Posts
----- Original Message -----
To: "2XS - Peter & Marguerite" <margueriteharmsen@yahoo.com>
Cc: marguerite.harmsen@gmail.com
Subject: Christmas cheer
Date: 22 Dec 2014 03:20:10 -0000
From: zmq5985
To all our friends and family,
It's that time of year again when we dispense goodwill, love and cheer to all. Just a pity that politicians don't appear to be able to do the same!
Anyway, we hope that wherever you are you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, which as the year unfolds, brings you everything that you would wish for.
Jean's hips continue to strengthen and make progress and she is into a gym and swimming regime now. We are both looking forward to seeing our respective families early in 2015 - Jean in Miami, Florida and Jim back in little old NZ!!
And to finish another Irish joke - you can put it in your Christmas crackers!!
A travelling circus came for the first time to Connemara in Ireland. While in town one day an elephant escaped. Mrs. O'Reilly was looking out her kitchen window and she saw this strange looking animal in her backyard. She'd never seen the like; she nearly fainted. She called out to her husband, "Paddy, Paddy come quick. There's a strange lookin' animal in the backyard and he's digging up the potatoes with his tail". Paddy said, "what's he doing with them?" She replied, "if I told you that, you'd never believe me!"
Cheers again and Merry Christmas.....
Jim and Jean
s.v. Tiare Taporo III
Yacht Haven Marina
Phuket
Thailand.
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com
----- End of Original Message -----
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Sunday, 21 December 2014
Saturday, 13 December 2014
Fwd: Three little irish jokes!!
----- Original Message -----
To: "2XS - Peter & Marguerite" <margueriteharmsen@yahoo.com>
Cc: marguerite.harmsen@gmail.com
Subject: Three little irish jokes!!
Date: 13 Dec 2014 11:16:01 -0000
From: zmq5985
We are not racially biased!!!!!
- The priest was asking a class in religious studies and asked who was the greatest man that ever lived.
Answers varied - one said it was Michaelangelo, another said it was Alexander Graham Bell. "Very good answers" said the priest, "but not quite what I was looking for". Then a little Jewish boy stood up and said "please Father, the greatest man who ever lived was St. Patrick". "A very good answer", said the priest, and the Jewish boy won the class prize. Afterwards the priest asked him, "strange that a Jewish boy should come up with the answer that you gave", and the Jewish boy replied "well, in my heart I know that it was Moses, but business is business!"
- The captain of a ship received news that the passenger in cabin 36 had died and so he despatched his 1st. mate to the cabin to have the occupant buried at sea. The 1st. mate duly reported back to the captain and announced that he had proceeded to cabin 26 and had had the occupant buried at sea. "My God", said the captain, "I asked you to go to cabin 36. Was the occupant of cabin 26 dead?" The mate said, "well, there was a person named Shaunessy from Kerry there and he said that he was not dead, but you know what terrible liars these Kerrymen are!"
Murphy had come into a substantial sum of money - 500,000 pounds - and decided to visit his brother in Boston. On the way home the plane ran into trouble and the captain announced that they would probably have to ditch. "My God" said Murphy, "here I am and just come into all this money and I'm going to be killed". So he said to God, "if we get safely home I'll give you half my fortune". Well, the plane eventually landed safely and a priest who had overheard Murphy's heartfelt prayer and promise suggested that Murphy might like to sraightaway start giving to God. "Not on your life", said Murphy, "after we landed I made a new pact with God and I told Him that if I ever went up in a plane again, He could have the lot!"
Cheers from us........
Jim and Jean
s.v. Tiare Taporo III
Yacht Haven Marina
Phuket
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com
----- End of Original Message -----
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To: "2XS - Peter & Marguerite" <margueriteharmsen@yahoo.com>
Cc: marguerite.harmsen@gmail.com
Subject: Three little irish jokes!!
Date: 13 Dec 2014 11:16:01 -0000
From: zmq5985
We are not racially biased!!!!!
