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Roaming Mole

Hi everyone

This is my last post ……….on this site

After many agonising weeks my new site is finally ready to launch.   Please join me there to follow the stories of this intrepid adventurer – the Roaming Mole.

This has been a tough learning curve so I really hope you like the new site – comments and feedback welcome.  If you have any good ideas on how to improve the site please let me know and I’ll attempt to implement them.

Thanks to Ged, Paul, Larry, Daryl and Debbie for all their help, advice and support through this very trying phase.

I hope these links work – otherwise it won’t be my last post.  Please subscribe to my new site to receive updates on new posts.

Here are the links to the new site and my first post.

Home

 

And this is my first post.

The Underground Story

 

 

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GOING HOME

“Home is the place where you are most thoroughly yourself, with no pretenses”. – V Moran

In total I spent just shy of 6 weeks (41days) back in the UK.  I was welcomed back with incredible warmth and generosity.  To say it was an amazing visit would be a huge understatement .  I am fortunate to have incredible friends who fed and housed me; lent me a car; made special plans to entertain me but most importantly provided emotional support whilst I transitioned from being part of a couple (the better part obviously) to singledom.

This is the ground I covered and what follows is a photo diary of my epic visit.

 

London – with Kate, Brett and Pip.

An opportunity to sort out my passport and visas but also to meet Pip, Brett and Kate’s 7 month cocker spaniel.  Don’t be fooled by how ordinary she looks because she’s probably the most gifted dog on the planet and any bad behaviour is only due to boredom and mental torpor.  She really needs full time tutoring to reach her full potential.  I was offered the job but really felt I couldn’t provide the intellectual stimulus she needed.  (I’m obviously not fit for the job because I believe I should have said “stimulii”).

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A Brutal run for Brett in Bordon, Hampshire.   I saw some old faces from my orienteering days – Liz and Colin Dickson , Colin Holcombe and Dave Rollins.  It was a lovely day, although the course appeared to be a little muddy,  and Kate and I enjoyed walking Pip and watching the action.   I haven’t been to Bordon in over 5 years and was shocked to see the Garrison no longer exists.   Instead it’s a huge, brand new housing estate.  New housing estates and extensive new building projects was a theme I saw repeated numerous times over of visit.

 

 

Suffolk.

Two short visits to see my Mum and Dad.  They’re both getting on a bit and my poor mum suffers from macular degeneration and requires eye injections every 6 weeks .  Unfortunately she’d had injections the day before these photos so her eyes were very sore.  They both suffer from various ailments but all things considered they’re doing incredibly well for their age.  Hopefully I’ve inherited those genes!

 

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Torquay with Mandy and Alex.

Since I last saw them Mandy has had 2 boys, Kaio and Rocco.  It was great to meet the little fellas and expand my baby experiences.  Mandy let me change Rocco’s nappy, I think she was a bit shocked that I wanted to.   So that was probably only the second nappy I’ve ever changed, does that make me an expert?  Aren’t they just the cutest?

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Scotland.

A week with Debs and Larry in Cupar.  This was our girlie day out in Edinburgh  with Jolanda, Jac, Debbie and Eve.  We went to see the most incredible show, Joseph , with Jaymi Hensley (from boyband Union) as lead.  He was brilliant.   I also got to see Eve’s halls of residence .  I couldn’t include a photo (too shocking) but remember Life of Grime with John Peel and you should have the right mental picture!

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There was time for some dog walks; beautiful scenery and an opportunity to meet Frankie.  Sadly he’s not as gifted as Pip but he’s a close second.  And a family gathering with both Eve and Leah taking time from their busy schedules to come home.  Whilst Eve has just started at university, Leah is just about to graduate .  Last time I was in Scotland I helped her move into her halls of residence in Dundee.  Doesn’t time fly and actually it’s a bit of a shocker;  four years at university has turned her from child to adult.

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Time with Jac.  Gosh we did so much.  She came to Wales and Scotland with me.  We  did a stopover to see my wonderful cousin Ann, in Caernarfon (sorry no photos).  We had a day out in Southampton with Fiona and Ali.  And just before I left we had a special celebration for her 50th birthday.

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Andover – time with Vik who is planning her own great adventure.

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Mike and Sorcha.  An Irish couple I first met in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and then again in India.  It was great to catch up with them although I’m not sure why we’ve all been Tangoed.

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St Andrews and a meeting of serendipity.   Katrina (who I first met in Afghanistan) lives in Glasgow but I passed her on the streets of St Andrews and we had coffee and a catch-up.

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I didn’t think it would happen but I was very fortunate to see Chris.

 

And there were other great moments that Sadly I failed to capture on film but that were equally rewarding.  Jac and George, Andrea and Louise,  Deborah and John , Ann my cousin, Karen Baker, Marion, Kasia, Gav and my brother Meirion.  It was a very busy and emotional few weeks.  Coming home made me realise how lucky I am to have such great and supportive friends and family.  I’m sure I wouldn’t be so resolute and excited about my future plans if I hadn’t spent this quality time back home.  Thank you all.   I also had the time to research and buy the extra gear I need for my solo cycling adventure.

And now to the plan.    A look forward to titillate your imagination:

1.  Trans Siberian railway from Moscow to Ulan Ude. (4500km).  Ulan Ude to Ulaanbaatar and Ulaanbaatar to Bejing.

2.  Ferry from Bejing to South Korea to fetch my trike and return to China.  Cycle China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

3.  Return to Mongolia to see its beauty in the summer and tour some of its highlights on a motorbike.

Now that I’ve written it down I’m committed!

And the postscript to this post is my visit to Plovdiv, Bulgaria the to see my brother Gwyn.  Plovdiv is the Cultural Capital of 2019.  It’s definitely worth a visit and I know a great Airbnb host if you want to go.

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A HAT-TRICK OF VISAS AND A NEW PASSPORT – ALL DONE IN 15 DAYS

A HAT-TRICK OF VISAS AND A NEW PASSPORT – ALL DONE IN 15 DAYS

CHINESE, RUSSIAN AND MONGOLIAN VISAS

My first step on English soil after 3 and a half years was on 20th February 2019.  I’d just endured an epic 48 hour journey from my workaway in Sungai Petani in Northern Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur to London Heathrow via Karachi.  I’d flown with PIA (Pakistan International Airlines), a mistake I plan never to repeat. Flying with PIA is as about as desirable as the bubonic plague.  The food was disgusting; the inflight entertainment was non-existent; and the service, since I was the only white female, was poor at best and non-existent at worst because every Pakistani man had to be dealt with before me.  The flight was full.  I saw only 4 other women and they were Pakistani.  Every man had a trolley loaded with bags and bundles.  They must all have been carrying at least 50 kg of luggage.  One guy asked if i’d take some of his bags because I only had a small bag.  Let me think – No?   It was nothing short of miraculous that we actually took off.  In short, a journey from hell.

 

I’d returned home because I was really missing my friends and family.   But I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get my Chinese visa. If you cast your minds back I’d left my trike in Seoul, South Korea at the end of September 2018 and unless I wanted to fly out of South Korea, the options were fairly limited.  In fact without a flight my options were (a). Ferry back to Japan. (b). Ferry into China.

I’ve never been to China and so option (b) seemed the most desirable and how hard can it be to get a Chinese visa?

 

      NEW PASSPORT

  1. Before I could start the visa process I needed a new passport.  I actually still had until June 2022 before my passport expired but with only 2 clear pages remaining it was almost useless.  And here I discovered my first conundrum. Typically a new passport takes several weeks to attain and without a new passport and its number I couldn’t start a visa application process because every visa requires a valid passport number.
  2. Mission 1.  Get a new passport as quickly as humanly possible.   And it can be done very quickly if the following steps are followed:
  3. Make an appointment at the passport office.  This can be done on-line. I had monitored appointment availability during the preceding weeks.  Why? I expected to be available for an appointment early on the 21st February but if there were any problems with my flights from Kuala Lumpur and I missed my appointment I would forfeit the fee (basically the cost of my new passport).  I couldn’t afford to  wait several days for an appointment once I was back.  However I’d seen that there was daily appointment availability even if only booking the day before. So I didn’t book until I landed in Heathrow.
  4.  Have a paper passport application form ready for completion.  Fortunately my friend Kate had picked up an application during the preceding week.  Since I landed at 1630hrs on 20th and my appointment was for 0845hrs on 21st I had no time to do it myself.  
  5.  Photographs.   I stopped at a photograph booth in Heathrow airport.   
  6.  I had everything I needed and I’d repeatedly checked online as to how to complete the application form correctly.   I was in some doubt as to whether I’d changed significantly since my old passport photo. If the change is deemed significant then the new photographs have to be certified (‘’this is a true likeness…..blah, blah”) and the certifier has to complete part of my form.  I thought I really hadn’t changed significantly but I couldn’t take the risk. Fortunately Kate was able to sign my photos and application. Again this is something you can’t afford to get wrong. If your application form is rejected, you forgo your fee.
  7. At 0830hrs on 21st February I was queuing at the passport office (just behind Victoria  Station,London). By 0900hrs my paperwork had been accepted. My new passport would be ready in 4 hours.  The cost:

           £77 for 10 year passport

           £10 to have the extended 50 page version

           £100 for express, 4 hour service.

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8.   Yes, when I made my appointment online I had paid £187.  This is  non-refundable. You can’t afford to get this wrong!  Four hours later I had a brand new passport and I hadn’t even been home 24hours.

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CHINESE 2 YEAR MULTI ENTRY TOURIST VISA

9.  In the weeks leading up to my UK flight I had visited various Chinese visa sites time and repeatedly tried to establish what I needed to get my visa. I wanted a 2 year multi entry tourist visa.  I knew I could use a visa company and pay dearly for the service, or I could try and do it myself. However, I needed to make an appointment at the Chinese visa application centre in order to submit my application in person and have my fingerprints recorded.      But in order to make an appointment I needed a completed online application. But I couldn’t complete the form.  I just didn’t know what was the correct approach and no matter where I looked for advice on the Internet I still couldn’t find the answer as to how to do it. Here were my problem areas:

a.  I didn’t have a passport number, date of issue and expiry date.

b.  I knew I needed proof that I was entering and exiting China but to justify a 2 year visa how long a period did I need to be in China?

c.   I needed an itinerary and proof of stay but it needed to match my stay in China and without the answer to (b) I couldn’t do (c).

10.   It was a frustrating problem but Kate had the solution.  I should visit the Chinese visa application centre whilst waiting for my new passport and see if I could find the answers.   Since it’s near St Paul’s Cathedral this seemed a great idea. In total I had to visit the Chinese visa centre 3 times and each time it was like a mad house; absolute bedlam.   Who knew Chinese visa acquisition was such a popular pursuit?   On my first visit I wandered around and then joined a queue. I had no idea why people were queuing but there’s nothing I love better than a good queue and I’d been deprived of this basic British pastime for 4 years.  Whilst I stood in the queue I was busy trying to assess its purpose: where it led, what paperwork other queuees were holding and eavesdropping on snippets of  conversation.  Then I noticed a lady moving down the queue, chatting to queuees and checking their paperwork. And eventually she got to me and solved all my problems.  Yes a 2 year multi entry visa was easily achievable but I must only show a 30 day (or less) visit into China, anything more is deemed suspicious. I needed a flight in and out of China (a flight not a ferry or a train) supporting this fictitious 30 day visit and an itinerary or hotel booking to match. OMG simple! I scurried away, delighted by my discovery and only a little disappointed to have lost my opportunity to queue.

11.  I picked up my new passport and returned to Kate’s house in Streatham Hill.  Having a base in London is a ‘’must” if you’re embarking on this process. Back at base it was time to  complete my online Chinese visa application. I had my new passport number, issue and expiry date. I needed a flight into and out of China.  But I knew I wasn’t ever going to use this flight. The reality was that I would enter China on the ferry from South Korea. I needed a fully refundable flight.  By 9am on 22nd I was sick of searching the Internet for such a product and having exhausted my patience I phoned British Airways. Ten minutes later I had booked a fully refundable return flight to Bejing from London.  Cost £2500. Yes £2500 – thank God for credit cards!! Once that was done I was able to make one hotel booking in Bejing for the same dates using booking.com. Within minutes my online application was complete and I had all the paperwork I needed but unfortunately there were no appointments available for several days.

12.  I returned to the visa application centre on 28th February.   Despite having an appointment time I had to queue to be issued an appointment number and then had to wait until it was called.  I then submitted my printed application form, my photograph, my new passport, my flight confirmation and my hotel booking confirmation.   My paperwork was checked and accepted. I was then issued another ticket and had to wait downstairs to pay for my visa. Cost £151 for a 2 year multi entry.  I had wanted the passport posted out to me but I only had sufficient cash for this service. The delivery service is £181. They don’t accept credit cards and my debit card was out of date.  Once I had paid I was given a ‘’pick-up receipt”.  My passport with my Chinese visa would be available on the 7th March – that’s just 4 full working days.

13.   It was at this point that I decided on a course of action that would require a lot more effort and expense.  Instead of flying back to South Korea as I’d originally intended, I’d take the Trans Siberian railway, across Russia into Mongolia and finish in Bejing.  From there I could take a ferry into South Korea.  I timidly suggested my new idea to Kate who was absolutely in favour of the idea. Afterall when in the future would I want/need to travel West to East, Europe to Asia and already have completed a third of the visa requirements.   This just goes to show there are  few actions more stupid than those decided on impulse. All I needed was a Mongolian and Russian visa. Again I searched visa companies but they actually charge a premium but still require the client to provide an awful lot of the paperwork and it’s producing the paperwork that’s the major obstacle .

 

MONGOLIAN ONE MONTH, SINGLE ENTRY TOURIST VISA

14.   I made my decision about the Trans Siberian railway on the 1st March.  I needed to be in London on the 7th March to pick up my passport with my Chinese visa.  I needed my passport in order to get more visas. So that’s 6 days to get my paperwork completed.  

15 .   To get a Mongolian visa you need to know when you’ll be there.   (Actually I discovered AFTER the event this isn’t entirely accurate.   There’s a 90 day window to enter).  Since I didn’t know how long I wanted to be in UK and didn’t know how long to spend on the Tran Siberian journey then how could I decide on the correct dates for my visa.

16.  I needed proof of entry and exit into Mongolia and British Airways don’t flying into Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.  I thought booking my BA Bejing flight was inspired. A British company with English speakers allowing minumum room for misunderstanding and a British phone number are very important considerations when you know you will cancel the flight.   Stupidly I didn’t even research BA flights so it was pretty entertaining when the booking assistant asked ‘’where?” and then denied all knowledge of the country and the city.   BA do not fly to Mongolia .

17.  I considered booking a flight with another airline but eventually decided to book rail tickets for that part of my journey.  I had read the advice of “seat 61” the Internet rail enthusiast / expert and since the international leg of this journey is considered the pinch point of this journey with only 2 trains a week, it seemed a sensible option.  I used ‘’RealRussia” to make this booking. Ulan Ude, Siberian Russia to Ulaanbaatar,  Mongolia (548km) to Bejing, China (1167km).  The cheapest tickets are 2nd class and cost £300. Once I had decided to make train reservations the remainder was simple.

I needed:  Proof of entry/exit

                    Hotel Booking (booking.com)

                    Proof of insurance

                     Application form

                     Photograph

                     Proof of payment

18.  On the 7th March I caught the train into London to pick up my passport from the Chinese visa centre.  I had decided that once I had my passport I’d head to Kensington and the Mongolian embassy and apply for that visa.  I had realised that I would need the express Mongolian visa which takes 4 hours and costs £60. The alternative was to wait several days for the standard service which would mean another trip into London.  Unfortunately because I wanted to avoid peak rail travel periods I wasn’t able to get to the Chinese Visa Centre until 0945am. Having queued and presented my visa receipt at the reception desk I was issued with a numbered ticket and went downstairs to wait for my number.  If you think picking up a passport with a Chinese visa will be quick, think again. I was there nearly an hour and was practically pulling my hair out with impatience.  Why the high level of impatience?   Well I needed to submit my paperwork by 1200hrs.   Once I had my passport I hightailed it to the Mongolian embassy in Kensington. In the basement of the Mongolian Embassy is a drab room with one lady dealing with visa applications.   There must be very little demand for Mongolian visas because it’s only open 3 days a week and there was only one other customer in the basement, waiting. (I think the 3 day week is during winter months and low demand because I googled it today ((April 2019)) and it’s open Monday -Friday).  I submitted my paperwork and was told it was fine and was issued a pink raffle ticket and told to come back in 30 minutes. Yup it didn’t even take 4 hours. This is an incredibly low tech system compared to the Chinese Visa Centre.  So by lunchtime on 7th March I had 2 visas done and only one left to do.  My Mongolian visa was issued on the 7th March and is valid until June.

 

     RUSSIAN ONE MONTH SINGLE ENTRY TOURIST VISA.

19.    I spent hours trying to figure out how to get my Russian visa.   The Russian visa application is online and must be submitted in person because finger prints are recorded. The Russian visa application is even more challenging than the Chinese application.   It has numerous sections requiring very detailed information and I was unable to find any tips online telling me which sections weren’t applicable to me, a tourist.  Fortunately it’s possible to save an incomplete visa application and return to it at a later date.  This is a godsend because I returned to this baffling form time and time again.  Three specific questions were causing me a huge headache:

a. Which countries have you visited over the last 10 years and when, with a from and to section.  Wow that’s probably 50 countries and with actual dates? No chance.

b. Have you served in the military? Have you served during any conflicts, if yes when and what was the name of the conflict.

c. Give your full itinerary.

20.  Besides my problems with the application form I also needed “visa support documents”, but this must be issued by a Russian agency.  Hotel and travel booking proof won’t work. I used an online company that issues this official document for about €15. I just needed to give my personal details,  dates of travel and 5 cities on my itinerary.   I had the document in less than 5 minutes .

21.  By the 7th March I had everything I needed for my Russian visa except a completed application form.  I had expected to spend the day of the 7th in the Chinese and Mongolian visa centres – see I do know how to have a great day out in London.  But instead I had the afternoon free. So I headed to the Russian visa centre planning to beg for their mercy and be offered a ‘’shortened Russian visa application for dummies” and that’s exactly what I got.  I took my numbered ticket and waited for about ten minutes. I showed the assistant my paperwork and that was all fine. I explained that I couldn’t remember which countries I’d visited over the last 10 years and she looked at my brand new passport and said ‘’no entry or exit stamps, so no details required”.   I mentioned armed conflicts and she said one month tourist visa just say No. And for the itinerary just copy the support document. So that was it – simple. She pointed to a row of computers and told me to finish my online application.  There’s an assistant who monitors the computers and she repeatedly came to my aid.  She’s clearly used to us “dummies” trying to complete these forms and she’s happy to speed us on our way and off her computers.  She then printed my application.   I think use of the computer and printer cost about £5.00 but in terms of the help I’d received it was priceless. I took another numbered ticket and waited awhile and then submitted my completed paperwork and had my fingerprints scanned. Then I paid £184 for my one month, single entry tourist express visa which included delivery to a home address.   Yes, a hefty £184. The standard service is about £107 but it requires 21 working days to process so I just didn’t have enough time. One week later my passport was delivered, brand new and with 3 visas. This certainly wasn’t a cheap process especially with 2 express visas required but if I had used a visa agent I think it would have cost an additional £300.

Note 1:  for my military colleagues out there both the Chinese and Russian visa applications ask about military service but as you can see it doesn’t preclude getting the visa.

Note 2.   In retrospect the process above seems stress free but in reality it was horrendous.   Now I’ve succeeded and know the answers it’s easy.   But before I had the answers I kept phoning the visa centres above and I spent hours asking Mr Google for advice.  Unfortunately Mr Google has never bothered to complete a Russian visa application so he was as useful as a chocolate fireguard!

 

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Why volunteer? It can be a truly unforgettable experience (possibly for the wrong reasons)

 

It certainly wasn’t an auspicious start.  I arrived at the project and everyone stared at me as if I was a 3 headed dwarf.  They hadn’t been expecting me. How odd considering all the emails, texts and phone calls I had sent to Predo, one of the project leaders.

This immediately played on my insecurities.   I’d already spent 2 days prevaricating about going to the project.  Not an unusual activity for me. For the last 4 years even with 20 workaways under my belt each new meeting makes me want to run for the hills.  The ‘’fight or flight” syndrome I guess. I should be used to it by now; the unfamiliar, new people, a new ‘home’, a new regime but alas not. It’s the fear of the unknown and each time I have to ignore that insistent voice in my head telling me not to bother and force myself forward.

 

Where am I?

I’m at Bakau Hijau (Green Mangroves) a project situated on the river Merbok about 17km from Sungai Petani in Northern Malaysia.   The purpose of the project is to demonstrate to the local community how a tourism business can be run in a manner which is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

There are several aspects to the Project:

  1. the oyster farm
  2. replanting of the mangrove forests, which are subject to deforestation because the trees are used for firewood, construction,  and charcoal production. Mangrove forests are one of the world’s most threatened tropical ecosystems with 35% already gone.
  3. Tourism: there are River cruises,  and accommodation available in the house boat
  4. finally there’s education.

 

How do I come to be here?

I don’t know if you remember Fran? He was the motorcycling Spanish guy I met on a workaway in India around this time last year.  He had some ‘must-see’ recommendations as well as 2 ‘unmissable’ workaway projects, the Mindfulness Project in Khon Kaen and this one.  Actually technically not here but on Palau Bidan island, the sister project, where the project community work off grid, are self-sufficient and protect and nurture the Island’s nature and ecosystems.  Due to time constraints I won’t be seeing Palau Bidan this time but it’s on my bucket list as I may well cycle through Malaysia in 2020.

