I love Bali
Looking for recommendations , I I haven’t been to either lakey peak or lances left in over a decade and know how quickly things change . Can anyone recommend a homestay or reasonable price accommodation at these spots as I’m venturing both directions later this year . Appreciate any feedback .
Hi SF. Had Lakeys booked for 2020 and we all know what happened then.
Had some mates stay at Aman Gati a few years back and although basic (like most in the area) has a pool which a lot of other places dont.
Also heard good reports about The Peak Surf House but a bit more $$ than others
Supafreak. Me again. You can stay right on the doorstep at Lances Left, but I wouldn’t, $220USD per night, rip off.
Much cheaper a couple of kms back in Katiet in the Lances Right, accommodation area, a whole host of price structures from the comfortable to very cheap.
Unfortunately I don’t know the names of all the cheap ones, but if you get on Google Earth you’ll see many of them just a few hundred metres back from all the waterline places. Some French guys told me they stayed with a family and or families, just the basics, each night a bit of protein fish or chicken with veggies on rice, they said it was fine and had reasonable beds.
I’ve never used anti-malarial drugs previously, but will this October, I know several individuals who got Dengue as well as just basic malaria, Plasmodium vivax.
Not to scare you at all, mozzie situation at Lances is barely a concern, it’s the cerebral malaria in the Banyaks and other areas of late that’s the real concern.
Three of us are going to Pinang Island, Autumn 2025, number one priority will be preventing malaria.
I’d stay in the Lances Right area if it was me, we always had mopeds on dry hire and only pay for the days we use them ,it’s only a 5-10 min ride to LLft or 15mins to Bintang, which when I was last there, pumped the whole two weeks. We’d surf LanceR in the morning or up to midday, when numbers rose, we’d piss off to Bintangs and end up clocking up 8-10 hours in total for the day. Great fun. AW
@vicbloke , I’ve stayed at aman gati before, it was ok and probably the best security for the amount of theft that happens down there . I’ve looked online at a few places that were very reasonable at $25 a night . I was hoping someone had been recently as any website can blow their own trumpet . .. @AW , haha I didn’t realise I had typed lances left , I did mean right . I’ve heard some home stays for $100 a night includes 3 meals. I’m going to be going later in year , might bump into you there .
Bit of movement in Sumatra tonight
Bit of a shake ,on your toes
You never know
5.7 Decent
Paddle surfer gets a nice bazza on the first wave
?si=IF7JNUFAF6PddXZi On a 10'0 Dylan
I remember when it was a long walk in to Padang Padang and a handful of guys at the most , haven’t surfed there since the late 80s .
?si=z5QEFRbhweePJ_bq Crazy.
The good old days when it was rare to see a local surf.
Most of the agro I see here comes from the older guys probably as they know how good they used to have it.
Younger ones don't see to care just out there having fun, just going on my daughter, her boyfriend and friends anyway.
Supa, daughters boyfriend is going to Lakey Peak next month, not sure of the place but is only
$200 for 10 nights though lol. Probs dodgy.
Lakeys is unreal, got cerebral malaria twice down there in early 90's and ended up in hospital both times, but still went back.
Don't think it's a big issue now. Last time there in 2013, Aman Gati was pretty nice.
Lakeys is unreal, got cerebral malaria twice down there in early 90's and ended up in hospital both times, but still went back.
Don't think it's a big issue now. Last time there in 2013, Aman Gati was pretty nice.
ashsam wrote:Crazy.
The good old days when it was rare to see a local surf.Most of the agro I see here comes from the older guys probably as they know how good they used to have it.
Younger ones don't see to care just out there having fun, just going on my daughter, her boyfriend and friends anyway.Supa, daughters boyfriend is going to Lakey Peak next month, not sure of the place but is only
$200 for 10 nights though lol. Probs dodgy.
Been hearing some fucked up stories from scams happening down there , mainly around bike rentals . Rent a bike that mysteriously gets stolen and you have to pay for it . Or paying for damage that was already on it . Stand over tactics can be very intimidating to newcomers. I was always put off by the transport mafia at the airport .
Supafreak wrote:ashsam wrote:Crazy.
The good old days when it was rare to see a local surf.Most of the agro I see here comes from the older guys probably as they know how good they used to have it.
Younger ones don't see to care just out there having fun, just going on my daughter, her boyfriend and friends anyway.Supa, daughters boyfriend is going to Lakey Peak next month, not sure of the place but is only
$200 for 10 nights though lol. Probs dodgy.Been hearing some fucked up stories from scams happening down there , mainly around bike rentals . Rent a bike that mysteriously gets stolen and you have to pay for it . Or paying for damage that was already on it . Stand over tactics can be very intimidating to newcomers. I was always put off by the transport mafia at the airport .
