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| Sentosa Isl and Immigration Anchorage on the right. Malaysia peninsular on the left |
Departing One Degree 15 Marina mid morning we cleared out of Singapore in the Western Anchorage just offshore from Sentosa Island. This is a designated area patrolled by immigration and customs. When you arrive in the anchorage you call them and wait in order of arrival for processing. We just drifted about as its quite deep and there are a lot of ships moving in the area also waiting for clearance. The process usually takes up to an hour but on this occasion we were fairly quickly underway north in the shipping lanes of Singapore.
You really need your wits about you here as there are many converging lanes and ships of all sizes coming and going. There are some very fast ones and some slow barges. Being daylight is is easier to make out movements but nevertheless its a pretty stressful few hours to get out of there.
We covered the 25 miles easily by evening and we were clear of the worst traffic and making our way north just outside the main north transit shipping lane off the Malaysian West coast.
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| Fishermen in the Malacca Strait |
As it got darker we began to worry about fishing pots and nets which we were constantly having to avoid. Some of these nets stretch several kilometres across our intended track and many are not at all well marked. So the decision was made. We will just man up and get out there with the big boys! So this we did. As it turned out it was a good plan. No nets in the shipping lanes and we stayed close to the edge with radar and radio at the ready. No ships came close. There were some big barges with very long tows and very badly lit which we saw sometimes quite close if we got too close to the edge. They stayed outside the shipping lane but only JUST! We continued this way all the way past Pankor Island and on to Penang. The approach to Penang was pretty shitty with very heavy rain. So much so that we had to put on our swimming goggles and carry a rag to wipe them so we could see. At least is was daylight.
Its roughly 350nm to Penang from Singapore and we motored most of the way as there was no wind. On arrival in Tanjong City Marina it was exciting to be greeted by Tweed again. We had plenty of catching up to do plus a lot of sight seeing. Firstly the next day was my birthday so we had a nice night out in the famous Shady Tree fish restaurant right beside the marina.
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| Creative and beautiful work intemple |
Penang Island is a fascinating cultural mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay. The Architecture is very colonial, it being founded by the British East India Company in 1786.
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| Georgetown. Shabby chic?? |
As a thriving economic hub Penang has a most diverse food culture all within a short walk of the excellently situated Tanjong City Marina. Georgetown has a China Town and a Little India within its area and Fort Cornwallis on the northern edge. There are endless possibilities for entertaining oneself in Penang. When you tire of sampling all the amazing food you can visit Chinese temples and Malay Mosques alongside Hindu Temples and shrines. There are food courts and shopping malls, street vendors, amazing art galleries and of course....Chemical Jo.
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| Chemical Jo |
After waiting for a nice sunny day we took a taxi to Kek Lok Si Chinese Temple to the south of the island. It's one of the largest and finest temple complexes in Southeast Asia. There is a Buddhist Monastery, a seven story Octagonal Pagoda, a huge gold Buddha, donated by the King of Thailand, and numerous carvings, ponds, gardens and art works. The bronze Goddess of Mercy stands 120 feet high and was cast by China Aerospace Systems Engineering Corp in Shanghai in 1998 / 99. The building of a temple to cover this towering figure is in progress. Thousands of tons of intricately carved granite from China is being assembled to create the temple pillars.
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| Kek Lok Si |
We spent a week exploring and eating our way around Penang before heading on again. This time to Langkawi for Xmas. We are waiting for Magic with Chris and Daun to catch up and planning a big celebration together in Langkawi.
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| Leaving Penang. Headed north. |
