Nihiwatu

These daily updates are starting to turn weekly huh? Nah. It’s back to normal next week.

Today’s post comes from a unique place called Sumba. Sumba is an island within 1 hours flight from Bali, Indonesia. It’s where time has stood still…it’s remote, isolated, where the people are unaffected by the outside world. Some say this is what Bali was like in the 1950s…I still think that’s a stretch.

The Sumbanese are very different to their fellow Indonesians. They’re cowboys…yes, they ride horses, little ones. Oh, and they have swords…everyone male has one. Even the waiter that serves your morning coffee carries a sword. Sumba has many localised dialects, they live in small villages without any modern conveniences e.g.s running water, electricity etc. They are extremely poor people. Disturbingly poor.

Nihiwatu is a well-integrated luxury resort on a remote Sumba beach (Stunning beach with a large rock in the middle – called the ‘Nihiwatu Rock’).  The hotel provides 320 local jobs and it’s founder Claude Graves has started the Sumba Foundation to help these people who have such a hard life. I visited the local villages and can see the good work being executed by the Foundation – mainly focusing on malaria, diet and fresh water. It was impressive – they’re saving lives.

To summarise my week here, it’s kinda like Africa meets Mentawais – safari meets surfing meets 6-star luxury. Nihiwatu’s main attraction is Occy’s Left – a 300 metre super fast left-hander. It’s the main reason why Claude rocked up here and camped on the beach for 4 years before forming the hotel.

We love the place. It’s a unique place to holiday. There is plenty to do outside of surfing and Sumba just blows my mind – so raw. We’ll be back. I will warn you, ultra-luxury surf safari trips do come with a hefty price tag…but it’s worth it. Check it

:: uge