Pirates Cruise Party

Bringing a new party innovation to the shores of Bali, or perhaps just off the shores of Bali, Marlboro Black Menthol got seaside and turned a cruise ship into a pirate’s party haven. With a 10pm kick off in the Bounty Cruise Quay lobby, stillt walkers welcomed the eager crew, DJ’s Mita Keyla and Dita Zizta spun tracks as Resty and Jeje Ramona MC’d and a fashion show got everbody warmed up for the night. Around midnight and it was time to hit the wooden deck while DJ Beta Costa hit the vinyl decks. C&C models set another fashion parade in motion and as the ship continued to set sail, DJ Soma kept the sonic waves afloat ‘til 3am. She’s a fine mistress yee ocean!

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Mr Caseli has become quite the name around town, drawing plenty of eager ears out to Blue Eyes a few weeks back and again bringing the crowd to Hu’u in a big way in the last fortnight. It’s always good to see a DJ as excited to be there as everyone else and Matt didn’t hold back with the ‘wave your hands in the air like you just don’t care’ action. After a long standing residency at Ibiza hitting almost 12 years, you could say there’s a little experience under this guy’s collar and it was keeping everyone on a high. The sound system seemed to be feeling the pressure which may have been slightly distracting for those with keen ears, but the room remained packed and the crowd pushed right out to the back bar. Hu’u definitely wins on use of space, drapes breaking up a huge outdoor area to create intimate pockets to chill out in, soft lighting and huge pillows perfect for a post dance lie down. Another lychee martini thanks...

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With the Indonesian Surf Championships kicking off at the end of April, we hit the beach to see where the surfing spirit is at... 

Introducing...
MATTIA: Hello, I am Mattia, Italian surfer, born in Milan 9 November 1990.

How long have you been living in Bali? 
M: I have been living in Bali for the past 8 years, it doesn’t seem like that long because it’s such a great place.

Can you speak Bahasa Indonesian?
M: Bisa! harus bisa! (I can! I must be able to!)

What is your surfing background?
M: well, I surf mostly for fun, nothing serious, but I do a couple of contests every now and then, it helps to keep my sponsors happy. 

What got you into surfing?
M: Well, the first time I came to Bali was in the year 2000, I saw people surfing in Legian and I said to myself “I wanna do that one day”. The next day I rented myself a body-board and I was trying to stand up on it, because I was so little I could! After a few days i got a surfing instructor from Legian and they taught me well.

How did you feel when you got your first wave?
M: well I didnt really get to stand up on my first wave but i felt great.

What are the benefits of surfing?
M: Well there are many benefits if you are a surfer; chicks love surfers, you get this amazing feeling when you’re riding waves, your body gets fitter and healthier and once you start you can’t stop, i dont know if that’s a benefit though!

What is your favorite moment when surfing?
M: My favorite moment when i surf is when i score good waves and ride great barrels with no one around. 

What kind of surfing do you like the best?
M: I love free surfing; going on trips just for fun is the best for me. 

Have you ever been close to drowning or injured?
M: No luckily I haven’t drowned yet! But yeah I got injured once before, last time I was at the mentawais for an 8 day trip, I cut my back up pretty bad.

What is your favorite beach?
MATTIA: Well I like surfing everywhere but my favorite beaches are Bingin and Canggu.  

What surfboard do you use? 
MATTIA: I mainly use short-boards because I can do airs and stuff, cant do those on a long-board can you? 

Any unforgettable moments?
MATTIA: I’ll never forget the 18th of July 2008, best Padang-Padang EVER! 
Tell us about the contests you’ve been involved in...

MATTIA: Well I do the ISC tour (Indonesian surfing championship) and I hope this year I get to go into the top 10, its been really hard because now that I’m not a grommet anymore I have to compete with the opens which is really hard to win. But hopefully this year I can do better. 

If you’ve signed up for the ISC the waiting period begins on the 26th of April so when the good waves hit you better be ready for that call...

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Think of a tropical island and the image that springs to mind is that of a sandy beach bordered with coconut palms. Beyond a place to indulge in shade though, these symbols of the holiday spirit also provide an abundant source of materials and ingredients that are used for a variety of every day reasons. From root to leaf tip the coconut palm can be used for our benefit, thus earning it the nickname ‘Tree of Life’. Here are a few examples to look out for…

1.Coconut Water

Breaking open a coconut and drinking down the sweet liquid to be found inside has been the savior for many a marooned man dying of thirst. There are plenty of bars and cafés in Bali that make it a lot easier though. From alcoholic cocktails to simply cutting off the top and adding ice with a straw, coconuts provide a cool remedy to the tropical heat with their natural source of flavored water. Young coconut water is also used for the treatment of high blood pressure and it’s full of amino acids and vitamins.

2.Coconut Meat

Coconut meat is a popular food ingredient, especially in Bali. Head on down to a traditional restaurant and check out the menu for meals such as Yongko, Pisang Rai, Serombotan, Laklak and Lawar; just a few local cook ups that take advantage of the ‘other white meat’. Either that or crack one open on the beach and eat it raw. Now that’s livin’ in the tropics.

3.Coconut Milk

This smooth, creamy white cooking base is derived from the meat of mature coconuts. Its rich taste and color is attributed to the high content of oil and sugars and it comes in two grades; thick and thin. Directly squeezing grated coconut meat through cheesecloth produces thick milk, and repeating this process a second or third time after soaking the used meat in warm water will produce thin milk. Rich, dry sauces and desserts are often cooked with thick coconut milk while soups and general cooking uses thin milk.

4. Coconut Oil

This simple extract produced from pressing coconut meat just happens to be a super health benefit for the body, helping to protect against heart disease, prevent cancer and osteoporosis, empower the immune system, prevent infection, keep diabetes under control and soften the skin when used externally. Also great as a massage oil! Two table-spoons in the morning and at night are enough to start cleansing the system.

5.Coconut Shell

Not even the outside shell of the coconut goes to waste. Balinese cooking often uses a small coal fire to grill fish, corn or beef and the coconut shell is perfect for using as charcoal. It is also used for creating souvenirs and household goods such as rice ladles and ashtrays.

6. Coconut Leaf

The Leaf of the coconut palm has a huge range of practical uses, especially within Balinese Hindu ceremonies to create ornaments and wrap food for serving and cooking. Canang is the ornament placed in various locations as a prayer offering and it is made from cutting and weaving the leaf into a square bowl. Other examples are baskets, handicrafts, roofing and decorations.

7.Coconut trunk

The trunk of the coconut tree is itself commonly used as a building material within housing and bridges, while also being utilized for ornamental carvings, furniture and souvenirs.

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