May 26, 2009
As early as 7.30am, we enquired the price for a private crash course surfing class.
The local beach boys were as many as the long stretch of Kuta beach
so no problem finding a surfing coach, for a price of course.
We managed to bargained our way to Rp 200,000 per person (~Rm 70) inclusive of the surfboard
for a 2 hrs coaching and the rest of the day on our own.
Before hitting the waves, we went through some orientation and simulation on the beach.
The main aim in surfing is to:
1. Time yourself correctly in order to catch the wave.
2. Maintain balance on the surfboard.
*Of course there are still many details to it.
As the saying goes "the spirit is willing but body is weak".
Grasping the principal alone is not enough when physically it was very exhausting to swim off the shore against the waves, balancing your long heavy body on a piece of board, pulling and dragging yourself up back onto the board everytime after losing balance or being washed off by the torrents, paddling as hard as you can with sore fatigue triceps hoping to catch the waves, and surf on it without falling..haha..
Students with the beach boys.
As i struggled to maintain myself lying on the board,
other surfers did what they were doing with so much ease.
They coud sit still on the board chatting away while waiting, upon reading the waves, they could take off as swiftly and easily as they maneuver themself on it.
Most of them surfers were Aussies, Americans, south-Americans, a few Europeans.
Even Japanese surfer girls are no strangers to the waves of Bali.
1 of them nodded to me as i was lying prostrate in my embarrasing state.
Rested and hit back the waves a few more times until i came to a point where it was too painful to continue.
Continuous friction over my rectus abdominis caused some superficial ulcer
which stings on contact with sea water.
Other sport related injuries, 2 head concussions by the board, 1 cut over the arm by the fin.
Shows that you can never be 2 careful holding tightly onto your surfboard esp when a biiiigg wave cometh.
Still i wasnt gonna throw in the towel easily and forced myself to be battered few more days.
While recuperating, our team continued our travelling down south this time to PADANG-PADANG beach,
located on the west coast of JIMBARAN, in Bali's south peninsula.
JIMBARAN is well-known for its fishing village, Bali's largest fish market and seafood restaurant, selling a wide variety of fresh seafood.
We didnt make any stop there but for fresh seafood, Jimbaran is the place to be.
PaDaNG-PaDaNG bEaCH
Parked our bikes before walking down few flight of stairs to reach a beach community.
Then walked down another steep flight of stairs to reach a cave like area,
sort of like the gateway to the beach.
Looks like another surfer beach
Greeted by this beautiful sight, nothing i've ever seen before, its like a scene from a movie.
The steep stairs we descended from.
In the partially covered cave leading to the beach
Here's the beach front. Not the kind we expected but its something different,a beach made up from sand, rocks and corals, with a few large and minituare pools probably formed during low tide.
Huge rocks near the caves, good for hide-n-seek.
Andi emerging silently from his hiding place ready to slit open some1's throat.
One of the pool formed during low tide. Tourists taking a dipping.
Beyond this is the coral shores, home to corals, seaweed, sea slut, small fishes and crawling things.
Corals and some camera-shy crawling things which camouflage themselves easily
Another pool for skinny dipping. The sand is white and the water is cooling and crystal clear.
If it were a lil' deeper, it would make a good swimming pool.
The beach is surrounded by rocky walls, making it unique in its own way.
Going a lil' beyond the coral shore, is where the real action is happening.
Although Padang-padang beach mainly consist of dry coral reef,
its waves provide a different challenge for surfers seeking experience.
The waves washes sideways against the shore.
If you haven't noticed this place is a no-no for amateurs.
Surfing can be a very dangerous sport. People can sustain injuries like what i experienced today.
Similiar to a road traffic accident, surfers can collide with each other where either 1
lost control of their maneuvering.
If you don't know the geographical setting of a surf spot,
there are chances of being washed up onto rocks or coral reef.
Consequences are like breaking your Rp 7,000,000 (~Rm 2500) surfboard, ending yourself up in a hospital
or worse, say bye-bye.
We bumped into this guy from Peru who unintentionally got washed off onto coral reef.
He had abrasion and even deep lacerations all over his trunk.
Being in a state of shock, he didnt feel much pain initially until we poured some antiseptic all over his body and it really sting like a ...sizzling hot pan.
Just a side story, before the invention of sun-screen, it was not unusual for surfers to die a slow death from skin cancer. So guys, even if going for a swim at your local swimming pool anytime between late morning sun and evening sun, it would be good to use a SPF 30 and above.
The beach community staying above the rocks of Padang-padang Beach.
Until now i still know not the meaning of its name.
The uneven coral ground ideal for foot reflexology..*jz kidding*
Bye bye Padang-padang Beach~~
Feeling so exhausted after a long day's fight in the sea and the Jimbaran road trip.
As i lie on the bed, i feel the rocking sensation of the waves as if i was still holding onto a surfboard,
only that it was more comfortable and i had no fear of drowning..
The fight continues tomorrow!
Next blog : Uluwatu
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