Upon reaching the beach at Sanur our ferry awaits – a power boat with seats for 30 people and 4 150 horse power engines on the back. The boat crossing to Lombok takes 2 hours.
Arriving on the west of the island you take a 2 hour taxi down to Gerupuk. The waves in Indonesia come from the South, so the south facing shores are where you find the most consistent surf spots.
In Lombok you find a totally different Indonesian culture, this is largely down to the fact that Lombok is a predominately Muslim community whereas Bali is predominantly Hindu.
Gerupuk – South Lombok
Gerupuk is definitely off the beaten track for most short stay surfing holidays in Indonesia, it is even slightly off the radar when it comes to the more adventurous surfing backpackers, most of whom choose to base themselves 20 minutes down the road in Kuta Lombok. Why this is, we are not too sure. Gerupuk is where you want to be staying for surfing waves in Lombok (this assumes that you are not on a Dessert Point mission).
The mosque in Gerupuk is unmistakably at the center of the village life. The mosque is both tallest building in the villages as well as the loudest. Just like any other mosque, the prayers are amplified out across the village 5 times a day, these start at 03.30 in the morning and are very loud, thank fully we were looking for an alarm clock for surfing at first light. If only they could kick off at 05.00am instead. All very atmospheric, if not a little bit annoying!
The locals live in simple reed huts. These dwellings are interspersed between a handful of more permanent building most of which have been specifically built for the early stage ‘surf tourism’ that is emerging as an alternative industry to the seaweed farming and fishing upon which this village is founded.
We based ourselves a Lakuen resort (built and owned by a Japanese couple, but managed locally). Lakuen resort is made up of 5 stilted cabines overlooking an infinity style swimming pool. Definitely, the most awesome accommodation that we have set up for our Ticket to Riders.
Surfing in Gerupuk
The surfing in Gerupuk is out of this world for a Ticket to Ride trip. This place has everything from gentle roll in waves ideal for catching and riding your first unbroken waves, through to perfect point break and outer reef set ups that are perfect for surfers looking to thread their first barrel or carve it up on a walled up “express wave.”
The other super cool thing about surfing in Gerupuk is the fact that you have to get a boat out to the waves. This is the coolest way to make your way out to the waves and great to be able to introduce it into what we offer on Ticket to Ride
We spent 6 nights in Gerupuk and did the same thing every day (barring minor adjustments for favorable tides). Out on the boats a 5.30am (15 mins before first light) heading out to the waves just as the sun comes up. We would usually surf our preferred wave (often to ourselves) until about 09.30 before jumping back on the boats and in for breakfast (usually a banana pancake, washed down by a fruit smoothy). Depending on the waves we would then make a call on what time to surf again that day and chill out at the resort until this time. Have a sleep, read a book, eat some lunch (fried rice or noodles) limber up and then back out on the boats for another surf session. For a surfer, life does not get any better.
Bintang time!
As the sun set on another day, we would be in from the waves and toasting it as another great day over an ice cold Bintang (Indonesia ‘nectar’ beer) before sitting down to dinner.
It is also very cool not to have regular access to the internet, nearly all the other places that we stay on Ticket to Ride worldwide now have wifi internet readily available. This definitely has its benefits, however it is also great to escape the often slightly pointless draw of the internet.
The days in Indonesia are so good that it is hard to stay awake much past 8 o’clock. Just as well because it will soon be 5.30am the next morning and the whole thing starts again.
So in answer to the question, what happens in Lombok with Ticket to Ride?
Surf – Eat – Surf – Eat – Sleep (on loop for 6 glorious days!)
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Living the good life in Nusa Lembongan