That was happening last time I was there.
Better just to get a double with local, or do not bother surfing Cobblestones. Use to love running down pass Nungus on way to Periscopes if ya knew it was going to be on.
Yep good ol days....
andy-mac wrote:Lakeys is unreal, got cerebral malaria twice down there in early 90's and ended up in hospital both times, but still went back.
Don't think it's a big issue now. Last time there in 2013, Aman Gati was pretty nice.
I was there for 6 weeks in 2004 and 8 locals died in that time . Watching young ozzies running around at sundown half pissed in just boardshorts was a worry , I’d be fully covered up with long pants and shirt with generous amount of deet .
Supafreak wrote:ashsam wrote:Crazy.
The good old days when it was rare to see a local surf.Most of the agro I see here comes from the older guys probably as they know how good they used to have it.
Younger ones don't see to care just out there having fun, just going on my daughter, her boyfriend and friends anyway.Supa, daughters boyfriend is going to Lakey Peak next month, not sure of the place but is only
$200 for 10 nights though lol. Probs dodgy.Been hearing some fucked up stories from scams happening down there , mainly around bike rentals . Rent a bike that mysteriously gets stolen and you have to pay for it . Or paying for damage that was already on it . Stand over tactics can be very intimidating to newcomers. I was always put off by the transport mafia at the airport .
Thanks, will let him know, he's going with 3 others so hopefully one of them will be on the ball.
He's pretty switched on for a 24 year old, a registered nurse so could come in handy lol
Got ins with covermore.
Supafreak wrote:andy-mac wrote:Lakeys is unreal, got cerebral malaria twice down there in early 90's and ended up in hospital both times, but still went back.
Don't think it's a big issue now. Last time there in 2013, Aman Gati was pretty nice.I was there for 6 weeks in 2004 and 8 locals died in that time . Watching young ozzies running around at sundown half pissed in just boardshorts was a worry , I’d be fully covered up with long pants and shirt with generous amount of deet .
Second time I picked it up was in 1997, was fully clothed each evening long pants, long sleeves and socks, plus Deet and malaria drug, as had caught it before.
Still got it, was so pissed off, but was luckily in Oz and only one night in hospital. First time had over a week in hospital in Oz, was told lucky to have lived.
Don't stuff about with malaria!!
andy-mac wrote:Supafreak wrote:andy-mac wrote:Lakeys is unreal, got cerebral malaria twice down there in early 90's and ended up in hospital both times, but still went back.
Don't think it's a big issue now. Last time there in 2013, Aman Gati was pretty nice.I was there for 6 weeks in 2004 and 8 locals died in that time . Watching young ozzies running around at sundown half pissed in just boardshorts was a worry , I’d be fully covered up with long pants and shirt with generous amount of deet .
Second time I picked it up was in 1997, was fully clothed each evening long pants, long sleeves and socks, plus Deet and malaria drug, as had caught it before.
Still got it, was so pissed off, but was luckily in Oz and only one night in hospital. First time had over a week in hospital in Oz, was told lucky to have lived.
Don't stuff about with malaria!!
A relo of our's got malaria in Papua and now has trigeminal-neuralgia, in and out of hospital, triggered by foods/weather etc
Nightmare.
Some good LP here. Dedi Gun and crew onto it too.
The right doesn't break at that size? Didn't watch long enough it does.
stunet wrote:Some good LP here. Dedi Gun and crew onto it too.
And Periscopes holding about as big as it can.
Same swell maybe?
I've had a couple of trips to Lakeys and no issues with bike rental. Maybe get a recommendation from where you're staying rather than off a random.
Stayed at Lucky Lakey both times. Not $20 a night but not expensive, particularly if you're splitting a room.
First time I was there we had the Shane and Jackson Dorian and a young Caity Simmers staying with us!
@Bnkref , hi , when were you last there ? I’ve had numerous trips but none since 2011 . Checked the website of lucky but couldn’t find link they said to go to for booking and prices .
Last trip was 2022. I think a mate booked directly that trip. Just had a quick look and it appears that it's now through AirBnB. There's about 4-5 rooms. Here's one for example.
https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/13135331?source_impression_id=p3_1717736...
Bnkref wrote:Last trip was 2022. I think a mate booked directly that trip. Just had a quick look and it appears that it's now through AirBnB. There's about 4-5 rooms. Here's one for example.
https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/13135331?source_impression_id=p3_1717736...
