Indonesia - Ekas Lombok to Medewi Bali - May 2010

The surf was looking its best this morning. I just didn’t have time as I needed to sort out my bill and drive to the airport at Mataram for my flight to Bali.


I pay my bill, said my farewells and arrived at Mataram half hour earlier than I expected. The drive was great, especially, when we passed through a market in pone town. The traffic slowed and it was very interesting sitting on the inside looking out and the daily market happenings.

The check in at the airport was quick but the plane was delayed, it was well over an hour before it finally left. It was a bit annoying as I really did have time for surf.

Nyoman, my driver in Bali was at the domestic airport waiting. We3 stopped at a bakery and continued our journey though cloud and then rain to Medewi. The ride was relatively free of traffic though just at Medewi we experience delays due to a truck and car colliding.

At Medewi, in the pouring rain, I met up with Ross. We stayed at a no name losman with clean cheap rooms amongst a number of families.

Domestic airport to Medewi 400 000 rupiah

Room Medewi 70 000 rupiah

indonesia - Legian Bali to Ekas Lombok - April 2010

 

 

After a night’s rest in Legian Bali, I was ready to move to other places.

The day before, I checked the web for surf conditions then I booked flights to and from Mataram in Lombok. After that, I rang heaven on a planet resort in Lombok Ekas and booked accommodation and pick up at Mataram airport.

I caught a taxi to the domestic airport in Bali for 50 000 rupiah. I checked in at the Merpati counter then went to another counter to pay 52 000 rupiah for my surfboard. The domestic flight tax at customs was 30 000 rupiah.

The flight was very quick with no problems. The flight is so quick that they give you a snack box and water as you are boarding the plane.

Mata ram airport is well organised and I quickly got my bags and went through customs.

I met four other guys from Melbourne who were going to Heaven on the planet resort. We travelled about 2 hours in a van to get to Ekas. The journey was great passing through towns and countryside. People were busy doing work or nothing at all. The last part of the drive was through rough roads to a bumpy track.

I quickly settled into HOT planet resort. The entertainment area looked great, the room was excellent and the views awesome.

Indonesia - Sumba to Bali - April 2010

Kelala to Waingapu - 500 000 rupiah


Air Batavia – Waingapu to Denpasar – about 700 000 rupiah

Denpasar domestic airport to Legian – 70 000 rupiah

Youdi, our driver in Sumba, (085253497776) turned up right on time. We left Kelala in Sumba at about 7am after breakfast. The drive took 2 hours so we arrived at Waingapu airport much too early to check-in and sat around for a long time.

Eventually, we checked in our bags then Youdi returned and we went into Waingapu for lunch at Mr Cafe.

We returned back to the airport but the flight was delayed ½ hour and we flew to Kupang in West Timor. The plane was delayed again for another ½ hour so we arrived at Bali about an hour late.

Nyoman, our Bali driver, (08155775989) was there waiting for us so the whole journey was easy but long.

I stayed that night at the Kumala Hotel for 250 000 rupiah.

Indonesia - Sumba - Tarimbang - Hill View - April 2010

We travelled to the top of the hill for mobile phone coverage. The views were amazing.

When the generator, which provides power, was off, there was mobile phone coverage in the resort. Still, the drive was worth it.

Indonesia - Lakey, Sumbawa to Legian, Bali - april 2010

The surfed looked good as we were leaving Lakey on 14 April 2010.


We paid our food/drink bills, said goodbyes to our Sumbawa bike mates then our van took us to Bima airport. There were a few of us in the van so it was a little crowded.

The drive was about 2 hours of lush hills, salt marshes, green rice fields, busy towns and laid-back villages. At Bima airport, we paid a departure tax of about 10 000 rupiah and 50 000 rupiah for my surfboard.

The flight was clear in parts with great views over Sumbawa, Lombok, Nusa Penida and Bali.

We touched down in Bali, went through customs and we said our goodbyes. Marty, Nick, Nick and Mat were off to Berewa and then Nick and Nick were off to G-land. Me, I was off to Legian and the Kumala Hotel for some resting, beers, stone massage and food. The taxi from the airport was 120 000 rupiah (60 000 for my board.

Indonesia - Bali to Sumbawa - 7 April 2010

 
I arranged transport the day before with Nyoman. This guy had a good van, turned up on time, was friendly and not problems. I used him for most of my transport on this trip.


