Category Archives: Indo

It’s time to say goodbye

Image November 22, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

and for some reason you have four (seriously who does this) logs that’s decided to leave the country with you. Well it gets interesting because well people always find it funny to look at western girls especially when they are accompanied by big and heavy surfboards and other junk trying not to run over people or knock down to many signs. We also picked the best time to leave, just at the beginning of the rainy season so there was flooding and landslides to put into the travel plan. Pretty excited that despite the poor odds we reached the airport in normal time (8 hours in the car, ha ha) but now we had like 5 hours or so to kill at the airport and what do you do with your four logs and other junk? Well we decided to leave them just in front of the airport where our driver dropped us of with our new taxi driver (and other random hangarounds) friends while we went for makan and a few rounds of Uno. All good we where right thinking no one would like to take of with our boards in the middle of the city because when we came back a few hours later they where still sitting where we left them. So much for not leaving your bags unattended…

Indo, Java, Surf, Travel, tropical, Vegan Love

When Mandy comes to the village

Image November 8, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

When does a joke get boring? Could it ever happen? Or does it just become more funny the more times you hear it? So yes Mandy is in the village and her name is Mandy. Nice name you might be thinking and you are very right. But yes what Mandy’s parents did not think about is that it’s the same as mandi in indonesian which translates to having a shower or a bath and this is where it becomes oh so funny… I now get to hear this amazing joke 10 times a day. “Mandy – sudah mandi? (translates to Mandy did you shower already)” or “Mandy – belum mandi? (or not yet)” and sometimes it gets really creative like “Hello Miss Shower” 🙂 I think that’s my favorite. And now I have to leave you guys because I’m going for a surf with my friend Miss Shower… I can see you smiling to!

Aduh, Indo, Java, Travel

At the local bengkel

Image August 27, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

You go to the bengkel if you have a flat tire, your bike won’t start or if you just can’t be bothered find the right screw driver. Or maybe you’re just to lazy to look for the screw driver, anyways you get the picture. When you get there the guy working there is busy and asks you to tunggu sebentar, which would translate to wait a while. And then after a while he takes of on his bike and you’re left tunggu sebentaring on your own for quite a while. He then returns just to tell you to keep tunggu sebentar. But now I’m still a westerner who’s always worried about time and efficiency so I ask how long is this tunggu sebentar gonna be? Because I know that this concept of a while can be quite flexible so maybe I should kembali nanti (come back later). But nah I’m lucky I get only two minutes of tunggu, this is a great score and now my war on rust continues but maybe next time I should look for the screw driver?

Aduh, Indo

Who gets to define rest?

Image August 25, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

I’m with this little (actually it’s not so little, it’s filled with fluid and way to big which is the actual issue) annoying inflamed knee sac still. So I’m chatting with Glen this morning and saying I’ve gone back to resting my knee again. And he then suggest that I should rest like properly rest… I don’t get this at first, but it seems like some people, Glen for instance thinks that resting is doing like nothing. My definition of resting is just not surfing with my poor knee but maybe go for a run on the beach or do some yoga. Glen thinks I should just put my leg up and if I have to move I should take the bike and not walk anywhere, like an Indonesian (only tourists would walk in this village, it’s considered strange to walk if you have a motorbike to ride around on by my local friends). So I’m trialing this doing nothing thing because I’m far away from my Balinese doctor with the needle to drain my knee and to be honest it didn’t really help that much the first time. But that could also have to do with my definition of rest.

Friends, Indo, Travel

The day iyabiye_olokun starts to follow you on ig

Image August 14, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

What do you do? You run? You try to hide? You follow back so she won’t cast a spell on you? You get some sage to clear the funky mojo from your lap top/phone? Hello universe what are you trying to tell me? That I should get on the next flight back to Bali or to Island?

Indo, love, Travel

Ready for Merdeka – Independence Day

Image August 12, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

The village has changed, I realized already on my very pleasant (all due to the panda) nine hour bus ride here that in fact the whole island is undergoing a massive face life. I did have quite a lot of spare time to look out the window last week. Everyone is getting in to the festive spirit – flags are going up outside every house, very creative decorations are being crafted my fave being colored water in plastic bags that’s hanging off the trees and bushes. It feels a bit like Xmas back home. So I didn’t want to be late to the party. Say hello to most patriotic c70 in the village (red goes on top btw, otherwise you’d better be in Poland, just saying it’s not like I had to google this).

