tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19100915606096912172024-03-13T13:44:53.964-07:00Van de Stadt SamoaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-39126411231228271522024-01-21T07:03:00.000-08:002024-01-21T07:03:25.029-08:00Our stay in AmbonDuring the week more than 70 boats anchor off the fisherman's wharf in Ambon. When the diesel trucks arrive, more and more yerrycans appear on the quay, so it's waiting for your turn. Also drinking water has to be brought by yerrycan to the boats (luckily we have our own watermaker/desalinator and there is enough diesel in the tanks).<p>The welcome ceremony is quite a spectacle with officials of the Moluccan province, dance, music and a big BBQ annex buffet. We all got a 'Sail Bunaken' T-shirt and cap.<p>Public transport is done mostly by 'bemos' (small buses for 10-12 persons) and 'ojeks' (betjaks or bike taxis). There is a lot of traffic in Kota Ambon and we are stuck in a traffic jam! You can't miss the Pattimura Memorial devoted to the famous rebellion against the Dutch. The Siwa Lima museum is very informative with local and colonial history.<p>Friday morgning at 10 o'clock is the start of the sailrace Ambon - Bitung (on the NE tip of Sulawesi). There ia favourable wind and it must have been an impressive sight to see the whole fleet leave the Ambon harbour. The first night we have big waves from behind, but after midnight the sea settles down, there is still a following wind and with 2 knots of current with us, we fly ahead. A very pleasant sail!<p><a href="https://1drv.ms/f/s!AofQj_5qzQkfgYYgqluL2w161wKboA?e=z9mWn2">Slideshow Ambon2</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comkota jawa, 85QG+GMC, Rumah Tiga, Kec. Tlk. Ambon, Kota Ambon, Maluku, Indonesiƫ-3.6611805 128.1766368-4.2093840941888185 127.62732039375001 -3.1129769058111814 128.72595320625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-9525313755957305212012-09-07T10:32:00.000-07:002012-09-07T10:33:23.643-07:00Departure from MarmarisEnding the stay of 2 years in Yat Marina, Marmaris Alexandra has set sail from Turkey to the Netherlands.
<br>Follow our progress on <a href="http://www.winlink.org">www.winlink.org</a>; recent position of vessel with call-sign: PE1SAJ.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-21374894779218124852010-06-22T06:59:00.001-07:002021-05-06T00:04:56.597-07:00Marmaris in TurkeyAlong the Turkish south coast with high mountains are plenty of bays to have a refreshing swim or find a good anchorage for the night. In many of the places you'll find al least one small restaurant as in Ciftlik on the Marmaris peninsula. The Turkish staff are very friendly and helpful to grab your lines and offer fresh water and electricity. And at the end of the day is it a real pleasure to enjoy one of the dishes in the al fresco family restaurant. It is here that we meet the first Dutch sailors that have their base in Turkey and sail the Turkish and Greek waters. We hear that Marmaris Yacht Marina is an ideal marina annex shipyard with all facilities for both the yacht as the crew. See <a href="http://www.yachtmarin.com">www.yachtmarin.com</a><p>On June 9th we moor Mediterranean style between other boats with flags from mostly Germany, UK, France and the Netherlands and after an orientation of the marina area and the town of Marmaris, we start preparations for our departure home on June 29. The boat will stay (for the moment) in Turkey and we can close a period of 12 years of living, working and sailing on board 'Alexandra'.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipPjknZGlpYhtEukMbpcuFzMDi4Xg7qw4ebzmHV1">Slideshow Marmaris</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-19046227507686082382010-05-31T05:31:00.000-07:002021-05-05T08:43:40.347-07:00Kaş in TurkeyFor the leg from Cyprus to Turkey we need 36 hours (2 days and 1 night) and from far at sea we can see the high mountains that form the south coast of Turkey. In Kaş we find again a very busy fishing harbour where they really need the new marina under construction to be opened next year. Every day is a coming an going of 'gülets', beautiful wooden sail/motorboats that charter along the coast with groups of 8-10 passengers for a few days. There is hardly any space for 'normal' yachts to anchor, but we are lucky and the harbourmaster helps us to moor 'Alexandra' on the quay 'mediterranean style' (drop your anchor in the middle of the harbour and come slowly backwards to have two mooring lines from the back of the boat to the quay). We can use our aluminium gangway again after so many years and that is an easy way to come from the boat to the shore.<p>Kaş is an charming little town with squares, crowded streets and a lot of shops and restaurants. In the evening you hear live music and it is easy to come into the Turkish atmosphere. Very close to town is an old amphitheatre in very good condition and it happens that on one of the nights there is a musical performance. Unfortunately in Turkish, so we can't completely follow the story, but the songs and costumes are good and interesting. Looking over the stage we can see the sea and the stars that are getting more bright into the night. A beautiful experience.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipM5LMeSWYdkBo5EY3wA-1sRmcHtcS6p4qHBV-Sb">Slideshow Kaş</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-87147954664359625372010-05-25T05:25:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:05:14.727-07:00CyprusThe first stop in de Mediterranean is the small town of Paphos on the westside of the island of Cyprus. We just fit in the small fishing harbour and we are surprised by the amount of tourists that daily come to have a look at the boats. After all it's not too bad to sit down on one of the terraces and enjoy the fresh seafood and the colourful views. And whatever souvenir you want to take back home, you definitively can make a choice in one of the many shops along the quay. We also discover a lot of history in Paphos: the fortress in the harbour itself and the archeological site where they've found the ruins of the houses of some rich Cypriot's from about 2000 years ago. Specially the floors are reasonably well preserved and show colourful mosaics of both fantasy patterns as of pictures from the Greek mythology.