We’d had a fantastic time sailing around the Koh Chang archipelago. We experienced everything from high winds and stowaways to perfect sunsets and beautiful resorts. We made more new sailing friends, who had great stories to tell, and were well fed and watered by the locals. But the time had come for us to finally leave Thailand. Our visas were up and favours running out, besides we had decided to head to East Coast Malaysia on the first part of our new journey. The winds were blowing in the right direction, we’d checked the weather, we’d provisioned up, watered up and fuelled up and were ready to go.
I had set our course to our first destination, the Perhentian Islands, (the first group of islands after leaving Thailand) and determined it would take approx. 3 days and 2 hours. The NE winds blowing behind us would make for a smoother and faster passage – everything was perfect! So, 9th December we pulled up the anchor, raised the mainsail and headed south. For about an hour everything was great –sails full, 6.5 knots of speed and the anticipation of what was ahead. Then the wind died. We were reduced to about 2 knots (snails pace), the headsail had backfilled and the main was luffing dreadfully. No other option but to bring in the headsail and turn on the engine. We’ll engine out past the islands, then when we get into the gulf proper we’ll be full wind speed ahead we thought, but it was 9 hours before we were able to turn the engine the off.
Come day 2 things hadn’t improved much and by 3.30am the engine was back on, this time for 16 hours. The wind Gods had deserted us. Our main concern come daylight was that if we continued on our course and still didn’t get wind we’d be out of fuel with a full days sailing still to do. If we had little to no wind at that time we could really be in trouble and it could take days (or weeks!) to get to our destination. We had a choice, we could alter course completely and head west to Koh Samui where we knew we’d be able to buy more fuel. It would take us about 1 and ½ days to get there, but at least we could re fuel and continue south from there confident of making the trip. So that’s what we did.
We slipped into a good routine ending each day with something out of the “Captains Locker” at sundown! This was undoubtedly the best time of the day (and not just because we got to crack a beer or rum!!), but everything was cooling down and becoming peaceful. We watched the moon grow from crescent to half and started to recognise certain stars as they came out, but that engine running constantly was a reminder that we weren’t really sailing, just humming along.
On our 3rd night watch thing started to get a little tense; we were running through a series of gas and oil fields which during the day probably wouldn’t have fazed us, but at night the platforms and well heads were lit up to high heaven. We didn’t know what to make of the first one we saw. It started out as a bright light on the horizon and got closer and brighter. We didn’t know what it was except it was very big and very bright and we needed to avoid it!! As we got a full view of it in the dark it was like a “Mother Ship” straight out of Doctor Who! It seemed huge rising out of the sea, so flooding the sea with light from the dark sky. We altered course a few degrees just to make sure we didn’t get too close and looked in awe as we slowly sailed past it. As we looked to the horizon we saw more rays of light that could only mean more of them. Sure enough, we navigated through one after another after another………..Finally the sky started to brighten from a different energy source, the sun, and dawn broke along with the line of well heads.
By the time we got to our anchorage in Samui we had motored for 42 hours – unbelievable how the wind could just die on us like that, but we knew then, that we’d made the right the decision to divert.
Of course, when we did get the wind it was when we least wanted or needed it! Day 4 had passed and I was just about to wake Gareth up after doing my 2-hour night watch when I felt a drop in temperature and large drops of rain falling. G woke up immediately as he felt it too and we knew a squall was coming through – great, just what you need at 4.00am!! G stayed below as he was still dry and I was getting soaked very quickly. He took over navigation duties to ensure we stayed on course as the wind was really blowing by now and the rain was lashing down. I couldn’t see where the sky ended and the sea began, it was just blackness ahead. Oh well, if something is out there lit up at least I‘ll see it I thought! G being the ever - resourceful sailor threw the bucket to me and after about 20 minutes things calmed down. Pelangi got a much - needed shower and we had collected enough rainwater for a few showers too!! Once again the sun rose and we got our first sighting of the Perhentian Islands. What made everything the sweeter was that a rainbow appeared in front of us and we sailed (or motored!) into Malaysian waters as a rainbow passed through a rainbow (Pelangi is Malaysian for rainbow). It was as if she was being welcomed home!!
We left the islands after a few days for our final destination; a nice marina in Terengganu, about 1/3 of the way down the Malaysian East Coast. Of course, our final hour was also filled with drama as once again a squall hit us as we were approaching the harbour entrance after a morning’s motoring. But this time it was daylight and although we weren’t 100% sure of the entrance we ventured in slowly and found a safe place to anchor close to the marina berths. We looked like drowned rats and to be honest it seemed like a soggy and slightly disappointing end to what had turned out to be quite an adventure.
So, we are safe and well (and now nicely dried off and warm again!!) and learned much about Pelangi and ourselves during our 8-day, 500 nautical mile voyage. We’ll probably spend some time ashore now waiting for better wind and weather conditions (although, as we now know, you can never really tell!!) and still have a wee something in the “Captains Locker” to crack open on Christmas Day!!
We hope you all enjoy your Christmases whether on the beach, in the garden, in a bar, on the sea or (in Our Bev’s case) in front of a log fire, and wish you safe journeys and fairwinds for the coming year.
Cheers then
Capts. J and G
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
It’s Like Camping On Water!
I was going to kill the blog site after we left Singapore, but have decided to keep it going as a way of staying in touch with everyone and sharing our experiences with you. I don’t now how regular these postings will be, but will try to update you as and when I can.
The story so far….
We left Singapore in May, did our IYT sailing course in June and bought Pelangi, our 37ft yacht in Thailand in July. Since then our lives have changed completely for better and worse, the good life, and the hard life, some successes, and some heartache, but always with a dream in our hearts.
