Monday, October 22, 2012

ARRIVED CHECKED-IN

Anchored Position 09° 45.83 N 118° 43.7 E
Puerto Princesa, Palawan

It seems that I am always trying to catch up with our goings on. So here is an update of our last week. We still have only limited internet so no photos yet.

We had a short motor from the anchorage off Malanao Island to here in Puerto Princesa with calm, no wind conditions. We made our way in to the back area of this large natural bay to the yacht anchorage. There are about 20 yachts here, a couple that we have known since Darwin, Australia and have not seen for the last six months. We were able to catch up a bit and get some information on the Puerto Princesa area.

On Wednesday the 17th the first order of business was to look into a problem with our fresh water pressure pump. The system had been acting up and I now had the time to give it a look. I changed out the pump along with some other plumbing issues and things once again are working. Next we launched the dinghy and made our way to shore. Here the dinghy dock is at the Abonico Yacht Club, a waterside restaurant run by an ex-pat Australian and his Philippine wife. There is a 500 Peso charge at an exchange of about 40 to 1 U.S. only about $12 for use of the facility where they have bar, restaurant, wi-fi etc. From there we were given a ride to the town by Cissy the owners wife. We did a bit of shopping to see what was available before a tricycle ride back to the yacht club.

Thursday after pouring some of our stored on deck diesel fuel found us heading off in the other direction from town to a newly opened shopping mall with a fancier grocery store and a station where we could begin to replenish our fuel supply. Kathy said the grocery store was nothing special but I did find a large "Best" hardware store. I'll have to make a trip back for a few odds and ends. We did also get diesel at a price more like that in the US of what would be $4.75 per gallon. Twice what we had been paying in Malaysia.

Friday the 19 th was the paperwork "cha cha" day and our official check-in to the country. We had been forewarned of what to expect and the necessary papers to have ready. First was immigration. There the girl almost seemed upset when she started her list of the papers needed and Kathy just kept handing her what she requested. Several were different from what we had ever had to show before. No problem we were given our twenty-one day entry visa. Of course we need to return in the next few days to get a 38 day extension. The first 21 days were free, the extension will be U.S. of about $75. When the extension expires we apply again and get 59 days for about $105 U.S. every 60 days. Next was another trike trip to customs and a fee of 115P or a little less than $3 U.S. We had been told that there could possibly be a man at the bottom of the stairs going up who wanted 500P or $12 U.S. and it was a scam, we were not approached. The "cha cha" complete we returned to the boat.

Saturday dawned as a non day for me it seems I had come down with a variation of some flu like sickness and spent the day sleeping.

Feeling better on Sunday we had an important project to do. The covering on the leech and foot cords on our headsail were coming apart and needed replacing. First, down came the sail. We were fortunate enough to have been give a large section of an old main sail when we were in the Marshall Is. so we had repair material. This was cut into strips, folded over the edge of the sail and sown. Kathy certainly has put her "sailrite" sewing machine to good use. Repairs completed the sail was then put back on the furler and hoisted. Sunday is a buffet dinner at the yacht club and after a nap I felt well enough to accompany Kathy. It was a very good dinner.

Today has been a rest day as I am still recovering, but it seems as if Kathy may be catching it. Time will tell.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

No comments: