4 October Danga Bay Country Garden Resort marina

sea traffic on steroids around Singapore

Danga Bay Country Garden

Here we are back in Johor Bahru at the small Danga Bay Country Garden Resort marina.
Our journey from Tioman, around Singapore and up the river to Johor Bahru was motor, motor, motor.  Singapore waters continue to be busy although, either because of familiarity or less shipping, seemed quieter though not so quiet you could take you eyes off the shipping lanes. On the west side of Singapore island we turn north up the river to approach JB and have to navigate past a loading port, constant dredger traffic and oil rigs in the middle of the channel.  This was a new build which four tugs were moving out of the building bay and into the Straits.  Once past it was a stright shoot up the river to DBCG marina.

View looking south towards Puteri

pool more decorative than used

artificial beach at DBCG

not the usual marina facilities

It's one jetty with berths for 16 boats and a tricky entry for a keel boat as the beach begins a short distance behind the up river pontoons and the down river ones have too little depth for us. Once alongside and there was plenty of depth.  The marina seems to be a sales point for a massive development of 20 towers of apartments.  As marina residents we could use the infinity swimming pool and the club house.  How many marina club houses boast a free (non alcohol) drinks bar, super fast wifi and a baby grand piano? The wifi was so good we were able to live stream the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix (whilst sipping complimentary juice and coffee). It's all rather more swish than we are used to.
However, our stay was to be a short one; long enough for us to take a day trip into Singapore across the Causeway and re-enter Malaysia with new 90 day visas and to use the internet to order a set of new rigging to meet us in Langkawi.
7 October      Port Dickson, Admiral marina
Awful.  The best word to describe our journey from Johor Bahru around to Port Dickson is awful due to an almost constant headwind and adverse currents.  The first night we anchored south of Pulau Pisang to shelter from the WNW swell and the second night was south of Pulau Besar, south of Melaka, again finding refuge from the WNW swell.
Pulling into Admiral marina was like entering Nirvana - calm, and our friends on Kittani were here too.  We went out for satay and noodle dinner with Pete & Cathy and their friends, Brian and Sandi from Persephone.  Day 2 was a rest day and then we left. Once more into the breach. On the first day the wind and waves were away for the day and we made good time to Port Klang.  The next day wind and waves were back reducing our speed meaning we didn't arrive at Sungai Bernam anchorage until after 9pm.  Normally we would do this distance easily within daylight.
Our next overnight stop at Pulau Teleag, or Monkey island, became so rolly we had to leave.  Upping anchor at midnight we arrived at the Junk anchorage in Penang mid afternoon.  This was a new stop for us and we liked it. Quiet. Not rolling.  What's not to like?