Rote Island is an Island just of the harbour of KUPANG (West Timor), with the Fast Ferry it makes it so much more accessible… Rote is like Bali was 40 years ago, it is so relaxed, All you do is have to worry about waking up, where you are going to surf and when you are going to go to bed. With meals supplied 3 times a day there is nothing else to do but enjoy this Surfers Paradise. We only just missed out on a good swell, although we still got to surf T-land and Boa. Really fun….The amazing culture of the Rotinese with there horses and crazy styled hats gives this Island its own unique feel to anyone that visits here.
I have heard a lot of different reports of T-land some say it is soft and some say it is a heavy wave… Well it is no way near as hollow as G-land the wave is a more Almond shaped wave.. the way I sum it up is 100% fun fun fun… if the winds get strong enough it can start to barrel, and if not it is a roller coaster ride of up to 400 metres on a good day with nice walls to carve you up an appetite… further around there is BOA, this wave is super…it feels a bit like Canggu in Bali with barrel sections and walls when It is small and hollow crevices when it is over 5 foot…… there is loads of other breaks down there if you want to do some exploring MOOSE is the man to hook you up…
The fishing is amazing we took some rods down to give it a go. To our surprise there was nothing small with GTs chomping at everything… We managed to get 4 nice ones to take back to the camp. Remember to take your own equipment if you want to give it a go (at least 15 kilo line)…we lost about another 10 as our fishing line was way too small…
Rote is for those that like adventure / a real surfari and doesn’t mind not being able to shop or party etc etc etc… The sunsets with the bright reddish skies make you dizzy, not to mention the local brew called ‘SOPPY’. I remember coming back from a surf and couldn’t see anyone around the locals had been scared off or something, then I realized that it was Sunday and that the Island is 99% CHRISTIAN, there is a church down the road that rings it bells at 8am every Sunday. So don’t be disappointed if Breakfast is late…
NEMBRALA is a special place and those that get the opportunity to experience it will be stoked… as I was and will be keen to go back again and again…Truly this is another Unique Surfari in Indo.
See you all up in Indo soon…..
Michael Hill – World Surfaris (Bali)