Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Admiral's Review of 2014 sailing season

2014 was a very short season for me beginning In early January and ending this 
last week,April 14. 
We sailed back through the same waters as last year from Malaysia up to Thailand 
and then back ,returning to nearby Singapore.We had 60 glorious days of clear 
blue skies with and dry sunshine and not a drop of rain ,but these last 3-4 
weeks have been transitioning into the monsoon season,very hot and muggy with a 
daily dose of thunder showers and lightening storms,reminiscent of Costa Rica.
The waters around Thailand are much cleaner with far less floating garbage ( 
usually plastic water bottles and polystyrene food containers) and have a 
clarity that we couldn't find in Malaysia.
Other  than Penang ,we have not really taken to the cuisine in Malaysia the way 
we enjoyed the food in Thailand.
 Our most favorite Thai foods have been tom yam soup ,chaing beer and red curry 
with seafood ( Thai spicy, that means with 15 red hot chillis)for the captain , 
and green papaya salad or  som tam  and mango smoothies for me.We were lucky 
enough to find French bakers for baguettes and pain au chocolate in almost every 
anchorage this season,amazing how the French influence can be found in the most 
remote of places.Who knew.
I am already missing my regular  (9-12 $ per hour) Thai coconut oil massages 
that were on every beach and tiny town,they were so relaxing once they had 
finished the vigorous deep tissue pummeling ! I would have to say that Thailand 
has to be one of my most favorite countries where we have spent time ,the calm 
culture, friendly people and the delicious food .
Other highlight this year have to be our daughter Jenny's visit for 3.5 weeks  
and our land trip to Chaing Mai,with the up close and personal elephant 
experience and our silent 24 hour meditation retreat.
We are now working through routine maintenance filling the tanks with diesel , 
water, cooking gas,changing all engine fluids and filters.Taking the sails down 
,washing ,polishing and covering Callisto with her protective shroud.Cleaning 
the 2 outboard engines and dingy.Making inventory lists of all spare parts 
aboard and lists of what we need to purchase in the US to bring back.There is an 
unbelievable amount of  preparation  before leaving Callisto for 3 months in 
these hot,humid conditions,cleaning every surface inside and out in order to 
prevent any mold or mildew from growing.
 I am also trying to provision with all non- perishable foods and products for 
the long ocean going trip to South Africa later this summer,this should help 
Michael, as there will be  a lot on his to do list when he returns!
We leave here next week and we will be travelling via Japan for 10 days on our 
way back to San Diego.I hope to celebrate my 60 Th. Birthday in the shadow of 
Mount Fuji .

The gardens at Kota Iskander

Malaysian construction workers in the morning

the marina

A monitor lizard who lives in the marina. He's about 8 feet long!

Kota Iskandar