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The Word Uluwatu means "Rock of the South";
Ulu=Rock, Watu=South. Because of its many different waves
sections, Uluwatu or just Ulu is also known as the wave of
one thousand faces. As the tide start running out, the wave
start moving, breaking on a different section of the reef
going further down towards the corner getting longer and hollower.
The first register of a wave surfed in Uluwatu was made in
1971 in the movie "Morning of the Earth" when the
then very young Australian surfer Steve
Cooney had the nonour of surfing the first wave in Uluwatu
history and the luck of getting this wave captured on film
("Morning of the Earth" and recently "Ulu 32"-same
wave).
The goal of the film was to show the waves around
Kuta area but after a few days and a good adventure, they
found Uluwatu. At that time there was no roads and all the
supplies and drinking water had to be brought from Kuta so
the surfers use to camp and stay there until they run out
of food. In "Morning of the Earth" team were: Albert
"Alby" Falzon, Tanya Binning, David Elfick and Lisa,
Paul and Geoff Hutchinson, Peter de Bono, Rusty Miller and
the then very young Steve Cooney. This movie was the mark
of the beginning of discoveries of the main surf spots in
Bali.
Uluwatu is also considered a classic place because
of many external factors apart from the waves:
-The paradisiacal view you have from the warungs (little restaurants)
on the top of the cliff where you can watch while eating,
like in a stadium, the waves in front and below you to then
be able to opt for an hour massage for a few bucks.
-The feeling of friendship shared between locals and surfers
where the whole village of Uluwatu developed doing business
with surfers such as selling food, snacks and drinks, surfboards,
accessories, massages, clothes and sarongs, ding repairs,
renting rooms, etc. and where many surfers from all different
parts of the globe found a second home.
-The tradition of being the meeting place for many surfers
from all over the world specially brazilians, australians,
kiwis, americans, hawaians and many others that every year
generates many new friendships.
-The entrance in the water thru the cave catedral like to
start the paddle out to the point.
-The famous temple situated on the very edge of the cliff,
place where hundreds of years ago, the king of Denpasar (Bali´s
capital) use to go hunt dear in the forests.
-The abundance of sea life, the many natural pools that are
formed with the low tide and a simply sensational sunset make
Uluwatu a sacred place.
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