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipMIrSKIlNeZZ560-3N1GeSc7HacK_5JGSR3mWcZ">Slideshow Cyprus</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-44881267480829779432010-05-16T16:05:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:05:30.786-07:00Suez CanalThe last miles before the Suez Canal we sail along the impressive hills of the Sinai peninsula. Near the coast there are many oil platforms and oil-rigs with activity of tugs and tankers. In Suez we enter the anchorage for yachts to do paperwork (and payment) for the passage through the Canal. We get a 'pilot' on board and the first part of the passage is a bit disappointing for us: we sail along erected sand dunes where we see every few km's pontoon bridges on the shore ready to launch in case of war to transport men and material to the Sinai side. At the end of the first day we reach the 'marina' of Ismailia, an obligatory stop-over for the yachts. Ismailia turns out to be a nice place and we stay a few days to visit Cairo and the pyramids of Giza.<p>The second part of the passage offers more variation on the shore. Our 'pilot' tells us there are seven checkpoints of the Canal authorities where they have to report to during the trip. And again we see lots of military observation posts. But also some small towns and several ferryboats to carry people and cars to the other side of the Canal. Most impressive are the big container ships and tankers that either come towards us or overtake us. The Suez Canal is too small for the big ships to pass each other, so there is a strict scheme for the ocean-going trade to leave in convoys. The north- and southbound convoys daily pass each other on the Great Bitter Lake or via a side channel.<p>Port Said at the end of the Canal is a big and busy city where many boats are moored and tugs and ferryboats speed through the harbour. Once away from the bustle and the shipping lanes the Red Sea and Egypt are behind us and under sail again we see the sun set into the Mediterranean.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipPkgjoL7j-0AdAKGqxPRjMZBHwboUaZoiU85w7W">Slideshow Suez</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-70932753739904854462010-05-14T14:05:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:05:46.941-07:00Cairo and the pyramids of GizaWe leave the boat in the marina of Ismailia, halfway the Suez Canal, and it is a bright sunny morning when we see the three pyramids of Giza (being in a suburb of Cairo). They are huge triangular buildings that stand already there for over 4000 years. They serve both as a tomb and a memorial for the pharaohs that had them build. Over the years still thousands of tourists show up daily to get impressed and admire the pyramids. Most make a ride on a camel around them. Great and intriguing is also the sphinx, a more than life size statue of a man&#39;s head (or is it a female head?) on a lion&#39;s body. They suspect it is the head of the then ruling pharaoh and the lion symbolises the extra-human powers. Still very mysterious.<p>The Egyptian museum in Cairo was founded in 1835 to prevent the robbery and export of the finds of the archeological sites, to bring an order into the valuables and to exhibit them to he public. There is so much to be seen now as you walk among mummy's, jewelry, sarcophaguses, eating bowls and all other trinkets that have been found in the pyramids and graves. All is reasonably well ordered by time period in different rooms. Highlights are still the richness's found in the tomb of Toetanchamom, esp. his pure golden death mask. Inside the museum we are not allowed to make pictures but the outside is interesting enough to give you an impression.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipOnnRYM79cvUhcJiRmoUuNTbJYrvx15qwbJUyYU">Slideshow Cairo</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-88197642775399598772010-05-06T06:05:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:06:04.543-07:00Luxor on the NileFrom Port Ghalib we make a land trip to Luxor on the Nile, the old Thebe where the rich pharaoh's have held their court for a long time and have built enormous and luxurious temples. On the east bank of the Nile we find the extraordinary temple complex of Karnak with sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks dedicated to the Thebean gods and the greater glory of the pharaohs. A confusing but interesting and impressive experience. Luxor temple is in the heart of the modern town itself, a graceful monument with impressive statues and relief's on the walls. In the evening we return to Karnak for a sound and light show about the history of Thebe.<p>The river Nile still is very important for Egypt and the Egyptians as a means of goods traffic by water, irrigation of land to grow food and to carry the tourists to the historic places. Many cruise ships are moored in three rows along the quays and also small Nile barges with triangle, latin rig, sail are waiting daily for their passengers. While all the bustling life is taking place on the east bank, the pharaohs also made their extensive preparations for a pleasant after life, and they understand this should be on the west bank, the place where the sun is going down and where they can expect a next life. In the then uncultivated area they had made hidden underground well decorated corridors and chambers with food and richness's, and their tombs. Many graves have been found and restored as in the 'Valley of the Kings'.