+628155775989 from overseas

Email of brother: mande_driver@yahoo.com

We left Balian at 6:30 am on 7 May 2010 with some rain. The trip down crowded in spots with trucks coming from Java.

We arrived at the domestic airport at 8:30 am. My flight with Merpati was leaving at 10:00 am. The departure tax was 30 000 rupiah. My surfboard cost about 70, 000 rupiah. This was my first time in the domestic airport at Bali. I was meeting Nick, Nick, Marty and Mat at the airport. I met the first three guys in Medewi about two years ago. Mat was a friend of theirs that I met in Berewa about 4 days previously. Eventually, I met up with the guys and we boarded the flight to Bima, Sumbawa.

At Bima, we went fairly quickly through customs and were met by the van from the Alam Ganti hotel. The drive was about 2 ½ hours through flat and hilly terrain through little traffic on a two way road. We also passed through a few small towns.

The road deteriorated somewhat at Hu’u, which is a small village just before the Alam Ganti Hotel, Lakey Beach. On arrival, we checked in at reception and were swamped in a friendly way by guys offering motorbike transport. I took Harry, who spoke little English. We negotiated for 50 000 rupiahs per day to ride me to and from the local surfing spots.

Then we were off to the rooms, which were air conditioned and brand new.

Later, we surfed at Cobblestones and dinner at the Frenchman’s

Indonesia - Bali - Berewa to Balian - 4 april 2010

I had 1 metre early surf at Berewa but it crowded out quickly. The second day strapping my knee and it was a bit sore in and out of the water.


I rang Ayu’s at Balian to book a room, as well as transport to Balian. The cost of the transport was 300 000 rupiah.

I said my bye-byes to the guys. I paid up money owing for the room and party and drove up to Balian.

The trip up was the usual heavy traffic of cars, trucks, etc. The road was okay to deeply cracked and potholed. The road passes through a number of large towns to small villages, as well as, rice fields. Just near Soka the countryside becomes very pretty with terraced rice fields with ocean or mountain backdrops.

The journey took about 1 ½ hours and the weather was cloudy.

On arrival, I settled into Ayu’s, strapped up my knee and had solid head high surf on the lefts. The strap worked better this time, though it still hurt.

India - Manali - 1986

Manali is a hill town in India. there are two towns some distance from each other - new and old manali. Old Manali is old and looks very poor. travelled around the area for a week or so.

Interesting place to people watch.

 

 

India - Dharamsala - 1986

Dharasala is a hill town in India. It is the home town for the Dali Lama and many other Tibetian refugees. The town has a Tiben feel with Tibetian restaurants.

It is a great place to relax and meet people from all parts of the world.

India - Pahalagam - 1986

Pahalagam is a small town within a beautiful mountain valley in Kashmir. The hills are covered in trees and the road north leads off to more villages and the snow capped mountains.

Wandered around the area for a week. Great place. Loved it!!

India - Srinagar - 1986

A very steep bus ride from New Dehli and into Kashmir. Srinagar is a spread out town aaround the south end of the Dal Lake. Houseboats are moored in the lake with mountain backdrops. Very pretty. Stayed in a houseboat for a few days but the sellers coming to the boat were regular and persistent. Moved into hotel by the lake shores. The lake flooded while there and so needed a boat to get into and out of the hotel.

The food was great and very different to the rest of India. Lots of nuts and dried fruit.

The big attraction was boating on the lake and its tributaries. Cycled around a reasonable section of the lake and visited lots of gardens.

Nepal - 1986

Flew from Sri Lanka to Nepal. Spend a month enjoying the countryside. Spent a week in Chitwan and rode elephants and by foot into national park. Saw white rhinos and crocs but no tiger. Maybe that was okay seeing we were on foot.

Sri Lanka - 1985/1986

Stayed in Sri lanka for a month. The weather and surf were great. Met lots of people and had a great time.

France - 1983

Crossed from Engalnd to France by ferry. Travelled through france and picked grapes in Beaujolie for a few weeks. Travelled north to Strassberg and train to London.

Great fun picking grapes. Food excellent.

England - 1983

Arrived London and travelled the south coast of England. Caught up with a few overseas friends. Nice scenery and sunny weather the whole time.

Sri Lanka - 1983

The surfing season was on the east coast. Travelled from Columbo to Aragan Bay. Stayed about 4 weeks. Overland to Hikkaduwa then north to Columbo.

Very quiet on east coast and accommodation was very spartan. surf good but crowded.