Fruit and Vegging
05 November 2016 | Sorong
Monday 31 October 2016
After 26 hours with our eyeballs half a meter from a miniature TV screen we arrived in Singapore early yesterday morning. Wandered around looking for breakfast and sim cards awaiting room that was made available around noon, then managed to stay awake until after an early, outrageously expensive dinner. Slept through for 11 hours and subsequently awoke feeling the need for more.
Arrived at the Indonesian Embassy before 0900, surprised at the efficiency of their operation. Found ourselves scampering (slight misrepresentation of reality) on the way to Singapore Botanical Gardens by 0930 lightened of passports and $150SG. Expect to get IDs back with an entire page effaced by visa Wednesday 1500, but not in time to make latest available flight, so additional day delay returning home. There are worse places to loiter.
What's wrong with this picture? Atmosphere is a sultry 33ÂșC, a stone's throw from the equator in October and we're listening to Frosty the Snowman on the sound system, drinking a hot Starbucks venti Christmas blend, looking out the window at a fully decorated, 5 meter Christmas tree in a predominately Buddhist country. Deepavali ended on the 28th so perhaps they just want to keep the party going. Singaporeans are a very happy and tolerant people.
Wednesday
Spent maybe 5 minutes in the Embassy picking up newly visa'd passports good for 2 months in Indonesia, renewable. There is consequently some skepticism that this is the same country we sailed through for 4 months last year.
Thursday
Skypark and Gardens by the Bay are magnificent and not to be missed. Hop on a flight to Singapore this instant. OK, you might want to pack a bag and call the office, but it really is nice. Spent several hours taking in the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Super Tree Grove and various surrounding gardens, tiring ourselves out before catching the first of 3 flights overnight to Sorong.
Saturday
After a heavy rain induced, barely passable, muddy drive, arrived at the boat (oddly enough in good shape although the fridge had apparently just recently decided to stop cooling - quick fix) around 0800 Friday, plugged into crappy shore power (97 volts), re-energized electrical system, shipped dinghy and 2 outboards, opened all seacocks and other appropriate valvage, unpacked all bags and stored most of it before vegging all afternoon trying to cool off and then slept overnight for 11 hours. Got an early start today to get over the river bar before 1020 high tide and, after running aground trying to follow chart for shortcut rather than circuitous previous track, are now anchored off Sorong vegging. Expect to go ashore this afternoon to check in with port captain, top up data so I can send this interminable blather, re-provision for food, gin and limes (tonic supply OK) then persevere with vegging.
Jack