We are floating!

(Photos courtesy of Sandy on Zorana)

So here we are, gently rolling in calm waters again.  We finally got splashed with no problems at all (just love this Sealift contraption) and are sorting out a few final issues before saying farewell to Pangkor Marina. 

Anyone who knows us well and have followed our blog over the years, will know that we avoid marinas at all costs unless we have no choice and here, we had no choice as we simply had to haul out prior to our next ocean crossing.  We'd far rather be sitting at anchor, nose to the breeze and feeling the pleasant rock of the movement of the seas.

However, that said, we couldn't have chosen a more congenial spot and can highly recommend Pangkor for any boat following in our wake.  The manager James, and all his staff, are simply amazing; friendly, helpful and just ever so pleasant.

But, here we must stay a bit longer.  We have again been lumbered with bank problems!  What did we do in our former life to be subjected to this?!  

Whilst still in Jepara, we spent four and a half months desperately trying to sort out our credit cards from South Africa only to have them finally couriered with a mere six months validity!  We also have a savings account in Panama and this has proven to be equally troublesome if not worse.  

Going back to the Jepara fiasco, we tried at the same time to get new debit cards from Panama. "Sorry sir, we don't have the plastic to print the cards, we'll let you know when we do."  Yeah right.  Our cards are now expiring at the end of this month and guess what, they still don't have the right materials to print us new cards.  99% of our emails are totally ignored and we can't pay our account using said card despite them telling us that the card is fine; use it.  How many ways can I say it doesn't work! and still nothing is forthcoming.  I can withdraw limited funds from an ATM but cannot pay anything on-line.

We're a bit between a rock and a hard place and are forced to stay put until we can get new ones sent across, each day incurring more costs.  My frustration levels have peaked big time and there's absolutely nothing we can do but phone, email, scream, rant, rave and throw all our toys out of the cot!  Today's banking systems were definitely not set up with cruisers in mind, especially those who don't take annual holidays back to their home port.  "Yes sir, just pop into your local branch and they'll sort you out!"  Sure thing!

Update: after another dozen or so phone calls (I promise I remained polite), we've decided to leave on Saturday and we may, just possibly, perhaps, sort of (if we're lucky), been able to get the cards forwarded on to Penang.  Cross fingers and hold thumbs (but not your breath).  But the important thing is, we're off!