To date we’ve participated in a 2 day sail with the Thai Royal Navy in honour of the King, watched a spectacular 2 hour fireworks display from the deck of Pelangi in honour of the Queen’s birthday, did a 6 day sail around some pretty nice islands with hardly anyone else there and competed in our first weekend racing event with a rather poor D.N.F. result - oops! We’ve also made some fantastic friends and discovered that a lot of what people say about sailing is actually true!
Saying number 1
They say that sailing is a bit like flying – the take off and landing are the hard bit, the rest is easy. They were right! Getting a 37ft (small boat by today’s standards) 10.5 tonne boat with no brakes and no steerage when the engine is in neutral into a small reserved parking space in a marina with a large audience to boot is quite scary the first few times! Luckily Capt. G has become a dab hand at reverse parking our lovely boat without destroying everything else around us while I jump on deck with lines (ropes) in hand ready to get that first tie on a cleat (sort of human brakes). This has taken much practice and bad language to perfect!
Saying number 2
They say that you don’t buy a boat, rather a hole in the water that you pour money into. They were right! Since purchasing Pelangi she has been spoilt with: numerous engine bits and parts, a new fuel gauge, new temperature gauge, new diesel pump thingy, new toilet parts, repairs to the head sail, new main sail (on order) a bosons chair, hand held GPS, 2 way walkie talkies (so we can swear at each other from either end of the boat!), numerous tools, shackles and a host of other bits and bobs that are frequently sold at 3 times the normal price because they have the word “marina” in front of them! Fortunately the beer fridge hasn’t crapped out on us yet!!
Saying Number 3
They say you can be sure that whatever the trip and whenever you want to take it, the wind will not be in favour. They where right! On the days when you’re in the marina working on the boat getting ready for a passage, the wind will howl and you will spend sleepless nights worrying about whether you’ve tied her up tight enough, and if the fenders are in the right place, and if the dinghy is properly secured. The morning you get up at 5.00am to start your journey there won’t be a breath of bloody wind to be had and you’ll spend hours (and large amounts of money) burning fuel as you motor half way to your destination! Or, the wind will be blowing in EXACTLY the direction you want to go, which means you have to sail in the opposite direction to where you want to go (in order to fill your sails with wind), and go miles out of your way to get to your destination!
Saying Number 4
Unfortunately, no one reminded us of this one – most Thai people are robbing bastards! We recently did a return trip to Singapore to see G’s parents who where working there at the time and catch up with some friends. Oh yeh, and go shopping lah (for Pleangi of course!). On our return we found our boat had been broken into (hatch broken) and almost $5,000 worth of gear stolen – cameras, camcorder, brand new iPod – the lot! Obviously an inside job involving the so-called “security guards”. Of course, the Thai’s closed ranks, the police only wanted to investigate for a rather large back hander and our stuff will never be seen by us again. We’ve travelled to many countries, many times - we’ve been to Thailand 3 times, and been robbed twice. Make your own deductions and choices of holiday destination from that!
The best saying of all:
This comes from our newfound, very good friend Ed (from Hull) who also bought a boat and whom we have been sailing with a couple of times. “People think sailing is like those pictures in cruising magazines – all nice, clean, white clothes, suppin pina coladas at sunset, but all it is really is, is campin on water.”
He’s right! You have limited fresh water, so (cold) showers are limited to 1 a day, you wash your dishes in minimal (cold) water, you’re always hot, sticky and sweating, you’re hair’s a mess and you cant remember where you put anything, but you know it’s in a cubby hole somewhere that even a double-jointed dwarf would have trouble getting to!
So, why do it?
In spite of all of the above (apart from the break in which is unforgivable), it’s exciting, it’s challenging and it’s exhilarating! When the wind is blowing at a steady 5 knots and you have your sails trimmed to the right “point of sail”, when Pelangi is pushing through the water with ease with nothing but nature around you, when you finally anchor at a beautiful, white-sand beach with no other bugger there, when you sit on your deck with a drink in hand and watch a beautiful sunset (knowing what it took to get there to see that sunset!) it’s amazing!! Who cares what you’re hair looks like – you did something! You went somewhere un-spoilt, you made genuine friends along the way, you achieved something without the help of technology (we don’t rely on GPS, we use charts to navigate), or air con (apart from the breeze that mother nature provides) and you did by yourselves!
So, what next?
No doubt more expense (she’s an old boat and salt water is very destructive), but on the bright side, this is just the start of our adventures. We’re still based at the marina in Pattaya, but are getting ready for our next passage to some un-spoilt islands East of the Gulf of Thailand, then possibly into Cambodia with some friends. In November, when the monsoon winds change, we hope to head South to Koh Samui, then leave Thailand for East Malaysia and possibly sail back into Singapore, before heading off for Borneo, Brunei and The Philippines in the new year.
We’ve argued and fought, I’ve been scared out of my wits at times, we’ve been robbed, our engine hasn’t started at important times, our gears have failed when we’ve been trying to park in the dark at night, our sails have started to shred while we’ve been in high winds, but….
We have big plans, big dreams, and have learnt to work as a team to make it happen, and we’ve met some great (if alcoholic!) friends who have looked after us and supported us in our dream, and we’ll be well be used to this camping on water lark by the time we’re done!
Fairwinds
Capt. G and Capt J XXX
The story so far….
We left Singapore in May, did our IYT sailing course in June and bought Pelangi, our 37ft yacht in Thailand in July. Since then our lives have changed completely for better and worse, the good life, and the hard life, some successes, and some heartache, but always with a dream in our hearts.
To date we’ve participated in a 2 day sail with the Thai Royal Navy in honour of the King, watched a spectacular 2 hour fireworks display from the deck of Pelangi in honour of the Queen’s birthday, did a 6 day sail around some pretty nice islands with hardly anyone else there and competed in our first weekend racing event with a rather poor D.N.F. result - oops! We’ve also made some fantastic friends and discovered that a lot of what people say about sailing is actually true!
