From:"NA5U" Date:Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 9:20 Subject:YB Land DX Club Thank You!
Dear YB Land DX Club,
On behalf of the The KP1-5 Project’s Navassa Island DXpedition -2015, thank you for your kind contribution of $500.00 USD.
It is dedicated and generous DXers like you that make DXpeditions such as this possible and we are pleased that you are now a member of the KP1-5 Project. One of the goals of the Navassa Island DXpedtion-2015 is to provide at least one QSO to every DXer who needs this #4 ranked DXCC entity for a NEW one. Also, we want to provide as many band/mode contacts needed by DXers worldwide. We believe we have the plan, the team and the equipment to make this happen!
Your contribution will help make all this a reality and not only our team of DXpeditioners, but DXers world-wide...THANK YOU!
See you in the pile-ups!
For the team,
Mike Thomas, NA5U Secretary, The KP1-5 Project
TNX to YB9WZJ, YB0NDT, YB2TJV, YB2ERL, YB5QZ, YB0COU, YB1UUN, YB1TJ, YC0OST, YC0OSX, YC9VL, YB0NFL, YB0DJ, YE6YE, YD2SM, YB4IR, YB1AR, YB0AI, YB0NSI, YF1AR and all YBDXC members
IDO-380 Banda Naira Light House OC-157 Banda Islands rare IOTA - 7.4 pct, October 23-24,2014 Banda Naira Island October 25-27,2014 Banda Besar Island including CQ WW DX Contest 4'51"S 129'90"E PI45wl CQ28 ITU54
Central Maluku Regency: Banda Sea Lighthouses
Note: The Banda Islands are a small group in the Banda Sea about 200 km (125 mi) southeast of Ambon. Until the mid 19th century the islands were world's only source of the spices nutmeg and mace. The islands are administered as part of the Central Maluku Regency.
* Banda Naira (Pulau Naira)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, centered on a square concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Phillips Dewantoro's photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the quay at Banda Naira, the principal town of the islands. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K1626; NGA 25812 IDO-380
The Banda Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Banda) are a volcanic group of ten small volcanic islands in the Banda Sea, about 140 km (87 mi) south of Seram Island and about 2,000 km (1,243 mi) east of Java, and are part of the Indonesian province of Maluku. The main town and administrative centre is Bandanaira, located on the island of the same name. They rise out of 4-to-6-kilometre (2.5 to 3.7 mi) deep ocean and have a total land area of approximately 180 square kilometres (69 sq mi). They have a population of about 15,000. Until the mid-19th century the Banda Islands were the world's only source of the spices nutmeg and mace, produced from the nutmeg tree. The islands are also popular destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Since the first century AD, the Banda islands have been the sole producers of the fragrant nutmeg and mace for which Chinese, Indian, and Arab ships traveled across the seas. These precious spices could be sold at enormous profit in foreign markets. The people of Banda thrived on their natural resources, but in later years suffered at the hands of Dutch colonizers who wanted to dominate the world’s spice trade. Despite such a big reputation, the fabled Banda islands are only a tiny cluster of islands, composed of three large islands and seven smaller ones. The islands are perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest underwater gorge, the Banda Sea, where waters can reach depths of over 6,500 meters.
Two of the biggest islands, Banda Besar and Naira, are covered with nutmeg trees. The third island, Gunung Api or ‘peak of fire’, is an active volcano that emerges from the deep in a perfect cone, and is entirely rugged and highly volcanic. In the waters surrounding these islands you’ll find some of the world’s most spectacular marine gardens, with bright corals and colorful fish, bustling through the crystal-clear waters, making it suitable for diving, snorkeling or even simply sightseeing. Lying about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, the islands are a remote and exquisitely beautiful part of Indonesia. With multi-colored reefs, warm seas and exotic marine life, the Banda’s are a haven for divers who come from around the world to explore some of the most remote and unspoiled dive sites in the world. Today, Banda attracts divers, sailors and cruise ships from around the world by its sheer natural beauty, both above as below the sea, which can only be matched by Raja Ampat, Papua; another location for ultimate underwater adventures.
