Hi all,
Well we made it safely to Cocos. An amazing place, an unexpected paradise in the middle of the Indian. Home island has an Australian Malay population, in the past working at copra production, but now fully supported by the CES, and all living well on the dole! Satellite TV, Ipods, Mopeds & electric buggies ( although you can walk the length of the island in 30 min!) They all seem happy, all have power boats, but don’t grow anything so fresh salad, fruit & vegies are not available. West Island has incredible infrastructure—Fuel depot, water pumped from ground, Many large satellite dishes, a large airstrip, & very relaxed approach to life eg opening hours of the dive shop are 9am to 10.30am only! Fuel only can be bought 8am to 9.30am, mon to fri. Sri Lankan asylum seeker boat(very pretty, but not seaworthy at all, now destroyed by quarantine), & the passengers are in a large compound & were playing cricket. There are two cafe type restaurants, internet, some bungalows to rent, but not much.
The ARC round the world is here. They lost a boat coming from Bali—it hit something at night, lost it rudder and took water, sinking, but all aboard were rescued by 2 other nearby yachts.
We had an incredible snorkele, Arti SWAM WITH A LOT OF REEF SHARKS and wasn't scared at all! (no one has ever been taken here). The fish are very large, and so many types! Amazing We saw lots of giant clams too.
We have now refuelled and nearly replenished water, so may leave on Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow we go to West island to watch the AFL final- I am pleased the Sydney Swans are in it- should be fun.
Love Dimitri & Arti
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| Clearing Australian Customs in Cocos! |
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