Hi again

[Terry MacArsey]

Hi,

I didn't use a similar forum much, mainly because when I'm in Indo I only get access to internet when I go to the immigration office, 12 hours away by ferry and when I'm in England (6 months every year) I'm normally quite busy working and trying to make enough money to take back to Indo.

I was looking at the forum wondering why someone who was named after a city under the sea (not sure if I'm allowed to say the name) wasn't there so did a search on their handle and found the name of this forum so that's why I'm here. Mainly because I found their expertise in legal and visa matters very helpful.

Has Brexit got anything to do with it ? Indexit ?

I've been married to an Indonesian woman for 13 blissful years (at least my wife thinks it's blissful when I'm in England), have a 7 year old boy and 18 year old step-daughter who I treat as my own.

I've started to build a houseboat in the Togian Islands which I was planning to hire out but it's not finished yet and probably won't be finished for another 6 months.

I'll be back in Indo in November so if anyone wants to come to the Togians it would be great to see you. It's a beautiful area of the world and well worth the effort of getting there.

Nice to see a lot of familiar names here anyway.

Cheers, Terry (not real name)

 

[Puspawarna]

Has Brexit got anything to do with it ? Indexit ?

We call it "Lexit." Story here.

Welcome Terry! I hope you'll share your houseboat building stories with us.

 

[Supir Angkot]

Cheers, Terry (not real name)

LOLs, I know your real name,
.............You are Mr. Terima Kasih.

anyway welcome aboard.

 

[dafluff]

I've started to build a houseboat in the Togian Islands which I was planning to hire out but it's not finished yet and probably won't be finished for another 6 months.

I had to look up Togian Islands and wow...do you know how to pick your tropical islands! Good luck with your venture.

Also, if it is Atlantis you are looking for, of course you an say his name.

 

[atlantis]

I was looking at the forum wondering why someone who was named after a city under the sea (not sure if I'm allowed to say the name)

Go ahead, Terry. You can say my name, it's safe. I am not yet banned here. At least for now, and I am with the same posse as before, Though we are quite busy in between various sabotage missions, we take time to post a few things, some of them even making sense. Sometimes.

Anyway, warm welcome to the forum.

Togian? A Houseboat? You get me very interested. As you perhaps know I am living up north from you. I have been doing some diving in the Togian and Tomini bay long ago and would love to have some time in the future to log some more.

Cheers,

 

[Terry MacArsey]

Puspawarna - I've read the story about what happened with the other forum - sounds like a right shambles - pleased I wasn't trying to login at that time. I'll try to keep you informed about what is happening with the houseboat (unfortunately not much at the moment) - didn't understand the Lexit though.

Supit Angkot - yes indeed that's where I got my name from - Terima Kasih sounded like a Scotsman called Terry to me the first time I heard it so I've used it as part of my email address for over 10 years. I have always wondered if Terry MacArsey would get in the Jakarta Post if I wrote an email to them or if it would be spotted.

Dafluff - yes, it's in the middle of nowhere as Atlantis will verify. On some maps I've seen there's a dot where the Togians are but on some maps there isn't even a dot ! As I said though, it's well worth the effort.

When I first went to the Togians there was no mobile phone signal (there is now), no internet (still no internet except on phones), electricity 6 hours a day (now 18 hours a day). The closest ATM is still Ampana (now only just over an hour by speedboat instead of 5 hours by ferry).

Thanks for your encouragement with the houseboat.

Atlantis - (thought I'd play it safe rather than getting banned on my first post) - I realise your comments are tongue in cheek but your posts are extremely valuable to other forumites. I've always wondered if the moderators are paid because it must take a huge chunk of your time advising on so many different problems.

I can remember you are based in Manado and sometimes in France if I'm not mistaken. I remember because I think I suggested meeting up in Manado a few years ago but probably ended up flying from a different direction. I'll be in Manado early November for a couple of nights though if you're not too busy for a few hours but please don't feel under any pressure.

As regards the houseboat, as it was supposed to be something I was planning to hire out I'm not sure how much I would be allowed to post about it because it would be advertising a business, even though the business can't run because the houseboat isn't finished. I'm considering opening a crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo to get it finished. We have a company name, a logo and have paid for a website to be built but nothing will be happening before November.

I have used it for one night, towing it to a nearby beach but at the time there were no doors or windows and we all ended up getting soaked. As the Togians is well known for diving and snorkelling the plan was for there to be a glass bottom part to it as well and ideally the houseboat will have its own engines. I say houseboat but it's actually one room but hopefully, if it ever gets completed the room will be 3x5 metres with space for 1 double matress, 4 singles, a gas cooker and a sit down toilet with a mandi. The actual raft part of it is 7x9 metres so there's a fair size terrace all the way around.

After spending nearly 6 months in Pulau Weh in Aceh doing some diving I thought I would try Sulawesi. My wife was working at one of the Dive Resorts in the Togians when I first met her and I was diving.

You never know Atlantis, we might have met in the past if you've dived in the Togians, if not you might have met my wife. If not, would be great to meet you in the Togians in the future if Manado isn't possible for any reason.

Cheers