holly: Hey Amigas, I'm Holly Beck, founder of Surf with Amigas Women's Surf Coaching Retreats. Back in 2010, I retired from professional surfing and started hosting retreats because I wanted to live full-time in Central America. My favorite part of being a professional surfer had been traveling the world, having awesome adventures with other badass women, and I really didn't want to lose that. Surf with Amigas allows me to continue living the dream. Bouncing down dirt roads in beat-up trucks packed with surfboards, paddling out to fun waves with positive people, and then sitting around a table with good food and interesting, inspiring conversations. Second Breakfast, the podcast, is a way to share that connection, empowerment, and storytelling with the wider community, even in between retreats. So grab your favorite beverage and let's get into it.
Meg: it's so weird to surf like one in fresh water, but then two, like the you're all of a sudden you're just like sitting against a wall and you hear like a grrrr of like the pump starting. And then you just like feel this displacement of water and you see this little like lump kind of suck down, and then you just have to paddle, but it's almost counterintuitive in the way that like you paddle away from the shoulder, you have like the pressure on, you know, you're like, this is my wave. Like, I gotta make sure I get it. And then you're like, Fuck, I missed it. But it is this like weird idea that you're like guaranteed waves. You like know what you're getting yourself into. in like the sense of a surf trip, like how often do you like plan ahead to go on this trip and then you're skunked, you know?
holly: Hey amigas, it's been a minute. For anybody that follows the podcast closely, thank you so much for doing that. And you may have noticed that we've been on a break. we've been cranking out these episodes for I don't even know how long now, almost two years. And yeah, I'll just be honest that I felt a little bit burnt out and had a lot going on. And I recently switched to homeschooling my kids, and just in getting used to the new flow of our lives for a little while, it just felt like a lot to keep the podcast episodes going. So I took a much needed break. Maybe you can relate to That feeling of burnout, and if so, listen to your body and take that break. But I'm excited to say that we're back. And this first conversation of our new series is with Megan, one of our longtime Surf with Amigas instructors. And she was actually the guest on our second ever podcast where she shared her story of being bitten by a shark. it's a great story if you never heard it. And are interested in Shark Bite Overcoming Storm. But now Megan is living in Indonesia, and I saw on Instagram that she had gone to a wave pool in China, and I thought it would be fun to connect with her and hear her story of what it was like traveling to China and how life is going for her living in Indonesia. And she was gracious enough to get up very early in the morning in order to accommodate the big time change between Costa Rica and Indonesia. So we had a fun chat and take a listen. And I hope you enjoy it. so where in the world are you right now?
Meg: right now I am in Sumatra in Indonesia and this is like home base pretty much. and I'll be here until October when I make the switch and head to Nicaragua.
holly: Amazing. So how long is it now that you have been calling Sumatra home base?
Meg: I guess officially like probably a year, but it's felt like it since I first came.
holly: Rad. So what what made you decide to actually do that? Like where was home base before a year ago and then how did you end up making the switch?
Meg: before a year ago, I mean, my last like real home base would have been in California. and then I kind of just went rogue and like went on the full suitcase life for, you know, maybe two years or so, three years or so until I decided to do to for this to be like where it felt right to settle down and then to like meeting Dylan. was obviously like a huge factor of why here. But even more than that, like when I first came here, like in the September before we started doing retreats, and I was like, I didn't know anyone. I was just spent 10 days in like my own little hole, kind of cruising around checking this place out, like solo. And I was like, I really like it here. And then just like the more I came and the more the community built, I was like, I love it here, you know?
holly: Yeah, and having been myself, like I can totally vouch for how amazing that place is. Just like sick waves and it's still pretty remote, which has its positive and its negatives. But like for you, like
Meg: Yeah.
holly: what was it? What was it about that place that you were like, Okay, this is the spot? 'Cause I know you've traveled all over the world and You know, you spent time in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica and then working for retreats and then your own travels, but like what was different about where you are now?
Meg: I think like it's it's got like the small town vibe, you know, which is what I kind of grew up in in California. Like being in Badega Bay was such a small town. And here has that same feel, but with like separation. Like I'm here on the point. And then I have friends that are a 40-minute scooter ride away, but it's still like this tight-knit little community. But then there's so many wave options in the area. I don't know. It just it just you know, like when it just feels right. I can't really explain why. Yeah.
holly: Fair enough, fair enough. and it sounds like also meeting Dylan was a part of that. Can you share your love story?
Meg: Yeah.
holly: Like is there a good story about like the initial meeting that you can share with us?
Meg: I mean like you you kind of know my story that I was in like a really long relationship that ended. and then I kind of went like, you know, on for lack of a better word, I've kind of been calling it like a co I had called it like a cock exploration. I was just like, you know what, fuck it. I'm just gonna like Live my life. I don't give a fuck. I'm just gonna do whatever I want. And especially coming here, like it's such a hub of like so many travelers. And I was just like having a fun time, hanging out at NBC, and those boys are like the three boys that own NBC are just so fun, and we like became fast friends. And they kept telling me, like, just wait till our friend Dylan gets here. You're gonna love him. He's amazing. You guys are like made for each other. And I'm not sure where Dylan was. He must have been in like Maui or something. And you came back and we met each other. And they had like told Dylan this as well, you know, like, just wait, there's this girl here. And we met each other, and we were both like, nah, like, not even a little bit. And then it was during Like Edelfeatry time. So everything kind of shuts down. And I think someone had like a party or something. And we ended up hanging out. And I and then we just like clicked and we started talking a lot. And then, you know, we went through like the ups and downs of like dude, we both travel, like what this isn't anything. We're both like in a maybe like damaged part of our life where we're not like ready to be in a relationship, as as happens, like in our in our age group, I feel like everyone has like that damage and trauma from like their past relationships. But then last year it finally like we just made it official and we're like, yeah, what are we doing? Like this is right. So let's just roll with it. yeah.
holly: Man, I I think it's interesting that the your friends, like they saw below whatever the superficial thing was, and they were like, no, you guys actually have what similar sense of humor and similar interests, but then when you guys saw each other, they're just like there wasn't that initial spark. And then it took some time
Meg: Yeah.
holly: to see what the similarities that your friends had described.
Meg: And too, like just it was so nice just like spending time and just literally sitting on his deck and just talking about everything. Like he's just like a very emotionally mature man, which was so refreshing for me in that moment. And I was like, wow, this person is like not even on like a relationship level, but like on just of who this person is. I was like, what a cool human to meet. However, this relationship progresses as friends or as lovers or whatever. just like a solid person to have in my life, no matter what, you know?
holly: And so he is a surf photographer. And I've always thought that
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: like I've never dated a surf photographer other than just like very, very casually at a long ago part of my life. But I've always thought that like as a surfer that dating a photographer would be like the perfect match because you know you're going to these beautiful places and you can go out and surf and then you come in. And who doesn't want to see like photos and videos of themselves? Like, does that is that how it works for you guys?
Meg: I would argue no, not really. Like in the retreat setting, yes, for sure. But in real life, it's just like we just want to surf together. Like, I'm not gonna be like, yes, sit on the beach video. But he is the type that constantly will like get the clips, you know, even in just in that moment. Like you constantly see him like seeing things that I'm like, what is he even recording? And I look at his phone and I was like, wow, what a sick shot, you know. So I'm sure there's actually bundles of really cute clips on his phone of me that I just haven't yet seen.
holly: He's just like keeping them for the private collection. but I would imagine that it does allow the two of you to travel together, right? 'Cause he has come on sort of the Mia's trips and and shot photos. And I know that for those of us that are living this lifestyle, it can be challenging to have a partner and like maybe you have your job situation figured out that allows you to travel and and be in these places, but it can be hard to have that job for the partner too.
Meg: for sure. Like it's such a it's such a odd lifestyle for most people, you know, to like just constantly be moving around and like kind of living like your full time life is everyone else's vacation, which sounds odd, but it can be like hard to find balance, I think, in that sty kind of life. And so it's really cool to have someone who understands the lifestyle, you know. I think it's rare for for us for us girls in this life
holly: It's true. It's true. Yeah. It's tricky. but if you find a way to make it work, then it can be a beautiful thing. And also like sometimes it has its challenges too, because you're both like tired and burnt out sometimes and sun fried and eggy for like the same
Meg: Yeah.
holly: reasons.