You are a Contester who is going to a rare location for an HF DXpedition.
You have some experience of contest pile-ups, but no experience of an HF DXpedition or DXpedition pile-ups
1. Ideally, your first DXpedition would be with others who have experience of DXpeditioning, but in the following notes I am assuming that you are going on a single-operator DXpedition.
2. Your contest pile-up experience will be a great help during the DXpedition. However a DXpedition pile-up is likely to be much more intense than a contest pile-up, may be spread over many kHz and requires a different approach from a contest pile-up.
3. Plan well in advance - find out as much as you can about your destination - all the obvious things like Accommodation, Visas, Licensing, Inoculations, Food costs, etc, etc. Find out about the likely weather conditions at the time of year you are going, local sources of QRN, availability of internet access, reliability of AC supplies, etc. Often the best way to find out is to ask someone who has been on a DXpedition to where you are going. Ask their advice.
Radio equipment and Antennas
4. Take a radio that has good receiver performance. Many currently-available HF transceivers actually perform very poorly in pile-up situations. Also try to take an amplifier - 500W RF output instead of 100W at your end makes things a lot easier for you and the stations calling you.
5. Antennas are a crucial aspect of your DXpedition - a home-made resonant antenna, which you can easily construct with just wire, some supporting structures and some coax feeder, will almost always out-perform any commercial antenna. Resonant antennas usually only cover one band at a time, so you might want to install 5 or 6 of them at once if possible, or change them over from time-to-time. A resonant antenna does away with the need for any antenna tuner. Having to use an antenna tuner is a good thing to avoid, if you can. If you take a Spiderbeam or Hexbeam type antenna, remember that they only really perform (esp. on 14MHz) at a reasonable height e.g. 15m to 20m above ground, which may be difficult to achieve. A vertical antenna within a few metres of the sea will out-perform most horizontally-polarised antennas and may be much easier for you to set up, if you have access to a beach. Take some clip-on ferrite chokes - they may be needed to suppress RF in the shack.
6. Take your own laptop/netbook/tablet with you, but make sure you test it thoroughly with whichever radio you are taking - so that the radio's CAT control will record the frequency of every QSO that you make.here are many free logging software packages available, which make logging DXpedition QSOs quickly very easy. For example, WinTest (free DXpedition version), DXlog.net or N1MM. (Generally speaking, day-to-day logging software like Logger32 is not ideal for a DXpedition - data entry and correction is to slow). However you must spend some time becoming familiar with how to interface the software with your radio and how to use the software effectively. If you need to use a USB <-> RS232 converter, check that the chipset in the converter actually works properly with your PC and your radio CAT control. Take spare fuses, etc.
7. Internet access is very important nowadays. Try to find out in advance if this is available, or not, at your DXpedition destination. The world-wide amateur radio community will expect you to keep in touch, even if it is only once a week, and also to upload your DXpedition logfiles regularly to an 'online log' if possible. Set-up a website and/or send information about your upcoming DXpedition to the DX news bulletins. If your DXpedition experiences delays or technical or other problems, let everyone know and they will be sympathetic (mostly!).
Operating (these notes refer to SSB operating, but most of the points apply to CW and Datamodes operating)
8. How you operate will determine how successful or otherwise your DXpedition is, often more so than propagation or equipment and antennas. Operating is something you have complete control over.
9. The most important thing is that you think positively about the whole operating experience. Once you get used to them, you will really enjoy DXpedition pile-ups and take great personal satisfaction from keeping them under control and working stations as fast as possible. You will also gain the respect of radio hams worldwide, who can be quite impatient and critical. They almost always don't fully understand (or don't care) what things are actually like 'at your end'.
10. Another key point - YOU are in control of what happens when operating and can say anything that you think will help complete the contact quickly and efficiently. Yes you can switch off if things get too tough, but staying on the air and controlling the pile-up and outwitting any DQRMers is great fun. (DQRM = deliberate QRM = deliberate interference with your signal, which sadly might be a problem at times) Ignore deliberate interference completely if you can, and don't allow it to cause you any stress.
