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17 November 2013

Sunday 10 November Start of Sail Malaysia Rally

police bikes and parliament behind
Yesterday we registered our entry in Sail Malaysia, a rally to sail in company from Johor Bahru through to Langkawi one month from now, and received our welcome pack of super large t-shirts and caps, information booklets and our rally flag. Today the Johor tourist office extended us the courtesy of a tour of the area. Three big coaches, each with a dedicated tour guide, pulled up in the car park ad we almost half filled each of them. We waited ten minutes until a police car and two motorcycle outriders pulled in too. No, we hadn't committed any misdemeanour's, they were to be our escort for the day. This was somewhat over the top. Why did we need to go through red lights, have other road users held up while we flew through?
pineapple plant
19k from London
In our full day we visited the new Parliament and administrative park outside Johor Bahru, delighted in a museum dedicated to pineapples and the business of growing them. Did you know pineapples originate from South America and there are eating, canning and decorative varieties. They do and there are. On from pineapples to a viewing point for the southern most part of mainland Malaysia and then a homestay for a grand curry lunch and dancing by girls of the village. A homestay is a traditional Malay village where you can stay and experience living with a family and taking part in their daily tasks, like staying on a farm and milking the cows. The last item on the itinerary was a visit to a traditional fishing village where everyone was waiting to welcome us. Malayan people are very warm and generous. Here we had speeches from the headman, more dancing and more scrummy curries. A full day and information day and very kind of the tourist board to give us this grand welcome.


canning and clening products


at the fishing village

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