Hey guys!! Thank you for all of your stories/experiences...Due to such a huge volume of feedback on this episode, I can't respond to everyone!! Thanks as always for the support!!
I tried to live in Bali in (I think) 1984. Only lasted 3 months. It was too rural. Now I can't go there without being disgusted... all hail greed! Our true Lord...
The solution of this, is NOT going to Bali, you might not like my comment, but this is the best way to contribute to the problem, there is so many places to surf around the world including some undiscover ones, going there is just pure FOMO, nothing more, do not go there!
This is not accurate! In 2024 the lineups hasn't been equally increasing surfers as the inflow of tourists. Which means that most tourist on average aren't surfers and couldn't care less about the situation in the Bukit. As for the seawall issue, this doesn't have any ties with tourism as such but more with how things work in Indonesia and Bali concerning land/ownership and development. Right now everything and anything can be bought. That seawall project is good for 1 thing and 1 thing only, filling a few pockets high up with money. This doesn't mean that money is the source of all evil! It means that people with low values see a quick way to make a lot of money. Under the disguise of saving the temple which is absolute horseshit! If tomorrow a substantial earthquake were to occur in Bali, that temple is done for! Indonesia is located in so-called the ring of fire which stretch all the way along the pacific up to Japan. No seawall, no reinforcing the cliff will change that! Which means that the motivation to do the project anyway is because of a handful of developers and government officials and local officials with power who all collaborated to make this happen and gain a lot from it. What can we do? Nothing! this is going to happen and it will damage the nature and it will affect the surf! And that's all there is to it. Just like how the people in Tahiti were making noise about the change of the judging tower. This is exactly the same, people complain and the work will be executed and in the end that's it! They want to do a highway along the coast around the island. Well that will destroy 80% of the current surf spots on the island. The people complaining, the surfers cannot help themselves than remain there and just take it on the chin. Buy the properties, and rent and dine at these places and drink at exclusive cliffside clubs. People can't help themselves. They will complain on IG, but they remain in their villa's living the high Bukit life, having issues with fresh water, no worries. Than suck it. The surfer that wants the best wave and stay in a wooden cottage on the beach is a very small percentage of the surfers on the island. close to 1-3% The rest, wants comfort, luxury and all the convenience of the vibrant Uluwatu lifestyle. Than that is what you will get. A highway along the Bukit. But the solution can be easy.. Let's say you want to buy a place in Bali and you value the rice fields and you want to wake up seeing the landscape and the beautiful rice fields. If you value that dearly you will make sure that nobody will be able to buy that land with all those rice fields. It is no doubt a premium but if that's important to you, it's your money. Otherwise you risk that in a matter of months someone will build right in front your view and gone is your idyllic views. This means that if the people value the nature, the waves, the cliffs and what have you, they will make an investment by retaining it and preserve it. And there are some truly wealthy people and surfers. Do they truly value Uluwatu or is it not worth it after all? I'm afraid the latter is the case.
Stephen, you say it yourself. Development. What drives it? Demand. People will not develop unless there is demand resulting in reward, usually financial. What drives the demand in bali? Predominantly tourism, unfortunately. Bali has just been loved to death.
@@stephenwouw8624 much of that is correct. However the shortsightednsess of the government making these horrific decisions means they are missing one vital thing. Bali is a brand. Brands need to be cool or sought after to remain popular. Yes the majority of people now coming into Bali do not surf... but they are attracted by the imagery and allure of surfing - it is what makes Bali special, of course with that dash of culture, beaches, hot weather...but come on there are much prettier and nicer places for a beach holiday, most beaches you cant even swim at in Bali they are too dangerous, not to mention dark sand which are not that popular. Add to that insane traffic, shocking infrastructure and pollution it doesnt make for an easy sell - much nicer places to hang at a beach club. So if surfing culture/backdrop is the allure - what happens if the government over time kill surfing in Bali - well the brand gets massively affected, in a negative way. The cool kids (surfers) no longer choose Bali, which means the mainstream will also start to turn their nose up at it - much the same as they did to Kuta, then to Seminyak and soon Canggu (most "cool kids" who lived or flocked to Canggu have now left and are on the Bukit) - its natural brand progession, especially of flash in the pan brands. Surf culture of Bali is vital. It must be protected and nurtured to ensure the longevity of Bali as tourism brand - if not, you will see this island rot away pretty fast
@@stephenwouw8624IT ALSO SEEMS THAT NO ONE HAS COTTTONED ON TO THE FACT OF THE SO CALL HIGHWAY AROUND THE ISLAND....... IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE FIRST PART OF THE HWY PLAN.....IT WAS ACTUALLY A CIRCUIT AROUND ULUWATU! WHAT WOULD BE THE USE OF THAT.....FOR SO MUCH MONEY? WELL IF YOU SAW THE PLAN FROM ABOVE IT LOOKED ALOT LIKE.......A RACING CIRCUIT. CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE TO BUILD IT.....THEN SUDDENLY....OUT OF NOWHERE...IT BECOMES BALIS ANSWER TO THE RACE TRACK ON LOMBOK..... THE ONE THEY BUILT OVER THE TOP OF A VILLAGE.....GO SEE IT WHEN THERE ISNT ANY RACING....IT HAS DEVESTATED THE VILLAGE. BALI.....WILL BECOME THE NEW DISNEY LAND😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
I surfed ulu some years back, cant remember what year it was, but there was a small hut and two ladies used to make fried rice etc for the surfers ( they would just argue with each other all the time). Was just a tiny track between fences and nothing much there as I can remember. My memory is a bit faded, but I remember my first time there seeing a baracuda fly across a wave face before paddling out, thinking I should wait for someone else to turn up, it was my first surf there. But went out alone anyhow, wasn't very big maybe 5 foot or so. Also remember sitting on my board thinking I wont paddle for this one, and my inexperience there meant I went over the falls whilst still sitting on my board. Now you dont see that very often...........funny I still have a vivid memory of that! Oh and dont think this cant happen anywhere, money is king and developers are doing this everywhere, I'm in oz, and its no different here, great places are disappearing here too, population is the problem and greedy developers too, we haven't seen anything yet, the pace of change is going to be hard to get our heads around it, this is only the beginning of rapid change, imagine the damage by another 50 or 100 years, it will be a nightmare in so many places.
Population or greedy developers? It's just greedy developers. There are swaths of rainforest destroyed daily for cattle in Brazil. If we look globally, the US population doesn't increase that much without immigration. We have kids later in life and less kids. Look at the demographics on this worldwide. The main population increases we see are in Brazil, India, China, Mexico and Africa. Greed is behind everything done in the name of 'good'.
First surfed Ulu in 2012, which is not that long ago at all. Been back a few times and the changes since then to me are massive. Horrible. Nice work Dan 🌊
As someone who rode here in the 70s, when there were literally no buildings on the ENTIRE BUKIT other than the temple, it's hard to imagine how overrun & ruined Bali looks now. I had to actually hunt down friends who were willing to make the trip out there to surf, and we were often the only ones out. Both happy I scored it, and stunned at these images of both the Bukit & Kuta. Tidak Bagus!
Horror Story. Heart breaking. A verse in Don Henley & Glenn Frey's song: "Last Resort" comes to mind, lyric: "call some place paradise, kiss it good bye." Heart wrenching. I'm experiencing it in my hometown of Jacksonville Florida, Lynyrd Skynyrdville I like to think of it as. Florida's feeling like a Giant Apt. complex. I wonder if Gerry Lopez harbors any guilt? Inevitably, someone other than he and Wayne would have opened the flood gates so...
