Admin trip: Puteri Cove, Johor

Date: Oct 24, 2015

Trip #6
Weather: Hazy, and then rainy on the journey back
Waters: Flat 
On board: C, A, J2 and R, with Eric leading the way on board Kai

As Little Wanderer is registered with the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS), it is required to make at least one trip to Malaysia.

We made that trip today, to Puteri Cove, which is part of Iskandar Malaysia. Eric was making the trip for the same reason, on one of his customer's boats (a Chaparral Signature 310 christened Kai),  and so was there to show us the way.

We got to Raffles Marina 45 minutes later than expected - the ol' Goose (namely, me) forgot to bring the Most Important Items for this trip, namely, the passports! We had to double back to go home when we were already halfway to the marina. At the marina later, we met a testy Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) guy who checked through our boat papers and verified our passport details. We had to pay a fee of S$150 each way for this service. Boaters headed to Malaysia have to call ahead of a trip, submit the relevant boat papers and arrange for an ICA official to clear immigration for all passengers on board. One official does this before departure, and if the boaters return the same day, it has to be by 4pm for the official on the next shift to stamp the passports.

We set off, turning to starboard upon exiting the marina. We were in Puteri Harbour in 15 minutes, passing the live-firing ranges of the Singapore Armed Forces along the way.

Puteri Cove as seen from the water, with its marina, serviced apartments and
F&B/retail outlets. Such a dull day, so here's a B&W pic for a change.

Little Wanderer, just about the smallest vessel berthed there today!

We were taken in a mini van by a Puteri Cove marina official to the customs building two minutes from the marina, where our passports were duly stamped. Eric had errands to run in Bukit Indah, a nearby township, so we had a couple of hours to hang out at the F&B/retail area. Nothing much there interested us - I think S1 and S2 might be the correct demographic for shops offering Hello Kitty and Thomas the Tank Engine stuff! - so we settled for lunch at Brussels Beer Cafe - pork knuckle, pasta, that sort of thing - and some beers to go with it.

Puteri Cove itself was quiet for a Saturday afternoon. Vendors were setting up the stalls for a night market that would open later in the night; Eric said Saturday nights are livelier there, with some F&B places featuring live music. 

Just as we were nearly done with lunch and had bought coffee, it started pouring, but only for a while. It slowed to a drizzle when we were underway five minutes later, and was bone dry back at Raffles Marina. 

Back home, look what arrived from Amazon.com today. C ordered these things: 

Looks like a lot of elbow grease!