Meg: Yeah, for sure.
holly: I'm really interested to hear about your most recent trip where you went to China. I will say that I have been to that same place and it's kind of interesting because I went shoot, what year was it? I think it would have been it would have been in twenty ten. And it was like I had already started living in Nicaragua, but my sister lived in Spain. And it was just like super random series of events where my sister's boyfriend's cousin, I wanna say it was. My sister's boyfriend's cousin, who was a Spanish guy, and he worked for a marketing agency, and he was hired by the government of Hainan. To promote international tourism in Hainan. And he was talking with his cousin, and he was like, I don't know how I'm gonna do this, but I think that surfing would be a good way because you know the Hainan is like the Hawaii of China. It's like an island off the coast of China that a lot of Chinese people go on vacation. And so there was already some like tourism infrastructure there, but not international tourists had not discovered it. And so he had this idea that like there's surfing there, there's waves, I need to get in with the surfer. And then because his cousin's girlfriend's sister was recently retired pro surfer Holly Beck. he reached out to me and it was this like amazing opportunity because none of nobody involved, the government or the marketing guy had any idea what surfing
Meg: Yeah.
holly: was. And so they hired me to be a consultant basically.
Meg: Yeah.
holly: And I went for the first time to Hainan and they were so clueless about surfing or surfers, and they I put this like small group together, like a photographer and a few other pro surfers. And we went and they had us like staying in these like five star resorts and they were driving us around these like big air conditioned like semi-luxury, you know, buses and you know, they had translators everywhere and and they were just so like not like in the loop as far as like how you know international surf travel normally goes and how you actually you like want to connect to the local community and you want the like authentic experience not to stay in like the But not don't get me wrong, I didn't I enjoyed staying in the fancy resort and driven around
Meg: Yeah.
holly: in the nice bus, like for sure. But it's like not really like the vibe of what most surfers are looking for. And you know, it's crazy to think that whatever we're 16 years later, like how surf tourism has changed on that island. And so when I heard that you had gone And had gone to like the wave pool that's there now, I was like, I gotta like reach out and and hear about it. So I'm interested in like why did you go? Like how did you even hear
Meg: Mm.
holly: about it? And then of course like getting into like what it was like to be there.
Meg: how did I hear about it? I I want to say probably just Instagram, maybe. And I was looking, I needed to renew my visa because I've been here now since February. And so it was like kind of coming up on that time where I had to leave the country or change my visa or figure out what I was doing. And at the moment I was like, I I've I've had on my bucket list for a while to like go try and go somewhere I've never been every year. And I've kind of flailed on it on the last two years because I just keep coming back to the places that I love. and so I was like, okay, this year I'm gonna take advantage of this visa run and I'm gonna go somewhere, wherever it is, if it's like Hala Lumpur or you know, Taiwan or wherever it ends up being. And I even looked at going to the Abu Dhabi pool, and then I was like, no, I'm too poor for that. And I was like, but let's check out this China one. And looking at tickets, it was like pretty affordable.
holly: So wait, so it sounds like you had wave pool as like a something you wanted to check off.
Meg: Well, I feel like it's just it just kind of grew from the idea of like, I need to leave the country, let's go somewhere new. And then Dylan was like, well, if you do like a fun mission, then I'll come too. And I think the wave pool stemmed from like looking at Abu Dhabi and realizing like, no, I can't, I can't swing it. And then seeing that new China wave pool. And I've been to Waco, and so I kind of like know what the technology is like. And I was like, why not? Let's like go check it out. And then so Dylan jumped on, and we were like, we're gonna have this like fun romantic vacation. We're gonna go surf the wave pool and like check out Hainan, go golf, whatever. And then some of our friends found out and they were like, we're going to. Actually, one our friend Dan, like, he kept asking questions about the trip. And finally, Dylan was like, Did do you wanna come? And he was like, I thought you'd never ask. Of course I want to come. And then like his wife jumped on, and then our friend James jumped on and And his girlfriend. And so yeah, it was like a fun little crew that it that it became like a an adventure with the crew. and yeah, it was, it was, I think the weirdest part of the whole trip for me was like it's it's a strange island in itself, anyway. Like I think that they still could could use a a Holly Beck person to help them figure out the the surf tourism. It's it's weird.
holly: Like talk about like as you arrive, like what was the experience that you're like, this is weird?
Meg: well, I mean, I it's cool in the sense that there's like all of these cute families probably like on vacation in Hainan, they're like trying the wave pool and surfing like, you know, the little beginner waves. And so that's really cool to see. Like that that's that's something that's happening. Like so many like cute young girls were there. And there was this little girl, and I was just like watching her kind of like struggling on the inside. She was like, you know, pint size, so small. And she looks at me and she goes, Help me in
holly: Yeah.
Meg: English. And like no one has spoken English to me this entire time, which was crazy to have like that language barrier again, you know, of like, whoa, I have to use Google Translate. Like, I cannot. communicate with anyone. and I was like, Are you okay? Like, it's all right. Like, just come with me. And she was like, help me. I'm scared. And I was like, okay. And then she like tracked me down and she like wanted to s talk to me about surfing and like practice her English with me. And she was just so cute, like that she that her family thought to like, we should bring her here like give her this experience that maybe like wouldn't happen otherwise if that wave pool didn't come into existence. But other than that, like it's odd in the sense that it's this huge compound and it's like really fancy. Like you said, it's like a very fancy resort, but also in a way like not, you know? But like, and then you show up and you're like greeted by these two like pretty funny Russian guys that are running the whole like Western tourism scene, but they're just like want to crack beers and like hang out. I don't know. It was very odd. Really cool. And I think like as it develops, it's only been open since last November. And I just saw that like a young Grom team from Australia went there and like did the air section and all that. And so I think it's gonna like boom. So it was kind of cool almost to go before that and experience it like still in its blossoming stage.
holly: Yeah. So how long were you actually there and l how many sessions did you do?
Meg: we stayed for five days, four nights. it's it's different than Waco in the sense that like they're still figuring it out for sure. Like everybody there is still kind of figuring out the vibe. And they do like one day it's all rights, the next day it's all left. So we did normally like we just did the advanced. Public sessions. So those were like usually two in a row. So we would do like two hours first thing in the morning or like two hours in the night, depending on when those sessions were. And then the four of us, we did one private session for two hours where we had the whole pool to ourselves. And that was really cool. But my friend Dan, who is like shorter guy, he loved it. He was getting like long, perfect barrels. But for me, the barrel felt just like a little bit small and I could like get in, but I just could not get out. but it was just cool to like wake up in the morning, the pool's sheet glass, and it's just you and your friends, and the whole pool is yours. And you just get to be like, okay, like let's do the barrel section now. You just like tell the tower and it's I don't know, it was it was pretty magical.
holly: And you say that it was the same it's the same technology as Waco?
Meg: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
holly: rad. You know, I I actually like just today booked a trip to Waco for my family. Soleo is turning ten in September and he has been obsessed with Waco as all children are because they watch YouTube shorts and like it's all air stuff.
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: so yeah, we're going and I have not been and I'm really excited to so I booked us a private hour so we can do the airwave and then we're gonna do like a few like public sessions too to be able to like kind of so we're
Meg: Yeah.
holly: tuned up by By the time we get to the private, it won't be like our first time surfing.
Meg: That was kind of how we wanted to do it. We did, I think we did three days and then we did the private to kind of like figure it out. Cause it is, it's so, it's so weird to surf like one in fresh water, but then two, like the you're all of a sudden you're just like sitting against a wall and you hear like a grrrr of like the pump starting. And then you just like feel this displacement of water for that first. They come in like sets of three or four, however they set it up. And it's just this like displacement of water, and you see this little like lump kind of suck down, and then you just have to paddle, but it's almost counterintuitive in the way that like you paddle away from the shoulder, you know? And it took me a minute to figure it out. And it was like so and and two, you're you have like the pressure on, you know, you're like, this is my wave. Like, I gotta make sure I get it. And then you're like, Fuck, I missed it. Start over. Yeah.
holly: Classic. So when you when you were doing the public sessions, like who are the other people in your session? Are they Russians? Are they Chinese?
Meg: it was kind of a mix. So there was one random American guy one night, which was pretty weird to see, but most most of them were like Chinese Americans, a lot that like went to school in America and were like back working in China, or there's one Australian guy who also like who's like retired there. He was pretty weird, but like, you know, a character, a classic character. And he would come and surf like every morning.
holly: Wow.
Meg: but for the most part, like there wasn't much Western tourism. And
holly: Yeah.
Meg: especially like for us, because we like it was a pretty like fun, like party esque crew, the six of us. I think they were like shocked, and we kind of like we were a lot for them to handle, you know. We'd like to walk into the little mini mart and be like, Where are the cold beers? And the girls are like, Whoa, what is happening? Who are these people?
holly: did you get a
Meg: But it was
holly: chance to explore the ocean while you were there?
Meg: in the little spot, it's funny because I think like it's changed a lot since you were there. Cause we had talked about like that wave in front and they had like built this I don't know if it was there when you were there, but they built like a man-made island almost. And when they built that, they built up all these break walls and they destroyed that wave.
holly: No way. The left. The wow.
