The Evans Blog

We're all back at work and suffering a mild case of depression. Cold and rainy is the forecast for the next week. At least there's sizable (wind affected) swell to come home to.

The journey home was amusing (with hindsight).

Kirsten, Neil and I stayed in a crap hotel named Bumiminang (translated "do you up the bum"). The hotel had cracks through the walls from the last earthquake that was apparently reinforced by applying paint (which has now mostly flaked off). Anyway, despite letting STC know about our dramas, Kirsten went the distance to submit a review onto virtualtourist which speaks for itself. Pretty funny that this was apparently the expensive hotel.



Needless to say we didn't have a great sleep.

We arrived at KL for our 12 hour layover bug eyed and feeling a bit lopsided.



With time to waste, Kirsten, Neil and I jumped into a cab for a 60 minute drive to Sunway Lagoon water park. They apparently have a fake surf beach that we thought might be fun to try out. Surprise surprise... when we arrived and walked through the blistering sun to the entrance a sign outside said, "Welcome to Sunway Lagoon... we're closed on Tuesdays". And today was Tuesday.

Screw that! We snuck into a flash hotel, invented a room number, a fell blissfully asleep by the pool.

Anyway, here's some surf highlights...

Neily Peely do a Wheelie:







Kirsten:











And yours truly:







I reckon this is the epitome of my personality...



Hey that's my wave! Oh well, I'm lucky to have a wife on a surf trip stealing my waves.

Last few days have been sizable and only today has the swell lightened up. Saying that, Drew was still able to find a barrel to play under... lucky bugger.

We've not had to share any waves since our experience with the Pelagic boat. Two boats are here now but thankfully don't know the breaks like Dave does.

I'm interested to see how it feels to be in the crowd at Dee Why. I thought I'd not be interested in surfing back home after having it so good but I'm really keen to keep improving.

Yesterday we visited a small GTs. Everyone eventually made the small but tight drop and Shane took some excellent photos of us.

The right just in front of the lodge has been my favourite. The last few evenings I've sat out there and thoroughly enjoyed looking at the fish beneath my feet while waiting for the next set... just look out for the end section otherwise you'll lose some bark (as Peter taught me five times in a row... poor bugger).





Kirsten joined for a session. It's easy getting in... getting out can be another story if you decide not to signal the boat to come get you.



Wicked... I was hoping for cheesburgers!

What's this? Today we had to share waves! What the hell? How dare someone have the audacity to try to surf in the same island group and on the same break!

It was probably the worst conditions we've surfed, about 2 foot, but still a sight better than typical Sydney. When we paddled over it was just 2 American guys. By the time all 7 of us were in the water, their crew numbered 5. We had been warned by Shane and Dave, "if they don't respect the lineup just to paddle back and we'll sort it out". This wasn't really necessary... as soon as a little 12 year old grommet on a paddle board snaked us for the second time, mid-wave giving Murray a taunting explitive, we all decided "it was on". Murray paddled over and gave him a level-headed talking to. One of the older guys didn't wait his turn and got properly burned by Daniel.

It's amazing how the vibe changed with another group out, especially one that thought they could jump que. We've been so spoiled with waves and coonditions here but at the same time very fair to one another to ensure everyone gets their turn. Although we could have done without the hassle it was excellent to see the group band together.

Anyway, enough soap opera. On a positive note, we all have crabs...

Even here the crabs suffer traffic jams... watch it.

The surf is on this afternoon. We're looking down the barrel of a steady pickup of swell height and duration which should allow us to attempt some barrel riding at GTs.

So far Murray is the only blessed person to be properly bled by the reef... nothing serious but some excellent scratches on the cheeks. Daniel was only too happy to nominate himself for duty to assist in the cleanup. Nothing like Hydrogen Peroxide and some overly vigorous scrubbing to get the shrill screams echoing off the island.

Guess what time it is...

CrabVid.wmv

This afternoon we headed to Churches / The Left / Kirsten's Corner... note that today was a small day.



Guess who's first out the boat.



And then everyones into it...



And some action... Dave showing us how it's done...



Drew getting into the bat cave...



Kirsten getting amongst it...



And so on. We've been surfing for 3 days now. We have yet to surf with anyone else or even spot a surf boat. There's nothing quite like this.

After a sumptuous dinner, I felt something on my neck that felt a bit odd. This gargantuan sized scorpion got my attention.



Okay, maybe he wasn't big but he sure was cute... I could have just licked him up.

Few days into the trip now. Everyone is frothing for more waves but we've been good to each other; always asking who's next to catch one, giving waves to others in a better position... unfortunately I've been too keen (a.k.a. selfish) to catch waves to worry about bringing the camera out.

We received all our gear intact two days after arriving. Each one of us held our breath as we would pull a board out of its protective skin... no crushings or creases. I was surprised to have everything back after listening to 101 traveling stories of what can go wrong with surf luggage while. The insurance will more than pay for itself.

Oh, and a word on the awesome Telos staff ...