Saying number 1
They say that sailing is a bit like flying – the take off and landing are the hard bit, the rest is easy. They were right! Getting a 37ft (small boat by today’s standards) 10.5 tonne boat with no brakes and no steerage when the engine is in neutral into a small reserved parking space in a marina with a large audience to boot is quite scary the first few times! Luckily Capt. G has become a dab hand at reverse parking our lovely boat without destroying everything else around us while I jump on deck with lines (ropes) in hand ready to get that first tie on a cleat (sort of human brakes). This has taken much practice and bad language to perfect!
Saying number 2
They say that you don’t buy a boat, rather a hole in the water that you pour money into. They were right! Since purchasing Pelangi she has been spoilt with: numerous engine bits and parts, a new fuel gauge, new temperature gauge, new diesel pump thingy, new toilet parts, repairs to the head sail, new main sail (on order) a bosons chair, hand held GPS, 2 way walkie talkies (so we can swear at each other from either end of the boat!), numerous tools, shackles and a host of other bits and bobs that are frequently sold at 3 times the normal price because they have the word “marina” in front of them! Fortunately the beer fridge hasn’t crapped out on us yet!!
Saying Number 3
They say you can be sure that whatever the trip and whenever you want to take it, the wind will not be in favour. They where right! On the days when you’re in the marina working on the boat getting ready for a passage, the wind will howl and you will spend sleepless nights worrying about whether you’ve tied her up tight enough, and if the fenders are in the right place, and if the dinghy is properly secured. The morning you get up at 5.00am to start your journey there won’t be a breath of bloody wind to be had and you’ll spend hours (and large amounts of money) burning fuel as you motor half way to your destination! Or, the wind will be blowing in EXACTLY the direction you want to go, which means you have to sail in the opposite direction to where you want to go (in order to fill your sails with wind), and go miles out of your way to get to your destination!
Saying Number 4
Unfortunately, no one reminded us of this one – most Thai people are robbing bastards! We recently did a return trip to Singapore to see G’s parents who where working there at the time and catch up with some friends. Oh yeh, and go shopping lah (for Pleangi of course!). On our return we found our boat had been broken into (hatch broken) and almost $5,000 worth of gear stolen – cameras, camcorder, brand new iPod – the lot! Obviously an inside job involving the so-called “security guards”. Of course, the Thai’s closed ranks, the police only wanted to investigate for a rather large back hander and our stuff will never be seen by us again. We’ve travelled to many countries, many times - we’ve been to Thailand 3 times, and been robbed twice. Make your own deductions and choices of holiday destination from that!
The best saying of all:
This comes from our newfound, very good friend Ed (from Hull) who also bought a boat and whom we have been sailing with a couple of times. “People think sailing is like those pictures in cruising magazines – all nice, clean, white clothes, suppin pina coladas at sunset, but all it is really is, is campin on water.”
He’s right! You have limited fresh water, so (cold) showers are limited to 1 a day, you wash your dishes in minimal (cold) water, you’re always hot, sticky and sweating, you’re hair’s a mess and you cant remember where you put anything, but you know it’s in a cubby hole somewhere that even a double-jointed dwarf would have trouble getting to!
So, why do it?
In spite of all of the above (apart from the break in which is unforgivable), it’s exciting, it’s challenging and it’s exhilarating! When the wind is blowing at a steady 5 knots and you have your sails trimmed to the right “point of sail”, when Pelangi is pushing through the water with ease with nothing but nature around you, when you finally anchor at a beautiful, white-sand beach with no other bugger there, when you sit on your deck with a drink in hand and watch a beautiful sunset (knowing what it took to get there to see that sunset!) it’s amazing!! Who cares what you’re hair looks like – you did something! You went somewhere un-spoilt, you made genuine friends along the way, you achieved something without the help of technology (we don’t rely on GPS, we use charts to navigate), or air con (apart from the breeze that mother nature provides) and you did by yourselves!
So, what next?
No doubt more expense (she’s an old boat and salt water is very destructive), but on the bright side, this is just the start of our adventures. We’re still based at the marina in Pattaya, but are getting ready for our next passage to some un-spoilt islands East of the Gulf of Thailand, then possibly into Cambodia with some friends. In November, when the monsoon winds change, we hope to head South to Koh Samui, then leave Thailand for East Malaysia and possibly sail back into Singapore, before heading off for Borneo, Brunei and The Philippines in the new year.
We’ve argued and fought, I’ve been scared out of my wits at times, we’ve been robbed, our engine hasn’t started at important times, our gears have failed when we’ve been trying to park in the dark at night, our sails have started to shred while we’ve been in high winds, but….
We have big plans, big dreams, and have learnt to work as a team to make it happen, and we’ve met some great (if alcoholic!) friends who have looked after us and supported us in our dream, and we’ll be well be used to this camping on water lark by the time we’re done!
Fairwinds
Capt. G and Capt J XXX
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Owl and the Pussy Cat!!
It is with a little sadness, but great excitement that we bring you our very last blog from Singapore. After many months of wondering what we want to do with our lives in such crazy times we have made a somewhat bold, but well thought out decision to leave the world behind for a while and go sailing.
Yes, that’s right, we’re leaving terra firma for adventure on the high seas, albeit still SE Asian seas, for a while.
