I’ve spent the last seven days on the Indonesian island of Sumba, which is an hour’s flight east from Bali. 12 university mates on a surf trip staying a property up above Kerewei Beach.
I’m not a surfer – I can body surf and have been quite happy bobbing around for a couple of hours, but not twice a day. I’ve swum in some beautiful spots that can only be reached by boat – but I’ve been fortunate to have a car for afternoon excursions. As part of my planning, I’ve using google maps and came across the location “Pub Wow”.
Whilst there are three very serviceable bars on the beach – how can you go past a place called Pub Wow? Well it turns out that Pub Wow is simply a day bed next to a general store that serves Bintang. And whilst that sounds underwhelming it is actually a cool place to drink and watch Sumban life pass by.
Like many general stores in Sumba, the items for sale are eclectic. Nails to hair dye. The hours are erratic, but it was open yesterday arvo and three of us enjoyed a Bintang or two served by the enthusiastic proprietor. A very entertaining place if you like observing near misses between bikes, cars, buffaloes, goats and people on a busy corner.
As I said Pantai Kerewei is well served by three beach bars and also the very upmarket resort hotel called Alamayah. Alamayah is very sophisticate, but has no beach views. The Corner Beach Bar is well located but takes the P I 55 charging $10 for a big Bintang. Coconuts Bar and Bistro was probably my favourite for its undercover verandah drinking, but more often than not we patronised the Sumba Beach House and Bar when all 12 of us were around.
It is quite extraordinary the domination Bintang has. Only the Alamayah served anything else.
Sumba has been fabulous and I’ve swum every day. I feel like I’m half seawater and half Bintang. There is nothing like sea breezes to work up a thirst and it has been to leave the beach bars to return to our camp for dinner. Not sure if I’ll return, but I’m grateful for the Pub Wow experience and sharing birthday beers with old mates at Coconuts.
back of the ferry 
Love this post, esp. as we’ll be there next year with a group of long time mates for surfing, Bintang, meet the locals and feel the rytham of life in Pantai Kerewei. Did you stay at Subma Retreat or the Beach House or Surf Camp, or somewhere else – any other local hacks for us – in addition to Pub Wow?