Chasing Waves in the Mentawais: A BinkyBro Family Adventure
There are surf trips… and then there’s Indo.
This spring, the BinkyBro crew packed light, boarded a lot of planes, and headed across the world to one of the most remote surf destinations on the planet — the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia. What started as a surf trip quickly turned into something bigger: a family adventure filled with fishing, island hopping, scooters, surf breaks, late-night card games, and memories the kids will probably talk about forever.
And yes… the water actually looked fake.
68 Hours Later…
Getting to the Mentawais is no joke.
The trip clocked in at roughly 68 hours total:
Utah → Seattle → Japan → Jakarta → Padang → Boat 1 → Boat 2 → Macaronis Resort.
Worth it? Absolutely.
The long travel days became part of the adventure. A quick stop in Japan meant exploring downtown Tokyo, walking through the Emperor’s Palace gardens, eating unreal sushi, checking out the Tiger Store, and taking in skyline views before continuing on to Indonesia.
By the time everyone finally arrived at Macaronis Resort, shoes were basically optional and island life kicked in immediately.
The Water Didn’t Even Look Real
The Mentawais are the kind of place that makes you question whether your eyes are working correctly.
Crystal-clear turquoise water.
Warm ocean temps pushing close to 90°.
Perfect reefs.
Palm trees everywhere.
The kids spent hours jumping off docks, swimming nonstop, and snorkeling through reefs packed with tropical fish. The snorkeling alone felt like swimming through an aquarium.
The only slightly terrifying part?
Sea snakes near the docks.
Apparently highly venomous.
The kids became very aware of where they were stepping after that.
Surf, Surf, and More Surf
This trip was all about surfing together as a family.
The younger kids surfed at Fish Fingers — a softer sandy beach break perfect for learning and having fun. The boys spent time surfing Mini Macas, while Matt paddled out at the famous Macas break itself.
In between sessions, there were boat rides to nearby islands, hidden surf spots, and tiny fishing villages scattered throughout the region.
The best part? Nobody cared what time it was.
Most days looked something like:
Surf.
Swim.
Fish.
Eat.
Repeat.
And maybe a little surfboard yoga. 
The Barracuda Story
The kids fished almost every single day.
They caught a few fish throughout the trip, but the most memorable moment came when they hooked into a massive barracuda. The kind of story that instantly becomes family legend.
Between fishing off the docks, snorkeling the reefs, and spotting random sea life everywhere, the kids basically lived outside the entire trip.
At one point, they even made friends with a puppy dingo hanging around the island.
Island Life Hits Different
Life in the Mentawais is simple in the best possible way.
Everyone rides scooters instead of cars. Dogs casually wander around everywhere. Meals are centered around seafood, fried rice, noodles, curry, eggs, coconuts and plenty of sriracha.
And if you’re wondering what snack fueled the trip?
Beng Beng bars.
Every. Single. Day.
Rachel’s other major discovery?
You can find Coke Zero… but good luck finding a Diet Coke anywhere.
What We Actually Packed (And What We Didn’t Need)
One thing became very clear almost immediately:
We massively overpacked.
Turns out when you’re living in swimsuits all day, you don’t need much.
Most days were spent barefoot in the same 2–3 swimsuits with a cover up tossed on occasionally. Shirts were mostly unnecessary unless dinner called for it.
Pro tip from the trip:
Bring conditioner. Apparently it’s impossible to find once you’re out there.
The Local Villages
On the way home, the crew stopped through a local fishing village where shorts and shirts were selling for under $2.
It was a reminder of how remote the islands really are — and how differently life moves there compared to the U.S.
Simple. Slower. Connected to the ocean.
What To Know Before a Mentawai Trip
Trips like this are unforgettable, but they also take preparation.
A few things the crew recommends before heading somewhere this remote:
*Look into emergency evacuation insurance
*Research recommended vaccines or medications ahead of time
*Take precautions for things like malaria, dengue fever, and food/water safety
*Pack way less than you think you need
Seriously.
You probably only need three swimsuits.
More Than Just a Surf Trip
At the end of the day, this wasn’t just about chasing waves.
It was about unplugging. Spending time together. Watching the kids experience a completely different part of the world. Surfing until sunset. Playing cards poolside. Fishing off the docks. Laughing through long travel days.
The kind of trip that leaves everybody salty, sunburnt, exhausted… and already wanting to go back.
Indo, you were unreal. 🌊