It all started when G found a sailing school website by accident and has grown from a dream into a reality. The school is based in Pattaya, Thailand and offers a “zero to hero” 3 week, action packed course that eventuates in an internationally recognised certification in bareboat captaincy (if you pass all the exams), and the confidence and know how to plot your course, read the weather conditions and head for places that can only be accessed by sea
We took a trip to Pattaya a while back to visit the school and meet the team who run it and were very impressed by what we saw. We also made acquaintance with a number of pinkies that have set up home there and have their own yachts. They seem like a very social lot who enjoy G n T’s on deck whilst still in the marina as much as actually taking their boats out, so we’ve kindly offered to take them sailing in their prized possessions once we are certified!! An offer that has been met with a favourable response much to our delight. Although having said that, we are also keen to become proud owners of our own 35ft French designed yacht. In Phuket, there is a major boat charter company with a number of yachts coming out of service about now. The beauty of these lovely vessels is that being charter yachts they come with all the whistles and bells, have regular service records and safety equipment galore. We went to Phuket a few weeks ago to have a look and got taken for quick sail on one too. If we’d ever needed convincing that we were doing the right thing, this was it!! Although there was very little wind, just pulling out of the marina with a slight breeze on a sunny morning was enough to tell us that this is definitely the life! We’ve done lots of research, read loads of articles/books and talked to many people who are experienced sailors and are under no illusion that will be all “plain sailing”, but we are looking for a new challenge and believe that with the right training and know how we can do it!
So, when does all this happen? Well, we leave Singapore permanently on 29th May and start the course on 12th June. G is looking at doing his Dive Master certification during that time too. On completion of the course we will be much more knowledgeable on this boat buying lark, so can go back to Phuket and start the purchasing process. If we’re not comfortable with that, we can look at other options such as crewing for a while, or boat deliveries. The guys at the school have been fantastic to us so far helping us out with our arrangements and have offered to assist us in these areas if we need it. Plus the yachting community as a whole seems to be great. Everyone we have met so far has been friendly and kind; willing to offer help and advice where at all possible. They seem to like to party and have a good time, and not a blue blazer in sight!!!!
Now we have our dates and travel plans finalised we’re starting the big clear out and wondering how the hell we’ve ended up with more stuff than we brought with us! The Salvation Army are going think it’s Christmas all over again when they see all the stuff we’re getting rid of. Part of what we love about the idea of sailing is its simplicity. The need for very little by way of possessions (including shoes and handbags!), and being happy with what we have rather than being constantly bombarded by marketeers telling us we need even more of the stuff we already have, only with even more apps and extras!! If it’s not waterproof and isn’t a life saving device at sea, chart plotter or fish finder then we don’t need it!
With only a few weeks left here the time for reflection has come, and the first thing that struck us is how amazingly quickly the last couple of years have gone. It seems like only a blink of an eye since we first arrived and we have had a great time here. Singapore is a very easy and pleasing place to live. But our favourite moments have come from the travelling we’ve been able to do – Gareth with his wreck diving in the fantastic Philippines, and seeing the orangutans in their natural habitat in Borneo are standouts. And I will never forget the children of Acodo Orphanage in Siem Reap. I couldn’t have captured such precious moments without the help of travel photography guru Mr Hui at the Photographic Society who had never met a student who answered back till I joined!!!
What we will miss:
The simplicity and efficiency that is Singapore
Pure Yoga – the wonderful staff and fantastic teachers who have helped us achieve greater flexibility and strength to do this, both physically and mentally, and who never met a student who answered back till I joined!!!
Our friends – both old and new
Space - I’m sure there will be times when we’re squeezed into our little cabin, or trying to cook in our small galley that we wish we back in our spacious apartment with room to do more than swing a cat!
Mango shakes and pancakes - the little stall in the MRT station by Pure Yoga where we get our regular order to keep us going through class.
What we’re looking forward to:
Well, apart from all the obvious things I think our first night under sail when there’s a full moon and clear sky full of stars will be pretty special!!
There are things that could go horribly wrong, we are aware of them and won’t take them lightly, but we won’t let them spoil our dream. We’re looking forward to our simpler way of like where the fish is always fresh and every day is a new day, not a groundhog day!!
And finally:
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our lives over the last 2 and a bit years and we’ve been able to give you a good insight into living in Singapore. It has its frustrations (where hasn’t??), but I could think of lots of worse places to be right now – Athens or Louisiana anyone??!
For those of you who missed out on the chance of a shopping trip to Singapore, then maybe a sailing cruise around some pretty nice islands might be your cup of tea instead! You have our hotmail address, plus we’re both on Facebook now too, so stay in touch and do come and share our adventure with us if you can. It will be a lot of fun!!
Cheers then
Capt. Gazza and first mate Julie
Yes, that’s right, we’re leaving terra firma for adventure on the high seas, albeit still SE Asian seas, for a while.
It all started when G found a sailing school website by accident and has grown from a dream into a reality. The school is based in Pattaya, Thailand and offers a “zero to hero” 3 week, action packed course that eventuates in an internationally recognised certification in bareboat captaincy (if you pass all the exams), and the confidence and know how to plot your course, read the weather conditions and head for places that can only be accessed by sea
We took a trip to Pattaya a while back to visit the school and meet the team who run it and were very impressed by what we saw. We also made acquaintance with a number of pinkies that have set up home there and have their own yachts. They seem like a very social lot who enjoy G n T’s on deck whilst still in the marina as much as actually taking their boats out, so we’ve kindly offered to take them sailing in their prized possessions once we are certified!! An offer that has been met with a favourable response much to our delight. Although having said that, we are also keen to become proud owners of our own 35ft French designed yacht. In Phuket, there is a major boat charter company with a number of yachts coming out of service about now. The beauty of these lovely vessels is that being charter yachts they come with all the whistles and bells, have regular service records and safety equipment galore. We went to Phuket a few weeks ago to have a look and got taken for quick sail on one too. If we’d ever needed convincing that we were doing the right thing, this was it!! Although there was very little wind, just pulling out of the marina with a slight breeze on a sunny morning was enough to tell us that this is definitely the life! We’ve done lots of research, read loads of articles/books and talked to many people who are experienced sailors and are under no illusion that will be all “plain sailing”, but we are looking for a new challenge and believe that with the right training and know how we can do it!
