February 19 - 29, 2008

    As we sailed south, we talked about what we would do while in Malaysia.  As we neared Langkawi, our discussion turned to how we would get another long term Thai visa and return to Thailand.  Although we like Langkawi, we would both prefer to be in Phuket.  So we decided that we would take care of some business while in Malaysia (including getting another visa) and return to Thailand in the late summer or early fall months.

    We caught a small tuna along the way.  He was a little guy, and we don't particularly like that fish, so we put him back.  But it was nice to catch a fish.  This has been a lean season.

February 19 – 23, 2008

    We went to the anchorage outside Telaga Harbour Marina with plans to check in with the federalies then sail on to the southern islands.  However, the harbormaster was not available, and he likely would not be available for four or five days.  We were advised to check in with the harbormaster in Kuah – the main town on Pulau Langkawi.  So we reserved a car for the following day and resigned ourselves to spending a few days near shore before going to the islands.

    It was dark when we returned to the boat in our dinghy, and we saw the most intense bioluminescence that either of us had ever seen.  The bow wake from our dinghy was bright purple as was the smaller wake from the prop.  When fish would hit the surface they would cause a purple spot that rippled outward.  Then, shortly after we got back on board Passage, it started to rain lightly.  Each rain drop that hit the surface was an explosion of purple.  We don't know why it was so intense at this particular time and/or location, but it was something we had never seen before anywhere anytime.  Intense.

    We did rent a car and drive to town the next day.  Checking in was quick and easy, and we also did a little shopping.  We have numerous projects on the horizon, so we were already checking out Langkawi’s chandleries, and we were looking for a travel agent to help us plan an upcoming trip.  We found a chandlery but not a travel agent.  So we stayed near shore (within wireless internet range) for another two days to get our land travel plans started.  Having done so, we were off to the islands that we previously enjoyed so much.

February 23 – 29, 2008

    Pulau Dayang Bunting is a large island just 13 miles from Telaga Harbour.  We stopped at Rebak Marina on our way out there to have a look around, but it did not appeal to us.  We decided to stay at Telaga Harbour Marina while in the area.

    We arrived at Pulau Dayang Bunting in the late afternoon, and it was as beautiful and dramatic as we remembered.  Steep-to bluffs, soaring eagles, birds.  We passed through an area called ‘the fjord’ because of its narrow passage between two steep cliffs, and we anchored near its western end.  We could see the nearby island where we anchored during out last visit to these islands.

    A few boats came and went during the days, and a few fishing boats usually came in at night.  One night, six small fishing boats rafted up just in front of us, and they drifted in to us during the night when the wind shifted.  The only damage was a little red paint on us, and they moved a bit further off.  We also had a cruising boat neighbor that seemed to have an aversion to wearing clothes, but he never came to our boat naked, so we were not about to tell him how to dress (or not dress) on his own boat.  Some colorful characters in a dramatic environment.

    Nita spent a few days working on boat projects that she wanted to complete before going inside a marina, and it was miserably hot in the sun.  We also took the time to dinghy around the islands and gawk at all there was to see.  We never get tired of these islands.

    But we needed to get back ashore and work on our land travel plans if we wanted to make the trip before the monsoons change.  We wanted to start our travels within two weeks, so we had lots of planning to do.  We needed an internet connection.

    Although we were not completely ready to leave these beautiful islands, we reminded ourselves that they are only 13 miles from Telaga Harbour, and we can come out here any time we need an island fix.  This is the place to get one!  So we headed in to the marina.

February 29, 2008

    We had an uneventful trip back to Telaga Harbour, and we went in to the marina where we will likely stay for at least a few months.  We hooked up water, electricity, and the internet.  Suddenly we did not mind being inside quite so much.  And here we will stay until ?