<p>At the foot of dramatic rugged limestone cliffs that rise nearly 300 m above the desert plain lies the temple of Queen Hatshepsut that blends in beautifully with the cliffs from which it is partially cut. Nice views from there over the Nile valley, the only 5% of the land of Egypt that can be used to grow food. There we see green plants and light coloured farmhouses with people working on the land. The papyrus plant that also grows along the Nile is the basis for making rough sheets of paper. The alabast is another treasure of nature from which craftsmen make fine vases and plates.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipP1QnK65ByXMT2UaMO1424jJPCqmJtuDGAPcCaX">Slideshow Luxor</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-86279037458182021762010-05-04T04:05:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:36:43.120-07:00Port Ghalib marina complexThe first real harbour along the coast of Egypt is Port Ghalib. This is a very modern and new complex with apartments, hotels, big palm trees, restaurants, a 'souks' with souvenir shops and a marina under construction. The first super yachts are anchored already (Mediterranean style, stern to), most of them owned and operated by dive companies with all-in dive tours. After Malaysia this is the first time we have ample fresh water, so we clean Alexandra thoroughly and flush all the sand and dust away (for as long as it lasts).<p>We have a pleasant stay here and frequent and interesting meetings with the other yachties. We also get to know Diny and Peter van Eijk from the Netherlands, who enjoy a holiday here to meet their son and his friend on the Dutch yacht 'Pegasus' who are sailing a special trip around the world. They don't succeed to catch up together because of too strong northerlies against 'Pegasus'. See: <a href="https://www.speakersacademy.com/nl/spreker/the-green-miles/">https://www.speakersacademy.com/nl/spreker/the-green-miles/.nl</a><p><a
</a><p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipNGWzkIzc0VPjQzmIQebYWFsgg8d6GUW-FZJT3U">Slideshow PortGhalib</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-86878182161944561132010-04-26T04:26:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:06:44.698-07:00Islands, reefs and marsa's in SudanSailing along the coast of Sudan is easily done in day trips with every time another island, reef or marsa to drop the anchor for a quiet night. But every now and then we have force 6 winds from the north and then you have to stay a bit longer on the anchorage before going on. In Sanganeb reef it is good to snorkel and we find a wreck with beautiful corals and heaps of small fish around. The brick lighthouse on the south tip of the reef is a conspicuous structure and a beacon for the cargo ships to Port Sudan.<p>A marsa (or sharm or khor) is an inlet from the sea into the land, a sort of lagoon of inner lake with a rather small entrance between two reefs. These are beautiful anchorages sheltered from sea and swell, but not protected from the wind because the land around, mostly desert, is usually low. They are special as we can see in marsa Fijab, marsa Arakiya, khor El Marob (deep and impressive to enter, you are anchored in the middle of the desert with just one camel on the shore) and marsa Umbeila, close to the (unofficial) border with Egypt. Marsa Umbeila is not that big and we can easy land the dinghy to make a walk on the beach, we discover a nomad graveyard, or see a bit more of the hills in the desert. There is a birthday party of one of the yachties in an abandoned cave on the beach. In the evening a dugong (sea cow) is grazing on the grass in the bay and we also spot a turtle.<p>On top of that there is excellent snorkeling and diving on the reefs in the entrance of the marsa: nicely coloured coral, big fans and a lot of smaller and bigger fish, an underwater paradise, even a bit better than the nearby Elba reef. After a few days we have to go on and we sail and motor sail another night to Dolphin reef where we can swim almost daily with a pot of dolphins (very special). Behind Abu Galawa reef we find another protected anchorage against the northerlies and there is again very fine diving.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipN7s5A2vynJ01eBebOcHND4we_G6CMQvOEjvIRJ">Slideshow CoastSudan</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-15818996618686455232010-04-02T02:04:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:06:59.505-07:00Suakin in SudanWithin a few days we are in Khor Nawarat in south Sudan, a beautiful reef with good anchorages, and from there it is a pleasant sail along the coast and through Shubuk channel to reach the (small) port of Suakin. The anchorage for the yachts is next to the 'old city' and in passing by 'old Suakin' we get the impression that an earthquake has taken place: a few battered minarets tower above the rubble of ruins and damaged buildings. A great photo opportunity!<p>In the 'new' city of Suakin the houses don't look so much better, although quite some people seem to live here. We imagine ourselves in the decor of an Arabic film: men walk in long white robes with brown or black sleeveless vests, most of them wear a turban. Also some women on the streets, well wrapped up, but not only in black, there are red and pink garments and one or two ladies with a printed shawl. The men sit on the verandas of their neglected houses or walk in pairs. Most transport of sacks and iron water tanks is done by donkey and donkey carts. Only at the end of the main street, past the small and busy market, there is the parking place with workshops, small restaurants, busses, taxi's and tuk-tuk's. It s really a shame the people don't allow us to take pictures of them: they start screaming and walk away as soon as we take our camera in our hand, because also they have a sharp eye on us, of course!