Indo, Java, love

What I love about Indonesia part 52

Image August 11, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

So you’re on the local bus and there’s not only the usual chickens, suspect looking boxes and coconuts traveling with you but you also end up getting the seat next to a panda. What else can you possibly ask for except for maybe another toilet stop since the last one was more than 4 hours ago, but no I love the bus!

Indo, Surf, Waves

I’m calling this the comeback

Image August 9, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

Almost two months to the date has past since the last time I surfed. Travels and some injuries has kept me away from the ocean for so long I forgot which leg to put the leg rope on. But today I decided to give it a go, the swell is small and there’s not much wind around so I wrapped my poor knee up really nice (so nice I lost feeling in my foot after 15 minutes). I forgot this passion of mine, which is a good thing I guess but man it was so nice to float around again. I could not stop smiling, I have now sore cheeks. There was this sour looking girl on the inside with me, she looked at me like I was some kind of mental case and it was like she forgot to squeeze the lemons in her hair and she ate them all instead (or maybe I just scared her). So I tried to tone my dorky smiling down but it just wouldn’t happen. So see you tomorrow dawn patrol, my good old friend 😉

Indo, love

Granola munching hipster coming at you

Image July 13, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

A few weeks in Sweden is coming to an end, it’s been the warmest summer since forever, no one can remember last time it rained, back in May I heard someone say the other day. It’s been good but lot’s of sitting, eating and all of that. So before I head back to the village I’m making a stop in my fave yoga hipster town. I’m joining my raw vegan yoga holistic ecstatic dancing friends in Ubud next week. Exciting times. you just don’t know what you’ll leave with maybe some new crystals, chakras or just some parasites from the raw food 🙂

Indo, Java, Travel

A visit to Yogya

Image April 27, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

Or Yogyakarta or perhaps Jogja, as the Swedish saying goes “loved child has many names”. She is also known as the cultural and creative center of Java. A University town with lots of funky street art and graffiti. What’s not to love?

Australia, Bali, Indo, Java, Travel

Paradise gone wrong?

Image April 21, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

So I’m on an island just a few kilometers north of Java/Indonesia, white beaches and swimming pool like water. And yes I know we have a problem with plastic. Like I’ve seen the pictures of the plastic island floating around my social media many times. But I guess it’s like a difference to know and to see for ourselves. This makes it so more real. So I went on a snorkeling trip and ended up just collecting plastic from the ocean instead. So much plastic floating around and then look the other way – the most amazing ocean, corals and animal life. I feel so sad – where did we go so wrong? What can I do to help? This is my favorite playground, I spend so much time in the ocean and I am so extremely grateful for it. So from now I will try even harder to be a responsible traveler and eliminate the plastic I buy and use. But what more can I do? I mean there’s so many things gone wrong that need to change, like when I finish my snorkel my guide who also collected many many plastics hands me a single use tiny plastic water with a straw to drink 🙁 And on the pic above it’s batteries that I found sitting on the coral, and I couldn’t even get them all because some where jammed in the coral, seriously – what the fuck 🙁

Easter, Indo, Ocean

Sunrise magic part 54

Image April 7, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

It was so bright when I woke up today and I couldn’t figure out why. Maybe the first light is just earlier and earlier I thought. Then I paddled around the corner and looked back at the full moon sitting high up shining so bright. Small pieces of nature, 10/10 and won’t cost anything. Happy me, today will be a good day 😉

Indo, love, Surf, Travel, Waves

I wish I knew then what I know now

Image March 28, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

It’s like a distant dream those months I spent in the village. I arrived on a Wednesday morning, it’s trickling rain and I feel I’m in a ghost town. There is no one around, nothing is open and I’m probably really hungry. Everyone is sleeping and I walk around ‘town’, seriously town is maybe just a street or two if you feel generous. I had no idea what was coming for me back then, what this sleepy village had in store for me, the lessons to learn and the love and kindness waiting to hit me straight in the heart.

Indo, love, Travel

Leaving to arrive somewhere else

Image March 28, 2018 Sara Leave a comment

Hello hello to you little forgotten blog, I think I got stuck somewhere in transit between one destination and the other. Then there was a reminder the other night that sometimes it’s nice to share so let’s see. I started this year off so so nice, I keep forgetting how blessed I am. So I finally ran out of excuses (no full time job commitments or lack of time) to sit Vipassana so pretty much the first thing I did this year was to spend 10 days in silence. Away from social media, my iPhone, internet, news, books all of it was traded for 10 days of disciplined meditation practice. The hardest work I’ve ever put into anything but in return a very powerful experience. I’m mind blown by this practice and tradition, so beautiful. I always did my best to hide from meditation I guess just being to lazy to make an effort but this course made a huge change.

