Leaving the marina we had a beautiful morning filled with interesting boats.

Even got a little wave from this guy.

These guys raced over to cut us off and lead us around their nets just before we ran through them. They were friendly about it and didn’t seem to blame us for not seeing their floats (which were tiny white bobbers).

Too late for this little guy, but let’s face it, he wouldn’t have lived long out in these waters anyway.

Approaching Penang with night falling fast. We anchored off the south end of the island for the night. Storm hit us a few minutes after getting anchored, spun us around a couple of times and then blew on through.

It was about another twenty miles from the south end of Penang to the north. The south end had one small island a mile offshore from the big island. A beautiful, wild island, with nothing other than a lone lighthouse on it. But when has nature ever stopped progress? Between the islands construction was in full swing, filling in the water to connect them with “land reclamation” projects. I’d give this pristine place another year before a road rings it.

Took this selfie really quick just in case the bridge height was listed wrong. If we had lost the mast I would have used it for the dramatic thumbnail. We had about six feet of free space above us, but you can not tell from water level. Looking up the mast as the bridge approaches it looks for all the world like you are about to collide. I remember our first time approaching a bridge like this in Fort Lauderdale on our first boat all those years ago. We were approaching the 17th St. bridge which was a solid 10′ above our mast, but we could not convince ourselves that we’d fit even though we’d been told specifically that we weren’t even close to hitting and we could proceed. We eventually inched up to it with clenched cheeks and realized that we would indeed have to trust the listed heights.

Next bridge was even taller.

Everywhere we go they are building new islands. We had to motor a couple extra miles to navigate around one that hadn’t even made it onto the charts yet.

Approaching our anchorage for the next few days. We dropped at the north end of the island out in front of the Straits Quay Marina. They said they could shuffle a boat around to make room for us, but we told them we actually liked the anchorage just outside. They graciously gave us a keycard for the dock (to leave the dinghy) and welcomed us anyway.

Sometimes there’s just nothing better than the universal convenience of a 7-11.

Ouest saw these candied grapes and immediately knew what they were. I was clueless, and would have been happy to remain so. Take a skewer of giant grapes, cover in boiling hot sugar, dip in ice, eat. We made one skewer disappear, but it’s not something any of us were clamoring to get again.

On the outside looking in. It’s so nice to be at a busy place like this, yet remain anonymous and detached from it when you’re ready for bed.