Java, Indonesia Surf & Culture Report: Fever, Barrels, & A Traditional Healer

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for SurfSurf
Local pro surfer Dede going off as per usual.
Local pro surfer Dede going off as per usual.

This was a crazy week for me in West Java.  We had some perfect waves.  Some perfect barrels.  We had some days that were too big and the wave wasn’t working at all.  And I got a vicious tropical fever.  After 3 nights of it I finally went to both a western medicine doctor and had a traditional healer perform cupping on my back.

Praying Mantis outside my room.
Praying Mantis outside my room.

The waves have been solid over all.  Most everyday has been head high to head and a half since my last report.  There were two days where it was simply too big to surf Cimaja (today and last Friday).  Frequent rains have made the water pretty gross.

Miles getting lucky
Miles getting lucky

The forecast is for the waves to get huge again this week.  I’m off to Bali tomorrow, so I won’t see what it does here, but I imagine it’ll be nuts in Bali as well.  I’ll likely take a pass on these monsters.

Screen shot 2014-06-24 at 7.46.11 AM

Javanese public transit
Javanese public transit

JAVA PHOTO TOUR

Cimaja.
Cimaja.
The traditional healer left these marks on my back after the cupping healing session.  I must say, I do feel better.
The traditional healer left these marks on my back after the cupping healing session. I must say, I do feel better.
Dede getting shacked
Dede getting shacked
Reservoir Dogs.
Reservoir Dogs.
My pet frog, Ralph who eats bugs under the light outside my room every night.
My pet frog, Ralph who eats bugs under the light outside my room every night.
The grunge of Java.  Power plant and coal barges.
The grunge of Java. Power plant and coal barges.
People being people.
People being people.
eject
eject

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6 thoughts on “Java, Indonesia Surf & Culture Report: Fever, Barrels, & A Traditional Healer

  1. Love that frog and mantis, and the people dress in
    such brilliant colors! Good idea to hedge your bets
    on the recovery, the ancient practice of cupping has
    to be effective, or it wouldn’t be ancient.

    MB

  2. i went to Loji once when it was to big for the points to work in Cimaja and it was probably the longest left rides I’ve had in Indonesia, but the water was nasty, still worth it!

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