Interview: Scar Lee | Photos: Pelan Pelan Surf Camp
An interview with Emma, co-founder of Pelan Pelan Surf Camp
People return to Pelan Pelan surf camp year after year, not just for the waves, but for the feeling of coming home. SurfGirl’s Scar sat down with Emma, Pelan’s co-founder, to understand why.
Emma’s story begins far from the tropics, in the south of Holland, but a trip to Asia changed that. The joy of the Balinese showed her a way of living that felt more like her.
I asked her to share how it all began, and why “going slowly” became the foundation of everything she’s created.
“In Bali, people have so much less, yet somehow so much more joy. I wanted to build a place where the rush melts away and life becomes simple again.”
Could you let our readers know some more about you and how you came to start a surf camp out here?
I’m from the south of Holland, a small, peaceful village where life was pretty much already mapped out for me: go to school, maybe study, get a job, and settle down. Safe, predictable… and for me, honestly, a bit too boring.
When I first travelled to Asia, everything changed. I saw how differently people lived — with so much less, yet somehow with so much more joy. Especially in Bali. People here smile so easily. They’re connected to their feelings, live in the moment, and seem deeply grateful for even the smallest things. It touched something in me. I realised that this way of living suited me so much better than the structured, planned life I left behind.
Then I discovered surfing, and I fell completely in love with the ocean, with the rhythm of the island, and yes, with a Balinese surf instructor named Putu. I felt peace like I’d never known before. That’s when I knew I wanted to build something here, something that could give others the same feeling. Back then, Canggu was still quiet, just rice fields, local warungs, and the sound of the waves. From there, the stone started rolling.
Now I run Pelan Pelan together with Putu. He’s Balinese, I’m Dutch, and that combination brings such a beautiful balance. I’m the structured one, the organiser, while he brings this calm, laid-back energy that keeps everything flowing. I think that mix of our two worlds – the Dutch practicality and the Balinese ease – is a big part of what makes Pelan Pelan feel so special.
The name Pelan Pelan feels so central to the retreat’s identity, why did you choose it?
Pelan Pelan means “slowly.” I was back in Holland, talking with a friend who spoke some Indonesian, and I asked her, “What’s the word for slowing down?” Because that’s exactly what I wanted people to feel when they arrived here, like the rush of their busy lives melting away.
When I told Putu the name, he laughed, and all the Balinese around him did too. They thought it was such a funny name for a business, but at the same time, it felt just right. That’s how life here is, pelan pelan, one step at a time, and somehow everything always falls into place.
So many guests return year after year to Pelan Pelan, some even for months at a time. What do you think draws people back?
That’s something that makes me so proud, and honestly, really emotional sometimes. When we started, I dreamed that Pelan Pelan would be a place where people feel at home. And now, seeing guests return again and again; some even staying for months, it feels like that dream has come true.
There’s this beautiful energy at the retreat that just attracts kind, open-hearted people. Our team is full of warmth and laughter. The surf instructors, the yoga teachers, the kitchen staff, everyone truly cares. It’s not something you can fake. It’s just love, and people feel that the moment they walk through the door.
Leading on from that, how important is community in what you do here? And how do you create this sense of belonging?
Community is everything. Our staff are not just employees, they’re family. And somehow, that energy spreads. Guests connect with each other so naturally. There’s no pressure here, not in the surf, not in yoga, not in life. People relax, laugh, share stories, and often leave with new friends for life.
It’s the kind of connection that happens when no one is trying too hard, it just flows.
Pelan Pelan is among many of the places around Bali impacted by the severe flooding earlier this year. How has this affected the business, and how are you rebuilding?
Yes, it was a really tough moment. Our lower level with two rooms and the spa got completely flooded. It was heartbreaking to see it like that. But I’ve learned that challenges also bring strength. We’re now building a very strong wall downstairs to prevent it from happening again, and we’re renovating the rooms and rebuilding the spa with even more love than before.
We were lucky, our restaurant, yoga shala (which we now also use as a temporary spa), and most of the rooms are higher up and weren’t damaged. So we could stay open and keep welcoming guests. It’s been emotional, but we’re moving forward, pelan pelan, step by step.
If you had to describe Pelan Pelan in a sentence, what would you say?
A place where you can be completely yourself, slow down, breathe, reconnect with who you really are, maybe even discover what you truly want in life, and have so much fun while doing it.
What do you want people to take away from their visit here?
To take life a bit more easy. To realise that we can’t control everything, and that sometimes surrendering is the most powerful thing we can do. I hope they leave feeling lighter, more connected to themselves, and more sure that they should do what they truly want, not what others expect.
