Indonesia - Sumbawa - Aman Ganti Hotel - April 2010

We stayed at the Alam Ganti hotel from the 7 April 2010 to 14 April 2010. I booked this through the surf travel company in Australia.

www.surftravel.com.au

It might have been just as easy or even easier to book direct with the hotel.
+62 361 3144832 +62 361 3144832 (Office Hours Only)

+62 361 7438073 +62 361 7438073 (Mobile)

http://www.amangati.com

The package included transfers to and from airport at bali and bima, domestic flights, 7 nights accommodation and breakfast.

The web site cost for a twin share package of 7 days is $US 435.

The surf travel company was $ AUD 466

We paid for fan rooms but on arrival we were given brand new air conditioned rooms that were excellent. The room had hot/cold water shower, flush toilet, clean, made up each day and tv.

The hotel is large with rows of rooms in one or two storey blocks. The gardens are large but not lush.

There is a three tiered restaurant which has views over the beach and surfing at Lakey Peak. The food is good and service is quick. Breakfast is included in the room price.

There is also a small well maintained pool with lots of seats. It is a great area for socialising and meeting people from all over the surfing world in the evening over a cold beer.

There are much cheaper accommodation options along the same stretch of beach.

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

CENTRAL COAST - Wamberal - Mystery - 1 June 2010

It was a day like any other winter’s day. The weather looked changeable but at that moment it was sunny, chilly with a light cutting breeze.
I walked the treated logged path to the beach bare footed. I meandered down the track with little purpose but to view the sea. My mind wandered through aimless thoughts and avenues.

Suddenly, there was a vision! Over there... on the beach... on the middle of the beach sitting in a sea of wind-blown sand. No steps around it or to it or from it. A mystery. I had to look closer.

My hand reached instinctively for the camera. This moment will be caught for future generations.

CENTRAL COAST - Terrigal Haven - surf - 31 May 2010

Terrigal haven was breaking clean on an increasing swell.

When I first paddled out there were some nice waves just below head height. This turned into over head waves very quickly. There were only a few of us out so it was fun and enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the crowd increased and so did the wind. I got out and by the time I got around to Terrigal for a photo session the surf was fast becoming a mess.
 

CENTRAL COAST - North Avoca - surf - 30 May 2010

North Avoca was breaking fast and furious with a crowd.

A lot of barrels! Some surfers were getting epic tubes, others were getting shut down upon and others were getting humbled.

Well... I was enjoying life from a distance.

 

 

indonesia - Bali - Balian - Surf- April 2010

There are a number of surfing breaks at Balian:

• There is a right in north corner of beach at times
• A left straight in front – mid to high
• A right to the north of the river mouth – sit out on the far peak for a long, long wave – don’t try to paddle on to it from the side
• Another right across river.
• A left at south end of beach at times
• In the distance there is a left and a right. The right is supposed to be better.

4 April 2010 – sunny and cloudy

I arrived at Balian to solid overhead lefts and rights with only a handful of guys out. I couldn’t believe my luck. I strapped my knee better (torn ligament) which relieved a lot of the pain though I surfed a bit stiffly.

5 April 2010 - sunny and cloudy.

I had early surf at just below head height, which were heaps of fun but long waits between the sets.

I walked to and around the village and after lunch had a 1metre + surf with long waits between sets. It was good and long when it broke.

6 April 2010 – sunny and cloudy

I had an early surf with nice waves at about 1 metre plus. Not many guys out.

The afternoon surf was good at about 1 metre and the set wait was long. A fair few guys out considering the number of waves that were breaking

Indonesia - Bali - Balian - 4 to 7 April 2010

I turned off the main North West road at Balian. At the turnoff, there is a small village with a number of shops, small supermarket and market area.


The turnoff road is narrow and leads pass a number of guest houses/hotels until it reaches the sand at Balian Beach. Along the road there are a number of places to stay from fan rooms to air conditioned rooms. Some places have a small pool.

There are a number of places to eat from restaurants to the warungs at the night market at the main road turnoff.

I stayed at Ayu’s which is at the top of the hill overlooking the beach. The food is good and cheap here. The rooms are fan and the price varies according to the state of the room. Breakfast is included in the room price.