 

How to volunteer.

I’ve been using workaway.info for the last 4 years but there are similar sites such as HelpX.net and WWOOF.net.  All charge a membership fee but have thousands of hosts all over the world. Most expect 5 hours of work a day for 5 days and then allow 2 days off.  The pay-off is free food and accommodation. In less developed countries a contribution may be required but usually it’s no more than $5 a day. I’m paying here as I did in Nepal and at the Mindfulness Project in Thailand.  Here the contribution is 20 Ringgit per day (£3.70). Of course there are charitable and animal/environmental conservation projects also available in most countries but often they charge a considerable fee. Jane, the Canadian nurse from my last Solarblue sailing post, did plan to assist a charity in Nepal but she was expected to pay $800 for 2 weeks of work.

 

A working day

Usually a working day and what’s required is clearly outlined by the host. I love this.  Structure! It’s not that I have OCD (do I?) but after 22 years in the Army I’m used to structure.  What am I supposed to achieve, how best can it be achieved and how long have I got to achieve it. Some hosts are very particular about exactly how the job should be done (just anal retentive really) but also this is their turf and they’ve done the job a thousand times, so they are the SME (Subject Matter Expert) and you’re a fool if you ignore this advice because in all probability the job will be a 100 times harder and you’ll alienate your host.  

Unfortunately Bakau Hijau was nothing like this.  There was a list of jobs written on the blackboard.   Sweeping and cleaning, washing up and watering the plants but it only amounted to about 30 minutes of work.  Initially Julia and Myer, 2 experienced volunteers, were there to guide the way. Unfortunately they left for a festival after 1 day and I was left with 2 Malay interns, Balie and Fikri, Maksu and her family and various other Malay visitors / contractors.   I was joined by a new German volunteer, Lily, and her 2 kids on my second day but she didn’t seem keen to do any work. So she didn’t. Perhaps it’s the Malay way or perhaps they are used to the Lily’s of the world but initially they would never ask me to do a job.  Instead I had to catch them working and offer to help, or guess what might be required. As the week progressed they grew less reticent and asked if I wanted to help but even then there were significant barriers to overcome. It might be too hot to work, too early in the day, too late in the day, lunchtime,  breakfast time or any other reasons why work couldn’t progress. Once work did start it was anything but plain sailing. Tools, equipment and know-how were in such short supply that tasks couldn’t be finished or took an inordinate amount of time to complete. Balie and Fikri were my compadres, my partners in crime.  Two young Malay interns here for 5 months. Oddly they’re both Marketing students and I was at a loss to see the connection between marketing and their work at the project.

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There were occasions when watching them work was hilarious but more often it was just frustrating. They were told what to do but not given any guidance on how to do it and without tools it was impossible to finish some tasks whilst others were just one huge bodge job.  I thought my DIY skills were limited but compared to these young lads I looked pretty knowledgeable but without tools we still struggled with most jobs. We had no drill, no screws, only a few nails, a watering hose that don’t reach the mangrove nursery and a watering can with a hole in the bottom.

Oysters

The oysters need to be cleaned periodically with a scraper to remove the barnacles.  These oysters are in the baskets for over a year before they’re large enough to eat so scraping them

allows continued healthy grow but also ensures that the barnacle growth isn’t so extensive that it’s impossible to shuck the oyster.  It’s also an opportunity to put them back in clean baskets. If the oysters are being sold they are scraped and scrubbed clean before they’re shucked.  Customers are charged 5 Ringgit per oyster, about £1.00. The project has a lab where baby oysters are made. One morning Matzu tipped out 12 baskets, about 120 oysters and then Balie, Julia and I sat there for about 4 hours scraping them clean of barnacles before returning them to the river in clean baskets.  We had several visitors come up the river by boat and stopped by to taste our oysters.

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Mangrove seeds

I was very excited by the idea of replanting mangrove forests but sadly during my short stay there wasn’t the opportunity.   Instead I became a very dedicated collector of mangrove seeds. Unfortunately no-one gave me specific guidance on how to maximise seed collection. These seeds fall from the mangrove trees and so it’s just a case of picking them up.  But at high tide there’s water everywhere and at low tide it’s all horrible sucking, stinky mud. I tried walking along the river bank at high tide, low tide and various levels in-between and kayaking at high and low tide.

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Over my brief stay I did collect and pot over 200 seeds but these seeds need to be potted and nurtured until they have have rooted and produced new green shoots. Unfortunately the mangrove nursery had been neglected and was probably suffering from insufficient watering so we threw away about 200 seeds which had died.  Very depressing.

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Doggie workaway and sailing the Solarblue – 21st Dec to 9th Feb

Friday 21st December

A flight back to Phuket and Diana kindly offers to pick me up and then it’s back to the doggie hotel.  Fortunately I remember all the dogs except the Christmas borders. It’s a full house with Bolle, Max, Minie, Flecky, Chiva, Katie and Perry, Paris and Archie.  

It’s great to be back and there’s plenty to do with so many dogs staying.

 

Thursday 27th December

Diana’s workaway, Thalang

Well it has been a busy time.  Besides the usual dog chores of grooming, washing, feeding and picking up dog poo,  there’s also been painting, Facebook postings, vaccinations to check and various other random jobs Diana wants completed.

We’ve also been out for some lovely meals.

  On Christmas Eve we went out with Gustee and Mai to a German restaurant and Christmas Day we went out with Gift and Kit (Diana’s Thai employees) to my favourite restaurant for a fabulous meal.

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And the dogs have had some great treats too.  Yummy Christmas dinner with duck mince and raw chicken feet – that’s for the dogs not me!

 

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There’s also been time for shit TV, Professional Masterchef, The Apprentice, Homeland and some movies. Sadly I’ve failed to follow my intended regime of yoga and meditation but I guess there’s always tomorrow?

 

Tuesday 1st January

Diana’s workaway, Thalang

Another year done.  And so much already pencilled in for 2019 – surfing, sailing, UK visit, China, Mongolia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.  Wow it tires me out just looking at the list and I’m its creator – perhaps I need something less ambitious. Last night Diana and I went to Layan Beach where we met Gustee and Mai.  We’d stopped to buy dinner en route so we had a beach picnic. My first ever beach picnic and particularly special because it was on New Year’s Eve. It was obviously a popular pastime because there were hundreds of others there,  mostly Thais, doing the same thing. And there were fireworks and Chinese lanterns to enhance the atmosphere. A great way to see in the New Year, 2019 here I come!

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Over the last few days I’ve continued to be busy, looking after all the dogs and posting promotional material on Facebook for Diana.   Word seems to be spreading because Diana’s had about 5 new potential doggie customers that she had to decline because of insufficient space.  

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And Little and Large – well Max and Minie.

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My new sleeping companion.  Poopy!  Better company than the last one and lets me have the remote .

 

Sadly over the next few days we’re losing a number of dogs; Archie, Katie and Perry, Max and Minie and Sugar and Pela. Gosh it’s going to be so quiet with so many leaving.

Despite being busy with all the dogs I did find time to publish my Mindfulness Project blog and edit some videos.  I was absolutely blown away by the response. I didn’t realise how many people actually read my inane ramblings but to receive such overwhelmingly positive and supportive comments was truly touching.  Thank you everyone. And whilst my planned yoga sessions and surfing exercises remain unfulfilled I have started meditating first thing in the morning and I’m currently using guided sessions with Joe Dispenza, which are pretty cool.

Tuesday 8th January

Diana’s workaway, Thalang

Today is my last day at Diana’s and tonight I fly to Penang and then tomorrow to Bali.  Many dogs have returned home over the last week but one of my favourites, Paris, is still here and I always make sure I set aside time to give her loads of cuddles.  

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We’ve also been joined by a travel dog, Jamie, who initially was terrified of everybody and everything but over only a few days has transformed into a waggy tailed mass of playfulness and affection.  Ahhh so sweet. She’s come from the Government pound so she isn’t used to the space, the big rooms or all the attention. At the pound other dogs bullied and attacked her but here they all get along well and if any dog misbehaves or is too aggressive Diana soon lets them know that such behaviour is unacceptable.   Watching Diana work with these packs and integrating new dogs has been very interesting. It’s taught me a lot on how to deal with bad behaviour in a dog and how to illicit the behaviour I want. We’ve also had a few unpleasant experiences in the last week. One of our short stay borders was poorly during his visit and subsequently died.  One of our travel dogs, Lisa, seems to have lost the interest of her owner who is now back in Germany so God knows how that will end and whether Lisa will fly to Germany as originally planned or end up in the local Government pound. We also had a beautiful young husky pup stay with us briefly but she appeared to have no strength in her rear end and legs and if she ran and jumped her rear end / legs would flop as they gave way.   It was painful to watch and we thought it was painfully obvious all was not well and yet her owners had never noticed anything wrong. Most peculiar.

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In addition to dog care I’ve had an epic run on shit TV, primarily BBC Iplayer. I have a SIM with unlimited data and a VPN so I’ve enjoyed a Luther rerun. Bloody fantastic. And then the occasional episode of First Dates. The bad news was my shit TV preoccupation meant I skipped a few dinner outings with Diana but my farewell meal at my most favourite restaurant was fantastic and just thinking about the spicy mango salad and soft shelled crabs we ate still makes my mouth water like crazy.  

What a feast!

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I will miss all the great food I’ve had in Phuket and having my own personal restaurant guide and translator.  Thank you Diana!

 

Wednesday 9th January

Last night I flew to Penang and slept in a coffin.  Actually they’re called capsules. I’d always steered clear of these concerned that I’d feel too claustrophobic to sleep but actually it was ace.  

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My own TV, reading lights, aircon and total privacy once I locked myself in. Today I head back to Penang Airport for my flight to Denpasar, Bali via Kuala Lumpur.  In Bali I’m staying at Kimasurf, Seminyak and I’m going to learn to surf. They even provide free airport transfers so once I’ve landed I just need some local currency and then it’s simply a case of finding my lift.  A period of low grade panic ensues as I walk up and down looking for someone holding the piece of paper with my name on it. My eyesight is such that it’s some time before I’m convinced that there definitely isn’t a sign and I’m happy to venture further from the arrivals Hall.  I feel a huge wave of relief when I finally spot my name. There’s only me and the driver and it’s gone 11pm when I’m finally shown to my 8 man dorm. Time to sleep before the surfing adventure begins.

 

Friday 18th January

Kimasurf, Bali

For the last 9 days I’ve been learning to surf.  

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For the first 3 days I was enrolled in surf school.  Surf school includes 3 lessons on the waves and one in the pool.  There were 3 other girls in surf school when I started but because they were on day 2 and I was on day 1 I had my own personal surf coach.  Initially I did really well and with 2 days of 1 on 1 tuition I was feeling really chuffed with my success. Unfortunately it seems my technique wasn’t actually that good and from day 3 onwards I really start to struggle.  Basically I can’t bring my front foot far enough forward and it gets stuck in various places (always the wrong place, facing the wrong way) and I constantly struggle to adjust it and invariably fall off the board. As a result I decide this sport is stupidly tough and exhausting.   After several days my problem is finally disagnosed by my surf coaches and now I simply need to learn a new ‘popping’ up technique but by this stage I’m so confused and so tired that joining each lesson is a huge motivational hurdle. I’ve also been joining the daily yoga sessions with Hanu, a Finnish guy.  I’ve done an Astanga session and several Hatha sessions and already I can see a significant improvement from my start point at the beginning of December. Unfortunately my new love affair with yoga is almost completely decimated after a Yin session. In theory it sounds like a slow paced, relaxing session where poses are held considerably longer than in the other disciplines to target the fascia and connective tissue.  The aim in yoga is to relax into each position so in each new pose we adopt I try to breathe deeply and relax and deepen the stretch. So far so good. It’s only when I need to move into the next pose that I discover I’m almost totally locked into this one and that unlocking myself is incredibly painful. Ninety minutes later and it’s over; the relief is immense but so is the pain. So much for a relaxing session. By the following morning my body feels as if I’ve been hit by a truck.  I head to the beach with my board but soon realise my body is too exhausted to do this class justice and I decide to head back for breakfast. Later I tell my instructors the problem and they suggest a massage. Off I go to seek some relief. But of course I’m a mass of sore and aching muscles and my 60 minute body massage is more pain than pleasure. I can’t believe this is a holiday pursuit, it feels more like a punishment camp!! Everything I do leads to pain and more pain.  But there’s been a brief reprieve some some sightseeing.

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Today is my last day here.   Tomorrow I’m leaving Bali and heading back to Krabi in Thailand for a 3 week sailing experience.   I’m really looking forward to it because I’m hoping it’ll be a doddle after this camp. But of course my last sailing adventure was a total disaster so perhaps I’m being over optimistic !

 

Sunday 20th January

I left Kimasurf yesterday at 9am but it has taken almost 36hours to reach Krabi.  Actually the 2 flights I needed from Denpasar to Kuala Lumpur and from KL to Penang were short but the connection times were dreadful – I don’t know what I was thinking when I chose these flights. I spent 10 hours at Kuala Lumpur airport  and then 5 hours in Penang before heading off for my 5.45am bus to Yat Hai. This journey includes the border crossing into Thailand where passing through Immigration takes several hours. From Yat Hai I have a few hours to wait until my Krabi bus and I’m told I’m at the wrong bus terminal.   I get a lift to the other bus terminal and again the ticket staff phone my bus company but they want to send me back to the first bus terminal. Arggghhh. Finally they tell me to walk down the road and wait outside the 7/11 and I’ll be picked up at 1pm. I have my doubts so I’m totally relieved when I do get picked up.  

Finally I arrive in Krabi. It’s been 36 hours with only a few hours sleep so I’m happy to be staying in a lovely hostel in town tonight.

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A hot shower, a fabulously comfortable bed and air conditioning.

Wednesday 23rd January

After a relaxing night at the hostel I’m in no rush to go anywhere.   I’ve spoken to my new skipper and he’s going to be busy today restocking the boat so there’s no rush.  Eventually I make my way to Krabi Marina, find the boat, Solarblue, and my 2 crewmates. They’re Ben (French) and Ann (French Canadian) from Montreal and they’ve already been on the boat for a week.  We chat for the next few hours over a beer. These guys are travelling for 6 months but their first stop was travelling by 4×4 pickup with rooftop tent in Botswana and Namibia. Their stories and experiences sound so great that this is definitely going on my bucket list.

Late afternoon I meet John (Australian) and Tassy (Thai), the skipper and his wife.  

They’ve been busy shopping for food and fuel and they’re pretty pooped so for a relaxing evening they take us to the nearby night market for dinner.  My first night aboard is uneventful but by 10am we’re catching the tide out of Krabi Marina and we actually sail to our first island, Koh Poda (so already this trip is outperforming the trimaran) . The winds are light but we set both the jib and main sail.  Tassy and Ann cook Pad Thai for lunch and once we’ve dropped anchor there’s time for snorkeling. For dinner I help Tassy prepare a green curry which is so simple to make yet so delicious. Only one day done and it’s already so different from my last ‘sailing’ trip.  This morning we were up and sailing by 6.30am because we have quite a long leg to Koh Lanta and the wind and tide aren’t going to be in our favour.

For the majority of this leg we set both main and jib and only need motoring back up at the end. We drop anchor in the bay and then Ann and Ben paddle us ashore in the kayak and we have a few beers on the beach.  My crew mates are fabulous company. Ann is hilarious because she pulls such animated faces when she’s telling a story and Ben sounds exactly like Fred from First Dates, the head of house, super sexy Frenchman.

 

Thursday 24th January

Last night’s mooring left us quite exposed and so there was a lot of boat movement and noise and we’re up by 5.30am to hit our dive site in Koh Ha on time.  Unfortunately we’ve managed to jam the main sail so no sailing for us this morning instead we have to motor. Koh Ha is a collection of 5 islands or 5 big rocks.  This is supposed to be a great dive site but whilst Ben and Ann wait for their dive boat I’m content to snorkel. It’s a little rough but the waters are incredibly clear and there’s so much to see: Angel fish, Clown Fish, Parrot and Puffer fish just to name a few!

Later we head to Maya Bay, location of The Beach (remember the film with Leonardo Decaprio?), and moor up for the night.  Unfortunately tourists are no longer allowed to set foot upon The Beach. We have another snorkeling session and then watch the sunset.  When we arrived this place was jammed with tourist boats but by 8pm we’ve got the place to ourselves. It’s a lovely peaceful night.

 

Friday 25th January

This morning it’s a nice relaxed start but eventually we move off before the Park Rangers grab us and make us buy a ticket.   We head to Koh Bida Nok where we have the most fantastic snorkeling: Moray eels, Black tip reef sharks, Angel fish and so many others.   The visibility is incredible. Later we sail along Koh Phraya Nak and John anchors so we can go and explore a popular bay and see Viking’s Cave.  

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John has spotted another popular dive site along this island so we head off for our last snorkeling session of the day.

 

Saturday 26th January

Today we head to Koh Poda.  Unfortunately John hasn’t been able to unjam the main sail so we’re only able to set the jib and use the motor for additional speed.  We snorkel and paddle round the island in search of beer. Unfortunately this island is now a park and drinking is banned but we find a party boat and they sell us a few cans on the proviso we hide it and take it back to our boat.

 In addition to finding beer we also see the double billed Toucan which apparently is very rare.

Sunday 27th January

Krabi Marina

Today we head back to Krabi Marina.   We have a change of crew. Ben and Ann are leaving and we’re getting two new crew members, Jane the Canadian and Oleg from the Ukraine.   

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I’m really going to miss Ben and Ann. We got on so well and had a great time learning to sail and exploring Thai Islands together.   They’re heading off to Nepal next and I’m sure they’ll have a great time.

Monday 28th to Saturday 9th February

So what an experience this turned out to be.  Oleg’s a free diver and enjoys diving down to 20metres just so he can stalk a scuba dive group and scare the bejesus out of them.

He had hundreds of extraordinary travel tales often involving police, alcohol or drugs and usually all 3.  When he’s not with his wife and kids, he travels with his special Ukrainian gang of male buddies.  Possibly they’re all suffering from some sort of mid life crisis hence all the trouble they get in.  Plus their holiday destinations seem to be chosen by searching where not to go and what not to do and then doing that.  For example: hiring a self drive car and driving hundreds of miles in Nicaragua along a mountain road without a guide (and speaking no Spanish) and then drinking copious quantities of vodka and wondering why the check posts were such an issue.

Then there’s Nurse Jane from Canada who appears to suffer from tourettes and likes a drink or 20 .  She’s also the least nurse like person I’ve ever met.  Any injury and she suggests it’s bathed in salt water whilst having a beer.  So perhaps you’re getting the picture: a crazy mix!

Together we explored the sea caves and Hongs (hollow lagoons in the centre of islands) and studied the strange Karst features created by the dissolution of limestone islands.

Our kayak paddling adventures were often emotional as we were sent off to explore caves for bats (Jane and I hate bats) or to find access to the Hongs along dark and claustrophobic tunnels.

In addition to the exploring, there was sailing, enjoying the incredible scenery and eating the fabulous meals cooked by Tassy.

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So this adventure finally came to an end.

Clearly a goodbye celebration was in order so we visited the Krabi night market to eat, drink and watch the entertainment.   The following day I headed off to Sungai Petani and despite having no bus tickets or any real plan I actually made it with a combination of bus rides and hitching.  Definitely thanks to Oleg getting me to the bus station.  Result.

Scooter ride to bus station

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I only had to wait ten minutes for the bus to Hat Yai.  But at Hat Yai I was reduced to full on panic when I lost my phone.  I’d left it at the ticket booth.  Walking through the Thai and Malay border at 6pm was a bit bizarre.  No-one else seemed to be doing it.  But just outside the Malay border and I got a lift.  It only took ten minutes and the lovely couple fed and watered me for the entire trip.

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Final note:

For those observant ones out there you might have noticed that Darren no longer features in my blog.  This is because we are no longer a couple/travelling companions.

 

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“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always” – The Mindfulness Project – 2-20th Dec

Sunday 2nd December

Yesterday we left Diana’s Dog Resort to spend our last few hours together at a hotel near the Airport.  Ah how poignant I hear you cry. Hardly!!! Daz’s right arm is now incredibly swollen, very painful and currently totally dysfunctional from Mocha’s bite (the extremely emotionally disturbed dog at Diana’s).  He also looks really rough (like shit actually) and just wants to sleep but he’s having hot and cold flushes and he can’t get comfortable with his painful arm so sleep is hard to come by. At 3am he’s up and off for his flight to Cambodia whilst I try to get more sleep before my flight to Khon Kaen.  

At 9.30am I’ve actually managed to book in for my flight. I’m already impressed that I’ve managed to get this far because this is the first time I’ve had to do anything on my own since January 2015. It sounds pathetic but actually it’s pretty scary!

I was more independent in the Army. Now I’m totally reliant on Daz because we’ve been together constantly for the last 4 years.  What makes it worse is that I’m off to “The Mindfulness Project” in Khon Kaen, a community of ‘’hippies”.

The Mindfulness Project is a radical new approach to a holistic life style. It adopts proven methods in the fields of meditation, yoga,  psychology, Permaculture, natural building, arts and combines them into a healing system to transform ourselves and the environment.
This amazing system has been scientifically researched by the University of Murcia, Spain and has shown amazing results! Sounds good huh?  Well let’s see.

This is a totally new experience for me and so beyond my comfort zone that it is almost impossible to describe.  And the problem with stepping out of my comfort zone, well it’s extremely uncomfortable. I’m already worried and on edge, and I’m not even there yet. I’m also doing it without Daz because he would rather stick hot needles in his eyes than indulge in such a “hippy, freaky, navel gazing exercise”.  I’ve also had to make special preparations because at the retreat only natural washing products are allowed (but I guess I should be grateful that the hippy volunteers actually wash!) and in a few days time we’re off on a pilgrimage so I’ve had to borrow a rucksack and other stuff from Diana.