11. Spend time using your radio so that you know exactly how it works. If possible, learn how to use it under situations where there is heavy interference.
Working pile-ups
12. Speed is the most important thing in handling a pile-up - whatever you do, do it quickly and accurately then move quickly on to the next QSO. It's worth remembering that about 80% of what we say into a microphone is un-necessary information. Try to build up and maintain a steady rhythm to working the stations.
13. Keep control of the pile-up at all times. This is easier if your signal is loud, so pay attention to equipment and antennas. On the bands we often hear an inexperienced operator in a rare country being overwhelmed by the pile-up and closing down or changing bands - with experience (or advice) this would not happen. Timing of transmissions is a key factor in pile-up control - keep transmitting regularly and never allow stations to call more than twice before you next transmit.
14. Always reply to ONE specific station every time and give them a report immediately - no dithering about and asking for repeats. Usually you need to have copied at least 2 letters of the callsign before replying, and there may be more than 1 station with these same 2 letters in the callsign. Very often you might only copy the last letter of one callsign - you can still say "the station ending in Bravo 59" - this usually works but can waste time.
15. Announce your callsign regularly - incorrect DX Cluster spots are fairly common so it benefits everyone if you give your callsign regularly. How often 'regularly' is depends on a number of factors which you will find with experience - after every contact may not be necessary - after every second or third contact is really the minimum.
16. Don't waste time - don't repeat the report that the other station sends you back to them - this is a common fault with newer operators - they are mentally giving themselves time to catch up with what's happening - if you are not 100% sure about any part of their callsign, just ask for a repeat. Some time-wasting phrases to be avoided : "Standing-by for a call", "Thanks for the QSO" etc..
17. Always work Split frequency - you TX on say 21.295MHz and listen from 21.300MHz to 21310MHz. Check that you understand how the SPLIT button on your radio works and that you have things the right way round i.e. every time you go to transmit you stay on 21.295, but when on receive you can tune freely from 21300 to 21310 or whatever. Remember to tell the pile-up - '300 to 310' is all you need to say.
18. The single word "Thanks" is an elegant way to end a QSO - this one word conveys to the other operator that (a) you have received all their information correctly and (b) you appreciate the QSO. The single word also implies to others listening that you are now waiting for other stations to call. You can say 'Thanks xxxxxx' where xxxxxx is your callsign.
19. Make sure that you give everyone a chance to work you - for example, stop a USA pile-up every few minutes and make a selective call - any Europe please, any Pacific please, etc ? This is a very effective technique, and surprisingly often results in a station who has been calling you from a long way away being worked.
20. Make a note of good 'band openings' that you experience to different parts of the world - there are many radio propagation experts who can give you advice about the best time to be active on any particular band. Some logging software packages also have propagation prediction features built-in.
21. Ask stations to give their full callsigns when calling - unfortunately this only works for a few minutes (or not at all!) after you make the request, then it's back to old (bad) habits - however if you reply to full callsigns, the calling stations might get the idea ! As long as you are working stations quickly then it doesn't really matter how they are calling you, but full callsigns are ideal. One common problem is that if you respond to a callsign having heard only one or two letters, the station assumes that you have their full callsign and does not give it - this is a common time-waster - you have to quickly say 'Your call?' or similar.
22. Operating on the low bands (160m, 80m) can be very difficult and requires receive antenna(s) as well as transmit antennas. Again there are many experts who can help you with advice.
23. The pile-up operators do not want to know your name, etc - just make sure that they know you have copied and logged their callsign correctly - your website or new bulletins should give them all the other information.
Example of efficient pile-up working (under ideal conditions)
You : VK0XX 300 to 310
Pile-up : xxxKPxxxxxxx
You : Kilo Papa 59
DL2KP : Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa 59
You : Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa - thanks .. (or just Delta Lima Two - thanks) .. (or DL2 - thanks)
Pile-up : xxxxxxxxxxx etc....