<p>By taxi we visit the bigger town of Port Sudan, a ride of about an hour on a good bitumen road through the desert. Near Suakin still some neighbourhoods with wooden and corrugated iron hovels, often near a little bit more 'luxury' small mosque, but further on areas with only sand and every now and then some shrub, some camels and one or two people with donkeys. Sudan is an African country with quite dark people and a lot of Arabic influences because of immigration from other Red Sea area's. In the market in Port Sudan the salesmen do their best on the presentation of the fruits and veggies.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipNJ2bolkKCUGOt2EL9iOY_jMgbJhjWhFs1bgonC">Slideshow Suakin</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-87851670876398065732010-03-22T22:03:00.000-07:002024-01-21T07:05:51.292-08:00Asmara in EritreaEritrea means 'land on the Red Sea' and from the port of Massawa it is more than a 3 hour trip with a local minibus over a bitumen road with the higher we get the more hairpin curves and spectacular views! After the third and last 'checkpoint' where our temporary visa are inspected, we run on 2 km height and under dark grey clouds into the capital Asmara at around 5 p.m. Walking through town to our 'pensione' it strikes how clean the streets are. Around this time a lot of people are on their way and we see most of them wear long pants and jackets or jumpers. The difference in temperature with Massawa in the evening is 15-30 degrees and we welcome the 15-30 degrees Celsius after the months of tropical heat.<p>Eritrea has been a colony of Italy and under the influence of the Italians from ca. 1850 to 1940. Especially in the main street, a wide boulevard with large and tall palm trees on both sides, you imagine yourself in Rome in the 1920-30's. Men in costumes, sometimes with heads, Art Deco buildings, terraces where you can get espresso, capuccino and all kinds of pastry, fashion shops and italian restaurants with pasta, pizza, fish, etc. This is 'little Roma' in Africa with African prices, very cheap! And dark people of course. Daily at 5 p.m. all people come to this boulevard to walk and talk, have a drink and bite, and hear the gossip. Young boys sell chewing gum, cigarettes, toothpicks, tissues and coins with the head of Mussolini ...!<p>Halfway the main boulevard is a magnificent cathedral, with traditional furnishing, and with a bell tower that we went up by over a hundred steps. At the schoolyard next to the cathedral the young children have their playtime and they wear white aprons with sleeves over their own clothes, in a very old-fashioned catholic and Italian way!<p>Very modern is a reasonably well organized recycle 'junk yard', a collection place for old iron, old wood, barrels, drums, cans, etc. etc. with around the yard many workshops where people are hammering, sawing, beating, welding. From the oildrums the bottoms are removed and then they make small oilsquirts from it. Also we saw 'new' ovens, soupladdles and heaps of reasonably sorted parts, screws, bolts, rods, you name it. An active recycle market from which we in Europe can follow their example.<p>On Sundays the steamtrain rides the route that the Italians have laid out and build and that is restored about 10 years ago. It's a great experience with tremendous views over valleys, villages, the railway itself with some 20 tunnels and viaducts along the road. The trip takes from 08.00 till 13.00 hours. During the ride we have to stop several times to load coals and water, while the passengers get Eritrean coffee burned, grinded and brewed in the traditional way.<p><a href="https://1drv.ms/f/s!AofQj_5qzQkfgYZ1vl_mqm4tg1STyQ?e=hpsNSD">Slideshow Asmara</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7WV2+XH Asmara, Eritrea15.2949938 38.901446714.235759528483474 37.8028138875 16.354228071516527 40.0000795125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-69153542363117529932010-03-16T16:03:00.000-07:002021-05-06T00:07:39.642-07:00Red SeaOn March 7th in the early morning we sail through the Strait of Bab el Mandeb, the southern access to the Red Sea. There is a brisk SE wind of 20-25 knots (force 6 Beaufort) and soon we surf over the waves that get higher all the time. Our speed increases as the wind is tightening and we feel: this is spectacular sailing! Although we are disappointed that the colour of the Red Sea waters didn't change. Our first anchorage we find behind an island in the Bay of Assab, the former main port of Eritrea. The winds keep blowing and there are too many waves to go ashore and explore the new continent. Next days are with a same wind from same direction and we make good progress with anchorages in between, that are protected against the big swells but we hear the wind howl through the rigging all the time. We follow the interesting coastline of south Eritrea with dark (volcanic?) hills covered with thin layers of almost white sand.<p>On Friday morning around 11.00 o'clock we see a sort of brownish red curtain along the coast and the wind is getting more hot and more dry. Very slowly the brown-red cloud is approaching and passing, we feel a light tingle on our face, arms and legs. When the fog has disappeared, we find a reddish layer of dust and fine sand on the deck, on the sails and everywhere on Alexandra. All around us fine red dust has been descended on the waves as well and we are sailing in a red glow, in a Red Red Sea.
The port Massawa in Eritrea has suffered a lot from the war with neighbouring Ethiopia that the coastal areas with harbours to the Red Sea claims as part of Ethiopia and not as an independent state. Many (previous interesting) buildings are probably irreparable destroyed.
