We are very late with blog updates this year and I have to tell you it was quite a strange year… Not much sailing and no new countries either…
So during we are still posting stories about land travel in USA from the end of last year: Part 5. East Coast and Liberal and Part 6. Hawaii and Baja Race are coming soon… I decided to write this story…
Here is some freshest news from Downtime and Co. But let's do it in order…
Pete and I flew back from USA to Davao, Philippines in the end of November, 2013. After 2 weeks the boat was ready to sail and we started our adventure in the country of little people. Two fun stores about Philippines are coming soon as well. And here is few pics for the start …
After few months cruising our sailing plan had been changed, we decided to sail back to NZ and spend next hurricane season there. We missed Pacific. There are some beautiful islands in Philippines, but both of us didn't like Asia so much, not so great place for cruising, not much infrastructure there, not many cruisers either… And personally I have been to 85 countries so far and never saw so dirty one… Pete had stomach problem twice and I had once, not to mention the most of the time I was cooking for us and our friends on Downtime, we ate out maybe twice per week… Friend of mine, Paolo Grazzini on Smar (SuperMario) was sick twice after eating some food on shore…
To everyone who is asking about Paolo, I believe he is fine, he is still searching for "perfect crew". We spent 2 months with him and saw maybe 12 different girls. But no one was good enough, so everyone still has a chance! Please contact him directly, I am not his secretary and I don't speak Italian either :) paoplosupermario@onsatmail.com, paologra.sail@gmail.com
Say shortly we sailed from Davao to Cebu with some stops on our way and next Boracay, El Nido, Coron and back to El Nido and Cebu.
Philippines looks very attractive in pics, which is remind me Cuba… Photos are much better then reality… So I took 1000s of great shots…
How I mention already our body boat from Boracay to El Nido was Smar. Paolo and Pete were looking for kite spots and Boracay is way too crowdy. So we sailed 30 miles south and found an awesome spot… just for ourself…
During guys were having fun to learn new jumps, I and Tia, Paolo's girlfriend enjoyed the beach life.
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| My best Mango smoothie for my best friend! |
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| Captain Amazing and awesome crew! |
My friend Jenny flew to El Nido in January for 2 weeks to experience our sail life, we had wonderful time with her and even celebrated my Birthday together!
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| new friends |
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| first try and first up! |
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| who is not working, not eating))) how we say in Russia |
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| Happy Birthday to me!!! |
In the end of February I flew to Russia to see my family, friends and doctors… yes sometimes you just have to…brrr… freeze my skinny ass…
Pete sailed back to Palau, according new plan.
His daughter Cassandra with her boyfriend Antony visited Pete in Palau for 10 days in April!
They had a wonderful time together. Cass and Antony learnt how to dive and explored an amazing underwater world. Pete shown them a lot of beautiful little islands on SD , include Peleliu! Kayaking, wakeboarding, laughing and having fun. Life is hard on Downtime with an amazing Capt. Pedro!
Just before to come back on Downtime I flew to France to visiting my sister's family. Isn't it lovely, when your sister has a villa near Cannes? Yes! Indeed!
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| view from the house |
My nephew Dmitriy is racing the cars in Formula1 for teenagers. He is in Italian team, living in France for the last year, from Russia … Funny combination, but it works. He is number 1, very proud of him!
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| nice little forest for me behind Pete)) hehe |
I flew to Palau on 1st of May, it took 42 hours, but it was worth it! I had an awesome time in such a beautiful and warm tropical country… Pete prepared everything to leave next day for 11 islands… So we spent almost 3 weeks in paradise together.
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| rainbow! |
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| homemade waffles! can life be better? |
One day Pete took me and our friends Lisa and Paul on Lorelei to explore Peleliu, all day adventure, "must do" activities during you in Palau. The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S. Marines of the First Marine Division and later soldiers of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought to capture an airstrip on the small coral island. This battle was part of a larger offensive campaign known as Operation Forager which ran from June-November 1944 in the Pacific Theater of Operation.
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| view from the top of the hill |
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| watch out! police here! |
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| strong russian woman! |
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| very beginning of the long-long tunnel… |
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| need to be Japanese to feel comfortable there… |
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| all together! |
Other day we explored Jellyfish Lake, one of the wonder of Palau. The Lake is located in the Rock Islands, a group of small, rocky, mostly uninhabited islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu. Millions of golden jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake daily. You need to buy permit in the town before to go there… It is worth to see! Very unusual and beautiful!
Another day we shown our friends Lisa and Paul Milkyway… The last year we spent hours trying to find it… It is part of Rock Islands with white mud, so you can have Spa Day for free!
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| Paul and me in mud |
Random beautiful pictures of leisure time on Downtime…
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| Thanks Anthony on Liquor Desire for this fish! |
Few times I cooked some specialty of Downtime like Leg of lamb, fish green carry, pizza-night… And one night Paul did awesome rolls and sushi for us! I guess he spent hours to cook all those goodies! Thanks Paul!!!
And another Big thanks for all amazing underwater pics!!! They are priceless! We did around 15 dives during I was in Palau and every single dive was Spectacular!!! We saw few different types of sharks, mantas, turtles, barracudas, tuna's, groupers, trigger fish and a million other beautiful fish and corals in 87 degree crystal clear water… truly paradise!!!
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| me and Nemo! |
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| our group at Blue hole! |
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| I am skinny mermaid)) |
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| prawns |
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| Pete and Angelina Jolly are the best friends))) |
Suddenly Pete changed our sailing plan again… Finally he decided to sail back to Philippines, park the boat there and fly to USA to spend few month with his family and friends…
And I decided to come back to Russia and work my ass off to make some money… I raised way when you have to take care about parents and your self… I was traveling for past 10 years and almost spent everything what I saved in the past… so now I feel unsecured… and it is what it is! Time to remember what is real life about!
So the latest news about Downtime. The boat is safe, in Davao, Philippines.
Pete is having fun in USA with family and friends, he will fly back to Davao in Oct and sail Downtime to Australia for hurricane season.
live your dream,
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