Saya Takut Karang (Im afraid of the reef)...

Woah!!! So I have finally started to settle into my new job - traveller. I am currently in Cimaja, a surfing town outside of Palabuan Ratu (about 4-5 hours south of Jakarta). This is day four, we are cruising through Indo with 3 other people, Michael (Mikey) from Phillip Island, Victoria, Tommo from Wales, and Simon from London - awesome crew hey! Spent a night in Jakarta, then took a Beemo ride to a harbour town called Sumur, where we stayed the night, and then jumped on a fishing boat to Panaitan Island.

Jakarta - woah, how full on is that place. The humidity really sets in the minute you get off the plane. Hahahhaa - went through customs, and bang, here I am walking straight through the final take of a dutch TV commercial - looking flogged from the flight and the humidity. Man Perth was so cold!!! But yes, Jakarta was full on, was only there for about 7 hours, but man, there is so many people everywhere. We tackled one way peak hour traffic in a little tuk tuk thing. That was classic. Walking is always interesting - dangerous too. Crowds kinda scare me, and the shopping centres are big (dangerous - I could have spent my whole savings in the proximity of 1km square - this shopping centre was huge). So was kinda good that we had to go meet Tom back at Paragon (the Hotel) and jump in our Beemo to Sumur.

Beemo Rides - jeezus christ, holy shit balls batman. Hold on. The Indo's drive with no fear. On the wrong side of the road and at speeds you wouldnt even think of into oncoming traffic. Awesome, but scary, sometimes good to not look out the window. But yeah! What a mad ride. 6-7 hours long, but got to see some fantastic scenery. There is so much going on everywhere. Made a stop off in Serang, and got some awesome Mangga Jus (mango juice) - bagus banyak (very good). Then stopped at the local Indo Maret (like our Coles/Woolies) and stocked up on goodies. Man - the best junk food I have ever eaten. I love it. Have decided today to stop eating it. Got to Sumur about 830pm. Found a homestay, and slept. My first sleep in ages. Man it was hot.

Sumur - Interesting little harbour town. Everyone stares at you. But not in a bad way, I started walking around talking to the people in my best broken Indo. They love it. I start telling everyone that my name is Monkey (saya nama Monyet). They love it, and laugh at me so bad, I think they use the term "monyet" like we do when we are calling someone names. Sorta like when Patty goes, "You're a dickhead". So yes, probably not the best idea, but so awesome to see these people smiling. The town has the most beautiful picturesque coastline I have ever seen (well so far). And wow, was so fantastic to jump on a boat. Talk about a rough ride. We had to take sea sick tablets, man, I would have been hurling. The boat ride was sooooo bumpy on the Sunda Strait (I think thats what it is called)!!! But wow. How cool was it rocking into Panaitan Island on this thing. The first thing you see are rocks, and then the coast line, and then One Palm Point. And the surf - no worries guys, I will sit here and take photos!!!!

Panaitan Island - wow what a beautiful place. Its an island of Ujung Kolon National Park (World Heritage Listed). West Java. Home of the infamous One Palm Point surf break. Which is why I was out there. These guys are keen as mustard when it comes to surfing. Man, the wave is so round! So perfect, but its breaking on dry reef, so the guys had to settle for the break next to it (BBQ's), me, I just hung out in the deep water and took photos and videos. I am happy to just cruise on this one - Saya Takut Karang (I am afraid of the reef).

Urban legend says that 7 people live on this island - full tribal styles. So I went and did a bit of exploring. Man, its about a 500m swim/paddle (yeah, I got on the board and paddled to shore). I found a run down surf camp (man freaky as shit - looks like something out of a Rob Zombie movie). Literally, this place looks like everyone just up and left. There are rooms with beds and stuff in them, a dining room, a kitchen. And this freaky hut out the back, we went through the hut and found one room that was locked with a brand new padlock. We went to look through the window of the hut, but the smell was ghastly, so decided to leave whatever was in that room, in that room. Just gonna stick to the coast for now.

There are animals of all sorts on Panaitan, we saw a reindeer, and rumour has it there are panthers on the island. So much marine wild life too, walking along the reef we found this school of fish - I swear there were millions of these little fish. I have never seen this many fish in my life. In the water I saw millions of reef fish, and when we were fishing, Tommo caught a puffer fish (you know the fish that Homer Simpson eats at the Japanese restaurant that you can only eat a certain part of, otherwise you die... yeah it was one of those!!!!). The coral is pretty too, fluro blue and purple. So spun out.

The water at Panaitan is so crystal clear. It is so nice to be sitting out in it. Absolutely beautiful. The reef the surf is breaking on is uninviting and very dry. I am afraid of the reef - Saya Takut Karang.

Aaargh! Money is running out, will write more tomorrow!!!

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Part of trip: Indonesia

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