Padang

Approaching Bungus Harbour, Pedang

Unique West Sumatran roof design

Museaum

                                         

                                              Our provisions on the floor being tallied

Carol, Tim and Zeke at the Experimental Farm

Interesting growing techniques

Padang

May 11, 2016

After a week in the Padang area, we are almost ready to set sail, hopefully later today. There has been so much work to do that we haven't done much in the role as tourists. The main anchorage is not well protected nor is there a good place to leave the dinghy. Wed to Sun we anchored in a neighbouring bay to the south, Bungus, that was much better. Unfortunately, it was an hour's cab ride to Immigration, and customs here wants to visit your boat on check out, so we needed to move.

Wed was the first visit to Immigration to renew our visas that expired Sat. After motoring from Bungus and the cab ride it was almost 12 when we started the process. Besides the upcoming 4 day long weekend they were taking a 2 hour lunch break and returning for 1 hour that afternoon. So they needed until Tues to finish that part. Luc spent the whole day Mon with No Regrets dealing with immigration, customs, quarantine and harbour master. They are not located near each other! He thought that with the practice and letting them know we were coming Tues, we could be done by noon. Without going into the frustrating details we were back at the boat by 6. Helen and Jim were also going through the same process so got some good visiting in. The Indonesian officials do not make arriving and leaving easy for you.

Bob arrived Sun and has already been a big help. We got vegetables at the market yesterday during some of the waiting times that involved only the captain. Also he has  helped with drop offs and pick ups at the dinghy dock as No Regrets and Gaia have been here. This morning he and Rob are working on reinstalling the bilge pumps. That is not a job to leave undone, although the plan was to do it yesterday. Besides that dirty job, the oil has been changed and a few batches of drain cleaner run through the head. We'll be happy to be done with the mess!

Just by riding around in the cabs, we have seen the unusual architecture of Sumatra. Many public buildings and businesses have roof lines that sweep upwards surrounded by intricate, painted wood carvings. The shape is to represent the horns of a buffalo involved at some point in history with fighting against Java. There is a museum downtown that we tried to visit Mon to find out more background. But Mon is their day to be closed. We did visit the large market there and a mall for some more shopping.

Last Thurs was the expensive shopping trip. There are 2 stores that sell supplies to the surfing charter boats. It was a great chance to buy products that we haven't seen locally, like butter, cereal, salsa, canned vegetables, cheese and beer. Each boat needed a car. We could hardly fit ourselves in the dinghy between the groceries.

Sat we took a day off the working and rented a car and driver with Tim and Zeke. The idea was to go up into the hills and visit a strawberry farm. After a long drive out of town (but not up) we found the farming area. But strawberries are not in season and the nursery area was closed-saw one plant. We tried another place that was also closed. All day it was raining. At least we could see why agriculture is a good industry. It was 4 before we found a place to stop for lunch. We ordered strawberry milkshakes! Despite the description of the day, we enjoyed seeing the sites beyond the boat.

I was chatting to an Indonesian woman waiting at Immigration for a passport renewal who spoke some English. She was saying that the last few years have been much hotter than usual. May be climate change, or El Nino.  As we travel south we will be moving into fall in the southern hemisphere and it should be getting cooler. By the time we reach S. Africa we may be wishing for some of this heat.

Overnight, 110nm, should get us to the Mentawai's for a brief stop. Then on to Cocos Keeling (an Australian Island) if the wind does not have too much south in it. That is just over 600nm more. Otherwise it is straight to Rodriques (an island belonging to Mauritius). The weather this weekend looks promising. We're anxious to get started.