Taking full advantage of jet-lag and rainy days… And I’m recommitting to regularly posting authentic content to my online Journal…. Plus, I kinda wish I had done this on our previous trips while the memories and sensations were still fresh in the brain… But whatever, I’m doing it now! So if you’d care to take a look into our recent trip to Indonesia — continue scrolling down and check out the story and photos below!
THE JOURNEY TO ARRIVE: NOT FUN, BUT WORTH IT
We get asked A LOT about the journey from Puerto Rico to Indonesia. For the past couple of years, Brian and I have traveled from San Juan to LA to catch an international flight to Denpasar, Bali. This year we found an affordable option to fly from our local airport in Aguadilla to JFK in New York and traveled the opposite way around the globe.
*If you happen to be a reader in Puerto Rico and are looking into flights, I would recommend check multiple routes from SJU or BQN to California or New York, you never know what good deal you may find! These hubs also seem to be the cheapest options… I also buy my domestic (PR to States) flights separate from my international flights (States to DPS) and would recommend traveling internationally through one airline rather than multiple, especially if you’re traveling with boards. If we go back next year, we plan to look into United flights from PR to LAX since they now have a free surfboard policy on all flights to or from California (but keep in mind it doesn’t apply if California is just a layover).
For our international flights to Bali, we have flown with Singapore Airlines (out of both LAX & JFK) for the past four years and I couldn’t recommend them more. And no, this is not a #sponsored post but our honest experience. The flights may be a tad bit more expensive than other options, but to me it’s worth it to spend a little more $$ to be comfortable when you’re looking at 20+ hours in the air. The food is decent, the service is good, and you get two checked bags free - which, yes, includes surfboards! - and from our experience so far (sh*t I really hope I’m not jinxing myself), they have taken care of our boards. I’ve heard there are a few other airlines with a similar reputation to Singapore as far as comfort and care/charge for boards so definitely do your research before hand!
Traveling in any form can be stressful, but especially when traveling in the air you have very little control over how long it takes to arrive to your destination. So, for me, I’ve started to try and look at air travel as a way to practice everything I’ve learned, and everything I teach, in my yoga practice. Delays, bad weather, cancelled flights, discomfort, boredom, people, people, SO many people… Majority of it you have ZERO control over. You will get there when you get there. So to avoid the stress, and to make an uncomfortable experience as comfortable as possible… hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. And the worst being a lot of sitting around on planes and in airports. Practice patience, letting go of control, wear comfy clothes, download meditations or yoga nidras to help you relax/sleep, get ready to watch a lot of movies or maybe find some books to read, stay hydrated, use essential oils, stretch during layovers, always pack a travel pillow and a blanket or sarong (for cushioning and sleeping on planes and in airports) as well as your essentials like a change of clothes, toothbrush, hand-sanitizer, water bottle, etc. in your carry on. Anyways, that’s what works for me!
ULUWATU, BALI: ALMOST LIKE A SECOND HOME
Uluwatu holds a special place in our hearts. Not only is the wave and cave at Ulus super iconic, but the entire Bukit peninsula is scattered with world-class surf and some of the nicest people on the planet. Most of our time in Indonesia has been spent on the cliffs and in the water around this southern tip of Bali, and it’s a place that has began to feel almost like a second home.
Our favorite place to stay is a rad, family-owned spot called Satria Bungalows that’s nestled between the 1,000-year-old Uluwatu Temple and the infamous waves of Pantai Suluban, aka Ulus. For us, it’s the perfect location that’s close to our favorite waves, favorite restaurants, and favorite yoga shala, Morning Light Yoga at the beautiful Uluwatu Surf Villas. Also, the guys that run the daily operations at Satria are amazing. They have become close friends over the years and take great care of the place and all of the guests.
During our trip this year we got to participate in a traditional Ceremony at the Bungalows that takes place every six months as a way to bless the space. Below you can see a photo of Brian and the Satria crew dressing in ceremonial attire. The whole family came over for the ceremony and after we enjoyed some delicious & spicy, homemade Balinese food. It was a beautiful ceremony and super cool experience that Brian and I were grateful to be a part of.
We’ve also made friends from all over the world thanks to Uluwatu and Satria Bungalows. I think that’s become my favorite thing about traveling - all the super cool people you meet. Especially within the surfing world, and despite the constantly growing crowds, Ulus is still such an iconic and scared space that attracts so many interesting and like-minded people. It’s a hub for great waves and authentic connections!
BALI’S SPIRITUAL CENTER: GLOW 5 ELEMENTS RETREAT IN UBUD
Ya’ll probably don’t know this, but the reason we traveled to Bali that first time four years ago was because I got the incredible opportunity to co-teach on a GLOW Yoga Retreat. Of course it’s a place that I’ve always wanted to visit, it has always been on my list of places I had to see and surf before I die, but it always seemed so far away, the surf so intimidating, a place I would travel to “when I was ready.” Ha! Are we ever actually ready?? That email I received from the GLOW Founder, Kayla Nielsen, five-ish years ago was the push I needed to finally pull the trigger and book tickets for Brian and me to take the adventure of a lifetime.
This year I returned to co-teach my 5th Retreat with GLOW. I am eternally grateful for these opportunities and for these Retreats. Again, the people that I’ve met, the friends that I’ve made… I mean you really can’t put a price tag on that! Plus, through these connections, adventures, experiences, and moments found outside of my comfort zone, I feel like I have grown so much as a teacher and student and human being. Again, something that I feel is priceless!
