September 8, 2008 - Serangan, Bali, Indonesia

During the past week at the dock in Bali Marina, we've had an 85 footer as our neighbor. We've spent so little time at the marina that we had not met the people on board. This morning, just as we were about to leave the dock, the captain called over, "Hey, are you the lady with the blog?" We proceeded to swap tales about our experiences with Customs in Kupang. It was really fun to meet someone because of the blog - a first for us.

The first ARC boat was due into Bali Marina today, so we were ever so kindly, but firmly, told to go. We unplugged the boat, got off the dock and motored out the channel with parasailors swooping by us trying to impale themselves on Mata'irea's mast. Within the hour we were parked on a mooring in Serangan Harbor. It is like old home week over here - lots of familiar boats. We're really enjoying catching up with some old friends. It is also a good chance for Suzy to be exposed to a broader swath of the cruising community. The water here is actually clean enough to run the watermaker - a nice change from the marina. The Royal Bali Yacht Club is also rumored to have an incredible burger. So all around, we're pretty happy with the change of scene.

This afternoon we caught a cab over to the US Consul. After less than 2 years of cruising, Sten's passport is almost completely full of stamps. When I sent in the forms for new passports just before we left on this trip, I requested the extra thick "businessman's special" for both of us; but, the message didn't quite get through. When the passports showed up, mine had twice as many pages as Sten's. He has been running out of room for a while now, but we haven't been in a place where it was easy to add pages. So we were really relieved to find out that Bali had a US Consul. After dropping off his passport, and petting the resident kitty cat, we spent the afternoon wandering through the resort town of Sanur.

On the way back from Sanur Suzy asked our cab driver about the chickens that everyone in Bali seems to keep in woven cages in the front yard of their homes. He confirmed our suspicion that they were fighting cocks. "When are the fights?" she asked. "Any time, but always for weddings." We were all silent as we visualized a bloody mess of feathers at a wedding. While I was wondering whether the cock fight preceded the toasts and first dance or if it was saved for the end, the driver piped up again, "Then we eat. Fighting cock makes good soup." Well that solves the mystery of what is on the menu at the brunch the day after the wedding.