One of the best things about the Ticket to Ride trips is that we don't just arrive drop in for a day or two and leave, we stay at each place long enough to start to feel the pulse of the town. As well as of the place itself it gives one an opportunity to really start to know the waves that we surf. It is the same for any surfer at any level, the first time surfing a spot is always just about figuring it out, the second and third surfs you are starting to see some of its different moods. After five days surfing twice daily I could really see the confidence and improvement in everyone's surfing.
Each session everyone would be getting more and more waves, and better waves. The level of everyone's surfing went up, and the smiles lasted for longer after each ride. The sunsets were met by cheers and later stories over beers, and the 5am wakeup became just an every day part of living. Not least so because the local mosque started praying at that time, and it meant that we knew it was time to get up and go surfing.
Our captains and surf guides had become our friends and even invited us into our homes, and the people at the local warung knew us by name. The final few days in Gerupuk we were treated to more fun waves, great morning and picture perfect sunsets. It was sad for everyone to leave Gerupuk, but there was excitement too at new things to come.
Next stop was Nusa Lembongan, a small island paradise.
Blurb
Lombok became a home away from home, but that time sadly came where we reached then end of our stay