Example of poor pile-up working
You : CQ CQ VK0XX - Victor Kilo Zero Xray Xray - listening from 21 300 to 21 310
Pile-up : xxxKPxxxxxxx
You : Is there a Kilo Papa calling ? Please call now (or 'Make your call')
DL2KP : Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa
You : er .. is that Delta Lima Two Kilo something - say again
DL2KP : Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa
You : Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa, Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa - thanks for calling you are 59, 59 - over
DL2KP: 59 Thanks
You : Delta Lima Two Kilo Papa - thank-you for the 59. 73 and good luck. This is VK0XX - Victor Kilo Zero Xray Xray - listening from 21 300 to 21 310
ARLHS IDO-247 Sipura LightHouse IOTA OC-215 Sipora Island - Mentawai Islands May 25 - Jun 1, 2014 LAT: 02° 11' S LON 99° 44' E Gridsquare NI97ut
Pulau Sipura
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. A view from the water is available, but the tower has not been seen in Bing's satellite view of the port. Located on the waterfront of Pulau Sipura, on the east side of Sipura island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS 379 Admiralty K0878.1; NGA 23136.
Sipora Island
Sipura, or Sipora located off Sumatra in Indonesia, is the smallest and most developed of the four Mentawai Islands at only 845 km². The regency capital of the Mentawai Islands, Tua Pejat, is found on Sipora. An estimated 10-15% of the original rainforest remains on this island.
Sipora is a surfing destination. Surf spots Hollow Trees and Lance's Left break off the southern end of the island. Surf spots break in the northwestern region of this island including Telescopes, Iceland, and Scarecrows. The ocean swells are most consistent from April to October, but Sipora is a viable year-round surfing destination. Wind conditions can vary by the hour, and are often calm and glassy. For accommodation near Sipura, most surfers stay on yachts that can be chartered in Padang and motor between surf breaks as conditions change. Some visiting surfers choose to stay on the island itself at resorts or with local families in Tua Pajet.
The islands North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan) are situated to the south, and also have surf breaks along their western coasts.
Mentawai Island: The Ultimate Diversity Of The Hidden Paradise
Take a trip into the wild with an adventure to the Mentawai islands. Be surrounded by tropical rainforests and immerse yourself in the traditions of the local people. While the physical distance between the mainland and Mentawai is not great, this remains one of the most isolated places in Indonesia, and was only subject to outside influences at the start of the 20th century. A long way from the world of shopping malls and theme parks, this is where travellers come to get a truly off the beaten track adventure.
Located off the West coast of Sumatra, the Mentawai archipelago includes four municipalities, Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai and South Pagai. is the biggest of the Siberut islands and remains largely covered with tropical rainforest. From the moment you arrive on and see the white coral beaches, ancient rainforests and hear the cheeky black gibbons playing in the trees you’ll find it hard to resist falling in love with the place. This Siberut island is home to a rich array of bio-diversity which has earned it designation as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The remote location of these islands means that the Mentawai people have had very little contact with the outside world. The archipelogo is thought to have broken off from the rest of Sumara about 500,000 years ago and it is only since the 20th century that outside influences began to have an impact on the local people. Today, the Mentawai still abide by traditional practices and live largely off the land. Local people have a strong spiritual relationship with the forest with a belief system that emphasizes harmony with creation.
It is believed people first came to inhabit these islands at least several thousand years ago. Most anthropologists classify the Mentawai people as Protomalay which means they have a mostly Neotlithic culture but have not been effected by Buddhism, Islam or Hinduism.
Tatoos are an important symbol in Mentawai culture and reflect maturity, manhood and status. The art of this body painting has been inherited from ancient ancestors and the ink is made from natural fibres.
The biggest town on Siberut is Muara Siberut on the southeast coast. This is the major point of entry for tour groups from the mainland. From here, you can travel with a with a local guide and trek inland to some of the Mentawai villages. If your bahasa is good enough, chat to the locals and enjoy their hospitality.
The other big attraction for visitors to these islands is the world class surfing. With some of the best surfing conditions in the world, monster waves and swells that remain all year round, this is ranked by serious surfers as a must visit destination.
