Acid Burst Colors in Bali and Philippines

Overhead slabs and a jagged reef covered by less water than a backyard kiddie pool would mean a hospital visit for most surfers in Bali, but Mega Semadhi makes one of the island's most dangerous waves look fun. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Pacific light show at the Cloud 9 pier in Siargao. Photo: Tommy Schultz

How many times a year does Padang Padang break at sunset at low tide on a big swell? Agus 'Dag' could probably tell you, but you'll have to wait until he gets out of the green room to ask him. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Is Indonesia about to take the top spot on the pro surf tour? If the talents of Bali locals like Agus 'Dag' are any indicator, it's just a matter of time. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Agus 'Dag' shows why growing up surfing a wave like Bingin in Bali has its advantages. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Getting around Indonesia's roads with a surf board usually means using a motorbike. Whoever came up with the idea of welding a makeshift rack to the frame of a Honda Vario probably should have put a patent on it, but by now it's definitely far, far, too late. Photo: Tommy Schultz

They say that traditional dancing has influenced the style of the Balinese surfers. Unfortunately that doesn't explain where Mega Semadhi got his break dancing skeels. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Late afternoon light on the back of a Bukit wave in Bali gives off a magical greenish glow. And if you look carefully, you might find one of the local magicians like Agus 'Dag' spending some time in one of the island's legendary 'green rooms'. Photo: Tommy Schultz

With perfect exposure to the Indian Ocean's most consistent groudswell, Uluwatu in Bali is tough to beat for finding the island's best waves on any given day. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Bingin Beach in Bali is one of the island's most consistent barrels. All that consistency means it's also home to one of its most persistent crowds. Still, with a bit of luck and some respect for the locals you might get one like this all to yourself. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Shooting an over-under surf shot like this one with Bingin local Teko comes down to being lucky with the camera shutter. But don't they say it's better to be lucky than good? Photo: Tommy Schultz

Skip the sunset mojito's with Bali's white linen crowd and get over to the Bukit to catch the best light of the day shining through a wall of Indian Ocean perfection like this one that Nyoman 'Blacky' caught at Bingin. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Eddy 'Bagus' starts off his Saturday morning right with this perfect blue sloper in the Bali Bukit. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Spend enough time in the green room (instead of the board room) and you might have an afternoon like this at Padang Padang in Bali. Just ask Mega Semadhi, he's the chairman of the board.Photo: Tommy Schultz

Most visitors to Bali watch the Uluwatu sunset from the top of the temple's cliffs while mischievous monkeys snatch their designer sunglasses and hold them for ransom in exchange for a handfull of peanuts. Far better to take a walk at low tide around Suluban Beach and catch the last light fading below the Indian Ocean horizon reflected in the glassy tide pools. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Visit any of Bali's famous surf spots and you'll find the next generation of Indonesian surfers sharpening their skills. Photo: Tommy Schultz

The bamboo outriggers on a Filipino 'bangka' boat may have been designed for stability, but they're also pretty handy for carrying surf boards around a place like Siargao. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Nobody knows the finer details of Bali's Bingin barrel as well as standout local Agus Sumertayasa. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Air dropping the barrel section of Padang Padang ain't easy, but don't say that to Bali standout Mega Semadhi. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Uluwatu doesn't look like this every day, but when it does you better be ready to drop everything and get over there--you might catch Bukit local Johnny pulling in to a heavy one. Photo: Tommy Schultz

The VW bus may be the iconic surf mobile in California, but the VW 'Thing' takes the prize in Indonesia. Bali longboarder Anders takes a shortcut through some Canggu rice terraces to catch a sunset wave. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Bali's Kuta Beach is where surfing first started on the island, but if you want to beat the high-season crowds you have to get off the beaten track. Eddie 'Bagus', Steve, and Cissy have their choice of an empty lineup and an open Indian Ocean horizon. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Cloud 9 in Siargao might have been named after a marshmallow and chocolate candy bar, but there's nothing tasty about its new nickname 'Crowd 9'. When the rest of the island is sleeping off a few too many San Miguel's, you could be catching a Pacific sunrise (and uncrowded waves) like this guy heading out the pier at dawn. Photo: Tommy Schultz

Did you know sound travels twice as fast underwater as it does at the surface? Guess that must mean that a mermaid on the other side of Sumatra is hearing that 'YEEEEEW!' from Bali's Agus 'Fletch' at Bingin Beach. Photo: Tommy Schultz