At the airport it’s time for breakfast.   I feel like a condemned man waiting for his last meal. Wow surely I should be embracing this new opportunity not feeling like the sword of Damacles is hanging over my head!  Ummm if it were my last meal what would I have???? Subways it is then!!!

 

From the airport at Khon Kaen I catch a bus to the central bus station then grab a Songtaeu, which drops me on the main road by the turning  to the Project.

 

All that’s left is a 5km walk with my 18kg pack. I’m just preparing for the off when a guy, Taylor, from the project offers me a lift on his moped.  Excellent.

At the project there must be around 35 volunteers many of whom greet me over the next few hours.  Some want to hug – arghhhhhhh. All this hugging is offputting and all these names, I’m never going to remember who everyone is!  Most are heading to the cafe for the afternoon so I have time to organise my bedspace – at last a reprieve. At 6pm there’s the talking circle.  We all sit in a circle and our teacher, Christian, asks 2 questions. What was your happiest moment of the day and what do you love about yourself?  So that’s fun – speaking in front of 35 strangers. So everyday we will have a talking circle and there will always be 2 questions. The first is always ‘’what was the best/happiest moment of your day”, a trick to start focussing your mind on the positives and stop the relentless negative commentary in your head and the second, well I guess the 2nd question is usually designed to uncover those anxieties locked within.  

After the talking circle there’s guided meditation.   This is my first ever meditation session and for this session we’re paired off and have to stare into each other’s eyes, and then beyond the eyes into their soul/Heart.  The session lasts about 40:minutes and is so tough and discomforting for me but I want to try and do this shit and give my partner a committed experience. So I try my damnest to follow Christian’s instructions and after all I’ve followed orders for the majority of my life so basically I just do what comes easily whilst trying to push aside feelings of embarrassment and stupidity.  After this exercise we hug (and it’s a bloody long hug) and my partner seems moved by our session and I’m happy that it seemed to go well. All hugs here are very long. Apparently a 12 second hug induces the release of feel good pheromones. Really? Currently a short hug feels wrong and a really long hug just feels as wrong but for considerably longer. By 8.30pm we’re done and I can escape to bed.  

Monday 3rd December

Today starts at 5.30am when the gong is struck.  Yoga starts at 6am and is followed by meditation.  So this is my first yoga session and my first solitary but guided meditation.   

It’s followed by more hugging. Arghhhhh. All of this is conducted in silence.  We’re not allowed to talk until after breakfast. After breakfast work starts. There’s either gardening, kitchen chores or helping to build Poo Castle.  Poo Castle is the new shower and toilet block with a collection tank underneath.

Poo Castle, toilets, dorm, and showers. Almost 5* luxury!

 

 

 

The Poo Castle is made of mud. There are pits in which soil, rice husks and water are  mixed by foot, treading in the pit. Then we fill buckets with the mud and then the walls are plastered.

Many many hours later it’s time for our introductory brief and then lunch.   After lunch we gather to say farewell to 3 volunteers. Then more hugging. There have also been random hugfests throughout the day.   Everywhere I look people are hugging.

The talking circle tonight is a bit different.   It’s Marieta’s birthday so it’s pay Marieta a compliment or wish her something for the future and happiest moment of the day. After that there’s the teaching.  I’ve had a banging headache most of the day and by the time I get to bed I’m feeling nauseous so it’s been a tough day. Also I’m feeling distinctly uncomfortable amongst this crowd.  In fact this is a huge understatement. This is like my own personal hell. I reckon the average age is 25 and most are in or have just left education and of course they’re all backpacking.  Most are vegetarians and fairly used to yoga and / or meditation. To me they’re like some sort of alien species, totally scary and intimidating and I feel like I’ve been dropped into this environment with absolutely no idea as to how I’m going to break through the imaginery yet very real barriers between them and me.  Perhaps I should just leave but that is so weak and pathetic that of course it’s the very, very last thing I would allow.

Tuesday 4th December

Today’s 5am yoga is with Abbey and it’s physically tough.  This is followed by meditation which is also physically demanding.   Sitting in the cross legged Lotus position is bearable for about 30 seconds then the pain starts.  After 40 minutes I’m in serious pain. The yoga and meditation are both difficult for me. In yoga I don’t know any of the positions so I’m constantly trying to see what everyone does when they’re told to transit from the Barking Dog to the Dancing Bear.  Some positions are relatively easy for me whilst others are well beyond challenging – I currently have the flexibility of a breeze block and laugh inside when I see others practically fold themselves in half whilst I’m still trying to get my head anywhere vaguely close to my knees.  In meditation I find it hard to concentrate. It’s highly unlikely that my meditation is following the right path for the entire session but I think I have phases where it goes well and after all this is just about practice and refining the technique . Meditation also makes me feel vaguely nauseous, whether this is physical or emotional I don’t know.  Today I started to cry in meditation and it continued intermittently throughout meditation and breakfast – how embarrassing . Why am I crying – well I have absolutely no idea. However I think the crying proves to be the icebreaker and several people ask me if I’m OK and give me a hug – yes one of those really long hugs. Whilst this makes me cry more it does make me feel better and they tell me that crying here is normal.  The yoga, the meditation release trapped/suppressed emotion. Well wow isn’t this just going to be a bundle of laughs. By the time work starts I’ve settled down and I help with Poo Towers collecting water and mud for the plastering.

 

It’s actually a great day, a vast improvement on yesterday and I’m starting to get to know some people and chat. Earlier Abbey, Jeannie and Julia helped me through the emotional phase and at Poo Castle I discover Bruce and Damien are very funny.  And the talking circle is ‘’happiest moment and proudest achievement of the last 12 months.” There’s no teaching today but we watch a documentary ‘’Free the Mind” about how a deep breathing/meditation exercise affected autistic children and post Gulf war American vets with PTSD. The study was only over 7 days but the positive benefits were extreme. I’m beginning to think there might be something to this stuff.

Wednesday 5th December

Today yoga and meditation is taken by Taylor and he actually gives pointers for the total beginner – brillant.   He actually gives tips on finding a comfortable or more comfortable meditation position. Both sessions are excellent but oddly today the tears start in yoga and continue into meditation.   How bizarre. Oh well. I don’t question the reason for the tears, I don’t think there’s any point. I feel fine, not sad or unhappy so the tears are definitely a peculiarity. But if I cry I’ll get some hugs and I’m beginning to like the hugging.  Some people in particular are really great huggers and the hug is so comforting. After meditation I help to water the fruit trees and then its breakfast. The meals here are totally vegetarian. I haven’t had tea or coffee since I’ve been here and alcohol and drugs are banned.  Talk about clean living – my body doesn’t know what’s hit it!

Breakfast time. No eating until everyone is present and we’ve said Grace.

 

After breakfast we gather to discuss our imminent pilgrimage.  Christian and the project have close associations with the local temple and monks and they are organising a Dhammayatra.

Dhamma meaning virtue, righteousness, social duty, cosmic law and order
Yatra meaning pilgrimage to holy places

The Dhammayatra we are taking part in is a pilgrimage to raise awareness for peace, nature, and the plight of the Lampatao River Basin where the walk will take place. It will call in at various monasteries over its 100km route and take 8 days. We are joining for the last 3 days only.

So we need to pack and then we have a 4 hour Songtaeu trip to the start point.  The trip is really entertaining as I’m sharing with a great crowd; Bruce, Damien, Tess, Mila and Jeannie.  We finally arrive around 5pm, it’s taken much longer than anticipated.

We set up camp and a few of us have a quick dip in the river and then it’s time for prayers. First there’s chanting for about an hour.  Then a talk from the Pi Sal, I think he’s the Senior Monk here. After the talk our group gathers with Prat (Monk) Jok who translates the key points of the talk and tells us the programme for tomorrow. It’s very interesting that the Monks have given up all the material attachments of modern life and focus only on the moment.  The Pi Sal’s talk is always about the walk, why we’re walking and how to focus on the beauty and feelings from the walk and not to start daydreaming or allow that inner voice to start its unrelenting commentary on life.

Thursday 6th December

We’re up at 4am.  There’s some packing to do but there’s plenty of time to wander the area and see what’s cooking.  Breakfast won’t be until about 7.30am but there’s food available before then and it’s all free. I wander around drinking coffee and snacking on various treats.  

These fantastic people give up their time to support this walk. At 5am the chanting starts, then there’s the talk and our translation . Then breakfast which is just an incredible spread of food – magnificent.   We finally start walking at about 8.40am. Many of the monks are walking barefoot so Christian and some of the volunteers have decided to do the same. The monks walk in silence so again some of us do the same. We’re also encouraged to meditate during the walk, focusing on each footstep, the nature and the beauty around us.  To live in the moment and not worry about what is to come. During the day there are regular stops and there’s always food and drinks available. Lunch is another magnificent spread with plenty of choice.

The day is long but what a fantastic day. Many in the group have managed barefooted although poor Mila is in agony. So many local Thais have supported the walk offering up a smile, a wave, or snacks or drinks for the weary Walker.  We finish at 6.20pm having walked 24km.

 

Then once we set up camp it’s time for chanting and the talk from the Pi Sal.  We also need to wash and eat.

Friday 7th December

Today is much like yesterday but the distance is about 16km so it’s a much easier day.  I’ve settled in now and I’m enjoying this incredible experience on the walk and I’m connecting with some of the volunteers.  

 

 Definitely not with everyone but I’m pleased with the progress I have made. When connections are made they are somehow on a much deeper level than usual, revealing the deeper anxieties and pain that we all shut away.  

 

Saturday 8th December

The walk is over but we’re still up early for chanting and the talk.  After breakfast there’s a closing ceremony in the river and then it’s pack up time and we’re off back to the Project.

 

 

Monday 10th December

Yesterday was a rest day giving us time for some extra sleep, laundry and a chance to visit the nearby Volunteer Cafe for a delicious smoothie, lava cake and quiche.  Today I’m a little anxious because loads of people I have connected with have left or are just leaving. Jeannie, Bruce, Steve, Julia and Abbey will be gone! It’s very sad to see them leave but I need to move passed that sadness and focus on new possibilities.   It actually turns out to be a great day. I work in the garden with Damien and others, cutting wood and laying mulch around all the fruit trees.

 

Tuesday 11th December

Today is a really shit day.  I’m fine when I get up and both yoga and meditation go well  but something soon after meditation triggers my emotions and I cry intermittently throughout the day.  In the early days when I cried I actually felt OK but today I actually feel miserable. Eventually after a nap and an episode of Masterchef I feel steady enough to cope with the talking circle.   Instead of a teaching we watch a documentary about the greatest boxing match ever – Muhammad Ali v George Foreman – The Rumble in The Jungle Explained. Ali was the underdog and yet won the match.  Ali demonstrated his Warrior archetype as explained by Jung. Christian has already explained the 4 archetypes put forward by Jung; the King/Queen, The Warrior, the Magician and the Lover. It’s a great fight but watching Ali play to the audience is incredible – he’s larger than life.  An inspiration.

Friday 14th December

The last 3 days have been completely full on.  Wednesday morning we spent the morning at a High School in Khon Kaen.   We were expecting the kids to have a basic grasp of English but soon discovered they didn’t so it was incredibly challenging trying to interact, play games and teach them some English.   But we all persevered and had a great time but it was so exhausting.

Thursday we had to prepare a concrete base to the dome on the Poo Castle so there was a large group of us mixing cement.  

And today the children from Khon Kaen visited us at the project and we entertained them for the morning. But I cunningly selected kitchen duties to avoid the little blighters.

 

There’s also been a pizza party for Andrea’s birthday which was pretty wild despite the complete non-existence of alcohol.   We’ve also had some tough talking circles. One in particular ‘’if a fairy offered you a chance to relive your jchildhood, what would you change”. Wow what a question. Since my parents have rarely had a civil word to say to each other their entire marriage, (and since my eldest brother is 57 and I guess they must have been married over 77 years!!!), rarely laugh, never hug and constantly bicker then I guess I’m spoilt for choice.   Some here have had a truly horrific childhood and tonight many tears are shed.

Sunday 16th December

More fabulous people have left which I still find difficult but there are some great people here, Allegra, Lviv, Damien, Paja and many others.  Hugging has become the norm now and I love it. I’m still getting up early for yoga and meditation and just trying to learn as much as I can from this experience.   Yesterday we were up at 4.30am to do our chores before heading to the village monastery for meditation. First we chant, then we eat breakfast with the monks and then there’s a 2 hour teaching with Christian followed by meditation.   

Christian teaches us standing and walking meditation so at least that’s a break from the Lotus position, which I still find incredibly tough after only a short period. After meditation we’re finished for the day although there is an adhoc session of acro-yoga. I join in briefly but it’s so entertaining just to watch.

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Today we have a whole day off and most of the group head off to the reservoir.  The remainder of us plan to relax (Paja, Damien and Kavon) but instead it turns into a super intense session with deeply probing questions.   I thought talking circle with Christian was tough but this was way harder and goes on for most of the day; first at the project then over pad Thai at lunchtime in the village and then continues at the cafe over lava cake and smoothie.

In addition to the questioning Paja also uses her Oracle cards to ascertain our path in life and I actually believe in the results.

Wednesday 19th December

The last few days have been filled with the usual activities.  The project closes on 21st December and most people are leaving so there’s been laundry runs to get all the project stuff washed;  the mosquito nets are repaired and there’s a push to finish the Poo Castle. I help dig 2 trenches for the pipework. One to supply water to the Castle and one to remove the grey water.  There’s also the very dramatic head shaving event. Allegra and Lviv have almost dreamed of cutting off their hair and where better for such a dramatic event than the project.

Some people are staying after 21st. There’s a 10 day meditation phase starting on 28th December, Vipassana Meditation. My adopted children Paja, Clem and Damien are staying for this. Why do I have 3 adopted children?  Well the other day Paja realised I was the same age as her actual mother and since I’m old enough I volunteered to be her adoptive mother. So now I have 3 children, 2 French and one Czech. Today Allegra, Lviv and Will leave so another tough farewell.

Thursday 20th December

Today I leave.  I’ve made it. Eighteen days survived when I didn’t think I’d make 48 hours!  Not only survived but enjoyed. I’ve had such a great time here. I’ve laughed, I’ve made others laugh, I’ve cried and I’ve tried to embrace and consider the lessons I have learnt here.  I feel happier and more light hearted than I can ever remember feeling before. It has been a truly incredible experience possibly life changing but I won’t know that for definite until I get back to my other life.  I get up early for my last yoga and meditation session. And after breakfast there is the leaving circle. Those leaving have to sit in the centre of the circle whilst the remainder sit around them and send the leavers best wishes for the future.  Clearly I’ve participated in a number of these but today I’m in the centre and it is incredibly emotional. I cry through most of it. After, there’s a huge group hug and a short reprieve but then it’s individual hug time. There are so many here that have touched me deeply, and many who have already left, and saying goodbye is heart wrenching.  

I don’t know what it says about me, my past or this project that this is definitely the most emotional, heart wrenching goodbye I’ve ever experienced and after 52 years filled with so many goodbyes that’s pretty amazing or appalling depending on one’s point of view.

Finally Kavon and I are ready to go.   I bang the gong before leaving and my children and several others leave their work at the Poo Castle for one final farewell.  Wow this is tough.

I’m relieved when we finally drive away. In Khon Kaen we head to the monastery for a massage. Thank God I picked the 2 hour oil massage because even parts of this are so painful I consider vomiting.   How Kavon is coping with a Thai Massage I have no idea.

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After our massage it’s lunch and then a taxi to the airport. Kavon is flying to Bangkok whilst I have a night in an airport hotel. What luxury – a hot shower, double bed, clean sheets.  It’s a collection of delicious sensations. I was going to treat myself to an episode of Masterchef but instead I settle for 13 hours of sleep.

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Tomorrow I’ll fly back to Phuket and return to Diana’s Dog Hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

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Stormy seas, stormy relationships. Not a sailor’s life for me: Muara to Tanjung Pinang – 12th to 30th October

Friday 12th October / 13th October

Muara, Brunei

We complete another sailing leg and arrive in Muara.

 We anchor in the bay and Philip heads off to complete the Marina paperwork and immigration.   Two hours later he’s back and he’s failed the Immigration test because they need to see us all personally.   Whilst Phil’s away it’s been a mammoth task to organise movement of the crew from the trimaran to the yacht club.  It’s about 300m away and it’s really quite choppy and we only have the kayaks. There’s also now the additional element that we need to maintain an ‘’anchor’ watch.  This isn’t a mindless task of just staring at the anchor because of course it’s actually on the bottom of the harbour but listening to the anchor alarm to ensure we don’t drift from our original position.  This is a particular problem because the sea bed here is just silt and in the past Phil has failed to gain sufficient purchase with his anchor and it’s been dragged along when a squall hits. In order to perform ‘anchor’ watch one needs to be able to switch on the engine and take corrective action and out of 8 crew only 3 (me, Daz and Lars) have been taken through the engine start procedure by Phil!  

We leave Lars on watch and ferry everyone to the yacht club.  This is always a really unpleasant experience – we end up sitting in a wet kayak with waves lapping over the edge and those carrying laptops etc live in fear of capsize and wrecking their expensive equipment.  There’s also the added fun of getting 72 year old Ed off the boat and onto a kayak, nimble he ain’t! When Phil returns from Immigration there’s only Noli and Lars aboard the trimaran and the yacht club kindly arrange one car to take 4 of us and the Marina service dinghy to take the remainder to Immigration.   Book in complete and it’s time to plan our stay. We’re here for 2 nights and we’re anchored in a harbour 300m from shore which is 35km from the capital city of Brunei – Bandar Seri Begawan. Brian and Susan are planning to head into town to book into the Royal Brunei Hotel and we decide to join them. We manage to get a bus for B$1 into town and fortunately the Royal Brunei has vacancies so we book in.

 It’s already 7pm so we grab a quick shower and head out for food. After dinner we walk to Omer Ali Saifoddlen Mosque which looks really impressive illuminated under the night sky whilst sitting in its own moated lake.

Saturday morning we have a sightseeing itinerary planned and first stop is the waterfall park. Unfortunately on the walk there it becomes apparent that Brian isn’t well.  

We see the waterfall but then head back to the hotel and actually we don’t see Brian again until it’s time to leave. We think he has food poisoning. Susan, Daz and I visit the wet market and Kampong Ayer floating village in the river, well actually it’s a village on stilts and this was the first settlement in Brunei.  

The water village is a beautiful sight to see hundreds of houses seemingly floating on the river. To get there we take a sedate water taxi over the river then climb up onto the raised wooden walkways (rickety, rotten and unstable in places). We walk around and see lots of fast speed boats scooting around down below us and through the stils of the many bridges ala James Bond.  We decide to get in on the action so walk to the far side of the village and flag one of these bad boys down. We are soon hurtling along, inches from other boats and stilts wondering why we thought this would be fun!

Sightseeing done and since Brunei is ‘dry’, no alcohol for sale here, and one of our main hobbies is impossible we fall back on watching some TV and Homeland at the hotel.

 

Sunday 14th October

Passage from Brunei to Miri

Another Phil cluster plan.  Where do we need to be and when?  Originally it was 3pm on the trimaran but that was before Immigration denied entry without personal attendance.   Finally we receive notice that everyone else has booked out but Philip is waiting for us at Immigration. Fortunately,  well not for Brian, he’s so poorly that Susan doesn’t want to take an hour’s bus ride and instead has booked a taxi. Check out complete and back at the yacht club I manage to beg a lift from a motor boat so we avoid the kayaking phase.  

We set off and basically motor directly into a storm.  At the times visibility is almost nil and the trimaran’s motion is such that seasickness is taking its toll.  Brian and Shaun are already poorly, Noli and Jojo are curled up in the pilot house, both nauseous so we’re left with a reduced functioning crew.  The healthy component still take sea sickness tablets as a preventative measure. The seas are pretty rough and every port-hole leaks. Daz takes Brian’s shift with Susan from 10pm to midnight and then I join him for our 12-2am shift.  The wind has dropped and the seas are calmer but with the rain the visibility is still poor and as a result we almost motor into an oil rig. We only spot it as we pass it on our starboard side – Jesus it’s only 50m away! Another close call for the Daz and Hels dream machine.  If I were the rest of the crew I’d ban us from watch. We tell Phil about our near miss and he then decides he needs to remain on watch and cut back the speed.

Surprisingly we arrive unscathed, but possibly emotionally scarred, at Miri and anchor off the dock.  The plan is to remain here until Thursday but the leaving time is soon postponed when Philip checks the weather and realises there’s adverse weather conditions expected over the South China Sea / Sulu Sea.  We need to cross this sea to reach Singapore, our next destination. It is at this point we make a monumental discovery. We are actually going to sail this leg. OMG this is a completely shocking discovery and more worrying is that we are physically unable to motor this leg because it’s about 700nm and we can only carry sufficient fuel for 200nm.  I know you readers are wondering what the problem is – we all wanted to sail and now we’re going to! Well it’s the old adage ‘be careful what you wish for!’. It’s probably fair to say if a committee meeting were scheduled now we’d probably give a vote of no confidence to our intrepid leader. His adhoc management style, ‘drip feed’ information sharing and his lack of administrative research has left us frustrated at best and downright worried at worst.  Even worse he has some remarkable plans to replace the forestay and add a rolling jib to enable us to sail the next leg.