Ayus telephone 08123993353

On the hill leading down to the beach there are a number of spots to sit and view the coast and the surfing. It is nice to sit in these spots at sunset while having a beer.

The beach is black sand with a river emptying out in the middle of the beach. There is also another river emptying into the sea at the southern end of the beach. The beach is nice for walking and sitting. Swimming is not the best due to strong currents and murky water.

Balian is a great place to stay. there are good waves and good coastal walks and scenery. The local people are very friendly. I stayed for a few days before travelling on to Sumbawa, Indonesia. It is a great place for meeting people from all over the globe.

During my time there, I met Tony and Ross. Ross and I met a number of times later in this trip throughout Indonesia.

Accommodation
(prices are 2009)

Balian beach house
http://www.balianbeachhouse.com/
house two storey double and single up and single down air con upstairs $35us

pondok pisces bungalow 250 000 single
http://www.pondokpiscesbali.com/
250 000 to 300 000 double

villa tranquil - $50 aud room – 400 000
http://www.academyofsurfing.com/surftravel-balian.html

balian breezes 380 000 double
http://www.balianbreezes.com/
08 1734 4520
350 000 450 000 pool hot water air con breakfast with interconnecting rooms
(too far back)

gajah mina beach resort - $95 double - pool
62 81 2381-1630
http://www.gajahminaresort.com/index.htm

balian surf bungalows/homestay
ayu’s warung and homestay
08123993353

balian segara homestay

made’s homestay

Kubu Balian Beach bungalow
081558011707
08164711167
http://www.kububalian.com/
email: kubu.balian@yahoo.com

Things to do

Walks along beach, cliff top and crossing rivers
Sea cave
Serpent rock
Klating Beach – black sand
Taman Kupu Kupu (butterfly park)
Blayu _ monkey forest at pura alas kedaton
Sangeh monkey forest at Pura Bukit Sari
Yeh Panas – hot springs

North of Balian
Medewi – surf, walks, restaurants
Pura Rambut Siwi – small temple on cliffs – nearby caves – get a blessing
Follow coast road to Pura Perancak
Perancak - buffalo races 2x a month – planned crocodile/turtle park
Negara –in south of town there are stilt houses
Rening – beach
Candi kusuma – beach
Belimbingsari and Palasari – Christian villages towards mountains – churches - dam
Gilimanuk – gateway to Bali
possible to trek from Teluk Terima
Kendang Mebarung – ceremony
Bunut Bolong – tree over road
Jegog dance
Taman Nasional Bali Barat - Cekik headquarters of park – trekking walk or boat

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.

Indonesia - Bali - Berewa - Surf - April 2010

Berewa is a beach break with some nearby reefs. There are a few banks on the beach that start to break well with various tide changes. The reefs are at least a metre bigger than the beach but they also need a bigger swell to break.

3 May 2010 - rain cloudy

We had a small 1/2 metre surf in the afternoon. Okay waves. My strapped knee bandage fell off after the first couple of waves.
4 May 2010 - cloudy sunny

We surfed early morning at about 1metre plus . It was fun at first but got crodwed quickly. I padled down and surfed at a number of sandbanks. Overall it was okay. The knee strap was too tight this time and so i could barely move my knee plus the bottom of my leg needed blood.
 The leg was a bit sore by the time I got out of the water.

Indonesia - Bali - Berewa - Legong Keraton Beach Hotel - 3 to 4 April 2010

Legong Keraton

http://www.legongkeratonhotel.com/

info@legongkeratonhotel.com

0361.730280

0361.8446330


There are only a few placs to stay in Berewa. Some hotels, villas and a couple of homestays. This hotel is on the beach, great pool, spacious and clean rooms and friendly staff.

I caught up with some friends I met in Bali about three years ago. We surfed, bodysurfed and had a birthday party for Nadine and Marty. Baba Guling was part of the feast. Great night.

Indonesia - Bali - Berewa - Bodysurfing - 3 April 2010

The surf was small and the tide high. Bodysurfing wasn't too bad but the sand was a bit gritty down the shorts.