- The priest was asking a class in religious studies and asked who was the greatest man that ever lived.
Answers varied - one said it was Michaelangelo, another said it was Alexander Graham Bell. "Very good answers" said the priest, "but not quite what I was looking for". Then a little Jewish boy stood up and said "please Father, the greatest man who ever lived was St. Patrick". "A very good answer", said the priest, and the Jewish boy won the class prize. Afterwards the priest asked him, "strange that a Jewish boy should come up with the answer that you gave", and the Jewish boy replied "well, in my heart I know that it was Moses, but business is business!"
- The captain of a ship received news that the passenger in cabin 36 had died and so he despatched his 1st. mate to the cabin to have the occupant buried at sea. The 1st. mate duly reported back to the captain and announced that he had proceeded to cabin 26 and had had the occupant buried at sea. "My God", said the captain, "I asked you to go to cabin 36. Was the occupant of cabin 26 dead?" The mate said, "well, there was a person named Shaunessy from Kerry there and he said that he was not dead, but you know what terrible liars these Kerrymen are!"
Murphy had come into a substantial sum of money - 500,000 pounds - and decided to visit his brother in Boston. On the way home the plane ran into trouble and the captain announced that they would probably have to ditch. "My God" said Murphy, "here I am and just come into all this money and I'm going to be killed". So he said to God, "if we get safely home I'll give you half my fortune". Well, the plane eventually landed safely and a priest who had overheard Murphy's heartfelt prayer and promise suggested that Murphy might like to sraightaway start giving to God. "Not on your life", said Murphy, "after we landed I made a new pact with God and I told Him that if I ever went up in a plane again, He could have the lot!"
Cheers from us........
Jim and Jean
s.v. Tiare Taporo III
Yacht Haven Marina
Phuket
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com
----- End of Original Message -----
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Friday, 5 December 2014
Photos
1) Jean in the revolving restaurant KL
2) Jean and Garn at the Galley Bar and Restaurant Krabi Boat Lagoon
3) Island formations on the way to Yacht Haven Phuket
4) More crazy drunken islands!
5) The restaurant Koh Yao Yai
Photos
1) temple outside royal palace Bangkok before we went to India
2) palace building
3) palace guard
4) Petronas twin towers Kuala Lumpur
5) KL from the revolving restaurant - a la Sky Tower
Yacht Haven Koh Phuket Lat. 8 degrees 10.2' N Long. 98 degrees 20.4' E
Yesterday it was the Thai King's Birthday (Dec. 5th.) and probably the most revered day in the Thai calendar.
We arrived here at Yacht Haven on the 1st. after a pleasant passage from Krabi. Very sad to leave all our friends at Popeye and Garn at the Galley restaurant. We managed to finish the bottle of Chivas Regal 12 yr old which we had given to Capt. Des Kearns to mark his 70th. birthday some months previously - sitting in Des's office looking out over the marina where "Tiare Taporo III" was moored. We hasten to assure you dear readers that we didn't drink the whole bottle then - it had taken some direct hits on previous occasions!
It was a total of 52 miles via the southern end of Koh Yao Yai which is a large island smack in the way! We anchored first at Koh Dam Khwan (only 10 miles from Krabi Boat Lagoon) - a very pretty anchorage with the usual precipitous and dramatic scenery typical of this part of the world. At around 2000 there was a fairly violent electrical storm, again typical of this area at this time of the year. We are always concerned that with our mast sticking straight up into the air, we are vulnerable to these nasty bolts of electricity, which could fry all our electrics with a direct hit. We didn't receive a direct hit but Jean was holding onto the stainless steel frame which supports our companionway dodger and was zapped as one bolt came uncomfortably close. Her arm remained sore for about 24 hours after that. Maybe it was the titanium in her hips that attracted the energy - hope it hasn't melted them!! The boat appeared to be OK with all our instruments still functioning but with lightning one always worries about "latent effect" - we'll just have to wait and see.
