Surfing Bali

Finally after 2 years in Singapore, the surf trip to Bali was on! 

 Thanks to Patrick, who told me about surf camps, this seem to be the best way to go to a place where you have never surfed at , and  actually even if you have been their before. Surf camps minimise the amount of wasted time,  finding a place to stay, finding a place to surf, finding a place to surf that is not to crowded , not to mention  getting  a couple of surfing tips, for me, many many surf tips .

The funny part of this trip, is how Pat arranged the flight which is completely contrary to my style. I made the reservations for the surf camp, and Pat made the flight arrangements. Three weeks before we were to go, Singapore Air  web page indicated that their where no seats available??? hmmmm. At this point I am ready to get a flight with garuda? But pat pulls me  back from the edge, But, noooo. Pat kept insisting that I should not worry, easy for him to say, I am use to having everything schedule 2 months ahead. two weeks no seats available, 1-1/2 weeks a couple of seats  show as being available, but not the days we want, A week  before seats start becoming available, a couple of days before we are able to get are return tickets on the day and time we wanted. So Pat’s systems works!! Seems that  travel agents book the seats months in advance, until the last week when they start releasing them.

  

here are a couple of pictures of Padang Padang Surf camp http://www.balisurfingcamp.com/, doesn’t look like the camp  that I remember as a kid?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is from the eating  area,  looking at the pool and one of the units with 4 rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we are all packed and ready to head out, think we have enough surf boards?  generally one Bali surfing dude per 2 surfing neophytes

 

 

 

 

 

This is the access to some of the surf areas, as you can see,  if you have not been their before, you would never find this surf spot. A little US boonin

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the ?? places that sell food or drinks along this beach

 

 

 

not me

This is  not me. I wish it was me, maybe in another life time??

Another surf break.  their is a golf course  over looking the beach and surf, beautiful.

Slot stairs to access Beach

This the access to Padang Padang surf beach. Definitly not enough room for oncoming traffic? could get more intimate than you would like?

Notice that this is the only way up or down, so it can be interesting as folks try to get up or down , not to mention the locals that are trying to bring products up these stairs.

As you can see this beach is at the bottom of a cliff, it was nice to see  rugged terrain as opposed to Singapore which is for the most part flat.

surfers at Padang Padang

More surfers, this is not me either, but one day???

Beach Padang Padang

Here is some of the shore line ,  the water was not as warm as Singapore, but plenty warm compared to Hampton Beach

Surf babes

This is  Suzy and Lisa , they stayed at Padang Padang surf camp.

Surf boards on the beach

Part of the beach where the surf boards are kept, along with local snacks and drinks and tourist gifts.

Love Birds

So this is how it went:  see the  happy couple to the right ,now I will tell you why  they are soooo happy. During the morning surfing session, after swallowing a gallon of sea water, I decided to come in and wash all of that salt water down  with a  couple of beers, as I am sitting their i noticed  Suzi’s friend Lisa?,   putting a white lace??? on the beach with a couple of champagne glasses ( see it coming??) . I figured this was one of those Scottish  Celtic surfing customs,  you know: Drums, dancing , beach fire pit, body paint, chanting?, so I ordered another beer, sat back, and  prepared for the firewaorks.  Little did I know that  just before, as Suzi and Stuart were bobbing in the surf, Stuart pulls  a diamond ring out of his shorts ( i think he a string tied to it) he than proceeds to seal the deal? asks her hand in  marriage, around the same time  he slides off the board  trying to keep his head above water. Evidently Lisa  was part of this event, and had prepared all of the toasting pharaphernalia etc. So it was fun watching all of the happiness, as well as the beginning.

Below is a picture of folks fishing off a rock

Fishing in Bali

                                                                                                                                                                       

 

 For folks that didn’t want to surf their was a couple of routes up this wall. This couple was from Santa Cruz.

Surf Board transport

 

 

 

This is the one of the best ways to move yourself and board around the Island.

 

 

 

 

 

Budda

 Another weekend and back to work, learned to drink a  gallon of water, practice many underwater yoga positions and most import

met some great folks .Hope this was fun for you.

Love, Ivan

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