Where to live in Indonesia for surf?

[avillax]

Hello, this is my plan: I want to live in Indonesia for a few months with my girlfriend, she wants to learn to surf and I am an intermediate-level surfer, it is important to mention this because we don't want crazy big waves or hit a reef and get my skull opened.

We just want to live close to the beach or beach front, in a big room or in bungalows, max rent budget is $350/month.

We don't want to live in a place with big-city life problems, crime or crowded/highly local surf points

Needs to be safe, has to have hot water and WI-FI is a must.

I did some research and a place that came out was Seminyak, why? Because apparently they have a long beach with lots of waves and these waves are good and safe for many levels. I found on airbnb a room with double bed and private shower for $330 per month as well as other similarly priced rooms 1 or 2 blocks from the beach.

But I don't know Indonesia, I don't know Seminyak and I don't know what to expect. Any thoughts or town recommendations? I also read that Seminyak is the "expensive" part, so if we could find something cheaper with a good beach break nearby then much better but not ghetto or shitty.

[dtc]

Some of our regulars live in Bali and can probably help out; Seminyak is just near Kuta (and, beachwise, is just part of Kuta Beach but further up) which is hardly an uncrowded place (surf or otherwise). I think asking for somewhere in a country like Indo that is not crowded but safe and good wi fi is a bit inconsistent - good wi fi exists where there are people. And where there are people, then its going to be a bit less safe (not that Indo in general is unsafe, other than Aceh etc).

However, that said, Seminyak is probably a reasonable place given what you want. There is plenty of stuff to do outside of surfing. its a tourist area so isn't cheap cheap, but its cheaper in comparison to Europe etc.

There may be some other areas that people can suggest - maybe Lombok?

[Tudeo]

I think Seminyak is a good choice for what you're looking for. But please understand surfing (for the unexperienced) and especially swimming can be dangerous there too, because of strong rips.
Also for surfing it depends what time of the year you want to be there? In the rainseason (okt-march) the wind is onshore at Seminyak, that's not the best for surfing but reduces the crowdfactor. Also for beginners the waves are still good enough and not so very big most of the time.

Here are some links to facebook groups:
Bali Surfboards Buy And Sell https://www.facebook.com/groups/4819946 ... =bookmarks
Canggu Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/4555040 ... =bookmarks
Bali Crime Reports https://www.facebook.com/groups/balicri ... =bookmarks
Bali expats https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatsb ... =bookmarks

[Big H]

Agreed....I consider Seminyak a more treacherous stretch than the reefs I go to....catching waves sometimes means being offshore 3-400m with strong rips and currents; snapped leash is a possible death sentence if you lose your head. There is a reason that stretch doesn't get a ton of swimmers or beach goes.....heavy beach break and rips that will pull you off your feet and out to sea.

Seminyak is urban-ish....more urban than where I live anyway with a higher proportion of crimes like motorcycle borne robberies, break ins and shabu2 (crystal meth) dealing and related psycho user issues......a far cry from Chicago, New York or DC where I'm from but not the island paradise that I think you have in mind.....that being said I like it because with clear eyes it is a relatively safe area filled with trendy shops, restaurants and clubs....a fun place with lots of good wi fi.

Can't help you too much otherwise.....coming to Indo to surf but having an aversion to reefs is almost like wanting to go surf but not get wet.....lose that stipulation and Sumbawa, Jawa Timur (East Java/ Gland etc) and Sumatra/Nias/Mentawais become options.....closer to home is Lombok and one forum member in particular can clue you in to the scene there......traveling at night in certain areas is sketch there though, but nowhere is perfect.

One thing I will say is that no matter how budgeted you feel, comparatively you are a RICH foreign tourist, and as such are expected to contribute to the economy while you are here......that isn't to say that you need to buy loads of cheap t-shirts when you walk down the street, but you are expected to pay for parking, the lounge chair when you go to the beach and want some shade, even to tip the guy who stops traffic at a busy u-turn for drivers....message is don't be too cheap in your dealings...you will be better served with what amounts to giving rather than holding on to pennies of generosity.

Last bit Tudeo addressed; this is the shoulder season right now, right on the cusp of the rainy season....that stretch of west coast will soon be onshore every day until March....swells will drop and you'll start to have days that are un-surfable which is rare here but happens....just to flat. East coast will get the offshores, but spots there are more difficult, stronger currents, longer paddle outs, are reefs and are fewer than the west so the good spots that fire fill up rather quickly.

[jaffa1949]

You have been given good advice, another thing to consider is VISAs, most stays on visa or from countries where visa are not needed are only for 30 days so 3 months requires a different visa or a flight out to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and then return.
Go the the Indonesian tourist website and check your requirements.

[avillax]

Thanks for your advice, yeah, maybe I can increase my budget a bit more, what do you guys think of Batu Bolong? I was told it is further north, less crowded, and nice waves.

I don't mind the reef too much, I mean, I used to keep live reefs in my aquarium, what I mean is that I don't know how easy is to hit the reef on these beaches, sure if the waves are 10ft then it is probably out of my league, but theoretically, how hard is to hit a reef on a 3-4ft day?

I am planning to get there in Jan 1.

I am intermediate level, I can make cutouts (basic slow ones, peeling the wave up and down) My girlfriend swims well but no surfing experience.

Also I need wi fi but it doesnt have to be super fast, I work as a translator but is not as if I need to download movies or something.

[jaffa1949]

Right in the middle of the rainy season, every little stream and septic tank will be discharging into the sea.
You should be joined by myriad pieces of plastic odditi s too.
The winds with the rainy season are mostly against surfing on the south coast the beaches that work are the east coast ie Nusa Dua, Sanur and others.

If you look at a map ( please do) you will see that Batu Bolong is on the same stretch of coast as Kuta, Seminyak, etc. same surf conditions , which can rapidly change ( no life guards) from benign to life threatening..
There strong rips and currents, both of you will need to be surf safety self sufficient.

There are less crowds but still lots of learning frothers and with the water conditions and blown out surf it won't be the idyll you think it will be, and you still have to do the visa trip thing.
Read the replies from BigH and Tudeo again they live on Bali, you may have a great time or you may be at risk!
Good luck

[dtc]

To be honest, Central America is probably a better option at that time of year and for what you want.

[Tudeo]

I don't know how easy is to hit the reef on these beaches, sure if the waves are 10ft then it is probably out of my league, but theoretically, how hard is to hit a reef on a 3-4ft day?

A big wave breaks over a relatively save depth of water, but a small wave only breaks in the shallows..

Batu bolong is a great wave for intermediates, but the current crowds make it probably the most dangerous surf spot of Bali.

This is a typical Batubolong day:

[Big H]

The sad part about that video is that is typical....it gets more crowded and nuts than that. Good swells tighten things up and keep some of the rabble on the beach, but during the wet season those days will be few and far between.