My name is Sina Kirmse. I was born in Germany, grew up in Thailand and now live in the beautiful Mentawai Islands (Indonesia). I love experiencing different cultures, tasting new foods and meeting people from all over the world. These travel experiences bring together an amazing collection of adventures and memories that I am able to cherish forever.
My story with the Mentawai Islands started when my boyfriend and I went there on holiday. We saw that Hollow Tree’s Resort was abandoned and we wondered why. After our holiday was over, we went back to Bali and contacted the owner. He told us he was about to put the resort on the market and that apparently we were the first ones that were interested.
It was such an amazing opportunity that we had to take it. Now we have been living and working here for the last five years! I work as a Hotel Manager at Hollow Tree’s, so I spend my days working from 8am to 5pm. But most of my time is flexible (unless it’s busy). I allow myself to go surfing, preferably in the afternoons as I’m not known for being a morning person.
If I have friends come visit the resort, I will definitely surf for a couple of sessions per day. I also like to take some rides through the Mentawai jungle and explore other beaches around the area. The food is amazing here too.
Everyday we join our guests for lunch and dinner like a Hollow Tree’s family. That is one of my favorite times of the day, where the whole resort comes together and we just talk about our day and get to know each other better.
Mentawai Islands: Paradise on Earth!
Mentawai is literally paradise on earth. I remember my first time visiting this place, I was like: “Wow, I had no idea a place like this exists”. Crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches and palm trees could be seen everywhere. I immediately fell in love with this destination in Indonesia.
The islands were made even better because I have a passion for surfing and Mentawai is like a dream for surf-lovers. Mentawai was the type of place I had been searching for my entire life. It’s safe to say my first visit there paid off. Some say Mentawai is more beautiful than the Maldives!
My Favorite Wave in the Mentawai Islands
I haven’t explored much of Mentawai, I have only been at Hollow Tree (Lance’s Right). That is where all my pictures have been captured. And I truly love it here! We are so lucky to have an A Grade wave right on our doorstep and also have ten other waves surrounding our vicinity.
There are waves for everyone here! My favorite wave has to be The Point just around the corner from us – a super long right hander suitable for both long boarding and short boarding. And there is usually no one out there.
4 Must-Do Activities in the Mentawai Islands
- Surfing: Mentawai is one of the best surfing destinations in the world!
- Explore the Mentawai Islands: The island chain is formed by around 70 different islands and islets, and there is just so much to see. Either go on surf boat charters or visit other resorts, surf camps or guest houses.
- Visit the Sikerei Tribe (Mentawai People) in Siberut: I have never visited myself but I have heard amazing stories and it’s worth a visit.
- Snorkeling/Freediving: With around 70 islands on offer, the possibilities for snorkeling and freediving adventures are endless.
Why you Should Stay at Hollow Tree’s Resort
My boyfriend owns Hollow Tree’s Resort and I work here, so I definitely recommend this resort for your accommodation in the Mentawai Islands. The resort is a 10/10 and is definitely the number one pick (despite my bias).
The main reason for this is that we are unlike any other resort – we have waves right on our doorstep. And not just any waves, but an A Grade wave. You don’t need to take a boat out and go hunting for waves. You just need to wake up and see. Unless, of course, the wind and swell direction is not good there. In this case, you have other waves to choose from in the area.
Another reason to stay at Hollow Tree’s Resort (apart from the great surf) is because we have an amazing chef that cooks all types of different varieties of Indonesian specialties and dishes. Our chef can also cook up a storm when it comes to Thai, French, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Need to Know Before you Go
As Mentawai is a surf destination, before coming it’s best to inform yourself on which parts of Mentawai are most suitable for your surf level. Mentawai has always been known for big heavy intimidating waves, but if you go to the right places there are some nice mellow waves around as well.
Where we are situated, the locals are mostly Christian but coming into Padang (main land) the majority are of the Muslim faith. So if you travel as a woman or with your partner, just make sure you are dressed appropriately.
I love everything about Mentawai. My life at Hollow Tree’s Resort with my partner, our four dogs and my mother in-law makes for a wonderful life. It’s a dream come true and I consider myself to be very lucky!
