Please and Thanks
02 August 2015 | Overnight to Banda
Sunday 2 August 2015
Half of crew is still struggling with gastrointestinal aftereffects of Tuesday's gala dinner and other half with a cold, so decision was made to bypass potential diving at P.P. Kai and sail right for Banda Neira. Having left at 0900, should arrive tomorrow morning where it may be necessary to drop the hook in 30 meters and back up so lines from each quarter can be tied ashore.
Did not properly explain yesterday, but Bahasa is the Indonesian language. After hours of diligent study we are fluent in one word, "terima kasih" - "thank you". Our use of it often elicits a smile such as an adult might give a child trying to explain relativity, but everyone is indulgent and friendly and seems to appreciate the attempt. Regrettably they don't apparently just say "good day", but differentiate morning, afternoon, evening and night, so may skip those for awhile and go straight to "where is" - "dimana", followed by "breakfast" - "sarapan pagi" and "coffee" - "kopi". In a welcome booklet with a few phrases, 3 included together are: "How much is it?", "Can I get a discount?" and "I don't have enough money". For now, we can point, vendors can write the cost and everyone knows the meaning of "OK" and "no". Have yet to confirm, but exchange rate is something like 10,000 to 1. An ATM can make you a millionaire and you don't even have to say "tolong" - "please".
Jack