First of all would like to congratulate you on an great web site, definitely worth reading if you about to go or just been to Indo. I have just arrived back from a quick 3 weeker. Had an awesome time!! Got some sick surf all over Bali, got stranded on a boat off Lombok and had some huge nights out in Kuta(but that’s a different story).
I am writing to tell you about the boat trip we went on. Its a standard trip which goes to Lombongan, Lombok and Sumbawa. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve done this trip before and had an awesome time. We started our trip off at Lombongan (no swell). That’s cool, no ones fault. Got to Lombok (no swell) No worries, New Moon, something will come. Next morning wake up to the boat rocking and motors running, Stoked we’ve got swell an we are on our way around to the other side of Lombok where this swell will Be GOING ORRFF!! All of a sudden the engines stop. Now being just off the coast of Lombok (which is just huge cliffs faces pretty much the whole way along) and a 3 metre swell pumping through, there were a few concerned faces amongst the boys. More so the crew, (when the crew gets worried I get worried). 2 hours later slowly drifting closer and closer to these not so inviting cliffs and no response from the BRAND NEW TWIN 140’S, finally a passing surf Charter acknowledges our waving and screaming (the radio didn’t fuckn work). So they towed us back from were we came and into a little cove where we were could anchor and work on the boat. But what do ya know, not one of the crew had any kind of Idea of what they were doing.
Late in the afternoon after a lot of head scratching and Balinese style problem solving, the Captain headed off on a 10 hour trek over Lombok to find a mechanic. Next morning we are awakened to one motor being started SICCCKK!! lets get going we have wasted enough time. “No, We cannot , we go back and fix engines properly”, the captain says in broken english . Bummed out we all made the Journey back to Lombongan and then back to Kuta. “mate shit happens, we all understand that, it’s not anyone’s fault, but fair is fair we only got 2 days out of 7 we would like half our money back”. These were the comments going roundup on deck which all the boys agreed on. So we organised to meet xxxx, part owner and the money man of this so called organisation to discuss what we would do.” ok I agree, I will meet you on Tuesday 2pm to give you half your money back” he said softly. Now is it just me or do you never trust a man who wont look you in the eyes when he shakes your hand.
Tuesday came Motherfucker didn’t show.” I knew we shouldn’t have trusted that xxx xxxxxx xxxx headed cxxx” We spent the next couple of days chasing this mofo around, but in the end gave up. “Its no use” one local said” he’s gone underground, no one knows where he is” So we bit the bullet and left it at that.
The next two weeks every time we mentioned the name xxxx locals just nodded and said” yeah he’s been in trouble before, and that sounds like one of his tricks”. So this is more of a message than a story. To anyone Going to Indo and thinking of doing a boat Trip, do it. Definitely worth it, but as for xxxx xxxxx SURF TOUR, don’t do it to your self. I heard too many bad stories from Locals and travelling surfers about him. This being his second boat and edging on second bankruptcy its just not worth it .
I would like to thank all the people who helped us and were honest, especially the boat that towed us to safety.
Cheers mate! Cop ya DAVE , Narrabeen , Australia.
Dave from Narrabeen
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