<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipOPk5lftw3VE306kWP8l1JhNTPcwSytX5_zo_Cd">Slideshow RedSea</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-6293171376173244142010-03-03T10:30:00.000-08:002024-01-21T07:02:06.417-08:00Aden in YemenFor the last leg in the Gulf of Aden we have a good wind and hardly any traffic. On February 26th we anchor in front of Aden town just in time to hear from the several mosques the call for the Friday prayers. Aden is not really a clean city and that also applies for the harbour where ocean going ships unload containers and refuel with diesel. The south of Yemen has been a colony of England (Aden has its own 'Big Ben'), the north has been occupied by the Turks. Since the independence of the Republic and the going together of north and south Yemen in 1991, both area's don't get on very well. This has resulted in riots in 1994 and that threat is still there.<p>Large parts of the city are build against the bare volcanic hills. We are happy to have a good guide and driver and we make a tour to the impressive water reservoirs. After a heavy rainfall of five hours they are now filled up for one third. The waterworks have been build probably during the Ottoman era (before 1800). Near the fish market the fleet of fishing boats has just entered and there is a choice of everything. In 'Arab town' it is always busy and crowded. Most of the transport of the merchandise is still done by cart and camel. On several of the public buildings we see a portrait of the president, de flag of Yemen is red-white-black.<p><a href="https://1drv.ms/a/s!AofQj_5qzQkfgYZTXyOITYkSkmK8vA?e=uuJJ1J">Slideshow Aden</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comM2H5+QF Aden, Jemen12.6794601 45.008625110.5327049699095 42.811359475 14.8262152300905 47.205890725tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-15817649719761625252010-02-24T02:24:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:08:06.748-07:00Al Mukalla in YemenApproaching the coast we see large sand dunes: the end of the desert. Closing in you see small white buildings with open windows, this is the beginning of Al Mukalla, a medium sized town halfway the south coast of Yemen. In the small harbour the American yacht 'Bingo' and us are directed to the once yellow Q(uaranteen) buoy. An agent is waiting to organize the customs and immigration formalities (very friendly and easy). From immigration we get a shore pass to visit town. It takes a short taxi ride and first thing that attracts attention are the women that are dressed up completely in black: a large burka inclusive gloves so that only the eyes are visible. The men wear nicely woven sarongs and light coloured shirts, we also see several turbans. Making pictures of people is 'not done', so we restrict ourselves to some impressions taken from the taxi and walking along the boulevard. In the supermarket there is an ample choice of foods and outside the building is a stall with fresh fruit and vegetables.<p>In the harbour you find all sorts of small and bigger boats and specially in the morning it's a busy and lively spectacle. In the harbour mouth there is always a patrol boat with machine gun, checking incoming and outgoing traffic. But the water is not very clean in the harbour, it smells and we don't like the bird's droppings on our deck. So our next anchorage is 15 nm further on the coast in an bay in a beautiful piece of desert. Some women are chasing a small herd of goats and we see people walking on the beach, they turn out to be bedouins.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipMtGZh1Z9U6veysZt_KswVBGloy0Ha1nSLmAYLT">Slideshow Mukalla</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-61811425032220857722010-02-19T19:02:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:40:49.954-07:00Indian OceanFebruary 10 we leave the Maldives and our heading for the moment is the harbour of Solalah in Oman. There are 14-20 knots from NE, but the sea is very unsettled, so life on board is not comfortable. In the night there are big and dark clouds but not a drop of rain, although 'Alexandra' can use a good flush. We make excellent progress. The Indian Ocean is big and empty, just a distant trader now and then. All at once there is a pod of about 30 dolphins next to he boat. They are racing and jumping to catch up with the bow, always great fun! And alomost every evening there is a slow and colourfull sunset.<p>After a week on the high seas we are hailed by a warship of the coalition forces and we give our destination and ship's data. We have entered the area where pirates have their field of activity. If we should see anything suspect we are requested to report position etc. to one of the warships. But it stays very quiet around us and also the wind is dying out, so we have to start the engine.<p>Once under the coast of Oman we decide to proceed to Yemen because of the crowded harbour of Solalah. Both on the day as by night we hear regularly via the VHF the communication between the ocean going traders and tankers and the warships. As soon as a captain has spotted a suspect vessel or has a suspicion of a pirate mothership, he'll report that to one of the warships and they mostly send out a plane to investigate more close. We hear two times of an attempt to board a tanker and also then there is a lot of ommunicationa and action. Till now not one of the attempts to hijack has been successfull. The suspect 'skifs' are mostly seen in the traffic routes for the ocean going trade and they are 80 nm south of us. Along the coast of Yemen we come across some fishermen and an odd small trader.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipNtEfh5FEiDx5VimjGPwbGd4vJc101yk5c9WXaI">Slideshow Indian Ocean</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-80787774595063047012010-02-09T07:37:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:43:13.641-07:00Uligan island in MaldivesIn the most northern atoll of the Maldives in front of Uligan island we've dropped the anchor. February, 1st around 9 a.m. a motorboat with six officials is approaching and when all are aboard 'Alexandra' we can do customs, immigration and quarantine at the same time. Ship's papers and crew lists are asked in 4 to 6 copy and preferable provided with ship's stamp and signature of master. But everybody is very helpful, so within half an hour we are officially welcomed in the Republic of the Maldives.<p>Next to the boat the reef begins and the snorkeling is excellent with good coral and heaps of fish that are nog shy at all. In the morning we see the tips of a manta ray that is swimming on the reef. Next minute we are in the water and the manta ray is passing several times really very close, what a majestic and graceful sight!