The coconut telegraph is buzzing…

Overheard, reposted, regurgitated, passed on, let go and FYI.”I am not sure you have heard about this but better I inform you that EDISOM, The Bupati Mentawai is already positively to be charged for Corruption Case.The case (for now)  is related to the funding of forestry, reboisation or something like that.  He is now under survaillance and not allowed to leave the country by law.I am sure none of you have nothing to do with him, but in case of in case you already informed.  Stay away and keep clean.”

I’m going to come right out and say it.  It disgusts me that after almost 2 decades of operating commercially in these islands, the dozens of local and foreign flag charter boats have failed to band together and sorted out some kind of mooring system.  On average, each charter boat anchors 3 times a day.  Every time they put down their anchor, they are smashing up live reef (see photo attached).   Its not like our reef has enough to deal with.  What with potassium cyanide being used by local fisherman with compressors.  Or the occasional dynamite fisherman that are ignored by the (suspiciously complicit) Mentawai authorities.  Global warming, coral bleaching?  What about oily bilge water, plastic rubbish, surfers walking all over the reef?  Hell, might as well throw your anchors down cause there’s not much left anyway! The only thing the charter boats ever managed to come together on was banding together in an “us vs. them” associations in one of the biggest portrayals of human greed that I’ve ever been privy to.  Battling each other legally for control of the waters, whilst they go out and drop anchors on more reefs.  If you’re as disgusted as I am, please choose your favorite charter boat and either write them a letter directly, or contact their agent and ask why aren’t the charter boats able to sink down moorings instead of anchors everyday? Makes me embarrased to be a human being. View high resolution

I’m going to come right out and say it.  It disgusts me that after almost 2 decades of operating commercially in these islands, the dozens of local and foreign flag charter boats have failed to band together and sorted out some kind of mooring system.  On average, each charter boat anchors 3 times a day.  Every time they put down their anchor, they are smashing up live reef (see photo attached).  

Its not like our reef has enough to deal with.  What with potassium cyanide being used by local fisherman with compressors.  Or the occasional dynamite fisherman that are ignored by the (suspiciously complicit) Mentawai authorities.  Global warming, coral bleaching?  What about oily bilge water, plastic rubbish, surfers walking all over the reef?  Hell, might as well throw your anchors down cause there’s not much left anyway!

The only thing the charter boats ever managed to come together on was banding together in an “us vs. them” associations in one of the biggest portrayals of human greed that I’ve ever been privy to.  Battling each other legally for control of the waters, whilst they go out and drop anchors on more reefs. 

If you’re as disgusted as I am, please choose your favorite charter boat and either write them a letter directly, or contact their agent and ask why aren’t the charter boats able to sink down moorings instead of anchors everyday?

Makes me embarrased to be a human being.

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Just another slotted punter in the Mentawai islands.

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Jess Ponting with his version of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.  Recorded in our island studio, in the middle of nowhere.

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Nice barrel in the middle of nowhere.

Photos from early July.

I just received a comment on this video.  sexybrendon69 is on crack.

Go ahead and laugh at other people’s foolishness.

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This is a typical epiphany experience for a guest that visits these islands.

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I love the Mentawai Islands, especially in May.