First the Itinerary change.  Rather than sailing to Thailand and then to South Africa next year I bought a mooring here in Bali where I will leave Salsa for about 4 months while I sail to Thailand on a Friends Boat.  Then I will fly back here to Bali and hang out a few months before sailing on to South Africa via Madagascar and possibly a few other stops.  This saves a few thousand miles of sailing on Salsa and gives me a better angle for crossing the Indian Ocean next year.  So basically Sept I’ll be sailing to Thailand from Bali via the west side of Java and Sumatra (off shore avoiding the Straits of Malacca).  Roughly October through January hanging out in Thailand and doing some backpacking.  Feb-April back in Bali then leave Bali heading west towards Madagascar in May. 

After spending nearly a week in the dirty noisy port of Benoa, Bali I moved the boat to a small fishing type village only 2 miles away called Serangan.  Much nicer here! I also rented a scooter so I can get around as there are nearly no taxis or public transport in this small village.  I’ve been spending most of my time hanging out with friends drinking beer and getting a few projects done on Salsa.  I also head into the town of Sanur about every other day for a massage and slightly better food than they have here in the village.  Just thought I would mention what things costs here.  For a birth at Bali Marina I was charged $20 for one night, a bit much for me so I moved to a med-more inside the marina for $10 a day but still had to use dinghy then to get off the boat.  Then I moved to a mooring here in Serangan for about $5 a day, then I bought a mooring for about $400 which I can sell for nearly that when I move on, so I’m gradually getting the prices down!  At the Marina Food was $3-5 a meal, and excellent quality.  Here in the village food is $1-2 a meal and fair quality, mostly rice with chicken or fish or something.  In Sanur you can get great Sumatran food, for about $1.50 a meal, or an American style restaurant with steaks, or ribs, or pizza will cost you around $5.  A one-hour Balinese massage runs about $6!  So there is no reason not get one every day!  Beers are about $1.50-$2 depending on what bar you go to.  My scooter rental (120CC bike) for three weeks is about $60 so around $3 a day and another $1a day for 2 liters of fuel usually, this gives you total freedom to go anywhere.  I also like hanging out at the local beach were you can lounge in the shade, watch surfers and drink $1.50 beers.   Life is pretty good here!!  Getting ready to store Salsa on a mooring for the next 4 months or so and am now stripping sails off and getting food off the boat etc etc.    Will update again before I go and bring the spot check on Phil’s Boat named “Happy Ours” before we go.  It’s a 40’ Oday.   Hope everyone is doing well! -Kirk

Filed under: sailing

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