The next day dawned fine and clear and we headed out on a SW course towards the southern tip of Koh Yao Yai. Soon after raising the anchor, we passed through the small group of Koh Yawasam with very dramatic formations. There will be some photos posted here just after this blog. The tide was low and you could see part of the submarine formation which appeared riddled with small holes and caves - like a Swiss cheese. They must have been standing there for quite a long time, but somehow there was an uncomfortable feeling if getting too close! We rounded Yao Yai and continued north along its western side until we spied a resort on a good swimming beach which all looked good from the point of view of essential sustenance! We anchored off the beach and over the next 3 days we cleaned the hull of the yacht from the dinghy and went ashore for swimming and eating - and drinking! We know that's what you all think - that this cruising life is a continuous round of hedonism, but of course that isn't the case - the difficulty is in convincing you lot. Hardly worth the effort really!! The resort's restaurant was quite inexpensive and right on the beach so was an idyllic setting. About 100 metres away from the beach we found a coffee bar which had excellent coffee where Jean could get her fixes.
Then on the morning of Dec. 1st. we weighed anchor again and headed in a NW direction the last 20 miles to Yacht Haven Marina. We had no wind to speak of the whole trip so it's been a case of using the iron sail. Yacht Haven is situated right on the northern end of Phuket in the channel that separates Phuket from the mainland to the north so is very sheltered, although being in the channel, it does receive a cool breeze which is welcome in the tropical heat. Phuket International Airport is very close - only 20 minutes away by car. Here it is very quiet away from the madding crowds who flock to the western side beaches and try to kill each other on jetskis. There aren't any safety regulations regarding the use of these things, or if there are they aren't enforced. A tourist was killed the other day on a jetski and 3 more in a speedboat which hit a fishing boat at right angles in good visibility in daylight! Then there are the lack of lights at night as we've mentioned before and on top of all that the Thai authorities are now insisting on all foreign flagged yachts being fitted with AIS transponders. The real reason for this is to keep track of foreign boats - not for any safety considerations. We have an AIS receiver but not a transmitter and we're damned if we are going to be forced to fit one - at a rough cost of NZD1500! Some years ago an American yacht took the NZ Govt. to court concerning jurisdiction over foreign flagged vessels and their equipment- and won. Maybe it's getting time to do the same thing here.
On our approach to Yacht Haven it's necessary to stay in the channel and when approaching any marina or anchorage for the first time there's an element of anxiety as to the correct way to go. We were talking to YH on the radio and they said we should "head for the green buoy" and there await a dinghy which would guide us in to our berth. We did this and promptly went aground - twice!! We weren't best pleased thinking of our new antifouling which has no doubt been compromised although hopefully just on the lead keel and the sacrificial wormshoe (which is Amazonian Green Heart timber - hard as iron and impervious to the dreaded Teredo Worm). Then on the way in we had been told on the radio that we would be tying up port side to and had all the fenders and mooring lines deployed accordingly. However, the guy in the dinghy then said it was starboard side which necessitated changing everything and that's no small job. Then he changed his mind and said it was port side after all. Just as well the crutches were well stowed otherwise they would definitely have been flying. The guy doesn't know how lucky he was!!
However, after that poor start we find that the marina is very pleasant with a choice of 4 restaurants ashore and a gym and pool which actually belong to a condominium complex just up the hill from the marina.
Fingers crossed, but we think our refrigeration problems have been finally solved, although it didn't help that the technician who came to work on the system virtually spoke no English. We also had David Samuelson, an expert rigger based at Boat Lagoon, on board to give our rig the once over. Fortunately he didn't find any issues and was so impressed with the mast fittings that Noel had designed and fitted in Whangarei, that he took photos of them!! David it turns out had had dinner on board the "Taporo" - a steel motor ship that we sold in 1971 when the Tahiti business was sold - when he passed through the Marquesas Islands on his yacht in 1974. We've noticed that the deck mounted foot operated switch for our windlass has cracked on its surface so will have to try and source another. The new lifeline starboard side hasn't been swaged properly so we're taking that down to Boat Lagoon on Monday for that to be done. And we need a new radiator cap for our heat exchanger as the old original one is leaking - so no rest for the wicked. There is always something on a boat! And dental maintenance for us as well - Jean needs repairs to a bridge (or a new one) and Jim is having a long overdue checkup and clean. Far far cheaper than NZ where you need to take out a 2nd. mortgage to pay the extortionate fees.
