Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
August 04, 2011
Translation for Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker on Facebook
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each week in her column-logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad Laura Dekker will relate her journey around the world aboard her sailboat Guppy on her attempt to become the world's youngest circumnavigator.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am not missing The Netherlands


Exactly one year ago I l was leaving the Netherlands but it seems to me that I have been on my journey for much longer. I am used to life at sea and sailing from one island to the other and I didn't miss The Netherlands not even for a single day – and especially not Jeugdzorg Bureau or the Council for Childprotection- not even as I went through cold and rainy squalls. Still it would be great if I could 'beam myself' over to see my sister, my dog Spot, my parents and my friends again. This week I arrived in Vanuatu. The day before yesterday I was at a beach party where I listened to someone playing a 12 strings guitar. It sounded so beautiful that it made me want one too. On the following day I spotted one in a small store but sadly it was very expensive. I could have spared myself the sales tax if I had done the paper work but the people at the customs office were unwilling to give me a clearing rubber stamp before I would sail away. The shop owner too would not help and just wanted to sell the guitar to me at the full price and then give me back later the difference for the taxes. As I was leaving the shop deeply disappointed, he changed his mind and decided to give me a good discount on the original price. They had found it very funny that I would come back to the store often, showing that I really would like to have this guitar. Since I have been playing it many times which isn't really not more difficult than playing an ordianry guitar, but the sound it makes is so very nice since you get to hear all the tones twice. When I am not playing guitar, I keep busy making Guppy ready for the sea. I only have to refuel the diesel and the fresh water tanks left to do. I am planning on sailing off early next week heading for Darwin. This crossing should take me about three weeks and I have no doubt that I will be there before my birthday.

Regards,
Laura