Bass Harbor

We return to Bass Harbor for appointments in Kuah with a recommended Chinese dentist appropriately named Dr. Chew. She cleans our teeth for U.S. $11 each and fills a small cavity for U.S. $8. We are quite pleased.

At the dinghy dock we run into John who lives aboard the Orient Explorer, a175ft former WWII submarine chaser. Retired from the U.S. Navy, John has been in charge of operation and maintenance of the ship for 5 years. The Dutch owner flies out once or twice a year. John invites us out for a tour.

The ship has been converted for passenger use and served as a ferry in the Baltic for many years. There are numerous cabins and two large dining areas. The galley still has much of its original equipment. An enormous bird cage shaped like a hot air balloon sits on the lower aft deck (the poop deck) where it is home to a few doves and other assorted birds. The ship's cat must love it. John envisions the Orient Explorer being used to take groups out on overnight fishing excursions.

Early one evening we join the Hash House Harriers (which originated in the U.S.) for one of their regular run/walk events. The Langkawi group combines ex-pats from several different countries with a few local people plus occasional unsuspecting yachties. We walk up and down hills and then clamber over a steep area of jagged rock. At least that describes what I was doing. At the finish ''virgin" runners (first timers) and others singled out for various offenses are instructed to chug-a-lug a beer while being doused with cold water. Slightly off color ditties were sung by those who knew the words.

While anchored out in the large bay we had some strong winds and three cruising boats dragged anchor in the middle of the night. An unattended 50ft wooden fishing boat on a mooring wandered a bit as well. The next morning Richard found the owner of the boat who said he would take care of it. But we had a repeat that night. Several yacht owners were out in their cockpits keeping an eye on the fishing boat as it, again, slowly dragged through the anchorage. The next morning we decided to check into the nearby Royal Langkawi Yacht Club marina for a couple of days.