We are hiring a car on Monday for the aforementioned jobs as well as some provisioning. The Phuket traffic is legendary so it will be exciting as we make our way around.
Still not entirely sure of our immediate movements but we're likely to be here for Christmas and leaving just after for Langkawi. The boat temporary import permit and our personal visas expire around mid January so that's the imperative. Then back to Krabi in March before Jean flies out to the States and Jim to NZ. As always we'll let you know.
Cheers and love from us......
Jim and Jean
P.S. Don't forget to look for our recent pics which will be posted to the website in the next couple of days - very inexpertly as usual!!
To close - another Irish joke - Murphy wasn't feeling well so he decided to go to the doctor. After examining him the doctor said that he couldn't find anything wrong and so he'd have to "put it down to the drink". Murphy said "that's all right, doctor. I'll come back another time when you're sober!".
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We arrived here at Yacht Haven on the 1st. after a pleasant passage from Krabi. Very sad to leave all our friends at Popeye and Garn at the Galley restaurant. We managed to finish the bottle of Chivas Regal 12 yr old which we had given to Capt. Des Kearns to mark his 70th. birthday some months previously - sitting in Des's office looking out over the marina where "Tiare Taporo III" was moored. We hasten to assure you dear readers that we didn't drink the whole bottle then - it had taken some direct hits on previous occasions!
It was a total of 52 miles via the southern end of Koh Yao Yai which is a large island smack in the way! We anchored first at Koh Dam Khwan (only 10 miles from Krabi Boat Lagoon) - a very pretty anchorage with the usual precipitous and dramatic scenery typical of this part of the world. At around 2000 there was a fairly violent electrical storm, again typical of this area at this time of the year. We are always concerned that with our mast sticking straight up into the air, we are vulnerable to these nasty bolts of electricity, which could fry all our electrics with a direct hit. We didn't receive a direct hit but Jean was holding onto the stainless steel frame which supports our companionway dodger and was zapped as one bolt came uncomfortably close. Her arm remained sore for about 24 hours after that. Maybe it was the titanium in her hips that attracted the energy - hope it hasn't melted them!! The boat appeared to be OK with all our instruments still functioning but with lightning one always worries about "latent effect" - we'll just have to wait and see.
The next day dawned fine and clear and we headed out on a SW course towards the southern tip of Koh Yao Yai. Soon after raising the anchor, we passed through the small group of Koh Yawasam with very dramatic formations. There will be some photos posted here just after this blog. The tide was low and you could see part of the submarine formation which appeared riddled with small holes and caves - like a Swiss cheese. They must have been standing there for quite a long time, but somehow there was an uncomfortable feeling if getting too close! We rounded Yao Yai and continued north along its western side until we spied a resort on a good swimming beach which all looked good from the point of view of essential sustenance! We anchored off the beach and over the next 3 days we cleaned the hull of the yacht from the dinghy and went ashore for swimming and eating - and drinking! We know that's what you all think - that this cruising life is a continuous round of hedonism, but of course that isn't the case - the difficulty is in convincing you lot. Hardly worth the effort really!! The resort's restaurant was quite inexpensive and right on the beach so was an idyllic setting. About 100 metres away from the beach we found a coffee bar which had excellent coffee where Jean could get her fixes.
