Tarimbang
updated: October
2007
Tarimbang is a beautiful horseshoe bay, with
imposing cliffs on its flanks and reefs on either side of
the bay. It
is enringed with superb white sand beaches, backed by forest
and the
reefs provide right and left-hand breaks for surfers.
Tarimbang has
good barrels when it is working and the waves are all but
deserted, but
the surf is frickle. Although this is the primarily surfing
destination, the reefs shelter the bay so the water close to
shore is
good for swimming and there is decent snorkelling on the
sheltered side
of the reef ( 
video clip ).
You'll go a long way to
find a more beautiful beach, but you'll also have to go a
long way to
reach
Tarimbang. Tarimbang village has a simple homestay
accommodation,
please
see below. You'll have to walk to the beach, but the last
stretch is
through
shaded forest. Although surf is the main attraction, you may
also visit Tamandino, a small marapu village about 1
km walk from
Tarimbang.
Places to stay. The friendly Marthenīs
Homestay just behind the Church is the best place to
stay and costs
100.000
rp per person including meals. Rooms are of very simple
bamboo
construction with a mattress on the floor, but English is
spoken,
people are very nice, and the food is good. Another three
new bamboo
huts with a veranda were just
recently constructed ( video
clip ). Latest news is, they
have satellite telephone +62
866812124208.
Getting there and away. From Denpasar / Bali, there are presently almost daily flights to Waingapu / Sumba served by Trigana Air and Pelita Air costs are around 760.000 rp one way. From Waingapu, presently just a lorry runs to Tarimbang, leaving in the morning - the bumpy trip takes about five hours (20.000 rp). Busses marked `Tabundung`, the name of the district, leave Waingapu, but do not go as far as Tarimbang.Traffic follows the main highway and then turns off just before Lewa. Alternatively, you may reach Tarimbang in about three hours hiring a driver with a car (500.000 rp one way), or a motorbike (100.000 rp per day). The road is sealed all the way, but very narrow and winding. It crosses the bare mountains south of the highway, and runs along the ridge for much of the way, with drop-offs on either side of the road. You strike forest as you descend to the coast.
Original source of information (updated): Indonesia's Eastern Islands. Lonely Planet, 1st Edition, 1998. ISBN 0 86442 503 1
More information: please contact Mr. Anto of Oceania Tour and Travel in Waingapu.
Oceania Tour and Travel
Jl. Ahmad Yani 17C, Waingapu 87111 - Sumba - NTT -
Indonesia
phone: +62-(0)387-62875
mobile: +62-(0)8123744744
FAX: +62-(0)387-61333
email: oceania_tour@yahoo.com
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