Its 3 p.m., the sun is out, the wind is calm and we are in a protected anchorage in the north end of Nias, so the boat isn’t rocking. I could almost forget that I’m on a boat except that I can’t leave.
When I woke this morning at 6:30 a.m. it was raining and a strong southwesterly wind was blowing, which is only a problem if you need to travel southwest. Now the weather is improved, but leaving is no longer an option because the next stop is 11 hours away and traveling and anchoring at night isn’t a favorable option.
(The distance of other boats is difficult to judge at night, and Indonesia is plagued with floating logs from the densely wooded islands that are impossible to see in the dark.)
To pass the time I have watched two movies, snacked, read, wrote and listened to an hour of news by the BBC. There are 7 hours left in my day.
Kevin and I are isolated on 32 feet of boat because going ashore isn’t an option for two reasons. The first and main reason is we aren’t legally permitted to be in Indonesian waters until May 1 and going ashore will likely provoke interest among the locals and potentially cause us problems if any officials, known for their corruption, curiosity and want of bribery, ask for paperwork. Second, the dingy, which is the small inflatable and motorized boat used to get to and from the sail boat, is stowed on deck and even if it was in the water where would I go?
It’s a lazy day, one that doesn’t leave me feeling completely guilty for indulging in hours of mindless entertainment, because my options are limited. I’ve managed to get a bit of writing done, so my day doesn’t feel like a complete waste of time, but I can’t help but feel like sloth about once an hour – or at least between movies.
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