Fui 10x vezes para Bali de 2009 a 2014 , ficava em media 90 dias 3 meses , e vendo todas essas imagens, fiquei impressionado com a especulação imobiliária de luxo ... !!!!
Hi Dan , it makes Phillip island a blessing…. Such an interesting take on uluwatu really enjoyed the back story to the current situation… l was there in 1982 the change is phenomenal for all the wrong reasons… thank you
Uluwatu is my favorite place on earth, the crowds brought dope vibes and new businesses. Plus the big days and low tides are always empty. Thanks for bringing awareness to the environmental crimes going on which the Indonesian government is turning a blind eye to.
The crowds f*ucked up the vibes and the new businesses f*ck up the entire Bukit... At no times, no matter the tide (size does make a difference of course) is Ulu empty...
great doco mate ,i surfed at ulus in 79 with an aussie mate we had g8 waves 4 ta 6 offshore 15 guys out ,,just squeezed into the cave by a hair ,to come in ,surfed cangu also no one there just 2 warungs ,,mades ,and the other chew and spew ,surfed for 3 hours till tide max it out ,,been back many times since and i surf less there now due to crowds and my age so am retired on Lombok for 15 years and living the dream ,my age is certainly getting the best of me aswell ,,cheers Browny
Wow, I was gobsmacked watching your video. I haven't been back to Bali since 1992 and can not recognise anything. I have super 8 video (now digitalized) from 1977, 1980 and 1983 of Bali including Uluwatu. Long walk from the road , past the temple to the cliffs. There was one bamboo hut there at the time. We had to climb down a single piece of bamboo with small cross pieces of bamboo tired on to act as steps which wobbled like crazy while carrying your board down into the cave. Also video of Kuta Beach Rd and Legian Rd (all dirt, no street guttering or footpaths and no street lights) all kerosene lanterns and hot ice in those days. Had a hut right on the beach at Kuta (including breakfast) for a whole month = $19 After watching your video definitely won't be going back again even though I really miss those waves (6-12 people out at best) Not worth ruining those memories.😢
First trip too ulus was 85 man it was a mission my mum and dad dragged me there as a kid spent a lot of time there ,last rip too Bali was 2005 ,I've got pics of late arvo glass off 6 foot race tracks with just me and 3 blokes so many epic sessions so glad I got that cause it's was a real spiritual wave
Glad to have been there in 1995, 1998 and 2002, the change in these 7 years was already horrific. Treasure these memories won’t go back there. To sad what they done.
Great memories surfing Bali pollution is a huge problem. the marine eco system has been in trouble since the eighties really. Great work Dan I enjoy your work
At some point people are going to move on from Bali - It is just way too crowded, and that detracts a lot from the overall experience. Must have been a dream 30-40 years back in time, but it is no longer. Uluwatu also used to be a top spot that commanded respect - Now you see people with no torso hire a "guide" to get pushed into the waves. Indo is just too big and too good to get stuck in there to be honest.
I was there in the mid 90s and you could see then what was to come. As crazy as that is what Deserts and other places look like now that were still fully remote back then is nuts. Nias too.
You don't even have to go back as far. Even 2005-2010, actually even 2012-2015 everything was pretty okay still. Only after 2018 Bali got soooo popular with all the influencers pushing the island over the limits and really f*cking up places like the Bukit which were for a long time super chill and stayed that way even when Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu were already kinda f*cked up. It's also - again - up to the locals, who (understandably) want to make money by e.g. spoling once "expert-only waves" like Ulu when they take even the most clueless wanna-be surfers out to these breaks and push them into waves. There's just no "threshould" anymore for bloody beginners to just leave the good spots to the good surfers. Back in the day on my first trips to Ulu I didn't surf Ulu because I didn't feel I belong there... nowadays people who surf waaaay worse than I back then are now literally taking over the line-up, taking waves off better surfers supported (and protected) by local surf school guides... It's ridiculous.
I first Surfed Ulu in 1978. Surfed so many places on our own by ourselves. For years. All gone now. I stopped going there 20 years ago. Too many people. I still Surf Indo, but places no so popular
I was so lucky when i first went to Ulus in 2007. It was shoulder season in Sept and the first day trip down the swell was small for Bali and it was only waist high with some chest high sets coming through which built up to head high during the afternoon as the tide dropped. Lovely sunny day. Rides were short because of the smaller waves, but there was next to nobody in the water all day and there was zero wind, so it was proper glassy smooth and you got to appreciate the beauty of the water colour and reef because there was no sediment getting kicked up really. A really special day out, will never forget the magic of walking down the steps in the cave entrance to the water 🙂 What a spot. Surfed it another 3 times while out there on different trips with bigger waves, and it can get intimidating and hard to get into a wave cause the standard in the water is really high. But what a place. I ended up going other places as they are much quieter and that means better shot at getting in, and there's loads of other breaks around. Its just Ulus is really long, high quality wave and gets loads of swell because of where it is on the peninsula. Was nowhere near as built up as these images when i went there, only really around the top of the cliff around the steps. Big changes in few years.
Out of the many destinations and places I have surfed, Indo was the one that hooked me so quickly. I absolutely loved it. I still treasure my memories from my 1st solo trip there in Jan-Mar. of 2004, and then went back in August, 2011, with the wife. I was in shock at the differences then already! In early 2004 they were still recovering from the 1st Bali bombing in late 2002, so everything was still remarkably cheap and negotiable for a tourist. Of course, little did I know that the end of 2004 would bring the earthquake and Boxing Day tsunami. 2011 I was amazed at the increase in traffic. But at least almost everyone was now wearing helmets on their bikes/scooters. Cannot imagine what it must be like now with all the development since then.
Went for a 2 week surf vacation. Very beautiful. Had a very good time. But would not go again. Too crowded, crazy traffic. Some agro from local guides protecting the waves for their surf group.
When I was there in 1989 or 1990, Ulu was still rural, still required a long walk. Our board carriers/guides professed that their family was friends with Gerry Lopez and still stored his board. Yeah, the line-up was pretty crowded by then, and Kuta was full of bars and shops, but the peninsula was still rural. The Sanur side had all the big resorts, and some great surf too that was still uncrowded. Breaks my heart to see what it looks like now. Would not go back.
The temple at Uluwatu is one of the most (if not the most) important temples in Bali. The Balinese may very well be concerned about the possibility of it collapsing into the sea. The problem with the lack of transparency and any environmental report is what the impacts may be. Sea walls tend to not be good long term solutions, and often have unintended consequences, such as increased erosion to the sides of the walls. Among questions: who designed the project, and are they experienced coastal engineers? Even in places without bribery, corruption and kickbacks, there are disputes over coastal protection. See what's happening in San Clemente and Del Mar, California. Is Uluwatu to be preserved by cementing it over, or is it special because of the dynamic natural processes that have and will continue to shape it? We are and will be fighting seawalls that threaten beautiful places and surf spots many places.
Yeah it's definitely a tricky issue because of the cultural significance of the temple!! But I guess, there isn't another option to protect it...Thanks for you insights mate :)
@@DanHarmon123 That is the question - is it the best option, the only option, or a bad option? Did they choose the best coastal engineering firm, the best bribe or someone's cousin to design it, or was it even a coastal engineer? After the centuries, is the cliff eroding because of changes in land use or irrigation in the surrounding areas? The Bukit was always one of the driest parts of Bali in the past.
My first big trip into the world was in 1993 and ended with a month in Bali. We rented open air "warungs" from a family who owned the farm above Padang Padang. No other buildings, no electricity (read by oil lamps at night), the only sound was the constant sound of waves breaking. I can't believe what happened to that true paradise.
