SUMBA, TARIMBANG
1 AUGUST
We arrived at the Domestic
Airport in Bali for our Flight to Waingapu in Sumba with Nam Air. Our first problem was at check in as we had an
excess in baggage of 13 kgs. I emailed a couple of months ago and the rate for excess
was 36 000R per kg but it had changed to 100 000R per kilogram. Our excess was
now $130 instead of about $45. Next problem was at the final security where
they wouldn’t let me take my gopro stick through so I had to go back to the
check in counter and get my luggage back and put it inside my bags. A bit of a
disaster but lessons were learnt.
The flight to Sumba was
okay and soon we touched down at Waingapu Airport.
Cindy, Marten’s wife was at
the airport and soon we were off to Tarimbang. We did a stop for a large bottle
of water, the supermarket and a takeaway lunch. The drive took three hours.
Most of the road was good but parts of it were massively potholed.
Next problem, the room we
asked for was not the room they had but they still wanted a high price. Very soon
though, Marten dropped the price so that we were both reasonably happy.
The room was basic with a
reasonably sized verandah, two chairs and a table. The inside had a good bed on
a wooden floor with a good mosquito net. The room itself was a bit small for
two people. The back door led to the bathroom which was outdoors but surrounded
by a high stone wall. Overall it was fine.
We wandered down to the
beach. The path to the beach was about 15/20 minutes walking past houses surrounded
by bare earth and jungle. The beach was beautiful! It was a long white sand
beach in a crescent shape with cliff headlands at each end jutting out to sea.
We sat on the beach taking
in the view and enjoying the cool sea breeze.
A local family soon joined
us on the beach and we had a chat and photo session.
Our first dinner was great
with good and tasty food. We met the other guests Peter (owner of the best
room), Ian from NZ and father and son, Stefan and Bram. Nice people.
2 AUGUST
A very cold night’s sleep.
It was so cold Jacinta put on thermals. No joke!
An early morning surf
before the wind increase. The waves were small and it was hard to get any power
out of them. I surfed until the tide became too high.
About the waves – it was
about a 15/20 minute walk to the beach followed by a 20/25 paddle out to the
waves. Very long and hard. Fortunately, the low tide was in the morning which
was when the waves are best.
After breakfast, we had a
walk down to the beach and tried to find a semi shade spot to sit on the beach.
It was nice and we had a swim.
Back at Marten’s we had
lunch and then I had a long sleep.
Later in the afternoon
when the heat started to cool down, we went for a walk around the village. We
wondered how people made a living as we chatted with them along the way.
Dinner, read and off to
bed.
3 AUGUST
A better sleep as it
wasn’t cold.
I woke and went for a
surf. The waves had increased in size to over head solid waves. There were 6 of
us out. I had a fun time catching a couple of sets and some very fast inside
smaller waves. After an hour I caught my final wave and then the long paddle
back to shore.
Back at Marten’s we had
breakfast and wandered over to the local market and down to the beach. The
market was a very threadbare affair with limited root-type food and poor
quality clothing. The beach was a nice sit in the sun with bigger waves on the
beach and an increasing wind. There were two groups of Sumbanese enjoying the
beach as well.
Back at the ranch, we
showered, rested and had a snack of cheese, apple and crackers.
After the wind decreased
we had a walk along the beach. It was pretty and the temperature was cooler and
more enjoyable.
Dinner was a late affair
so we enjoyed two beers beforehand. New people arrived – Dannii, Justin and
Connor from California.
4 AUGUST
Another very cold night.
Up for a dawn surf. I used
the bigger board and I got on the waves easier and had a fun time. The waves
were about over head height. The inside waves were a bit of race at the start –
challenging.
I paddled in over the reef
as the water was just deep enough to do so. The water was so clear and the
coral so pretty. I walked along the beach and joined Jacinta in the sun.
Back for breakfast but
late.
Later, after lunch we
drove about twenty minutes for mobile reception as there is none in Tarimbang.
We couldn’t call through but we had some success with texts.
We walked down to the
beach when we got back until the sun disappeared over the hills.
Mike the American with a
house at Ketewe left today.
5 AUGUST
A morning surf. The waves
were a bit smaller and less frequent. but still good. I had plenty of fun
waves.
Back for breakfast then
down to the beach for a snorkel. The visibility was poor so it wasn’t a good snorkel.
The afternoon was reading,
relaxing.
We had a drinks with Peter
on his deck in the ‘luxury’ accommodation.
6 AUGUST
I was having a fun surf
and plenty of good waves avoiding the bigger waves. A boat arrived and
suddenly, the surf was crowded. Not so much fun so I went in. I joined Jacinta
on the beach.
Breakfast was porridge and
fruit – different and yum.
Late in the afternoon we
sat on the beach. Jacinta in the sun and me in the shade. A group of water buffalos
grazed pass us on the fringe of the beach.
Mark and Ivy arrived. Ivy
is from Taiwan.
We also met Nico from
France who had motorbiked from West Sumatra.
7 AUGUST
An early surf in good
waves. I surfed slightly inside and caught heaps of good waves. A fun session.
On the beach, Jacinta and
I sat in the sun and chatted with Stephan, Brandt and Peter.
Back for breakfast, lunch,
chats, beers and guitar on our verandah, dinner and sleep.
Two new people arrived Matt
and Simon from Bordeaux.
8 AUGUST
An early surf with just me
and Peter out. The waves were good though a little infrequent and the
atmosphere was serene.
Back at Marten’s, I was
feeling really good so Jacinta and I thought it was a good time to go. We made
transport arrangements, had breakfast, packed, paid our bill and off we went to
Waingau. Peter was also leaving as he a flight for Bali.
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