A Vibrant Welcome and Unexpected Troubles in Medana Bay, Lombok
We’ve found ourselves in the beautiful Medana Bay on the island of Lombok, and it’s been a whirlwind of cultural celebrations, unexpected challenges, and heartwarming encounters. The bay is filled with sailboats, and a fantastic event is underway to welcome the “Sail to Indonesia” rally.
A Spectacular Indonesian Welcome
The marina has truly rolled out the red carpet for the rally participants, many of whom have sailed over from Australia. A large stage was set up on the grass by the water, and the whole area was buzzing with excitement. We were treated to some incredible traditional performances, starting with the Gendang Beleq dance. This powerful display is typical of the Sasak people, who make up 85% of Lombok’s population. The performance is centered around massive drums, called Gendang Beleq, and is a ritual to encourage Sasak warriors heading into battle. The procession of musicians, dancers, and local women carrying offerings on their heads was a beautiful sight to behold.
The energy ramped up even more with a demonstration of Peresean, a traditional form of stick fighting. Two men, armed with rattan sticks and shields, faced off in a thrilling and skillful duel. While it’s a serious tradition, the atmosphere was festive, and even some of the tourists were invited to give it a try! We also enjoyed the graceful Panerian Joget, a gentle fan dance that offers a beautiful contrast to the intensity of the stick fighting.
Making New Friends
Our time here hasn’t just been about the rally. We’ve made a new furry friend, a sweet local dog we’ve named Tiger. She’s befriended us, and we’ve become suckers for her, making sure she gets fed a couple of times a day. She now follows us everywhere! We’ve also been working on earning the trust of another shy dog in the area.
It was also wonderful to reconnect with some familiar faces. Sazli from the Sail Malaysia rally and James from Pangkor Marina flew over to welcome the sailors, and it was great to catch up with them and share stories.
Three rallies came through the marina, each with their own agendas. We were happy to meet new people, and grateful to be invited to some of the revels and celebrations put on by the organisers. Have you ever seen Sasak stick fighting? It’s noisy!
The Dreaded Diesel Bug
Unfortunately, it hasn’t all been fun and games. We discovered a much bigger problem lurking in our boat: the dreaded diesel bug. We’d also found some mold that had grown while we were away, but the state of our fuel tanks was the real issue. The diesel had become contaminated with a black, gelatinous sludge, a sure sign of the diesel bug.
This meant we had to undertake the massive and messy job of emptying and cleaning both of our fuel tanks. After siphoning out the usable diesel, we were left with the grim task of scooping out the thick, gunky remains of the diesel bug from the bottom of the tanks. It’s a truly unpleasant job, but a necessary one to ensure our engine runs smoothly and safely.
Leaking Diesel Pipes
It was stiflingly hot, but we needed to get on with those regular boat jobs. Back from our first journey home to the UK, Liz gave SY Esper the once-over, while Jamie revealed an unexpected problem: leaking rubber connectors on the diesel tank.
There is one job Liz hates more than all the rest, and she does it almost every time SY Esper is hauled out.
Let’s face it, every job demands a certain amount of application, persistence and knowledge, and if you’re a sailor you’ll understand that boat yard jobs are essential to keeping your sailboat in tip-top shape, ready for the next adventure.
We even know cruisers who revel in being in boat yards, they love it! Not us, we prefer to get in and out asap, then on to gentle cruising to new places.
Exploring Lombok’s Capital
Amidst the boat work, we took a trip to Mataram, the capital of Lombok, to sort out our visa renewals. The drive itself was an experience, navigating the chaotic traffic filled with scooters and trucks. The city is vibrant, with impressive mosques and bustling streets. While the visa process turned out to be more complicated than we’d hoped, requiring multiple visits, it gave us a chance to see more of the island and its lush, green landscapes as we drove into the foothills.
It’s interesting to get the opportunity to look back at our time in the boat yard and see all the work we did. But it’s even better knowing that we don’t have to do any of these jobs again for a while.
We hope you enjoy the episode, which you can watch RIGHT NOW on YouTube…
https://youtu.be/gw1eb7nVyyY
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