Kandui Villas is an epic Eco-Friendly Resort, located right in the heart of the infamous and consistent Playgrounds region, in the Mentawai Islands.

Jordan’s prime inspiration at Kandui Villas is to provide a destination where a surf traveler feels super comfortable and confident enough to bring their partner and family on a surf trip of a lifetime.

Jordan and Hatsumi and the entire team at Kandui Villas are constantly in touch with us at Perfect Wave Travel. We thought it was a great time to check in and get an update on what’s going down in the Mentawai during Covid 19 lockdown.

The surreal scene of a completely empty No Kandui Covid line up in early May 2020. Photo Hatsumi.
 
Ben – How was the 2020 Kandui Surf Season shaping up pre Covid Jordan?

Jordan – The super early season was pumping with epic conditions and relatively uncrowded waves. Before the COVID 19 problem really blew up we had some small groups of guests arrive and most other resorts had guests as well, and the surf actually started to have some small crowds and fun times for a bit until the COVID 19 outbreak really got bad. Then the Mentawai Islands went into complete lockdown, and were closed to not only tourist arrivals, but also to all Indonesian citizen arrivals as well.

 

The week before lockdown. Photo Hatsumi.
Feb early season 2020 time capsule. Photo Hatsumi.

 

When were the first signs Covid was going to affect life in the Mentawai?

I knew early on that this was very likely going to get bad at the end of January when I first started following the news in China closely. At that time I made a decision to get ready, just in case, and had a team of farm workers come in and start planting many types of crops that we could survive on if things started to get really bad. We planted every day from the start of February and now we are pretty much 100% self sustainable and if necessary we are now able to survive here indefinitely with no more supplies arriving to the island.

Self sufficiency, and bringing farm fresh food straight to the table has always been our goal here at Kandui Villas and this pandemic actually helped to make that goal a reality. Once things open back up we will now be able to provide nearly all of Kandui Villas’ produce, and egg needs directly from our very own farm, greenhouse and chicken coop.

 
When did Kandui itself have to shutdown?

Kandui Villas was still open until it was no longer an option for guests to come to Mentawai, when on March 21 the Bupati of the Mentawai Islands ordered all resorts, home-stays, surf camps, charter boats, and surf spots to be closed indefinitely, or until further notice. Prior to that announcement we already had no guests arriving for a while since people were already scared to travel and cancelled or at least rescheduled their trips.

 

Some of the last guests enjoying pre Covid grits at Kandui. Photo Hatsumi.

 

It must be kinda surreal being in paradise with so few surfers and tourists around?

Yes, it is surreal, like going back in time. The atmosphere has really cleaned up since the worldwide lockdowns began providing us with the clearest blue skies and most beautiful sunsets that we have seen out here in years.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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What are you doing – what does an average day currently look like?

Every day we wake up, eat breakfast and then go to work on the farm, which has now become a full time job for me and the few remaining crew that decided to stay and work through the pandemic.

 

Just before all surfing was barred back in March 2020. Photo Hatsumi.
 
Do you have your usual team in place? What numbers are still at the resort?

When the resort was forced to close we asked the workers what they wanted to do? Most decided to go home to be with their families through the pandemic. We had 6 workers who decided to stay here working on the farm, but that has since reduced to 4 workers because 2 of them later decided to go home as well.

How have the waves and weather been?

The waves and weather since the lockdown started have been beautiful more days than not, with a few really good swells.

 
As Jordan says, the air has been so clear. Photo Hatsumi
 
You must have had some great empty surfs?

Unfortunately surfing is now illegal in the Mentawai Islands, has been as of March 21, with a possible prison sentence of 4-12 months if caught surfing, so because of that we have not been surfing. Although we do not agree that making surfing an illegal activity here on our island is going to help reduce any spread of COVID 19, we still must obey the laws and regulations which the local and national governments issue. Therefore we have been staying full time on our island.

Empty unridden cavern Feb 20. Photo Hatsumi.

 

The local kids can’t even surf?

I have not seen anyone surfing since March 21. I have no idea when this lockdown will end and there has been no official word from the government on this as yet, so I suspect it may well be a long time off still, but we will be ready to welcome surfers and families back as soon as the government gives us the go ahead. We will be organized and primed and pretty much completely self sufficient.

 

Take me back to Kandui please. Photo Hatsumi

Written by:
Ben Horvath

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