We are once again running a 7 Night Stay In Bali Competition

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3. Mail us and Tell us what your dream trip was or is : greg@truebluetravel.co.za
• BALI DRAW – 30 April 2015
• Prize – 7 nights for 2 @ the Bukit Lodge on Bingin Beach – includes: arrival Transfer, 7 nights at the Lodge, and a 1 HR pre trip Consultation with The Surf Travel Guru. VALUE R5000 – flights must be booked through True Blue, must travel by end 2015, not transferable, more info available…..

“From: Wayne
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 7:03 PM
To: True Blue Travel
Subject: Dream Bali Trip

Dear True Blue Travel,

It has been a good six years since i last traveled internationally for surfing.
My very first tour and thus far only tour overseas took me to my dream spot, Indo.

This story probably sounds like every other surfers dream trip, but it is a little different.
I was given the gift of surfing from my dad, at a tender age of 6 years. I took to the sport a few years later and it solidified itself as a part of my life, and a really great part.

For years and years, as a surfer, i watched countless surf movies, dreaming and mind surfing myself broken every time. Tropical waves, tropical water, perfection man, perfection. It drooled from my mouth wave after wave. Play. Repeat. Play. i couldn’t get enough.As i grew older the allure of traveling overseas became stronger and more possible. With the fact i was able to earn my own salary, the reality of cruising the Indo line-up became more real.

2009 hit my doorstep, and determination set in harder than concrete setting the foundation for a skyscraper. I bought 3 x Storm Rider guides to map my journey and gather all the necessary intel I might require. i started to get so excited, i spoke to everyone i knew who had traveled overseas, at least to some surf destination to feed off their experiences and set my mind surfing into overdrive. Island life, warm water, boardies, shallow reef. So vivid, so close, so amped.
I literally mapped Bali, and my excursions, my places to stay in a short few weeks.

And finally, I was ready. my cash was in. It was time.

I owe my surfing life to my father, if it wasn’t for him, i don’t really know where i’d be with the sport. Today, my life and my business revolve around my passion, my stoke. The ocean and all its wondrous glory.My dream tour overseas required one more aspect. My father. My dad’s history in surfing is a road gilded with accolades. Provincial colors, South African surfing judge and trophies from contests litter his path. But the one thing which eluded my father was international travel for surfing.

I decided to share the stoke of travel, warm water and tropical dreams with my father. I called up my travel agent, paid for two tickets to Indo and all was set.I called up my Dad later the same evening. Overcome with emotion over the energy that he would be joining me, i could not contain my nostalgia during my call. My father could hear something was a-miss.

‘Dad’, I said, ‘if it wasn’t for you i probably would never be in this position, getting ready to go follow my dream, surfing Uluwatu, padang padang’ and countless more spots which i rattled off.

‘I just wanted to let you know’…My father cut me off…

‘don’t worry son, you will be fine, you will be safe, and im sure you going to have a great trip’. my reply came without hesitation.’I know’ i said, ‘that’s exactly why you are coming with me’.

The phone went quiet. Nothing but silence.

It’s not everyday you get the opportunity to pay respects to the people who do great things for you, life had given me the opportunity.I put down the phone, without saying goodbye and raced over to my father’s house.

He opened the front door and before he could mutter a word, i pressed an air ticket to Indo into his hand. For the first time, i saw tears in my fathers eyes. ‘You gave me the gift of surfing, now its my turn to share the stoke’ i said.

My dream, to travel and surf perfection, had come true, and even better, i got to share the whole experience with my father, a gift not many people have the joy of experiencing.We cruised Bali flat, over 30 days. We must of clocked thousands of miles traveling up and down the Bukit Peninsula, Nusa dua, Kuta, Ubud to name a few.

We were in paradise, humble people, tropical surrounds, warm waters and perfect waves. And i got to do it all with the man who gave the passion and stoke to me.We shared our first and presently only tour together overseas to follow our passion, our dreams. What i would give to do it all over again with him. Anything.

What an experience, looking back now, 6 years ago, it feels exactly like a dream.

But at least i have the images and memories to remind me of what an awesome experience it was. We were lucky to hit a solid swell run during our stay, and every day we had great waves.If there is one thing i would love to do in my life before I move on from this planet, I would love to do it all over again, and offer such a journey to my dad and see the stoke in his face while watching me surf the line-up in a tropical wonderland and vice versa.

I have seen stoke in my father’s eyes, prior to the trip to Bali.
But nothing as powerful as the peace i witnessed in his soul during our travels together.
My dad is reaching a graceful age of 63 now, and the window is closing with every year that passes.

To surprise him again and share in such a journey would be priceless.
Here’s to hoping that dreams do come true more than once in a lifetime.
And to the man who made it all happen, shot brah for being such a legend.

P.S – check the photos of my dad and I living it up Indo style.
Yours in surfing,
Wayne Barnes
Director / Creator
R-evolve ® Brand”