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Welcome back to The Wanderlover Podcast. We’re recording this episode from Batukaras Indonesia, a little surfing paradise in West Java, Indonesia.
Today is also the five year anniversary of when I quit my corporate job, and wow, how much my life has changed in the past five years!
Where would you be today if you started five years ago? And where would you be in five years if you started today?
When I handed in my letter of resignation in pursuit of a location-independent lifestyle, never would I have imagined that I would be recording episodes for thousands of listeners in this remote part of the world.
All I’m doing is surfing every day. I didn’t even know Batukaras existed until last year, and here we are.
Where is Batukaras?
Batukaras, or Batu Karas, is a small fishing village near Pangandaran in West Java, Indonesia.
When I first tell people I’m in Indonesia, they automatically assume Bali. Batu Karas is not on the island of Bali. It is on the south coast of the island of Java.
We flew into Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, which is also located on Java but on the north coast. We then took an 11 hour car transfer to Batukaras.
It’s pretty hard to get to and that’s probably why there aren’t as many tourists as Bali. Personally, that’s why I’m falling in love with it more and more each day!
How to Get to Batu Karas?
- Fly to Jakarta Airport (CGK) or Bandung Airport (BDO).
- Organize a car transfer with your accommodation (8-11 hours from Jakarta depending on traffic, around 5-6 hours from Bandung)
- The other option is to book a Susi Air flight from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Pangandaran (CJN). These fill up quickly and don’t run every day so you have to text them for availability on WhatsApp.
- You cannot take longboards on this flight so you must organize a transfer for your boards from the airport, or get your boards shipped from within Indonesia (like from Bali) using J&T.
Batu Karas Surf
Batukaras is the perfect destination for longboarders and beginner surfers looking to improve their skills.
Last year, I met a professional longboarder named Tedi in Bali. He is originally from Batukaras and I told him how one of my goals is to be able to hang 10 on a surfboard.
Hanging 10 is when you cross step your way up to the front of your board while riding the wave. When you have five toes perched over the front of your board, that’s called a hang 5.
And when you have both feet perched on the nose, that’s called a hang 10
He basically said if I visited Batukaras, I will be able to hang 10, and so I made it happen and here I am.
Vision Board Goals
On my vision board this year, I have hanging 10 on it.
Which means I needed to go where the waves are the best, where I’m surrounded by other surfers, and that is how you reach your goals.
I’m always talking about finding your community, surrounding yourself with the people who are doing what you want to do.
If you want to be a photographer, hang out with professional photographers.
If you want to be a photographer, you don’t want to be hanging out with people in Corporate right?
Their habits are different, their mindsets are different. It’s such a powerful thing when you’re surrounded by like-minded people.
I’m at a point in my life after a few years of full-time travel where my priorities are surf and clients. My top two priorities.
Because of that, I’m really able to pinpoint where in the world there are good waves and where there’s fast internet so that I can work with my clients and grow my business. I am so focused on the goal that I am basing myself here until I can hang 10 on a longboard.
Find Your Passions
Surfing is such a big part of my life and I only started three years ago. It’s so fulfilling watching yourself grow in something outside of your business and dedicating time and energy and money to your passion.
If you are an online business owner, I really encourage you to step away.
Find something you love and immerse yourself in it. Find something where you’re losing track of time so that you’re not constantly in your business.
If you don’t know what that is yet, be open to all the new possibilities and opportunities that come your way.
I want to paint a picture of my life here, how I found the place I’m currently staying at, and give you some tips of if you’re planning long-term travel, what you should expect and how you can structure your day.
Day In The Life
Every morning I will wake up around 5:30 AM to surf.
There are 2 waves here:
- Batukaras Beach Break (Pantai Batukaras): soft, mellow, sand bottom, right hander, for beginners and intermediates
- Reef Break: fast, reef bottom, for intermediate and advanced surfers
Twice a week, I will have lessons, so I invest in a local surf coach. His name is Deni, and he is absolutely incredible. One of the best longboarders in Indonesia, and in the world. I always love learning from the best.
The locals here are amongst like the friendliest locals. I know I’ve been here two weeks and I already know so many of them they’re so inviting. They’re always smiling.
And a lot of them surf, which I absolutely love because it’s just really cool getting perspective into how they structure their days. Every single time you go out for a surf, they’re surfing.
Of course, they’re also good at it because they dedicate so many hours to it.
It just goes to show, the more you do something, the better you get.
So after I go surf, I come back to eat a buffet-style breakfast with Nasi Goreng, which is local fried rice. There’s fast internet. And I also bought a data package from the local sell shop.
I schedule my coaching calls with clients Tuesdays through Thursdays, because there is an 11 hour time difference between where I am to Eastern time.