So sad watching this. First went to Bali in 1980 while in my 20s. Then, you had to walk to Uluwatu down a track from the side of the temple and into the cave down a bamboo ramp. It was the paradise that I'd been told about. Went back in 1993, a family trip after marriage and two boys. It was still a good place to visit and surf then. Went back again in 2004 with a brother and a mate. Even then I was shocked at the amount of development that had occurred in the ten years since I'd last been there. I was thinking about including Bali in a 15 week holiday around SE Asia in 2025. After watching this video, Bali has been crossed off my travel itinerary.
I think that it's the proverbial The Beginning of The End just like almost every project having to do with the development of our pristine coast lines the money spent on the government and these projects will outweigh the environment Again Unfortunately Thanks for sharing as always my friend Be well and Safe travels 👍
Don't think I'll be going back! Spent six weeks, in the late 80s, surfing Ulu (most days in my own). My secret? Off season, September, getting up early, driving out from Kuta before 5am, weaving thru the village morning markets, paddling out as dawn breaks. Thence back to town, surfed out, for second breakfast and sleep.
I lived in Guam in the 70's. Made a Bali surf trip in 79, late May early June. Stayed at Kuta beach for $2.50 a night including breakfast of papaya and tea. Saw Gerry Lopez at Ulu, I was riding one of his Lighting Bolt boards I picked up in Hawaii. It was so exotic then, sad how it changed for the worse.
So, am I understanding this correctly, a long list of short-term tourist visitor commenters who have raved about how good this spot is to anyone who will listen are upset that the country they are going to has built accommodations and visitor services for all the other people whom they urged to go there? A bunch of folks just camping there isn't very environmentally sound either. One can have a sensible conversation about poor environmental studies and planning, but that's not too different from almost any country including the US or Australia. Not a surfer, I visited Uluwatu for the place and the temple, about 25 years ago. Wonderful spot, as are many many others throughout Bali and all of Indonesia. It has always rankled me that hordes of tourists go to Kuta only to complain that it's crowded and overdeveloped. ?? It's popular also to complain about poor environmental stewardship, but I can say from personal experience that if you want it done right, be prepared to put a lot of unpaid time and contributions on the line for 2-5-10 years, and to motivate a lot of collaborators to do the same. If you can't or won't do that, at least don't complain that somebody else couldn't or wouldn't or a government that didn't. All governments throughout the planet are first and foremost responsive to money, it's a lot of work to counter that.
why i haven't been back in almost 20yrs every time i planned a trip id see new video and be like oh hell no . just look at the trash in the cave used to be an adventure just to get down the cave ,, to many other places in the world to surf all of indo , sumatra is way done
The future of the planet is at threat. Not just in Bali. Surf or no surf. I really enjoyed the start of your footage being a surfer from the mid 70's but have never been too Bali but of course saw the surf mags & movies. When is progress to much progress? The day will come when it kills the goose that laid the golden egg. Human greed knows no bounds. Sad but true.
The track to Ulu wasn't through jungle but it wasn't a road either. That end of Bali was dryer than you might expect and mostly grass. The ladder was simply dangerous. We always destroy what we come to enjoy.
I moved to Bali in 2010 and stayed for a good few years. Haven’t been back since 21 during the lockdowns but by all accounts from mates who still live there it’s busier than ever. On all fronts. Apparently the traffic (which was insane years ago) is mind blowing now. Such a shame that instagram or whatever it was that really made it mega popular came around because when I moved over there, although it was far from a secret in 2010, it still had that feeling of there not being that many people there. Dunno, just my two pence worth. Thanks for the vids tho man. I enjoy them
Basically all these places have shat themselves since mid 2000s...even 2nd division destinations like Sri Lanka are touristy zoos these days. In '94 I found an incredible wave in Viet Nam during a cyclone swell - longest left I've ridden, now I see there's like a yacht marina there... Lived in Byron area of Aus for 13 yrs, and all the top spots post ~'07 just got mega crowded with the first sniff of swell... ...move back to NZ after 30 yrs and even here the nice points etc are the same - a half-decent swell, and BAM! every swinging dick is out there...
I spend a bit of time down far south coast NSW. I’m not a surfer but I see amazing waves and very few surfers. For eight months of the it’s largely deserted.
Thanks for this Dan. Great video as always! I'd be very surprised if there isn't more to it than just 'protecting the temple". Watch when the temple falls down. Then magically another development pops up right there. Good luck surfing Ulus on anything above mid tide when that seawall is in place. It will probably be another Madeira situation and all the breaks will be less good and only surfable around low tide. If at all. I would not be at all surprised to find out that there's much more to this than what we have been told so far. As usual it no doubt comes down to money. And greed. People in the govt taking backhanders everywhere. I took Bali off my Wishlist years ago due to the pollution, overcrowding and general chaoticness! Not my idea of a good time.
as a noosa heads grommet in the 70s I watched morning of the Earth on a projector screen at the noosa surf club one evening 72'/73 who knows exactly. I like all the other dudes there , which was all of Noosa's surfing community watched in amazement. right through my highschool years, I always dreamt Indonesia's alluvial farming and rice paddies that I learnt about in geography. My only goal in life was to get there. For my 21st I got a tciket to Bali..me old man forked $450 for one way and I had saved up for the return leg...so by 1987 I got there.hahah I annually for the next 35 years, in amongst trips to other parts of indo, PI, Fiji...count myself lucky to have surfed the places I have with little or no crowds by todays standards.
just returned from Bali after a 10 year hiatus. It's INSANE how much it's changed. Thanks for this video! I've been obsessed with the history of Uluwatu ever since returning, so this video is timely. There's some great home footage videos on RUclips from Uluwatu in the late 1970s. As much as it's changed, it's still so magical. Question, are you from UK or Australia? I can never tell with your accent.
When we travelled to Bali to surf as well as Nias,GLand their were only a handfull of surfers in fact i had Padang Padang to myself,the waves were perfect with easterlies blowing for days,the only thing i knew to really bring which is important was Coral cut cream,tweezers,bandages and alcohol wash,the reason being if you were cut badly there was no medics there and serious wounds would mean you go back to Australia,also Jim Banks a hot surfer surfed many waves on his own all over Bali and his boards he made were fantastic.
A decade in Bali has taught me, for sure there`s commercial interest in it, and you can only wait for the shops, villas etc. to pop up along this road. Tear down a cliff to stabilize it - of course. As if a few steel rods in that crack would have not done the job.... It`s not only Ulus, it`s the whole island, but in the Bukit, it`s a different level of madness. No water, but Nyang Nyang, till Nusa Dua, basically all cliff front is getting build up. Just look at Green Bowl, Pandawa, Gunung Payung, horrible.
Was in Bali last December, traffic terrible, beaches not very clean, lots of plastic floating in water. There were good experiences but they need to sort these issues out.
Human's just don't when to stop. My first trip there was in 1981 we surfed it mostly alone for 4 weeks. Access was through a hefty walk through the jungle and farms The next time was in the 90's and I was horrified at the development. Then I went back one more time in the late nineties and of course it was even worse. I'll never go back. Human's just don't know when...
I feel blessed that I got to experience having to walk into Ulu's the first time I went in 88'. I haven't been to Ulu for years and probably never will after the circus it has become.
One thing about Indonesia is that it doesnt take very long for the jungle to grow over everything. A few months to a year and everything will be back as it was and is. The surf is not the cliff
Never mind an environmental report, how about a geotechnical engineering report! From what I have seen of the photos (I am a civil engineer) there is no way a seawall will do anything to stop the crack growing in the cliff face. In Australia the temple would be closed to the public as it could slide into the ocean without warning. Only in Indo. The impact of a seawall on surf is the least worry. Ulus is a reef break with little in the way of sediment transport in the littoral zone. The effect of the seawall on wave reflection would be similar to the existing cliff face. Can't get over the size of that crack there's no way you'd catch me standing inside that temple.
