Somehow I've managed to fail to write any updates for almost the last four months. This was caused by a variety of things but mainly lack of a good internet connection in which to both write and post photos which are worth more than a thousand of my words. We still don't have the best connection here in Rebak marina so I'll send text to update all of our fans out there and try to add photos when I can.
We have returned to Malaysia after three nice months spent mostly enjoying the cruising and only doing the necessary boat projects to keep things running. Currently the boat has been hauled out of the water for some work but more on that later.
Back to our adventures this past season in Thailand. We took a leisurely six days from Langkawi to Ao Chalong, on the island of Phuket Thailand where we did our official check in to the country. Once again our old friend Phil and his wife Nuch met us for a short visit and transportation to the market for groceries. That afternoon, December 20, we moved around the island to Patong bay where we had a chance to catch up with our old cruising buddies John and Renee of "Scarlett O'Hara". Our plan was to stay there through New Years.
The next week was quite busy. As Kathy's sewing machine was broken and awaiting a part to be brought by our friend Connie who was due to visit starting December 27; Renee loaned us both there machine and her sewing expertise to finish some projects. There are lots of things to do to prepare for a guest as those quarters are what is normally our garage.
Our arrival in Thailand was several weeks earlier this year than last and we experienced very different weather. This year we had lots of very windy days and nights in the anchorage, 25 to 40 knots. This made things not so comfortable as the local boats don't have what we would consider proper anchoring gear and tend to drag through the anchorage. We along with the other yachties spent lots of time confined to the boat doing anchor watch. We watched several local boats drag around and did one time have to veer away under power with our anchor down to avoid a collision. As long as there is no real damage looking back it was fun.
Connie arrived for her three week visit with more than half her luggage being stuff for us and the boat. It's always great when a visitor comes! For the next week we stayed in Patong. Kathy and Connie keep busy doing lots of touristy stuff, elephant trekking, Thai cooking classes, Buddhist temple tours, massages and of course shopping.
Leaving Patong we moved to the south end of Phuket island for a few days then back to the north up the east side of the island into Phang Nah bay. Here we visited a number of different islands most containing "hongs' which is the Thai word for rooms. The islands are of limestone and these "hongs" are basically small lagoons that are accessed through tunnels. Some you may drive the dinghy in others may be entered only by kayak or swimming through a cave. I kept wondering if perhaps we would run into Huck, Tom or Becky. We weren't interested in Ingin Joe! We continued around Phang Nah bay in a clockwise fashion arriving back at the south end of Phuket island for Connie to depart back to Annapolis Maryland. We hope Connie enjoyed her stay as much as we did having her. The only negative was all of our travels were motor boat trips. You don't seem to get to sail much here..
Next it was back to Patong bay for us and more boat project stuff. Having the sewing machine part that Connie brought Kathy was able to finish some new shades and other repairs. I was able to do the normal upkeep stuff.
In late February we once again moved around to the northeast side of Phuket island to await our second guest Lisa, one of Kathy's old racing buddies. Two guests in two months what a great way to get goods transported from the states!!! Lisa was only with us for a week so we made a quick trip through Phang Nah bay seeing the exciting sights.
With Lisa's departure it was time to make some decisions. We had been experiencing some transmission difficulties and were we to try and make repairs in Phuket or in Langkawi, Malaysia. We only had ten days left on our Thai visas and after talking with my old friend Jack Kimble of a sister ship to ours decided Langkawi was the better option.
Good bye Thailand! That catches up most of the missing months except for photos which I will try to add when we get a better internet connection.
Next will be LIFE ON THE HARD.
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