Four Island Special Trip
Mentawi, Tello, Banyak and Nias Islands!
Julian Green of New Zealand, in the action, somewhere in North Sumatra.
The first feeling upon boarding the Indo Jiwa boat was one of anticipation for what the days ahead would bring. From the looks of the website, I had an idea we’d do our share of surfing and also get a chance to “make a difference” in the lives of some of the local people in and around the Nias island archipelago.
Traveling the first night, the boat rocked me right to sleep. I awoke to the brightest blue skies, deepest hue of blue ocean imaginable and big white storm clouds on the horizon. Our group represented Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, U.S., UK, and South Africa. We pulled up to the first wave on the north end of the Mentawaii islands and joined a handful of other surfers on beautiful off-shore 4 to 6 foot waves peeling over the reef. We “surfed our brains out” that day and ate like kings thanks to all the crew working aboard the boat.
HWP - Striking a balance
Knowing Channa, the visionary behind Holidays With Purpose, some locals approached the Indo Jiwa in a dugout canoe. Unfortunately, most boats turn away the locals, not wanting anything to do with them. Channa is known and respected by these locals because of the way he respects and loves them. After all this is their land, their culture, their way of life and the least we could do as visitors is invite them aboard and speak with them… and that’s just what we did. After purchasing some fresh crab from them, we were offered an invitation to their village, which was upriver a short ways away. The following day we all made the trip up to the local village by dingy and dugout canoe. We were blessed by school kids singing songs, locals harvesting cloves (for cigarettes), a percussion performance on still hollowed out logs, a teenager strumming a homemade guitar and kids laughing hysterically upon looking at themselves on back of the digital camera.
Making contact with the locals is only one of the ways that Holidays With Purpose is making a difference. We provided the school with a blackboard and books for the school. After a couple days we made our way up to the Tello Islands and scored some fun rights and lefts with no one around. Channa knows the islands, the winds, the tides, the waves… you name it. He will take you where the conditions are the best. As we motored north one afternoon, we had a “hook-up”. The fishing reel was screaming and Channa was the first to grab it. Minutes later he landed a 15kg wahoo. I think you can guess what we had for dinner.
Anchored off Asu, one of the small islands off Nias, I have a view of one of the most beautiful beaches lined with palms and turquoise colored water. We’ve been here a couple days now working mornings and surfing afternoons. We have just completed a small playground for the kids including a swinging log, monkey bars, a swing set, a zip-line (flying fox), and many wheel barrows of sand. It was all worth it when we saw the expressions on the faces of the kids today that showed up for Coconut kids club. They all laughed and had a blast playing on the new playground. When not chartering the boat for surf trips, Holidays with purpose is busy with the coconut oil factory or construction of fiberglass fishing boats. Both of these provide jobs and income for the locals.
This has been far more than a surf trip. It’s been a way to give back to the locals of these islands that were devastated by earthquakes over the past couple of years. It reminds you how much you have been blessed. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a holiday; surfing and giving back. After all, it is their country.
Mentawi, Tello, Banyak and Nias Islands!
Julian Green of New Zealand, in the action, somewhere in North Sumatra.
Holidays With Purpose. What is it?
Written by Daniel Looman 31/5/07
The first feeling upon boarding the Indo Jiwa boat was one of anticipation for what the days ahead would bring. From the looks of the website, I had an idea we’d do our share of surfing and also get a chance to “make a difference” in the lives of some of the local people in and around the Nias island archipelago.
Traveling the first night, the boat rocked me right to sleep. I awoke to the brightest blue skies, deepest hue of blue ocean imaginable and big white storm clouds on the horizon. Our group represented Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, U.S., UK, and South Africa. We pulled up to the first wave on the north end of the Mentawaii islands and joined a handful of other surfers on beautiful off-shore 4 to 6 foot waves peeling over the reef. We “surfed our brains out” that day and ate like kings thanks to all the crew working aboard the boat.
HWP - Striking a balance
Knowing Channa, the visionary behind Holidays With Purpose, some locals approached the Indo Jiwa in a dugout canoe. Unfortunately, most boats turn away the locals, not wanting anything to do with them. Channa is known and respected by these locals because of the way he respects and loves them. After all this is their land, their culture, their way of life and the least we could do as visitors is invite them aboard and speak with them… and that’s just what we did. After purchasing some fresh crab from them, we were offered an invitation to their village, which was upriver a short ways away. The following day we all made the trip up to the local village by dingy and dugout canoe. We were blessed by school kids singing songs, locals harvesting cloves (for cigarettes), a percussion performance on still hollowed out logs, a teenager strumming a homemade guitar and kids laughing hysterically upon looking at themselves on back of the digital camera.
Making contact with the locals is only one of the ways that Holidays With Purpose is making a difference. We provided the school with a blackboard and books for the school. After a couple days we made our way up to the Tello Islands and scored some fun rights and lefts with no one around. Channa knows the islands, the winds, the tides, the waves… you name it. He will take you where the conditions are the best. As we motored north one afternoon, we had a “hook-up”. The fishing reel was screaming and Channa was the first to grab it. Minutes later he landed a 15kg wahoo. I think you can guess what we had for dinner.
Anchored off Asu, one of the small islands off Nias, I have a view of one of the most beautiful beaches lined with palms and turquoise colored water. We’ve been here a couple days now working mornings and surfing afternoons. We have just completed a small playground for the kids including a swinging log, monkey bars, a swing set, a zip-line (flying fox), and many wheel barrows of sand. It was all worth it when we saw the expressions on the faces of the kids today that showed up for Coconut kids club. They all laughed and had a blast playing on the new playground. When not chartering the boat for surf trips, Holidays with purpose is busy with the coconut oil factory or construction of fiberglass fishing boats. Both of these provide jobs and income for the locals.
This has been far more than a surf trip. It’s been a way to give back to the locals of these islands that were devastated by earthquakes over the past couple of years. It reminds you how much you have been blessed. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a holiday; surfing and giving back. After all, it is their country.