A new crew has been introduced at Miri. Sadly we say farewell to Ed, Lars, Jojo and Shaun and welcome our new crew mates Michel and Tatiana and Dion. Interestingly both Dion and Michel are experienced sailors and as such Philip seems more inclined to share his vision at least with them. There’s a lengthy discussion regarding the postponement of our departure from Miri.  Philip wants to leave Saturday but reassures us all that this delay won’t impact on the planned itinerary and the only deadline is to reach Kuala Lumpur by 30th October for Dion’s flight home and that’s easily achievable even with our stop over in Anambas and Singapore.

 

Monday 15th to Saturday 20th October

Miri, Philippines

In Miri having booked in to the Marina we all head to Immigration.   It’s just a shame we don’t actually have the address and end up at the wrong office.

Miri is the second largest city in Sarawak with a population of about 300,000.  It’s nickname is ‘’Oil Town’ and is the birthplace of the Malaysian petroleum industry as the city was founded in 1910 when the first oil well was drilled by Royal Dutch Shell. Miri is also the main tourist gateway to several National Parks and on Tuesday the old crew visit Lambir National Park. It’s a 40 minute taxi ride out, using ‘Simon’ the man who can get you anywhere so long as you don’t mind him talking on his phone at 80 decibels in Chinese whilst driving along!  (There’s a very large community of Chinese here, they even have their own schools.) At the park there are many jungle trails leading to several waterfalls. We’ve brought a picnic too. At Lumak waterfall we dump all our gear and go for a swim, blithely ignoring the ‘no swimming beyond this point’ sign and swimming under the waterfall. That is until we see a crocodile and all scarper from the water before realising it’s actually only a large monitor lizard!

Not fazed by this near miss some of us decide to check out more jungle trails and head to two more waterfalls.  The trails are steep, climbing up and down steep ridgelines and enclosed in humid thick jungle, so after about an hour and a half of slogging we are overjoyed to see a refreshing waterfall and pool we all immediately dive into. Suitably refreshed we head back just in time to meet up with Ed, Noli and Phil to return to Miri.

The remainder of the week is filled with various chores including fixing the generator,  replacing the stays, fixing a roller furling jib, refueling, refilling the water tanks etc. In the evenings we visit a couple of local nightspots and chat with other yachties from the marina about our calamitous boat, incapable Captain and the general fun we aren’t having. Those blue seas, white sandy beaches and snorkeling are still eluding us.

The tasks drag on and on.   Phil’s time appreciation is non-existent and hours are pissed away as we try manfully to complete a task, any task, while Phil seems determined to thwart us at every turn, sabotaging our initially open and then sneaky efforts to finish a job.  If this wasn’t bad enough the remaining crew is now in open, and in some cases, less open revolt. By Friday morning Dion has decided to leave. He only arrived Tuesday evening but he’s already decided that the trimaran is unsafe and Phil’s ‘fixes’ are akin to Heath Robinson or a Blue Peter model made with sticky-back plastic and empty washing up bottles.  So by Friday with still hours of chores left there are only 6 crew: me and Daz; Tatiana and Michel and Brian and Susan. Unfortunately Brian and Susan seem to have decided to opt out of all chores . We’re not exactly sure why but it’s very,very apparent that Susan finds Phil intolerable and thinks it highly unlikely that we’ll make it across the South China Sea without some catastrophic incident.  So that leaves only 4 of us prepared to even consider working with Phil and we discuss how to equally share the pain.

Sunday 21st October

By Friday evening we finally discover why Susan and Brian have been more elusive than the fairies at the bottom of my garden, they’re leaving too.  Friday night is their last night aboard and Saturday they leave whilst the last men standing head for Immigration. So that leaves only 4 crew, but at this point Michel and Tatiana are still oozing positivity but of course they haven’t endured Philip for more than 4 days; how little they know.  Of course we actually find Immigration as we know its address now and it’s even open at the weekend but of course they don’t actually need to see the crew – another fruitless time wasting exercise. There’s still time for last minute grocery shopping and boat chores before we finally hit the road, well high seas, at 1530hrs.  That’s another sweepstake win to Daz. We’ve invented a new game to keep us simpletons amused. The game: if Phil predicts an arrival time, departure time, time to complete a specific task etc we offer a time when it will ‘’actually” happen. We also have bets on when crew members will leave, drown and when the first catastrophic incident will occur – just kidding.  

We leave Miri and there’s about 700Nm ahead of us to reach Singapore.   We’re crossing the South China Sea from East to west but hoping to stop around half way at an Indonesian Island group, Kepulauan Anambas (actually 490NM) .  Here there may actually be snorkeling and white sandy beaches!. The intention is to stop at these islands ‘’under the radar” and not carry out the regulatory procedures.    Technically each stop requires a visit to the harbour master, customs and then immigration to check in and then a repeat to check out. We have already witnessed how what appears to be a relatively straightforward repetitive process sucks hours and hours from our lives when Philip is in charge!  The winds forecast until Sunday afternoon are really light so even with the jib and main sail flying we’re only achieving 2.5 knots. This drops to zero when the winds die completely in the early hours of Sunday morning. The seas are completely flat and we just drift. With 700Nm ahead we’re completely baffled by Phil’s sailing philosophy.   With only 4 crew we’re having to divide the night watch between us. We’ve divised a 2.5 hour watch system: 10pm – 12.30am, 12.30 – 3am and 3 – 5.30am. This means watches are shorter but every other night one couple has a double watch. When Daz and I finish our second watch at 0530am, Sunday, after 14 hours at sea we’ve managed a mammoth 35Nm.  This is super frustrating but at least we’re all still alive and well, but time will tell! Lol (PS, if anyone finds this message floating in a bottle then we didn’t make it!)

 

Monday 22nd October

Well what a surprise – we’ve been motoring since 5.30am Sunday morning.   The predicted winds are non existent and the sea is like a mill pond. Remember we ‘’had” to sail this leg because we had insufficient fuel to motor?  Well not an entirely accurate statement (actually another Phil-ism, in other words, complete bollocks). The 200NM fuel constraint he now reveals was based on motoring in adverse conditions, strong head wind and high seas.  The reality is that motoring is our only option if we want to reach Singapore in our own lifetime because there IS NO wind.

We stopped in the early afternoon, in the middle of nowhere, to swim in the beautiful clear azure waters and to cool down. It is relentlessly hot aboard and actually very, very boring.  Having enjoyed a short respite we’re soon underway again but see an approaching squall from the north. We close all the hatches and initially watch the squall approach. When it hits the boat and the torrential rain is such that even in the pilot house we’re getting drenched we disappear below and congregate in the galley, sheltering from the rain. Suddenly there’s an almighty crash above.  The catastrophic event predicted has occurred. The forestay, with insufficient anchorage, has collapsed and with it the main, boom and sail and associated lines have come crashing down onto the pilot house and deck!!! This forestay has been up 72 hours but there hasn’t been any wind to test it. This was the first, and obviously last, squall and it proved too much but thank God it happened whilst we were sheltering down below otherwise someone would be dead.  This is precisely what Brian, Susan and Dion predicted and actually most of the yachties at Miri. Philip seems remarkably sanguine about the entire event, commenting that it was inevitable given the short amount of time he’d spent ‘’fixing” this new forestay. Tatiana, however, is distraught, tearful and basically terrified. Without sails she believes we’re going to be stranded out at sea. Phil’s comment about fuel for only 200nm has made its mark on her too and she’s been nervous since we left Miri asking about safety lines, buoyancy aids, radios and contacting outside agencies in an emergency.  There is only one VHF radio and we’re only capable of contacting someone within line of sight. Philip thinks this is more than adequate since the trimaran is ‘’unsinkable’ and we have sufficient water and food to last for weeks. However we have no idea how this scenario fits into a medical emergency situation where immediate assistance / evacuation is an imperative and it’s not unusual not to see another boat for 5-6hours. For example if the mast or forestay had actually hit someone. We assume, as we do so often now, that Philip has excluded this scenario from his ‘rose tinted’ perspective of this sailing idyll.  After this epic event there’s a frenzy of activity whilst we endeavour to make the trimaran safe. We need to ensure there are no lines in the water that might foul the propeller and seize the engine; we definitely can’t afford engine problems now. We remove and secure the sail from the main mast and secure various broken bits strewn across our deck. Untieing all the lines and rigging is a nightmare. For me and Daz (I’m beginning to think we’re too stupid to think otherwise) this event breaks the hours of tedium and it’s exciting given the rain and winds from the squall which make moving around the deck quite challenging. At one point Daz dons his snorkeling mask so he can see through the stinging rain.  We should probably be wearing life jackets and have safety lines but where’s the fun in that? Once we’ve made everything safe we retire to the galley. Philip now has to reassure Tatiana that everything is fine. She’s been in the galley all this time and Michel has been trying to console her. Without sails we’re totally reliant on the engine and fuel and she’s convinced we don’t have enough to reach Singapore. I had expected Philip to head back to Miri, only 150NM, but no, we’re pushing on to the Kepulauan Anambas islands. Philip tells us we have more than enough fuel to make it if conditions remain the same! If we hit adverse weather conditions we will wait it out – we’re not entirely sure what this means or entails and no-one asks.  We no longer openly question such bizarre comments, knowing that none bear scrutiny of anyone with an iota of intelligence or common sense.

Tuesday 23rd October

Philip seems in his element; cleaning chrome and fixing holes in his deck.  Total of destruction apart from the obvious no masts, stays or sails: 2 holes in the deck, a davit snapped and lost to sea, sail gaff snapped in two, numerous cut ropes, mangled boom pin and gooseneck.  Surprisingly little if you think how bad it could have been. Philip seems content to potter around but unfortunately he’s donned his ‘’working underpants” for the day, baggy, stained and very unattractive but made worse when they no longer seem capable of restraining his right bollock (sorry testicle for the posh readers out there!).  Every time I lift my eyes, whatever direction I choose to risk, there’s that bollock! Arghhhhh! Tatiana has noticed his foul undergarments and the ‘freedom seeking bollock’ and she’s in hysterics. Since we’re playing cards in the pilot house and Daz and Michel have their backs to Phil, they’re fortunate and miss the spectacle, or testicle feature show!  I, however, feel violated!!! For the crew the monotony has returned but Michel and Tatiana no longer seem that happy with this epic adventure – well certainly not Tatiana who sees imminent disaster everywhere (Any ship on the horizon must be on a collision course and everyone should don life jackets!) Oh well only another 48 hours and we should be in Tarempa Town, Kepulauan Anambas islands.  Estimated arrival 6am, Thursday morning – let the betting begin!

 

Thursday 25th October

Daz and I have just done the split shift or ‘’watch” as it’s correctly termed.  The watches are tough. The tedious days are enervating but it’s too hot to sleep.  Ideally we would sleep in the cool of the night but of course we we have to be on ‘’watch”!  We’ve just spent our last watch altering course and cutting corners. Remember we have Open CPN – a mapping tool for sailors, although Philip uses it too, on a laptop on the navigation table.  There are waymarkers determined by our intrepid leader which show us our planned route. But boredom requires Daz and I to:

  1. find the shortest possible route to our destination and
  2. increase our speed.  

We’re having such fun we’re still on ‘’watch” at 6am. Then the killjoy Phil finally rouses from his slumber and without a single word to us reduces speed.  We only had 4nm left to our destination but now he’s back in charge it’ll take forever. So we go off ‘’watch” and it’ll be fair to say we’ve gone well beyond our tolerance for Philip.  Over the last few days he’s made numerous comments about skipping Singapore from our schedule. Visiting Singapore has been our sole motivation to persevere with this trip and during any discussion we’ve stressed to Philip that this is a ‘’must see”.  But as usual he has his own agenda and despite numerous questions asking why he needs to skip Singapore none of us are any the wiser. It’s completely baffling since there was a deadline but that was Dion’s flight out of Kuala Lumpur. Philip repeatedly mentions a new crew member who is joining us in Kuala Lumpur.   I can’t believe he intends to take on more passengers given recent events and I certainly don’t understand why a future crew member takes precedence over the wishes of the existing crew.

 

It takes over an hour to reach our anchor point and once ‘’parked” Philip gives us, the crew, 6 ‘priority’ chores to complete in his absence.   Then he and Noli paddle away.

 

Well point one: obviously there can’t be 6 priorities and he hasn’t bothered to prioritise his priorities.  One of the 6 is that the crew get some well needed sleep, so that alone undermines the other five. Ummmmmm conundrum, what should we do???

Point 2:  At 6am when Philip took over watch we were literally directly outside Tarempa harbour, Tarempa being the capital of the Anambas Islands. But we bypassed it in favour of a more remote anchor point.  Remember we were coming here to snorkel and refuel and we were planning to stay ‘’under the radar”? Well Philip has cobbled together the most intriguing plan ever and for those readers missing my subtle sarcastic overtones, this plan is just unbelievably stupid.  He and Noli are going back to Tarempa (now 4km away by land) and he plans to ask the authorities, not sure whether it’s customs or immigration, if it’s OK not to book in. So we all know if we have a plan to do something bad or just downright illegal we employ stealth and secrecy.  What we don’t ever do is ask the authority figure involved if this behaviour is acceptable eg if I want to drive a car without a driving licence, MOT, insurance and tax, I don’t pop in to my local police station to ask if that’s OK. So this plan is just unbelievably stupid! Can Philip be this stupid, yes I think he can. He also intends to walk so that’s an hour each way.  It would have made far more sense to anchor in Tarempa bay with close proximity to banks, customs, immigration and shops and also close proximity to his crew so it’s relatively easy to come back and keep us informed on progress. He estimates he’ll be gone 4.5 hours but actually he’s gone for 7.

As he paddles away Daz and I spend at least one whole nano second pondering his wise words and priorities.  Then we get the hell out of dodge. We can’t get in the other kayak fast enough and we’re practically tripping over each other in our eagerness to leave this boat.  

We paddle ashore whilst Tatiana and Michel, being the more responsible or more naive couple, remain. They’ve attached some import to Philip’s statement ‘’someone needs to ensure the trimaran doesn’t drift” and remain to fulfill another of Philip’s mindless tasks – the dreaded anchor watch. Once ashore we realise we’re in a small resort and there isn’t much here so we decide to head into Tarempa.   I tell Daz I’ll try to hitch a lift and within a minute a guy on a motorbike stops. I ask if he can give us a lift and he obviously decides we’re too fat to ride together and flags down the next moped. So I’m on one moped with a lady driver and Daz is on the other. The roads here are unbelievable, it’s not the road quality but the steepness of the hills, it’s almost as bad as a roller coster, no wonder he wasn’t prepared to carry two fat Europeans on his bike.   We’re dropped off about a kilometer outside Tarempa and realise we’re only just behind Philip. We start loitering to avoid discovery and we’re ambushed by a local, Hani. She works for the government and is responsible for promoting the Island’s image for tourism, one of the top revenue streams for this country after oil and gas and fishing. Her English is excellent and she says she can help us enjoy the area. (later we find out the man who gave us a lift was her boss, Mr Yunizar) However,  we’re on a mission so we continue into town. We need to know if we can get from Anambas to Singapore by any other means and if it’s affordable. We discover that it’s $1: 15000 Indonesian rupee, that there’s a ferry to Tanjung Pinang (454,000 Rupees per person) and the cheapest hotel room is 220,000 Rupees. We visit a restaurant to discuss a plan of action and then Philip and Noli walk in. He’s come in for breakfast and so far all he’s managed to achieve is getting local currency. There’s no urgency in Philip’s world, a contributing factor no doubt, to the endless hours it takes him to achieve anything.

Since he’s here I want to get our passports back and declare our hand but Daz refuses.  So we hitch back to Anambas resort, paddle out to the trimaran and start packing.

We tell Tatiana and Michel that we’ve had enough of Philip’s lies, of his repeated threat to skip Singapore but most of all we’ve had enough of this miserable experience.   There is absolutely no pleasure to be found in this ‘sailing’ experience. Tatiana and Michel feel much the same and are wondering how the night watch will be covered with only 2 of them. I think they’re very tempted to leave but they’ve already paid Phil $1200 and they’ve only been on the boat 9 days but you really can’t put a price on this experience.   We pack and paddle back to the shore and wait and wait some more. Noli turns up but no Philip. Eventually he turns up. He’s been gone 7 hours! He’s busy explaining the problems he’s encountered and finally when he pauses for breath, I interject with a request for our passports stating we’re leaving. He accuses us of a ‘’ruse” – pretending we wanted to go to Singapore when all along we were planning to abandon ship in the Anambas, miles from anywhere!  OMG the nerve of this guy who should be sued under the Trade Descriptions Act for the web of lies that is his website and should pay us to sail on his trimaran not misappropriate hundreds of pounds from his innocent but keen sailing audience. I really want to respond and tell him what we think of him and his boat but I refrain, pause, take a breath and repeat, “ can I have our passports please” and then I scarper. A quick handshake and hug to Noli and then we’re gone.  The relief is just incredible.

We manage to get a lift into town and find a hotel.  We find a restaurant to eat and then it’s time for bed.  Yes it’s still really esrly but remember we had the split watch last night so we’re shattered plus there’s the emotional drain of waiting for and finally dealing with Philip.

 

Friday 26th October

We’re still basking in the pleasure of being off the boat.  Now we have a toilet, a shower with hot water, air conditioning,  TV, beer and best of all no Philip, no engine noise and no night watches.  We head to a small outside restaurant for breakfast and there’s Hani. She invites us over and we have breakfast with her and her work colleague Firdaus.  We chat about our plans, should we rent a moped to explore the island or charter a boat to visit some of the other islands and snorkel. Hani has contacts for everything so she can help us arrange anything.  We’re ummming and ahhhing, unable to decide and then Hani says she’ll show us the island today. They ring their boss who agrees that this fits into her job description ‘’promotion of the island” and that’s the decision made.  Daz and I have Hani’s moped whilst Hani is pillion on Firdaus’. To be honest Daz and I are a bit taken aback by this generous offer but we’re excited to see what the island has to offer. We visit the Chinese Temple, a nursery school and a local handicraft workshop where they hand weave the songket ,  the traditional dress. A simple cotton songket takes a month to weave whilst those with an elaborate pattern take even longer. Hani wants us to dress up and takes photo after photo. We feel like we’re on a promotional photoshoot of. The Anambas but it’s really entertaining and Hani is a real social animal and is great fun to be around.

 

From there we scoot over some more big hills to the east of the island and a lovely waterfall. From the top it descends about 200 meters to the coast over seven granite steps. The views are breathtaking and we sit in the cascading waters for more promotional shots with Hani.

Sufficiently awed we descend to the coast and around to a lovely secluded beach, visiting en route the new government building which is still under construction. Hani and Firdaus leave us here to snorkel along  the coast and meet us in a harbour a little further along. So at long last we are on a white sandy beach and we’re going snorkelling, such a shame Philip never achieved this! The snorkelling is lovely, the waters are warm and there’s a huge variety of fish and the coral is beautiful.

There’s a torrential downpour as we end our snorkeling but we sit it out with Hani and Firdaus on the dilapidated pier.

After the rainstorm Hani and Firdaus need to go into the office to write a report on today’s activities but after a few hours rest we meet again and they take us to a beautiful,  remote beach on the west of the island. Unfortunately the rainclouds obscure the sunset but it’s still beautiful and along the pier there are boys with their father fishing for squid. They’ve already caught 2, but they’re just tiddlers, but then they get a bite from a monster squid – brillant.

To finish the day we stop in a tiny restaurant on the waterfront and have a coconut each. It’s not the hairy, rock hard affair we see in England. This is still green and the coconut water is almost tasteless but the coconut flesh is soft and can be scooped out easily with a spoon. It has a subtle taste of coconut – it’s surprisingly pleasant.

Saturday 27th October

Yesterday we asked Hani if she could arrange for us to charter a motorboat and she managed to negotiate an excellent rate so today we all gather, me and Daz, Hani, Arras – Hani’s boyfriend’s brother,  Firdaus and his son Sultan and our boat driver, Yadi. And off we go. We visit 3 islands during the day Penyali, Salat Ransang and Getak. Apart from an elderly couple living on the second island, we have these islands to ourselves.  A tropical paradise indeed, white Sands and turquoise seas. Hani has prepared lunch and a delicious marinade for the fish brought by Yadi. The fish is barbecued and is absolutely delicious. There’s Red Kerapu, Manyuk Bulat, Manyuk Cermin and Kerisi.  This is precisely the experience we expected Philip to deliver, not daily of course, but certainly occasionally. Why such a relatively simple task was beyond him I have no idea.

We end the day with a visit to the Airasuk Fisheries where there’s intensive farming of Napoleon fish and Marbled Kerapu both in huge demand from the Chinese.  A Napoleon fish fetches $100 per kg. Boats from Hong Kong come monthly to take the mature fish to the markets. The fish farm is actually rather smelly and there isn’t much water movement through the various net enclosures.   We later learn that this is the only successful fish farm here. Many others have tried but failed to farm these fish losing them to disease, stress, and poor water conditions. The locals won’t eat this fish saying the flavour is intensely fishy due to the restricted area, stagnant water and repetitive diet.

Our boat takes us passed Anambas resort and we are amused to see the trimaran is still there when we head out but gone by the time we return at 5.30pm.

 

Sunday 28th October

Today we’re out on another boat ride.  Our hotel, Sakura, is owned by a Chinese family.  Suefong is the mother and Axel the son. His English is excellent and yesterday he said we could join him in a boat trip to visit the island of Tenggaling, where they’re building a small exclusive holiday resort.  We load up the boat with provisions and some building supplies and off we go. We hit a huge rainstorm on our way but at the island the seas are blue and we snorkel and relax whilst Suefong and Axel check how the building project is going.  Apparently two more months and it’ll be finished but it looks a long way from finished to me!

