Well Hivers, at risk of boring you with more surf stories it's all I got for today. Indonesia is now open for international visitors. Thank god. I been waiting two years for this, stuck in Thailand surfing below average waves while the planet flounders with Covid restrictions that in my opinion achieved nearly nothing in preventing the global spread of Covid. Indonesia started with an opening experiment in Bali and now it has decided screw it - lets open the rest of the country and get back in business.
My surf wingman and I are rushing to get our shit together to head out to Jakarta by the end of the week. My good buddy Danny Rolls is a surf expedition fixer based in Cimaja which is five hours south of Jakarta. The water is not super clean there but it does pick up a solid south west swell starting about now and lasting all the way thru to December. Here's the enticing images Danny has been posting recently in Facebook (that other social media platform that nobody cares about). Danny showing the art of the barrel!
Once we get to Cimaja we will settle in for a couple of days getting shacked in those sweet liquid chambers then the real adventure begins with another two hour trip on rough roads to a little seaside village of Sarawana. Here we will cosy up in our regular homestay. Ten bucks a day including three meals - I think I have mentioned this before in a post a couple of weeks ago so now super excited its coming to fruition! Look at this lovely little place and this is the very cool owner - I almost feel guilty paying the rates she asks! So we make it up in consumption of Bintang Beer!
Here's my wingman and surf bro. The wall behind him is typical of how all the buildings in the village are painted. Pink is heavily featured - not sure why but seems that may be the cheapest paint! Walking over the rice paddies on the way to surf deserted solid waves is beyond special!
So now decision upcoming - which three weapons should I take...:) My board bag is big enough for just three boards so careful choice has to be made. Doesn't matter which boards I take - I'll always wish that I brought another one different. Hahaha.
Anyway team. Thats my upcoming adventure. This week will be spent wrapping up loose ends and making sure all my work is stored to hard drives and cloud storage so I can keep going. Need to prep the boards, spare fins, spare leashes, check the board bag zip is working (been stored for two years) Need to stock up on sun cream and store my bikes nicely etc etc etc. Hell I may decide to stay longer but at the moment Indo only giving 30 day visa...:(
Im Jo biker and I dam excited on getting back to Indo! Peace!
Surf pic of Danny Rolls used with kind permission!
Very cool and kind of envious you getting out and having fun. Look forward to reading about your travels and adventures. Just curious as to what the shark situation is like there with the murky water.
Hi @cryptoandcoffee - No sharks in this area. At least not in my experience here. In fact not really anywhere in Indo except for one river mouth in Bali that is known for the occasional Bull Shark. Cant wait to get out of here and hit the waves!
Wait, you have more than one board!? I always imagined surfers would have just one perfect board that no other is ever allowed to touch.
Different boards for different waves...:) Boards are disposable really - most boards only last a few seasons before they are damaged or even snapped.
Gosh I didn't realise that! With all the talk of time spent waxing them I thought they'd be more long term.
Oh the wax is only for a couple of sessions. It comes off every time you surf...:)
Kind of remember the brand everyone used was Mr Zogs sex wax and is that still the case?
Was Indonesia still on lockdown or something?
BTW, I love the way he rolls on the water body.
Have fun!
Indonesia was still in lockdown - most of S.E. Asia has ongoing restrictions making visiting complicated and arduous.
Waoh!!
I thought the whole lockdown thing was over everywhere.
All the same, it's good news for your city.
God I wish it would be over everywhere and fast. So tired of it now along with everyone I think!
It ended a long time over here. I hope it happens so everywhere else.
God thats good to know. May I ask which country you are located?
Nigeria
I'm jealous of your upcoming trip, even though I suck at surfing. I'd probably just get a boogie board so all of the real surfers like you could point and laugh :P
Hehe - I respect boogy boarders! As long as they stay the fuck outa the way...:) Kidding - dude doesn't matter what you are riding. If ur catching waves thats all that matters!
Wow! Thats such a bunch of cool pictures over there.
You are having a great fun with all these surfing pads.
Indonesia seems a very beautiful place with nice shores.
Keep up enjoying,man!!
Thanks! Those people that spend their life in the waves taking pics of surfers do have a pretty cool life! Indonesia is a gorgeous country as you say. Super excited to be going back!
Hmm..
Its all yours.
Do enjoy the vacations..
I wish I would have a trip to Indonesia.
The sweet land of beauty...
So cool.
Indonesia has something for everyone and best of all it's very inexpensive!
Ah man you are living the dream! What do you do for work?
I am new to Ecency/Hive, and besides sharing music I do hope to blog a bit about surfing in my home town of Cape Town, South Africa. Have you ever been to South Africa?
Thanks @jasperdick. Feels like a dream sometimes...:) But I do work hard for it. I got my fingers in a few pies. Little trickle income from home, some carefully managed savings, some crypto trading and few digital gigs. I'm certainly not wealthy but am living a sweet and quiet life in Asia without being part of the ratrace. Welcome to the community dude. Yes I have been to South Africa many many years ago. Its an amazing country. My mom lived in Capetown before I was born in Australia so I grew up on stories of South Africa. I have to surf there one day but little scared of sharks!
No man... I doubt South Africa is that much sharkier than somewhere like Australia? I think there are only a few places where I'd really worry about sharks more than the drive to the beach in the first place!
Since joining Ecency/Hive a few days ago I have added some posts about the Surf Scene in Cape Town. Please have a look and let me know what you think?