Imagine surfing a break all by yourself, one that has hardly ever been touched before, perhaps not even named yet. Strategically located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives benefit from full exposure to southern swells, which translates into epic surfing conditions on the outer reefs of remote little islands, some of them uninhabited still.

Surfing feels good. There’s no denying that. Time slows down when you’re riding a wave, you don’t really think about anything and the rest of the world just vanishes. You are in awe. You are in the flow. But what does that mean, and how does that translate into your brain activity? 

A world of extremes, where noisy cities meet authentic street markets and luxury seaside resorts are intertwined with deserted beaches, Thailand is a popular travel destination for many reasons but, unfortunately, surfing is not yet one of them.

If you go beyond the misconception that surfing is just another sport, you will find that reading and riding waves have very much in common. There are tales, autobiographies, documented history, and classic novels crafted around the art of catching waves and the surf lifestyle.