Admiral Marina Meanderings

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind - Seneca

We had time to give Tientos a thorough clean before the Rally fleet arrived two days later. Major Han, the Marina Manager, had asked us to help out so with Lea on the radio, Omar on berth allocation and Keith and Chandra assisting in the tie up, it was an exhausting day for all.

Although we were not part of Sail Malaysia, we were invited along anyway to all the festivities (helps to have friends in high places).

With everyone crammed into large tourist buses, we visited the Armed Forces Museum, the King’s Palace (now a museum) for lunch, an Ostrich Farm for Ostrich races, (and rides for the adventurous, although I declined to have the flea-ridden feathers between my legs), and a Village Chief’s house for ‘Deepa Valli’, a Hindu festival, for another traditional meal.  So much food!

Interesting history at the Military Museum

Lunch Entertainment

King's Palace

More food and generous hospitality

 

Lorraine from Katani II taming the ostrich

Remember the friends in high places? Well an official dinner was held for the Rally with various dignitaries and officials and we were invited to join the hosts at the main table. That was fun as we didn’t have to fight for the buffet as we enjoyed first class service and a prime view for the festivities.

Harrier and Tientos at the Official Table

For a bird's eye view

Another tour was arranged to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, whose modern skyline is crowned by Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest building. A visit to Aquaria was a little disappointing as it did not seem as vibrant as the Aquarium in Melbourne. 

Smog over Petronas Towers

A visit to Putrajaya, the federal capital of Malaysia, was a picture of stunning architecture and sculptured gardens. The Putra Mosque was magnificent.The pink-domed Mosque is constructed with rose-tinted granite.

The pink-domed Mosque

View from the Convention Centre at Putrajaya

But after another long day, we were over bus tours, so with Dennis and Patsy from ‘Harrier’ we opted for a 3 day stay in Melaka in the opulent Puri Hotel.

Welcome to Melaka

Deceiving from the outside

Opulent inside

Keith checking into the Puri

Melaka is a blaze of colour

Even the Church

The Malacca River

View with lunch

  

Melaka is home to the 1421 Imperial Pavilion (same owners as the Puri) and the details of Zheng He's voyage displayed throughout. The puppet show showing his life (and castration) is quite hilarious and worth seeing.

The Pavilion

Zheng He's fleet

Port Dickson has open-air markets and a large ‘wet’ market, selling poultry, fish and meat still on the hoof.  Keith picked up a new machete for the coconuts whilst I selected a kitchen cleaver with an embossed copper handle, for the chickens. 

The rest of our 11 day stay was taken up with boat work, sorting out the washing which had gone ashore but didn’t come back in the same bag, getting a new awning for over the cockpit and finding lots of interesting local Indian restaurants. 

Zheng He's map of the World adorned our aft cabine

‘Australian Maid’, crewed by Darwin friends arrived at the Marina, enroute to Selangor for the Raja Muda Regatta. I gave Morgan, the skipper, a copy of my Total Tide program and said we would see them there.

It was time to head north for more exploring and to check out the race.  

May all your bars be wooden and well-stocked!