Bali, Indo, Surf, Videos

The daily grind from Indonesia

Video August 30, 2017 Sara Leave a comment

Changing continents and changing life (or at least life style). So easy to get into the groove of just surfing, eating, some sleep, and then all over again! Local boys did this cute edit the other day 🙂 Two more months of this is on the agenda!

Indo, Sydney, Travel

60 Days in Indo – Tourist Visa – How to

Image August 10, 2017 Sara Leave a comment

Hello hello, next week I’m off to my favorite surf destination once again, and this time I decided to apply for a 60 day visa with the Indonesian Embassy in Sydney before I left to save me at least one painful visa extension. Most travelers are eligible for a 30 day visa on arrival which is free and non extendable upon arrival. If you feel like you might stay a bit longer it might be worth applying for the 60 day visa before leaving. Here is what you need to know.

You need to print and fill out the application and attach a photo of yourself. Then take your application together with your passport, a printed itinerary (including return ticket), recent bank statement and if needed proof of Australian residency and make the trip to the embassy in Maroubra (if you’re in Sydney) between 10 – 12 AM to hand in your application over the counter and you pay the $70 fee via EFTPOS. To easy they tell you to come back 3 days later after 2 PM and pick up the passport with your new 60 day visa and you have 90 days to enter Indonesia. Let’s go surfing 🙂

Easter, Indo, Java, love

Indo <3 love - Part 389

Image April 30, 2017 Sara Leave a comment

I always come back it’s way to good not to. Easter holidays this time, I’ve surfed so much the last two weeks. It’s been so good I’m grateful for all the waves, sunrises, creativity, laughs, the people, new and old friends. Surfing in torrential rain and heavy thunderstorms. Waking up in the middle of the night by a shaking earth. Being so close to nature. The rhythm of live. Practicing yoga on my porch in the tropics, body and muscles so warm. Aduh! Thank you universe! Landed back in Sydney this morning feeling I’m in a bubble.

Indo, Java, Ocean, photo

Peace, Love & Nasi Goreng

Video November 19, 2016 Sara Leave a comment

Aduh! I’ve been dawn patrolling my local beach lots lately but always in my heart I miss this one 🙂

Bali, Friends, Indo, Travel

A tribute to you – solo female traveler

Image December 11, 2015 Sara Leave a comment

So my last two months or so on the road was on my own. I always think that I’d rather travel on my own than not at all so I guess for me the choice has always been easy. And I’ve done it so many times now. I have friends spread out everywhere and alone is never really alone. But some people you meet has this misconception of solo travelers like the German guys telling me “oh you travel alone you must read so many books” or “but you must know someone there (when I talk about where I’m going next)”. Well I read because I like it no matter if I’m on my own or not. Alone does not equal lonely. I’m lucky because I don’t mind my own company but you meet people all the time when you travel. You don’t have to sit on your own reading unless you want to and you can go somewhere you don’t know people because everyone wants to be your friend.

It’s also nice to be your own person, don’t get me wrong I love traveling with Pax or with friends. It’s amazing to have someone to share all those moments with or to have someone just keep an eye on your bag when you have to go to the toilet at that busy train station. But traveling solo makes you step out of that comfort zone more and people treat you differently to. Suddenly you’re not just 50% of that couple or one of those European girls or whatever your crew happens to be. You get to be 100% yourself and all those connections you make are yours. And the last two months I’ve made a lot of those and I’m so stoked about it, especially all the cool solo female travelers that’s come my way and I know we’ll share travels together again. Lots of love 🙂

Friends, Indo, Java, Surf, Travel

Girls surf trip to the jungle

Image November 4, 2015 Sara Leave a comment

I’m back in Indonesia (oh ja again) and last week me and this super awesome fantastic cool crew went for a surf trip to the jungle. Three girls, one rasta man, tropical waters, empty reef breaks, fun peeling waves with just us on it, camping in the jungle, trips to magic caves, nasi gorengs, mangoes and bloody white coffee. I’m so happy and all surfed out but ready to go back again ha ha. I’ve had the time of my life 🙂 Thank you Ulrikke, Silke and Maruf, you’re all legends let’s do it all again soon!