The
people of Saumlaki have made the yachties very welcome. This was
our last day so we saw customs and the port captain to get our
clearance to leave for Banda Neira at first light tomorrow. Today is
also the farewell Gala dinner at the Culture Hall coinciding with the
last day of the local Saumlaki Festival. When we arrived at the hall
we were shown the entrants in a cook off; a bit like Masterchef meets
the WI. Teams of ladies representing the social groups of the area,
for example, wives of the navy, army and police forces, and church
groups, had prepared and presented a meal for four for the judges to
mark. We went along the tables looking, but not touching, and I felt
like the Queen giving small talk 'how lovely', 'I wish you you well
in the competition', etc, etc. As soon as the judging was over we
were invited to taste the ladies recipes. For once the yachties were
most polite – I've seen them clear a table laden with pizzas in
under 20 minutes – and we took small tastings of pumpkin cookies,
fish balls and cassava salad.
After
this we had advance performance and a couple of singers,
presentations to the winning cooks, a speech from the Vice Regent,
prizes for the best dance groups and then it was time for more food –
the gala dinner. The ladies had prepared a mountain of food for us.
The chicken satay sticks were my favourite.
We
were invited to join in a mass hoke koke and the equivalent of the
birdie song but made our excuses of an early start in the morning and
called it a night.
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