Monday 29th October

 

This morning we get up early to go see a local Parade/Celebration at the small community civic centre. The girl guides, scouts and local cubs are all dressed up as well as some youngsters in traditional dress.  We watch as there is a ceremonial raising of the national flag by 3 soldiers in full white tropical rig.

After the ceremony Hani meets up with us, although she is working today she readily offered us her moped so we can explore more of the island.  We head over to the west of the island to the beach we visited before at sunset. Unfortunately after only 5 minutes of snorkeling we realise the choppiness is reducing visibility and we quit. It’s a shame as the area looks very nice. We decide to stop for another coconut but whilst were enjoying this a squall comes in and a deluge ensues. With the weather looking so poor we decide to call our sightseeing trip off and return to Tarempa.

 

Today we also get a message from Tatiana and Michel.  They’ve left the trimaran too but they took the Tanjung Pinang ferry on Saturday.   Then headed to Sumatra. Remember I said we were supposed to come to the Anambas under the radar?  Well it was particularly important to Tatiana and Michel that their presence was not declared because they had already arranged an extended 60 day, single entry Indonesian visa and planned to use this later in their trip.  Philip knew this but failed to keep their existence a secret and as a result their single entry visa was stamped so if they had then continued with Philip to Singapore or Malaysia their Indonesian visa would be finished and wasted.  Brian and Susan have also arrived in the islands on another sail boat, hopefully we might meet them before we leave tomorrow.

 

Tuesday 30th October

Well we must have been pooped from the past few days excitement and sightseeing as we didn’t surface for the rest of yesterday apart from a brief break for food in the evening but we do have two Fox movie channels so prising Daz out of our hotel room isn’t so easy.  This morning we are up early to catch our 7am ferry. We’ve had a fabulous break in the Anambas Islands and without a doubt this was due wholly to Hani and her generosity. She is a powerhouse of energy and we are awestruck that she took us under her wing and showed us around. Thank you Hani, and good luck with your job and life in the amazing Anambas Islands.

  We’re sitting on the ferry waiting to depart and we look up into her smiling face. She’s been looking for us to say goodbye and when we weren’t in our hotel came to the ferry, isn’t that an amazingly sweet gesture. We thank her again and hope one day our paths will cross again and we can repay her kindness. Our ferry sets off on time and after a couple of hours we stop at another island group. A horde of locals come on board walking up the aisles selling Nasi Goreng, drinks and fried vegetables of all shapes and sizes. It’s a cacophony of noise as they all hawk their wares. We buy some Nasi Goreng to feed us for the next leg of the trip, about another 7 hours to Tanjung Pinang,and spend the remainder of the crossing reading and dozing.

 

We arrive earlier than expected and once out of the domestic terminal we are hounded by taxi drivers for the 300 meter walk from the port to our hotel, ‘’No, really, we can see our hotel from here, we don’t need a lift from you, you or you!’ We dump our bags in our top floor room with uninspiring views over back alleys and the rest of town and go back down to the lobby. At last, good WiFi strength (only in the lobby) and we set about catching up on emails, banking and administrative tasks that have been building up. Daz pops out to the International Ferry terminal to buy our tickets for Singapore tomorrow then we take a walk along a park beside the waterfront and get a bite to eat. All this excitement is exhausting and by 8pm we are in bed, it’s another early start tomorrow to get breakfast,  get through Immigration and onto our 7am ferry for our next country, Singapore.

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A Life on the Ocean Wave – Philippines to Brunei : 28th Sept to 12th October.

Friday 28th September

Cebu, Philippines

So here we are in the Philippines sans trikes and the plan, if it comes to fruition, is to take a 6 month break from cycling .  There are a number of factors that led to this cunning plan but ultimately our desire to cycle through China was the driver. But for that we need a Chinese visa.  We had researched getting the visa from Seoul but even if successful that would have meant cycling in China during November and December and would have been highly restricted – possibly single entry for only 30 days and actually what we want is the flexibility of a multi entry visa so we can visit Mongolia,  Taiwan and Hong Kong.

I won’t detail the entire 6 month plan which is likely to change repeatedly but here’s phase 1, October and November, we’re on a 65ft trimaran, ‘Hot Buoys’ sailing from Puerto Princesa  to Phuket, Thailand. (www.hotbuoyssailing.com) For those wondering how this came about there are numerous sailing sites such as Findacrew, Crewbay, Crewseekers and probably many, many more designed to link crew with boats both sailing and motor.  In most cases a contribution is required. I created a profile and hoped someone would ask us to crew for them but the reality was that I trawled through hundreds of adverts, applied for many and received numerous rejections.   However I saw an advert on Findacrew and they said yes and the contribution is well within our budget.

In the early hours (3am) we flew out of Seoul to Manila then to Puerto Princesa  and then to Cebu. A 3 flight day and why??? Because we fxxked up and didn’t read the ‘Hot Buoys’ website properly and knew the boat was moored in Puerto Princesa so we booked a flight there but then realised that immigration required that all boat crew book out at Cebu.  So then we booked a flight there. And then everything changed and apparently it’s now possible to book out at Puerto Princesa. However by this point the stage was set and having landed in Cebu, 4pm on 28th we had until 2nd October to see Cebu Island.

With only a few days to see Cebu we decided to make the most of our time and despite being absolutely shattered to head to Oslob (140km) the same day.  Why Oslob -well we want to swim with whale sharks. The Oslob whale shark aggregation is not entirely natural. Itinerant sharks first began showing up around artisanal fishers who were collecting krill at night time, presumably for making shrimp paste.  Over time the fishers learned that they could hand feed the sharks with portions of their catch and eventually the fishers began retaining the catch from the night before and taking tourists out during the day and baiting whale sharks with krill.

We bought a local SIM card with data (900 pesos), withdrew cash 5000pesos = £74.81 and caught a local bus from the airport. On the bus Alan, a young Filipino, asked us where we were heading and warned us to be very careful and to trust no-one.  Oh dear that sounds very discouraging. Since our bus was heading into town and we needed another bus or taxi to reach the South terminal bus station he offered to share a taxi with us. And having taken his dire warning to heart – ‘trust no-one’ we immediately accept.  We arrive at the South Terminal at 5.45 pm. It’s already dark and the place is chaotic. There are tiny stalls on the streets selling snacks, sweets and cigarettes. There are street dogs everywhere. Initially it seems very much like India. We enter the bus station and see signs for Oslob.  At the very back of the bus station there are rows of chairs and all are occupied – this is the Oslob queue.

From the Internet we expect a bus every 30 minutes so it’s going to be a long wait. We take our seats – the only ‘whiteys’ in the entire bus station. We get a few curious glances but these quickly turn into kind smiles on eye contact – not so like India where I was repeatedly scrutinised by the ‘death stare’.  Every 5 minutes or so someone walks the aisles selling various snacks. There must be more buses than the Internet suggested because the queue quickly disappears as people are waved forward to a bus but then we discover this is the overflow area, there’s another queuing area in the actual bus terminal.

Apparently this queue is typical of Friday and Saturdays, had we arrived on another day there wouldn’t be a queue. Around 7.45pm we finally get a seat on an air-conditioned bus. It’s 200 pesos per person, that’s about £2.99.  

The seat controller had decided on our behalf that we didn’t want a bus without air-conditioning and had decided we needed a seat; at least a dozen people are called forward to stand in the aisle on each bus. Now we’re on our way we can find accommodation on Booking.com. We find a hotel near Oslob (750 pesos, £11) and get dropped right outside at 11.15pm. We sleep like the dead. In the morning we pack our bags but luckily the owner let’s us leave them there and she flags down a tricycle (motorbike with sidecar) and a 12km journey through Oslob and we’re at the whale shark area.

 I want breakfast but we’re told we don’t have time. It’s only 10.30am and I read that this is open from 6.30am to 12.30pm so I’m a bit annoyed that Daz won’t let me eat. We register, pay 1000pesos per person (£15) and watch the mayhem. There are people on the beach waiting for boats, people getting dressed and crowds listening to the brief. OK I’m going for a coffee and to find a locker.

We’re only gone 5 minutes and the place is now almost deserted – I have a momentary panic that we’ve missed our slot but it’s OK we’re pointed onto the beach and wait for our canoe with outriggers. Our boatman paddles us out and then we’re in the water but only within the outriggers and we watch the whale sharks feeding and swimming passed.  It’s incredible, they are monstrous beasts with huge mouths sucking in gallons of water and krill.

 

 

After this incredible experience we visit Tamalog Falls.  Time to catch a lift on the back of a motorbike .

Then the church in Oslob, the oldest church in Cebu.   

Mid afternoon we return to our hotel and flag down a bus to Bato.  Well we try to flag one down but fail miserably and need the help of our hotelier. 

Then we change for Allegre. We’ve booked a hotel here and we arrange to go to Kawasan Falls for canyoning.

 

Saturday 29th September

Cebu

We’re up at 6.40am and our canyoning guide, Ronauld, picks us up.  It’s 3s up on a motorbike but that’s common in the Philippines. He takes us up into the hills to Badian River. We leave the bike on the road then walk 20 minutes through the steamy jungle down into a deep gorge and our first sight of the river.

The waters are a creamy blue and deliciously refreshing after the jungle. Our guide soon has us wading and floating in the waters and we shortly arrive at our first jump. We’ve got life jackets on and a helmet. Time for me to screw up my courage and get my shaking legs to take 1 more step… into thin air! It’s about 3 meters but it takes me a moment to convince myself I can do it, and then I’m freefalling and a second later splashing down into a deep pool.  I climb back up for another go – I need to teach myself that I can jump and not to stand looking at the drop until my legs start shaking and I bottle it.

We continue down the canyon and there’s more jumps and even a slide. It’s a fantastic experience and Ronauld is great. It’s advertised as a 3 hour experience but we’re in the Gorge for 5 hours stopping at the Falls for a photo shoot and lunch. I even manage my biggest jump ever – 10 metres!

 

From Allegre we catch a bus to Moalboal. We’ve booked a really cheap hostel but there’s only a shared bathroom and there’s no running water except between 9pm and 5am when it’s possible to shower, but only with cold water. However we settle for a bucket wash.  We head to the beach and hire snorkeling masks because there’s supposed to be turtles and sardines here. We see huge shoals of sardines and some beautiful fish but no turtles.

There’s a thunderstorm coming in and soon the sea is really choppy and the visibility is really reduced so we decide we’ve had enough excitement for one day. In the evening we find a lovely restaurant and  chat to a group of youngsters from Canada and later a couple from Amsterdam.

We even meet a guy from Liverpool but he doesn’t want to talk to us but despite the obvious signals and comments ‘I’m thousands of miles from England and I still can’t avoid the English!’, Daz still persists in asking numerous questions which are either ignored or receive a monosyllabic response.  

 

Sunday 30th September

Cebu

Today we catch a bus back to Cebu,  2 actually as the first bus breaks down halfway to Cebu and we arrive in a torrential downpour.   We were planning to sightsee but instead head for our hotel. Later we head to a mall for dinner, waxing ( me not Daz) and a little retail therapy.  

The Filipinos are tiny and I need XXL -how embarrassing and that’s me at my thinnest. As for my attempt to buy a bikini, well it’s a disaster, there’s no way I can wear any of these in public without being reported for public indecency!

 

Monday 1st October

Cebu

It’s time to head back to Cebu Airport and our flight back to Puerto Princesa.   It’s been an adventurous few days and we love the Philippines and despite several warnings to take care and trust no-one everyone has been kind and helpful and most speak excellent English so travelling from place to place and arranging our excursions has been remarkably easy.  Having landed at Puerto Princesa we get a motorbike sidecar trip to Abanico Yacht Club, it’s like no Yacht Club we’ve ever seen before, just time for a quick beer and something to eat before the boat taxi takes us out to the trimaran.

Lars

Lift out to trimaran

On board there’s Philip, the skipper, Noli his husband, Susan and Brian from Seattle, Ed originally from the US but currently living in Manila and Lars from Switzerland.  Philip shows us the yacht and gives us some idea of what’s expected, the schedule and chores required before we set sail on Thursday.

Our cabin.

One of 2 toilets (this one is out of Order) and communal area

Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th October

Puerto Princesa

Over the next few days we prepare for our epic voyage (LOL).

Daz and I repair a hole in the trampoline .  Daz is in the kayak underneath to feed the needle back up.

There’s personal preparation –  shopping; snorkels and some 2nd hand clothing to swim in; haircuts and other niff naff and trivia.  Wednesday and Thursday is boat prep: scraping the keel, fitting the propeller, fetching fuel, drinking water and washing water; grocery shopping, cleaning and packing away provisions and for Brian, well he’s tasked with being ‘The Fixer’ and has to sort out the VHF radio, the depth gauges and the Open CPN navigator.  

 During these chores a couple of things become apparent :

  1. Usually a yacht has a small dinghy / inflatable to be used when achoring off shore.  This trimaran has a wooden dinghy which has an engine but no way to connect the fuel to the engine.  So its parked on the trimaran. Instead to reach land we have to paddle across in 1 of the 2 available kayaks. However with full jerry cans of water or full fuel containers it’s sometimes possible to use the service boat (essentially a water taxi provided by the yacht club).
  2. There isn’t a fresh water maker on board.
  3. There’s no fridge or freezer.
  4. The 2 showers don’t work.
  5. There are 2 toilets aboard but one is already broken.  The other breaks within a few hours. All toilet requirements are to be met by hanging the appropriate appendage over board.   For me and Susan this means leaning out against the davit. Paddling to use the yacht club’s toilet is optional. Brian and Philip fix the toilet but it’s out of bounds for 48 hours whilst the sealant sets.
  6. The yacht club is 400m away and in order to visit the yacht club or complete chores we must paddle one of the 2 kayaks ashore. We have five 20 litre water cans that need to be filled with washing water.  Daz and Lars paddle these across on the kayaks, fill them then paddle back. We take on board about 400 litres of water, you do the math, but that’s a lot of paddling!
  7. There’s no air conditioning aboard.
  8. Most of the equipment doesn’t work. There are 5 navigation aids but only one is accurate.  None of the LED displays can be read without a flash light. Only 1 VHF radio is functional.   2 solar panels don’t have a controller and therefore the batteries can be overcharged or the panels will drain battery power if left on at night.
  9. Philip may suggest a 7am briefing but if people are up they will be tasked with chores even before managing even a coffee let alone breakfast.  Also any time estimates are wildly inaccurate. If he says we’re leaving for immigration at 9am we actually leave at 0730hrs and if he says he’ll be in 2 hours, it’s usually closer to 5.
  10. Philip is hugely particular about some aspects aboard.  In fact I think he definitely has OCD and yet bizarrely so much aboard isn’t working.
  11. There’s a 10 point check required before the engine is switched on.  The ignition key is corroded into its slot and so bent it looks like it might snap off at any hint of too much pressure.
  12. The mast is only a third of its true height and between that and the lack of appropriate sails and sheets it’s actually impossible to sail this trimaran.

On Thursday Philip heads off to immigration to book everyone out but unfortunately some paperwork is incomplete so we’ll all have to visit immigration on Friday.

 

Friday 5th October

Due to the immigration problem yesterday we were unable to leave as planned but after we all visit immigration on Friday and Philip deals with customs we finally set sail Friday evening, 1745hrs.   Actually more bad news; we’re not actually equipped to sail and we’ll be motoring from place to place. So by Friday evening we’re all starting to question why we signed up for this ‘sailing’ adventure.   

Ed and Lars

Fortunately there’s a great bunch aboard and so far we’re having a good time but will it last???? Ed is the oldest in the gang at 72 and actually he’s a little unsteady on his feet but he has no interest in contributing to the chores.  He says the website says it’s optional and he’s happy to opt out and as this voyage continues I recognise the wisdom of his choice. Throughout the day he can be found in different parts of the boat but always horizontal, asleep and snoring!

 Having left Puerto Princesa we’re heading to Bala Bac Island. Philip estimates a sailing time of 36 hours so we’ll be sailing through both Friday and Saturday nights. A bizarre ‘watch’ system is devised: 10pm until 2am; 2 until 4 am and finally 4 until 6.30am.  

Daz and I take first watch and since we’re on auto pilot we just need to periodically check our course and also watch for other sea traffic and take evasive action if required. Philip sleeps in the pilot house during the night and is to be woken if there’s a problem.

 

Sunday 7th October

Bala Bac Island

We sail through Saturday and apart from a seeing a pod of dolphins and a few flying fish it’s pretty uneventful.   

Early Sunday we carefully navigate into the harbour at Bala Bac Island and drop anchor. There really isn’t much to see here, it’s a small Muslim village.  We do take a run ashore but it’s totally underwhelming. Most of the village is on stilts along the waterfront, ramshackle wooden huts with shops every 5 meters, it seems overkill for the size of the village!

We’ve been tasked with getting more fresh water (remember we have no watermaker on-board), but as it’s Sunday the water shop is closed, fortunately Philip manages to find some when he goes ashore later.  It would be great to have a swim here but apparently there are salt water crocodiles in the bay so we decide to give it a miss!

 

Monday 8th October

Bala Bac Island

Everyone is up by 0630hrs and Philip gives a 20 minutes notice to move, well technically 20 minutes until engine start but actually it turns into a cluster fuck with contentious dipstick readings on the engine oil and we’re not actually underway until 0830hrs.  During this 2 hour epic some of us have had breakfast whilst others wait until we’re underway so we’re absolutely gobsmacked when Noli starts making lunch at 9am. Wow we’ve only just eaten. He’s making spaghetti carbonara and it’s just going to sit in the pans for the next 3 to 4 hours.  Daz asks whether there’s any need to cook so early but apparently it’s the Filipino way. When Susan raises the issue of food hygiene Philip threatens the throw the freshly cooked meal overboard. So it’s a highly charged start to another day. Once underway Philip wants some additional sail power so we raise a new sail (we’ve already had 2 sails out) but since it’s not actually designed for this boat it doesn’t fit and so the foot of the sail which should be horizontal to the deck is actually perpendicular – “go figure??!!”.  

Tuesday 9th October

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Today’s planned schedule:  arrive Kota Kinabalu, drop anchor, crew to scrape the underside of the trimaran whilst Philip and Noli paddle ashore to print a fake boat insurance document; move the trimaran into the Marina and tie off alongside; book in at Immigration ; free time.

Note:  Philip hasn’t insured his trimaran; proof of insurance is required to dock in the Marina so Philip has ‘created’ a fake document. He needs to print this document and present it to the Marina.  If its veracity, or lack of, is detected we’ll be evicted. As you can imagine there’s nothing in this scenario that promotes faith in our illustrious leader and yet he makes no secret of it.

The reality.   We dropped anchor at 10am and Philip briefed us on how to scrape the trimaran’s bottom.  We all go into the water with our scrapers and ready ourselves to start scraping. Just as we’re about to start the harbour staff approach in a dinghy and tell us we can come into the harbour.   Philip refuses because he wants the scraping complete first. So we scrape and he and Noli paddle ashore. Thirty minutes later the scraping is complete but there’s still no sign of Philip. We play cards and it’s not until 1pm that Philip returns.  He hasn’t managed to print the insurance document but he has completed the Marina paperwork. Apparently the harbour staff are on their lunch break until 2pm so we can’t move until then.

Another hour of card games and then I ask if we can start the engine and head into harbour.  Philip agrees that I start the engine but then explains that we can’t actually move until the harbour staff visit us in their dinghy and call us forward. So we sit and wait. By 2.30pm our patience is wearing thin and Brian suggests we phone the harbour staff so we can get moving.  Philip grudgingly agrees but explains he’s actually not in any rush! OMG – he might not be but we’re keen to get ashore and taste some freedom. We raise the anchor and head into the harbour. It takes us over 90 minutes to reverse the yacht into the largest parking spot known to man.  Comparison: imagine your local Sainsbury superstore. It’s midnight and the carpark is empty except for one car parked in front of the automatic doors. You want to park next to it but in order to do so you start reversing at the carpark entrance and then reverse for one second periods only.  After each phase of reversing you decide to walk around the car checking for hidden obstacles and check the route selected. The only difference in these scenarios is that once the trimaran is in neutral the wind and prop walk push it to starboard and towards another moored yacht and its securing lines.   It’s the most frustrating experience ever. I’m on the helm and the harbour staff are telling me to reverse whilst Philip tells me not to. Lars is sent ashore in a kayak with a line which is then secured on the dock and used to winch the boat back.

During this debacle we have acquired a considerable audience as well as constant assistance from the harbour staff who use their dinghy to conteract the prop walk.  Basically they’re pushing us on the starboard side to keep us straight. The audience on the dock ask Lars what’s wrong with our reverse gear and why we don’t just reverse in under motor? How embarrassing – there’s nothing wrong with reverse but Philip is rationing its use to about 2% of what’s actually required. Finally we’re alongside. Tempers are a little frayed now, we’ve just managed to make a very public display of our ineptitude.   

Everyone goes ashore and waiting for us are 2 new crew members, Jojo and Shaun from Hawaii.   Wow the Sutera Harbour Resort / yacht club is spectacular. There’s an Olympic size pool and numerous paddling pools, a bowling alley, restaurants,  bars and fabulous views out over the Marina.