So, when does all this happen? Well, we leave Singapore permanently on 29th May and start the course on 12th June. G is looking at doing his Dive Master certification during that time too. On completion of the course we will be much more knowledgeable on this boat buying lark, so can go back to Phuket and start the purchasing process. If we’re not comfortable with that, we can look at other options such as crewing for a while, or boat deliveries. The guys at the school have been fantastic to us so far helping us out with our arrangements and have offered to assist us in these areas if we need it. Plus the yachting community as a whole seems to be great. Everyone we have met so far has been friendly and kind; willing to offer help and advice where at all possible. They seem to like to party and have a good time, and not a blue blazer in sight!!!!
Now we have our dates and travel plans finalised we’re starting the big clear out and wondering how the hell we’ve ended up with more stuff than we brought with us! The Salvation Army are going think it’s Christmas all over again when they see all the stuff we’re getting rid of. Part of what we love about the idea of sailing is its simplicity. The need for very little by way of possessions (including shoes and handbags!), and being happy with what we have rather than being constantly bombarded by marketeers telling us we need even more of the stuff we already have, only with even more apps and extras!! If it’s not waterproof and isn’t a life saving device at sea, chart plotter or fish finder then we don’t need it!
With only a few weeks left here the time for reflection has come, and the first thing that struck us is how amazingly quickly the last couple of years have gone. It seems like only a blink of an eye since we first arrived and we have had a great time here. Singapore is a very easy and pleasing place to live. But our favourite moments have come from the travelling we’ve been able to do – Gareth with his wreck diving in the fantastic Philippines, and seeing the orangutans in their natural habitat in Borneo are standouts. And I will never forget the children of Acodo Orphanage in Siem Reap. I couldn’t have captured such precious moments without the help of travel photography guru Mr Hui at the Photographic Society who had never met a student who answered back till I joined!!!
What we will miss:
The simplicity and efficiency that is Singapore
Pure Yoga – the wonderful staff and fantastic teachers who have helped us achieve greater flexibility and strength to do this, both physically and mentally, and who never met a student who answered back till I joined!!!
Our friends – both old and new
Space - I’m sure there will be times when we’re squeezed into our little cabin, or trying to cook in our small galley that we wish we back in our spacious apartment with room to do more than swing a cat!
Mango shakes and pancakes - the little stall in the MRT station by Pure Yoga where we get our regular order to keep us going through class.
What we’re looking forward to:
Well, apart from all the obvious things I think our first night under sail when there’s a full moon and clear sky full of stars will be pretty special!!
There are things that could go horribly wrong, we are aware of them and won’t take them lightly, but we won’t let them spoil our dream. We’re looking forward to our simpler way of like where the fish is always fresh and every day is a new day, not a groundhog day!!
And finally:
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about our lives over the last 2 and a bit years and we’ve been able to give you a good insight into living in Singapore. It has its frustrations (where hasn’t??), but I could think of lots of worse places to be right now – Athens or Louisiana anyone??!
For those of you who missed out on the chance of a shopping trip to Singapore, then maybe a sailing cruise around some pretty nice islands might be your cup of tea instead! You have our hotmail address, plus we’re both on Facebook now too, so stay in touch and do come and share our adventure with us if you can. It will be a lot of fun!!
Cheers then
Capt. Gazza and first mate Julie
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Belated Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy Chinese New year)
Well it’s goodbye Ox and “Hello Tiger” (as many a High Class Hooker has been heard to say of late!).
As the dust settles on the biggest celebrations in Singapore and other parts of Asia, we have said goodbye to the steady ox who steered us in the right direction away from further crisis, and welcomed the Year of the Tiger. There has been much anticipation in these parts for the tiger to arrive bursting with energy and hungry to succeed.
Some people have used this time to highlight the plight of the tiger, extinct in most places, and almost extinct everywhere else. The criminal and mostly unpunished behaviour of the Chinese and Indians seems to be doing a great job of almost wiping out one of the most beautiful and majestic animals known to us. Maybe this timely reminder will make some think twice about buying tiger skins for vanity, meat for protein, or crushed bones for sexual arousal. If you’re that desperate go buy a dirty magazine, and if that doesn’t work, ask Tiger his secret!!
Here in Singapore the budget was announced in conjunction with CNY and the hope of a successful one. Big money is on offer, but only to those who work harder. The message comes from the very top and it is very clear; work harder, increase productivity, succeed, and you will retain your jobs, your property values and your quality of life. If you don’t, Singapore will loose momentum on the world stage, the economy will shrink and we will all go backwards into the mire – nothing like scare tactics to get people motivated! The PM is right of course, to loose momentum now would be a disaster after the hardships and ground made up over the last year, but it is a bit of a worry when the mantra is “Cheaper, Better, Faster” and the P word is used in every other sentence that comes out of government’s mouth – that word being “Productivity”. Regardless of how nicely the ribbon is wrapped around this budget package, you can’t help but get the feeling it will come with a human price. The government says productivity can be improved by simply doing things more efficiently and therefore “Cheaper, Better, Faster” but without the right management, skills and encouragement it could just spell even longer hours in the workplace and less time with the family.
