Kudat
09 August 2009 | Past the tip of Borneo
In the boatyard at Kudat, it is hot, hot and dry. There are so many jobs to do but we are sort of on schedule. Packing things up, lines, sheets and ropes to wash and stow, we have folded and stowed the Genoa off the furler and lines, packing, cleaning, polishing, stitching, repairing, covering, cleaning out engine filters and strainers, vacuuming bilges, polishing stainless and barbecue plates, stowing, it is hot, it is busy. Pulled out the CD/Radio as it stopped last night only to find that as I removed the 45th wire it was a simple hidden fuse in a power array that still lit the radio up but didn't allow it to work, sort of an anti theft device, great, put it all back together again but left the birdsnest as I had already purchased a cable track to dress up the wiring in this area so now it is out and ready to install.
Peter, the equivalent of Simon in Miri, is a taxidriver and wealth of knowledge about where to find things and what to do. He is educating his children as "you need English to make money". He is buying a fishing boat as "there isn't any money in taxis any more". We have helped him! He has helped us!
Yesterday we went to town again with Peter, arranged some fuel, had the usual lunch at our favourite Indian restaurant (11 ringits about $4) and had another wander around town. Set off around the waterfront and stopped at a small shop for coffee and a green coconut to drink, we were give a complimentary plate of fried bananas, we really need to walk home now. So we set off around the sea wall. There has been a great deal of waterfront development, a massive sea wall right around from town to the boatyard. Noted the good places to anchor which were quite protected although the front of town is very exposed. We wandered back to the boatyard a few k walk along the seawall with a bit of a clamber in front of the fish factory as the top of the wall was blocked off.
Kudat is a nice fishing village, a lot of activity, a mass of fishing boats, and quite industrious people. Boats are getting built or rebuilt, often with literally chainsaw carpentry! although they are very skilful with it. I am not sure what fine joinery would look like.
Had a discussion with the boatyard owner about our terms and arranged some caretaking and cleaning.
It is hot as we ready for a joint taxi to go to KK this afternoon.