Lombok Indonesia.

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.

Lombok Raya Hotel front view.

The Garden.

The Swiming Pool.

The Reception.

The Lobby.

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.

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.