Day 101, Year 3: Trip to Maumere
Date: Hari Senin (Monday), Bulan Agustus 18, Pada Tahan 2008
Weather: Unseasonably Windy
Location: Sea World Anchorage, Flores Island, Nusa Tengarra Province, Indonesia
It was another interesting day. The scariest and most interesting part of the day was a wind that blew down into our part of the anchorage, crashing down two of the structures the locals had built on shore for the Sail Indonesia “village” and then tried to turn itself into a water spout just a couple of hundred feet from us. We happened to be in the cockpit when this happened and it was truly frightening. The wind hit the water and started spinning in a circle. This “circle” danced on the water
jerking one boat around that had just anchored and almost knocking another boat over. I was frozen and couldn’t even go get my camera to record this. When the dancing circle dissipated, the water where it had been looked like it was boiling. Locals say this happens often during the summer season here, but it is the dead of winter. Like I said, interesting . . .
We started our day by hiring a driver and van from the Sea World resort to take us and Jean-Pierre and Colette of Safina to the bank in Maumere and to the service station to buy diesel fuel. It ended up a much bigger explore than we had anticipated, but it was a great way to get to see the area. The bank was closed because yesterday, August 17, was Indonesia Independence Day. Everything else was open, but not the banks. But we were able to withdraw a million and a half Rupiah from the ATM and
that should keep us going a bit longer. By the way, this was the 63rd independence celebration. It was on August 17, 1945, when Soekarno proclaimed independence of his country from the Dutch. A four-year struggle followed, but August 17 remains the day of celebration. But getting back to the trip to Maumere, we fought the crazy motorcycle traffic that is everywhere in Indonesia to make our way to the market to buy some fresh veggies while in town. We went on a search for eggs, but were only
able to find eight in the whole city. We also bought some Bintang beer and canned butter. We then stopped at the service station to fill our jerry jugs with diesel and then it was back to Windbird.
I did laundry today and for the first time in our voyage I lost something to the wind. I did the sheets and towels today, and our king-sized top sheet evidently went flying and then sunk to the bottom before we even noticed. I guess this gives me the opportunity to buy some beautiful batik material in Bali to replace the sheet, but then there will be seams because you can’t buy material as wide as a sheet. The even greater loss was the six clothespins that went down with the sheet. I have searched
the world thus far and can’t find large clothespins like the ones I have had for years. I now have only seven left and am going to have to find some kind of replacement.
Tomorrow morning at 5 am we head to Kelemutu. This is volcano whose crater is home to three colored lakes-one turquoise, one brown, and one black. This area is sacred to the local people as they believe the souls of the dead go to these lakes. It is believed that the souls of young people go to the turquoise lake, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai, while the souls of old people go to the brown lake, Tiwu Ata Mbupu. The black lake, Tiwi Ata Polo is where the souls of the wicked go. But whatever the reason
for this phenomenon, it is evidently quite a spectacular view if you get there before the clouds roll in. Hope with us that tomorrow morning is crystal clear.
 |
| 080818 Day 101 Flores, Indonesia–Sea World Anchorage and Trip to Maumere |
