Balinese coastline is tempting for many surfers from around the world and it's really a matter of the first look at the beaches of Uluwatu to realize the reasons.
There are places reserved only for extreme professionals and these guys really know their shit. Example of one of these spots is Suluban Beach. When talking to locals and asking for directions to get there, we were immediately hearing 'if you wanna do surfing, it's not for beginners' and wow, what a place.
This water knows how to get you high. And how to take you down. But let's get things clear. 50% of the people in PAMI team, meaning Miguel, are surfers. Maybe not on the level to start with Suluban the first day, but definitely to try the beaches of Kuta. And that's what we did one sunny afternoon renting a board from Eddy.
This kind young man spent some time talking to us and gave us a bit of a new perspective on things. Bali seems to be doing quite well thanks to the incredibly strong tourism on the island. That's at least what we had in our minds and for many this was the case. But as wealth of Bali stands mostly on tourism and past two years were completely taken out of the calendar by COVID-19 there are many people suffering from poverty, trying to live day by day, asking for help.
The government is taking regulations down, the country is re-opening and it's slowly getting better. But it will probably take months to get back to the old 'normal'.
Eddy, earning his living renting surf boards, was having a very difficult time. Luckily a group of his Australian friends helped him sending enough money to pay for the rent and make a living. Saying all this he also mentioned that few years ago he tried regular full-time job and told us "It's not a life for me. You work less and you don't have to worry much. You get your salary. But there is always manager screaming, people complaining and here.. I get up with the sunrise, I'm coming to the beach and spend my days here in nature finishing with the sunset. One good wave, a coffee and a cigarette with that view and it pays for all that."
"It's tough life, you need to work every single day, sometimes 12 hours, sometimes more, being worried if you will have enough to eat and always staying strong no matter if you are tired. Some days are good, I give some surf lessons, rent a few boards and when I get back home having 100 000 rupias (6,5 EUR) after buying food that day and paying the governmental fees, it's a good day. Sometimes there are days with no one here. The rainy season we spend cleaning the beach and working together and not getting any money. But at the end there is always someone to help you, you know? That's life."
And let it be a summary.