If I am not on calls, sometimes I’ll grab a lunch at House of Sawah.
It is this beautiful restaurant and accommodation in the middle of rice patties, and they have really nice coffee. They have really good Western style dishes, as well as Indonesian dishes.
Sometimes I’ll surf again in the afternoon, or I will work. There’s always something to be done in business. Whether that’s creating content, scaling your business, talking to contractors, making sure everything is going smoothly with my team.
There’s just always something to do. And I have all the time in the world to do it. It just feels so aligned this life that I am living right now. The people I’m meeting such amazing longboard girls, traveling the world, working online.
Last but not least, to end the day, I’ll have dinner either with friends or if I’m working at night, I will order delivery straight to my hotel room.
I sleep for at least eight hours every single night, so I go to sleep really early.
I make sure all my work is done during the day. This is ideal. If someone asks me, you know, how is life?
I don’t fake it and say, it’s great. It is actually great. It is perfect. And I am thriving.
I hope you guys can feel how energized I really am. I hope you feel it because this is an energy that’s going to inspire you to take different actions with your life.
You never know how much better your life can get. You never know at all, and don’t think you know it all.
Your 24 hours can be designed exactly the way you want it.
Best Time of Year to Travel to Batukaras
As with much of Indonesia, Batukaras has two seasons, rainy season (December – March) and dry season (April – November). There are waves year round.
Rainy Season: Batukaras is great during rainy season because this is when the reef break is working. You will be able to surf all day (reef when the tide is high and the beach break when the tide is low).
Dry Season: During the dry season, only the beach break is working. This time of year is perfect if you are just learning, or if you prefer a mellower break.
The only time of year I would NOT recommend visiting is July, when the blue bottle jellyfish are in the water and you risk getting stung.
Batukaras Accommodation
Here are the places I’ve personally stayed at in Batukaras and recommend:
Villa Monyet – Located right in front of the Reef Break, Villa Monyet is where I stayed for 7 days when I first arrived. It’s a super social place where you’re guaranteed to make new friends over nasi liwet (fish BBQ) and surf days!
JavaCove – JavaCove is located right in front of the beach break and I stayed for a few nights in between accommodations. The location is hard to beat, but I wouldn’t stay for longer than a few nights.
House of Sawah – Hands down the best vibes in Batukaras. I came here almost every day to hang out and cowork! They regularly host events alongside the surf community, and the owners are amazing!
Hideaway Batukaras – Hideaway is the MOST comfortable in my opinion for monthly stays. I wanted an office space, fast internet, proximity to the beach, hot water, and air conditioning.
Sunrise Resort Batukaras – The oceanview room with a balcony at Sunrise Resort is where I would stay long term if I was traveling by myself and not with Ragz. The room is super modern, really well decorated with Bohemian furniture, huge bathroom with a bathtub. Breakfast is included.
Where to Eat in Batukaras
Warung Soto Bu Engkar – Best local spot for breakfast and lunch with beautiful river views. I recommend their lengko ayam (chicken soup with pressed rice) and a telur asin (salted duck egg).
HangFive Coffee & Surf – The BEST coffee right in front of the beach break by local longboarding star Dean Permana. They also have yummy smoothie bowls and it’s such a chill place to hang out.
Kedai Mini Resto – This is my go-to dinner spot for Western style food. They have specials every night and their staff is lovely!
Dapoer Kampung – A secret spot located a little out of town in a garden, owned by a French local duo. Make sure to get here early as their kitchen can get backed up!
Tips for Your First Time in Batukaras
- Blue bottle (jellyfish) season is June-August, when the waters are full of floating stinging jellyfish. Getting stung by these things HURT as their tentacles wrap all over you. Be wary surfing during these months, although my experience wasn’t too bad and I only got stung once. Pack long sleeves and pants if you plan to surf during this season!
- Shipping your longboard is possible within Indonesia so you don’t have to travel with it. It’s very affordable and can be delivered to your accommodation. I used J&T and got mine sent from Bali to Villa Monyet.
- As Batukaras practices Islam and most people are Muslim, you will hear mosques a few times a day. Be wary if you are a light sleeper when booking accommodation.
- Fast internet can be found in select hotels and accommodation, just make sure to ask in advance. Another option is to top up your Telkomsel SIM card and hotspot from there.
- Get travel insurance: It’s always a good idea to get travel insurance if you’re planning to visit surf destinations. Read my SafetyWing Review.
What to do next:
- Buy an eSIM card so you are immediately connected as soon as you land! Read Holafly eSIM review.
- Book flights to Jakarta!
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much if you could leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This helps us spread The Wanderlover mission to those who need a dose of inspiration today.
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