The memory of Lombok

The trip to Lombok was planned at the last minute, 2 weeks before. I got the travel agent's name while searching and reading blogs on Lombok trips. His quotation was cheaper compared to others since he has connections with the Indonesian travel agents. Next time, I might as well use the the Indonesian travel agents when planning my Indonesian trips. Communications are now easier with whatsapp social media. I told them I just need transportation with driver-cum-tourist guide. Do ask what kind of vehicle they offer and if it is new and has aircon. The charge was rm450+/pax for 4D3N which only cover the southern and western part of Lombok. This included meals too (can't remember whether 2 or 3 meals a day). If you order drinks other than plain water, you pay it yourself.
Actually, we need more than a week to discover the whole of Lombok as there are quite a lot to see and do if you really want your airfare to be 'berbaloi' and you are not going there again. In any travel, if possible, we should go where the locals go to discover the fascinating insights into Lombok life.
I also joined the Lombok Facebook group to ask for guides and tips and exited after I came back from the trip. One or two travel agents contacted me to offer their services but I declined as their prices were higher.
At first, the purpose of choosing Lombok as the holiday destination was because of its nature attractions, beautiful blue seas, being less metropolitan than Bali and Bali of 10 years ago. This piqued the interest of my daughters who are the adventerous types. Somehow, I'm more on the cultural side, wanted to see how the locals live and what they eat. I was happy Lombok has a lot to offer on this. I love shopping things traditional too, which Lombok can caters to as it has several specialised handicraft villages .

2nd June....
We were met at the airport (refer to the map) by Pak Teddy when we arrived at about noon. Pak Teddy is very accommodative to the extend that we almost missed our visit to the handicraft villages. Hahaha. Remember, you are the boss. So, tell him your plans and your wishes well and clear.
As planned, we visited Narmada first and it was short but I didn't mind. I am not much into historical things but more to geography (this is my subject hehe). On the way, not yet far from the airport, amazed by the greenness of the paddy field, we told Pak Teddy to stop by the roadside to take pictures.
From my fb post "Disambut oleh pemandangan sawah padi yang menghijau yang sumber pengairannya dari gunung. Di mana ada air di situ ada sawah padi, tanah diguna semaksima mungkin. Sekarang ini sudah masuk musim kering — at Kediri Lombok Barat NTB."

"Our first stop is Taman Narmada set up way back in 1727"

Selepas makan di Leseran Kalisari yang agak unik bagi kami, kami terus ke Pura Lingsar. Pura Lingsar ini tempat beribadat 2 agama, Hindu dan Islam Sasak Watu Telu. Untuk maklumat tambahan, google pura lingsar. Pemandu pelancong kami fasih juga berbahasa Inggeris seakan telor orang Filipina.

After visiting Pura Linger, we were more than ready to check into our hotel. Based on ranking and cost on Agoda, En YY has chosen this for our accomodation. Luck also plays a part. — at Kebun Villas & Resort, Senggigi. Opposite Sheraton.

3rd June fb post:
"And good morning to all who pop in..
It rained yesterday afternoon although Lombok is in the dry season. So, it's a rahmah from The Above, الحمد لله
And last night, we had dinner of ayam penyet at a roadside stall at Senggigi. The price is normal la at a touristic place like this.
Now we are on our way to the South visiting the beaches and handicraft villages"

What a view!

The crowd at the morning market in Lombok. Really didnt have the time to explore. The market is the place to know the ingredients used in a community's cooking

Sampai di Pantai Kuta lebih kurang jam 10 pagi. Lepas tu pergi pulak ke Pantai Aan yang lebih cantik (pada kamilah) dan akhir sekali Pantai Mawun. Pada mulanya hendak juga ke Selong Belanak tetapi masa kemudian tidak mengizinkan.

Pantai Kuta

Selepas Pantai Kuta, kami ke Pantai Aan pula. Pantai di sini cantik, airnya biru. Panas tengaharinya tidaklah menyengat tapi nyaman dengan tiupan angin yang menyejukkan. Terasa nak mandi. Sudah lama bangat tidak mandi laut sebab tidak suka basahkan diri bila melancong. Lama di Pantai Aan sebab cuacanya yang nyaman. Pasir pantainya yang macam lada putih.

A warm but windy day

Pantai Aan, 5km east of Kuta, has a long picturesque beach with a wide sweep of white sand, perfect aquamarine water and shady trees on the shore - Lombok Guide

Tiada sudu, guna kulit kelapa saja

Pantai Mawun is an almost circular bay with small green headlands rolling into the ocean from either side. This is a quiet and lonely spot with calm blue waters, nice for spending a lazy day on the white sand.

Jagung bakar pedas..perisa baru pada lidah kami

Pantai Mawun

On the way from Mawun back to Senggigi, we passed through a gold mining industry.