Then on the morning of Dec. 1st. we weighed anchor again and headed in a NW direction the last 20 miles to Yacht Haven Marina. We had no wind to speak of the whole trip so it's been a case of using the iron sail. Yacht Haven is situated right on the northern end of Phuket in the channel that separates Phuket from the mainland to the north so is very sheltered, although being in the channel, it does receive a cool breeze which is welcome in the tropical heat. Phuket International Airport is very close - only 20 minutes away by car. Here it is very quiet away from the madding crowds who flock to the western side beaches and try to kill each other on jetskis. There aren't any safety regulations regarding the use of these things, or if there are they aren't enforced. A tourist was killed the other day on a jetski and 3 more in a speedboat which hit a fishing boat at right angles in good visibility in daylight! Then there are the lack of lights at night as we've mentioned before and on top of all that the Thai authorities are now insisting on all foreign flagged yachts being fitted with AIS transponders. The real reason for this is to keep track of foreign boats - not for any safety considerations. We have an AIS receiver but not a transmitter and we're damned if we are going to be forced to fit one - at a rough cost of NZD1500! Some years ago an American yacht took the NZ Govt. to court concerning jurisdiction over foreign flagged vessels and their equipment- and won. Maybe it's getting time to do the same thing here.
On our approach to Yacht Haven it's necessary to stay in the channel and when approaching any marina or anchorage for the first time there's an element of anxiety as to the correct way to go. We were talking to YH on the radio and they said we should "head for the green buoy" and there await a dinghy which would guide us in to our berth. We did this and promptly went aground - twice!! We weren't best pleased thinking of our new antifouling which has no doubt been compromised although hopefully just on the lead keel and the sacrificial wormshoe (which is Amazonian Green Heart timber - hard as iron and impervious to the dreaded Teredo Worm). Then on the way in we had been told on the radio that we would be tying up port side to and had all the fenders and mooring lines deployed accordingly. However, the guy in the dinghy then said it was starboard side which necessitated changing everything and that's no small job. Then he changed his mind and said it was port side after all. Just as well the crutches were well stowed otherwise they would definitely have been flying. The guy doesn't know how lucky he was!!
However, after that poor start we find that the marina is very pleasant with a choice of 4 restaurants ashore and a gym and pool which actually belong to a condominium complex just up the hill from the marina.
Fingers crossed, but we think our refrigeration problems have been finally solved, although it didn't help that the technician who came to work on the system virtually spoke no English. We also had David Samuelson, an expert rigger based at Boat Lagoon, on board to give our rig the once over. Fortunately he didn't find any issues and was so impressed with the mast fittings that Noel had designed and fitted in Whangarei, that he took photos of them!! David it turns out had had dinner on board the "Taporo" - a steel motor ship that we sold in 1971 when the Tahiti business was sold - when he passed through the Marquesas Islands on his yacht in 1974. We've noticed that the deck mounted foot operated switch for our windlass has cracked on its surface so will have to try and source another. The new lifeline starboard side hasn't been swaged properly so we're taking that down to Boat Lagoon on Monday for that to be done. And we need a new radiator cap for our heat exchanger as the old original one is leaking - so no rest for the wicked. There is always something on a boat! And dental maintenance for us as well - Jean needs repairs to a bridge (or a new one) and Jim is having a long overdue checkup and clean. Far far cheaper than NZ where you need to take out a 2nd. mortgage to pay the extortionate fees.
We are hiring a car on Monday for the aforementioned jobs as well as some provisioning. The Phuket traffic is legendary so it will be exciting as we make our way around.
Still not entirely sure of our immediate movements but we're likely to be here for Christmas and leaving just after for Langkawi. The boat temporary import permit and our personal visas expire around mid January so that's the imperative. Then back to Krabi in March before Jean flies out to the States and Jim to NZ. As always we'll let you know.
Cheers and love from us......
Jim and Jean
P.S. Don't forget to look for our recent pics which will be posted to the website in the next couple of days - very inexpertly as usual!!
To close - another Irish joke - Murphy wasn't feeling well so he decided to go to the doctor. After examining him the doctor said that he couldn't find anything wrong and so he'd have to "put it down to the drink". Murphy said "that's all right, doctor. I'll come back another time when you're sober!".
