Steve Rossell
The surf scene was full blown in Bali by this time and there was even talk of a road to run along the beach down from Bemo corner to Padma.I bought a diamond ring in Oz and took it with me along with the love of my life to the then sleepy backwater of Nusa Lembongan. 1 night on Bali then a 15 horsepowered outrigger to a remnant of what used to be in previous visits to Bali.Lembongan back then had the villages that farmed the seaweed and the bow of a container ship on the reef that gave name to the right hand break 'Shipwrecks' since washed away by larger storm swells than that I experienced the day I asked my ex wife to marry me. Nusa Lembongan had a cuppla generators and no hotels or tourist industry in fact I was one of only about 7 surfers on the island. Nothing and everything to look at down the beach and headland but a few warungs, fishing boats and folks tending their seaweed at the lower tides. Bliss.3 weeks of splendid laid back living with a view to the volcanoes of Bali and a night sky view devoid of light pollution. The most sophisticated western style meal on offer was tomato and egg jaffle, again bliss. Apart from the local folks our new companions were from France, America, Australia and Japan...yep, I know it sounds like the start of some insipid joke but that was the compliment of tourists on the island at that time, about 18 in total.The surfing was great and as planned the trip was coinciding with a filling moon and the tidal influence on the reefs of Indo, or anywhere, held great promise and I kept mine secret to my intended.Full moon and dawn saw a 6-8ft swell gracing the reefs that us surfer blokes had been waiting for and the tide was still low, starting its run in. So after the surf check I decided that I had a couple of hours to take a chance and went back to our raised thatched hut, dug out the secreted diamond ring and proposed to Louise. She said yes.Well, after a couple of hours of formalities I went surfing in the building swell and with the familiarity of surfing the same spots for weeks and the bravado of a bloke that had just taken a gamble and won on a life course. Bliss. The swell kept building. It was a solid 8-10ft swell with larger sets swinging wide into the channel. The Japanese guys had gone back to the outrigger sometime ago and amongst the yanks and french dudes I was the first to head back to the boat. The swell kept building.By this time waves were washing over and through a reef system similar to the Sanur region and up the beach and into the few warungs that lined it. And then it came.I still don't really know how big the set of swells were but the deep water pass in the reef was swelling up like I couldn't believe. I yelled and gesticulated at the poor ole bloke at the helm of his most precious material possession to head out to sea and pronto. By this stage the locals were lining the beach and trying to buffer the best they could whilst glancing at the drama out on the reef. My new fiancee was probably thinking.....um I'm still not sure what she was thinking.So we're full throttle 5hp heading out to deep water and get over the first giant, the next one looked like it spelled doom. A vertical climb and a massive slap as 2 thirds of the hull of the outrigger landed on the back of the wave as it was feathering and about to unload on previously thought deep water. The captain spun the little outrigger around and raced toward shore. Are you ph#@kin crazy? Was my first thought but then I thought that he was chasing the fat bit of the swell on the back of the wave and ride that part until the wave collapsed and spent the main part of its energy before cruising into the lagoon in relative safety.No such luck. He took us over the edge and onto the face of the breaking wave. Doom.Wipeout, broken boat, broken boards and bones and an almighty effort to get everyone to shore. The boat owner would not leave what was left of his boat and engine, he couldn't swim, despite our efforts to take him but the village had launched a rescue from the back of the island and rescued him from the swell, tide, and currents that were trying to kill him. They succeeded. A much shorter part 2 might follow in the next few days. p.s.I was married to Lou for 28 years and we are still friends.
Steve Rossell
Actually Markit I'm on the ridge line on Raya Sanggingan just near Nuri's and this is my view for the time being. Jasri will be one of my go to places when I get settled and have time of between classes at Cinta Bahasa, I hunted it out in January after being aware of it for many years and the surf there is just about my speed these days and I loved the slow pace. Ubud area will be my base for several months and I spent today looking at some housing prospects in Payogan, Penestanan and Nyuh Kuning. I'm a keen photographer so I'm sure I'll bore folks from time to time with some pics. I've already had to stop taking shots from my viewpoint of the mighty Gunung Agung. Next time I'm up that way I'll give you a shout and maybe even shout you a beer as well.
Markit
Yeah now I see you are looking edgewise and I'm angled differently. [ATTACH]2465.vB[/ATTACH]That wasn't a personal statement either. If you manage to get to the wilds of Karangasem then, by all means, drop by. I may even give up eating Christians and put on some clothes for the event.