Pulau Sipora : Mentawai’s Continuous Huge Surf barrels
Whether you are an experienced surfer, looking for a challenge, a solo backpacker with a more adventurous side, or thinking of just getting away from your routine daily life, this island is a haven of activity. With its challenging surfing spots, white sandy beaches with exotic fish and colorful corals, Pulau Sipora offers a little something for everyone.
Strategically located in the Mentawai Islands, Pulau Sipora is the smallest island in this cluster off the coast of West Sumatera. Compared to the other four major islands in the Mentawai, Pulau Sipora’s position is right in the middle between Pulau Pagai and Pulau Siberut. On this island is the town of Tua Pejat, the district capital of Mentawai.
Covering an area of approximately 845 km ², Pulau Sipora is approximately 10-15% pristine rainforest. Much of the population on Sipora are either farmers or fishermen.
Sipora has become one of the major tourist attractions in the vicinity due to many beautiful and unique characteristics of this island, one of which is its world class surfing. The best time to visit the island for windsurfing is from April to October, as this is when the waves are usually at their peak. Even so, you still can enjoy the challenge of the rolling waves at Pulau Sipora most all year round.
Some of the world-class surfing points, the Hollow Trees and Lance's Left are at the southern tip of the island. A number of other famous surfing spots are located in the northwest of the island, among those being the Telescopes, Iceland, andScarecrows.
Hollow Trees, or also known as HT or Lance's Right are cylindrical waves (known as the right tubes) have appeared in international magazines and surfing videos for the past 10 years. When waves of this type come not too large, there will be 3 take off zones which will challenge even the most skilled surfer to maneuver smoothly. When the larger waves come, the peak of the wave where it breaks, will be connected with a continuous barrel, which will again be a welcome opportunity for surfing enthusiasts to hone their skills on the board.
Be careful with what is called The Surgeon's Table at this surfing point. These waves appear as if they are trying to lift surfers to its peak, to wave in the air as if a trophy of some sort. The Hollow Trees site is not recommended for beginners or novice surfers as the waves present a challenge for even those with adequate skills and expertise.
Lance's Left is a strong wave and the most consistent at Pulau Sipora and the surrounding Mentawai areas. Having the characteristics of waves with two different barrels and a take-off zone, Lance's Left (if caught in its perfect condition) is said to be one of the most beautiful waves on the planet. The movement of the waves along the surface of the sea is a result of differences in air pressure and winds which create a larger vertical take-off zone and a perfect barrel. When the waves are not too big, Lance's Left is suitable for surfers with intermediate skills.
In the northwestern sea of Pulau Sipora, there are two other well-known types of waves, the Telescopes and the Scarecrow. Telescopes are a type of very long waves, semi-hollow (waves rolling with a hole in the middle), and almost perfect for surfing. Many surfers who have surfed Telescope waves admit that this is one of the best waves in Indonesia. Telescopes are not too big but lots of fun to surf with their cylindrical shapes. These waves are suitable for intermediate level surfers. The Telescope waves are located the closest to Tua Pejat (the district capital), approximately 5 km to the west of the town.
The Scarecrows are a type of wave with a take-off zone from the left which is formed with the wave walls connected directly to the fast rolling barrel. These waves are also suitable for intermediate level surfers.
Welcome To Siberut Island of The Mentawai Island, Indonesia
Noah's Ark" Mentawai
Mentawai Islands Surf April 9th-16th 2013 Firing Secret Rights
Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; white flash every 5 s. Approx. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Bing has a satellite view of the station. NGA lists the focal plane as 14 m (46 ft); 46 m seems more likely. Located at the northern tip of Pulau Siberut. Site status unknown. Admiralty K0875.7; NGA 23153.
Mentawai Island: The Ultimate Diversity Of The Hidden Paradise
Take a trip into the wild with an adventure to the Mentawai islands. Be surrounded by tropical rainforests and immerse yourself in the traditions of the local people. While the physical distance between the mainland and Mentawai is not great, this remains one of the most isolated places in Indonesia, and was only subject to outside influences at the start of the 20th century. A long way from the world of shopping malls and theme parks, this is where travellers come to get a truly off the beaten track adventure.