Meg: The left.
holly: 'Cause like that's where they used they did some like contests there and all that and
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: it now the wave is gone.
Meg: That wave in front is gone. There's other waves and we could have adventured, but honestly, it was so hot. Like, and like I'm living in Indo. It's it's normal for me to feel hot, but it was like insane how hot it was there. In those sessions in the evening, after like the pool had been in the sun all day, it was like surfing in a bathtub. It was crazy. Yeah.
holly: Wow, crazy.
Meg: There was like one day where there was swell and we could have maybe adventured to go look for like ocean waves, but we were so content, like surfing the pool that we were like, why do we want to go hunt like little knee-high ocean waves? but there is like a little, almost like a little inside sandbar that you can walk to and it's like little baby waves. And the boys took the girls there and took them and shoved them into some like beginner waves. But yeah. It's beautiful. I mean, it is, it's like it Really, really makes me think of like Honolulu. There's all these crazy high rises and it's really hot and there's like this long street of just like stands. It's like very touristy feeling, but not like Western tourism at all.
holly: It's so interesting to think about about that as like I wonder how much that will progress in the future. Just that idea of I'm going to I'm going on my surf trip to a wave pool. And even if there are actual ocean waves available, like I'm not gonna choose them because why would I? And I I feel like in the beginning of wave pools happening, it's like, you know, the Kelly pool is like super inland and like even Waco, it's like in the middle of Texas. And you hear about these pools developing even in California and like Palm Spring. Which all makes sense that you would go to this like separate place that is away from the coast and do your like novelty surf trip. And then, but then now there's so many more pools that are actually getting built, like on the coast, where like the people who are
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: in that zone could have access to either or and like thinking about how the future of surfing is gonna progress, where people may just like prefer to book their session in the pool and know that they're gonna get waves and not even have to like fuss
Meg: Yeah, it's it is weird. It takes it takes something away from surfing, I think, for sure. But it is this like weird idea that you're like guaranteed waves. You like know what you're getting yourself into. And in sense in like the sense of a surf trip, like how often do you like plan ahead to go on this trip and then you're skunked, you know? And you're like, fuck, I just this was like my trip. Like this was me, you know, whatever, 10 years ago. Where I'd like save up, save up, save up, get to go on my month-long trip and it's like maybe there's a week where it's flat, or maybe a storm rolls through. And so it is odd, like in the sense that it is this guaranteed, your guaranteed waves, but it's just not organic.
holly: Yeah, right. For sure. Which, you know, it is it's like maybe our belief that has led us up to this point that thinks that like the organic is super important or interesting. And
Meg: Yeah.
holly: yeah, just like that that wondering of you know the new normal. Like I I was looking at something, I was reading an article or something that was like sort of likening it to like technology. Like whatever technology that existed when you were born and through childhood you just accept as like completely normal. And then whatever technology comes in when you're in your like teens to like 30 years old is like new and exciting. And then whatever technology comes when you're like over 30 is like weird and like not normal. And how, you know, for us we're still like, the wave pools are like interesting, but like it takes some it's it's not actually like it's missing something. But then the
Meg: Yeah.
holly: next generation, like my kids, are like, no, wave pools like totally normal and like there's nothing missing, it's just something different.
Meg: Yeah. Yeah, it is it is weird. And I remember when I went to Waco, like the some of the kids working there that were like surfing, you know, going down the line, doing turns, all this stuff, they'd never surfed in the ocean ever. And it was so weird. I remember thinking, talking to them, like that they have only ever surfed fresh water. You know, it's just it whereas like this was such a like growing up in my life, like surfing. This I I never would have imagined, you know?
holly: Well, I just I don't know if you watched the the Tahiti contest that just finished up a few days ago and Erin Brooks won the women's division. And I g
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: you have to fact check me, anybody listening, but I'm pretty sure that the story goes that she actually learned how to surf or at least spent like her very early days surfing in a wave pool. And so that
Meg: Yeah.
holly: is like the story of somebody that, you know, grew up surfing in a wave pool and then obviously was able to translate her.
Meg: Is now like charging to a pill.
holly: charging Topu. It's it's crazy. It was really fun to
Meg: Yeah.
holly: watch. so n what is
Meg: Boom.
holly: it's we're here in in August and you head to Nicaragua in October question mark? What are you what are you up to between now and then?
Meg: I am like just chilling, which is so it feels so nice. I'm going on like a couple little adventures. There's actually like the swell here right now is pumping. It's too big. and it's really, really south. So, like here in this area, the waves that are working right now, I kind of want nothing to do with. They're all like big gnarly slabs that are happening right now. So, We've just been like adventuring around looking for fun little novelty waves in the meantime. And just like, you know, just taking the time to like chill and just kind of get in a routine and trying to like force myself to wake up and stretch in the morning, just like adult things that sometimes like when I'm deep in the the work season, I find I like disregard those like little life things that make you know, healthy habits. so just trying to like get in a groove here and you know, we have like we wake up, make coffee, check the waves. If the waves are good, we surf. If not, then we'll like cruise, you know, do something fun for the day. It's just such a beautiful place to like go on a cruise, like get on the scooter and just cruise around and so yeah, just you know, enjoying life and like the slow life for now before I get back in it in October.
holly: And you know, for those that do not realize Megan is at a very, very remote place. So at least from family and and friends that live in California, it's like you gotta fly multiple days all the way to Indonesia and then you have to do the jumper flight, and then it's like a six hour drive from there. So it's like from California, it's like probably one of the furthest away places that you can go. And
Meg: Yeah, it's it's a long way.
holly: So long. And h how what are the things that you kind of miss the most? Because I mean I've been there and I know that like in that area, like you go like the grocery stores are like pretty limited. There's like not a lot of
Meg: Yeah.
holly: choice and options. So like if you could have access to anything right now, like what is it that you miss?
Meg: it's I this is gonna sound so weird, but I miss like a good deli sandwich. You know what I mean? Like, that's like one thing when going back to California, like you'd think like I would go straight for burrito or tacos. No, deli sandwich. and I like even on this little trip, we had a layover where we like spent time in the lounge in Hong Kong. And I remember like hitting the lounge buffet and there being a kale salad and I was like, are you kidding me? Salad? Yum. Cause like you can get you can get a lot of like, you know, like western comforts here, but there's little things that like, you know, you you don't you're not finding like tortillas. You you can go down to Lonnie's like find tacos, but you're gonna like get a burrito. You're not gonna get a deli sandwich. It's like The the Western food options, which are kind of like all the same things like burgers or pizza, or you're eating local, which is great. It's so good and it's so cheap, but like you do miss those like you know, little comforts of home sometimes. But cheese, really good cheese. I miss that. But other than that, like not really anything.
holly: I've been reading Treasure Island. You know, have you ever read that book, Robert Louis
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: Stanton? I've been reading it to my kids, and they if anyone that hasn't read the book recently, they come across a sailor that was marooned on the island for three years and the first thing he asked for is cheese. And so, you know, that that cheese addiction, that is a that is an absolute real thing
Meg: It's real.
holly: for sure. so you bought property question mark where you are living now?
Meg: so I had been like looking at a property in Mandei, which is the beach break. and then like that was before Dylan and I were official. And now that we are official, we he has been like kind of negotiating to look at this big property. And so that's like in the in the hats right now. And I'm just kind of like piggybacking on on that. I gave
holly: At all.
Meg: my my little my little chunk. Towards that. but yeah, that's kind of his deal. He's like in the land game and always looking for the deals and the good properties and stuff. And so that's like part of that what's happening while we're here. And yeah. I'm stoked. Yeah. Making making moves, making it home, you know.
holly: So is that more like a like a business opportunity to buy a big chunk and then parcel it off or
Meg: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And then and then likely like we'll just build like the forever home there on our little chunk that we put in for. So yeah, exciting, cool. And it's here, like I don't know if you ever came by the this far up the point, but it's like kind of there on on the point. And this is my favorite zone. I feel like I'm coming on vacation here. And it's just it's so beautiful, like just out the back of the house. It's just palm groves
holly: just
Meg: and it's I just I love it. This area. It feels so still like kind of secluded, you know?
holly: Yeah, that's awesome. I would love to get the retreats going again. You gotta find
Meg: Yeah.
holly: more waves that are like accessible for more types of amigas so that we can bring amigas back.