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Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Impressions of Kuala Lumpur
We decided it was necessary to do a visa run to KL as our latest Thai visas were expiring on the 12th. and 13th. of November. We had some alternatives - we could just leave the country and then get another 30 days on re-entry, or we could go somewhere where there was a Thai diplomatic mission and get 60 + 30 days. Penang or KL would have both answered the latter so, as we hadn't yet been to KL, we opted to go there. It means that now we will be staying in Thai waters for Christmas and beyond and then sailing down to Langkawi after that. However, we will sail for Phuket to get some work done to our awnings for sun protection and then explore the islands.
We flew with Air Asia from Krabi direct to KL on the 12th. and had booked on the internet into the Zon All Suites Residences Hotel. This sounds way grander than it is, but it did have the attribute of offering accommodation at a 50% discount! It's an older hotel but is centrally situated near the KL City Centre and also not too far from the Thai Embassy. We had a separate bedroom and sitting room which, although smallish, meant that the living was comfortable. Free breakfast was thrown in too but the restaurant was well below standard and, although we availed ourselves of the free breakfast, we only ever ate one other meal there.
KL has been entertaining to look around as neither of us had ever been there before, but really it's just another city with not a lot to set it apart. It does have the Petronas Twin Towers which are spectacular to look at but they only allow you about half way up to a skybridge between the two. Then they want 90 Ringitts (NZD34) each for the privilege!! So, we didn't go up there, but did go up the Menara KL Tower to the revolving restaurant which is 280 metres above some high ground on which it is built and at least 100 metres higher than the Twin Towers skybridge. It does a complete revolution every hour and you get the best view (bar a helicopter) possible of KL. The lunch was good too and all for 88 Ringitts each plus 31 Ringitts for a litre bottle of water!! Still, probably much better value than the Twin Towers.
Apart from that and two visits to the Thai Embassy, we have been doing some shopping and a lot of window shopping! And eating out a lot which isn't cheap. An average price for the two of us at an average restaurant is around 175 Ringitts (NZD66). We are not used to such prices after Thailand! But we did find an absolutely superb Italian Restaurant called Porto Romano on the ground floor of the Intermark Building on Jalan Tun Razak. Highly recommended. The last meal we had there was NZ lamb shanks in a red wine sauce and they were wunderbar! Made us very nostalgic!! First lamb shanks since leaving NZ 3 and a half years ago. NZD20 each!! Such extravagance!! We even had a glass of Italian red wine each and after dinner 2 Grappas which were great. For those who don't know, Grappa is mainly distilled in Italy from the leftovers of wine grape pressings. That includes the skins, seeds and some leaves and twigs together with some pressed grape flesh. Doesn't sound very appetising, but is surprisingly and uniquely delicious and the perfect antidote to an Italian meal. On our last night they gave us two Grappas free.
The KLCC shopping mall is nearby and so full of designer names like Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, etc. that it is eye watering. We were there on the weekend and the mall was thronged, but no-one in any of the shops. All staffed to the hilt and looking bored out of their brains. How they stay in business is a mystery to us.
KL is vibrant with new building going on but we were told that there is a large oversupply of commercial space. So just what the outcome of that will be remains to be seen, but we hope that buildings are not simply abandoned as they are all over Malaysia in satellite commercial areas.
The overt preferences given to the Bhumiputra (Moslem Malays) are unsettling and an Indian taxi driver confirmed that. We felt very sorry for him and all non Malays because they are openly discriminated against in all sorts of areas (even preferential duty rates when buying vehicles) and have very little hope of ever getting out from under.
Another matter reported in the local paper (The Star) was particularly horrifying. Apparently there is a very strong move to strengthen Shariah (Islamic) Law in Kelantan State which is in a remote area south of the Thai border on the east coast. They have been dispassionately discussing the best ways in which to amputate hands or limbs as punishment for certain crimes such as robbery. The main stipulation was that, whether machete, sword or mini guillotine was used, the blade should be sharp. And the "offender" should be conscious while the sentence was being carried out so that proper "remorse" could be shown.