 

Behind the Club there’s an immaculately maintained golf course and driving range. We traipse after Philip to the reception desk.  It’s nearly 4pm. After a discussion at the reception desk he comes over and tells us it’s too late to book in at Immigration and we’ll have to do it tomorrow. A crew revolt ensues.  We want to book in today and not get involved in another Philip faff tomorrow which always sucks up a huge amount of time. Philip doesn’t understand what our rush is, he doesn’t realise that we’re already fed up that we lost 6 hours today between dropping anchor and getting off the boat.  When Lars was standing dockside he was told that Immigration is open 24 hours a day but that appointments are necessary after 5pm. Daz, Lars and I ask reception to call the Immigration Office and check their opening hours and then book taxis. We’re soon on our way. BTW did I mention Philip has come on this trip without all the necessary currencies for our various visits so he has no Malaysian Ringits, no Brunei dollars, no Singapore dollars and no Thai bahts.  So before taking taxis to Immigration he had to borrow some Malaysian Ringit from a fellow yacht owner. After booking in at Immigration Daz tries to speak to Phil about our frustrations but Phil just strops off and says there’s nothing that he wants to discuss. Very mature.  Susan and Brian head off to find a hotel for the next 2 nights whilst Lars, Ed, Daz and I head off for food and a few drinks.  We also find a night market.

Lars and Daz stay out and Lars gets lucky with a young German girl.

 

Wednesday 10th October

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Today we have a full day off and first Daz and I visit the Kota Kinabalu wetlands with Susan and Brian.  We were hoping to see lots of bird life but unfortunately it’s probably a little late in the day for them.  

We do see Mud skippers, various varieties of crabs, Snowy Egrets, a terrapin, and a few unidentifiable small birds.  After the wetlands we head off to do laundry and then relax by the pool.

In the evening we all go bowling.

 

Thursday 11th October

This morning Philip calls everyone (less Brian and Susan) to a briefing in the pilot house.  We stupidly thought it was about today’s chores but actually he rattles on about Brunei, our next stop.  Unfortunately Philip is both verbose and unable to stay on track so any discussion takes forever and I soon lose interest in trying to filter the relevant information from the dross.  Finally Daz and I make our excuses and escape. Everyone is expected to be aboard by 1300hrs with an ETD (estimated time of departure) of 1600hrs. Imagine our surprise when we return to the  trimaran at 1255hrs, 5 minutes before like the good institutionalised ex-soldiers we are, and discover the boat empty.   We vacuum and clean the floors and still no crew or Captain. Then we discover our other crew members are sitting in the restaurant because Philip has failed to clear us from Immigration.

Lars, Jojo and Shaun

There’s a problem with Jojo and Shaun who flew and cleared immigration at the airport rather than booking in as we did on Tuesday.   Jojo and Shaun are told to come to Immigration. Then there’s an expectation that they will need to show their boarding passes so I go back to the trimaran to search through the rubbish because at some point since Tuesday they threw them out! There’s no sign of the boarding passes but fortunately Jojo and Shaun are able to book out but then Philip wants to shop for more groceries so the crew and Captain aren’t aboard until 4pm.  These fuck-ups have become almost a daily occurrence and the crew’s expectation is that hours will be wasted waiting whilst Phil attempts to sort out his shit. Once aboard we actually expect to leave but there’s 7 full diesel cans that Phil wants emptied into the starboard tank and the drinking water containers need filling. This is beyond ridiculous. Phil has had 48hours to organise these tasks and have them complete and yet he’s now in a panic trying to complete them and set sail before night falls.  

This is particularly galling because once again I’m involved in the refueling chore with Daz and Shaun and end up stinking of diesel but of course we no longer have time to take a shower ashore. Phil’s planning abilities clearly reside with his brains – up his arse.

 

Friday 12th October

Muara, Brunei

Yesterday we finally got underway about 1730hrs so not excessively behind schedule.   We now have the 2 newbies to join the watch pattern which means each watch is only 2 hours.  We’re heading to our next stop, Muera in Brunei. About 90 nautical miles. When Daz and I start our shift at 10pm Phil tells us to maintain our course.  We don’t really need the navigation aids because there’s some lights dead ahead that Phil says are lights on land. Thirty minutes into our watch and we realise the ‘land’ is an anchored tanker and we’re on a collision course.  

How entertaining! We take evasive action although in hindsight perhaps maintaining our original course might have brought a merciful end to this farcical, fantasy voyage. A new element has been introduced with our new crew, Jojo and Shaun.  They are now sleeping in the Captain’s bunk so that means Phil sleeps in the pilot house and Noli sleeps in the salon so if Noli is sleeping that’s a sitting area which is no longer available to the crew. And obviously this is out of the sun and relatively cool with the fans on.  Next stop, Brunei!

 

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Korea and the 4 Rivers Cycleway 31 Aug – 27 Sep

Friday 31st August

Busan port to Songdo Beach

Daily Total 62.39 km

Trip Total 24220.6 km

We arrive in South Korea at 6pm.  We get through Immigration and then are wondering where our trikes will be when a shipping agent comes over and asks us if we are the trike owners. (We’re probably the only European foreigners on the boat!) he takes us into a back room and then over several baggage conveyor belts and down a long metal staircase. Our trikes are sitting at the bottom, safe and sound. But then he tells us our bags need scanning so we take them off the trikes and put them on the conveyor belt and up they go to a scanning room. In the meantime our trikes are taken around to another part of the building. Finally we take our baggage on a trolley back down through an underground carpark and to our trikes. Daz pops back up to the arrival Hall and withdraws some Korean Won (1500 to the pound approx) from an ATM.

At last we cycle out into the evening gloom.  We’re heading about 7km south of the port to a beach where we think we might be able to camp. On route we pass through a bar area with lots of Russian people about and bars with Cyrillic writing on their signs. Then through a busy shopping boulevard and finally through the main fishmarket with stalls of fish still being sold despite the lateness of the day and there’s people in small restaurants eating the daily catch!

We get a lot of attention and numerous greetings. I think the Koreans are more outgoing than the Japanese. As we near our destination it starts raining and we decide to check out a few motels and hotels as we’re too tired and not sure about camping in the area. Fortunately there are a number of cheap motels and we book into one. We head out to find some food later and spot a pizza joint with a wood fired oven, bliss! Our first Korean meal, pizza, but it’s marvellous and so tasty! We think it’s our first ‘real’ pizza in about 8 months.  Bloody fantastic.

 

Saturday 1st to Monday 3rd September

Songdo Beach

Well last night there was torrential rain and a huge thunderstorm and when we wake on Saturday morning and it’s still raining cats and dogs! We decide to stay another day in the hotel. Then on Sunday and Monday I refuse to move so we just hide away in our motel.  In my defence the weather is pretty awful with frequent rain showers. For 3 days we enjoy the comfort of our hotel, good WiFi and loads of shit TV. There’s also the blog and Internet research to do but it’s a fabulous long weekend with a second visit to the delicious pizza joint.  We also have a Korean barbecue meal which is pretty good with our own personal burn pit in the middle of our table. The delights of Korean cycling can wait until tomorrow!

 

Tuesday 4th September

Songdo Beach to Songji-ri

Daily Total 58.69 km

Trip Total 24286.56 km

 

Finally the weather has brightened and we decide it’s high time we skeddadled and got on the road. And boy, what a road! We have about 10 kilometers to get to the start of the 4 Rivers Cycleway, our intended route to Seoul – approximately 650km of dedicated cycleways, but it’s an immediate climb out of our touristy beach area. Not only that but most of the pavements are at odd cambers but we’re too scared to be on the main road.  Korean drivers are much faster than those in Japan and they drive on the wrong side of the road – the right! Traffic in Busan is chaotic too and we actually feel pretty intimidated – not surprising when we’ve already experienced crazy drivers passing us at Mach 10 who barely give us any space. Finally we cross a large river, the Nakdonggang. On the otherside is the Waterways Cultural Hall where the 4 Rivers Cycleway begins. We go in and purchase a passport for 4500 Won. Along the river there are waystations where we can stamp our passport and then we’ll get a certificate at the end.  Passport stamped we recross the river and turn up onto the cycleway. The day passes in a relaxed fashion. The crossings over the main roads are problematic as I struggle to work out where the cars will come from and when we do need a detour on the roads I find myself staying left – not a safe bet when the cars drive on the right. We reach our intended destination where we plan to buy dinner provisions and we’re so fortunate that at this point there’s a rest station; toilets, water and even a covered pagoda. There’s even several fitness machines but we’ve already seen numerous machines along this trail – it’s like a huge trim trail.  

(Apologies, there are no photos here, we lost a whole load of pictures from today and the next !)

Wednesday 5th September

Songji-ri to Nanji

Daily Total 53.45 km

Trip Total 24340.01 km

Our covered pagoda was comfortable if a little noisy with the motorway bridge close by. We are rudely awakened by the sun at 7am and it soon kicks us out of bed. Breakfast of porridge and we’re on our way again,  following the cyclepath. We are soon heading up a tributory for quite a few kilometres before crossing a bridge and retracing our path on the other bank to the main river. Must send a note, ‘Need new bridge!’ The day soon warms up and by 1 pm we’ve done 40 km and seen hardly a soul on this cycleway.  We divert off to find lunch and still the countryside is quiet and empty. We find a small hamlet with a store and a small family restaurant. There’s only 2 tables and they’re both full with workers from the local farms. We’re shown into a seperate room with one low table but then all the other diners depart so we move back into the main room. Mom n Pop bring us out a tray with various dishes, the main 2 being rice and a meat stew (we’ve no idea what the meat was!). It’s quite delicious and we only get charged 12,000 won, about 8 quid.

Back on the trail we cross the river, (again!) and roll into a small town. The supermarket seems quite expensive and it’s difficult deciding what to buy especially as Daz is having a spazzy moment and doesn’t know what he wants for tea. He’s fixated on the fact we’re running low on cooking fuel and we haven’t found a source yet in Korea.  His fault for not getting any in Busan city! Just out of town we spot a sports’ area with pretty gardens and more covered pagodas, that’s us for the day. We’re not convinced about this cycleway, it’s lovely to be away from traffic but the route is a bit monotonous and there’s a complete dearth of shops and restaurants. There are toilets along the route but these are deep trench latrines without running water. So despite being beside the longest river in Korea finding water for cooking, washing and drinking isn’t so easy. This is certainly a step back from Japan where there were convenience stores every 100m and each had a toilet with a heated seat and 3 different jet functions.

Thursday 6th and 7th September

Nanji to Geumnam-ri

Daily Total 126.52 km

Trip Total 24466.53 km

The epic that is the 4 Rivers Cycleway continues.  However now I’m cycling alone. So basically Daz and I have fallen out big style (really not surprising when we’ve been together 24/7 for the last 3.5years).   Initially I just wanted to cycle alone for the day but by early afternoon Daz is so fed up that I keep taking wrong turns (yup he’s still stalking me from behind at this point) that we wants his sleeping bag and mat off me.  This then leads to a complete division of kit. Since there’s only one cooker and one tent, he gets them because I don’t want to carry extra and I know I’ll never find fuel for the cooker. My bike computer isn’t working 100% so I’m missing mileage and my MapsMe on my notebook refuses to locate my position.   So I manage to lose the cycleway repeatedly and night 1 is spent sleeping under a porch. Unfortunately it starts raining and since I don’t want to ruin my gear I start cycling about 5am. So I’ve probably only had 3 hours sleep and I don’t know exactly where I am but by 1pm I find a pagoda and stop for the day.  I’m soon fast asleep but my rest is disturbed when I’m joined by 4 very loud locals. First they talk, then one goes foraging along the hedgerows and comes back with a load of foliage with some berries and seed pods. Clearly there’s some edible plants here and they share some of the spoils with me.

My chatty visitors grew to a gang of 6 and I felt severely outnumbered but around 5.30pm the chinwag finally ended and they all went their separate ways.  At last some peace.

 

Saturday 8th September

Geumnam-ri to Gunggi-ri

Daily Total 63.11 km

Trip Total 24529.64 km

A good night last night but still I’m cycling by 6.30am.  I’m starting to realise that just making and drinking cups of tea/coffee is quite time consuming and without the cooker there’s no reason to dally.  I see Daz just 4km down the road, he’s just coming out of his sleeping hole. I cycle on alone. Another beautiful day along the river. I almost stay ‘on track’ today – only 2 detours – you’d think it would be easy with all the signposts……. but it isn’t.   On one detour I find a poor stray undernourished kitten. I share some of my food and try to catch him but he’s determined to stay hidden under a car. Eventually I leave him but I’m sad to leave him in such a sorry state. I do my mileage and then find a pagoda by a golf cum croquet course.  Numerous people come to play and study me with curious eyes. I’ve discovered if I lay my Notepad out for about 10 minutes it’ll find my location and now I’m using the cycleway markers to work out my mileage. No sign of Daz since early this morning but I assume he went ahead when I made my wrong turns.

Sunday 9th September

Gunggi-ri to Hapung-ri

Daily Total 46.56 km

Trip Total 24576.2 km

No rain last night but instead a thick river fog.  Everything is wet – my sleeping bag, my ground sheet and my bed sheet.  Arghhhhh! Golf cum croquet starts at 6am despite the thick fog. I plan to try and stick it out until the fog burns off but I give up when the passing pedestrian traffic becomes too much. I continue along the main river and even become embroiled in an MTB event – I think I gave them a run for their money.

Late afternoon I turn off the main cyclepath to Seoul and follow the river to the Andong Dam.   In a tiny hamlet I find a cyclists’ toilet stop and there’s a building with a covered entrance and a hosepipe for a wash. Luxury.

 

Monday 10th September

Hapung-ri to Maae-ri via Andong Dam

Daily Total 88 km

Trip Total 24664.2 km

Today I follow the cycleway to the dam.  There’s some killer hills but eventually I arrive at the dam.  It’s pretty impressive with some nice sights along the way. So I guess I now need to head back the way I came.  

Unfortunately all the possible campsites I’d considered on the way up are dismissed for various reasons; no water, too public, no shelter, or already occupied.  The result is a return of 25km before I find a decent spot – it’s some kind of office but again with a covered entrance. It’ll have to do – it’s nearly 7pm and I started at 6.30am this morning! Bloody hell – still no sign of Daz.  I thought he was in front of me but I should have passed him doubling back from the dam.

 

Tuesday 11th September

Maae-ri to Gudam-ri

Daily Total 19.47 km

Trip Total 24683.67 km

I was determined to have a lie in this morning after my epic 88km yesterday but at 7.30am a car parks up and a guy gets out and goes into the office.  You’ve got to love this – there’s a weird woman sleeping on his office porch and he doesn’t bat an eyelid. In fact he brings me a coffee. I feel it’s only polite to get up and start packing away but then feel cheated when a few minutes later he locks up his office.  I think he’s leaving but actually he starts preparing his bushwacking gear in the nearby shed. Then another guy pulls up and he goes into the office and then brings me a coffee – and yes my kit is still all over his office porch. Then he gives me a bottle of water and a bottle of fizzy pop.  Within 5 minutes he’s headed off again in his car and the first guy is strimming and I’m left to pack up.

A lovely start to the day but I just wish it had been 2 hours later – who arrives at the office at 7.30am?????? So I head off and within 2 km guess who I meet – yes Darren. Blimey he’s like 54km behind me as he’s still heading up to the dam.  We have a long chat and he makes me a cup of coffee then he heads off to the dam whilst I head the other way.

I’m tired from yesterday so I’m not planning to go far. Also I want to keep Daz relatively near because I don’t have any tools to fix my trike, not even a puncture! When we went solo we thought there was sufficient passing traffic ie other cyclists, cars and locals to help out but honestly this cycleway is miles from anything and often I don’t see anyone for hours.   So the upshot, I only do 20km stopping to having a super impressive korean lunch – it was some sort of lentil and tofu stew but when it arrived it was literally on a full rolling boil. But it cames with rice and loads of very tasty side dishes.

Not long after I find myself a pagoda for the night. I’m going to have a lie down and relax and read my book. Next thing I know Daz is startling me awake. Wow he’s been up to the dam (well almost) and back. And now I can return to the pleasure of cups of tea, coffee and a pancake dinner cooked by Daz – very nice.

 

Wednesday 12th September

Gudam-ri to Deoktong-ri

Daily Total 41.84 km

Trip Total 24725.51 km

This morning I think I might take a day off but Daz pushes on.  I’m just relaxing, reading my book when there’s a pile up on the cyclepath.   I think the first guy in a group of 3 stopped, considering a rest in my pagoda, and cyclist 2 was probably looking at my trike and didn’t notice that the guy in front had stopped and by the time he noticed, he panic braked and went over his handlebars.  Result: he’s spreadeagled across the track on his back. Oh dear! He limps in to the pagoda. I’m feeling responsible although perhaps he was looking elsewhere! After a couple of hours I decide I’ll take a leisurely cycle in Daz’s wake. The first 30km is just retracing my route from Sunday before crossing the Nakdonggang and taking a new route north towards Seoul and now handrailing the Saejae River.  After 40km odd kilometers I join Daz in his pagoda. Omlette for dinner – there’s definitely perks to being close to the cooker……. and the chef.

Thursday 13th September

Deoktong-ri to Mungyeong-si

Daily Total 5.37 km

Trip Total 24730.88 km

There’s a really cute puppy running around the campsite so he obviously needs to be spoilt by us for as long as possible.  

 I’ve done 5 nights on my own and been without a tent, cooker and repair kit and it’s really not a sensible course of action.  The night’s have been OK but in Daz’s company for the last 2 nights I’ve slept 10-12 hours. Alone I slept about 6. I don’t lie there worrying something will happen but after a few hours sleep something will disturb me and then I can’t drop off again.  And without sleep or cooking to occupy my time there’s just too many hours in a day to fill. So I’m going to stick with Daz. We eventually set off but rain soon stops play. We sit around for a few hours under a pagoda but we’ve attracted the local eccentric.   He wants to sing YMCA and the Green Green Grass of Home. He does disappear for awhile but comes back with loads of snacks which he shares with us and his buddies.

We decide to retreat into a nearby coffee shop. That wastes another 4 hours. The forecast isn’t looking good for the next few days so we’re going to stay here tonight.  We find another pagoda away from our new buddy and tonight we actually put up the tent.

Friday 14th September

Mungyeong-si

We stay in our pagoda another day because the rain continues.   Our new special friend brings us a new tarpaulin because he’s not happy that our trikes are getting wet.  Initially we just cover the trikes but later we use it to close off the windward side of our pagoda because the wind picks up and blows in the rain.  Our friend visits us frequently throughout the day often bringing drinks or snacks. He talks to us constantly but of course we don’t understand a word but often he just talks to himself.  

 

Mid afternoon we find a restaurant for lunch but the remainder of the day we stay in our pagoda. We have several visitors and also enjoy watching a fisherman who has 12 rods deployed in a very short span of river bank.  He’s been there since we arrived yesterday and his rods are left out all day and throughout the night. We don’t see him catch a single fish!!! Thank God I rejoined Daz when I did – I’d have been up shit street in this weather without the tent – I’d probably have resorted to a motel.  Fortunately our brief separation gave us some much needed breathing space and we’re finding pleasure in our trip which has been missing for awhile.

 

Saturday 15th September

Mungyeong-si to Suanbo

Daily Total 52.75 km

Trip Total 24783.63 km

Today we push on and our friend escorts us 5km on his moped.  The scenery is definitely improving as we come north and today we switch to our third river – Yeongang.  

There’s a big climb today and at the top we meet a touring cyclist from Taiwan – he’s got hardly any gear on his bike yet it includes a tent, cooker and sleeping bag – a very light traveller.

 Along the route we see paddy fields almost ready for harvest, chilli fields, apple and peach orchards, sweet cheshnuts and so much more. It must almost be harvest time in this bountiful area.

After about 50km we see a sports’ complex with water, toilets, shelter and an adjacent golf/croquet pitch.  We think this’ll do for the night and I head on to the golf (?) course and borrow a club and play 2 holes.

There isn’t a shop or restaurant nearby so we finally decide to push on to Suanbo – it’s only another 2km. In Suanbo there’s loads of restaurants and shops and we’ve just had dinner and decided to camp under the town’s covered amphitheatre when a Korean cyclist comes passed.  We say hello and he tells us we should stay at the spa with him. He explains that this is the most popular hot spring town in Korea and that in the hotel we can get an onsen and a bed for 10000 (£7)won each. So we follow him. He’s Kim, a 76 year old from Seoul, and he’s cycling Seoul to Busan for the 4th time. At the spa we eventually work out that the bathing rooms are downstairs and that there’s also one large communal room with bed mats where everyone can sleep.  We’re given towels and bedwear – shorts and a T-shirt and sent on our way. Daz heads off to his bathing room and me to mine. It’s pretty much like the Japanese onsen except it’s really popular. There must be at least 20 women already at the scrub down points or relaxing in the hot pools. Feeling super clean and relaxed I’m ready for bed but Kim wants to show us some Korean hospitality. He takes us out and we have beers and sochi (rice spirit) and he orders dinner even though we’ve eaten.  We chat about our cycle ride, his family, Seoul and discover he’s a retired musician – a trombone player. He wants to see us in Seoul and be our guide. Soon it’s time for bed but we agree to share a genuine Korean breakfast – our treat since he pays for our dinner and beer.

Sunday 16th September

Suanbo to Mokhaeng-dong

Daily Total 34.46 km

Trip Total 24818.09 km

Well our communal night wasn’t that restful because of the snoring, chatting, farting, TV and early morning alarms.  Kim finds us a Korean breakfast joint and orders meat and veg soup and rice, along with an assortment of pickled and spiced veg – it’s hot, hot, hot.  It’s incredibly spicy and there’s so much to eat that it’s rather overwhelming for breakfast. Kim refuses to let us pay despite last night’s agreement – although he was a bit tiddly.  Wow we’re so glad we decided to push on yesterday otherwise we would have completely missed Kim and our ‘chimjilbang’ – spa with sleeping room. Apparently they’re in most towns and cities.  