I can’t see it effecting the break. As long as the construction work does not go to the ocean level on the reef. There are plenty of waves in Bali Ulu is not the only place. I stayed above Ulu back in 2007. I surfed Keramas and all the spots further around the coast. Too crowded in the main tourist strip. But plenty of empty waves around Nusa Dua!
Saying Uluwatu is Infinitely better than the reefs at Kuta is a joke. Airport rights is a 200M+ bowly high performance right hander which is longer then any wave you will get out Uluwatu. The only reason people think Uluwatu is the best is they don’t know any other wave in Bali. Not to mention Kuta Reef when it’s on is twice as good as Uluwatu it’s a perfect 200m left hander high performance wave. I’m not denying Uluwatu is a great wave but those waves at Kuta are super underrated ulus is shifty and every wave is different we’re at Kuta there just perfect waves over and over again.
Agreed, the only thing I never liked about the Kuta reefs was all the rubbish floating in the water. Had a dead dog float past me at airports. Another time I pulled out a piece of plastic wrapper from between my butt cheeks. I don't bother with Bali anymore.
It's not so bad being old, last time I was there just one hut on the top of the cliff and a climb down to the cave. Come back tomorrow if there was more than 10-15 people in the water and happy to pay 5 times the going rate to have some local kid carry your board to and from the main road, and look after your gear all day. Even better when you came back the next day and he's waiting for you with a smile. A miserable 20 bucks for the week made a difference to his life. I cringed when I saw Australians bartering with the locals over a dollar or two. I left my board with a local kid last time I was there, I hope he learned how to surf.
Man sees the beauty. Other man sees a good place for a sea wall 😢 The only thing I can think of is. That the cliff has been a wall like structure. Dropping rocks off for ever. Maybe the sea wall will not be as tragic as every other man made structure by the ocean.😏
Used to love Ulu's before it turned horrible . Walked through a small track to get there. Was awesome. Wouldn't go there now if you paid me thousands ! Same with the Mentawaiis..lived on a fishing boat surfing waves with my mates with no one out. Now the place has surf camps with air conditioning and instagramers. Same with Sumba and Sumbawa .People these days are soft and lacking in any genuine adventurous spirit.
That will ruin the wave and ruin their economy. Oh well. Lesson learned for others thinking of messing with shoreline around their legendary break. I’ve seen several surf spots change or disappear after “improvements”
I started going to Indo/ Bali in the mid 80’s and was just there for the first time since before COVID Yes im wayyyyy older than most anyone I enjoyed seeing y old friends Made Lama etc But I’ll never go back The traffic was horrendous and the waves packed beyond description The corrupt over development ruined it Yes I got waves but Secrrts is secret no More
Sounds a bit fishy ,,,the temple has been there for a thousand years , and now all of sudden they want to interfere with the cliffs ? There could be another reason .
Yeah I mean, I think there has been a crack in the cliff for years that needed a solution. But yes, as you said, definitely more to this story than we think...
Sad. But we should think about what the "surfing community" brings to such places. Bali evolved like that mainly because of surfers. Same for Sumba, Sumbawa, Mentawais, etc. Lombok is following the trend too, like so many places around the globe... People should have boycott modern hotels / houses that were built in Uluwatu surroundings and continue to be glad to stay in wooden warungs. Australians, Americans, Europeans, we destroyed Bali and we still think about the impact on a wave... Since 2000's, cliffs are destroyed for tourists accomodation. If they are now destroyed to preserve sacred temple, I am not sure we can judge them.
You just can't stop people from making money. No spot too sacred, no person worth not stepping on to get "theirs". Oh well, it will all just be memories before long. Sad....but painfully true.
Great upload mate. I laughed when you mentioned a petition….. yeah, that will work. Shame as a seawall may cause a backwash at high tide. Should be ok half to low though.
The wave would have been present before the temple. Just saying. Priorities around the wrong way for an observer, different view from a developer/government contract seeking a pay day.
To be fair, 99.9% of the locals in Bali don't surf, so their priorities are different from travelling surfers. It's in the interest of the Government to protect a historical landmark both for the locals AND for the bulk of tourists that visit the island and don't surf. Let's not forget, surfers are still in the minority when it comes to tourists visiting Bali, and they probably bring in less money due to their penchant for a cheaper way of living. Just looking at it from both perspectives. Peace.
The exact thing that’s happening to Bali is happening to places all over the world, Britain, Canada, Sweden etc. You can’t keep the host countries traditional values while simultaneously catering to the overwhelming amount of foreigners coming in. Host country needs to stand up for their traditions and values and not allow large corporations and government to sell out their home for air bnb investors and restaurants.
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Hey guys!! Thank you for all of your stories/experiences...Due to such a huge volume of feedback on this episode, I can't respond to everyone!! Thanks as always for the support!!
I tried to live in Bali in (I think) 1984. Only lasted 3 months. It was too rural. Now I can't go there without being disgusted... all hail greed! Our true Lord...
No sweat. You did a swell job 🙏🏼
I got to stay in Bali almost two years during the pandemic. It was truly a blessing surfing wise....
I was there too it was empty
The solution of this, is NOT going to Bali, you might not like my comment, but this is the best way to contribute to the problem, there is so many places to surf around the world including some undiscover ones, going there is just pure FOMO, nothing more, do not go there!
This is not accurate! In 2024 the lineups hasn't been equally increasing surfers as the inflow of tourists. Which means that most tourist on average aren't surfers and couldn't care less about the situation in the Bukit.
As for the seawall issue, this doesn't have any ties with tourism as such but more with how things work in Indonesia and Bali concerning land/ownership and development.
Right now everything and anything can be bought. That seawall project is good for 1 thing and 1 thing only, filling a few pockets high up with money. This doesn't mean that money is the source of all evil!
It means that people with low values see a quick way to make a lot of money. Under the disguise of saving the temple which is absolute horseshit!
If tomorrow a substantial earthquake were to occur in Bali, that temple is done for! Indonesia is located in so-called the ring of fire which stretch all the way along the pacific up to Japan.
No seawall, no reinforcing the cliff will change that! Which means that the motivation to do the project anyway is because of a handful of developers and government officials and local officials with power who all collaborated to make this happen and gain a lot from it.
What can we do? Nothing! this is going to happen and it will damage the nature and it will affect the surf! And that's all there is to it.
Just like how the people in Tahiti were making noise about the change of the judging tower. This is exactly the same, people complain and the work will be executed and in the end that's it!
They want to do a highway along the coast around the island. Well that will destroy 80% of the current surf spots on the island.
The people complaining, the surfers cannot help themselves than remain there and just take it on the chin. Buy the properties, and rent and dine at these places and drink at exclusive cliffside clubs. People can't help themselves. They will complain on IG, but they remain in their villa's living the high Bukit life, having issues with fresh water, no worries. Than suck it.
The surfer that wants the best wave and stay in a wooden cottage on the beach is a very small percentage of the surfers on the island. close to 1-3% The rest, wants comfort, luxury and all the convenience of the vibrant Uluwatu lifestyle. Than that is what you will get. A highway along the Bukit.
But the solution can be easy..
Let's say you want to buy a place in Bali and you value the rice fields and you want to wake up seeing the landscape and the beautiful rice fields. If you value that dearly you will make sure that nobody will be able to buy that land with all those rice fields. It is no doubt a premium but if that's important to you, it's your money. Otherwise you risk that in a matter of months someone will build right in front your view and gone is your idyllic views.