A doctor was also required to be present, presumably so that the amputee didn't die from blood loss. There wouldn't be any remorse then!! There was an issue raised concerning the Hippocratic Oath under which a doctor is required to save life, but we suppose that as long as he/she didn't actually cause the amputation, then the oath is complied with.
We find this extreme example of Islamic faith/law to be appalling. It does seem to be slowly gaining influence in Malaysia (particularly on the east coast) and would certainly be a major influence in any decision we might make concerning settling in Malaysia in the future.
Unfortunately there is a certain amount of unrest in the most southerly of Thailand's provinces which adjoins Kelantan. Three women were shot dead there in the last 2-3 days. This province is predominantly Moslem as is much of southern Thailand including Krabi, although there Moslems and Buddhists seem to exist in a great deal of harmony. We hope that this Islamic extremism is contained and does not spread further north, for Thailand's sake.
Jean's hips are continuing to slowly improve, but it's now going to be a slow process compared with the earlier rate of healing. It's now day 64 since the 2nd. hip replacement and, while there was some persistent swelling which was giving rise to some concern, that is abating. Probably at least partially as a result of being back in air con. conditions for a while. However, there is general improvement overall and we are sure that once we get sailing again with swimming etc. the improvement will continue. Jim's knees are not improving however and have been an impediment to walking too far in KL. Hopefully he will not need surgery, but we will see. It's fun getting old and unfortunately will ultimately force us to adopt an alternative lifestyle - maybe sooner rather than later.
Now back on the boat at Krabi Boat Lagoon. We flew back yesterday (18/11) and all is well. Nice to be back and some good Thai food from Garn at the Galley Restaurant. Unfortunately our freezer is still only partially working so we haven't any food in it yet. It is going to necessitate a trip to Phuket to get it sorted - hopefully!! But there's an issue with available marina berths so we might not be able to go for 2 weeks or so. If we can't get a berth in the next 4 days we'll go out and anchor in various places before continuing on to Phuket. One way or another it will get done.
Cheers from us for now and best wishes and love to everyone.
Jim and Jean
s.v. Tiare Taporo III
Krabi Boat lagoon
Krabi
Thailand
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We flew with Air Asia from Krabi direct to KL on the 12th. and had booked on the internet into the Zon All Suites Residences Hotel. This sounds way grander than it is, but it did have the attribute of offering accommodation at a 50% discount! It's an older hotel but is centrally situated near the KL City Centre and also not too far from the Thai Embassy. We had a separate bedroom and sitting room which, although smallish, meant that the living was comfortable. Free breakfast was thrown in too but the restaurant was well below standard and, although we availed ourselves of the free breakfast, we only ever ate one other meal there.
KL has been entertaining to look around as neither of us had ever been there before, but really it's just another city with not a lot to set it apart. It does have the Petronas Twin Towers which are spectacular to look at but they only allow you about half way up to a skybridge between the two. Then they want 90 Ringitts (NZD34) each for the privilege!! So, we didn't go up there, but did go up the Menara KL Tower to the revolving restaurant which is 280 metres above some high ground on which it is built and at least 100 metres higher than the Twin Towers skybridge. It does a complete revolution every hour and you get the best view (bar a helicopter) possible of KL. The lunch was good too and all for 88 Ringitts each plus 31 Ringitts for a litre bottle of water!! Still, probably much better value than the Twin Towers.
Apart from that and two visits to the Thai Embassy, we have been doing some shopping and a lot of window shopping! And eating out a lot which isn't cheap. An average price for the two of us at an average restaurant is around 175 Ringitts (NZD66). We are not used to such prices after Thailand! But we did find an absolutely superb Italian Restaurant called Porto Romano on the ground floor of the Intermark Building on Jalan Tun Razak. Highly recommended. The last meal we had there was NZ lamb shanks in a red wine sauce and they were wunderbar! Made us very nostalgic!! First lamb shanks since leaving NZ 3 and a half years ago. NZD20 each!! Such extravagance!! We even had a glass of Italian red wine each and after dinner 2 Grappas which were great. For those who don't know, Grappa is mainly distilled in Italy from the leftovers of wine grape pressings. That includes the skins, seeds and some leaves and twigs together with some pressed grape flesh. Doesn't sound very appetising, but is surprisingly and uniquely delicious and the perfect antidote to an Italian meal. On our last night they gave us two Grappas free.
