It is just on 9 months since we purchased our new floating home, the beautiful old MV Sebranzer and we have just dropped anchor in Yankee Jacks, the first place we rested at the start of our last adventure on 10 November 2010. That 9 month interval has seen us pretty well stranded thanks to events beyond our control and which we could not have survived, virtually unscathed, without the assistance and generosity of lots of people. Words can never effectively express our gratitude to Rollo & Ann Nicholson, Graeme & Rhonda Richers, Brian Hughes and Geoff & Judy Richey. Dave & Emma, Peta & Brennan and Jeff & Michelle stood unflinchingly where only family can. Special thanks too, to Mandy, our wonderful house sitter, now tenant and above all friend and Bob & Elva Negus whose warm hospitality is frankly, incredible.
So, we're under way again even if the early part of this new journey will be a little 'stop - start'. We'll have a stopover at a yard on the Brisbane River, probably next month, to have our well worn decks glassed over and a bit of paint splashed around. Then a leisurely sojourn in Moreton bay will see out 2019. Every move from here on will be weather determined and, if the fates are kind we'll work the east coast between Thursday Island and Kangaroo Island - THE NEW BIG DREAM!

Departed Pangkor at 0930h as start of trip to Port Dickson. Good sailing at first as a couple of storms rolled around us but didn't hit. The wind died as the sky cleared and it was some motor sailing but then just motoring to our overnight anchorage. We are in an estuary, Kuala Bernam. We noticed this estuary on our way north and all the fishing boat activity here. We came in today as the roll is till persisting outside and now we have a nice quiet spot. No spilled wine tonight ! Interesting place with scattered fishing villages, a large ferry terminal on the opposite bank and a new temple like construction near our spot. Very much worth investigating but we will leave that for next time. Grateful to have a roll free anchorage tonight.

We left Lumut on 13th after a lovely few days and returned to Pangkor Island. Still a few days to wait before we need to start trip to Port Dickson. So we just had a holiday; played cards, swam, picnic on beach and somewhere ashore each night for dinner.
On Sunday morning, we took a taxi to the service station for some diesel and bough 80 litres at just a tad under 50 cents a litre! Called in at Viktry Resort to order dinner. This is run by an Indian family and there is no menu. If you call in the morning and tell Carmilla what you would like, she will prepare it for you. We feasted on chicken curry, fried chicken, curried cabbage, mixed vegetable, delicious okra, rice and papadums! All I had asked for was a chicken dish and vegetables!
It was a no brainer that we then ordered for the next night while we were there!
Managed to catch 10 litres of drinking water in a bucket and some more that went directly in to the tank.
The little bay here is visited every day by many of the big fishing boats and they run their huge nets round the schools of tiny fish that are dried and sold in huge quantities to the locals. Here, they are called anchovies. When we pass them in the shops, the smell is very strong and the open sacks of fish are surrounded by sticky fly paper that has captured hundreds of flies. Not very appetising. On the second night, I asked Carmilla how she made the delicious Okra dish. It suddenly wasn't quite so appealing, when she told me that it was flavoured with anchovies!!!!!
When we left, they gave us a gift...a big container of some spicy nibbly things to have with our beer! There is enough there to last us a year! Very tasty though. The people here are so hospitable.

2016 the year of the monkey!
We decided to do further exploring and go up the Din Ding river to Lumut and visit the lumut International Yacht Club which, the guide book said, has great facilities & a lovely pool. We passed many ships waiting to come in to the busy port and a large bulk loading facility away from the main town. Big ferries raced up & down but we didn't need to do any dodging & weaving. Just a couple of hours and we dropped anchor off the marina dock intending to go ashore to obtain permission to do so. What we found was a deserted derelict clubhouse and a (algae) green pool. The marina docks had signs declaring 'closed for repair' and 'trespassers will be prosecuted' but the hole cut in the fence seemed to be there for a reason!
Anchoring off and dinghying in was easy so we stayed put. We met Massimo, an Italian man, who owns two of the lovely big buildings there. He has tried to establish restaurants & coffee shops but because of the difficulty of finding staff and his unwillingness to work every day, they have failed to flourish.
The area comes alive at night as hundreds of locals flock to the area where skateboards, roller blades, electric bikes & scooters are hired. All are brightly lit and it is a carnival atmosphere nightly. An enterprising family business pops up each night and sells delicious chicken and beef kebabs. We dined on these a couple of times. Five for six ringit ($2)
Took a taxi ride to Marina Island to see the Pangkor marina where many of our friends have stayed & lifted out. Had lunch there with a large group of yachties who were taking a break from working on their boats. Speaking of which, Nick managed to repair the lining that had been removed to repair the steaming lights!
Massimo had told us about his boat that he was refurbishing and had also talked about his many businesses...finger in many pies. He asked if we would like to see the boat and on the way he showed us where he is building a slipway & boatyard. He pointed out where he & Judy live....in the two penthouses on "that building". And then the boat! It is 100feet long, sleeps 18, carries 6 crew etc etc and just over here is my yacht! A lovely and helpful, most modest man who then told us that his business was Intel Marine! Wow, google it! In Australia he had started the Latina Fresh Pasta company that was very successful for him.

Tried Nipa Bay around the corner next day but the roll hung in. Walked ashore to find most places closed. Of course, Malaysia..Friday! The roll persisted so we moved again around to Pangkor Laut where it was much calmer and the beach much cleaner. Brought up 2000 hrs on the Perkins just as we arrived. The resort on Pangkor Laut is reputed to be luxurious and as the photo shows, it attracts some up-market visitors. A long walk and we found a Chinese Restan open. Good food!
Here we learned the devastating news that Tony, "Waitaine II", whom we met in Ko Payham and again in Nai Yang had passed away aboard. His body was not discovered for ten days. RIP Tony
Clean water here for swimming but not clean enough to use the water maker. Another big storm and added water to the tank.
Sunday was the beginning of Chinese New Year holidays. Lots of people here and fireworks at midnight. GONG XI FA CAI to all!

Next day, we made Pangkor Island by 1400h and anchored in Teluk Belanga. The roll is still coming in and making life uncomfortable at anchor. There has been enough SE Wind to bring the roll in and it doesn't seem like abating soon.