Currently in Menado Sulawesi
Indonesia.
We left
Brisbane 1 year ago, cruising up the QLD coast to Thursday Island. Our first overseas port was Merauke, Irian Jaya. It is possible to check in there but not recommended.
We cruised along the southern coast of West Papua,
water was very shallow, mud and little or no
wind. Natives are OK but not very friendly.
We got held up by West Papuans and they demanded 400 million ruphiah, I settled for 40 million (pirates?)
At Kaimana the
water was clearer, blue and the coastline beautiful limestone.
Nobody speaks any
English here, so communication is difficult.
Internet is also very poor.
Everthing is very
cheap but there is very little to buy.
After leaving Sorong we entered
Indonesia proper, which was better, people are very friendly, ( it helps to give them some alcohol.) Even the Muslims ask for alcohol, I said to one "but you are Muslim" who do not drink, his answer was "but I am only a little bit Muslim" no meat is available other than chicken but plenty of
fish,to buy and
buying fuel was difficult.
We got as far as Bitung/Menado and were informed that my Pension was suspended because the Australian
government had changed the rules and now required that we live permantly in
Australia.
We decided to come home so we put the
boat into a 40 ft container ( which the
boat was designed to do from the beginning) we have sent it to
Brisbane (cost US $4,000) see attachments.
This is not the place for a
monohull sailing boat
The
Charts are not accurate, the water is shallow and there is no
wind .
I will supply more information over the next few weeks, any questions please ask.
All though it was an experience I would not recommend it or do it again.
Beau Lyons
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