Meg: Yeah, I know. It's it's so it's so hard here because like There are so many like weird little novelty waves, but there's it it is like the reef here feels gnarly. Like, especially coming from Rote and then coming back here. I it's just like that reminder, like, yeah, this reef is different. It it hits different here. But in a good way, like, and even so, like, I'm never getting cut up. Like I've I'm never I'm never I'm I'm feeling like good and I choose the places that are comfortable for me. But this this is a place that can it can like push you in your surfing, which I think is so cool. Especially like watching the amigas come here and send it and charge. And like I remember like there was a group this year where we showed up here at the point and it was like macking. It was almost too big for the point. And everyone was like, fuck it, we're going. And like One of the girls, Alexa, she's so cool. She just posted a pic of her like duck diving under this wave. And I was like, my god, that wave is huge. It's like double to triple overhead of and you just see her little body duck diving. And it was so rad to see all the girls send it so hard. And even like the guys out there, the old guys that have been serving this wave for years, and they're like, dude, it was so cool to see that group of girls like out just charging, like pushing themselves. And I mean, I love this location for that reason that like it really is like the endo trip. You get to like see all these crazy gnarly waves and kind of pick like, do I want to like push myself today? Or would I rather go to town and have like a mellow, maybe more crowded and smaller, but like a more manageable surf, or like maybe my shoulders are sore. I don't want to do the long paddle if I get stuck inside. But yeah, I just feel like there's so many options and like I haven't even touched the tip of you know, of it. So yeah, it's it's such a cool, unique zone, I think.
holly: Yeah, what I loved about it is the beach break. I mean, I grew up surfing beach breaks and obviously spent so much time in Nicaragua because I love the beach break and it was so cool to be able to like stay right there at the beach break, surf the beach break if it was good
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: and that if it wasn't, you know, it's not that long of a of either a car ride or a scooter ride to surf the reef break. So I think that that's what is so special about that area of like how many waves are in such a a small area and then while we were there too we met Tosh Tudor who is like one of the most stylish and also chargingist surfers and so he was
Meg: Yeah.
holly: going and surfing these like crazy slabs and and then there was like also like the cute waves where we went and surfed. And actually it was funny, one of the days it was pretty big and I remember my husband John and I were like trying to figure out where to surf and we ran into Tosh and like I have no I'm at the phase of my life where I have nothing to prove and I am not as interested in like fully sending it as I was when I was younger. and so I'm like there's nothing wrong like earlier in my life I would have like nothing's too big and I have to prove myself and if the people are going out like
Meg: Yeah.
holly: I'm gonna go with them but like I'm beyond that and so but like my John is like still kind of identifies as like a charger and we were talking to Tosh about like where he was gonna surf and And he was he was I can't remember where it was. He was like, I go in and check this like little like spot over here and and he was like, It's not too bad. Like it's not too big. And then he like went and then I was like, John, he just told us that it's okay for babies, that like we could handle it. Like that his saying like, it's not too big, that was his acknowledgement that like he is a shredder and we are babies, but
Meg: You guys think?
holly: he thinks that we could do it too, and he's like, He didn't say that I'm like, Yes he did. He said it was okay for babies Yeah.
Meg: Yeah, he comes here and just sends it on the craziest waves with like two foot of water, like gargly exits. And you're like, my gosh. The things that I see people do here, I'm like, what is happening? But then you look at it and it's like, that's what they
holly: Not for it.
Meg: do, you know, that they're here to like hunt crazy slabs because they exist here as well as like the fun baby waves that I've I love here.
holly: Right. So yeah, it I mean just talking about it, I'm just like, the the reason that we took it off the schedule was that it is so far to come for Americans and try as we might to break into the like Australian market. We just like haven't quite been able to do it yet. And you know,
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: we we definitely got like a few Australians, but there just weren't as many. And so yeah, for an American, it's like a very expensive plane ticket and it takes like many days to to do it. And with what's going on in the world right now and especially when we were having to make this decision a few months ago with the war and,
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: you know, oil prices going up and tickets being really expensive, we just decided to take a year off and sort of see how that shakes out. But I really do hope that we can get it back on the schedule for twenty twenty eight 'cause I wanna I wanna go
Meg: Yeah.
holly: over there again.
Meg: Yeah, yes. Yeah, it is such a beautiful spot. And it's it's I always say like I'm I'm biased because here's home for me. But every time the amigas ask me, like, what's your favorite loc location? Like, without a doubt, it's here, Sumatra. I mean, I love Nicaragua. I love the people and and the waves, and it's so fun. But there's something like it feels so adventurous, you know, and like even Taking taking the amigas like up the river and like hiking barefoot through the jungle. It's just, it feels so feral, like in a really fun way. But then you get to go back to your like nice camp with like all the all the luxuries that make you comfortable. and you see like a very different culture. and that's part of the reason I like it here too. It's that it's not like I find that a lot of like the surf zones in Indo are kind of like, The town is built around that surf tourism where I feel like here was like this big like to it is like there is a lot going on here. There's it's it feels very small, but it is like a big town. And there is like all these different little local communities. And it feels like the surf community kind of came in and like meshed with that. So I don't know, it I feel like you get to like really get a a vibe of like local life when you're here. A bit more than I'd say like places like Rote or or like Lombok, Bali, you know? Like it just feels I don't know, like a little bit more like old school Indo travel to me, you know?
holly: Sweet. That's awesome. And the which is cool. You know, it's like fun as some of those other places are, it one of the values that Surface Amigas and for me when I travel too is like, yeah, I want to s I want to be comfortable, especially as I get older. Like I want to stay in a place where I feel comfortable. and sometimes I really want a burger or like something approximating a salad. But at the same time the reason I'm gonna travel to this place is because I want to be able to like feel like I am somewhere different. That I'm not just like, American culture has now just like put itself here and you can't Eat the local food and like meet the local people and yeah, feel like you're a part of that as well. So where is next on your list of like random travel destinations? Like sounds like you it was it took a few years to like get this one going. So maybe it is way too soon to talk about the next one. But are there other places, especially like in that part of the world, that you haven't been yet and want to check out?
Meg: I mean, there's still like so much of Indo that I wanna like go check out. But the next new place that I'm gonna go on my list is South Africa. I'm gonna go with Dylan this next year, towards the beginning of the year. which I'm really, really excited for. That's been on my list for a long time. Like I remember when Shelly went, I was so envious. And actually Britt is going, she's in the Ments right now, but she's gonna go meet her family on her way to Morocco. And I was like, that's really, really cool. I'm excited to go there. I've
holly: Right, Dylan is from South Africa, right? Which part of South Africa
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: is he?
Meg: Cape Town. Yeah. So yeah, it just happened that he has a family wedding happening and I've been like, let's go to South Africa and he's like, Okay, well, now's the time, let's go. So yeah, after Nicaragua season, we'll go there, I think in March. That's when we're gonna go.
holly: What's the craziest thing that's happened to you living in Indo? Like what is one of those like you know you live in Indo when like the the thing that went wrong that is so unique to life in Indonesia?
Meg: Yeah, I mean there's so it there's so many. Like I mean like the classic one is Dylan and I went on this road trip to the north, like, you know, an hour and a half north just on one of the big days. I went with him. He was just like going up to check out the big waves. And on the way back, he has like this old 76 Land Cruiser truck. And on the way back, like just everything goes to shit. And we're like in crewe, which is driving normal speed 40 minutes away. And the only thing that the truck will go into is first. And like he can't take it out of gear or or stop or anything. We're fucked, right? So we're just like putting along. He has his friend who is visiting from Ireland in the back of the truck. So this guy's like redhead and it takes us like three hours to get because we're just in first gear the whole time, like put, put, put, put. And I remember we like went to pull in. To like the spot we could leave the truck where the mechanic could get to it. And I had to jump out of the moving truck, run into this parking lot area and make sure no one was there and like stop traffic. It's just this classic like everything, like your scooter has a flat tire, the car doesn't work, your wallet is lost. You know, just like it's just kind of this like you gotta roll with the punches. But I feel like that's sort of life anywhere anywhere. But to a more extreme, like in places like here or even like Pavones where the roads are a bit gnarly, Nicaragua all the time. Like flat tires are just like the basis of life, I feel like in Nicaragua. It's like, cool. And the tires flat again. Well
holly: Right. Yeah. And even like the car stuck in gear. Like I it it is interesting to think
Meg: Yeah.
holly: about like the a lot of these a lot of the stories it just revolve around the car breaking and like the struggle to get the vehicle and yourselves from wherever the car has broken to like the mechanic is like so like like it's such a takes up a such a big part of life is just getting the car from here to there when it's decided not to work.
Meg: And it's so normal, I feel like, for us. But I've it it is one of those things that like could be so hard and so frustrating if you allow it to be, but you just kind of like, you know, you you roll with the punches, like, okay, I the we paid the mechanic to fix the aircon, air con's fixed, whatever. That's that's that's it, you know, like you win some, you lose some. Moving on.
holly: It's so true. And I feel like that is really important to hear. If you are listening to this and you have fantasized about living in a place like this, like you better be totally fine with your car only working like a third of the time. You have to adapt.