Ok , thanks, appreciated
Bnkref wrote:Last trip was 2022. I think a mate booked directly that trip. Just had a quick look and it appears that it's now through AirBnB. There's about 4-5 rooms. Here's one for example.
https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/13135331?source_impression_id=p3_1717736...
Still have mafia at airport for transportation?
Think I paid almost double for drive than flight from memory.
Yeah they do but last trip we had a pickup organised through the accomodation.
I reckon it was about A$80-100 between three of us one way.
QS are having a good run.
Bnkref wrote:Yeah they do but last trip we had a pickup organised through the accomodation.
I reckon it was about A$80-100 between three of us one way.
Cheers.
"A woman who went missing in Indonesia was found dead inside the belly of a 20ft python.
Farida, 45, a mother of four, went missing on Thursday night while she was walking through woodlands to sell food at a market in central Indonesia’s Sulawesi province.
Her husband, Noni, 55, became suspicious after finding his wife’s belongings in the forest and spotting a 20ft-long python with a ballooned up belly. The man, identified along with his wife in local media only by one name, raised an alarm among the locals.
It is believed that the python bit her on her leg and coiled around her body to suffocate her before swallowing her whole.
The villagers caught the python and sliced open its belly and found the woman dead inside."
https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-missing-forest-found-dead-090454028.html
Talking to some lads out in the water today who went down to Lakeys and Roti just recently , now wings air are charging 1 million rp per surfboard per flight, costs more for your surfboards ( if more than 1 ) than it does for a seat , fucking criminals .
Yeah they brought it in about a month ago and the Wings air meme sent out to resorts etc says only 9 board (or board bags) per flight, not sure if enforcing that aspect.
I blame da kunts that bring five boards in a coffin, airlines hate them and those wings planes cargo hold has limited space as smaller planes.
"I blame da kunts that bring five boards in a coffin"
yep, the board stack has gotten a bit over the top of late
but, to be fair to airlines, it's all about supply and demand... there's plenty of demand... and it seems no one is
walking away...
also, surfers are a bit delusional about their worth... as a couple of guys with resorts in sumatra like to point out...
surfboards are generally more hassle than they are worth for airlines, especially smaller planes
and, as Indonesia quickly races into the middle classes... we are just are not that needed / desired anymore...
Garuda , Nam & Citilink don’t charge for surfboards, it’s the lion group that have brought this in .
garuda is pretty premium- especially in indo, and seems to copy qantas policy. good if citilink still follows this policy too. only flown nam once - pretty impressed if they are still free...
lion was free once too ...I dunno if it was actually free... or just no one actually knew... because it was pretty hit and miss...
the thing with lion is, it's gone up so quick... started 200k, then 500k, now 1 mil... and (not) checking board bags was a good scam for a while...
the other thing with lion is its probably got the most routes, and the most used by indo's, so surfers not really a priority
also I read some time ago that they have upped safety standards and therefore maintenance schedules in indo
so I guess a hapless and hopeless airline with a record such as lion has to pay for that somehow...
1 mil is steep, especially per board, and especially when per leg of journey!
but as I said, seems they care little for whinging surfers
It sucks but i kind of get it, Lion group is total budget and these budget Indo airlines are running on min cost there has been a couple that have gone belly up over the years like Adam air
Garuda/Citlink will sadly most likely increase prices as now pressure gets put on them to take more boards.
Garuda/Citlink is also majority government owned so a little different but they have still had big money issue's technically bankrupt only a couple years ago.
Im just glad i have a few boards over there already.
@indo I flew up to Padang from Bali in April with super jet ( Lion group ) it was 2 legs and 3 boards so extra cost 1.2 million, came back with Garuda and it worked out 600,000 rp cheaper . The policy when I inquired with super jet was maximum of 5 surfboard bags per plane . There was only 2 of us ( surfers ) on the flight . I would be spewing to pay 1 million per flight per surfboard and boards not make it if policy was enforced . The Garuda flight from Jakarta to Bali was a 777 and not a spare seat as long weekend .
I know this shit is getting a bit tired
and there's probably no turning back...
but some of this shit is criminal
'mirah developments' again...
https://thebalisun.com/outrage-as-construction-starts-at-world-famous-ba...
so sad the local leaders are so easily bought. and to be frank, it makes no sense when one considers the 'beliefs' of local religion...
I'm no scholar of bali hinduism, but it amazes me the lengths they will go to to preserve a little temple, and then allow this widespread destruction...
the little temple with the road hugging it half way up the big hill near bingin has impresed me and bemused me for years...
then this shit just makes you angry
this is impressive too
in a different manner...
some loose cats getting around bali these days
https://thebalisun.com/investigation-launched-in-bali-over-foreigner-who...