We say goodbye and head off. After a morning of cycling in the rain we reach Chungju where we spot a football tournament going on. It’s part of the World Firefighter Games being held here this year. We get another stamp in our passport then speak to one of the official guides and he mentions he is doing the water point for the orienteering event. Wow, really!! Of course being the ace orienteerers that we are we’re super excited and decide to head over to the start arena to see some action.  The start is on top of a large wooded hill to the side of the river and sports complex. We cycle half way up then ditch the bikes at the roadside and walk the rest of the way. There’s already been one event this morning, a line event but it looks like were in time for the start of the afternoons score event. Whilst waiting to see the start we get chatting to some Australian firefighters, they’re all novices at orienteering so Daz decides to give them a quick lesson on the orienteering map and some tips. The runners are being set off by country and just before the Aussies head out Daz speaks to the organisers and manages to get a competition map. We’re going to go for a walk and see how we get on!  There are 30 controls and a one hour time limit. I’m soon dashing into the woods and finding controls, it brings back great memories. Then we spot an Indian firefighter lady wandering around aimlessly, we take her under our wing and she walks around the course with us as we help her with her map reading… well basically I keep taking her dibber and running off into the woods and getting the hard ones at the bottom of ravines or up steep banks! After a good walk/jog round we send her off back towards the finish as she is running out of time whilst we go and get a few more in before heading back. Well, at prize giving the Aussie ladies take a couple of gold medals, must have been Daz’s tactical briefing, and the Indian lady gets a silver in her age category!!  We feel very proud although totally cheesed off when the Indian lady completely ignores us. She obviously can’t afford to let on that she had some help but just a nod in our direction would’ve been nice!! Thanks for nothing!!

Prize giving over we head out and soon find our campsite for the night. There’s a covered pagoda, waterpoint and toilets but unfortunately a lot of mossies so we are soon in our tent having eaten and washed. There’s also a bridge nearby that’s quite noisy, but hopefully the traffic will fall off later! Nite all!!

 

Monday 17th September

Mokhaeng-dong to Beopcheon

Daily Total 41.24 km

Trip Total 24859.33 km

Today we follow the Hangang River and we meet Luke from Bristol.  He’s a touring cyclist who must have left England early this year.  He has a 2 year plan to cycle the world. It’s ages since we’ve had a good chat with another Brit so it’s really nice to meet him.  

We stop in a small town for lunch and for the first time ever our tactic of just pointing out the cheapest meal – 8000 won backfires.   It’s some disgusting chewy, fatty meat in what looks like used washing up water – bleughhhhh – gross. Daz guesses that the horrible meat is offal – and that’s my meal over.  The local restaurants often don’t have a paper menu but instead have it written on the wall – often not more than 10 items ranging from 6/8000 won to 45000. So we either pick the cheapest or if the staff are helpful and engage with us we take their recommendation.  So obviously our meal selection is a total lottery – living life on the edge!!! Tonight’s campsite is a small park just before the town of Beopcheon.

Tuesday 18th September

Beopcheon to Yeojubo

Daily Total 28.86 km

Trip Total 24888.19 km

Well not much progress today.  We stopped to chat to 2 Korean touring cyclists and had to examine all their amazing gear; they had single man tents, mini helinox chairs, a bag shower and about 8 pristine cooking pots.  They had actually cycled the Korean Grand Slam – that’s all the dedicated cycleways in South Korea but they’ve also cycled Taiwan and SE Asia. Then later we spot another couple of tourers -this time Brits, Sam and Kerry.  They’ve only just started their trip with a flight to Seoul and now they plan to cycle for 6 months before heading to Wellington in New Zealand where they plan to settle. So today a lot of gossiping and not much cycling – tomorrow we must do BETTER!

Wednesday 19th September

Yeojubo to Geumnam

Daily Total 59.83 km

Trip Total 24948.02 km

Yesterday evening we met Nick from Staffordshire – he’s just cycled from Greece through Europe, Central Asia and then flown to Seoul.  His last country will be Japan. He’s a really lovely guy and we were both hoping he’d pitch his tent with us but unfortunately his tent and bed mat went missing on his flight from Almaty.  So he needs to find a motel in town.

Today we’re determined – well I am – to do a decent day’s cycling especially after Darren told me yesterday that I need to buck up! Only one distraction today – an Australian couple Steven and Cathy who are in South Korea and Japan for a month’s cycling holiday.  I like their style – no camping or camping cookers allowed. Cathy says she’s too old to camp and I’m pretty sure I’ve been too old since I turned 30!! Anyway these guys have cycled all over Europe and they tell us cycling in Australia is a really bad idea – apparently the drivers are crazy and then there’s the heat, the spiders, snakes and the massive distances – they say “don’t do it” – so of course Daz wants to fly there immediately – there’s nothing he loves more than a challenge.   I’m definitely more focused today and the cycleway is definitely getting more interesting and actually passes through several small towns.

Before today I’d only seen 2 Korean towns – Busan and Andong! At the point where the Hangang River meets the Bukhangang River we leave the Seoul cycleway and head up the Bukhangang River. Apparently this river valley is supposed to be really beautiful – it better be because it’s a 70km detour to the head of the valley! Unfortunately there’s even fewer pagodas and toilet blocks than usual so we decide to camp in a pretty little park by the river. There are toilets and water but no shelter.   

Thursday 20th September

Daeseong

Last night it started raining about midnight and didn’t let up until about 2pm this afternoon.  We decided to stay where we were because we were near a convenience store and some restaurants so we were able to feed ourselves! It proved to be a really dumb move when the rain set in again around 8pm and again continued until 2pm the next day,  only now even heavier. The tent is waterproof but the problem is it becomes uncomfortable lying in bed for such long periods – our inflatable sleeping mats are great but not so good over prolonged periods.

 

Friday 21st September

Geumnam to Daeseong

Daily Total 7.89 km

Trip Total 24955.91 km

 

When the rain peters off at 2pm we decide to try and push on and get some mileage done, but almost immediately a light drizzle starts. We cycle along the river and after about 7 km we spot a really fancy golf / croquet course. We’ve considered having a game before but never bothered but today’s the day. That’s all thoughts of cycling gone out of Daz’s head even though 5 minutes ago he was suggesting we push on for 30 to 40km! We pull over and ask if we can play, and they actually have clubs and balls we can borrow. The course consists of four, 9 hole courses. The ball is about twice the size of a golf ball and the club is a cut down solid looking driver/putter.  The course has many undulations, plateaus, ditches and water hazards (big puddles from the rain). It’s great fun and unlike normal golf it’s very easy to play. It’s also very evenly matched, our first 9 holes is a draw, then Daz wins the next two with me winning the all important final one! Thoroughly satisfied we decide to camp the night here too. There are toilets and a covered pagoda for us to sleep on. Bonus!

Saturday 22nd September

Daeseong to Daesunglee

Daily Total 62.66 km

Trip Total 25018.57 km

Today the sun is going to shine – well once the mist burns off.  We had planned to head up to the end of the cycleway at Chuncheon but we decide we can’t be bothered and initially stop at Gapyeong where we have lunch and try and decide on a new plan.  There’s a very popular tourist spot nearby, Nami Island and there’s even a zip wire ride. Unfortunately when we check it out the next available slot isn’t until 5pm. We decide to head back the way we’ve come but instead of retracing our steps on the cyclepath we handrail the river.  Well it’s not a particularly good decision with plenty of holiday traffic, hills and absolutely no camping pagodas. We go on and on and on. I realise that my right brake which has been a problem for awhile is actually sticking on so I’m often cycling with my right brake slightly engaged and I also notice my left tyre has blue patches – this means it’s starting to seriously wear already so my tracking must be out!     Finally after a long tough afternoon we finally rejoin the cycleway and immediately spot a possible camping spot in a car park/ boat yard ; there’s no overhead cover but there are toilets and water.

 There’s also a couple already there having a picnic. We pull in and immediately the couple come over to investigate. They’re a Korean couple from Seoul, Lee hyun hee and her boyfriend Choi Jin hwan. Well Choi photographs and videos our every move; putting up the tent, making a coffee, preparing our beds etc.  We show them our cool gear ie our collapsible mugs, our flatpack bowls and our solar panel and they are totally impressed – more wows and ahhhhhs than even Gordon Ramsey produces in one episode of Masterchef USA. They invite us over to join their picnic where Choi proceeds to light a woodfire using a butane blow torch – how cool is that. We spend the evening with them drinking and eating and even foolishly become involved in a karaoke-off. This is beyond ridiculous because Choi is a serious musician and Lee hyun hee has an incredible voice whilst our duets are remarkable only by the awfulness of my voice – possibly not dissimilar to a cat being skinned alive.  However I’ve had a beer or 2 now so I think I’m the next Beyoncé.

Sunday 23rd September

Daesunglee to Songchun

Daily Total 20.95 km

Trip Total 25039.52 km

 

Over the last week or so we’ve seen so many waterskiers and wakeboarders out on the river and I’ve been reminiscing about my first posting in the Army to Cyprus when I became a regular at the Dhekelia water skiing club and eventually became a proficient mono skier – only 25 years ago!  Well last night I told Choi I wanted to have a bash. Choi is a skier and reckons he’s good but who knows? So obviously I threw down the gauntlet last night. This morning with a slightly thick head I’m totally regretting the water skiing challenge but I’m quietly confident when there’s no mention of it.  Daz checks my brakes and tracking, Choi cooks some incredibly spicy hot noodles,we pack and drink coffee and make plans to meet in Seoul and several hours pass.

It’s about 12.30pm and we’re ready to head off when suddenly Choi says ‘so let’s ski!’. What he actually meant was “let’s watch you give it a go because it’s too cold for me”.  It just so happens that beside us on the river are 2 wakeboard / water-ski businesses but there are dozens along this river. So off we go and descend on the water-ski concession . With Choi as translater I am soon kitted out in a figure hugging wetsuit and wondering what I have let myself in for, I mean, 25 years was a long time ago. Choi even provides some coaching on a deep water start with one ski.  Daz, Choi and Lee all get on the speedboat to encourage / film me. Unfortunately it’s been too long and I fail to get up on one ski but we’d agreed that I’d try 3 times and then my final 2 attempts would be with 2 skis. And I’m up staight away. It’s fabulous and I thoroughly enjoy zigzagging behind the boat cutting in and out of its wake. Daz reckons my grin is ear to ear!

After skiing we say goodbye to Choi and Lee and cycle on.  We stop for another short game of mini golf and then soon call it a day, finding a spot to camp. The moon comes up and it’s almost a full moon shining down on the river – it’s a beautiful sight.

Monday 24th September

Songchun to Gangnam Spa, Seoul

Daily Total 39.69 km

Trip Total 25079.21 km

Today it’s the last leg of the 4 Rivers Cycleway for us as we’re cycling into Seoul not Incheon where the cycleway ends.   As we get closer to Seoul we can see the city growing on the left bank. It’s so cool to look at a capital city from across the Hangang River and from the safety of a cycleway.   Then we cross a bridge and we’re in Seoul. Our first stop is Lotte Tower where we buy tickets for tomorrow night and then we head to Gangnam where we’re meeting Choi and Lee.

We stop at Choi’s Samsung office and we have a few beers and show them some games; Spoof, cereal box pick-up, the beer can challenge and ‘who am I’.  It’s soon time to say our farewells and we head to Gangnam Chimgilbang (sauna) for the night.

Tuesday 25th September

Gangnam Spa to Jongno-gu

Daily Distance: 15.29km

Total Distance: 25094.5km

Our night in the ‘chingilbang’ was cheap but they kept the lights on in the communal room and it was really hot so it’s a relief to get out into the fresh air.  First task of the day, laundry. Second task is to cycle to Jongno-gu where the British Defence Attaché lives. Huw has kindly agreed to look after our trikes for the next 6 months until we return with a Chinese visa ready to take on China, well that’s the plan anyway.  We find his house without a problem although cycling on the roads has been a little fraught and this is Seoul at its quietest, it’s the Thanksgiving Holiday. Huw lives in a lovely part of Seoul and he and his wife Linda have thoroughly enjoyed their time out here. We sit and enjoy a lovely cup of tea and discover we’ve failed to appreciate how lucky we’ve been with the weather. September and May are the best months of the year with the remainder being too hot and humid, bitterly cold or shrouded in smog. It’s soon time to abandon our trikes and head to the centre of Seoul and a hostel for the next 2 nights.  

Having dumped our gear it’s back out the door and over to Lotte Tower and our nighttime view of Seoul. The Observation Deck at Lotte Tower is over half a kilometer into the sky. It dominates and leaves all other buildings far below. The double decker elevator is the fastest and travels further than any other elevator of its type in the world. There’s no view going up, but after clearing our ears we arrive on the 3 observation decks and terraces. The city is beautifully lit up beneath us and the Hangang River glides through like a dark snake amongst the lights. It’s pretty awe inspiring, but maybe we would have enjoyed it more with daylight views!!

Wednesday and Thursday

Seoul

Wednesday is a relaxation day – yup time for shit TV and sleeping.   Thursday we visit Nandaemun market, Dongdaemun History and Culture park including the amazing Design Plaza building (reminiscent of the Bullring in Birmingham), watch the changing of the guard at the Gyeongbokgung palace,  walk down arty Insadong road and visit the war memorial which is unfortunately shut for restoration however we do witness the Korean Armed Forces practicing and getting ready for an Armed Forces day show in a couple of days. There’s some very future tech wesponry and defence systems on display alongside the Museums fleet of tanks planes and ships.

We’re flying out of Seoul at 0330hrs Friday morning so once our sightseeing is done we head to Incheon International Airport.   Since we dumped our trikes we’ve been using the metro. The Seoul metro is clean, the trains spacious and we haven’t witnessed the severe overcrowding you find on London underground.  But this metro is particularly cool because there’s an app that will work out the best possible route from a to b; there are specific places to queue on the platform which align precisely with the doors of the train when it comes into a station, and each entry point has a number and the app will tell you the ideal entry number so you’re best positioned for a transfer at a subsequent station.  This might sound overly complicated but the Seoul Underground network is considerably more complex than London and almost impossible to read let alone find correct stations and work out a route.

 

So we’re into our last few hours in Korea, but we’ll be back next year and hopefully meet up with the Korean friends we have made. And perhaps see some of the sights we’ve missed like the Demilitarised Zone in the Buffer zone and City Walls of Seoul.  We probably did Korea an injustice by sticking solely to the cycleway but in one month we received amazing acts of generosity from so many people.  Korea is  beautiful and the people have all been wonderful and generous. It’s places like this that make our trip so special. See you again Korea!!

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Cycling again, the end of Japan 9 Aug – 31 Aug

Friday 10th August

Mimasaka to Kori

Daily Total 58.22 km

Trip Total 23376.92 km

And we’re back on the trikes, cycling again. It’s been a fab workaway but time to move on.

It’s an uneventful ride as we retrace our previous tracks back towards the coast. However we do make one slight detour. Remember the nice man who picked us up outside Okayama one night, took pity on us and drove us all the way back to Mimasaka?  Well we dropped off a small thank you gift on his doorstep. We were overwhelmed by his generosity and kindness and wanted to let him know that we really appreciated his help. For us it was a 42km ride from Crip’s house, so for him an 84km round trip to help out 2 stranded Brits!. Unfortunately there was no-one home so we dropped it off on his doorstep with a thank you note. Job done we cycle back to the same camping spot we used on the way up, with the added bonus of finding a porta-shower at a nearby building! Good news my new rear shock means I’m not bouncing up and down like Zebedee!   Bad news – today I snapped my right brake cable.

Sunday 12th August

Kori to Takamatsu

Daily Total 35.18 km

Trip Total 23412.1 km

Yesterday we stayed in our park.  We had a shower and relative comfort and our Takamatsu Festival doesn’t start until this afternoon.  So better to stay here where we know we won’t be moved on. Our ride to Takamatsu along the lanes beside the river is pleasant and we stop to watch the fishing nets being raised.  Sadly only tiddlers in the net which is really disappointing because we’ve seen some large fish hurling themselves out of the water to catch insects.

We continue to Uno and catch the ferry to Takamatsu – I think this is our third visit.  Our first stop is the Garlic festival where we watch some musical artistes. They’re pretty crap but it’s entertaining.

Then we head to Chuo Park and the ‘real festival’. This is more like it. It’s packed with people, food stalls and there’s some performances.   We watch Miss Takamatsu – unfortunately lacking somewhat when we don’t understand any of the judges’ questions but we can assume it revolves around world peace and saving the planet. We move on to some performing dance groups and then a singer who really has the crowd going.

 Finally we decide to call it a night and head to our designated camp spot. We’re camping on a bit of parkland out on a spit, west of the ferry harbour. We’re setting up and notice people taping down tarpaulins along the promenade facing the Seto sea. They’re marking their territory for tomorrow’s fireworks display.   Apparently it’s Numero Uno display on Shikoku – one of one perhaps????? But purportedly 8000 fireworks!

Monday 13th August

Takamatsu

This morning we’re driven from our tent by 7am.  It’s already unbelievably hot and we’ve had a pretty tough night dealing with the heat and mosquitoes.   We wake up in the early hours (2, 3 and 4am) drenched in sweat. It’s relentless. This morning the promenade is busy with people marking their territory for tonight’s fireworks so we do the same!  Daz uses our tent groundsheet and duct tape to fix our spot!

We spend the morning trying to sleep on the benches in the park shelter and whilst I have some success Daz is too busy chatting to anyone that even happens to glance at our trikes.  

At 11am I grudgingly leave the shelter to watch the arrival of the huge cruise ship MS Asuka II. A welcome committee has been arranged with several dance routines. An odd way to greet a cruise ship but we enjoy it. In the afternoon Daz forces me out of my shelter again.  

I’m only going because I need food. My sensitive skin that’s been hidden by full coverage coveralls for the last 5 weeks is punishing me for my sunblock oversight. Day 2 of cycling and I burnt my legs and 30 minutes out in the searing sunshine watching the cruise ship and I’m paying the penalty of wearing a T-shirt.   Apart from food we also find a great bike shop where both my brake cables are replaced. The right cable had frayed so badly it had snapped whilst the left brake cable sheath had split preventing smooth running of the cable. This explains why my brakes needed the strength of 10 men to apply but had minimal stopping power.  

When we return to our shelter and the promenade it’s already filling up with the crowds.  There are 2 hours still to wait until the fireworks display but we decide to sit with the crowds and enjoy some quality people watching.  Just off the promenade there are 2 barges at anchor loaded with the 8000 fireworks. And as we wait various pleasure boats anchor a safe distance from the barges to enjoy the display.

 At last it’s time for the display to start. For the next 50 minutes we watch an absolutely incredible display. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed such a long display. And the crowd goes crazy with their expressions of awe.  

 After the display we sit around, after all this is our camping spot. The crowds start to disperse religiously picking up their rubbish. In the UK we think it would be left for the council to pick up! We wander over to last night’s campspot.  Unfortunately it’s still overrun by people but also totally illuminated by the moored cruise liner. We decide to recce another park and when we find it’s dark, has toilets and no people we pitch our tent. Our big oversight – there’s absolutely no breeze and there’s swarms of mosquitoes.   We zip ourselves into our tent and proceed to lose our bodyweight in sweat. Another rough night is brought to a premature close when I hear shuffling and look out my window to meet the gaze of some itinerant bag-man who proceeds to shuffle around the tent looking in and muttering to himself.  Freaky! He even picks up our flag for closer examination. He’s happy to examine us in our tent but when we get up he stays in the far corner of the park with his bike and numerous bags. I reckon a few more years and we’ll look like him!

Tuesday 14th August

Takamatsu

So after a few horrendous nights I decide it’s time to find a hotel.  With the festival in town there aren’t many rooms available but we finally find something reasonable – well £70 with breakfast. (Hotels are expensive in Japan!) Fortunately it’s a relatively early check in – 2 pm but we turn up at 12.30pm and he lets us into our rooms.  OMG air-conditioning and a bathroom. At last I can stop sweating. Time for a nap and laundry. Over the last few days we’ve been overwhelmed by our sour stench. When you can smell yourself and it’s enough to turn your stomach the situation has hit an all time low. This is the first time on our trip (yup 4 years) that we’ve produced this vile odour and it coincided with our workaway.   The only reasonable theory I can think of is that the washing powder / water at Crip’s reacts with our sweat to produce this vomit inducing smell. Within minutes of donning a freshly laundered article of clothing and sweating, we produce this noxious odour. And so not only do we smell bad but so does our tent because of our pillow cases and our liner sheet as we sweat into it copiously during the hot nights.

As evening approaches we head out to watch the dancing element of the Festival.   The main street has been closed off and 75 dance groups parade passed us, entertaining us with their dance routines.  Most of the routines are pretty basic and it’s not the impressive display of the top Festival in Tokoshima but it’s fun nonetheless.

  After 2 hours all the groups are done and it’s time for the prize giving. Those awarded a prize do a second routine on stage, more sophisticated than their street dance.  Award ceremony over and it’s time for bed.

Wednesday 15th August

Takamatsu to Oonohara

Daily Total 67.83 km

Trip Total 23479.93 km

Well our hotel was great.  We’re well rested and smell much better and we even have the opportunity to stuff our faces at the buffet breakfast.   Then it’s time to hit the road and another treat is in store. The temperature had dropped by over 10 degrees and it’s only 27 deg C. It’s overcast and soon the rain comes.  The rain remains all day but I’m perfectly content to cycle in the warm rain. The route is uninspiring but we find a free campsite for the night with a sheltered area we can pitch the tent and coin operated showers.  

