Written by Mikhail Adam Motala
Photographs by Mikhail Adam Motala

It was Saturday, the 17th of September, which also happened to be my last day in Bali. I didn’t have the heart to say bye to her. She had entrapped me with wholesome food, good vibes, breathtaking vistas and her mysticism. As luck would have it, I received a last minute text from a surfer buddy asking me if I was in for a two day surf shoot? There was a massive swell hitting Lombok Island and everyone was making a run for it so they could ride the massive waves.

For those of you that aren’t familiar, Desert Point is considered one of the top wonders of the surfing world with professionals travelling halfway across the world to experience it. Home to one of the best left hand waves on the planet, it is a spectacle to witness mother nature working her magic as you see 8 ft of crystal clear waves.

I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. On the one hand, I wasn’t ready to leave Bali and on the other I was being offered the equivalent of front row seats to my favourite game and getting asked to capture the action. It was a WIN WIN really and I couldn’t turn it down. I dropped all my plans, packed my bags and jumped into a taxi to Padang Bai port on onwards to Lombok. The journey was tiring, arduous and incredibly long but reaching at the break of dawn and watching the sun rays peeking in made it all worthwhile. To give you a feeler, we took a 2 hour taxi ride, 5 hour ferry ride and 1 hour bike ride before we arrived at our destination.

Lombok island is absolutely beautiful with an otherworldly charm, crystal clear waters, rolling hills, verdant jungles and the stars there are absolutely incredible when you look up at night

Hours later, we arrived at Surfer Paradise. You immediately get the sense that life takes its own unique pace here.Unspoilt isolated surfer village, bamboo huts and Warungs (traditional cafés) right on the beach fringed by coconut palms all around.

Idyllic village island life was definitely something I was longing to experience throughout my Indonesian travels. There it was- my answer to peace and solitude ; a place where i could hear myself think. A far cry from the bustling, chaotic streets of Kuta and Seminyak, with its own unique charm respectively, just a few hours away.

Glimpses of Bali could still been seen with volcano Mount Batur peaking out through the clouds far in the distance as dawn started to set in. Illuminating this island paradise at first light, with its blue azure waters, beautiful yet wild reef
below responsible for this barreling wondrous force of nature known as Desert Point.

Her sheer beauty shouldn’t be taken lightly, her waters are fierce, strong currents and sharp reef,a playground for experienced to advanced Surfers.

We checked into Ati’s accommodation and Warung. Warm welcome from Ati who was a great host. The bamboo huts were rustic but cozy and only a stones throw away from the beach. The place had a comfortable double bed, equipped with all the essentials, mosquito net, outdoor shower and power points for charging your appliances.

Here’s the view from the huts -)

Please note due to power shortages on the island,  electricity is only available after 5pm everyday so you should prepare yourself for this. Cell phone networks are spotty at best and you might want to immerse yourself in the surroundings and leave your phone at home. This is probably the best place in Indonesia for a #digital detox. Allow yourself the time to be present, mindful and forget about your work emails or Instagram feed for a day or (three). I promise it’ll do you a world of good.

With all the scenic beauty and surf action around, you will be far too preoccupied to miss your phone and barrage of whatsapp notifications. For me, it was quite a freeing experience to say the least.

Having literally just arrived we dumped our luggage down, headed straight for the water where the guys got straight into a day of pumping 6-8ft waves with me capturing the action from the shore.
Wave after barreling wave we settle into the day. cooling off with a fresh coconut at the bamboo warungs sheltering from the scorching tropical sun. Its important to stress that you must apply zinc and sufficient sunscreen to protect your body and prevent early ageing.

I was at a loss for words at the sheer beauty of this amazing place. Even pictures can’t do justice to how stunning it is. You have to experience it firsthand.

After an afternoon siesta we hit the water once again.
The late afternoon sun beating down, starting to bathe the island in a warm orange glow just before sundown. As a photographer, I wanted to make the most of the ‘golden hour’ and capture them riding against the glorious sunset.The evening was spent getting to know the other travellers and fellow photographers as we exchanged travel stories, shooting tips and viewing the shots of the day.

My humble but cozy bamboo hut was a welcome sight after a busy day and I was lulled to deep sleep by the crashing waves outside
my door, the best surround sound provided by mother nature.

We woke up at the crack of dawn, 5 am to be precise, to catch the last few waves of the swell before heading back to Bali.Glorious sunrise enveloping the island in a warm glow.
It happened to be low tide, perfect vantage point to shoot, tip toeing across the rock pools,making sure not to disturb the fragile ecosystem. Amazing experience, witnessing the rich sea life among the coral, otherwise not accessible at high tide.
Final shots in the bag, we packed up and said farewell to this amazing place. Back on the bike through the winding coastal roads, passing through fishing village, farms and locals going about their daily lives. Back on the ferry to Bali, making our way to the top deck, hammock setup, riding in style.Sailing passed neighbouring islands on the Lombok straight, a pod of dolphins cruising alongside us at sundown, breathtaking sunset on the horizon, a perfect ending to one incredible surf trip.

One nights stay will set you back a mere 100 00 Rupiah a night, equivalent of just under $8. A delicious traditional meal of Nasi Goreng or Gado-gado is around 25 000 Rupiah (Under $2 )
Plenty of fresh fruit and coconuts around for a few Rupiah.

Verdict:Highly recommended if your looking for that rustic off the beaten track get away. Perfect for surfers and back packers alike. White sandy beaches perfect yoga sessions nearby nature trails. Very affordable trip, which will be in your memory banks for weeks to come until your return.

Wanted to end with a lovely quote about surfing –
“Surfing’s a more profound kind of sport than it looks. When you surf, you learn not to fight the power of nature, even if it gets violent.”
― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

About the author:

Mikhail Adam Motala is a photographer, photo journalist and aspiring travel writer from Cape Town, South Africa

A keen interest in sport and travel photographer, in the last year having captured the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar live in action at Camp Nou Barcelona, surfers Mick Fanning, John
John Florence, Filepe Toledo, Jeffreys Bay South Africa, the closing parties in Ibiza Spain,shooting throughout South East Asia including South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia including the Ultra music festival.
Website: http://www.mikmotala.com/portfolio/
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/MikMotalaPhotography
Instagram: mik_motala