Hi Supa, just after some advice if you dont mind?
Traveling with the family in August going from Lembongan up to Amed. Looking on the net we can catch the Eka Jaya ferry from Lembongan to Padang Bai which goes once a day and saves going back to Sanur. Are you familiar with this and should I book online in advance? Thanks for your help!
charles-barkley wrote:Hi Supa, just after some advice if you dont mind?
Traveling with the family in August going from Lembongan up to Amed. Looking on the net we can catch the Eka Jaya ferry from Lembongan to Padang Bai which goes once a day and saves going back to Sanur. Are you familiar with this and should I book online in advance? Thanks for your help!
Hi Charles , I haven’t gone that route personally but local friends do regularly, no need to book online you can easily do it at their office on the beach at jungutbatu Lembongan. That way if plans change you will be ok , doubt it’s ever a full boat .
Just received some sad news , some of you would have met an American skipper in mentawai called Eric , was skipper on Addiction for some years and before that on another boat . He built a land camp at thunders . Yesterday surfing big rags left he never made it back to the boat and his body was found today. Leaves behind an Indonesian wife & 2 kids . R.I.P. Eric
Sad news. RIP.
sypkan wrote:I know this shit is getting a bit tired
and there's probably no turning back...
but some of this shit is criminal
'mirah developments' again...
https://thebalisun.com/outrage-as-construction-starts-at-world-famous-ba...
so sad the local leaders are so easily bought. and to be frank, it makes no sense when one considers the 'beliefs' of local religion...
I'm no scholar of bali hinduism, but it amazes me the lengths they will go to to preserve a little temple, and then allow this widespread destruction...
the little temple with the road hugging it half way up the big hill near bingin has impresed me and bemused me for years...
then this shit just makes you angry
It’s unbelievable the amount of development on nusa penida in such a short time .They built like crazy throughout covid , restaurants, accommodation etc etc . From when someone first took a photo above kelingking beach and posted it on instagram , the industry that exploded from that photo is amazing . 4000-6000 day trippers venture from ports in sanur and benoa to then get in a traffic jam on penida to then walk over a kilometre to look at the view , have lunch somewhere and turn around and make the journey back . Blows my mind . That photo is everywhere , from tourism adds on tv , magazines on planes, billboards throughout indo . There are some beautiful sites on the island but after visiting there for over 40 years I won’t be going back( on land , still fish there ) The infrastructure and roads are shocking . On Facebook there are clips of people jumping of the cliffs a few hundred metres high, attached to a rope ( not bungee ) you would have to be insane to try this and put your trust into the people running this thrill seeking gimmick . …..edit……maybe it is a bungee cord , still looks suss https://www.facebook.com/share/r/nxs3P5PYz8Rr1fup/?mibextid=xCPwDs
Supafreak wrote:sypkan wrote:I know this shit is getting a bit tired
and there's probably no turning back...
but some of this shit is criminal
'mirah developments' again...
https://thebalisun.com/outrage-as-construction-starts-at-world-famous-ba...
so sad the local leaders are so easily bought. and to be frank, it makes no sense when one considers the 'beliefs' of local religion...
I'm no scholar of bali hinduism, but it amazes me the lengths they will go to to preserve a little temple, and then allow this widespread destruction...
the little temple with the road hugging it half way up the big hill near bingin has impresed me and bemused me for years...
then this shit just makes you angry
It’s unbelievable the amount of development on nusa penida in such a short time .They built like crazy throughout covid , restaurants, accommodation etc etc . From when someone first took a photo above kelingking beach and posted it on instagram , the industry that exploded from that photo is amazing . 4000-6000 day trippers venture from ports in sanur and benoa to then get in a traffic jam on penida to then walk over a kilometre to look at the view , have lunch somewhere and turn around and make the journey back . Blows my mind . That photo is everywhere , from tourism adds on tv , magazines on planes, billboards throughout indo . There are some beautiful sites on the island but after visiting there for over 40 years I won’t be going back( on land , still fish there ) The infrastructure and roads are shocking . On Facebook there are clips of people jumping of the cliffs a few hundred metres high, attached to a rope ( not bungee ) you would have to be insane to try this and put your trust into the people running this thrill seeking gimmick . …..edit……maybe it is a bungee cord , still looks suss https://www.facebook.com/share/r/nxs3P5PYz8Rr1fup/?mibextid=xCPwDs
Did the bungee a couple of times at 66, not doing that!
Supafreak wrote:Just received some sad news , some of you would have met an American skipper in mentawai called Eric , was skipper on Addiction for some years and before that on another boat . He built a land camp at thunders . Yesterday surfing big rags left he never made it back to the boat and his body was found today. Leaves behind an Indonesian wife & 2 kids . R.I.P. Eric
Yes sad news.