This means that if the people value the nature, the waves, the cliffs and what have you, they will make an investment by retaining it and preserve it. And there are some truly wealthy people and surfers. Do they truly value Uluwatu or is it not worth it after all?
I'm afraid the latter is the case.
Stephen, you say it yourself. Development. What drives it? Demand. People will not develop unless there is demand resulting in reward, usually financial. What drives the demand in bali? Predominantly tourism, unfortunately. Bali has just been loved to death.
Thats it mate..when the first building was put there i never went back!
@@stephenwouw8624 much of that is correct. However the shortsightednsess of the government making these horrific decisions means they are missing one vital thing. Bali is a brand. Brands need to be cool or sought after to remain popular.
Yes the majority of people now coming into Bali do not surf... but they are attracted by the imagery and allure of surfing - it is what makes Bali special, of course with that dash of culture, beaches, hot weather...but come on there are much prettier and nicer places for a beach holiday, most beaches you cant even swim at in Bali they are too dangerous, not to mention dark sand which are not that popular. Add to that insane traffic, shocking infrastructure and pollution it doesnt make for an easy sell - much nicer places to hang at a beach club.
So if surfing culture/backdrop is the allure - what happens if the government over time kill surfing in Bali - well the brand gets massively affected, in a negative way. The cool kids (surfers) no longer choose Bali, which means the mainstream will also start to turn their nose up at it - much the same as they did to Kuta, then to Seminyak and soon Canggu (most "cool kids" who lived or flocked to Canggu have now left and are on the Bukit) - its natural brand progession, especially of flash in the pan brands.
Surf culture of Bali is vital. It must be protected and nurtured to ensure the longevity of Bali as tourism brand - if not, you will see this island rot away pretty fast
@@stephenwouw8624IT ALSO SEEMS THAT NO ONE HAS COTTTONED ON TO THE FACT OF THE SO CALL HIGHWAY AROUND THE ISLAND.......
IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE FIRST PART OF THE HWY PLAN.....IT WAS ACTUALLY A CIRCUIT AROUND ULUWATU!
WHAT WOULD BE THE USE OF THAT.....FOR SO MUCH MONEY?
WELL IF YOU SAW THE PLAN FROM ABOVE IT LOOKED ALOT LIKE.......A RACING CIRCUIT.
CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE TO BUILD IT.....THEN SUDDENLY....OUT OF NOWHERE...IT BECOMES BALIS ANSWER TO THE RACE TRACK ON LOMBOK.....
THE ONE THEY BUILT OVER THE TOP OF A VILLAGE.....GO SEE IT WHEN THERE ISNT ANY RACING....IT HAS DEVESTATED THE VILLAGE.
BALI.....WILL BECOME THE NEW DISNEY LAND😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
I surfed ulu some years back, cant remember what year it was, but there was a small hut and two ladies used to make fried rice etc for the surfers ( they would just argue with each other all the time). Was just a tiny track between fences and nothing much there as I can remember. My memory is a bit faded, but I remember my first time there seeing a baracuda fly across a wave face before paddling out, thinking I should wait for someone else to turn up, it was my first surf there. But went out alone anyhow, wasn't very big maybe 5 foot or so. Also remember sitting on my board thinking I wont paddle for this one, and my inexperience there meant I went over the falls whilst still sitting on my board. Now you dont see that very often...........funny I still have a vivid memory of that!
Oh and dont think this cant happen anywhere, money is king and developers are doing this everywhere, I'm in oz, and its no different here, great places are disappearing here too,
population is the problem and greedy developers too, we haven't seen anything yet, the pace of change is going to be hard to get our heads around it, this is only the beginning of rapid change, imagine the damage by another 50 or 100 years, it will be a nightmare in so many places.
Made, Ketut, Wayan, and Inyoman. :)
Population or greedy developers? It's just greedy developers. There are swaths of rainforest destroyed daily for cattle in Brazil. If we look globally, the US population doesn't increase that much without immigration. We have kids later in life and less kids.
Look at the demographics on this worldwide. The main population increases we see are in Brazil, India, China, Mexico and Africa. Greed is behind everything done in the name of 'good'.
First surfed Ulu in 2012, which is not that long ago at all. Been back a few times and the changes since then to me are massive. Horrible. Nice work Dan 🌊
Yeah I've experienced it over a similar timeline. Glad you enjoyed the vid :)
🤙
As someone who rode here in the 70s, when there were literally no buildings on the ENTIRE BUKIT other than the temple, it's hard to imagine how overrun & ruined Bali looks now. I had to actually hunt down friends who were willing to make the trip out there to surf, and we were often the only ones out. Both happy I scored it, and stunned at these images of both the Bukit & Kuta. Tidak Bagus!
Horror Story. Heart breaking. A verse in Don Henley & Glenn Frey's song: "Last Resort" comes to mind, lyric: "call some place paradise, kiss it good bye." Heart wrenching. I'm experiencing it in my hometown of Jacksonville Florida, Lynyrd Skynyrdville I like to think of it as. Florida's feeling like a Giant Apt. complex. I wonder if Gerry Lopez harbors any guilt? Inevitably, someone other than he and Wayne would have opened the flood gates so...
Fui 10x vezes para Bali de 2009 a 2014 , ficava em media 90 dias 3 meses , e vendo todas essas imagens, fiquei impressionado com a especulação imobiliária de luxo ... !!!!
Hi Dan , it makes Phillip island a blessing…. Such an interesting take on uluwatu really enjoyed the back story to the current situation… l was there in 1982 the change is phenomenal for all the wrong reasons… thank you
Uluwatu is my favorite place on earth, the crowds brought dope vibes and new businesses. Plus the big days and low tides are always empty. Thanks for bringing awareness to the environmental crimes going on which the Indonesian government is turning a blind eye to.
The crowds f*ucked up the vibes and the new businesses f*ck up the entire Bukit...
At no times, no matter the tide (size does make a difference of course) is Ulu empty...
great doco mate ,i surfed at ulus in 79 with an aussie mate we had g8 waves 4 ta 6 offshore 15 guys out ,,just squeezed into the cave by a hair ,to come in ,surfed cangu also no one there just 2 warungs ,,mades ,and the other chew and spew ,surfed for 3 hours till tide max it out ,,been back many times since and i surf less there now due to crowds and my age so am retired on Lombok for 15 years and living the dream ,my age is certainly getting the best of me aswell ,,cheers Browny
Surfed there in 89 , just a dirt road to Ulus' and about 4 Warungs don't think i could ever go back it would ruin my memories of the place
I bet it was idyllic back then!!
Wow, I was gobsmacked watching your video. I haven't been back to Bali since 1992 and can not recognise anything. I have super 8 video (now digitalized) from 1977, 1980 and 1983 of Bali including Uluwatu. Long walk from the road , past the temple to the cliffs. There was one bamboo hut there at the time. We had to climb down a single piece of bamboo with small cross pieces of bamboo tired on to act as steps which wobbled like crazy while carrying your board down into the cave. Also video of Kuta Beach Rd and Legian Rd (all dirt, no street guttering or footpaths and no street lights) all kerosene lanterns and hot ice in those days. Had a hut right on the beach at Kuta (including breakfast) for a whole month = $19 After watching your video definitely won't be going back again even though I really miss those waves (6-12 people out at best) Not worth ruining those memories.😢
Cool clip bro .. a sign of the times ... Walked the track back in 1977 ..