Meg: And like in so in so much, in everything. Like, not even just cards. You just have to have that like mentality of like water off the duck's back, you know?
holly: Exactly. And that is the trade off for getting to live this like kind of remote like wake up and decide what am I gonna do with myself today lifestyle that you just can't
Meg: Yeah.
holly: live in the developed world. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for waking up early and jumping on this podcast with me. I really appreciate connecting and hearing your stories.
Meg: Yeah, thanks, Ollie.
Meg: it's so weird to surf like one in fresh water, but then two, like the you're all of a sudden you're just like sitting against a wall and you hear like a grrrr of like the pump starting. And then you just like feel this displacement of water and you see this little like lump kind of suck down, and then you just have to paddle, but it's almost counterintuitive in the way that like you paddle away from the shoulder, you have like the pressure on, you know, you're like, this is my wave. Like, I gotta make sure I get it. And then you're like, Fuck, I missed it. But it is this like weird idea that you're like guaranteed waves. You like know what you're getting yourself into. in like the sense of a surf trip, like how often do you like plan ahead to go on this trip and then you're skunked, you know?
holly: Hey amigas, it's been a minute. For anybody that follows the podcast closely, thank you so much for doing that. And you may have noticed that we've been on a break. we've been cranking out these episodes for I don't even know how long now, almost two years. And yeah, I'll just be honest that I felt a little bit burnt out and had a lot going on. And I recently switched to homeschooling my kids, and just in getting used to the new flow of our lives for a little while, it just felt like a lot to keep the podcast episodes going. So I took a much needed break. Maybe you can relate to That feeling of burnout, and if so, listen to your body and take that break. But I'm excited to say that we're back. And this first conversation of our new series is with Megan, one of our longtime Surf with Amigas instructors. And she was actually the guest on our second ever podcast where she shared her story of being bitten by a shark. it's a great story if you never heard it. And are interested in Shark Bite Overcoming Storm. But now Megan is living in Indonesia, and I saw on Instagram that she had gone to a wave pool in China, and I thought it would be fun to connect with her and hear her story of what it was like traveling to China and how life is going for her living in Indonesia. And she was gracious enough to get up very early in the morning in order to accommodate the big time change between Costa Rica and Indonesia. So we had a fun chat and take a listen. And I hope you enjoy it. so where in the world are you right now?
Meg: right now I am in Sumatra in Indonesia and this is like home base pretty much. and I'll be here until October when I make the switch and head to Nicaragua.
holly: Amazing. So how long is it now that you have been calling Sumatra home base?
Meg: I guess officially like probably a year, but it's felt like it since I first came.
holly: Rad. So what what made you decide to actually do that? Like where was home base before a year ago and then how did you end up making the switch?
Meg: before a year ago, I mean, my last like real home base would have been in California. and then I kind of just went rogue and like went on the full suitcase life for, you know, maybe two years or so, three years or so until I decided to do to for this to be like where it felt right to settle down and then to like meeting Dylan. was obviously like a huge factor of why here. But even more than that, like when I first came here, like in the September before we started doing retreats, and I was like, I didn't know anyone. I was just spent 10 days in like my own little hole, kind of cruising around checking this place out, like solo. And I was like, I really like it here. And then just like the more I came and the more the community built, I was like, I love it here, you know?
holly: Yeah, and having been myself, like I can totally vouch for how amazing that place is. Just like sick waves and it's still pretty remote, which has its positive and its negatives. But like for you, like
Meg: Yeah.
holly: what was it? What was it about that place that you were like, Okay, this is the spot? 'Cause I know you've traveled all over the world and You know, you spent time in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica and then working for retreats and then your own travels, but like what was different about where you are now?
Meg: I think like it's it's got like the small town vibe, you know, which is what I kind of grew up in in California. Like being in Badega Bay was such a small town. And here has that same feel, but with like separation. Like I'm here on the point. And then I have friends that are a 40-minute scooter ride away, but it's still like this tight-knit little community. But then there's so many wave options in the area. I don't know. It just it just you know, like when it just feels right. I can't really explain why. Yeah.
holly: Fair enough, fair enough. and it sounds like also meeting Dylan was a part of that. Can you share your love story?
Meg: Yeah.
holly: Like is there a good story about like the initial meeting that you can share with us?
Meg: I mean like you you kind of know my story that I was in like a really long relationship that ended. and then I kind of went like, you know, on for lack of a better word, I've kind of been calling it like a co I had called it like a cock exploration. I was just like, you know what, fuck it. I'm just gonna like Live my life. I don't give a fuck. I'm just gonna do whatever I want. And especially coming here, like it's such a hub of like so many travelers. And I was just like having a fun time, hanging out at NBC, and those boys are like the three boys that own NBC are just so fun, and we like became fast friends. And they kept telling me, like, just wait till our friend Dylan gets here. You're gonna love him. He's amazing. You guys are like made for each other. And I'm not sure where Dylan was. He must have been in like Maui or something. And you came back and we met each other. And they had like told Dylan this as well, you know, like, just wait, there's this girl here. And we met each other, and we were both like, nah, like, not even a little bit. And then it was during Like Edelfeatry time. So everything kind of shuts down. And I think someone had like a party or something. And we ended up hanging out. And I and then we just like clicked and we started talking a lot. And then, you know, we went through like the ups and downs of like dude, we both travel, like what this isn't anything. We're both like in a maybe like damaged part of our life where we're not like ready to be in a relationship, as as happens, like in our in our age group, I feel like everyone has like that damage and trauma from like their past relationships. But then last year it finally like we just made it official and we're like, yeah, what are we doing? Like this is right. So let's just roll with it. yeah.
holly: Man, I I think it's interesting that the your friends, like they saw below whatever the superficial thing was, and they were like, no, you guys actually have what similar sense of humor and similar interests, but then when you guys saw each other, they're just like there wasn't that initial spark. And then it took some time
Meg: Yeah.
holly: to see what the similarities that your friends had described.
Meg: And too, like just it was so nice just like spending time and just literally sitting on his deck and just talking about everything. Like he's just like a very emotionally mature man, which was so refreshing for me in that moment. And I was like, wow, this person is like not even on like a relationship level, but like on just of who this person is. I was like, what a cool human to meet. However, this relationship progresses as friends or as lovers or whatever. just like a solid person to have in my life, no matter what, you know?
holly: And so he is a surf photographer. And I've always thought that
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: like I've never dated a surf photographer other than just like very, very casually at a long ago part of my life. But I've always thought that like as a surfer that dating a photographer would be like the perfect match because you know you're going to these beautiful places and you can go out and surf and then you come in. And who doesn't want to see like photos and videos of themselves? Like, does that is that how it works for you guys?
Meg: I would argue no, not really. Like in the retreat setting, yes, for sure. But in real life, it's just like we just want to surf together. Like, I'm not gonna be like, yes, sit on the beach video. But he is the type that constantly will like get the clips, you know, even in just in that moment. Like you constantly see him like seeing things that I'm like, what is he even recording? And I look at his phone and I was like, wow, what a sick shot, you know. So I'm sure there's actually bundles of really cute clips on his phone of me that I just haven't yet seen.
holly: He's just like keeping them for the private collection. but I would imagine that it does allow the two of you to travel together, right? 'Cause he has come on sort of the Mia's trips and and shot photos. And I know that for those of us that are living this lifestyle, it can be challenging to have a partner and like maybe you have your job situation figured out that allows you to travel and and be in these places, but it can be hard to have that job for the partner too.
Meg: for sure. Like it's such a it's such a odd lifestyle for most people, you know, to like just constantly be moving around and like kind of living like your full time life is everyone else's vacation, which sounds odd, but it can be like hard to find balance, I think, in that sty kind of life. And so it's really cool to have someone who understands the lifestyle, you know. I think it's rare for for us for us girls in this life
holly: It's true. It's true. Yeah. It's tricky. but if you find a way to make it work, then it can be a beautiful thing. And also like sometimes it has its challenges too, because you're both like tired and burnt out sometimes and sun fried and eggy for like the same
Meg: Yeah.
holly: reasons.
Meg: Yeah, for sure.
holly: I'm really interested to hear about your most recent trip where you went to China. I will say that I have been to that same place and it's kind of interesting because I went shoot, what year was it? I think it would have been it would have been in twenty ten. And it was like I had already started living in Nicaragua, but my sister lived in Spain. And it was just like super random series of events where my sister's boyfriend's cousin, I wanna say it was. My sister's boyfriend's cousin, who was a Spanish guy, and he worked for a marketing agency, and he was hired by the government of Hainan. To promote international tourism in Hainan. And he was talking with his cousin, and he was like, I don't know how I'm gonna do this, but I think that surfing would be a good way because you know the Hainan is like the Hawaii of China. It's like an island off the coast of China that a lot of Chinese people go on vacation. And so there was already some like tourism infrastructure there, but not international tourists had not discovered it. And so he had this idea that like there's surfing there, there's waves, I need to get in with the surfer. And then because his cousin's girlfriend's sister was recently retired pro surfer Holly Beck. he reached out to me and it was this like amazing opportunity because none of nobody involved, the government or the marketing guy had any idea what surfing
Meg: Yeah.
holly: was. And so they hired me to be a consultant basically.
