INDONESIA AND BALI

Sadly Indonesia has a litter problem. The only means of disposal seems to be by burning. However, the people are delightful. The children row out in their dugout canoes and like to come aboard for sweets. Be wary of small fishing boats as the trail nets up to a mile long. It was one of these that we ran into and wrapped the net around our prop. We anchored in the Gili islands off Lombok where there were nice beach bars. We took a ferry across to Lombok which was green and lush compared to Rinca and Sumbawa. We swam under gushing waterfalls of fresh water. These are fed by underground springs and never dry up as they do in Australia. Lombok has rice paddy fields and in Bali the paddy fields are terraced.
Bali is a disappointment. It is very touristy and the street hawkers are very persistent. The streets are very busy but there were some very nice restaurants which were very inexpensive. We visited Kuta where they were hosting the First Asian Beach Games. We watched the surf competition. The memorial to the 2002 Bali bombing was very moving. There is very tight security everywhere and all vehicles are closely examined for bombs. Bali is Hindu compared with the neighbouring island of Lombok which is Muslim. Hindu temples are everywhere. We are having our teak decks repaired before moving on to Kalimantan to see the Orangutangs.

INDONESIA

We had a wonderful reception in Indonesia. Kupang was our landfall and in spite of the poverty and rubbish everywhere the people were lovely and very helpful and the atmosphere vibrant. A welcome change from the sterile atmosphere of Oz. We spent our time cruising the islands of Nussa Tengerra. We saw the Komodo dragons and Ikat weaving. The reception at each island was tremendous often with the whole village turning out to greet us. Beware of the wildlife including the insects which can be deadly. The spider illustrated killed a young boy a number of years ago. We are now in Bali undergoing repairs to the deck and servicing. We will also find time to visit the tourist sites.

DARWIN

From Yorkeys Knob we sailed up the Queensland coast inside the Great Barrier Reef to Cape York, the most northerly point of Australia. The soil here was red and dusty and this was real outback. Weather hotter. We crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria to Darwin. This is a modern city having been destroyed by cyclone Tracy in 1974. Lots of Aboriginals in town, most of whom looked down and out and drunk. We went on a camping trip to Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks and swam in fresh water pools and admired saltie crocs from afar. We viewed Aboriginal art and the Arnhemland escarpment. Arnhemland is Aboriginal territory.