Interestingly, we’re starting to see more stories in the public domain about those “less fortunate”, who will never be able to keep up with the Productivity demands due to lack of education, health or old age. Concern is being raised about how the year might unfold for these groups and the lack of compassion or charity shown by the government. Having been here for almost 2 years now, this is the first time we’ve noticed real concern being raised on the social aspects of living in Singapore, rather than commercial. It does make you wonder what will happen to this place when ex PM Lee Kuan Yew pops his clogs. Some would argue that he still holds the power of government here, and he rules with an astute, but iron rod. Once gone, the opposition can take their chance and take control of a new Singapore concerned as much about her people as her bottom line. Interesting times ahead, but for now we must just concern ourselves with pushing Productivity, Productivity, Productivity!!
And as things heat up in Parliament, so they do on the mercury scale with temperatures on the up again. We’ve had the driest February in decades and although you could say Singapore has a permanent heat wave, we are having an even bigger one now. It’s hot and it’s humid, sending most people to anywhere with air con or Sentosa Beach. Sentosa is now a main draw for most locals on the weekend with the recent grand opening of a new resort including a Universal Studios Theme Park and Casino! There will be another Casino opening shortly on the waterfront too. At Sentosa Casino there is a $100 fee to be paid before you’re allowed anywhere near a table. The policy has been put in place to deter problem gamblers and ensure that only those who can afford to gamble do so, although some have argued it’s just another form of tax and that it won’t stop addicts, they’ll simply pawn or borrow more just to get in. Regardless, the grand opening last weekend was a huge success with some still queuing to get in at 12.30am Sunday morning!
So, other than the weather and Gamblers Anonymous, what else is hot right now:
What’s Hot
My Photographs – well not quite, but they might be in the future. I’ve been guided to a couple of stock photography websites where you can basically upload your photos, people look at them and if they like them they download them for a fee and use them for news stories, advertising etc… You then get a small % of that fee for your work. After some trials and tribulations (and figuring how the hell you get your stuff on these websites!!), I now have a grand total of 14 photos in my “portfolio” and have made 3 sales!!! Woohoo!! I have so far made a total profit of $1.05 Let's all go to Sentosa Casino lah!!!
What’s Not
The dating game. Once again the youf are under the spotlight for not dating, not getting married and not having kids. It’s a serious issue and one which seems to be dumbfounding parents and the authorities alike as young people look for creative ways to dodge the Big C word. During CNY advertisements where placed in all forms of media from young men asking young women to be their “pretend date” when they went home to visit the rellies. Rather than face the wrath of some old Aunty demanding to know when she could bring the hat and gloves out of the box again, they took complete strangers home disguised as long-term partners. Some where quite willing to drop their standards to an all time low exclaiming that “it doesn’t matter if you are ugly, you can still be my girlfriend for the weekend”. How nice for the "ugly" amongst us!!
And Finally
We continue to enjoy practicing yoga most days. Gareth is becoming surprisingly supple, can sit in a half lotus, lay on his back with legs folded in half behind him and we can both touch our foreheads with our big toe!! While still a bit podgy the weight is definitely coming off, and we’re looking and feeling so much healthier both in body and mind. We recommend it to everyone.
Namaste and 3 Ohms
J & G
As the dust settles on the biggest celebrations in Singapore and other parts of Asia, we have said goodbye to the steady ox who steered us in the right direction away from further crisis, and welcomed the Year of the Tiger. There has been much anticipation in these parts for the tiger to arrive bursting with energy and hungry to succeed.
Some people have used this time to highlight the plight of the tiger, extinct in most places, and almost extinct everywhere else. The criminal and mostly unpunished behaviour of the Chinese and Indians seems to be doing a great job of almost wiping out one of the most beautiful and majestic animals known to us. Maybe this timely reminder will make some think twice about buying tiger skins for vanity, meat for protein, or crushed bones for sexual arousal. If you’re that desperate go buy a dirty magazine, and if that doesn’t work, ask Tiger his secret!!
Here in Singapore the budget was announced in conjunction with CNY and the hope of a successful one. Big money is on offer, but only to those who work harder. The message comes from the very top and it is very clear; work harder, increase productivity, succeed, and you will retain your jobs, your property values and your quality of life. If you don’t, Singapore will loose momentum on the world stage, the economy will shrink and we will all go backwards into the mire – nothing like scare tactics to get people motivated! The PM is right of course, to loose momentum now would be a disaster after the hardships and ground made up over the last year, but it is a bit of a worry when the mantra is “Cheaper, Better, Faster” and the P word is used in every other sentence that comes out of government’s mouth – that word being “Productivity”. Regardless of how nicely the ribbon is wrapped around this budget package, you can’t help but get the feeling it will come with a human price. The government says productivity can be improved by simply doing things more efficiently and therefore “Cheaper, Better, Faster” but without the right management, skills and encouragement it could just spell even longer hours in the workplace and less time with the family.
Interestingly, we’re starting to see more stories in the public domain about those “less fortunate”, who will never be able to keep up with the Productivity demands due to lack of education, health or old age. Concern is being raised about how the year might unfold for these groups and the lack of compassion or charity shown by the government. Having been here for almost 2 years now, this is the first time we’ve noticed real concern being raised on the social aspects of living in Singapore, rather than commercial. It does make you wonder what will happen to this place when ex PM Lee Kuan Yew pops his clogs. Some would argue that he still holds the power of government here, and he rules with an astute, but iron rod. Once gone, the opposition can take their chance and take control of a new Singapore concerned as much about her people as her bottom line. Interesting times ahead, but for now we must just concern ourselves with pushing Productivity, Productivity, Productivity!!