Meg: Yeah.
holly: And I went for the first time to Hainan and they were so clueless about surfing or surfers, and they I put this like small group together, like a photographer and a few other pro surfers. And we went and they had us like staying in these like five star resorts and they were driving us around these like big air conditioned like semi-luxury, you know, buses and you know, they had translators everywhere and and they were just so like not like in the loop as far as like how you know international surf travel normally goes and how you actually you like want to connect to the local community and you want the like authentic experience not to stay in like the But not don't get me wrong, I didn't I enjoyed staying in the fancy resort and driven around
Meg: Yeah.
holly: in the nice bus, like for sure. But it's like not really like the vibe of what most surfers are looking for. And you know, it's crazy to think that whatever we're 16 years later, like how surf tourism has changed on that island. And so when I heard that you had gone And had gone to like the wave pool that's there now, I was like, I gotta like reach out and and hear about it. So I'm interested in like why did you go? Like how did you even hear
Meg: Mm.
holly: about it? And then of course like getting into like what it was like to be there.
Meg: how did I hear about it? I I want to say probably just Instagram, maybe. And I was looking, I needed to renew my visa because I've been here now since February. And so it was like kind of coming up on that time where I had to leave the country or change my visa or figure out what I was doing. And at the moment I was like, I I've I've had on my bucket list for a while to like go try and go somewhere I've never been every year. And I've kind of flailed on it on the last two years because I just keep coming back to the places that I love. and so I was like, okay, this year I'm gonna take advantage of this visa run and I'm gonna go somewhere, wherever it is, if it's like Hala Lumpur or you know, Taiwan or wherever it ends up being. And I even looked at going to the Abu Dhabi pool, and then I was like, no, I'm too poor for that. And I was like, but let's check out this China one. And looking at tickets, it was like pretty affordable.
holly: So wait, so it sounds like you had wave pool as like a something you wanted to check off.
Meg: Well, I feel like it's just it just kind of grew from the idea of like, I need to leave the country, let's go somewhere new. And then Dylan was like, well, if you do like a fun mission, then I'll come too. And I think the wave pool stemmed from like looking at Abu Dhabi and realizing like, no, I can't, I can't swing it. And then seeing that new China wave pool. And I've been to Waco, and so I kind of like know what the technology is like. And I was like, why not? Let's like go check it out. And then so Dylan jumped on, and we were like, we're gonna have this like fun romantic vacation. We're gonna go surf the wave pool and like check out Hainan, go golf, whatever. And then some of our friends found out and they were like, we're going to. Actually, one our friend Dan, like, he kept asking questions about the trip. And finally, Dylan was like, Did do you wanna come? And he was like, I thought you'd never ask. Of course I want to come. And then like his wife jumped on, and then our friend James jumped on and And his girlfriend. And so yeah, it was like a fun little crew that it that it became like a an adventure with the crew. and yeah, it was, it was, I think the weirdest part of the whole trip for me was like it's it's a strange island in itself, anyway. Like I think that they still could could use a a Holly Beck person to help them figure out the the surf tourism. It's it's weird.
holly: Like talk about like as you arrive, like what was the experience that you're like, this is weird?
Meg: well, I mean, I it's cool in the sense that there's like all of these cute families probably like on vacation in Hainan, they're like trying the wave pool and surfing like, you know, the little beginner waves. And so that's really cool to see. Like that that's that's something that's happening. Like so many like cute young girls were there. And there was this little girl, and I was just like watching her kind of like struggling on the inside. She was like, you know, pint size, so small. And she looks at me and she goes, Help me in
holly: Yeah.
Meg: English. And like no one has spoken English to me this entire time, which was crazy to have like that language barrier again, you know, of like, whoa, I have to use Google Translate. Like, I cannot. communicate with anyone. and I was like, Are you okay? Like, it's all right. Like, just come with me. And she was like, help me. I'm scared. And I was like, okay. And then she like tracked me down and she like wanted to s talk to me about surfing and like practice her English with me. And she was just so cute, like that she that her family thought to like, we should bring her here like give her this experience that maybe like wouldn't happen otherwise if that wave pool didn't come into existence. But other than that, like it's odd in the sense that it's this huge compound and it's like really fancy. Like you said, it's like a very fancy resort, but also in a way like not, you know? But like, and then you show up and you're like greeted by these two like pretty funny Russian guys that are running the whole like Western tourism scene, but they're just like want to crack beers and like hang out. I don't know. It was very odd. Really cool. And I think like as it develops, it's only been open since last November. And I just saw that like a young Grom team from Australia went there and like did the air section and all that. And so I think it's gonna like boom. So it was kind of cool almost to go before that and experience it like still in its blossoming stage.
holly: Yeah. So how long were you actually there and l how many sessions did you do?
Meg: we stayed for five days, four nights. it's it's different than Waco in the sense that like they're still figuring it out for sure. Like everybody there is still kind of figuring out the vibe. And they do like one day it's all rights, the next day it's all left. So we did normally like we just did the advanced. Public sessions. So those were like usually two in a row. So we would do like two hours first thing in the morning or like two hours in the night, depending on when those sessions were. And then the four of us, we did one private session for two hours where we had the whole pool to ourselves. And that was really cool. But my friend Dan, who is like shorter guy, he loved it. He was getting like long, perfect barrels. But for me, the barrel felt just like a little bit small and I could like get in, but I just could not get out. but it was just cool to like wake up in the morning, the pool's sheet glass, and it's just you and your friends, and the whole pool is yours. And you just get to be like, okay, like let's do the barrel section now. You just like tell the tower and it's I don't know, it was it was pretty magical.
holly: And you say that it was the same it's the same technology as Waco?
Meg: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
holly: rad. You know, I I actually like just today booked a trip to Waco for my family. Soleo is turning ten in September and he has been obsessed with Waco as all children are because they watch YouTube shorts and like it's all air stuff.
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: so yeah, we're going and I have not been and I'm really excited to so I booked us a private hour so we can do the airwave and then we're gonna do like a few like public sessions too to be able to like kind of so we're
Meg: Yeah.
holly: tuned up by By the time we get to the private, it won't be like our first time surfing.
Meg: That was kind of how we wanted to do it. We did, I think we did three days and then we did the private to kind of like figure it out. Cause it is, it's so, it's so weird to surf like one in fresh water, but then two, like the you're all of a sudden you're just like sitting against a wall and you hear like a grrrr of like the pump starting. And then you just like feel this displacement of water for that first. They come in like sets of three or four, however they set it up. And it's just this like displacement of water, and you see this little like lump kind of suck down, and then you just have to paddle, but it's almost counterintuitive in the way that like you paddle away from the shoulder, you know? And it took me a minute to figure it out. And it was like so and and two, you're you have like the pressure on, you know, you're like, this is my wave. Like, I gotta make sure I get it. And then you're like, Fuck, I missed it. Start over. Yeah.
holly: Classic. So when you when you were doing the public sessions, like who are the other people in your session? Are they Russians? Are they Chinese?
Meg: it was kind of a mix. So there was one random American guy one night, which was pretty weird to see, but most most of them were like Chinese Americans, a lot that like went to school in America and were like back working in China, or there's one Australian guy who also like who's like retired there. He was pretty weird, but like, you know, a character, a classic character. And he would come and surf like every morning.
holly: Wow.
Meg: but for the most part, like there wasn't much Western tourism. And
holly: Yeah.
Meg: especially like for us, because we like it was a pretty like fun, like party esque crew, the six of us. I think they were like shocked, and we kind of like we were a lot for them to handle, you know. We'd like to walk into the little mini mart and be like, Where are the cold beers? And the girls are like, Whoa, what is happening? Who are these people?
holly: did you get a
Meg: But it was
holly: chance to explore the ocean while you were there?
Meg: in the little spot, it's funny because I think like it's changed a lot since you were there. Cause we had talked about like that wave in front and they had like built this I don't know if it was there when you were there, but they built like a man-made island almost. And when they built that, they built up all these break walls and they destroyed that wave.
holly: No way. The left. The wow.
Meg: The left.
holly: 'Cause like that's where they used they did some like contests there and all that and
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: it now the wave is gone.
Meg: That wave in front is gone. There's other waves and we could have adventured, but honestly, it was so hot. Like, and like I'm living in Indo. It's it's normal for me to feel hot, but it was like insane how hot it was there. In those sessions in the evening, after like the pool had been in the sun all day, it was like surfing in a bathtub. It was crazy. Yeah.
holly: Wow, crazy.
