    It could be very embarrassing chatting up locals here, not that we would.

 

The next day saw a group of BWR crews heading off on motor bikes for a tour of the island.  After a hectic start we headed off with a police escort to our fist stop and a chance to swim in a waterfall.  John stayed behind reverted to a bit of peddle power and sorted out the refuelling. 

 

Ian and Glenda in easy rider mode.

 

This is a local petrol station.  Molatof cocktails for sale.  Fill your tank with them for just a few pence.

 

A chance for a cool down.  The water was quite cool but very refeshing.

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The water boys. 

 

Hans and myself ready to jump into the pool.  The guide is pointing to a rock which we neaded to miss.

 

A group photo with our two female guides Sia and Stephania plus the policeman who looked after us on the manic roads.

 

Me and my super bike.

 

 

All the school children we saw were imaculately dressed and looked very happy.

 

We headed off for lunch at a tradional restaruant that BBQ’ed pork which was served up with rice.

 

The BBQ in full flow.  We all enjoyed the result.

 

Local lads watching the tourists ride by.

 

 

We then headed off to some caves that were inhabited by a tribe of monkeys.

 

We hand fed the monkeys before they wandered off into the surrounding countryside.