PADANG PADANG
Despite the blinding glare of the sun, you just can’t look away. Photo John S Callahan tropicalpix
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL:
APRIL THROUGH TO OCTOBER
Pronounced Pah-dung. Real name Labuhan Sait. Bali’s hollowest, most dangerous left, tubing over very shallow coral. Only breaks on big swells when Uluwatu is getting out-of-control, over 10 or 12 feet. The only way to make the wave is to backdoor the 2nd tube section in front of the cliff, so it is a place for experts only, safest at high tide. Low tide gets insane but deadly.
To get there, turn off the Uluwatu road at Pecatu village. Padang is a great place to watch the best surfers in the world tackling one of the most awesome tubes on the planet. You can sit comfortably in warungs on the beach and count the number of broken boards! Unfortunately, it is very dangerous under 5 feet because it breaks so close to the cliff. Definitely not for learners.
Mustofa Jeksen,Padang Padang Photo JEP John Hepler
Dede Suyana, tripping the light fantastic deep inside a golden sunset-lit Padang bowl. Photo Ricardo Borghi
Sparkling afternoon at Padang. Photo JS Callahan / tropicalpix
Rahtu, a 2nd generation Balinese surfer, the son of the one and only “Mr Bali” – Pak Gusti Somer. Photo courtesy Billabong