NEWSLETTER

Hi, and welcome to the 1st newsletter for 2003.
Pre Season Update
     Due to the downturn in tourism to Indonesia thanks to the Bali bombs, war in Iraq and now SARS, plus the small bombs that went off recently in Jakarta, things are not looking real great for those of us in the business of showing you all the pleasures of surfing in Indonesia.  Anyway, we decided to suss things and get a first hand account of the situation here. In general, things are good, no hassles for westerners, just the usual smiles and "hello misters".
Bali
     My first stop was Bali, I was keen to see first hand how the locals were coping with the aftermath of the bombing and the downturn in tourism.  They're really hurting; tourist numbers are way down on the usual for this time of year.  Not good for the locals, many of whom have either lost their jobs or taken pay cuts, some as much as 50% and many have had to sell hard earned possessions just to survive.  On the face of it the Balinese are still smiling - it's their nature - and they’re handling it but after asking around friends, relatives and expat business people the real story is a bit harder and sadder. There 's a lot of talk from politicians and throughout the tourism and surfing community about the special relationship Australians have had with Bali over the years as one of our most popular holiday destinations.  We can’t just do the talk or go "yeah, yeah! that's right".  Get going and have your usual Bali holiday.  Bali is safe, the waves are waiting and the Balinese really do need your support. Not only will we be showing our solidarity with the good people who deserve and need our support but also we can show our contempt for the lowlife terrorist scum who caused this sadness.We can’t let them instil fear so that we're afraid to do our usual activities.  If we do, they win - Stuff that!!
Written on a wall I saw....12 Oct...2002
                                      Never forget
                                      Never forgive
                                      Never let these scum win
                                      Don't be afraid
                                      Be free!!
Yes, be free from the fear they try to implant in our brains. Whether you're in Bali or back in OZ or wherever, let's start asking where all the cash has gone that was so freely donated to help the victims, all victims, not just the Aussie ones.  What's happening about the burns unit at the hospital, the education fund for the Indo victims children etc. etc.  What about some memorial to the incident?  Six months have passed and apart from the rebuilding of some shops nothing much seems to have happened except, seemingly, neglect.  Just a plain blue corrugated iron fence encloses both sites and the only indication of the tragedy that took place is a weather beaten banner, dangling loose at one end on which people have written messages of sorrow, thoughts, and hopes for the future.  Ask what's going on? 
    While I was up there paying my respects and reliving the events of that night (for those of you who didn’t get the December newsletter, I was in my hotel just a couple of hundred metres from the Sari Club when the bombs went off) a middle-aged Aussie guy approached me asking for some info about the bombing.  He'd expected a memorial of some kind and some explanation of what went down and what's happening now.  His disappointment matched mine and I expect a lot of others as well. I hope Australians can match the talk with action - there's been enough time gone past.  There's plenty of uncrowded waves to be had, so as surfers we can lead the way again.   
Jakarta    dropped dramatically there too, and those brain-dead wankers who planted the bombs at the Garuda domestic area at Jakarta airport and in front of the UN embassy haven’t helped.  I realise that it'll probably change some travel plans but (this isn't bullshit just for business reasons) westerners weren’t targeted and I still believe that the chances of anything happening to you or I are really no worse than being taken out by a wayward semi on the Pacific or Hume highways, or the equivalent in what ever country you're sitting in and reading this. The locals are really pissed off about it too.  Business and street sellers are suffering the same as in Bali.  But the vibe is still good, no dramas for westerners and the people are just as happy as usual to see us, and our wallets coming.  They've had anti-war demos same as elsewhere in the world but it's all directed at the governments, not individual visitors.  The fanatics and wankers are few and far between and way outnumbered by the good and peaceful people.
West Java
     Jakarta, though fun for a day or two is still polluted, crowded and smelly so it was good to get on the road with Andi and head down to the Batu Besar losmen at Genteng. Only 2 guests at the losmen, an Aussie guy and his girl on holiday from their teaching gig at Semarang, so I didn't have to surf alone.  The reef is in good condition and the waves ranged from about 3-5ft while I was there. The losmen staff are ready for guests but worried about the lack of crew arriving.  In Cimaja the situation's same.  Business is so down and there's way to many waves going unridden.  Go there, we all need you and the waves need riding!  
South Sumatra
    Next stop, Ombak Indah losmen in Sumatra.  Situation....empty!  Not since the Timor drama a few years ago have I been the sole occupant of any of the BR5 losmens.  Not another surfer in sight for the first 5 days and then 2 early birds made an appearance and scored a couple of good days before I left.  Waves ranged from about 3' to well overhead on a couple of big closeout days.  We had a couple of onshore days but it's still early yet and they'll be over soon.

     Everything is ready to go, we just need you all to decide to come surfing and not be intimidated by the wankers.  The Bali bombers are in jail and the general feeling among the Indo population is anger at what they did, not anger toward us.  The war in Iraq is pretty much over and things are settling down.  We can't let these shitbag terrorists fill us with fear.  Yeah, we still have SARS but we also have a heap of other sicknesses too and we haven’t let that stop us before.
     Come and get some uncrowded waves while you can.  Don't be controlled by the sensationalist media crap or politicians covering their arses.  Sure we need your business, but so do a lot of other people. And you all need a good holiday!  I'm just telling you how I see it, no bullshit, just the facts, and the facts are that Indo is still good for us surfers.  In 5 weeks the only negatives I encountered was a few jokes about how we're scared and the misconception that the Australian govt. has banned travel to Indonesia - not just a travel warning. 

Winner of FREE Tour
     Congratulations to Matt Klimowicz from Central Coast, NSW, the winner of a Sumatra Land tour.  Matt came to Panaitan Island with us last season and was the luck winner of our "Freeline is 10 years old" competition.
Other News
     Thanks to those of you who expressed interest in the new 'mellow' tour.  This tour is being designed for those of you who don't want to contend with heavy reefs etc, who are just off the beginner thing and who want to relax a bit more, maybe with their wife or girlfriend, surf, have fun, check the culture and do a bit of other stuff.  Plans have been put back a little, but we hope to have everything finalised before next season.
     Same goes for the new version of 'Rubber Time'.  Stu's had to focus more on his day job, but promises it will be ready by Christmas.
     Last newsletter we said we would give you some news on "Freeline's next big step".  Well that big step is that we are now a registered travel agent and can get pretty good deals on flights and travel insurance.  We also have can look after overland tours to Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa, as well as both exclusive and non-exclusive yacht charters between Bali and Timor/Rote (see Bali/Rote Yacht Charters).  Call or email us for more info. 
Next Issue
     Well update you again mid-season or so with news from Indo, including pic's and first hand reports from location in Indo.

 

Well, that's about it for now.

Stu and I don't want to have to surf alone this year, we need a bit of company!

See you in Indo....
                            cheers... Nev & Stuart