Fortunately, we were preemptive back in January, after the last fiasco over New Year, in scheduling an appointment with immigration, suspecting that there was a strong possibility that this situation would materialise. Our hope is that we can, at the very least, obtain an extension that will allow us to complete Elaine’s outstanding specialist appointments, as well as afford us the time to prepare Paw Paw for departure without murdering ourselves, including completing a few outstanding yacht projects which had to be redone for various reasons, turning our floating “caravan“ back into a yacht and provisioning for a number of weeks / months.
The disappointing aspects of all of this, of course, is that it has come to this, after receiving such fabulous hospitality and medical care for nearly a year and just at the time when we were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the latter of which would have made travel a little easier and a great deal safer, especially for Elaine. This announcement also comes at a time of the year when cruisers have missed the weather window to set sail across the North Indian Ocean, given that the cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal is upon us now, as well as being in the middle of the monsoon seasonal change, bringing with it tremendous thunderstorm storms and torrential downpours, all of which is to be followed by the southwest monsoon season due to set in any day now, making a southerly passage in international waters on the western side of Sumatra extremely difficult, if not impossible. It hasn’t helped matters that appeals by various yachting sponsors here in Malaysia have gone unanswered or have had the termination date simply re-iterated. This all boils down to the fact that cruisers now desperately need another nearby country willing to host us all under these extraordinary circumstances. Guess time will tell!
Aside from this unprecedented development, our preparations have thus far included Elaine’s efforts today of clearing out and reorganising all the bilges and cupboards to create storage space for our bulk provisioning, spending Thursday and yesterday collating all the paperwork needed for our appointment at immigration and corresponding with our agent in Thailand, while, on Monday and Tuesday, Roy worked to complete all the sealant in Elaine’s head. Then on Wednesday and Thursday he re-addressed the stubborn leak in one of our water tanks, although Thursday also involved his final trip to the Gleneagles Hospital for a followup appointment and, the past two days, he’s worked to complete the re-designed fuel polishing system for both fuel tanks.
Other activities over the week have included a nice chat to Anne, off Time Bandit, who are still in the Maldives, a few logistical phone calls with Craig, off Il Signo, who finds himself in the same predicament as every other cruiser in Malaysia at the moment, catching up on family correspondence, submitting our latest medical insurance claims, getting the laundry done, including all the throw mats, using our new washing machine, although this activity had to be postponed from Tuesday, but Wednesday wasn’t much better; the monsoon transition period is definitely packing a few punches this year with the afternoon thunderstorms and torrential rain.
To give ourselves a break from the mayhem, we enjoyed a takeaway dinner from our favourite Indian restaurant, the Kapitan, on Wednesday, then dinner on the patio of our favourite Japanese restaurant, Nomiya, yesterday evening.
A few more yachts also arrived in the marina this week, clearly not expecting the amnesty to be rescinded, including Bob the Cat, who was behind us in Rebak marina, but, as yet, we haven’t met the new owners.
The highlights of the week, though, have included a few more photographs received from Elaine’s folks of their fabulous Diamond Wedding Anniversary celebration we all enjoyed last Sunday, a photograph of the grandsons sporting their new haircuts, complements of their dad, receiving the news that Elaine’s sister in Ireland is going to be a granny again, with a 4th grandchild on the way, and, finally, the otters coming to play in the marina.