<p>Uligan village looks a bit dull with sandy roads and high walls around the courts next to the houses. There are no cars, but we see a lot of shiny motorbikes. A small harbour with breakwater is under construction and we can moor our dinghy on the sturdy cay that is finished already. Alongside one of the sandy roads is 'the office' and here we can ask and arrange everything we want. Opposite the office they have a plastic garden table and chairs where we can use internet for free and fill in papers for departure etc. It's a meeting place for the yachties and for the local guys who have a great service to bring new diesel on board the yachts. The Maldives are an Islamic country and the women wear head scarfs, also the girls leaving the school are dressed in white trousers, white skirts, white blouses long sleeved and white head scarfs.<p>During our stay we make a trip with the local motorboat to two other islands in the atoll where we visit a school, the local boat builders and have a lunch in a small and cosy restaurant. On one of the beautiful beaches of Uligan we have a potluck dinner: the boys have fish, chicken and beef on the rack over the wood fire and the yachties have prepared a dish from their own country: pasta, salads, pancakes and chocolate cookies.<p>
<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipNVxSc81jkoi4OTPqpQPLlOno0qd7yy-kafpeKp">Slideshow Maldives </a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-73489879487176848032010-02-03T08:31:00.000-08:002010-02-03T08:30:58.587-08:00Bay of BengalThe leg from Thailand via Sri Lanka to the Maldives (SW of India) is 1550 nm (nautical miles) long, ca. 3000 km, and our first experience with the Indian Ocean. In Thailand we've spent two days in the Nicobar islands, a very commercial happening with over 50 live-a-boards and other dive companies, hopping daily along the several dive sites (almost queuing). Not an attractive place although the water is clear, the coral is colourful and there is quite a lot of fish. To pick up a mooring in one of the against swell protected bays to spend the night is a (too) expensive experience, so time to leave!<p>Going west there is initially just a little wind, but with some extra sails it is possible to get a speed of 4 knots and we can stop the engine. In the nights there are several 'squalls', short fierce pouring's with a lot of wind, they last about 30 minutes and then all is getting back to 'normal'. On approach of Sri Lanka the wind is getting stronger and we have to make two reefs in the main and reduce the headsail. The hours last long and there are also a lot of container ships and tankers around. We are happy to use our new AIS system where we see on the computer screen which boats are near to us, what is their speed and when they'll pass us on what distance. If the big ships are too close to Alexandra, we have to adjust our course because the container ships never change their direction and we don't know if they have seen our small yacht on their radar. Also a call on the VHF radio is never answered, is our experience.<p>Past Sri Lanka we sail a few hours in the lee of the island, but then the wind starts blowing again through the strait between Sri Lanka and India. The sea gets rough and unsettled, we tack 70-80 degrees to the wind (20-24 knots) and it is a quite unpleasant trip. Happily we have in the night the light of the full moon and after 24 hours the wind is dying out and we can relax again. In a few hours we can shake out the reefs and in the late evening of January 31st we motor into the most northern lagoon of the Maldives and anchor in front of the (small) island of Uligan. In the morning we see that there are about 20 other yachts anchored around us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-32758619780085953532010-01-12T12:01:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:13:06.401-07:00Phuket ThailandPhuket is the peninsula in the southwest of Thailand and since the '70s this area is assigned to be the resort island for tourists. Chalong is just south of Phuket city and for cruisers this is the place to do customs and immigration. It's also easy here to rent a car or motorbike to explore the countryside. Intriguing is the 'Big Buddha' on the hill that is looking down on the bay. It shows to be an extended complex under construction. Because of the implantation of the eyes (real sapphires that took a few year to collect donations) the head of the Buddha is in scaffolding. Also stairwells and galleries are in the planning. The 'Wat Chalong' is a temple complex nearby with six buildings in a park area. Every temple is devoted to another Buddha, monk or saint and the buildings are richly furnitured with golden statues, big paintings, sculptures and vases with fresh flowers. Outside are tables with facilities to burn candles or incense. Every here and there we see monks in orange habits.<p>Phuket has its own amusement park, a sort of Disneyland in a real Thai theme: FantaSea. In the early evening we make a short tour in the park that is well decorated and illuminated. There are heaps of fantasies and realities e.g. two white tigers in their luxury 'apartment'. There is an international buffet in an enormous and royal decorated 'salle de banquet'. After that we enter the real big theater in the 'Palace of the Elephants' to see on and around the stage a turbulent and spectacular show with beautiful costumes, sound and light effects, acrobatics, a glance over Thai history and culture, and a lot of elephants.<p>On the west coast of Phuket peninsula are about ten bays with white sandy beaches and above them tower the hotels and apartment complexes. No palm trees grow on the beaches to provide shadow, so some hundred parasols next to every two reclining chairs offer a colourful sight from the water. In the evening you shuffle with the crowd of tourists along the hundreds of little shops and restaurants, most of them with terraces and good music on a pleasant volume level. That is changing when you enter the 'girlie-bars': here is modern (rock)music and everywhere you see girls in short skirts and high heels 'dancing' on the counters. Just take a barstool and order a drink. Half of the visitors are just tourists curious about the Thai 'nightclubs' and the other half of the visitors and young guys and men who make their appointment for later in the evening. On the beach we buy with a few other Dutch yachties a big paper lantern that through the heat of a burning fuse slowly goes up in the air with all our wishes for the new year.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipPt46Rn62CEXSQz60FAaXorr8pFx6TYZCIYJ90k">Slideshow Thailand</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-23132876095305663932009-12-24T12:24:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:27:39.854-07:00X-mas in Sunset ValleyOn Christmas Eve we have an invitation on the Sunset Valley estate where two Dutch sailers have build a lovely and characteristic resort. From the deck of their own spacious wooden bungalow we have a nice view over the paddies, the ricefields, with a deep red sunset at the end of the day. It is a party with Dutch sailors and (ex-)Dutchies that are living now on Langkawi island.<p>It is an evening with a lot of music starting with christmas carols and then we try to find at least one song of every province. There is ample and talentfull accompaniment: Ria on the keyboard, Carla with her squeezebox and At and Andre with several harmonica's. Most melodies sound familiar but the lyrics are not always there. At a certain moment there were even some couples dancing on the deck! There is beer and wine and snacks and sushi's as a start, followed by chicken soup, several salads and freshly baked 'baguettes'. As a desert we are offered a tropical fruit salad and home made cake, so we look back at a cosy and very Dutch evening. Thank you Ria and Andre!<p>See their website: <a href="http://www.sunsetvalleyholidayhouses.com">www.sunsetvalleyholidayhouses.com.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipMTGX6rLfZEeYD9ELPOYpCFNE68vFGy75iKcVGf">Slideshow SunsetValley</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-65551980310068469432009-12-19T19:12:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:14:07.725-07:00LangkawiThe most northern island along the coast of Malaysia is a real sailor's paradise! The bays are so beautiful to pass through with heaps of good anchorages and small beaches to have a 'sundowner' with other yachties. The busses of the island tour bring us to places where we are welcomed with music and dance, we have to taste the local snacks and dishes and we hear the legend of the princess Mahsuri (10th century).<p>Telaga Harbour is another bay on Langkawi island and from there we visit the very professional cable car complex, a steep ride to the big round viewing platforms that are connected with a very long hanging bridge with again spectacular views. A real good experience! Everywhere on Langkawi are cosy and small restaurants with terraces on the beach or along the harbour with a choice of local or western meals (pizza's, steaks). They are a good opportunity to welcome new sailors (esp. the Dutch ones) and say farewell to our friends of the Rally.<p>Kuah is the main town of Langkawi and here you'll find all sorts of shops and supermarkets to replenish your supply of food and chandlery. Tabac and alcohol are duty-free, so we have to think in advance of our next legs through Islamic countries where you can't buy a drop of alcohol. Also in the Suez canal we can expect authorities that are not happy with just the legal fees and need some cigarettes for letting us pass through. The sea eagle with his white head and brown wings, we see them daily all around the island chase on fish, is the symbol of Langkawi and on 'Eagle square' in Kuah there is a enormous sea eagle statue looking over the bay.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipPz1IEQlCUd4RiiSa_27NtepRXztBbL0YjBO1u9">Slideshow Langkawi</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-13891314299378900532009-12-03T12:03:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:14:19.651-07:00Penang IslandWhere the Malacca Strait is getting wider, you'll find Penang island linked with a 3km long bridge to mainland Malaysia. With about 20 yachts we are anchored behind a small island southeast of Penang. On November 30th we sail in a small parade together under the bridge to the Tanjong City marina in the middle of historic Georgetown. In the evening we are awaited by a group of 25 young drummers who perform a spectacular show on their big and deep-sounding drums. Also local dansers in beautiful costumes bring a colourfull and dazzling program of dances.<p>A compulsary stop on the Rally bustours is a visit to a project developer with for foreigners interesting investments in an appartment, a house or a villa. There is a wide choice at attractive prices. The slogan of Malaysia on this subject is 'MM2H' (make Malaysia your second home) and it is made easy for cruisers to import their yacht without any problems or (tax)rules. We finish the tour with an excellent buffet of Penang food and the performance of two lions that dance on the music of drum and cymbals to attract our attention.<p>The top of Penang hill you reach by a train that has to cover a very steep trail. The ride takes 30 minutes and then we have a magnificent view over Georgetown and the strait between Penang and the mainland. Interesting on the hill is the Hindoe temple painted in the characteristic soft colours. The descent by train again is quite exciting, but is made without problems.<p>Kek Lok Si is an extended Buddhist temple complex with several buildings, stairs, towers, galleries and pavillions. You can walk for hours and still discover new areas and details, very fascinating. The local fish restaurant near the marina is an experience because of the open kitchen, the simple set-up of the tables and the excellent taste of the fish, prawns and mussels.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipPfHNcG5bNN_HXxzZKS63nf_F-vN9UJn3_PlHjd">Slideshow Penang</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-29289784454899337332009-11-27T11:27:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:14:29.937-07:00Malacca and Malacca StraitIn the 17th century Malacca was a stopover for the big ships of the Dutch Eastindian Company (VOC) on their way to Batavia and the Maluku spice islands. They could take in fresh water, meat and vegetables and also there were opportunities for trade. There are still several (mostly restored) buildings from that period e.g. the church and the 'stadthuys' (town hall). In 2008 the United Nations have decided to declare Malacca a world heritage place and so Malaysia got some extra money to restore the historical buildings and sites of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English period. In the 'stadthuys' is an extended and interesting museum where a lot of 'souvenirs' of the VOC and Holland have got a place.<p>In Jonkerstraat you walk along small old buildings with mostly shops on the ground floor. At Low Yong Mow, one of the many Chinese eateries we have a breakfast with dim sum's, these are filled packages with delicious pork or shrimp meat and vegetables that are steamed in big round baskets. With it you drink jasmine tea as much as you want.