Located off the West coast of Sumatra, the Mentawai archipelago includes four municipalities, Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai and South Pagai. is the biggest of the Siberut islands and remains largely covered with tropical rainforest. From the moment you arrive on and see the white coral beaches, ancient rainforests and hear the cheeky black gibbons playing in the trees you’ll find it hard to resist falling in love with the place. This Siberut island is home to a rich array of bio-diversity which has earned it designation as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The remote location of these islands means that the Mentawai people have had very little contact with the outside world. The archipelogo is thought to have broken off from the rest of Sumara about 500,000 years ago and it is only since the 20th century that outside influences began to have an impact on the local people. Today, the Mentawai still abide by traditional practices and live largely off the land. Local people have a strong spiritual relationship with the forest with a belief system that emphasizes harmony with creation.
It is believed people first came to inhabit these islands at least several thousand years ago. Most anthropologists classify the Mentawai people as Protomalay which means they have a mostly Neotlithic culture but have not been effected by Buddhism, Islam or Hinduism.
Tatoos are an important symbol in Mentawai culture and reflect maturity, manhood and status. The art of this body painting has been inherited from ancient ancestors and the ink is made from natural fibres.
The biggest town on Siberut is Muara Siberut on the southeast coast. This is the major point of entry for tour groups from the mainland. From here, you can travel with a with a local guide and trek inland to some of the Mentawai villages. If your bahasa is good enough, chat to the locals and enjoy their hospitality.
The other big attraction for visitors to these islands is the world class surfing. With some of the best surfing conditions in the world, monster waves and swells that remain all year round, this is ranked by serious surfers as a must visit destination.
Pulau Siberut: Home to the Mentawai Tribes
There are not many places in the world where you could find all packed into one small island some excellent world class surfing spots, exotic tropical forests, local tribal experiences, and rare exotic plant and animal species. Among the Mentawai islands lies a small, but unique and, not only naturally but also culturally beautiful island.
Pulau Siberut is the largest of the Mentawai chain of Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 100 km. off the west coast of West Sumatra, and separated from the main island by the Mentawai Strait. The island itself lies some 155 km from the province’s capital city of Padang. You will not reach this spot without much time spent travelling, however, the adventure and experience of all the natural beauty this island has to offer make it more than worthwhile. Pulau Siberut invites the adventure thirsty to come and explore all the wealth it possesses, including the rich culture, customs, and exotic tropical environment.
Siberut is home to the Mentawai tribe of approximately 30,000 people, who live isolated from the modern community. The Mentawai tribe is said to have migrated to the Mentawai islands from Nias island to its north, living an isolated life here for centuries until “discovered” by the Dutch in 1621.
A closer look into the inner workings of the life of the Mentawai is one of the main attractions for a visit to Siberut. The Mentawai tribe still maintains the lifestyle and traditions passed down from their ancestors from thousands of years ago. They live in houses locally called ‘uma’, made from wooden scaffolds which house several families each.
The tribe has its own language, culture, customs and some still profess a belief in animism. Their clothing is also very simple: Mentawai men wear only a loincloth made from the bark of the gum tree, while women only wear a simple skirt made of palm or banana leaves. Besides clothing, they also recognize a certain "timeless clothing", - the characteristic Mentawai tribal tattoo, - which sometimes entails tattooing the whole body in the traditional way, following a variety of tribal rituals. It is not uncommon to see Mentawai people covered from head to toe in tattoos. Their main food is sago and they raise pigs and hunt monkeys for their daily food.
Besides witnessing the Mentawai tribe’s isolated life, trekking in the protected tropical forests is very much recommended, while, enjoying the scenery around the island is another interesting adventure to be had. Approximately 2/3 of the island is covered with rain forest that offers trekking adventures which are not always easy but physically challenging and will be sure to get your heart pumping.
Much of the island is protected by and has been set to become a national park since 1993, known by the name of Taman Nasional Siberu . The Siberut National Park is one of the Biosphere Reserves working in conjunction with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB).
