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Livin it, and oh so Lovin it INDO styles
“Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?” Reclining on my beach side hammock with tunes cranked, I ponder the question in the vocals.
The sun slowly sets over our palm tree laden piece of paradise, glistening golden sand and crystal clear Indian Ocean all only a single barefoot step away. With Bintang in hand, the lads in top form, uncrowded and world-class surf breaks at our disposal, a high maintenance, and somewhat pretentious rush hour lifestyle seems a million miles away, and I find myself home. ‘Not us’ I beam, isn’t nothing stopping us livin it and lovin our time, each and every day. Our BRASS tours up until now have involved the exploration of our own inspirational backyard - time now to go ‘global’.
The Mentawai Islands, located off the Indonesian Island of Sumatra is our destination Disneyland. Bouzo, Macca, Richo, Web, the Arm and I, priming for 12 worthy days of the planet’s finest. Travel time alone stacks up at a 26-hour point-to-point mish, with some lads having already journeyed from Hawaii and London. Lads, I salute you rock stars for the passion you exude and bring towards living. Always up for good times, all the time, oh yeah, bring it.
Bali
Blindo in Bali airport was ‘full on’ as we watch Bouzo being led away for almost an hour of private interrogation, customs style. Before questioning he was made to observe first hand, a lippy Australian booze hag pole axed, pummeled and completely punished by 12 airport security guards before being deported straight back home.
With a spare bed in our hotel room, we quickly overlooked flat broke Herman the German in favour(s) of sweet T’s muumuu, whatshername? Equipped with our saucy new friend we arrived at Kuta for two days of epic surf, hotel high rolling and 24-hour pool bar party time.
Padang
Cruising out of the harbor (small, skinny, leaky banana boat style) to connect with our awaiting open ocean ferry, we quickly become reliant on repeated forked lightening strikes peeling apart the thick pitch-black evening skyline, to help guide our taxi captain towards our Indonesian scarab.
Once on board we are greeted by an unforgettable panorama; an all aged, partly clothed gangbang, with bodies sprawled, stacked and spooning in any available space not occupied by supplies and rodent infestation. Escorted to our six-bunk hot box for our upcoming 12-hour journey, plans for a quality kip courtesy of back-to-back solid sessions, were swiftly spoiled by ravenous rats and a colossal cockroach congregation.
Maura Siberut to Wavepark
Once docked our dreams of a ‘blingbling’ speedboat for the final two-hour leg of the journey vanished, as our banana boat spluttered up with only one of two outboards somewhat operational. Our two new non- English speaking friends loaded us up, and within no time had us in the middle of an enraged open ocean storm, where shelter on a tiny overgrown mid ocean sand bar was the only option.
We dived straight into the water to thaw out whilst praying this gale force, thunder and electrical storm wouldn’t bbq us all. After almost an hour, the eye of the storm passes above and we are frantically hurried back on the boat for our solo 40HP outboard to bomb it for ‘Wavepark’. The Sumatra tsunami, island rocking earthquakes, and active volcanic excitement in Padang, didn’t deny us our search, but the infuriated waterspout around the next point almost instantly terminated the journey, and our existence!
The oceanic twister, seemingly unpredictable in its movement, began to make rapid advances, lining us up from a mere 2 kilometers away. Completely at its devilish mercy, we watch the waterspout thankfully dissipate during its war path approach, surrendering also its spine tingling battle cry. Praying for no rapid re-emergence, the second outboard was finally cranked into operation and we high tail for dry land.
Wavepark
Welcomed at last to the island with a colossal brekkie (and a tsunami evacuation procedure briefing) we load the boat for our first wave exploration. Wavepark is the only full service land based surf resort in the Mentawai Islands, offering 19 quality and worthy reefs, peeling both left and right, oh and have I mentioned yet the water is a wicked 28 degree minimum. Big ups to our favourite breaks; Rifles, Burger World, Bank Vaults and the ever trusty ‘Tikkies’.
A hefty breakfast of champions, washed down with the super buzz sensation ‘Sumatra’ coffee, launched our each and every dawn brigade. Upon boat pick up we would motor to our choice of break and get amongst the GOLD for 3-4 hours. Only when totally rooted from lines to the horizon would we return to snorkel and spearfish amongst our private islands abundant marine life and fluorescent coral reef. Jerry, our legendary chef, and co would have a colossal lunch ready and waiting, but no matter what the locals tell ya green chili and badly sun burnt lips don’t go well together.
Back into our boat after lunch to search further and surround ourselves amongst another 3-4 hours of pure class till nightfall. Closure to another epic day is celebrated with the beers in full flow, and total admiration and contemplation of how today’s events somehow toppled yesterdays. Endless reeling and hollow bliss steeped by gentle off shores was for 6 to 8 hours our castle in the sky, each and everyday. The sharp and shallow coral lay patiently below willingly to smoke those cocky mistimed late drops dishing out a few good ol' fashion thrashings.
Further amusement was granted by the locals hanging upside down unassisted from the very top of the palm trees gracing the shoreline plus lavish reef fish easily visible under each and every bottom turn. With bath water ocean temperatures sitting near 30 degrees our ‘Cult’ boardies were lived in both day and night.
I’m so stoked to be able to look back and amp hard at our vision coming through. Massive respect to Pete at ‘Island Holidays’ for getting the lads up close and personal and in the mix with our very own dreamland. This trip (especially throughout Padang) was an eye opening and somewhat humbling experience. The locals are poor, poverty is widespread and Pizza Hut is showcased as the most up market eating establishment for the upper class. So for people with apparently so little, to me they appear to have it all. Their warmth, friendliness, positive spirit and entertaining outlook on life, taught me an important and unforgettable lesson; if you can wipe your own ass things really aren’t so bad. To me traveling is the source; with an open invitation seeing the world is the greatest sensation. Once again and as always, Livin it, and oh so Lovin it.
Article thanks to Troy Huston boofee@surf.co.nz
For more epic surf, snow and kite trips like this contact
Islands Holidays - Finding you the perfect break!
Pete Head
Email: pete@islandholidays.co.nz
DDI:(09)9172975
www.islandholidays.co.nz
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