And as things heat up in Parliament, so they do on the mercury scale with temperatures on the up again. We’ve had the driest February in decades and although you could say Singapore has a permanent heat wave, we are having an even bigger one now. It’s hot and it’s humid, sending most people to anywhere with air con or Sentosa Beach. Sentosa is now a main draw for most locals on the weekend with the recent grand opening of a new resort including a Universal Studios Theme Park and Casino! There will be another Casino opening shortly on the waterfront too. At Sentosa Casino there is a $100 fee to be paid before you’re allowed anywhere near a table. The policy has been put in place to deter problem gamblers and ensure that only those who can afford to gamble do so, although some have argued it’s just another form of tax and that it won’t stop addicts, they’ll simply pawn or borrow more just to get in. Regardless, the grand opening last weekend was a huge success with some still queuing to get in at 12.30am Sunday morning!
So, other than the weather and Gamblers Anonymous, what else is hot right now:
What’s Hot
My Photographs – well not quite, but they might be in the future. I’ve been guided to a couple of stock photography websites where you can basically upload your photos, people look at them and if they like them they download them for a fee and use them for news stories, advertising etc… You then get a small % of that fee for your work. After some trials and tribulations (and figuring how the hell you get your stuff on these websites!!), I now have a grand total of 14 photos in my “portfolio” and have made 3 sales!!! Woohoo!! I have so far made a total profit of $1.05 Let's all go to Sentosa Casino lah!!!
What’s Not
The dating game. Once again the youf are under the spotlight for not dating, not getting married and not having kids. It’s a serious issue and one which seems to be dumbfounding parents and the authorities alike as young people look for creative ways to dodge the Big C word. During CNY advertisements where placed in all forms of media from young men asking young women to be their “pretend date” when they went home to visit the rellies. Rather than face the wrath of some old Aunty demanding to know when she could bring the hat and gloves out of the box again, they took complete strangers home disguised as long-term partners. Some where quite willing to drop their standards to an all time low exclaiming that “it doesn’t matter if you are ugly, you can still be my girlfriend for the weekend”. How nice for the "ugly" amongst us!!
And Finally
We continue to enjoy practicing yoga most days. Gareth is becoming surprisingly supple, can sit in a half lotus, lay on his back with legs folded in half behind him and we can both touch our foreheads with our big toe!! While still a bit podgy the weight is definitely coming off, and we’re looking and feeling so much healthier both in body and mind. We recommend it to everyone.
Namaste and 3 Ohms
J & G
Friday, January 29, 2010
2010 – Bring it On……
Happy new year everyone!! We hope you had a great Christmas, and that it’s not just a distant memory, as is usually the case after day 1 back at work.
In contrast to last year we had a quiet family Christmas. Gareth’s parents, Bev and Alan, were here and what we lacked in turkey (we have no oven in our apartment, just gas rings) we made up for in bubbles, wine and chocolate!! After taking the opportunity to go and see the orangutans in Borneo they left for home in time for new years. A few days later, New Years Eve in fact, we followed them to the airport for a diving trip/holiday to Busuanga in the Philippines.
Our flight went out at the very un-celebratory hour of 1.30 am. Having checked in just before midnight there was hardly a whimpered countdown and the New Year arrived with neither of us having so much as a glass of water in our hands!! We were flying budget, and the bar was, dumbfoundedly, shut. So what has to be our quietest and soberest new years eve ever quickly turned to excitement and expectation as we boarded the plane just after 1.00 am and by 1.45 am were high in the air for another new adventure, the thought of alcohol overtaken by the desire to get an hours kip in before we landed in Manila. A few hours wait for our local flight and we were back in the air again, this time approaching Busuanga the largest island in the province of Palawan.
The main reason for choosing this place was because it is famous for its dive wrecks, Japanese WW11 vessels to be precise. Being some of the few ships that have not sunk too deep to dive, these sites are a magnet for the experienced diver who wants a bit of adventure and challenge in their next trip underwater. According to Gareth, these sites don’t disappoint in ANY department! All the talk was of “Nitrox, 40 metres deep, de-compression time and on and on it went…. and by all accounts this diving is not for pussies, but big boyz stuff!! All sounded very James Bond to me, so I left them to it and chose instead to check out the village, get to know the locals and take lots of photos.
If the diving was fantastic, so were the photo opportunities. In the main town everything is built on stilts over the water and in the morning the water is crystal with beautiful mountains rising on the horizon and local boats bobbing quietly just off-shore - perfect for fab scenic shots. Head off outside this tranquil setting and onto the main road and you’re reminded that you are still in The Philippines with Jeepneys and trikes overloaded with passengers whizzing everywhere. The kids are fantastic. They actually chase you and almost beg to have their pictures taken. Then there is the local market where you can buy all the fresh fruit and veggies you want, and is also the perfect place to take fascinating pictures of people going about their daily lives. For those interested I’ve put a new slideshow on this blog so if you wish you can check it out for yourself - it even comes with music so turn up the volume!!
We did have a few “dive free days” were we roared round the island on an off-road motorcycle basically because the actual road runs out after about 10 k’s – it’s all trails and make-shift bridges from there. Only problem was we got a flat back tyre a third of the way round. By the time we got back to town I couldn’t wait to get off the thing my bum was so sore!! We also spent a day “island hopping” where we swam in a beautiful twin lagoon, snorkeled in a reef reserve, swam in a thermal cave, and had lunch on one of the many white, sandy beaches – perfect day! As you can tell, we had a ball and it was the best way to kick off the new year.
Back in Singapore it was back to it – kick starting the yoga classes we signed up for just before Christmas and trying to get back into shape as all those $1 bottles San Miguels in the Philippines were sitting far too comfortably on our beer bellies! We are total fans of yoga now – Hot Yoga in particular is a fantastic way to totally detox the body and clear the mind. We love all the classes though and try to go almost every day in our effort to get supple (after years of neglect) and look half as good as those skinny, double-jointed Asians around us. I felt quite the hefalump the first few times!! We highly recommend yoga to everyone – we promise, not only will it leave you feeling great in body, but also in mind and spirit – get with it everyone!!
