Tanjong City Marina
Penang
Malaysia
05deg 24.7 N 100deg 20.E

Port Dickson marina was a great place to catch our breath after the horrible trip up from Singapore. Swapping stories with other cruisers we found we weren't the only yacht to get a hard time after leaving Singapore. Since Port Dickson our traveling has been relatively easy. I say traveling because there has been no wind we have used a lot of diesel to get to Penang. The lightening was spectacular on the night trip Port Dickson to Lumut and the rain was very cooling, in fact the first time since Australia I felt cold. That only lasted as long as the big spots of rain bounced off the deck.


The Malaysian leg of the rally began at Port Dickson, we missed most of the activities there, joining in at Lumut. At Port Dickson we hired a car and drove down to Malacca for the day, apart from getting slightly lost it was a good day. Malacca was a little disappointing, a bit touristy and tatty. Old buildings are interesting as long as they get some maintenance, a bit more maintenance is needed to keep those heritage buildings standing.

About 25 yachts have joined in Sail Malaysia a comfortable number after the 100 in the Indonesian rally. We are enjoying incredible hospitality, dinners tours, gifts, mainly free. After motoring in convoy under the Penang bridge, led by a hooting water spraying tug, there was a press conference held for the International Mariners. (That's us.) There was a news crew filming our arrival into the marina. Some yachts will hope their entrance doesn't get on the news as the current and tight spaces meant there were some awkward moments. No swearing or yelling tho', this is a conservative country, everyone is minding their manners. Alan got interviewed for TV, we didn't see the news last night so not sure if he featured!

At Lumut the Raja Dilihar (third in line, the Sultan and the Raja Muda were busy)came to lunch and dinner with us and even graced us with a couple of songs after dinner. A charming man, who didn't know much about boats but was a good singer. The second day at Lumut we went on a full day tour, we visited a factory making commemorative medals and hand made luxury silver dust gatherers. A whistle stop, photo taking tour of the Sultans Palace and a beautiful golden domed mosque then on to a huge limestone cave. The whole day put on for us by Tourism Malaysia. In between the busy social activities arranged for us we managed an afternoon trip further up the Dinding river with Tom and Raina on Matariki, the Kiwi motor boat in the fleet, as well as a Chinese dinner to celebrate Tom's birthday. Up the river we saw a partly built oil rig which will be NZ bound when completed.

Lumut to Penang is 75 miles, so up early, 5.30am start to make it to Penang in daylight. There was a good current with us, up to 2knots, a few hours of wind and we arrived at Penang in time for sundowners for another birthday, Raina this time. The group of yachts anchored by Pulau (island) Jerejak, south of the long Penang bridge. Lush green rainforest came down to the water on Jerejak. Half a mile across the channel the main island of Penang glittered with high rise lights, car lights whizzed along the motorway and advertising lights from a huge shopping centre rippled across the water. In the midst of all this a little fishing boat let out his nets setting a web to catch the unwary yacht. At 9.30 am the next morning we maneuvered around another web of nets and motored together around the island, under the Penang bridge for our welcome to Penang.

This morning we went on a trishaw guided tour of the heritage area of Georgetown. The hospitality continues, although our time here is a bit less organized. There is time for us to further investigate by ourselves the interesting streets and restaurants of old Georgetown which are a 5 min walk from our berth. Little India with shops full of bright Saris, spices, curry restaurants, street corner tea stalls and temples will be a great place for dinner tonight.

Lunch today was in an amazing Chinese restaurant across from the Marina. Tubs of ice covered Crabs, fish, squid as well as vegetables, cooked chicken and pork knuckles all there for us to choose from. The cooks swishing and swirling food in hot woks, tables filled as fast as they emptied, the restaurant was big and very busy but our delicious meal arrived very quickly. 22 Ringits for two of us ($NZ9), it's not worth the hassle getting food to eat on board.

At Lumut we purchased a long awaited new outboard motor. In Singapore I had searched the internet and Alan had phoned around to price a new outboard. We found the cheapest supplier of a Yamaha motor had a branch at Lumut. It was great to be independent again not having to cadge lifts when the current was too strong to row. The day of the Lumut tour we arrived back to find our dinghy full of water from the afternoon downpour, the petrol tank overturned letting in water into the petrol through the breather. Not wanting to risk getting water in our new outboard we were towed out to our boat, so much for independence!

I think I have dripped sweat enough today, time to go to the air conditioned Boaters Lounge, log on to the Internet and post this entry.

Selamat petang


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