OMBAK INDAH LOSMEN
Southern Sumatra

 

Back-packer style accommodation
designed for surfers and travelers

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.

Rooms

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.

Bathrooms

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.

Dining Room

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.

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.

Meals

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.

Shop

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.

Transport

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.

Activities

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.

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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Freeline Indonesian Surf Adventures PO Box 479 Surry Hills NSW 2010 Australia (LTA 2TA4709, ABN 13 418 696 265 )