The KLCC shopping mall is nearby and so full of designer names like Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, etc. that it is eye watering. We were there on the weekend and the mall was thronged, but no-one in any of the shops. All staffed to the hilt and looking bored out of their brains. How they stay in business is a mystery to us.
KL is vibrant with new building going on but we were told that there is a large oversupply of commercial space. So just what the outcome of that will be remains to be seen, but we hope that buildings are not simply abandoned as they are all over Malaysia in satellite commercial areas.
The overt preferences given to the Bhumiputra (Moslem Malays) are unsettling and an Indian taxi driver confirmed that. We felt very sorry for him and all non Malays because they are openly discriminated against in all sorts of areas (even preferential duty rates when buying vehicles) and have very little hope of ever getting out from under.
Another matter reported in the local paper (The Star) was particularly horrifying. Apparently there is a very strong move to strengthen Shariah (Islamic) Law in Kelantan State which is in a remote area south of the Thai border on the east coast. They have been dispassionately discussing the best ways in which to amputate hands or limbs as punishment for certain crimes such as robbery. The main stipulation was that, whether machete, sword or mini guillotine was used, the blade should be sharp. And the "offender" should be conscious while the sentence was being carried out so that proper "remorse" could be shown.
A doctor was also required to be present, presumably so that the amputee didn't die from blood loss. There wouldn't be any remorse then!! There was an issue raised concerning the Hippocratic Oath under which a doctor is required to save life, but we suppose that as long as he/she didn't actually cause the amputation, then the oath is complied with.
We find this extreme example of Islamic faith/law to be appalling. It does seem to be slowly gaining influence in Malaysia (particularly on the east coast) and would certainly be a major influence in any decision we might make concerning settling in Malaysia in the future.
Unfortunately there is a certain amount of unrest in the most southerly of Thailand's provinces which adjoins Kelantan. Three women were shot dead there in the last 2-3 days. This province is predominantly Moslem as is much of southern Thailand including Krabi, although there Moslems and Buddhists seem to exist in a great deal of harmony. We hope that this Islamic extremism is contained and does not spread further north, for Thailand's sake.
Jean's hips are continuing to slowly improve, but it's now going to be a slow process compared with the earlier rate of healing. It's now day 64 since the 2nd. hip replacement and, while there was some persistent swelling which was giving rise to some concern, that is abating. Probably at least partially as a result of being back in air con. conditions for a while. However, there is general improvement overall and we are sure that once we get sailing again with swimming etc. the improvement will continue. Jim's knees are not improving however and have been an impediment to walking too far in KL. Hopefully he will not need surgery, but we will see. It's fun getting old and unfortunately will ultimately force us to adopt an alternative lifestyle - maybe sooner rather than later.
Now back on the boat at Krabi Boat Lagoon. We flew back yesterday (18/11) and all is well. Nice to be back and some good Thai food from Garn at the Galley Restaurant. Unfortunately our freezer is still only partially working so we haven't any food in it yet. It is going to necessitate a trip to Phuket to get it sorted - hopefully!! But there's an issue with available marina berths so we might not be able to go for 2 weeks or so. If we can't get a berth in the next 4 days we'll go out and anchor in various places before continuing on to Phuket. One way or another it will get done.
Cheers from us for now and best wishes and love to everyone.
Jim and Jean
s.v. Tiare Taporo III
Krabi Boat lagoon
Krabi
Thailand
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Saturday, 1 November 2014
More photos!!!
1) Mahatma Ghandi (Ghandiji) on the waterfront at Pondicherry
2) A view of Chennai Port
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