RIP
@sypkan , I posted some photos of that cutting in the cliff on penida some years ago on either this thread or the photos thread . I had assumed, wrongly it seems , that it was a new sandstone quarry for all the building that was going on . I asked my local skipper at the time what it was and he had no idea and also thought it was a quarry . The Saudi king when he visited Bali before covid , spent up big buying land on penida .
I love Bali.
You wouldn't think that such a thought could be controversial . But it is.
Many people don't love Bali, in fact they proclaim to hate it. Bemoan what it has become, it's lack of purity, it's lost innocence.
Sure, I can see their point. I can't imagine anywhere on Earth that has been transformed as radically as Bali over the last thirty years. From rice paddies and coconut groves to six story discotheques . It's totally unrecognisable in the most built up areas.
But that's not what this post is about. It's about why I LOVE Bali.
I love Bali because ...
- it's still the home of an intense cluster of world class waves. Roping lefts : Uluwatu, freight train right barrels : Sanur, backlit mega tubes : Padang Padang. Rip able reefs, fun beachies. Short , slabby pits and long mellow points. River mouths and bombies. It's got the lot.
- it's still possible to get uncrowded quality waves in 2015 when it seems as though the entire planet has discovered surfing. I was trading crystal clear , rolling right walls with only two other surfers just this morning.
- it's still freaking beautiful. Watching the mist reveal Mt Agung in that unique Bali morning light from a black sand beach as the sun comes up is still special.
- the food is amazing. Walking around town building up a hunger and knowing that at any given time you are within shouting distance of fresh, exotic and delicious meals with enough variety to make your head spin is priceless.
- the Balinese are legends. Friendly, happy and always keen for a joke. Unfailingly polite and welcoming. Healthy, spiritual and decent.
- the Balinese surfers rip their waves and they still own them. A visiting Brazilian would not think twice to drop in on an Aussie local at Kirra. But you won't see the same in Bali. The Balinese surfers are treated with the respect they deserve. Because as everyone knows, if they are not treated with respect there is consequences.
- the water is so warm it's like swimming in silken angels tears.
- telling people that you are going to Bali will often elicit a response along the lines of ......"why would you go to that traffic ridden, noisy shithole ?" And then as you're kicking back with a Bintang watching the sunset over Uluwatu you can imagine them sitting at lights in their car on their way home from work in Perth. Which , for those that have never been , is a noisy , traffic ridden shithole. And this makes me laugh. Which is something I enjoy doing.
- The fruit is incredible.
- despite the millions of tourists, the fast food franchises and the Aussie over familiarity with the joint it's still exotic. The smell of clove cigarettes, the ogo ogos of Nyepi, the Buddhist offerings , monkeys , food and language are all enticingly foreign.
- there is no overreaching nanny state. You want to ride your motorbike with all four of your children and the missus on the back...whilst texting. Go for it.
- you can live like a king on a regular Aussie income. Maybe not such a great benefit for the Balinese themselves though.
- it's close to Oz. Twenty hour plane ride and a shot at developing deep vein thrombosis.....ummm no thanks. It's actually faster to fly to Bali from Perth than it is to drive to Albany. You can fly from Port Hedland in less than two hours.
- you get an opportunity to regularly witness some of the most foolhardy behaviour imaginable on a daily basis. You ever seen a man being doubled on a motorbike through traffic whilst holding a large pane of glass ? What about seeing someone hold a nail between his bare fingers while his mate tries to grind the tip off it ? It's all there folks.
- you can see people making do with not much and making it work. An exhaust system held on with a T Shirt ? An outboard motor attached to a boat with no anchoring system, just held on with a man's brute force ? Why not ? It might not work forever but it'll usually get em over the line.
- the winds can blow offshore for months at a time and when they blow onshore, well , that just makes it offshore somewhere else. It's an island !
- you haven't seen glassy oceanic conditions till you've seen Indonesian sheet glass. It's like an oil slick. And if you're ever near Benoa Harbour that could well be what it is.
- old people are accorded the respect they deserve.
- it's exciting. It's a melting pot of the world. Wide eyed villages from remote Asia, jaded techno princesses from Russia, sleek surfy chicks from Canada , your next door neighbour from Ipswich....it's a party and everyone is invited.
Including YOU. I'll see you there. You can't miss me.
I'll be the sun burnt drunk in a head to toe Bintang ensemble with hair braids and a fresh tattoo of a unicorn across my back . Don't be shy. Come and say hello.