We are back to bali now. Kraig, keoki and i just got hour long messages from head to toe for $8.
For the last 2 weeks we have been driving through the islands of lombok and Sumbawa. We rented a car and drove all over the islands east of bali. The trip started with a two hr drive north to Padang bai, the ferry port. We had to pay the policeman off with 120,000Rp ($12) and bintangs to get off the island b/c the car we rented didn't have the right registration. We landed in Lombok after a 6 hour ferry ride and arrived at 10 pm. We drove north to Sengigi for the night. In the morning we tried to go South to the surf spot called Desert Point. Only problem was that we missed the turn, the road signs are really bad, and drove east across the whole island before we realized what happened. We changed course and back tracked a bit down to Kuta , Lombok for four days. The waves were small and we stayed in the pimpest hotel in the area. We refered to it as the five seasons it was so nice. Infinity pool, AC, nice landscaping, wieght room, the whole nine. We surfed some small waves but bailed that scene and headed to Sumbawa island. After a 3 hr drive and a 2 hr ferry ride we arrived in Sumbawa. We drove south to a spot called Yoyos. There was a crazy dritbike track on the way. The accomidation at yoyos wasn't too stellar and the waves weren't either, so we left the next morning. We drove all day across the island of sumbawa to Lakey Peak. On the drive we saw the knarleyest motor bike accident ever. We passed
this bike w/ 2 guys. they passed us back a little while later. About five minutes
later we came into this town and people were running down the street. Unlike anything we have seen before. Thats when we came up on this accident. the same guys taht passed us were surrounded by people. the bike was pinned under the
front of a truck, the driver of the bike was on the ground infront of the
bike, lying on his back. his one foot was completely torn off and you could see
the bone and his amputated foot laying between his legs. the other leg was
obviously broken and the foot was turned the wrong way. I snapped a picture
through the window as we drove past. Heavy. the other guy was laying on the ground
behing the truck under another car, not looking too good. it was crazy aND
IT shook us for quite a while.
We continued onto Dampu and then down to Lakey Beach. Lakey was super fun. The waves were awesome and we got lots of good days. Right infront of our hotel, the nicest one on the beach ( we like to stay in style), was a left & right hand
point break. At a low tide the left had a crazy slabbing 2nd bowl section. At a higher tide it was a super ripable wave. It was a super fun wave to surf. We also surfed another break down the beach at a spot called parascopes. We surfed it on a huge day, like 15 foot faces,nearly closing out this big bay. Keoki and kraig took a couple bomb sets on the head while i took video from shore. Keoki got some sick barrels, over super shallow, draining reef. I caught a few but keoki won the heat. There were a few other spots in the area that were fun too. In sumbawa the wind would pick up around 12 everyday, so we would watch mad movies in the ac all afternoon and after dinner. I've seen over 25 movies in the last 2 weeks. Isn't Vacation great? For other entertainment we would drink Bintangs, the local indonesean beer. We bought chickens and had chicken fights one day, no blades, so it wasn't too goory. However, the next day the other boys put blades on and said it was too knarly and quick. We would swim in the pool and cruze w/ the boys. No girls for days. There was a good group of guys staying at the hotel though. A group of 5 guys from Auz, Bill "2 wave hold down", a couple nz boys ( one of which has a girlfriend living in kona) and a couple other Auzzies too. Oh yah, we duct taped this indo to a tree for taking money from us. it was all fun until a cop, his paRENTS and other locals showed up and started beating the guy b/c he had taken $ from other tourist before. They stomped him and slapped him w/slippers , kicked him and pulled his hair. It went a bit farther than we expected, but they were tired of his shit. They thanked us for not letting it slide. Anyway it was a real adventure driving through the indo. islands. we have done over 1500 ks over land plus spent over 14 hrs on ferries. It is dry season right now so the land is all brown & dry, imagin that. The homes in the farming villages were on big round stilts and would have walls made of weaved palm fronds or timber. Otherwise they were brick houses and the poorer people would only have some one room small shacks raised off the ground. I saw one that used big dry leaves for the roof and walls. the rice fields are all dry and filled w/ weeds. In the wet season the dirt terrased feilds fill with water. There were monkeys on the road side that would charge the car as we drove past. We saw water buffaloes, goats, funny looking cows, maingy dogs and tailess cats (born that way). The fences of the fields were trees or sticks stuck in the ground in a row w/ anything from palm fronds to sticks weaved between. The locals cut planks of wood with huge stil chain saws out just about any kind of sizable log they can find. We passed fishing villages right on the water with boats of all sizes and shapes moored out front. Most of the houses were built on stilts. Some were cocked to the side looking like they could fall over at any time, but people still lived in them. Along the road they would be drying little fish in the sun. They would also sell fresh fish, dried fish and usualy coconut products. There are mango trees, banannas, and coconut trees everywhere. They eat green mangos and bananas.
Its been super fun and interesting. On the outer islands people of all ages would see us and say "hello mister," and are friendly and helpful. Or at least point the way you are going and say "yes." We have made mad friends along way, both indos and tourist. Its been fun and i am excited to come back one day, soon. It is really cheap. you can live for a week in style w/ food for $100-200. Transportation, board repair and shopping is extra. Well thats the latest in the "tour o bdownes."