The weather here in Rebak is much nicer now than when we first arrived last November. Back then we were in the tail end of the of the NE Monsoon season. That meant high temperatures (typically upper 90s), high humidity (typically in the upper 90 percent range) and a daily downpour typically in the late afternoon. Now we seldom get rain (it has not rained here since we arrived about a week ago), the highs are still in the 90s but it is the lower 90s, and the humidity hovers in the 80 percent range.

Even though the weather is much improved, by the afternoon you just do not want to be outside in the sun. For us, the afternoon means it is time to rest in the air conditioned salon of Leu Cat and by 1500 we typically mosey over to the resort side of the island to enjoy the shade, hammocks, beach and their wonderful pool.

Early morning is the time to get work done and today was no exception. Mary Margaret had three loads of washing that she wanted to do so at 0700 (it is still dark here until about 0730) we were both schlepping two large laundry bags to the marina's laundry room. Doing laundry here in Rebak is a bit different than any other place we have been to. The cost is only about $1 US a load and it is done on the honor system. The machines are just plain washing machines and there is no place to pay for their usage. Thus, you simply sign into the log book identifying who you are, what time you used the machines and how many loads you did. Eventually, the office collects the book and then adds the cost of the laundry to your bill.

By 0830 the laundry was done and I left Mary Margaret hanging up the wet laundry in the stern cockpit of Leu Cat. At that time I was off to do some errands. Earlier this week, when we went over to Langkawi, we had dropped off an order at one of the sail makers to make up 12 jerry can covers using Sunbrella. The old Jerry can covers that we had made in Cartagena were starting to fall apart after 4 years in the intense South Pacific sun. The sail maker had called yesterday to say that the covers were done and could be picked up.

To return to Langkawi, I took the 0845 shuttle boat. When I arrived I knew that the vegetable man would be there since he comes every Friday. Before hopping in the taxi to go to the sail maker, I checked out the vegetables and bought a bunch of beautiful produce. I knew Mary Margaret would be happy with what I got so I had a big smile on my face as I headed off to the sail maker's loft.

The Jerry can covers that were made looked to be first class. They cost about $20 each, which is about twice what I paid in Cartagena. However, this time I had them made with Sunbrella so they should last about twice as long. Sunbrella costs about $25 a yard in the States so the majority of the cost I paid was for the Sunbrella.

Given what a nice job the sail maker did in making the Jerry can covers, I decided to have him also stitch nylon webbing around the edges of the shade cover Mary Margaret and I had made for Leu Cat last year. The shade cover worked great but by sewing on the nylon webbing, the hems we hand stitched would now last a lifetime.

I returned to Leu Cat by 1100 and quickly ducked into the salon and the coolness that was waiting for me there.