AUGUST 2011

Hi again,

We are back on "Two Up" in Rebak Marina, Malaysia at the moment. Back in what is affectionately referred to in these parts as the "Rebak Retirement Retreat for Ageing Yatchies" and that is how it feels to us after a couple of weeks/months hanging off a jetty here. Don't get us wrong, we love it here. If it is the off season for cruising here and there is land travel to do or a trip "home" on, this is a fine base and very reasonably priced too! It is the routine that we inveritibly fall into that makes the place seem like a retirement village. Get this: 7 am, rise and hit the walking track, 8 am, Yoga or a rotation or two in the gym, followed by a refreshing shower and a bite of breakfast. A few boat chores follow (one must feel one is being of use!) 1:00 pm Lunch and perhaps a catch up via the free wifi with family or friends who are off elsewhere. 2:30 pm, dominoes with the ladies in the cool of the air conditioned library or a dip in the resort pool. 6:00 pm time for a little socializing with other "residents" and a drink or two to celebrate the end of day. 8:00 pm dinner at home or at the "Hard Dock restaurant" set up for our limited budgets with a B.Y.O. policy and cheap food, back for a movie at the resort 3 nights a week or retire to our air conditioned little home to do a little reading or play a game of cards. We do seem to have settled in but our saving grace is that we are off here or there every couple of weeks so it is only the interim periods that we fall into the routine.

Our last little adventure was ten days in Cambodia. What a land of contrasts. The place is a little difficult to describe as one impression is often immediately thrown into contrast by the next. An example? Phnom Penh International Airport is a new, fresh, modern building, the official entry procedures are quick and efficient with electronic scanners and computerized systems.....then you step out into the chaos that is Phnom Penh City. Pot holes big enough to loose a water buffalo in, crazy traffic and a hotch-potch of new hotels, restaurants and bars to contrast areas with building that could only be called slums. Another? The sweet gentle Cambodian people who helped us and befriended us at every turn are contrasted with the fact the not more then thirty years ago, two million Cambodians died of starvation and brutality, not because of a war with foreign powers but at the hands of some of their own people, the Khmer Rouge. Another? The City and the Country. While the Cities are crowded, hectic and often a little dry and dusty, the country meanders along at ox cart pace and the only dry land is the built up strips that pass for roads. The rest is as flat as a tack and a sea of rice paddies as far as the eye can see in all directions.

By far the greatest contrast of all are the temples of Siem Reap, the most famous of which is of course, Anchor Wat. It is by no means the only one though. There are some forty in all remaining and they truly do contrast with the vast flat landscape in which they nestle. These grand, intricately carved sandstone structures are a wonder just for the fact that so many still stand after as much as twelve hundred years. They are also remarkable because each and every block of stone was quarried some sixty klm's from the site. The ancients literally moved mountains to build them.

Although our trip to Cambodia was a little more low key then our fabulous Vietnam adventure, we found that we were still able to enjoy a little luxury as accommodation, food and transport were very cheap. We traveled with one other couple and while in Siem Reap for example, shared a tuk-tuk for just fifteen dollars (U.S) a day. Our hotel rooms were all less then thirty dollars per night, included breakfast and were well appointed, well positioned and clean. "One dollar" was the cry from all the young street hawkers for many and varied souvenirs where ever we went. The local currency in Cambodia is "Riel" but the accepted currency for most purchases is US Dollars. We found this in Vietnam also but the strange thing about Cambodia is that when you go to the ATM's, they dispense US Dollars and not Riel.

We are in the throws of laying up the boat this week in preparation for a return to Australia next week. It is a strange truth that boats need just as much work done on the when when you will NOT be using them as they do when you are. If not more! We are polishing, rubbing and scrubbing both inside and out, stripping berths, wiping walls, stowing cushions, sails and sheets, covering props and repairing covers. We may be away for several months this time. We do not have a return date yet and would like to have Christmas in Australia this year and see little Azriel turn one year old in January before we return to cruising next year.

Again, our web site will be updated in the next day or two (Pete will need a break from the hard slog by then) and we will add photos of Cambodia for you to view.

All the best,

Donna and Peter

"Two Up" on tour.

www.twoup6.com