In this seventh entry to the Calypte Ship's Log, Aiyana Powell describes the journey she’s sharing with Torren Martyn as they make their way down the Indonesian Archipelago on a 35ft sailing boat. As they leave Sumatra, Aiyana reflects on the last six months and describes the awe inspiring geological activity, sea and wildlife they experience while venturing south through the Sunda Strait to Java.
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We’d spent half the year on Sumatra, with its orangutans and coral seas and tangled forests. It had become home, and I felt overwhelmed with emotion as we pulled anchor, raised the sails, and said goodbye to the island for the last time. Sumatra. I won’t forget our time there: rendang beneath a thatched roof, buah naga and too much coffee. Long days in the mangroves, watching for crocs. Phosphorescent midnights, moving through spacetime, untouchable. Sumatra, with “Hello mister!” shouted from every corner, sunbeam smiles, huge and honest. With coconut palms, and cold food served on hot plates, with handfuls of rice and coconut and clove. Through storms and scorched sun, desert islands, sea snakes, no fish, too much fish - through long days and longer nights, the backs of waves, the wind changing - we’d learnt so much from this place. It felt weird to leave it behind.
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