From fb post: "Ini adalah sebahagian daripada penghasilan penduduk di Selatan Lombok yang simpanannya semakin habis. Batuan yang mengandungi emas dilombong secara manual dan diproses menggunakan mesin penghancur batuan. Selepas itu, direndam dalam air bercampur sejenis bahan kimia ('air raksa')dan urat emas, perak dan gangsa akan sendirinya terasing."
Oleh kerana hampir asar, kami mencari tempat untuk solat jamak dan qasar. Lepas solat, makan lunch. Rasanya biasa dimakan di Malaysia.

"Selain kehijauan dan kebiruan lombok dinikmati, tidak lupa kecoklatan suasana dirasai di Kg Sade, desa tradisional kaum Sasak yang masih bertahan. Atap diperbuat daripada lalang dan dinding serta bahagian rumah yang lain daripada dedak padi dan diolesi dengan tahi lembu untuk mengelakkan nyamuk dan debu."
Tidak lama di sini kerana sudah lewat sore. Membelipun dalam keadaan tergesa-gesa dan agak terkilan dengan harga yang susah ditawar. Bila sudah dibayar, baru diberitahu yang kalau ibu beli banyak boleh dikasi 65000..Adduuh..setelah membayar 225000. "Adatnya di sini mesti menawar". Alhamdulillah, saya sudah beli Pantai Aan dengan harga 50000 walaupun 'dihalang dengan lembut'. Betul kata penjual tu, sama saja barangnya tapi di sana tempat artisan, jadi harganya lebih mahal. This spoiled the holiday a bit! Di Pantai Kuta, sudah kami beli 4 helai atas desakan, jauh lebih murah dari di Sukarara dan di Kg Sade.

The interior of the Sade home

Dari Kg Sade, kami berkejar ke Sukarara sebuah perkampungan yang khusus dalam kerajinan tenunan. Tidak beli apa-apa tetapi kecewa tidak dapat melihat aktiviti menenun yang hanya dijalankan pada waktu siang. Inilah kalau ada percanggahan interest antara yang tua dan yang muda. Yang tua mendahulukan yang muda untuk akur ke pantai dulu.. haha

Memang penat seharian berjalan. Sebelum balik sampai di hotel, kami "Dinner di Mataram, kota terbesar Lmbok, merasa makanan bungkus balap puyung yang ada udang geragau goreng, kacang soya goreng, ayam kampung goreng, ricihan ayam bersambal dan sambal belacan yg membuat hidung meleleh. Gaul semua seperti makan nasi kerabu. Yang lain pesan bakso Hj. Anang. Semua kena dengan tekak. الحمد لله"
Awal-awal kami sudah pesan, mau cuba makan makanan tempatan. Jadi, pandai-pandailah bawa kami makan. Memang terlaksana permintaan kami.

Balap Puyung

4th June...

"Hari ini kami ke Gili Terawangan untuk menyelam. Naik speedboat dari Teluk Nara selama 15 minit. Kalau menaiki bot awam, lebih kurang 45 minit dari Jeti Bangsal. Sampai-sampai saja, kami bercadang sewa bot dan kamera air untuk aktiviti menyelam di antara Gili Terawangan dan Gili Meno. Gili=pulau. Saya lebih selesa tinggal di bot walaupun ia terumbang ambing. Selepas aktiviti menyelam, kami menyewa basikal pula (Rp30k) untuk 'keliling' pulau. Tiada 'mobil'di sini, hanya kereta kuda atau cidomo (Rm150k), dan speda digunakan. Lorong jalan hanya cukup besar untuk 2 jenis kenderaan ini."

using the rented camera

Our lunch that day..nasi kuning or yellow rice

Two scenes, in the morning and in the evening. Examples of the coastal physical landscape that we learn in Geography: "gua, gerbang laut, tunggul laut, tunggul sisa, tebing tinggi". We went to see a lot on sale at this spot (second pic below)

Our dinner at a Padang/Minang restaurant. Pak Teddy bought us the satays at a local stall in Rambiga, hence satay rambiga. Sedap.

5th June...
"Saya tahu barang tembikar K. Kangsar dan Lombok tidak sama. Designnya berbeza. Kualiti bahan juga mungkin tidak sama. Tapi kan, tembikar K. Kangsar lebih murah.
Di Lombok ini, harga-harga yang ditawarkan berbeza-beza untuk barang yang sama contohnya kain tenun, yang bezanya sehingga ratus rupiah. Menurut seorang penjual, adat orang di sini, seharusnya ada tawar menawar. Letih jugak hendak menawar daripada 300 kepada 50. Saya beli di Pantai Aan 50 sahaja tetapi di Sade, 225. Bila diamati oleh mata kurang pakar ini, sama sahaja. Entahlah..tengok bila dibasuh nanti.

Ada saya baca di internet, seorang penjual tidak kisah dia jual murah kerana dia boleh cover dengan menjual mahal kepada pelancong mat salleh."

Shopping for the handicrafts was done in a hurry on our way to the airport. We were supposed to visit Banyumalik the day before. Before we went to the beaches. However, my daughter insisted that we do the beaches first before the day was getting hot. Ok, ok, I said.