Sailing the Indian Ocean - start point

[Michu]

Hello,

Last year I did the Pacific crossing and sailed (together with my girlfriend)from Panama to Australia.
We were crewing on various boats and it was a hitch-hiking (jachtostop )journey.

My next dream is to sail the Indian Ocean from Australia to South Africa in the same way.

I wonder whether somebody who did the Indian Ocean passage could give me some advices.

My first question is what is the best place to start and where to look for a boats?
I'm thinking about something like Panama for cruising the Pacific - a place where most of the cruisers stop before heading West.

Fair winds!

Michu

[atoll]

darwin in may -june,or from the east coast from april onwards.