Bol at Padang Padang by Jason Childs

INDONESIA means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, Indonesia is simply your best bet of scoring perfect waves. For others, it’s where their mates are going. For others still, it’s simply cheap, warm, exotic and massagey. Whatever your reason to go to Indo, it’s a good one.
In this Indo special issue, we sat down and thought about the Ten Best Indo Waves To Surf Before You Die (p70). Now, OK, before you call bollocks on the list, we had a whole feature on Desert’s and left Greenbush out because, well, we just did. Anyway, of the ten, we had a little check around the office and figured 5 of those spots was an OK effort, less than three is a ‘must try harder’ and six or more is mighty fine work. If you have surfed all ten and have never been in the pay of a surf brand, contact us now for a free subscription/hug.
Meanwhile, team Iberian Peninsula went boating and scored a wicked swell featured in Euro 2012 (p38). Their ship of choice was the King Millenium, and having sailed in her ourselves we can recommend no finer vessel or crew to steer you through those islands. At the opposite end of the spectrum, and the archipelago, is the Bangko Bangko left, also known as Desert Point. Less luxurious and at times more machete-brandishing than a Mentawai boat trip, nevertheless, what a wave. For an in depth take on the background to the ‘World’s Best Left’ check out Kirk Owers’ Just Desert’s piece (p50).
But surfing being surfing, it’s the personal, first hand stories that often ring truest, so we got in touch with a few of Europe’s finest for their take on the Indo trips they made this dry season (p58).From UK’s Reubyn Ash, who been going there since he was 9 years old, to Basque funnymen Kepa and Aritz, as well as varied other seasoned campaigners, we tried to get a personal flavour on what the Indo experience means to each, as well as a few inside tips.
The thing with Indo is it’s as cliché riddled as anything in surfing, and surfers – being essentially walking clichés themselves – love nothing better. From Bintang singlets, to banana massages, you are not the first and certainly will not be the last to indulge. But indulgence is it. Even if you eat rice only, lose two stone and come back with double pterygiums, it’s still indulging in a fantasy – the perfect surf fantasy.
Me, I’ve been a few times, and am looking forward to going back. I have this memory of two dogs who got stuck together after having sex in a restaurant car park near Canggu and couldn’t get away from each other (imagine that!). The male one’s thingy was kinda hooked in and even though they were facing opposite directions and trying to get away, they were still attached. I don’t know why that’s my enduring Indo memory, but it is.
Whether you be on your way, or on your way back – or better yet in a permanent flux between both – we hope this issue inspires you on some level. Because everyone needs more Indo in their lives, even stray dogs.

– P e e W e e