Very interesting is the museum of Cheng Ho, the great Chinese seafarer who by order of the emperor of China from 1406 on with a very extended merchant fleet discovered and charted the world. In seven journeys he visited many countries, did business and started diplomatic ties of friendship and trade. There are more and more suspicions that Columbus must have had sea maps that have been drawn by cartographers engaged by Cheng Ho and further traded on. In Malacca Cheng Ho had established a large depot for his trade goods and in between his sea travels he must have lived and done business here.
From the hill you have a nice view over the city and strait and in the ruins of the old St. Paul's church you find a collection of tombstones of Dutch citizens of the 17th century. At the foot of the hill there is one gate left of the fortress that the Dutch have build in the time of the VOC.<p>One day sailing to the north we meet bad weather and flee into Admiral marina near Port Dickson. The marina is part of an impressive apartment complex and has a stylish colonial clubhouse with a restaurant and bar. And we can use the swimming pool for a refreshing dip! There is not a lot of wind along the coast northbound and with a stop over in Port Klang, the busy harbour of Kuala Lumpur, and an overnighter with a lot of lightning, we reach Penang island.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipOYfC2H2zM1tqpBL-sLVOlSPF7UUHpCcIi-Fk5H">Slideshow Malacca</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-40621225137733780662009-11-15T15:15:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:14:42.345-07:00Puteri Harbour marinaYou get a good impression of the new and grand developments in building when you enter the very spacious and luxury Puteri Harbour marina. In the background you see the new State administration offices. The modern 'marina clubhouse' is air conditioned, has a roomy reception with very friendly staff and on the first floor you'll find an extended maquette with the future developments in the area. A beautiful garden with palms in front of the clubhouse offers shadowy patches and the views from the terrace of the restaurant are the best.<p>And then the surprise when we discover there are three more yachts with (ex-)Dutchies from which two are our friends Hans and Fien from 'Pelikaan' of Sydney! We have a sushi-party on board 'Alexandra' and get to know the nice couple Rob and Jacqueline of 'Mary Eliza'. When there is a request from the marina management to join a small sail pass, we decide to go together as Dutchies and decorate both the boat as ourselves. Hans of Fien makes a top impression with his Thai cap and also Fien succeeds in a very subtle hair covering. Rob turns out to be an excellent trumpet player and it doesn't take long that a canon of real Dutch songs sounds over the Johor Strait. Also Henk and Loes of 'Gentle Lady' who emigrated 50 years ago to western Australia, join in enthusiastically. Coming back into the marina Rob starts with some international songs and also on board the other boats we hear singing and see them clapping. Great fun everywhere!<p>Another evening we have a musical session by several yachties and also Rob is playing some real good tunes there. The known songs are joined in by all of us and dancing is very popular under yachties. The staff of the marina has started a tasty BBQ and again we have a very good time together.
On November 12th we start with a serenade of Dutch birthday songs on trumpet and in the evening we have a good party on the jetty next to 'Alexandra'. The upside down dinghy we can use as a table and Hans is like a magician when he suddenly pours light into a few metre of plastic hose by which the area is cosy lit. Several shipcooks succeeded to offer some fine bites to accompany the drinks.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipOeRNaRvbddYp7pHImpxfrhTF9MecdKMrUeeJON">Slideshow PuteriMarina</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910091560609691217.post-16858454004324136702009-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:002021-05-06T00:14:54.385-07:00Sail Malaysia RallyIn Danga Bay near Puteri marina in the south of Malaysia we have some interesting presentations about sailing in Malaysia and exhibitions about the future developments in the state of Johore. Sometimes you get the impression of the Dubai area here: futuristic buildings for working and living: if anybody is interested in investing in a luxury appartment, you should do here and now!<p>In the evenings we were offered very good buffets with all kinds of local food, but the first night we were happy to have our umbrella's with us while the rain is pouring down. Happily we could place tables and chairs on the roofed veranda's, so we still could enjoy the fine food. The next evening the weather was working with us and all the dancing and performances worked out very well. Especially the finale where all the yachties were invited to join the professional dancers was a great happening together.<p>We join the tour in and around Johore Bahru. The Sultan Abu Bakar mosque is a fine piece of architecture build between 1892 and 1900 with a lot of detail as is the State Secretariat building with the 64-metre-high square tower overlooking the city centre. Everything you want to know about the growing and culture of pineapples you'll find in the special 'Muzium Nanas'. Then we find ourselves on the most southern tip of Malaysia and SE-Asia and we are overlooking the Johor and Singapore Straits with always a lot of boats at anchor. The new Secretariat Buildings and Administrative Center of the State Johore are planned in a new area where there is room enough to build as if all building have to be palaces. Very impressive is also the monument where you can read the history of the southern part of Malaysia.<p><a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/103505769542517324516/album/AF1QipOW-BYaIQxP6oFLNLOXQRFKpe3O8PCReWT7wnZD">Slideshow SailMalaysia</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com