First trip too ulus was 85 man it was a mission my mum and dad dragged me there as a kid spent a lot of time there ,last rip too Bali was 2005 ,I've got pics of late arvo glass off 6 foot race tracks with just me and 3 blokes so many epic sessions so glad I got that cause it's was a real spiritual wave
Glad to have been there in 1995, 1998 and 2002, the change in these 7 years was already horrific. Treasure these memories won’t go back there. To sad what they done.
Another world from today. Lucky to surf good Bingin with an aussie pro years ago. Just the two of us in the water.
Great memories surfing Bali pollution is a huge problem.
the marine eco system has been in trouble since the eighties really.
Great work Dan I enjoy your work
Thanks Wendy! Yeah such a shame!!
At some point people are going to move on from Bali - It is just way too crowded, and that detracts a lot from the overall experience.
Must have been a dream 30-40 years back in time, but it is no longer.
Uluwatu also used to be a top spot that commanded respect - Now you see people with no torso hire a "guide" to get pushed into the waves.
Indo is just too big and too good to get stuck in there to be honest.
Yeah totally agree mate, I love Bali and Ulu's as much as anyone, but there are so many places you could go and get way more waves!!
I was there in the mid 90s and you could see then what was to come. As crazy as that is what Deserts and other places look like now that were still fully remote back then is nuts. Nias too.
You don't even have to go back as far.
Even 2005-2010, actually even 2012-2015 everything was pretty okay still.
Only after 2018 Bali got soooo popular with all the influencers pushing the island over the limits and really f*cking up places like the Bukit which were for a long time super chill and stayed that way even when Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu were already kinda f*cked up.
It's also - again - up to the locals, who (understandably) want to make money by e.g. spoling once "expert-only waves" like Ulu when they take even the most clueless wanna-be surfers out to these breaks and push them into waves.
There's just no "threshould" anymore for bloody beginners to just leave the good spots to the good surfers.
Back in the day on my first trips to Ulu I didn't surf Ulu because I didn't feel I belong there... nowadays people who surf waaaay worse than I back then are now literally taking over the line-up, taking waves off better surfers supported (and protected) by local surf school guides... It's ridiculous.
@DanHarmon123 when it's over 6ft most waves are empty including ulus ...true ?
I first Surfed Ulu in 1978. Surfed so many places on our own by ourselves. For years. All gone now. I stopped going there 20 years ago. Too many people. I still Surf Indo, but places no so popular
You are so cool
Nobody cares
@@lw169speak for yourself only
@lw169 you jealous
@@doradosurfcharters man I surfed there in the 60s
I was so lucky when i first went to Ulus in 2007. It was shoulder season in Sept and the first day trip down the swell was small for Bali and it was only waist high with some chest high sets coming through which built up to head high during the afternoon as the tide dropped. Lovely sunny day. Rides were short because of the smaller waves, but there was next to nobody in the water all day and there was zero wind, so it was proper glassy smooth and you got to appreciate the beauty of the water colour and reef because there was no sediment getting kicked up really. A really special day out, will never forget the magic of walking down the steps in the cave entrance to the water 🙂 What a spot. Surfed it another 3 times while out there on different trips with bigger waves, and it can get intimidating and hard to get into a wave cause the standard in the water is really high. But what a place. I ended up going other places as they are much quieter and that means better shot at getting in, and there's loads of other breaks around. Its just Ulus is really long, high quality wave and gets loads of swell because of where it is on the peninsula. Was nowhere near as built up as these images when i went there, only really around the top of the cliff around the steps. Big changes in few years.
Excellent episode! Good job Dan!
Out of the many destinations and places I have surfed, Indo was the one that hooked me so quickly. I absolutely loved it. I still treasure my memories from my 1st solo trip there in Jan-Mar. of 2004, and then went back in August, 2011, with the wife. I was in shock at the differences then already! In early 2004 they were still recovering from the 1st Bali bombing in late 2002, so everything was still remarkably cheap and negotiable for a tourist. Of course, little did I know that the end of 2004 would bring the earthquake and Boxing Day tsunami. 2011 I was amazed at the increase in traffic. But at least almost everyone was now wearing helmets on their bikes/scooters. Cannot imagine what it must be like now with all the development since then.
Went for a 2 week surf vacation. Very beautiful. Had a very good time. But would not go again. Too crowded, crazy traffic. Some agro from local guides protecting the waves for their surf group.
Great breakdown.
Thanks for making this one mate. 🙏🏼
Glad you enjoyed it :))
Great video, cheers Dan!
Thanks Joe!!
Very informative video! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Scott!!
Thank you dan
No problem Steve!!
When I was there in 1989 or 1990, Ulu was still rural, still required a long walk. Our board carriers/guides professed that their family was friends with Gerry Lopez and still stored his board. Yeah, the line-up was pretty crowded by then, and Kuta was full of bars and shops, but the peninsula was still rural. The Sanur side had all the big resorts, and some great surf too that was still uncrowded. Breaks my heart to see what it looks like now. Would not go back.
Great vid! Thanks you!
The temple at Uluwatu is one of the most (if not the most) important temples in Bali. The Balinese may very well be concerned about the possibility of it collapsing into the sea. The problem with the lack of transparency and any environmental report is what the impacts may be. Sea walls tend to not be good long term solutions, and often have unintended consequences, such as increased erosion to the sides of the walls. Among questions: who designed the project, and are they experienced coastal engineers? Even in places without bribery, corruption and kickbacks, there are disputes over coastal protection. See what's happening in San Clemente and Del Mar, California. Is Uluwatu to be preserved by cementing it over, or is it special because of the dynamic natural processes that have and will continue to shape it? We are and will be fighting seawalls that threaten beautiful places and surf spots many places.
Yeah it's definitely a tricky issue because of the cultural significance of the temple!! But I guess, there isn't another option to protect it...Thanks for you insights mate :)
@@DanHarmon123 That is the question - is it the best option, the only option, or a bad option? Did they choose the best coastal engineering firm, the best bribe or someone's cousin to design it, or was it even a coastal engineer? After the centuries, is the cliff eroding because of changes in land use or irrigation in the surrounding areas? The Bukit was always one of the driest parts of Bali in the past.
They don't give a fuck about the temple they all about money and corruption
Quick! To save the temple we must build hotels and night clubs. You sound like the people who lie for Israel
My first big trip into the world was in 1993 and ended with a month in Bali. We rented open air "warungs" from a family who owned the farm above Padang Padang. No other buildings, no electricity (read by oil lamps at night), the only sound was the constant sound of waves breaking. I can't believe what happened to that true paradise.
So sad watching this. First went to Bali in 1980 while in my 20s. Then, you had to walk to Uluwatu down a track from the side of the temple and into the cave down a bamboo ramp. It was the paradise that I'd been told about. Went back in 1993, a family trip after marriage and two boys. It was still a good place to visit and surf then. Went back again in 2004 with a brother and a mate. Even then I was shocked at the amount of development that had occurred in the ten years since I'd last been there. I was thinking about including Bali in a 15 week holiday around SE Asia in 2025. After watching this video, Bali has been crossed off my travel itinerary.
Thanks for sharing mate, I’ll sign the petition, having been born in Bali and lived there in the early 90’s, it’s sad to see it develop in this way.
Great video information ℹ️
Thank you!!
I think that it's the proverbial The Beginning of The End just like almost every project having to do with the development of our pristine coast lines the money spent on the government and these projects will outweigh the environment Again Unfortunately Thanks for sharing as always my friend Be well and Safe travels 👍
Yeah such a shame!! And so many cases of this happening around the world! Thanks as always Michael!!
Well done. Thank you 🤙
Thanks :)
Don't think I'll be going back! Spent six weeks, in the late 80s, surfing Ulu (most days in my own). My secret? Off season, September, getting up early, driving out from Kuta before 5am, weaving thru the village morning markets, paddling out as dawn breaks. Thence back to town, surfed out, for second breakfast and sleep.
