Simeulue Served
Last post from my extended Indonesian sabbatical. It’s been a long lap. Warm water, remote islands and a very consistent supply of waves. Indo rarely disappoints. We finished up in Simeulue, way up off northern Sumatra. It’s raw, remote and exposed to the full force of the Indian Ocean. If you look at the map, […]
Off The Map
The harder it is to get to, the fewer people in the water. Simeulue sits about 150 kilometres off Sumatra and it’s not exactly easy to reach. Flights, ferries, board bags and weight limits all come into play, but the reward is loads of coastline without the usual crowds. It’s mountainous, green and slow moving. […]
Simeulue
We’ve switched island chains and headed north to Pulau Simeulue, about 150 kilometres off the coast of northern Sumatra. I’ve never been this far north in Indonesia before. Rare for me! Simeulue feels like stepping back in time. Simple village life, a predominantly Muslim island, thick jungle and a handful of little gem waves without […]
Bawah
There are over 17,000 islands in Indonesia, but only six make up Bawah Reserve. It’s one of those places that makes you wonder why you hadn’t heard of it before. Just a short seaplane hop from Singapore, you’re suddenly a long way from glass towers and traffic lights. Think gin-clear lagoons, jungle, reef sharks and […]
Island Life
Shooting pics in Indonesia is a treat. Frames pop up everywhere you look — vivid colours, full HD. The weather’s been nothing short of epic, with a neat little run of waves to match our equatorial sojourn. This country’s sprawling — over 17,000 islands, many still raw and untouched, lacking even the basics. Right now […]
Final Waves
We’ve filled our annual wave quota in just ten days… time to pack up and head back to the mainland. As far as surf trips go, you couldn’t script better conditions — 4-6 foot more often than not, the odd 2-3 foot lull, and a solid 8-foot finale. Sunshine was abundant, and we scored endless […]
Dreamstate
Sometimes, all the elements just click — and you get one of those days. Lucky for us, it landed smack in the middle of our offshore Indo surf charter. Zero wind. Four-to-six-foot waves. Sunshine from the first crack of light (rare up here with all the humidity). A diamond day — a proper cracker — […]
Long Service Leave
You may have noticed I’m celebrating another hot lap around the sun with multiple indulgent tropical trips this year. (Why not aye) I’m on another island paradise in Indonesia, where the water is warm, the waterfalls are spectacular, the hospitality is sublime, and the waves are consistent. We’re still in peak surfing season in Indo, […]
Ombak Kecil
It’s rare for the ocean to go quiet here, especially in June (peak season), but it happens. Even when the waves go to sleep, you can still find these freak spots that draw everything from the ocean and still break over head high. The problem is that every camp, dug out, and charter joins the […]
The Boogeyman
Strangely, ‘The Boogeyman’ that monster who supposedly lives in children’s bedrooms, could have begun life as a pirate…a pirate from Indonesia! The Bugis are Indonesian people from Sulawesi who were bandits of the sea, feared by many along the spice routes in the 17th-19th centuries. So when you hear “Beware of The Boogeyman”, they could […]
Away
I know, I know, it’s been a while between posts. I’ve been on the move and migrated north to the warm oceans of Indonesia. They’ve had a great run of swell up here for the early season, and it’s been very well documented on socials. We’re a few days into our journey through the islands, […]
Layday
We’ve had a good run of weather and waves recently. We were due for a storm, and today’s the day. 25-30 knot gusts of southerly keep temps down and waves crappy. No one surfing; it’s big and rogue – and needs settling down. I’ve added some recent Indo shots to spice up the unphotogenic Bondi […]
Raw Paradise
I’ve been to some pretty idyllic places, but our current location ranks highly, Sumba. It’s a raw, semi-primitive island in Indonesia with plenty of waves, dreamy white sandy beaches and unique local culture. It’s the dry season here, so we’re scoring endless 36-degree clear skies and sublime water temps. There have been waves daily, especially for […]