Indonesia - Sumbawa - Nungadora - surfing motorbike- April 2010

We were pillion on motorbikes to and from the surf. Harry was my driver.

Nungadora is a right reef break with a left break on the other side of the small bay. The left is fast and tends to close a lot. The right jacks up and is fast.

I surfed both breaks. The left was difficult has it tended to break inwards on most waves making it difficult to make. The right was easier, jacking up when hitting the reef with a steep takeoff.

8 April 2010 – sunny

Two of us surfed the left, which really wasn’t very good and the others the right, which was much better. Both waves were head height.

13 April 2010 – sunny

This was a great fun surf with solid rights from 1m to over head height on the take offs. The waves were steep and glassy. There were only four of us out which made for an excellent afternoon.

Indonesia - Sumbawa - Nungas - surfing - April 2010

Nungas is a left hand reef break that peels off for a long long ride. The wave breaks in a few locations depending on the tide. It is a fun and easy wave but a bit of a paddle to get out.

11 April 2010 – sunny

The waves were a metre to head height. There were two sections for taking off depending on wave size and wave direction. It tended to be a good take off but a bit sluggish after awhile. A long paddle back out. There were only five guys out. It was fun and different compared to the other waves in the area.

Indonesia - Sumbawa -Air Panas - surf - April 2010

 

 

 

We organised the boat and food etc the day before.

9 May 2010 - sunny

We were up early and down the beach ready for a boat trip adventure and hopefully good waves at a break called ‘Air Panas’. Air Panas in Indonesia means hot springs but the hot springs are in the bay to the west. There is a lighthouse on the hill so I thought a better name would be lighthouse east beach... Anyway...

The trip was noisy due to the motor but the scenery was great and it was nice just lying back watching the world move up and down and along. I usually get seasick or disoriented from boat rides. Disorientation was the sickness this time... funny... no one seemed to notice it (my disorientation) except myself.

There is a right and left break on reefs with a channel separating the two. We moored in this channel. The beach was palm fringed with white sand and one old fishing hut.

I surfed both breaks but I thought the left was far better. It seemed to get better as the tide came in. Apparently, the day before the right was better.

We were gone most of the day with the actual boat motoring being about 3 to 4 hours.

The boat cost 750 000 rupiah for the 5 of us (or about that).

The place looks like it would be a fun place to camp out for a few nights. There is a road but apparently it is crap even by Indonesian standards.

Indonesia - Sumbawa - Cobblestones - surf- April 2010

Cobblestones is a right hand reef break wave. There is a left on the other side of the small bay.

It seems to work best mid to high and high to mid tide.

7 April 2010 - cloudy and sunny

The first surf was about 1 metre. The wave is fun and easy. Some of the bigger waves tended to bowl up on the outside of the wave and break inwards making it a little difficult to get around that particular section.

The crowd was small and easy going.

8 April 2010 – sunny

We surfed in the afternoon in ½ to 1 metre fun waves. It was a little bumpy but smoothed out late in the afternoon when the wind diminished.

9 April 2010 – sunny

There were ½ to 1 metre waves that improved into the evening. The waves were easy and fun.

Indonesia - Sumbawa - Lakey - hill view - april 2010

 

The land backdrop of Lakey is lush green hills. On 12 may 2010, we drove the motorbikes to the foot of the hills, then climbed to a viewing rock where we were afforded panoramic views across Lakey, Hu’u and the surrounding countryside. On the way, we came across the Japanese cave and climbed inside.

 

The walk though not far was strenuous due to the high humidity in the surrounding jungle and the steepness of the track. Overall, the walk is worth the view.

Don’t forget to take water and camera.

Indonesia - Sumbawa - Lakey - walk, surf - April 2010

 

Lakey Beach is a long white sand beach. The reef starts at the mid tide mark and runs along the length of the beach. Further out there is deeper water that forms a U-shape with exposed reef at low tide in the middle of the U-shape. On the exposed reef there is a two storey platform for viewing the surf.

Along the land side of the beach is a path and behind this are various restaurants and accommodations. The path is a bit uneven so at night a torch is essential.

The restaurants all have good food and the accommodations have a range of standards and prices.

Also along the path a number of small shops selling food, drinks, books, etc

There are three main breaks in front of Lakey Beach:

Lakey peak left

Lakey peak right

Lakey pipe

All these are great waves that can get intensely crowded. Forget the dawn patrol; there are guys out there in the dark.

Indonesia - Sumbawa - Frenchman's Restaurant - April 2010

The Frenchman, name forgotten, ran this restaurant in Lakey.

The story told to me was that:

He owned two other restaurants but spilt with his previous local wives and left them the restaurants as part of the settlement.

The food was good and the atmosphere quiet.

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.