Day to Day Stuff

Today I had a $2 haircut and believe me I was lucky to save my ears! But, it is interesting that a $2 haircut lasts so much longer than a $20 one. I won’t have to, or want to, get another haircut for at least another two or three months. Another interesting thing is that Dell makes computers in Malaysia, look under your Dell and you will see “Made in Malaysia”. Yet, if one tries to buy a Dell computer in Malaysia they cost 50% more than in the USA and not all models are available.

We have two toilets (Heads). We installed a new switch on our side when we arrived and it worked for a day or two then stopped. I bought it in USA and don’t have the receipt for the $132+ postage. After a bit of trial and error, we discovered that if you lift the floorboard and thump the switch, it will start. We are now kind of used to it. You go, then get on your knees, lift the floorboard and thump it. Works fine!

The 2nd Head in the guest (Port) hull never did work. Well we finally! fixed it after several days of hard work being bent like a pretzel to fit into the bilge. First we discovered that the diverter valve (the valve that diverts waste to the holding tank or overboard) was broken and leaked. The bilge had a few inches of yellow fluid in it. We ordered a new valve from West Marine USA and installed it. Toilet didn’t work. I then ripped out the big hoses and installed all new ones, since they were old and salt water lime deposit on the inside had reduced the opening from 1 ½’ down to ½”. Sounds easy? Took 3 days of hard work and $150 of hose. Toilet still didn’t work! So for another $75, we bought a complete rebuild kit and replaced all the internal parts. Toilet still didn’t work! Next day, we hired a diver to clean the bottom of the boat including the thru’ hull openings, now the toilet works fine! Sitting in this warm 80 degree F. nutrient rich salt water the thru’ hull openings had sealed completely with barnacles. Not a drop of water would come thru, even when I opened the valves on the bottom of the boat. Needed to clean barnacles from engine cooling and water maker inlets/outlets. Started the engines, all is fine. Will head out to the floating barge for fuel when the tide is right. The tanks are empty and we carry 800 liters (200 gallons@ $5.00/gl.). There is a 3 Meter tide difference here. That means if you anchor in 10 ft. water depth at high tide, you will be grounded when the tide goes out. The tidal changes cause a pretty strong current thru the marina. If one goes for a swim from the boat at anchor, you better keep the current in mind or be a good swimmer. I will probably put a small rope around my foot or wear fins swimming.

We are sitting here now floating on the water, generating our own electricity with 8 big solar plates, filling the water tanks as needed, struggling to get on the internet via the weak wifi signal, No TV, no news papers, no car, not even a bicycle! Last evening we went out for a walk after dinner. It was quite nice, not so hot, with very little wind. We went to bed about our usual, 9:30 pm. 10 minutes later all hell broke loose, winds 30 to 40 knots, then rain & lightening and I do mean rain!! It lasted about 1 hr, but it really spooked us. And we want to go out anchor in strange places in this environment??? Well adventure is where you find it! On the good side, we had lunch today at a local restaurant. We each had a bowl of noodles with chicken, fish balls? and some greens, really good stuff, if you don’t eat the little red things –very hot chilies! I had a beer; you have to go get it yourself from the cooler. We ate with chopsticks. The total bill for us both was 8 Ringits. A Ringet is about 30 cents! So you see why folks hang around here for awhile. The whole island is duty free. Small tin or thatch covered shops will sell you gourmet chocolates from Switzerland, fine scotch from Scotland, or Cuban cigars. I went around the marina and talked to several cruisers and found that some left home in Canada, Holland, Germany, Alaska, Britain, and Australia in the year 93’, 94’ and whenever? They are nice folks, and some go cruising from time to time, but spend a lot of time in the Andamans and Indian Ocean. You can, for example, live here on just your social security check if you are careful.

This is our view from the foredeck. You can see the clubhouse of the Royal Langkawi yacht Club. Our home port for 8 months while waiting for the monsoon. Lovely!

Sunset happy hour - Hole in the Wall - Langkawi, Malaysia