Family visits.

We're back anchored off the town of Patong on Phuket island in Thailand and have just waved my mum off at the Airport. She and my brother 'Tom' flew out three weeks ago for a holiday aboard Blue Moon cruising the Islands of Phang Nga bay. Tom is with us for another two weeks so we're trying to keep busy and enjoying moving around more than we probably would on our own!

Yesterday we stopped in Kata Bay where the Kings Cup Regatta is being held and enjoyed a fun night out with our friends Terry and Karen off 'Sora'. However, on our way home we spent about an hour trying to rescue all the dinghy's that had been left by the race boats too low on the beach and we're getting washed out by the high tide...obviously the difference between cruisers and racers is that they have more money than sense - ever heard of an anchor guys?!!

We have Fresh Water!

After a week of frustratingly pulling hoses and fixing leaky connections we can very happily say that we have had our first glass of Blue Moon desalinated water! Yes we now have a fully functional water maker that will make life on board a lot more comfortable and Jimmy is walking around with a permanent grin on his face. It's a big weight off our mind as we carry a limited water supply and I no longer have to worry about Jimmy breaking his back collecting Jerry cans of fresh water at every port we get to...A good thing all round!!

We're still here in Langkawi doing our final stock up before checking out in the next couple of days to head north to Thailand. Caroline's mum and brother are flying into Phuket for a visit on the 9th of November so we have move pretty quickly to get ourselves into a good anchorage in time. The North East Monsoon seems to have finally set in bringing some great weather which hopefully means an end to the Rainy season!

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Getting organised ~ Telaga Harbour

Blue Moon is back at Anchor in Telaga Harbour in Langkawi after being tied to the dock in Rebak Marina while we took our inland trip to Cambodia. We're now preparing the boat for the next big leg through the Red Sea on leaving Thailand in January. Jimmy's taking on the role of plumber while installing a brand new Water heater sent in from America and a second hand Water Maker brought from another cruiser here in Langkawi (The water maker is an HRO Mini Pack that should produce us around 7 Gallons of fresh water an hour with a pull of 20 Amps).

We still have to reprovision the boat with all the things we can't get in Thailand or things that are cheaper here, it costs 50 Ringgit ($15 US) to rent a car for 24 hours which you really need as everything is so spread out here. Instead of going to one supermarket to buy everything we have to go to different shops that specialise in different things like Cheese, Meat, vegetables, cleaning goods and so on. A shopping trip that might take an hour or two at home can take all day here, plus you have to remember where all the shops are, what they sell and at what prices!! Of course the same thing applies when trying to find boat parts which can take another whole day of running around.

The important thing to pick up here is the very cheap duty free alcohol which we'll have to stock up on enough to see us through to the Caribbean as we probably won't see prices like this again on the trip. It looks like we'll be filling every spare space with rum, Jameson and wine again...a lot like being back in Panama I think!

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Penang Island ~ Malaysia

We've come full circle and even though we're back in Malaysia we're not yet back on the boat! After leaving Cambodia we spent a few days exploring Bankok, enjoying all the great street food and cheap shopping stalls, before jumping back on the overnight train to Butterworth in Malaysia. From Butterworth we caught the ferry over to Penang Island just south of Langkawi, to spend two more nights in a guest house arranging our three month visa for Thailand.

Tomorrow at 8am we're hopping on another ferry back to Langkawi where two weary travellers will be very happy to be home enjoying the comforts of a familiar 'western style' bathroom and a home cooked meal!!

Siem Reap ~ Cambodia.

We've been in Cambodia for over a week now and are loving everything about the country and it's people. Smiling faces meet us everywhere we go and it's hard to believe the atrocities that took place here such a short time ago. Siem Reap is the town closest to the Angkor temples and our home while we explored the beautiful ruines by Tuk tuk (motorbike with a covered cart) for three days. Things have changed dramatically since I was here eight years ago and the town is booming.

We took a side trip down to the capital of Phnom Penh for two nights (6hrs by bus) to visit the Killing fields and Genocide museum but are now back in Siem Reap with a bus booked for tomorrow back to Bankok (8hrs by bus).

Bankok ~ Back in Asia and on the Move!

Caroline flew back to Langkawi in Malaysia last week and rejoined Jimmy and the boat after almost three months back in the UK. Jimmy's been working really hard to get lots of jobs done in preparation for crossing to the Med in January and Blue Moon is looking in fantastic shape. So to combine a much needed break for Jimmy and also to renew his Malaysian visa we Jumped on the overnight train to Bankok and are now enjoying the comforts of a great hotel and exploring this hectic city! Tomorrow we are catching a Coach to Siem Reap in Cambodia to see the Temples of Angkor Wat and then decide where to head to next.....?

Back in the UK

I'm back in Hampshire in England enjoying the fantastic weather we've been getting and catching up with family and friends. My eldest brother's wedding was last friday and it was a beautiful day, great to catch up with so many family members I haven't seen for almost ten years. The last time I was home was almost four years ago and it's amazing how very few things have changed but still a huge culture shock from life on the boat...have to admit i'm enjoying the creature comforts!

Jimmy is back in Rebak marina after a quick trip with his mum down to Penang island to do a quick restock. Pat flew home to Florida on the 5th and Jimmy's now working hard on all the annual boat jobs that need to be addressed including Varnishing, rewiring and waterproofing. Blue Moon is scheduled for a haul out on the 30th of July for 5 days and with me still here in England Jimmy has a lot of work to do sanding & painting the hull single handed!

I want to wish our friends Eli and Jorn on the boat 'Silene' Congratulations on returning home to Norway after three years at sea! And an even bigger Congratulations as Eli is pregnant for their first child ...Good luck guys and hope you enjoy your new adventure!!!