I lived in Guam in the 70's. Made a Bali surf trip in 79, late May early June. Stayed at Kuta beach for $2.50 a night including breakfast of papaya and tea. Saw Gerry Lopez at Ulu, I was riding one of his Lighting Bolt boards I picked up in Hawaii. It was so exotic then, sad how it changed for the worse.
So, am I understanding this correctly, a long list of short-term tourist visitor commenters who have raved about how good this spot is to anyone who will listen are upset that the country they are going to has built accommodations and visitor services for all the other people whom they urged to go there? A bunch of folks just camping there isn't very environmentally sound either. One can have a sensible conversation about poor environmental studies and planning, but that's not too different from almost any country including the US or Australia. Not a surfer, I visited Uluwatu for the place and the temple, about 25 years ago. Wonderful spot, as are many many others throughout Bali and all of Indonesia. It has always rankled me that hordes of tourists go to Kuta only to complain that it's crowded and overdeveloped. ?? It's popular also to complain about poor environmental stewardship, but I can say from personal experience that if you want it done right, be prepared to put a lot of unpaid time and contributions on the line for 2-5-10 years, and to motivate a lot of collaborators to do the same. If you can't or won't do that, at least don't complain that somebody else couldn't or wouldn't or a government that didn't. All governments throughout the planet are first and foremost responsive to money, it's a lot of work to counter that.
why i haven't been back in almost 20yrs every time i planned a trip id see new video and be like oh hell no . just look at the trash in the cave used to be an adventure just to get down the cave ,, to many other places in the world to surf all of indo , sumatra is way done
The future of the planet is at threat. Not just in Bali. Surf or no surf. I really enjoyed the start of your footage being a surfer from the mid 70's but have never been too Bali but of course saw the surf mags & movies. When is progress to much progress? The day will come when it kills the goose that laid the golden egg. Human greed knows no bounds. Sad but true.
The track to Ulu wasn't through jungle but it wasn't a road either. That end of Bali was dryer than you might expect and mostly grass. The ladder was simply dangerous.
We always destroy what we come to enjoy.
I moved to Bali in 2010 and stayed for a good few years. Haven’t been back since 21 during the lockdowns but by all accounts from mates who still live there it’s busier than ever. On all fronts. Apparently the traffic (which was insane years ago) is mind blowing now. Such a shame that instagram or whatever it was that really made it mega popular came around because when I moved over there, although it was far from a secret in 2010, it still had that feeling of there not being that many people there. Dunno, just my two pence worth. Thanks for the vids tho man. I enjoy them
I’m glad I’m not the only one to get swept around the bend by that inside current and have to scale the cliff to get back to the road.
Thanks!
Basically all these places have shat themselves since mid 2000s...even 2nd division destinations like Sri Lanka are touristy zoos these days.
In '94 I found an incredible wave in Viet Nam during a cyclone swell - longest left I've ridden, now I see there's like a yacht marina there...
Lived in Byron area of Aus for 13 yrs, and all the top spots post ~'07 just got mega crowded with the first sniff of swell... ...move back to NZ after 30 yrs and even here the nice points etc are the same - a half-decent swell, and BAM! every swinging dick is out there...
Africa is for you then
I spend a bit of time down far south coast NSW. I’m not a surfer but I see amazing waves and very few surfers. For eight months of the it’s largely deserted.
@@patster4040 yes used to go down there back in the day. Super nice. Friend had holiday house by Green Island so sniffed around there over the years
RIP Bali
Another brilliant video mate ?
Thanks Paul :))
Thanks for this Dan. Great video as always! I'd be very surprised if there isn't more to it than just 'protecting the temple". Watch when the temple falls down. Then magically another development pops up right there. Good luck surfing Ulus on anything above mid tide when that seawall is in place. It will probably be another Madeira situation and all the breaks will be less good and only surfable around low tide. If at all. I would not be at all surprised to find out that there's much more to this than what we have been told so far. As usual it no doubt comes down to money. And greed. People in the govt taking backhanders everywhere. I took Bali off my Wishlist years ago due to the pollution, overcrowding and general chaoticness! Not my idea of a good time.
Obviously way more to it mate! That just a disguise for true agenda …💵💵
Glad you enjoyed the video!! And yes, I'm sure there is much more to this story than meets the eye!!
as a noosa heads grommet in the 70s I watched morning of the Earth on a projector screen at the noosa surf club one evening 72'/73 who knows exactly. I like all the other dudes there , which was all of Noosa's surfing community watched in amazement. right through my highschool years, I always dreamt Indonesia's alluvial farming and rice paddies that I learnt about in geography. My only goal in life was to get there. For my 21st I got a tciket to Bali..me old man forked $450 for one way and I had saved up for the return leg...so by 1987 I got there.hahah I annually for the next 35 years, in amongst trips to other parts of indo, PI, Fiji...count myself lucky to have surfed the places I have with little or no crowds by todays standards.
just returned from Bali after a 10 year hiatus. It's INSANE how much it's changed.
Thanks for this video! I've been obsessed with the history of Uluwatu ever since returning, so this video is timely. There's some great home footage videos on RUclips from Uluwatu in the late 1970s.
As much as it's changed, it's still so magical.
Question, are you from UK or Australia? I can never tell with your accent.
He has an English accent. Not sure where he lives. I’m Australian.
Stoked you enjoyed this episode and I'm from England :)
bali is great if u like crowds,pollution and plastic.its gotten so bad in last 20 years.
any naked women running around?
To sad to comment i wish surfing was not popular like in the 70s please everyone take up roller blading😊
Greed and money always takes from nature, never gives. Pray that it doesn't happen to my home break in the Philippines.
When we travelled to Bali to surf as well as Nias,GLand their were only a handfull of surfers in fact i had Padang Padang to myself,the waves were perfect with easterlies blowing for days,the only thing i knew to really bring which is important was Coral cut cream,tweezers,bandages and alcohol wash,the reason being if you were cut badly there was no medics there and serious wounds would mean you go back to Australia,also Jim Banks a hot surfer surfed many waves on his own all over Bali and his boards he made were fantastic.
Bro thanks for sharing this, i see lot of trash on the sand man, so sad. Btw that project will destroy the wave definitely
A decade in Bali has taught me, for sure there`s commercial interest in it, and you can only wait for the shops, villas etc. to pop up along this road.
Tear down a cliff to stabilize it - of course. As if a few steel rods in that crack would have not done the job....
It`s not only Ulus, it`s the whole island, but in the Bukit, it`s a different level of madness. No water, but Nyang Nyang, till Nusa Dua, basically all cliff front is getting build up.
Just look at Green Bowl, Pandawa, Gunung Payung, horrible.
Was in Bali last December, traffic terrible, beaches not very clean, lots of plastic floating in water. There were good experiences but they need to sort these issues out.
glad i surfed it 10 years ago when i did .. seems like there temple is more important then the tourism...
The temple excuse is a lie to develop
Human's just don't when to stop. My first trip there was in 1981 we surfed it mostly alone for 4 weeks. Access was through a hefty walk through the jungle and farms The next time was in the 90's and I was horrified at the development. Then I went back one more time in the late nineties and of course it was even worse. I'll never go back. Human's just don't know when...
I feel blessed that I got to experience having to walk into Ulu's the first time I went in 88'. I haven't been to Ulu for years and probably never will after the circus it has become.
One thing about Indonesia is that it doesnt take very long for the jungle to grow over everything. A few months to a year and everything will be back as it was and is. The surf is not the cliff
i blame the inter web!!! years ago you had to work hard to find places...now its click and gps location,hotel and flight in under a minute!!
