We headed into town yesterday to get going on getting new passports. We wanted to put in the application here in Brunei and pick them up in Singapore when we get there in a couple of weeks. We were advised by officials when we first went there a couple of weeks ago that it took 14 business days to get one renewed. Well at that time we had no idea that we would still be here three weeks after arriving but things happen. We'd sent an email to the embassy asking if it could be done. It got bounced back saying I wasn't authorized to use that email address even though it's the one on their website. OK, next I sent an email to the Passport information Center in Washington. I got back the standard reply of "go see the embassy and see what they say" in a form letter. No help there. They did give a phone number so I Skyped it and after getting transferred a couple of times to different people, they "thought" I should be able to do it. OK fine, not a definitive answer but good enough for us.

It was raining again and had been all night but we had an appointment at the embassy for 1130. We lowered Puff, our dinghy and put on our newly fixed outboard and I'm pleased to report she started on the second pull of the lanyard. We walked a ways before a getting the bus to the "station" where we caught the second bus to town. Forty five minutes later(fastest trip yet), we searched out a bus to take us over to the embassy. We climbed on bus #35 that was supposed to go there--Nope, he would only go on the main road and we would have to walk in from there--about a half mile. In the pouring rain, we tried for bus #36. He was even more adamant that he wouldn't take us to the embassy. He would take us to the Philippine Embassy(God only knows where that is) or "get off the bus and take a taxi". We both shouted "NO" in unison. We'd been on the bus two weeks ago and had been dropped off right at the front gate. We have no idea why these drivers refused to take us but both did. In the end, we told the second driver to drive and we would tell him where to drop us off. We don't think he even knew where the embassy was as when we told him where to stop, he was surprised and asked if we really wanted to get off there. We popped open our umbrellas and headed up the hill in a raging downpour. At least, wearing Crocs and flip flops on our feet, we knew we wouldn't ruin our shoes.
After going through screening, we were shown back in to the same room we were in before. Lots of locks and bullet proof glass. Our "minder" had to radio ahead so locks to doors could be opened. Everywhere we went, we were escorted. We explained what we wanted to do to Mike(same guy that had helped us before--really nice guy) and he wasn't sure it could be done but saw no reason why not and left to see if it was possible. He returned a short time later with "yes, it can be done". They would put in the application and when it arrived, it would go by State Department Currier in a "Diplomatic Pouch" to Singapore where we could pick it up.

As we waited, we had a nice conversation with a couple that were there to straighten out a mistake on the mans passport. They had gotten his birthdate wrong by 20 years. Nice guy. Helecopter mechanic that has worked all over the Pacific.

Mike returned a short time later and took our fees for the passports. We opted for the passport with 54 pages in it and boy do they like their extra pages. The extra pages cost more than getting a new passport. We paid(in Brunei money) $81 for the renewal and $106.70 for the extra pages. Add on $52 for "PPT Security Surcharge" and it came to $499.20 or $384US for both of us. Glad I took out lots of extra money at the ATM. As we were finishing up, one of the Consular Aids came by and asked us how long we were still going to be in Brunei. When we said till next Monday when the weather settles down, he told us that they would have our new passports in 5 business days. At least that what they had been running. If it meant that we wouldn't have to work our way around Singapore to find the embassy and make appointments to see them there, we just told them we would stay till the new ones arrived. The weather right now and for the next couple of days is for big winds and steep seas getting across the South China Sea to Malaysia and at least we would have our new passports when we got there. So I guess we will be here till the middle of next week.

We walked back down the hill(still pouring rain) and up to the bus stop and headed back to the main station. There we caught another bus to "The Mall". Had a nice lunch at McDonalds and then hit the big grocery store "Jaya Hypermart". Nice selection and even a bunch of American goods. We need some skim milk so that will be on another trip since it was still pouring and we didn't want to lug it all the way back. We'd checked at the grocery store in Maura(first bus station near the yacht club) and while they had it, when I went to buy it, the clerk at the register saw that it was out of date by a week and refused to sell it to us. Any way, we cought the 1600 bus back to Maura where we just missed the #33 bus to the yacht club and had to wait for his return. He showed up at 1740 but it was dinner time so off he went to have dinner. Finally came back and we left at 1800 for the yacht club. Mother Nature took pity on us and the rain slowed down as we hiked out the dock to Puff and with a pull of the cord, off we went back to Zephyr. Just after getting there, the winds really pipped up and the rains started again. We hoisted Puff on deck and headed below thoroughly worn out. It's now the next day(Thursday) and it's still raining. I had to start our engine to get the batteries recharged as I can't run the generator in the rain. We'd planned on heading into town today but with the rain, perhaps not.

Another downside to traveling in the rain is that I caught the cold the driver had that took us to get our fuel last week. I didn't even chew on ice and still caught it. HaHa.

Want an Apple Pie at McDonalds? Now you know what to ask for here in Brunei.