Fai Tira blog Friday 19th November 2010

 In Nongsa Point Marina 1:11.82N 104:05.81E

 

This is a picture blog put together by Pete and John of our journey from Bali to Nongsa Point on Batam Island, 15 miles south of Singapore.  Nongsa Point is our last stop in Indonesia and where we check out. 

 

 

We left Bali Marina and its big yellow party boat and headed North via the Western side of the Bali island.

 

 

Yet again we had no wind.  We had to contend with a 3 knot current against us at times, seas with tons of rubbish and debris in, not to mention the hundreds of small fishing boats, large cargo ships and a convoy of ferries heading to Java from Bali.  Not a very pleasant trip.  We later found out that we had picked up a rope around our prop.

 

 

Magnificent 14^th century waterside Hindu monument perched on the headland, seen as the corner was turned into the bay entrance at Pulau Manjangan (Deer Island) on the NW tip of Bali, near to Java.

 

 

The rubbish in the water and the rope and plastic bag around the prop.

 

 

There were three Hindu temples on the island. We walked around in the company of the Sol Maria crew.

 

 

I was about to take over the watch at 6 am. A large vessel was approaching on a course that looked too close and its progress commanded our attention. It took just a short while to sort out the evasive action. It was then, as our concentration returned to the journey, that we became aware of the fishing boats. What we saw was startling, unbelievable and unforgettable. This was an armada of fishing boats, they were travelling in an easterly direction at almost 90 degrees to ours. They were the typical brightly coloured small wooden traditional type. Some were powered by small triangular sails and others gave off the distinctive chug of a single cylinder diesel engine. There were far too many to count and we were now in their midst. At one stage, it seemed like we were surrounded by many hundreds; and with at least twice as many more speckling the distant horizons, the scene was astounding. It was impossible to steer round them. So we adopted the attitude that as they could clearly see us, and providing we held course, they would do the avoiding.

 

 

Our attempt at anchoring near the town of Dendang - in the South of Belitung Island - had to be aborted. With the town and shore still about three miles away, we were recording under 2 metres of water beneath the keel. So we reluctantly turned the boat, avoided the numerous fishing towers, and headed to Tanjung Pandan 80 miles away.

 

 

With the imaginatively marked deep water passage safely negotiated, we were immediately greeted by the Navy, a friendly bunch of guys who made short work of checking our papers and clearing us to go ashore.

 

 

The harbour was being serviced by traditional wooden ships.  Nothing modern here.

 

 

Pete tells the tale of the fish market:

I love wandering around fish markets and this one had the most diverse specimens for sale I had seen anywhere.  Everywhere I went I was greeted with “Ello Mister!” time and time again. Lots of people wanted their photo taken proudly showing off their last night’s catch.

 

 

Health and Safety? What’s that then? The odd Acrow prop might not go amiss either!

 

 

 

Our friendly host Johan , and the only place we could find to have a beer. The bucket of ice to cool it down was free!

 

 

A small landscape John quickly knocked up whilst drinking!

 

 

 

 

The streets surrounding the market were fantastic and just bustled and heaved. And almost everyone we passed wanted to say hello and shake us by the hand.

 

 

Life here, at times, seems pretty basic. They don’t have much and what they do have is often patched up, but what a spirit and what a great place.

 

 

 

Crossing the equator going north.

 

 

Celebrations as we crossed the line.  Wine at 07.15 how mad is that?

 

 

Massive amount of Traffic in the Singapore straight.  Each of the blue triangles are large ships. The black blob at the bottom is Fai Tira.  We have got to cross this lot tomorrow to get to Singapore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Arrived Batam Island 06.30am 19/11/10.