May 18, 2025
The time change made getting up early surprisingly easy. We walked straight to the airport and boarded our one-hour flight to Sumba. By chance, Natacha ended up seated next to the general manager of the resort we’re staying at. She got some great tips on things to do—and also learned that the only other child at the resort right now is a five-year-old from Japan. So, for now, the kids will continue to be each other’s playmates.
After picking up our luggage, we had a 90-minute drive across the island. Along the way, we were struck by both the natural beauty and the poverty of Sumba. Halfway through the drive, Owen needed a bathroom break, so we stopped at a local home where someone sitting out front graciously agreed to let him to use their facilities—an unexpectedly warm and generous moment. Also gave Owen and I a chance to experience being inside the home of a local.
After 10 hours of flights and two hours of driving, we made it from the heart of Tokyo to this remote corner of southeast Indonesia. We were welcomed with a beachside lunch, and within three hours of arrival, the kids had already tested out three different pools and were swimming in the Indian Ocean. We ended the day with sunset drinks and a relaxing dinner.
May 19, 2025
We didn’t know it when we woke up, but today turned out to be a day of animals! First thing we were greeted by a monitor lizard making use of our pool. He quickly left once we approached.
In the morning the kids went off on an adventure with a member of the hotel staff while Natacha and I explored a different part of the island. Our first stop was a local village—it had the nicest local homes we’ve seen so far. It was likely chosen for that reason, but the architectural style remained consistent with others we’ve passed: three-tiered homes with animals and dry wood on the ground level, living quarters in the middle, and storage and food-smoking space in the narrow upper section. On our drive, we also passed a herd of water buffalo which managed to get some mud on Natacha. Water buffalo are an essential part of life here— dowries are priced in water buffalo and traditional sacrifices still made at weddings and funerals.
Back at the resort, we spent some time doing schoolwork. As the sun began to set, we joined a turtle release, which the kids absolutely loved. And just when we thought the day couldn’t get more magical, a herd of horses wandered down the beach. A few of them took a particular interest in Owen’s bright yellow Crocs—funny at first, until their persistence made him a little uneasy.
We ended the evening with dinner at the beach and headed to bed.
May 20, 2025
We had a slower start to the day, sleeping in before grabbing breakfast and fitting in some schoolwork. Around noon, Justin, Peyton, and Morgan headed out for surf lessons. Morgan was the standout—she caught on quickly and rode a few solid waves. Peyton and Justin managed to get up briefly too, and we’re all planning to give it another shot tomorrow.
After lunch, we spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool. The kids were thrilled to have dinner on their own tonight and, true to form, each ordered the most extravagant dessert on the menu. Reports say they were polite and well-behaved, so we’ll count that as a parenting win.
Later in the evening, a few locals came by to share an old woven blanket used to pass down stories through generations—not with writing, but through a sequence of intricate images. The blanket depicted the funeral of an ancient Sumba king, detailing each stage of the ceremony, including the animal—and human—sacrifices. As the woman described the final panel, she glanced nervously at the kids before explaining that toward the end one of the king’s servants would enter the tomb to “make sure everything was in order,” and the tomb would be sealed behind them (idea being this would ensure the king had a servant with him in the afterlife).
The kids seemed to take it in stride. On the walk back, Owen quietly asked the question we were all thinking: “If that happened every time a king died, wouldn’t the servants have known and refused to go in?”
May 21, 2025
Today was packed with activity from start to finish. After breakfast, we kicked things off with some time at the pool before Justin, Peyton, and Morgan headed out for a truly unique experience—horseback riding in the ocean. Peyton and Morgan, with their prior riding experience, impressed the guides enough to ride solo. Justin, on the other hand, was wisely never left alone with his horse.
Next, we made our way to the beach for some seashell hunting. While we were there, the full herd of horses passed by again.
In the afternoon, it was back to the waves for day two of surfing. Though still clearly beginners, our improvement was noticeable (plus the waves were smaller). Morgan continued to lead the charge with her consistent, long runs. Justin and Peyton each managed about six solid runs over the course of the 90 minutes. The highlight was a “family wave” we all caught together—fortunately captured on camera by Natacha. (Unfortunately for Morgan, it was one of her rare short runs, but she took it in stride).
Afterward, we had lunch and another relaxing stretch by the pool. The kids earned themselves another solo dinner night, which they were thrilled about. Justin and Natacha enjoyed sunset happy hour. This followed by a dinner for two that had a traditional dance that some White Lotus vibes.
It’s hard to imagine a better final day in Sumba—adventurous, beautiful, and full of memories we won’t forget.
May 22, 2025
We spent a relaxed morning at the resort, finishing up some packing and enjoying lunch before beginning the 90-minute drive back to the airport. Owen slept for most of the ride, while the girls seemed more engaged—watching the passing villages and asking thoughtful questions at the airport about poverty, how communities end up in such conditions, and what it takes for things to improve.
Unfortunately, our flight was significantly delayed, and we ended up spending about three hours in a small single gate airport—no planes arrived or departed the entire time. We passed the hours playing card games. Eventually, our prop plane arrived, and we made it to Bali—but too late to catch our connecting flight to Singapore.
Thankfully, the team at the resort had been monitoring our travel and made sure everything was smoothed out. With their help, we were rebooked on the last flight to Singapore. We finally landed in Singapore after midnight and made our way to the in-terminal hotel. We were surprised to see the Singapore Airport quite lively at 12:30am. Most of the stores open, plenty of people around, many flights getting ready for departures.
It was a long day, and we have two more flights tomorrow—but we’re grateful for how smoothly things were handled and how the kids made it through calmly.
Our time in Sumba was truly unforgettable. It’s one of the most beautiful and remote places we’ve ever visited. The resort was stunning, the service exceptional, and the experiences—surfing as a family, riding horses through the ocean, releasing baby sea turtles, and just playing in the pool—will stay with us forever. The girls are already talking about surfing again at future beach destinations. Sumba feels like a once-in-a-lifetime stop, and we’re so glad we were able to experience it on this trip.
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