Meg: There was like one day where there was swell and we could have maybe adventured to go look for like ocean waves, but we were so content, like surfing the pool that we were like, why do we want to go hunt like little knee-high ocean waves? but there is like a little, almost like a little inside sandbar that you can walk to and it's like little baby waves. And the boys took the girls there and took them and shoved them into some like beginner waves. But yeah. It's beautiful. I mean, it is, it's like it Really, really makes me think of like Honolulu. There's all these crazy high rises and it's really hot and there's like this long street of just like stands. It's like very touristy feeling, but not like Western tourism at all.
holly: It's so interesting to think about about that as like I wonder how much that will progress in the future. Just that idea of I'm going to I'm going on my surf trip to a wave pool. And even if there are actual ocean waves available, like I'm not gonna choose them because why would I? And I I feel like in the beginning of wave pools happening, it's like, you know, the Kelly pool is like super inland and like even Waco, it's like in the middle of Texas. And you hear about these pools developing even in California and like Palm Spring. Which all makes sense that you would go to this like separate place that is away from the coast and do your like novelty surf trip. And then, but then now there's so many more pools that are actually getting built, like on the coast, where like the people who are
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: in that zone could have access to either or and like thinking about how the future of surfing is gonna progress, where people may just like prefer to book their session in the pool and know that they're gonna get waves and not even have to like fuss
Meg: Yeah, it's it is weird. It takes it takes something away from surfing, I think, for sure. But it is this like weird idea that you're like guaranteed waves. You like know what you're getting yourself into. And in sense in like the sense of a surf trip, like how often do you like plan ahead to go on this trip and then you're skunked, you know? And you're like, fuck, I just this was like my trip. Like this was me, you know, whatever, 10 years ago. Where I'd like save up, save up, save up, get to go on my month-long trip and it's like maybe there's a week where it's flat, or maybe a storm rolls through. And so it is odd, like in the sense that it is this guaranteed, your guaranteed waves, but it's just not organic.
holly: Yeah, right. For sure. Which, you know, it is it's like maybe our belief that has led us up to this point that thinks that like the organic is super important or interesting. And
Meg: Yeah.
holly: yeah, just like that that wondering of you know the new normal. Like I I was looking at something, I was reading an article or something that was like sort of likening it to like technology. Like whatever technology that existed when you were born and through childhood you just accept as like completely normal. And then whatever technology comes in when you're in your like teens to like 30 years old is like new and exciting. And then whatever technology comes when you're like over 30 is like weird and like not normal. And how, you know, for us we're still like, the wave pools are like interesting, but like it takes some it's it's not actually like it's missing something. But then the
Meg: Yeah.
holly: next generation, like my kids, are like, no, wave pools like totally normal and like there's nothing missing, it's just something different.
Meg: Yeah. Yeah, it is it is weird. And I remember when I went to Waco, like the some of the kids working there that were like surfing, you know, going down the line, doing turns, all this stuff, they'd never surfed in the ocean ever. And it was so weird. I remember thinking, talking to them, like that they have only ever surfed fresh water. You know, it's just it whereas like this was such a like growing up in my life, like surfing. This I I never would have imagined, you know?
holly: Well, I just I don't know if you watched the the Tahiti contest that just finished up a few days ago and Erin Brooks won the women's division. And I g
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: you have to fact check me, anybody listening, but I'm pretty sure that the story goes that she actually learned how to surf or at least spent like her very early days surfing in a wave pool. And so that
Meg: Yeah.
holly: is like the story of somebody that, you know, grew up surfing in a wave pool and then obviously was able to translate her.
Meg: Is now like charging to a pill.
holly: charging Topu. It's it's crazy. It was really fun to
Meg: Yeah.
holly: watch. so n what is
Meg: Boom.
holly: it's we're here in in August and you head to Nicaragua in October question mark? What are you what are you up to between now and then?
Meg: I am like just chilling, which is so it feels so nice. I'm going on like a couple little adventures. There's actually like the swell here right now is pumping. It's too big. and it's really, really south. So, like here in this area, the waves that are working right now, I kind of want nothing to do with. They're all like big gnarly slabs that are happening right now. So, We've just been like adventuring around looking for fun little novelty waves in the meantime. And just like, you know, just taking the time to like chill and just kind of get in a routine and trying to like force myself to wake up and stretch in the morning, just like adult things that sometimes like when I'm deep in the the work season, I find I like disregard those like little life things that make you know, healthy habits. so just trying to like get in a groove here and you know, we have like we wake up, make coffee, check the waves. If the waves are good, we surf. If not, then we'll like cruise, you know, do something fun for the day. It's just such a beautiful place to like go on a cruise, like get on the scooter and just cruise around and so yeah, just you know, enjoying life and like the slow life for now before I get back in it in October.
holly: And you know, for those that do not realize Megan is at a very, very remote place. So at least from family and and friends that live in California, it's like you gotta fly multiple days all the way to Indonesia and then you have to do the jumper flight, and then it's like a six hour drive from there. So it's like from California, it's like probably one of the furthest away places that you can go. And
Meg: Yeah, it's it's a long way.
holly: So long. And h how what are the things that you kind of miss the most? Because I mean I've been there and I know that like in that area, like you go like the grocery stores are like pretty limited. There's like not a lot of
Meg: Yeah.
holly: choice and options. So like if you could have access to anything right now, like what is it that you miss?
Meg: it's I this is gonna sound so weird, but I miss like a good deli sandwich. You know what I mean? Like, that's like one thing when going back to California, like you'd think like I would go straight for burrito or tacos. No, deli sandwich. and I like even on this little trip, we had a layover where we like spent time in the lounge in Hong Kong. And I remember like hitting the lounge buffet and there being a kale salad and I was like, are you kidding me? Salad? Yum. Cause like you can get you can get a lot of like, you know, like western comforts here, but there's little things that like, you know, you you don't you're not finding like tortillas. You you can go down to Lonnie's like find tacos, but you're gonna like get a burrito. You're not gonna get a deli sandwich. It's like The the Western food options, which are kind of like all the same things like burgers or pizza, or you're eating local, which is great. It's so good and it's so cheap, but like you do miss those like you know, little comforts of home sometimes. But cheese, really good cheese. I miss that. But other than that, like not really anything.
holly: I've been reading Treasure Island. You know, have you ever read that book, Robert Louis
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: Stanton? I've been reading it to my kids, and they if anyone that hasn't read the book recently, they come across a sailor that was marooned on the island for three years and the first thing he asked for is cheese. And so, you know, that that cheese addiction, that is a that is an absolute real thing
Meg: It's real.
holly: for sure. so you bought property question mark where you are living now?
Meg: so I had been like looking at a property in Mandei, which is the beach break. and then like that was before Dylan and I were official. And now that we are official, we he has been like kind of negotiating to look at this big property. And so that's like in the in the hats right now. And I'm just kind of like piggybacking on on that. I gave
holly: At all.
Meg: my my little my little chunk. Towards that. but yeah, that's kind of his deal. He's like in the land game and always looking for the deals and the good properties and stuff. And so that's like part of that what's happening while we're here. And yeah. I'm stoked. Yeah. Making making moves, making it home, you know.
holly: So is that more like a like a business opportunity to buy a big chunk and then parcel it off or
Meg: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And then and then likely like we'll just build like the forever home there on our little chunk that we put in for. So yeah, exciting, cool. And it's here, like I don't know if you ever came by the this far up the point, but it's like kind of there on on the point. And this is my favorite zone. I feel like I'm coming on vacation here. And it's just it's so beautiful, like just out the back of the house. It's just palm groves
holly: just
Meg: and it's I just I love it. This area. It feels so still like kind of secluded, you know?
holly: Yeah, that's awesome. I would love to get the retreats going again. You gotta find
Meg: Yeah.
holly: more waves that are like accessible for more types of amigas so that we can bring amigas back.
