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We awoke to this: a 600m left hand reef point break. There were probably three people surfing, staggered down the point. We had made it, the energy zapping journey had suddenly vanished from our minds. We were in paradise! Photo: @AlexBenaud
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The water was warm, clear and full colorful coral which lay only feet below your fins! Photo: @AlexBenaud
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Hayden twists into another turn as he makes his way down the point. Coming from Noosa Heads (a right hand point on the East Coast of Australia) we don’t get the chance to surf a perfect left hand point all that often. Hours were spent at a time in the water. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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Reef Beachies? Either way Hayden wowed the locals with his impressive boosts and full rotations. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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This wave was just one of those beautiful creations by Mother Nature. Here is Hayden getting experimental despite the shallow and sharp reef that lays beneath. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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The locals. We were greeted with “Hello mister!” at almost every passing, the kids would come up to us and ask for photos and high fives which we gladly gave. The adults were just as friendly, most times whilst i was shooting on the beach they would come up to me, introduce themselves, ask where i was from and simply stand there. They couldn’t speak any english, but they would still appreciate your company and greet you with a smile. Some of the most grateful human beings I have had the privilege of meeting. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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The notorious reef walk. Hayden and I forgot something no one else did: booties. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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All in all, Sumatra was an experience of a lifetime. It was great to experience the rawness of Indonesia and to be hundreds of miles from Western civilization with nothing to do but surf. To the misfortunes we encountered along the way to the friendliest of locals we had the pleasure of meeting, this trip will forever be in our memory. We will be back Sumatra, we will be back. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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No iPhones and fancy gadgets here kids. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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Our friend Andy Schwartz let us in on a few of Sumatra’s secrets. It’s always a relief to see a friendly face from home no matter how far away you are. Here we are paddling out to absolute perfection, a wave which we shared for an hour and a half with no one else out but us three. It’s times like these that make the travel all that more worth it. Andy pulling in, much to the delight of Hayden and myself. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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Not a bad view, hundreds of meters to go. Hayden races past me on yet another wave that leaves his legs burning and a smile from ear to ear. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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A powerful image. This picture, in my opinion, speaks volumes. We often take our Western lifestyle for granted, forgetting the suffering that others have to endure to make simple pleasures possible. These Indonesians would work from dusk till dawn, always waving at us as we strolled past on our way to the surf. Photo: @AlexBenaud
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Local Sumatran. Photo: @AlexBenaud
Sumatra is one of the most beautiful islands in the Indonesian archipelago. Raw, unique, and excluded from the overdeveloped, big business and tourist-driven islands, such as Bali. After a 7 hour layover in Jakarta, coming within minutes of missing our plane to Bandur Lampung, followed by a grueling 6 hour car ride through the rocky terrain of Southern Sumatra, we arrived at our home stay sleep-deprived, starving, sweaty, and extremely excited to surf.
All in all, Sumatra was an experience of a lifetime. It was great to experience the rawness of Indonesia that many people who visit the tourist-rich regions are unable to experience. From the misfortunes we encountered along the way to the friendliest of locals we had the pleasure of meeting, this trip will forever be in our memory. We will be back soon, Sumatra. We will be back soon.
See more of Alex’s photography on Instagram: @alexbenaud.
