Lombok…….I met Pak Zakaria from Lombok
during 2008 Ramadan umrah in Mekah. He told me Lombok beaches are much better
than Bali and remain untouched. Had long in mind to visit Lombok and on 19 February 2014 I finally made the
journey with my usual cousin buddy, Dato Malek Ahmad. It was planned sometimes
late 2013.
19
February 2014.
Air Asia flew us there vide Flight 1408,
arrived Lombok International Airport at 1215 hrs. It is a new Airport
inaugurated on 01 October 2011, which replaced Selaparang Airport. The Airport
is situated near to Praya and about 40 km away from the main city of Mantaram.
The Immigration and the Custom formalities were orderly but once we were out
from the Arrival Hall, it was fish market alike. Everyone was negotiating and
bargaining for a price to dispatch arrival passengers to their ultimate destinations.
We finally got a car to send us to Lombok Raya Hotel in Mantaram town center at
140,000 Indon Rupiah. It was about 45 minutes drive on the highway, crossing
through the countryside. We preferred four (4) star rating of Lombok Raya Hotel
as it is a walking distance to the Mall. The Hotel has wifi system but the
password keep changing every other day.
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| Lombok Raya Hotel front view. |
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| The Garden. |
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| The Swiming Pool. |
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| The Reception. |
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| The Lobby. |
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| Every roundabout in Lombok. there is a monument. |
We had lunch at Begibung Café at the Mall
and rested till evening.
Begibung Cafe.
At night we also went to the same Café for
dinner. After dinner while lazing around the Lobby we made arrangement for a
car to take us sightseeing for the next day. We got a chauffeur driven for
400,000 Indon Rupiah for a whole day.
20
February 2014.
Ramdan, the Driver was punctual, sharp at 0900
hrs. First destination was the beach drive towards Sengigi Beach. We passed
through several coastal villages and a place call Seribu Masjid (one thousand
Mosques). The view was fantastic with clear sea water as we drove at the edge
of the sea frontage. The road was winding, narrow and we were practically
hanging at the cliff edge. We stopped for coffee at the highest viewpoint of
Batu Layar along the roadway to enjoy the scenic beauty of the deep blue sea
and its several coves. Sheraton Hotel the most expensive on the island is
situated here at Sengigi.
At Sengigi Beach.
We stopped along the way back to taste
Lombok durian and it’s not cheap either at 100,000 Indon Rupiah for two (2) fruits.
I must say Malaysian durians taste better. We got back to Mantaram to have
lunch and it was just a light one, due to the durian.
Durian time.
In the afternoon we went to Sasak
Traditional Village at Sukarara to see the weaving industry. The “songket” is
different from the Malaysian East Coast masterpieces however certain pattern,
there a similarity with Sarawak. I was told young lass from the age of seven
had to learn the skill from their mothers’ to qualify for matrimony. Therefore
all women of the Sasak tribe ought to be very skillful in weaving in order to
be someone’s bride.
At Sasak Traditional Village.
Back at the Hotel feeling exhausted after
the day tour.
Pak Zakaria my buddy in Mekah came looking
for me at the Hotel and I was glad to meet him again since 2008. He told me
about his life since and the yoyo of business in Lombok. We felt safer in
Mantaram as Pak Zakaria is local and prominent figure in town. He was just back
from Sulawesi to settle some dispute with the Dayaks.
Pak Zakaria insisted to take us for dinner
at his Restaurant and his wife specially prepared “ayam tilawang” dishes for
us. “Ayam tilawang” is the local and traditional dishes of the Sasak tribe. Pak
Zakaria then drove us to Sengigi Beach to enjoy the charcoal grill local maize
and the local Lombok coffee. We had good scenic view of bright lighted Hotels
along the coves. To our surprise, Sengigi town is very much alive at night with
its Neon light, Discos, women, song and wine. No wonder we nearly missed the
town during the day tour as it was deserted!! However we just passed through.
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| Ayam Tilawang with rice. |
Eating local maize grill on charcoal.
It was around midnight, we returned to the
Hotel and Pak Zakaria promised to pick us up at 0900 hrs the next morning.
21
February 2014.
Pak Zakaria was our tour guide for the day
and our first destination was the local market to get the local crispy salted
fish. The market was in a sorry state, very disorganized and filthy dirty. (I
don’t wish to photograph the state). I surely recommend not stepping into the
Market and I don’t wish for another visit. I don’t think they know anything
about housekeeping, rotten vegetables left to rot everywhere and the smell was
horrible. I wonder whether there is any Local Council Health Department exists
in Mantaram. We failed to get what we actually wanted but we found other things
instead and promptly make our exit.
The next destination was Surfers Paradise
beach of Tanjung An and Kuta Beach. It is about 77 km and 70 km respectively.
The road to Tanjung An was bad affected by the rain. It is the best beaches I
had ever been. The water is crystal clear, the white sand and free from any
environmental pollution. There are no luxurious Hotels in sight except for
small wooden makeshift building as Home stay. It is really a paradise and for
someone looking for tranquility, these are the places. Honeymooners would
surely adore these places. There is only thing very annoying to me – the beach
peddler selling their woven handicraft along the beach. I came to the beach to
admire nature’s beauty, not to shop; for that I can do it in town.
At Tanjung An.
We had lunch at Tanjung An and we even
missed the Friday prayer. As a traveler, I am exempted but I had to perform the
jamak takdim. We were back at the Hotel late afternoon.
At Kuta Beach.
At night we walked over to the Mall and
since we fancied Begibung Café, we had dinner there with different Lombok
delicacies. We browsed through the Mall and it is no different from any in
Malaysia. I think cameras are cheaper there but the price which sounds in Juta
Rupiah (million) scared the hell out of me.
Last Dinner at Begibung Cafe.
22
February 2014.
Checked out 0800 hrs after breakfast and
off we went to the Airport (Bandara in Indonesian). I like the Airport as
Smoking Café are available at the Departure Hall, better than King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Flight AK 1409 took off at 1230 hrs
cruising at 38,000 ft and at 1515 hrs landed at LCCT.
We really missed something in Lombok –
watching the sunset at Sengigi Beach. We plan for another visit to Lombok in
August 2014. Five (5) days would be ideal. Anyone interested, come and join me.