The Siberut National Park is home to four types of wildlife primates found only in Siberut, these being Bokkoi (Macaca pagensis), Lutung Mentawai / Joja (Presbytis Potenziani Siberug), Bilou (Hylobates klossii), and Simakobu (Nasalis siberu concolor) . In addition to these endemic primates, there are also 4 different types of endemic squirrel species, 17 mammals, and 130 species of birds (4 of which are endemic).
A visit to the Siberut National Park is an adventure package with a combination of activities, such as boating, rowing, trekking through the (sometimes muddy) forest paths, enjoying the beauty of the rainforest, as well as observations of the rare species of both plants and animals. To explore the charm of Siberut, there are a number of service travel agencies, and tour guides can be found in Padang or Bukit Tinggi.
Pulau Sipora : Mentawai’s Continuous Huge Surf barrels
Whether you are an experienced surfer, looking for a challenge, a solo backpacker with a more adventurous side, or thinking of just getting away from your routine daily life, this island is a haven of activity. With its challenging surfing spots, white sandy beaches with exotic fish and colorful corals, Pulau Sipora offers a little something for everyone.
Strategically located in the Mentawai Islands, Pulau Sipora is the smallest island in this cluster off the coast of West Sumatera. Compared to the other four major islands in the Mentawai, Pulau Sipora’s position is right in the middle between Pulau Pagai and Pulau Siberut. On this island is the town of Tua Pejat, the district capital of Mentawai.
Covering an area of approximately 845 km ², Pulau Sipora is approximately 10-15% pristine rainforest. Much of the population on Sipora are either farmers or fishermen.
Sipora has become one of the major tourist attractions in the vicinity due to many beautiful and unique characteristics of this island, one of which is its world class surfing. The best time to visit the island for windsurfing is from April to October, as this is when the waves are usually at their peak. Even so, you still can enjoy the challenge of the rolling waves at Pulau Sipora most all year round.
Some of the world-class surfing points, the Hollow Trees and Lance's Left are at the southern tip of the island. A number of other famous surfing spots are located in the northwest of the island, among those being the Telescopes, Iceland, andScarecrows.
Hollow Trees, or also known as HT or Lance's Right are cylindrical waves (known as the right tubes) have appeared in international magazines and surfing videos for the past 10 years. When waves of this type come not too large, there will be 3 take off zones which will challenge even the most skilled surfer to maneuver smoothly. When the larger waves come, the peak of the wave where it breaks, will be connected with a continuous barrel, which will again be a welcome opportunity for surfing enthusiasts to hone their skills on the board.
Be careful with what is called The Surgeon's Table at this surfing point. These waves appear as if they are trying to lift surfers to its peak, to wave in the air as if a trophy of some sort. The Hollow Trees site is not recommended for beginners or novice surfers as the waves present a challenge for even those with adequate skills and expertise.
Lance's Left is a strong wave and the most consistent at Pulau Sipora and the surrounding Mentawai areas. Having the characteristics of waves with two different barrels and a take-off zone, Lance's Left (if caught in its perfect condition) is said to be one of the most beautiful waves on the planet. The movement of the waves along the surface of the sea is a result of differences in air pressure and winds which create a larger vertical take-off zone and a perfect barrel. When the waves are not too big, Lance's Left is suitable for surfers with intermediate skills.
In the northwestern sea of Pulau Sipora, there are two other well-known types of waves, the Telescopes and the Scarecrow. Telescopes are a type of very long waves, semi-hollow (waves rolling with a hole in the middle), and almost perfect for surfing. Many surfers who have surfed Telescope waves admit that this is one of the best waves in Indonesia. Telescopes are not too big but lots of fun to surf with their cylindrical shapes. These waves are suitable for intermediate level surfers. The Telescope waves are located the closest to Tua Pejat (the district capital), approximately 5 km to the west of the town.
The Scarecrows are a type of wave with a take-off zone from the left which is formed with the wave walls connected directly to the fast rolling barrel. These waves are also suitable for intermediate level surfers.
Welcome To Siberut Island of The Mentawai Island, Indonesia
Mentawai Islands Surf April 9th-16th 2013 Firing Secret Rights