Yeah, they’re planning to do the same at Newlyn harbour wall ! the proposed changes to the harbour will destroy a rare novelty wave😮
I was there in 1971.,did surf back in Aus/NZ ,... but did NOT have a board with me & did'nt see any on Kuta then !
Never mind an environmental report, how about a geotechnical engineering report! From what I have seen of the photos (I am a civil engineer) there is no way a seawall will do anything to stop the crack growing in the cliff face. In Australia the temple would be closed to the public as it could slide into the ocean without warning. Only in Indo.
The impact of a seawall on surf is the least worry. Ulus is a reef break with little in the way of sediment transport in the littoral zone. The effect of the seawall on wave reflection would be similar to the existing cliff face. Can't get over the size of that crack there's no way you'd catch me standing inside that temple.
Roll the dice, it may make the wave better
SEAWALL, Like Madeira ;here we go again!
I can’t see it effecting the break. As long as the construction work does not go to the ocean level on the reef. There are plenty of waves in Bali Ulu is not the only place. I stayed above Ulu back in 2007. I surfed Keramas and all the spots further around the coast. Too crowded in the main tourist strip. But plenty of empty waves around Nusa Dua!
Saying Uluwatu is Infinitely better than the reefs at Kuta is a joke.
Airport rights is a 200M+ bowly high performance right hander which is longer then any wave you will get out Uluwatu. The only reason people think Uluwatu is the best is they don’t know any other wave in Bali.
Not to mention Kuta Reef when it’s on is twice as good as Uluwatu it’s a perfect 200m left hander high performance wave.
I’m not denying Uluwatu is a great wave but those waves at Kuta are super underrated ulus is shifty and every wave is different we’re at Kuta there just perfect waves over and over again.
Agreed, the only thing I never liked about the Kuta reefs was all the rubbish floating in the water. Had a dead dog float past me at airports. Another time I pulled out a piece of plastic wrapper from between my butt cheeks.
I don't bother with Bali anymore.
@@cjod33 ye that’s completely fair I think it’s cleansed up a bit more now but can get dirty to be fair.
It's not so bad being old, last time I was there just one hut on the top of the cliff and a climb down to the cave. Come back tomorrow if there was more than 10-15 people in the water and happy to pay 5 times the going rate to have some local kid carry your board to and from the main road, and look after your gear all day. Even better when you came back the next day and he's waiting for you with a smile. A miserable 20 bucks for the week made a difference to his life. I cringed when I saw Australians bartering with the locals over a dollar or two. I left my board with a local kid last time I was there, I hope he learned how to surf.
Man sees the beauty.
Other man sees a good place for a sea wall 😢
The only thing I can think of is. That the cliff has been a wall like structure. Dropping rocks off for ever. Maybe the sea wall will not be as tragic as every other man made structure by the ocean.😏
🖤 Ulu
I surfed there 1992 stayed on the cliffs in a traditional Balinese hut. Full moon had to paddle through the tunnel cave opening…does this exist still?
I read that new excavation is part of the Belt & Road inititive. As opposed to an access road to the Ulu temple🤷♂️
Used to love Ulu's before it turned horrible . Walked through a small track to get there. Was awesome. Wouldn't go there now if you paid me thousands ! Same with the Mentawaiis..lived on a fishing boat surfing waves with my mates with no one out. Now the place has surf camps with air conditioning and instagramers. Same with Sumba and Sumbawa .People these days are soft and lacking in any genuine adventurous spirit.
That cut in the cliff is half way between Ulus and the temple. thats a big gap.
That’s terrible. We are capable putting a halt to the project, just like with Stopping the Toll Highway/Road at Trestles.
All people go to Medewi I think so...Damm!!!
That will ruin the wave and ruin their economy. Oh well. Lesson learned for others thinking of messing with shoreline around their legendary break. I’ve seen several surf spots change or disappear after “improvements”
I started going to Indo/ Bali in the mid 80’s and was just there for the first time since before COVID
Yes im wayyyyy older than most anyone
I enjoyed seeing y old friends
Made Lama etc
But I’ll never go back
The traffic was horrendous and the waves packed beyond description
The corrupt over development ruined it
Yes I got waves but Secrrts is secret no
More
Mate, there is a fraction of sea life left compared to the eighties. The writing on the wall for devastation was late 80"s..
Sounds a bit fishy ,,,the temple has been there for a thousand years , and now all of sudden they want to interfere with the cliffs ?
There could be another reason .
Probably starts with M and ends with oney......
Yeah I mean, I think there has been a crack in the cliff for years that needed a solution. But yes, as you said, definitely more to this story than we think...
@@DanHarmon123 Thanks Dan for the video ,,good summary of the Ulu history.
If you believe that you must have the IQ of an American voter
In the 70's Bali was the end of the Hippy Trail
Sad. But we should think about what the "surfing community" brings to such places.
Bali evolved like that mainly because of surfers. Same for Sumba, Sumbawa, Mentawais, etc. Lombok is following the trend too, like so many places around the globe...
People should have boycott modern hotels / houses that were built in Uluwatu surroundings and continue to be glad to stay in wooden warungs. Australians, Americans, Europeans, we destroyed Bali and we still think about the impact on a wave...
Since 2000's, cliffs are destroyed for tourists accomodation. If they are now destroyed to preserve sacred temple, I am not sure we can judge them.
You just can't stop people from making money. No spot too sacred, no person worth not stepping on to get "theirs". Oh well, it will all just be memories before long. Sad....but painfully true.
Great upload mate.
I laughed when you mentioned a petition….. yeah, that will work. Shame as a seawall may cause a backwash at high tide.
Should be ok half to low though.
Thanks mate!! I mean, petitions can make a difference, but I know what you mean, it does feel out of control!!
"The youngest and first ever" Now there's something.
The crazy part is that Padang Padang is probably a better wave
Unlike Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak etc. at least Ulu region has charm. But for how long? I suppose many will say it's already lost it's charm.
It's lost its charm quite a few years ago. Now it's noisy and busy and filled with wanna-bes just like any other trendy place on the island.
I read surfer mag when it was bi-monthly wishing i could go to some of these places now that i am older i wishing i did
Uluwatu. Indonesian word for "Two in the pink, one in the stink."
That’s immensely sad
Very!!
Nice if you actually showed the waves
Thanks
The wave would have been present before the temple. Just saying. Priorities around the wrong way for an observer, different view from a developer/government contract seeking a pay day.
To be fair, 99.9% of the locals in Bali don't surf, so their priorities are different from travelling surfers. It's in the interest of the Government to protect a historical landmark both for the locals AND for the bulk of tourists that visit the island and don't surf.
Let's not forget, surfers are still in the minority when it comes to tourists visiting Bali, and they probably bring in less money due to their penchant for a cheaper way of living.
Just looking at it from both perspectives. Peace.
To save the temple we must develop a hotel and night club
How do you fund your surf trips?
Hey mate! From RUclips mostly these days but used to do freelance writing and teaching english online :)
So sad 😢. It is the mos absurd project I ever heard.
It's shameful this is happening !
Agreed!
The exact thing that’s happening to Bali is happening to places all over the world, Britain, Canada, Sweden etc.
You can’t keep the host countries traditional values while simultaneously catering to the overwhelming amount of foreigners coming in.
Host country needs to stand up for their traditions and values and not allow large corporations and government to sell out their home for air bnb investors and restaurants.
are the goofy riders more comfortable with Racetracks or it is still pretty tricky?
I'm sure it's easier, but definitely still shallow haha ;)