So, what else is hot right now?
What’s Hot:
Tiger, and not just the beer! Chinese New Year is just around the corner – the BIG event in Singapore, and with the steady, reliable ox on her way out of one door, the Tiger is ready to jump in through another. More on the celebrations next time, but Tigers are definitely IN right now!
What’s Not:
Hot Dogs in China – literally!! Dog and cat meat, apparently age old delicacies in China and amusingly referred to as “fragrant meat”, will soon be off the menu (thank goodness!!) New legislation is to be passed outlawing the sale or consumption of dog or cat meat. Proof that every dog (and cat) does indeed have his day!!
And finally…….
Not everyone’s year has started as bright and well as ours. Haitians are still in a desperate state as Aid Agencies fight over whose going sort out the mess, and Obama is desperately trying to hold his own while his health care reform plan looks like having a minor earthquake of it’s own. I don’t get Americans – they vote for change then, when they get it, they don’t like it??
Here’s hoping that this year will be a good one, not only for dogs, cats and tigers, but for all of us too. We’re looking forward to a great year ahead – bring it on!!
Cheers then
J & G
In contrast to last year we had a quiet family Christmas. Gareth’s parents, Bev and Alan, were here and what we lacked in turkey (we have no oven in our apartment, just gas rings) we made up for in bubbles, wine and chocolate!! After taking the opportunity to go and see the orangutans in Borneo they left for home in time for new years. A few days later, New Years Eve in fact, we followed them to the airport for a diving trip/holiday to Busuanga in the Philippines.
Our flight went out at the very un-celebratory hour of 1.30 am. Having checked in just before midnight there was hardly a whimpered countdown and the New Year arrived with neither of us having so much as a glass of water in our hands!! We were flying budget, and the bar was, dumbfoundedly, shut. So what has to be our quietest and soberest new years eve ever quickly turned to excitement and expectation as we boarded the plane just after 1.00 am and by 1.45 am were high in the air for another new adventure, the thought of alcohol overtaken by the desire to get an hours kip in before we landed in Manila. A few hours wait for our local flight and we were back in the air again, this time approaching Busuanga the largest island in the province of Palawan.
The main reason for choosing this place was because it is famous for its dive wrecks, Japanese WW11 vessels to be precise. Being some of the few ships that have not sunk too deep to dive, these sites are a magnet for the experienced diver who wants a bit of adventure and challenge in their next trip underwater. According to Gareth, these sites don’t disappoint in ANY department! All the talk was of “Nitrox, 40 metres deep, de-compression time and on and on it went…. and by all accounts this diving is not for pussies, but big boyz stuff!! All sounded very James Bond to me, so I left them to it and chose instead to check out the village, get to know the locals and take lots of photos.
If the diving was fantastic, so were the photo opportunities. In the main town everything is built on stilts over the water and in the morning the water is crystal with beautiful mountains rising on the horizon and local boats bobbing quietly just off-shore - perfect for fab scenic shots. Head off outside this tranquil setting and onto the main road and you’re reminded that you are still in The Philippines with Jeepneys and trikes overloaded with passengers whizzing everywhere. The kids are fantastic. They actually chase you and almost beg to have their pictures taken. Then there is the local market where you can buy all the fresh fruit and veggies you want, and is also the perfect place to take fascinating pictures of people going about their daily lives. For those interested I’ve put a new slideshow on this blog so if you wish you can check it out for yourself - it even comes with music so turn up the volume!!
We did have a few “dive free days” were we roared round the island on an off-road motorcycle basically because the actual road runs out after about 10 k’s – it’s all trails and make-shift bridges from there. Only problem was we got a flat back tyre a third of the way round. By the time we got back to town I couldn’t wait to get off the thing my bum was so sore!! We also spent a day “island hopping” where we swam in a beautiful twin lagoon, snorkeled in a reef reserve, swam in a thermal cave, and had lunch on one of the many white, sandy beaches – perfect day! As you can tell, we had a ball and it was the best way to kick off the new year.
Back in Singapore it was back to it – kick starting the yoga classes we signed up for just before Christmas and trying to get back into shape as all those $1 bottles San Miguels in the Philippines were sitting far too comfortably on our beer bellies! We are total fans of yoga now – Hot Yoga in particular is a fantastic way to totally detox the body and clear the mind. We love all the classes though and try to go almost every day in our effort to get supple (after years of neglect) and look half as good as those skinny, double-jointed Asians around us. I felt quite the hefalump the first few times!! We highly recommend yoga to everyone – we promise, not only will it leave you feeling great in body, but also in mind and spirit – get with it everyone!!
So, what else is hot right now?
What’s Hot:
Tiger, and not just the beer! Chinese New Year is just around the corner – the BIG event in Singapore, and with the steady, reliable ox on her way out of one door, the Tiger is ready to jump in through another. More on the celebrations next time, but Tigers are definitely IN right now!
What’s Not:
Hot Dogs in China – literally!! Dog and cat meat, apparently age old delicacies in China and amusingly referred to as “fragrant meat”, will soon be off the menu (thank goodness!!) New legislation is to be passed outlawing the sale or consumption of dog or cat meat. Proof that every dog (and cat) does indeed have his day!!
And finally…….
Not everyone’s year has started as bright and well as ours. Haitians are still in a desperate state as Aid Agencies fight over whose going sort out the mess, and Obama is desperately trying to hold his own while his health care reform plan looks like having a minor earthquake of it’s own. I don’t get Americans – they vote for change then, when they get it, they don’t like it??
Here’s hoping that this year will be a good one, not only for dogs, cats and tigers, but for all of us too. We’re looking forward to a great year ahead – bring it on!!
Cheers then
J & G
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