A few days after leaving Tual, we had only progressed as far as the southern end of Kai Kecil, where we anchored in the safe harbour at Uf to avoid the constant stream of storms and squalls that were passing through.
Our visas were going to expire, and the trip across to the offices in Saumlaki to leave the country were too far away across the stormy seas. So we contacted the agent that had helped us to enter Indonesia at Tual back in October last year, and enquired about whether we could clear out and leave Indonesia from Tual without bringing SeeBeeZee back to the port at Tual at the other end of the island.
Our agent, Fatma, made enquiries with the four authorities that we needed permission from, and it was possible. We rented the motorcycle from the local villagers adjacent to where we were anchored at Uf, and made the 60km journey overland to Tual. After Fatma took us to immigration, customs, health authorities and the harbour-master, we were off.
Our passports were stamped, and we had officially left Indonesia, but were told to stop at the markets and buy some more food on the way back to SeeBeeZee. Not only did we stop at the markets, but we also found another padang to get the best meal we had in our whole six months in Indonesia.
The ride back took more than one hour, and took us through little villages and seaside fishing communities, strung together along a narrow paved road through jungle and market gardens. It was a view of the island like none that we get from the coastline.
Good bye Indonesia. We are now officially not in any country.
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