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OMBAK INDAH LOSMEN
Southern Sumatra
Back-packer style accommodation
designed
for surfers and travelers
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Ombak Indah Losmen is located in a very remote part
of southern Sumatra mainland, an area that has only
recently seen westerns arriving, chasing the great
waves in the area.
English is hardly spoken nor understood and you'll
often be an attraction for the locals, who, while
sometimes are shy, are friendly, helpful and very
curious about strangers. This place is somewhat similar
to how parts of Bali were a few decades ago, surrounded
by a vast coconut plantation.
The losmen is locally designed with high ceilings,
large windows and wide verandas to capture breeze,
keeping you cool in the tropical heat. It is situated
on just under a hectare of beach-front land right
in front of 'Ujung Bocur', the longest and most consistent
wave in the area. In fact, the wave starts from beyond
the southern boundary and continues all the way past
the northern most boundary of the property.
You can watch the waves peel down the point while
you have you breakfast, or lunch. The staff are local
Indonesians, who have a reasonable command of English
and are committed to and well trained in looking after
their guests. The place has a tranquil, laid back
atmosphere, which is reflected in the how the place
is surfed - with a spirit of equality, consideration
and sharing.
There is no TV or DVD player! Just friendly staff,
and guests from all parts of the world. So if you
are not interested in learning how others live, sharing
stories or just relaxing with nature, this place is
not for you.
The losmen is owned by a syndicate of 5 Australian
east coast surfers, known as the 'Big Rock 5'. It
is registered with all the required local Indonesian
authorities and is becoming welcome feature for regional
tourist authorities.
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Rooms
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Ombak Indah accommodates a maximum of 18 guests.
There are 9 twin-share rooms, with fans, all with comfortable
single beds (foam mattresses on firm base), which can
be easily moved together to form a double. There are a couple of double, spring mattresses for couples. Pillows and
linen are provided, as are mosquito nets.
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Bathrooms
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Three of the rooms have internal bathrooms. There are also two shared 'mandi'-style bathrooms,
with western style toilets. They are located just a
couple of metres walk from you room. There is also a well, perfect for the after surf rinse. There is no hot water.
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Dining Room
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Meals are served in a large common dining area overlooking
the yard and reef. Breakfast is served from 7-10am, lunch at 12 midday and dinner around 6pm.
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Power |
There is 240 Volt AC mains electricity, with a backup generator for when the power goes down. You will require an adaptor (2 pin, standard for Asia, pins are round, not rectangular) to connect to the power points to charge your batteries etc. |
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Meals
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Three meals per day are included, along with hot
drinks during meal times. Breakfast alternates between
jaffles, omelettes, fried rice or noodles, toast &
spreads, pancakes and fresh fruit. Lunch
and dinner are local style beef, chicken or fish dishes,
served with vegetables and rice. Spices are toned
down for the western palette, with sambal and kecup
on the side. Servings are generous.
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Shop
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The losmen runs a small shop where guests can purchase
basic necessities at reasonable prices, including: cold
bottled water, beer, soft drinks, various snack food
(chips, biscuits, chocolate etc) soap, toothpaste, mosquito
coils and repellent, batteries and so on.
Surfboard accessories are also available. There is also a local board repair service that can handle anything from minor dings to snapped boards.
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Transport
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Transport (bemos, vans & motor bikes) can be
chartered through the losmen at fixed prices. Just
speak to the manager. For the more adventurous, local
public transport (bemos) runs regularly along the
nearby main road.
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Activities
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The area is perfect for long walks along the beach,
through the coconut plantations and local villages.
There are good breaks in the reef for snorkeling, swimming
and fishing. Further a field is the main town, with
local markets, shops and restaurants. Day trips to other
places of interest (Pulau Pisang; Hot springs at Danau Ranau; Jungle treks etc) can be arranged from the losmen.
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Medical Facilities |
There is a hospital and a couple of fully trained doctors operating their own practices in Krui. All minor ailments, wounds requiring stitching etc can be treated. Anything more serious may require treatment at larger centres in Bandar Lampung, Jakarta or back to your home country which is why travel insurance is MANDATORY. |
Communication |
The area has mobile reception (for all networks) although the signal strength can vary from time to time. International calls can be made from the main town of Krui, about 1/2 hour away by car or bemo.
There is an internet service in Krui, although it is not that reliable. Guests with laptops and modems that connect to their mobile phones should be able to get internet connection, just don't expect broadband speed |
Other Info |
Read What To Bring (260KB PDF file), which has general, essential information about traveling and surfing in Indonesia. |
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