1. They completely took over the drama with locating our boards and getting them onto a charter plane back to us.
2. They prepaid all charter costs on our behalf before requesting reimbursement.
3. They lent us 3 excellent boards to ride, one of which I damaged when I ran into a floating palm frond.
4. Anything you ask for is immediately sorted; food desires, something you forgot to bring... whatever.
5. They've been part of improving medical services in the surrounding villages.

I'll bring the camera out tonight... for now I'll describe our lodge and companions:



From left to right, Drew (too nice for a banker), Neil (suppose so), Dave (our guide, coach and surf-story teller), Murray (Muzza... too good), Peter (Chevy Chase), Daniel (STA... a walking copy of Wikipedia + Urban Dictionary), myself (Tex or Sperm Boy depending on surf attire) and Kirsten (taking the picture; now has a section of Churches break named after her).

The lodge is stunning. We're on an island you can walk around in an hour. There are villages scattered all over the Telo islands. Every time we're surfing there's always a small fishing boat or spear fisherman visible (with accompanying token naked child).

There are two main buildings for guests and feedings... plus another is coming online.





Most of the time we're resting, eating or otherwise recovering when not surfing...



It's a pretty hard life all up.

Oh thank Christ we've made it! What a journey! If you can believe it, we're having to charter a plane to get our boards to meet us. We're praying that the insurance will cover this decision, but if not, it's just a drop in the bucket. Quite stressful but who cares, we can't slow down now.

At 2 it was time to board the plane... um, well I think it's a plane.



It was intensly loud when the thing took off... I couldn't help yelling out a "YEEEHAW!" as we lifted off.

Touching down on our final flight we were greeted by a beautiful small village that we walked through to get to the final leg on the boat.



 

 

 

 

 

And now the surge hit... we've made it... I can't beleive it after all this hassle we made it.















And for the best part... the reason for us coming here... surfing.



We went out to schoolyards, a group of breaks about 15 minutes from the lodge. The water was glassy, there was no wind, we all had our quota of 2 waves. It was excellent and its only supposed to get better all week.

We're sitting in the KL airport recovering from the shock of it all, more on that latter...

Getting to Sydney airport was easy even the car felt like a hippo was perched on it.



It's sad airports are so hysteric with security these days. Kirsten and Neil were in the checkin line while I minded the board bags. I had to walk away for 15 seconds to chat with the others and a guard suddenly appeared and grilled me what these things were. For some reason these look like some type of weapons system:



We had a bit of drama as the guy who manages the checkin line (with an amazing case of little man's syndrome) harassed Neil for the offence of having one eyebrow raised above the other. Neil smartly kept his pride in check and didn't react.

For the record, I recommend the following packing technique when traveling with heavy luggage:

1. Put everything in the board bags.
2. As each board bag was 5 kgs over, and each kilo attracts a $20 charge (so $300), unpack the boards for one and all to view. Put excess weight into the green grocery bags brought for just this situation.
3. Re-weigh board bags which are now just inside their weight class. Note, don't show the expansive newly created carry-on luggage to the airline personnel.
4. Once finished with the checkin staff, SPRINT to oversized baggage. On the way, remember to reload all the newly created carry-on back into the boardbags.

The KL flight had good movies but 8 hours makes your ass numb.



8 hours later we're in the KL airport hotel, a mass of painted cinder blocks which had that clinical cleanliness typical of Malaysian hotels. It was 1AM for us, but thankfully 10 PM there as we had a 7 AM flight to Padang. Straight to sleep.

The next morning, we all experienced the best way to wakeup at 5 AM is to get into an airport limousine (van) and contract your sphincter as the driver plays Grand Tourismo with your life. We we're doing 150 KPH in a 60 zone (please don't blow out a tire) and flew through red lights and stop signs with no chance of survival should a vehicle emerge. Neil was dead right, "that was the most dangerous part of the journey."

But onto brighter news, we arrived (alive) in the KL airport to discover our bags were not going to Padang.

Time stood still as our greatest fear was unfolding.

Looking at the luggage tags, they were supposedly checked from Sydney to Padang... but they simply weren't going to make it according to the useless checkin staff. We made frantic group plans, which under the pressure went amazing smoothly without any snapping, and simply jumped onto the plane to Padang. A moment of positive thinking waiting in KL:



Now we're in Padang airport waiting in comfort for our flight to Lasondre airstrip, where we'll grab a boat to the lodge. Rudi, our savior from Telos, has begun sorting out our hassle. The boards (and ALL our stuff) are on their way but won't arrive until tomorrow, if not Monday. Oh well, Malaysian Air is going to cop it, as will our travel insurance. We're still on track... fingers crossed. Some of the crew also going to Telos...

Well it's been like the end of a school semester today. All of us (Kirsten, Neil and I) couldn't really focus on anything but the trip to Telos. Now it's 11 PM and we're all wired and have repacked everything several times over now.

Last night sorting out the boards:



And this night getting everything packed... we'll just have to see if we get onto the plane:

As usual, Kirsten was right to motivate us to install bamboo floors.

Moving everything out of the downstairs to either outside or upstairs wouldn't be described as fun, but it was worth it.

So before photos:




During (ahem... for 3 days):




And After:



Notice the culprit asleep on the couch...