The GLOW 5 Elements Retreat took place on September 16-21 in the heart of Bali’s spiritual center, Ubud. It was lovely to spend a week in the lush jungle practicing yoga, eating really amazing vegan food, and connecting with some incredible people from around the world. Throughout the Retreat we explored the 5 Elements of Yoga, visited a Holy Water Temple, explored a beautiful waterfall, and experienced the bustling markets of downtown Ubud.
Kayla & GLOW will be hosting another Retreat in Bali next year (October 2020) and also offer a variety of amazing Retreats around the globe. Learn more about these GLOW Yoga Retreats here.
LOMBOK ISLAND: ADVENTURE & AN ENGAGEMENT
My 30th birthday fell a few days after the GLOW Retreat ended, so Brian and I thought it would be fun to check out another Indo island or two. You see, with all the traveling it takes just to get to Bali, the thought of doing more traveling once we arrived always seemed so daunting. But this time around, and thanks to some encouragement from our friend Jeff, we realized that this fear was just holding us back from experiencing more waves, places, and people… How could we not check out more of Indonesia?!
We arrived to Lombok the day before my birthday. There are two ways to get to Lombok from Bali - by ferry or by plane. We chose the latter, but some people choose to drive cars or scooters from Bali on the ferry and over to Lombok. The flight was only 30 minutes, and the airport, compared to the ferry docks, was a bit closer to our first destination of Kuta in southern Lombok.
For those of you who have been to Kuta Bali, Kuta Lombok is way mellower, and although growing, it seems to still retain a sense of “authentic” Indo. It’s a beautiful, little town with plenty of affordable places to stay, a handful of Western restaurants, and plenty of cheap, delicious, local warungs. Kuta Lombok and the surrounding bays are home to plenty of waves, fairly minimal crowds, but keep in mind that during the dry season the wind can come onshore and blow most of the spots out by the afternoon.
Two days after my birthday, as Brian and I were watching the sunset from a cliff overlooking Pantai Mawun in South Lombok, he got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him! Obviously it was a yes, and obviously it was a moment that I’ll never forget!
Near the end of our stay in Lombok, Brian, our buddy Jeff, and I decided to head to West Lombok to check out, as the boys were calling it, the “Holy Grail” of surfing: Desert Point. In total it was about a 2-hour drive from South Lombok, with the last 30 minutes some of the worst roads I’ve experienced so far in Indo… Especially the last hill in, oofff! That was gnarly. Thank goodness we had an experienced driver! We made it to Desert’s just before sunset, and for Brian and me, it was our first glimpse of the setup, the waves, and the Grower —- a mean-looking end section where the waves double in height and keg down the shallow reef into, what seems to me, a close-out.
The accommodations in Desert Point are kinda like camping… You get a mattress, maybe some sheets, and a few spots only have dried palm leaves as a roof. There is no power to village around Desert Point, so they run the generators from sunset through about 11pm, and your only option for food comes from the warungs on the beach.
Early the next morning the swell began to fill in and Brian and Jeff paddled out to the point to pick off a few. Due to the shallow and sharp reef, building swell, and aggro crowd, I decided that Desert’s wasn’t for me… And enjoyed watching and taking photos.
Unfortunately, the wind wasn’t cooperating with Desert’s this swell and came onshore around mid-morning. We stuck around so the boys could get one more surf and decided to leave that afternoon. I’m kinda glad we did though, because we caught some of the best waves of our trip in South Lombok the next day, and even shared our session with a group of friendly locals and a very curious sea snake! The waves stayed fun for our last few days and we got an opportunity to really see the dreamy setups that Lombok had to offer!
WEST SUMBAWA: WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF
About halfway through our time in Lombok, Brian, Jeff, and I decided to do a quick strike-mission to West Sumbawa for a swell. I have heard nothing but good things about Sumbawa and was excited to check out more new waves and another new island.
From Kuta Lombok we drove 2 hours to the east where we caught a ferry to the west coast of Sumbawa. The ferry ride was a smooth 2 hours and by nightfall we were on the island of Sumbawa, driving south to our first location. The next morning we were woken up by the singing birds and the sound of thumping surf. That morning we got to surf two spots separated by a rather large channel, the first one a bit smaller and rippy-er, the second spot with some solid, overhead sets offering up long, fast walls. We surfed all morning until the wind came on it, saving just enough energy to make the long paddle back in.
Knowing that the swell was going to drop throughout the next two days, we opted to head a little further south, renting a room in a place called Villa Surga, which was right on the beach over-looking the well-known wave of Yoyo’s. We spent our last two days in Sumbawa surfing spots around there, and although it wasn’t working this swell, we got to check out the infamous setup of Supersuck.
We only spent three days in Sumbawa, but I guarantee that I will be back. There is an abundance of waves around West Sumbawa that I can’t even imagine what other gems the rest of the island holds. Plus the water there was some of the bluest, most beautiful water I have ever seen, even compared to the Caribbean! The vibe there felt so raw and authentic - Indonesia without the tourism and western influence - miles and miles of empty coastline just waiting to be explored. I’m bummed I didn’t take more pictures, but reflecting back on it, I’m glad I got to enjoy being so totally present to the experience and soaking up every moment of being there AND being newly engaged.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
SURF PHOTOS: THE SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION
Because, why not?? We got lots of fun waves and managed to get a few good photos out of it. I’m forever grateful for this life of surfing, traveling, and experiencing the beauty of this planet with my partner by my side.
I hope you enjoyed taking a look into our trip! And feel free to drop any questions for me in the comments below.
