Year 2- 16 September 2025 –Jambo Village – Refiet Island Sumbawa

We woke at about 7.00am and it was a very still day with little wind. We had tea and it was humid but still. We had papaya and yoghurt for breakfast and then prepared ourselves for going ashore and we then set off as we were going for an excursion.

We met our guides and before long we were off in a car and were taken to a village which was called the Blacksmith Village. It had a number of Blacksmiths and we saw them in action. They were heating steel shafts in a coal file and then they were bashing the steel with hammers and shaping them into knives and swords and machetes. They then made a wood scabbard for what they made and they then carved the lovely wood (with just a knife) with nice designs and then a cord to hang from your belt. They were lovely but I could not see how I could use such a thing and did not buy one although it would have been a good souvenir.

We then were able to go to a wooden hut house next door and the lady allowed us to look inside and we could see how they lived. It was remarkable how cool they were as they had a mesh side and a sort of bamboo mesh floor so air could come in from all directions. They were happy to show us how they lived and to then have a photo with us. It was quite primitive but very practical and you could see how it worked here.

We were then taken to another part of the village where they make the shrimp chilli sauce. We were led into a house (having taken our shoes off) where we sat in a living room on a rug and in the centre were various things. There was a large bowl of mashed shrimps to which the lady added a large jar of mixed chilies, some sugar and salt and then she mixed it all around. They then put it in jars for a week and allowed it to ferment. We tasted the fermented sauce with a bit of mango and it was quite hot and you had to be careful how much you had. We were then allowed to try the mix she made today and it was fishy but did not seem so hot despite all the chili we had seen put in it. They also gave us some cake and coffee. There was much merriment and the women wanted lots of pictures with us and then with the men. There was lots of laughter and merriment. It had been a great visit and we had been royally welcomed and they were so friendly and wanted to share their lives with us. Despite this we noticed that there were a number of police around and escorting us. We wondered why they were necessary but were glad they were there.

We then went to the vegetable market which was quite good and we bought some aubergines, sweetcorn, beans, tomatoes and a sort of spinach type plant. The sellers were pleased to see us and enjoyed our custom. There were also horse and carts in the village too which I have not seen in Indonesia before. The horses are quite small and they look so sensible and ecologically friendly and they transport people around. It seemed such a good way of transport here.  

We were then taken back to the pier with our dinghy. It had been a most interesting morning and we had a good insight into this part of the Island. The people had been so friendly. We returned to Stormbird and sorted ourselves out and left the anchorage en route to the anchorage where we agreed to stay the night and from where we will be picked up tomorrow morning at about 4.00am for our whale shark experience. This was only about 5nm North and we sailed a bit to get there. We were then invited for a sundowner on Sabre 11 a catamaran with Brice and Nuria who will join us for tomorrow’s trip to the whale sharks.   

The picture of the day is a number of us in the Blacksmith village.

Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Chagos, Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK.  I am looking for crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town and from Cape Town to the UK. If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com