Thursday 16th August

Oonohara to Saijo

Daily Total 53.44 km

Trip Total 23533.37 km

Disappointingly when I went for my shower the shower block was locked so it was another bucket wash.  We were joined in our shelter by 2 Japanese motorcyclists. I took great delight in watching them erect their tent, it took 2 of them about triple the time it takes me to put up ours. Bizarrely they’d laid a ground sheet and then placed the tent so it wasn’t sitting entirely on the sheet – I can only assume they were trainee tent pitchers!  They were also up until 2 am and then up at 7am – definitely NOT the neighbours I need. Today another pretty uninspiring day but being so long out of the saddle it’s tough summoning the energy for a day’s cycling. We were expecting rain today but the torrential downpour didn’t materialise until our last hour so once again we’re completely soaked.  Our campsite tonight is on a sports park. Unfortunately there’s only covered seating area but not enough cover for our tent so we’re forced to use the fly so it’ll be another swelteringly hot night.

Friday 17th August

Saijo to Shitadami

Setouchi Shimanami Cycleway.

Daily Total 43.39 km

Trip Total 23576.76 km

 

Well it rained quite a bit throughout the night but cleverly I pitched the tent so the front door was sheltered by the covered seating area so although the rain fell on the back of the tent we could still have the front door open to get some breeze.

We cycle up towards Imabari, the town before the start of the Setouchi Shimanami Cycleway. The cycleway connects Imabari on Shikoku to Onomichi on Honshu via 6 islands, 6 bridges and 1 ferry crossing (the last bridge isn’t open to cycle traffic). With stunning views of the islands, the Seto Sea and the bridges themselves it’s purported to be one of the world’s most beautiful cycling routes and one of the top cycle destinations in Japan.

Not much happens enroute to Imabari although I do witness my first car accident which was probably caused by us! One car rear ended another car which had slowed because it was waiting to overtake Daz and was probably watching me and not the car infront.  Oh dear I feel dreadful but I don’t hang around to see what happens. We also see our first example of the rice harvest! Mini combine harvesters darting around the small dried paddy fields and unloading into tiny trucks. It’s like harvesting on a toy scale!

We can see the first bridge as we get closer. It’s Kurushima-Kaikyo bridge which is actually 3 joined suspension bridges measuring 4,105 m in length. It’s very high up, but the ingenious Japanese have built a separate ramp which spirals up just for cyclists and pedestrians making it a slow but easy climb to bridge level.  The views from the bridge are gorgeous. The blue seas and green island masses juxtaposed against the backdrop of a setting sun in a cloudless sky! Brilliant.

We drop down another ramp on the otherside to the first island, Oshima. There’s a Michi-no-eki just around the corner. Sitting on the coast looking back towards the bridge it’s an ideal camping spot for the night.

Saturday 18th August

Shitadami to Setado Sunset Beach

Daily Total 34.19 km

Trip Total 23610.95 km

Last night’s camping spot was a real treat.  As night fell we could see the impressive suspension bridge illuminated and set against a clear moonlit night.  And we also had a good wash down with the hosepipe left in the handicapped toilets but we were wary to disturbing the huge spider that was living there.

 This morning we cycle across Oshima Island, cross Hakata-Oshima Bridge – another suspension bridge 1,165m long, to Hakatajima Island.

We stop at the Dolphin farm.  There are numerous visitors paying £35 to swim with the dolphins. I was expecting huge pools and an exciting swimming experience but these poor guys are in such small enclosures and one poor Narwhale looks really depressed!  

Our next bridge is Omishima Bridge, a short 328m arch bridge crossing to Omishima Island. We could take the advanced route around this island but we settle for the shortened recommended route to Tatara Bridge, a 1,480m cable stayed bridge.   We’ve just crossed the bridge to Ikuchima Island and stop for a drink when we spot a touring cyclist, Maria, from Switzerland. We stop and chat. She’s an incredible young lady. Five years ago she cycled from her home across Europe, Central Asia to her destination which was a volunteer job with a family in a Tibetan village in Nepal.  This time her destination is The Himalayan High mountain trail (a 5 month trek) but before that there’s 11 months cycling – her warm up!!!

We chat for ages and we decide we might as well find a campsite. Just 2 kms down the road there’s Setado Sunset Beach and there’s a festival and fireworks. So we settle down to enjoy the festivities, swapping stories and comparing notes.   Maria is a cycling marvel – she’s knocking out over 100km a day and once when all her gear was soaking wet pushed out a mammoth 230km to reach a hostel in Sapporo so she could dry out. After the fireworks we proceed to find somewhere to pitch our tents.

We thought this would be so simple. First we’re told by a festival official that we can’t camp. Eventually he relents but he wants 1000 yen per tent.  We pack our tents away – we’re not paying that! But it’s after 10pm and dark and we’re not prepared to cycle off to find another spot. Instead we simply put out our bed mats and sleeping bags. No tent, no fee – well that’s our logic.

Sunday 19th August

Setado Sunset Beach to Mukaishima and return to Tatara Bridge rest area.

Daily Total 53.76 km

Trip Total 23664.71 km

This morning we’re up by 7am.  Without a tent there’s absolutely no barrier to the bright sunlight or the nosey locals so there’s no chance of a lie-in.  After a coffee we’re driven away by the festival official who didn’t want us here last night.

We cycle the remainder of Ikuchima Island cross to Innoshima Island via the cable stayed Ikuchi Bridge. We’re still cycling with Maria and I’m enjoying a good natter.  She’s a radio DJ back in Switzerland and has been working hard these past 4 years saving for her trip. As we near the end of Innoshima Island we decide to stop for breakfast at a beach. We’ve stumbled across a training session of huge rowing boats, there’s maybe 14 rowers,  2 abreast and one guy on a drum beating the time. At times they go hell for leather and practically skim across the water, very impressive.

We’re at the last bridge, over to Mukaishima island, this is another suspended bridge but this time the cycleway is underneath the main road. It’s here that we say farewell to Maria, she’s continuing on to Hiroshima, before heading to Kagoshima and a ferry to Okinawa. We’ve had a fab time with her, she so upbeat, and we are amazed by her feats. We hope to see her again sometime in the future.

Meanwhile Daz and I are heading back across the bridge and retracing our steps. We’re going to explore the island parts that we missed on the way over.  We obtained a great map at the beginning, and it shows the recommended, Intermediate and advanced routes. So we will be trying some of the other routes out. It still means we end up crossing all the bridges again! By the time we’ve crossed Innoshima and Ikuchijima island we’re ready to call it a day. We climb up to cross Tatara Bridge and just before the span there’s a view point with a waterfountain, camping spot found. Daz still has energy and proceeds to wash some of our stinking clothes before preparing dinner of sauted potatoes with onion and fried Goyza dumplings… yum!

 

Monday 20th August

Tatara Bridge rest area to Shitadami Michi-no-eki

Daily Total 48.32 km

Trip Total 23713.03 km

Today we cross Tatara Bridge and then take a longer route around Omishima Island and see Oyamazumi Shrine.  Then it’s back over Omishima Bridge and Hakata-Oshima Bridge and we return to the Michi-no-eki at Shitadami where we spent our first night.

It’s been a great couple of days cycling this route and whilst the roads on the islands aren’t dedicated cycleways there’s so little traffic that it’s still a pleasure to cycle.  There are at least another 10 islands that we could have visited and whilst they’re not linked by these incredible bridges they are just a ferry boat away. So there’s scope to spend many days here exploring but we have plans and a ferry to Korea to catch.

Tuesday 21st August

Shitadami Michi-no-eki to Iyo

Daily Total 66.14 km

Trip Total 23779.17 km

This morning we’re just having breakfast when we spot a tandem and we flag them down for a chat.  It’s Quentin and Florine from Switzerland and they’re cycling a normal tandem. They’ve only been on the road for 20 days, they flew from Switzerland to Narita, Tokyo.

 After a chat they head off and we return to our breakfast. Eventually we set off. After about 30km we spot the Swiss couple again and then we cycle together for the rest of the day before finding a sports’ park to camp. We compare everything, from our cooking kit to tents, it’s great fun!  A beer or two later and it’s party central!!

Wednesday 22nd August

Iyo to Usuki

Daily Total 54.6 km

Trip Total 23833.77 km

 

This morning we say goodbye to our Swiss friends. But 20km down the road we see them again! We’re all heading for Kyushu but we plan to take different ferries but it’s nearly the same route. Then we check the Internet and find our ferry has been cancelled today and tomorrow due to the typhoon so now we need the same ferry port. We know there’s a ferry at 1pm – it’s the ferry to Beppu, and it’s going to be tight to do the 27km in time, but we push hard. So hard I’m almost sick and I have repeated outbreaks of goosebumps which I don’t consider a good sign.  Daz is trying to draught me but can’t keep up. Unfortunately we arrive just as the ferry is due to sail, but wait… it’s been cancelled, noooo! We’re then told that there’s 1 more ferry running, not to Beppu our original destination but to Usuki 50km down the coast. With the prospect of all ferries being cancelled for the next day or two we decide to buy tickets and jump on. The ticket lady tells us that the Swiss caught the 1245pm ferry – shit they must’ve been motoring.

Blimey it’s a rough 3 hour crossing and Daz is just about holding the seasickness at bay!  In Usuki having looked at the parks and possible camping spots, we settle for a sheltered area behind the information centre. Admittedly an unusual spot but the kind lady in the information centre said we could use it. So we’ll just have to wait and see what the typhoon brings. Quentin and Florine have taken the luxury option and are staying in a Ryokan – a wise decision and a lovely treat.

Thursday 23rd August

Usuki to Haraji Falls

Daily Total 48.02 km

Trip Total 23881.85 km

 

Even with the typhoon winds buffeting our tent we were still sweltering.  The latent heat from the concrete pad we were pitched on radiating through the tent. Even with both doors open the heat was suffocating. So during the night we were either awake from the heat or the tent blustering over us! You couldn’t make it up!  This morning the winds have calmed although a further typhoon is expected to hit us this afternoon . Two in quick succession and numbers 18 and 19 for the season. We decide to cycle on and see what happens. We’re following Route 502 uphill towards Mt Aso which is about 90km away so we won’t make it there today. On the way out of Usuki we stop at the Stone Buddha park. There are about 4 groups of ancient carvings of Buddha and other figures on a hillside. The Japanese have lovingly restored and enshrined them in open faced wooden buildings. With the surrounding forest and paddy fields below it’s quite a charming spot.

Onwards we cycle, and although there’s a typhoon due nobody has told the sun! The temperature hits 42 degrees and Daz is feeling it again today. We need to drink more… much more! Finally after nearly 5 hours in the heat we stumble across a rest area next to Haraji Waterfall.  This semicircular waterfall on a tributory of the Ano river sits in a quaint valley with easy access for visitors. It’s still only 3pm so we lay about on some rocks and a park bench reading, oh and checking out the waterfall of course! The waters are refreshingly cold if a little murky. As evening settles we move over to the closed Michi-no-eki rest stop and cook dinner before getting our tired sweaty heads down for the night. There’s still no sign of a typhoon so we’re going without a tent in a bid to get a cooler nights sleep!

Friday 24th August

Haraji Falls to Aso Michi-no-eki

Daily Total 42.14  km

Trip Total 23923.99 km

We had a great night sleeping out on a restaurant floor with overhead cover but a breeze coming down the river Gorge.  We’ve had 2 tough days and today proves to be equally tough. We climb all day. And it’s hot! After about 5km Quentin and Florine catch us.  They camped in the village a couple of kilometers behind us last night. They are heading to a warmshower host south of Aso and we’re taking the northern route so we bid farewell.  We may well see them again as they are heading to Korea before flying to China at the end of September. The tough day is improved 100% when a family flags us down. The 2 boys present us with drinks and flavoured ice – what a wonderful treat.

 We push on and we stop at a Michi-no-eki and get chatting to a guy from Hawaii. He’s spent 17 years working in Thailand – I think volunteer work for the church/mission. He’s been resting here for 3 days and avoiding the bad weather – he’s found some sort of covered stage in an amphitheatre.   He tells us we’re almost at the top and then there’s a plateau before the descent. We only have 8km to push but it’s so hard until we finally break out of the trees and see the Aso mountain range ahead and then there’s a huge descent into Aso.

We cycle to the far side of Aso and stop at a Michi-no-eki.   It’s a hive of activity – not typical of most Michi-no-eki. I think it’s the starting point for treks up to Aso and the caldera. There are several camper vans already here for the night and there’s a festival ready to kick off at 6pm and there’s also a train station. It’s so busy that I’m not sure a night here is workable.  There are only 2 viable covered areas: the first is right outside the public toilets and the second is the electric scooter recharging point. We decide the latter is our only hope for some peace and quiet. I’ve checked out the festival and nearby area and noticed an onsen and a launderette. Time for a much needed scrub-up! My clothes are stiff with sweat and salt and are wretchedly stinky.  We head to the onsen – it’s 1100 yen for a family room our first experience of such a thing. The guy watches us prepare – I don’t mean stripping off but going through our panniers for wash-kit and clean clothes. God knows what he thinks of us but he sold us our bath ticket so having smelt us he’s probably worrying about fumigating the bath room we use. Finally we’re ready and he shows us the our bathroom.   There’s a changing room and then the hot tub room with a deep concrete basin and a washpoint against the wall. We scrub ourselves clean and then sink into the hot tub and relax. It’s hot and we return to the shower point repeatedly, dousing ourselves in cold water, then sinking back into the tub. We have an hour’s session but the heat is overwhelming so we don’t last.

Once outside we gather our stinky clothes and throw them into the wash.  Time now to watch the festivities. These Japanese festivals are amazing it’s just a shame that we don’t understand the meaning of the dances or the lyrics of the songs. We’re soon adopted by a Japanese family who want to know all about us. Fortunately Daz can show them photos of our recent adventures! The final show of the night is a magic act. Now this is excellent as it requires no language skills and it involves 3 young, sexily dressed, attractive women.  They are the magicians not the assistants – a far cry from Paul Daniels and his assistant.

The show is over and we head for bed. We just lay out the sleeping mats in the charging-station and we’re asleep in seconds. Unfortunately it’s not a quiet night – there’s a car alarm, a baby crying and a dog yapping all at suitable intervals to disrupt our night to the max but happily no one has come along demanding that we move. It’s strange that no matter how rough we look or smell the Japanese only offer us kindness, help and massive curiosity.   

Saturday 25th August

Mt Aso

Daily Total 0 km

Trip Total 23923.99 km

 

Yes!! A no cycling day. But instead we’ve decided to walk up Mt Aso to see the steaming Nakadate lake in the inner caldera. Nakadate is one of the most active craters in the world. The lake is normally about 60 degrees Celsius and emits about 1000 tons of sulphur dioxide a day! It has regular cycles through mud eruptions, red glow phenomenon,  Strombolian eruption and phreatomagmatic explosions before returning to a bright green lake again! Fortunately it’s just a lake today but warning signs everywhere mention the sulphur in the air and people with asphma, heart disease and bronchitis should go home! We actually take a bus from the Michi-no-eki to the bottom of the caldera so it’s only about an hour’s walk to see the lake rather than an 18km walk from the bottom.  In the distance we can see the outer caldera of Aso, it’s the biggest in the world at 18km by 25 km! So yesterday evening our steep descent was actually down into the massive caldera – how surreal! The whole area is a beautiful sea of green and this is possibly the most beautiful landscape we’ve seen in Japan.

We return to the Michi-no-eki and decide to have a day off from cycling. So we laze about and read, bit of admin and that’s the day done. Tomorrow we will have to climb out of the caldera and then descend to the coast. Normally we could cycle out via the only gap in the caldera, but in 2016 there was a huge earthquake in the region which destroyed the main road (and alot more damage besides!) and they’re still rebuilding it. So it’s another climb tomorrow!!

 

Sunday 26th August

Mt Aso to Tairamachi

Daily Total 74.23 km

Trip Total 23998.22 km

We both had a good night last night and sleeping out without the tent is proving so much cooler.  Today I’m determined to have an early start and we’re actually on the road for 7.30am. It’s pretty easy going until we hit the steep climb out of the caldera but the views are incredible and I’m actually glad we were forced into this climb.  

From the top of the caldera it’s a long ride to the ferry – it’s the Kumamoto ferry but it’s about 15km beyond Kumamoto. We only just make the 1pm sailing and 30 minutes later we’re in Shimabara.

There’s a debate as to whether we should stop or push on.  Daz has his eye on a Michi-no-eki but it’s 4km in the wrong direction so I’d rather pootle off in the right direction and see what we find. Our find is a shaded area by the seawall where there’s a good breeze. An added bonus is a hosepipe – wow an ensuite shower at last!  We even have a dip in the sea.

Monday 27th August

Tairamachi to Nagasaki

Daily Total 52.22 km

Trip Total 24050.44 km

 

Wow I’ve just had one of my worst nights ever.  I kept waking feeling things crawling along my feet and arms.  As I knocked then away they felt all wet. Finally I put my head torch on and already they’re are a few casualties near my bed –  like a giant woodlouse with numerous legs and large antenna. Revolting – they look like this!

 

And there’s more circling to attack.  I kill all the ones I can see but every 10 minutes I check the area for new advancing insects.  As a result I hardly get any sleep until it gets light and then I can’t get up because I’m trying to snooze so we don’t start until 10.30am and the ride to Nagasaki is bloody tough.  It’s hot and hilly but not one long decent hill but short up, short down and repeat and repeat until I think if I see one more climb I’m going to cry or vomit or both. And of course there’s not just one more climb but many.  It’s a killer! Finally we’re in Nagasaki – all thoughts to find a camping spot are discarded and it’s a Love Hotel for tonight. These hotels are for adults only – designed for a romantic tryst and supposedly anonymous. You can even book by the hour. But these hotels are cheaper with better facilities than most hostels – ensuite bathroom,  TV, aircon and real beds.

 

Tuesday 28th August

Nagasaki to Saikai

Daily Total 44.21 km

Trip Total 24094.65 km

What a pleasure to have a real bed and air conditioning and a special treat – some TV – an episode of Castlerock and one of celebrity Masterchef.  Today it’s a whistestop tour of Nagasaki; the monument to the 26 martyrs, the one-legged Torii gate and then the Atomic Bomb museum and the Peace Park.  We were told that compared to Hiroshima this memorial to the Atom Bomb is grittier and displays more graphically the horrendous consequences of the bomb.   And it’s true but I found the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum touched me more. The volume of visitors to Nagasaki is a fraction of those visiting Hiroshima – it’s a considerable distance from the main tourist attractions and as a result the memorial is on a much smaller scale.

 Sightseeing done we headed north dreading a repeat of yesterday’s hills but fortunately it’s been much easier. We have the Omura-wan Bay, another inland sea, to our right and we’re often treated to some very pretty sea views. Unfortunately this Highway seems popular with large articulated trucks and there’re several occasions where they’re determined to squeeze passed despite oncoming traffic. Tonight we camp by the water’s edge.  

Wednesday 29th August

Saikai to Karatsu Sports’ Ground

Daily Total 63.56 km

Trip Total 24158.21 km

Last night at around 1am we were rudely awoken by raindrops falling on our heads.   We dashed into the toilets with all our kit debating whether to put up the fly but the rain shower had stopped before a conclusion had been reached.  We decided to risk another ‘open-air’ session with our fly and poles ready for rapid deployment should more showers follow. But thankfully it remained dry.  Today we continued north. This area is very beautiful and we were told the western coastline was unmissable. But we’ve got the bit between our teeth and the end in sight so we just push on.  Tomorrow Fukuoka and buying tickets for a ferry crossing to Busan. We haven’t bothered pre-booking but hope we don’t pay top dollar.

 

Thursday 30th August

Karatsu Rowing Club to Fukuoka

Daily Total 62.39 km

Trip Total 24220.6 km

Last night we were told we couldn’t sleep in the Sports’ Grounds we’d originally settled in.  We used their showers and cooked our dinner before relocating under a bridge near the sailing club where there was a fabulous breeze blowing down the river.   A group of kids from the rowing club came over to say Hi and tried out our trikes. Later they returned with a box of icecreams. It was an interesting night. First of all I punctured my mattress on a piece of glass and later we woke to a thunderstorm.   We had cover from the bridge but the wind was still blowing rain on us so we had to put our fly out.

Our last day of cycling in Japan was blessed by some beautiful sea views with sandy beaches and clear blue waters. In Fukuoka we discover there were no cheap ferry tickets until 3rd September and since we don’t want to wait we have to pay 9000 yen each plus 1000 per trike plus taxes.  But we will sail tomorrow. Our last night in Japan – what shall we do? Well we stopped at a street food stall sat and ate uterus (yes really!) and started chatting to a guy and drank too many beers and Saki!

Friday 31st August

Fukuoka to Busan

Daily Total 62.39 km

Trip Total 24220.6 km

 

We’re on board the ferry! But our trikes boarded separately!  Weirdly when we bought our ticket they first asked us to take our ‘bikes’ with us upstairs to immigration and from there we would take them onboard with all the other foot passengers.  When we told them they were too big they still persisted for a while but once they saw our trikes they had a lightbulb moment. We were escorted around to the side of the building and our trikes were loaded onto a cargo truck to take onto the ferry. We then joined the rest if the passengers as normal.  

In a little while we will be setting off for Korea. The crossing takes 5 hours and 30 minutes so we will be in Korea at 6pm today!

 

So 5 months in Japan to the day. It’s been a fabulous journey all over the country. The four main islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu and even Okinawa!  Spring was in the air when we arrived and the cherry blossom was spectacular, now as we leave summer is nearly over and we won’t forget the heat and humidity in a hurry!  Another thing we won’t forget is the Japanese people, so polite, generous and always smiling when they see us. Japan has been incredible and we highly recommend it to all our friends! Next stop South Korea!