Meg: Yeah, I know. It's it's so it's so hard here because like There are so many like weird little novelty waves, but there's it it is like the reef here feels gnarly. Like, especially coming from Rote and then coming back here. I it's just like that reminder, like, yeah, this reef is different. It it hits different here. But in a good way, like, and even so, like, I'm never getting cut up. Like I've I'm never I'm never I'm I'm feeling like good and I choose the places that are comfortable for me. But this this is a place that can it can like push you in your surfing, which I think is so cool. Especially like watching the amigas come here and send it and charge. And like I remember like there was a group this year where we showed up here at the point and it was like macking. It was almost too big for the point. And everyone was like, fuck it, we're going. And like One of the girls, Alexa, she's so cool. She just posted a pic of her like duck diving under this wave. And I was like, my god, that wave is huge. It's like double to triple overhead of and you just see her little body duck diving. And it was so rad to see all the girls send it so hard. And even like the guys out there, the old guys that have been serving this wave for years, and they're like, dude, it was so cool to see that group of girls like out just charging, like pushing themselves. And I mean, I love this location for that reason that like it really is like the endo trip. You get to like see all these crazy gnarly waves and kind of pick like, do I want to like push myself today? Or would I rather go to town and have like a mellow, maybe more crowded and smaller, but like a more manageable surf, or like maybe my shoulders are sore. I don't want to do the long paddle if I get stuck inside. But yeah, I just feel like there's so many options and like I haven't even touched the tip of you know, of it. So yeah, it's it's such a cool, unique zone, I think.
holly: Yeah, what I loved about it is the beach break. I mean, I grew up surfing beach breaks and obviously spent so much time in Nicaragua because I love the beach break and it was so cool to be able to like stay right there at the beach break, surf the beach break if it was good
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: and that if it wasn't, you know, it's not that long of a of either a car ride or a scooter ride to surf the reef break. So I think that that's what is so special about that area of like how many waves are in such a a small area and then while we were there too we met Tosh Tudor who is like one of the most stylish and also chargingist surfers and so he was
Meg: Yeah.
holly: going and surfing these like crazy slabs and and then there was like also like the cute waves where we went and surfed. And actually it was funny, one of the days it was pretty big and I remember my husband John and I were like trying to figure out where to surf and we ran into Tosh and like I have no I'm at the phase of my life where I have nothing to prove and I am not as interested in like fully sending it as I was when I was younger. and so I'm like there's nothing wrong like earlier in my life I would have like nothing's too big and I have to prove myself and if the people are going out like
Meg: Yeah.
holly: I'm gonna go with them but like I'm beyond that and so but like my John is like still kind of identifies as like a charger and we were talking to Tosh about like where he was gonna surf and And he was he was I can't remember where it was. He was like, I go in and check this like little like spot over here and and he was like, It's not too bad. Like it's not too big. And then he like went and then I was like, John, he just told us that it's okay for babies, that like we could handle it. Like that his saying like, it's not too big, that was his acknowledgement that like he is a shredder and we are babies, but
Meg: You guys think?
holly: he thinks that we could do it too, and he's like, He didn't say that I'm like, Yes he did. He said it was okay for babies Yeah.
Meg: Yeah, he comes here and just sends it on the craziest waves with like two foot of water, like gargly exits. And you're like, my gosh. The things that I see people do here, I'm like, what is happening? But then you look at it and it's like, that's what they
holly: Not for it.
Meg: do, you know, that they're here to like hunt crazy slabs because they exist here as well as like the fun baby waves that I've I love here.
holly: Right. So yeah, it I mean just talking about it, I'm just like, the the reason that we took it off the schedule was that it is so far to come for Americans and try as we might to break into the like Australian market. We just like haven't quite been able to do it yet. And you know,
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: we we definitely got like a few Australians, but there just weren't as many. And so yeah, for an American, it's like a very expensive plane ticket and it takes like many days to to do it. And with what's going on in the world right now and especially when we were having to make this decision a few months ago with the war and,
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: you know, oil prices going up and tickets being really expensive, we just decided to take a year off and sort of see how that shakes out. But I really do hope that we can get it back on the schedule for twenty twenty eight 'cause I wanna I wanna go
Meg: Yeah.
holly: over there again.
Meg: Yeah, yes. Yeah, it is such a beautiful spot. And it's it's I always say like I'm I'm biased because here's home for me. But every time the amigas ask me, like, what's your favorite loc location? Like, without a doubt, it's here, Sumatra. I mean, I love Nicaragua. I love the people and and the waves, and it's so fun. But there's something like it feels so adventurous, you know, and like even Taking taking the amigas like up the river and like hiking barefoot through the jungle. It's just, it feels so feral, like in a really fun way. But then you get to go back to your like nice camp with like all the all the luxuries that make you comfortable. and you see like a very different culture. and that's part of the reason I like it here too. It's that it's not like I find that a lot of like the surf zones in Indo are kind of like, The town is built around that surf tourism where I feel like here was like this big like to it is like there is a lot going on here. There's it's it feels very small, but it is like a big town. And there is like all these different little local communities. And it feels like the surf community kind of came in and like meshed with that. So I don't know, it I feel like you get to like really get a a vibe of like local life when you're here. A bit more than I'd say like places like Rote or or like Lombok, Bali, you know? Like it just feels I don't know, like a little bit more like old school Indo travel to me, you know?
holly: Sweet. That's awesome. And the which is cool. You know, it's like fun as some of those other places are, it one of the values that Surface Amigas and for me when I travel too is like, yeah, I want to s I want to be comfortable, especially as I get older. Like I want to stay in a place where I feel comfortable. and sometimes I really want a burger or like something approximating a salad. But at the same time the reason I'm gonna travel to this place is because I want to be able to like feel like I am somewhere different. That I'm not just like, American culture has now just like put itself here and you can't Eat the local food and like meet the local people and yeah, feel like you're a part of that as well. So where is next on your list of like random travel destinations? Like sounds like you it was it took a few years to like get this one going. So maybe it is way too soon to talk about the next one. But are there other places, especially like in that part of the world, that you haven't been yet and want to check out?
Meg: I mean, there's still like so much of Indo that I wanna like go check out. But the next new place that I'm gonna go on my list is South Africa. I'm gonna go with Dylan this next year, towards the beginning of the year. which I'm really, really excited for. That's been on my list for a long time. Like I remember when Shelly went, I was so envious. And actually Britt is going, she's in the Ments right now, but she's gonna go meet her family on her way to Morocco. And I was like, that's really, really cool. I'm excited to go there. I've
holly: Right, Dylan is from South Africa, right? Which part of South Africa
Meg: Mm-hmm.
holly: is he?
Meg: Cape Town. Yeah. So yeah, it just happened that he has a family wedding happening and I've been like, let's go to South Africa and he's like, Okay, well, now's the time, let's go. So yeah, after Nicaragua season, we'll go there, I think in March. That's when we're gonna go.
holly: What's the craziest thing that's happened to you living in Indo? Like what is one of those like you know you live in Indo when like the the thing that went wrong that is so unique to life in Indonesia?
Meg: Yeah, I mean there's so it there's so many. Like I mean like the classic one is Dylan and I went on this road trip to the north, like, you know, an hour and a half north just on one of the big days. I went with him. He was just like going up to check out the big waves. And on the way back, he has like this old 76 Land Cruiser truck. And on the way back, like just everything goes to shit. And we're like in crewe, which is driving normal speed 40 minutes away. And the only thing that the truck will go into is first. And like he can't take it out of gear or or stop or anything. We're fucked, right? So we're just like putting along. He has his friend who is visiting from Ireland in the back of the truck. So this guy's like redhead and it takes us like three hours to get because we're just in first gear the whole time, like put, put, put, put. And I remember we like went to pull in. To like the spot we could leave the truck where the mechanic could get to it. And I had to jump out of the moving truck, run into this parking lot area and make sure no one was there and like stop traffic. It's just this classic like everything, like your scooter has a flat tire, the car doesn't work, your wallet is lost. You know, just like it's just kind of this like you gotta roll with the punches. But I feel like that's sort of life anywhere anywhere. But to a more extreme, like in places like here or even like Pavones where the roads are a bit gnarly, Nicaragua all the time. Like flat tires are just like the basis of life, I feel like in Nicaragua. It's like, cool. And the tires flat again. Well
holly: Right. Yeah. And even like the car stuck in gear. Like I it it is interesting to think
Meg: Yeah.
holly: about like the a lot of these a lot of the stories it just revolve around the car breaking and like the struggle to get the vehicle and yourselves from wherever the car has broken to like the mechanic is like so like like it's such a takes up a such a big part of life is just getting the car from here to there when it's decided not to work.
Meg: And it's so normal, I feel like, for us. But I've it it is one of those things that like could be so hard and so frustrating if you allow it to be, but you just kind of like, you know, you you roll with the punches, like, okay, I the we paid the mechanic to fix the aircon, air con's fixed, whatever. That's that's that's it, you know, like you win some, you lose some. Moving on.
holly: It's so true. And I feel like that is really important to hear. If you are listening to this and you have fantasized about living in a place like this, like you better be totally fine with your car only working like a third of the time. You have to adapt.
Meg: And like in so in so much, in everything. Like, not even just cards. You just have to have that like mentality of like water off the duck's back, you know?
holly: Exactly. And that is the trade off for getting to live this like kind of remote like wake up and decide what am I gonna do with myself today lifestyle that you just can't
Meg: Yeah.
holly: live in the developed world. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for waking up early and jumping on this podcast with me. I really appreciate connecting and hearing your stories.
Meg: Yeah, thanks, Ollie.
