LOMBOK 2015
11:53:00 AM
I got the opportunity to spend 10 days on a quite famous town-island in Indonesia. and this is my story:)
We went there by plane, (because just to reach east Java by car or even train would take a day. not to mention still having to cross over Bali to reach NTB.) it was an hour trip on a perfectly sunny day. We booked for Lion Air, but we got to Batik Air somehow.
The flight was really okay, slept through most of it, but we did had lunch 2700 meters above sea level (i'm making this up lol). Arrived in Praya, Lombok on schedule.
Arrived just in time for a gorgeous sunset and surrounded with only kilometers of greens. Found out recently that the International Airport in Lombok was moved from the capital city Mataram, to somewhere in the center-south Lombok area called Praya due to the fullness in Mataram.
Without visiting the beach at all, we headed to a town in the north (sea-side, ofc) called Krandangan straight away with a very friendly driver (Pak Uki) from the villa which picked us up at the airport. Two-hour car ride, it was "pitch black", we barely see the sea. But I can definitely feel it, especially at night, ah, felt like heaven to be back on an island.
Mas Abit introduced the rooms, we had the house no.1 from The Riverside Villas. Unpacked shortly, and we went for dinner in town...Senggigi.
The Riverside, ran by Pak Rocky, owns it's own restaurant/café not far from the villa. With only a 10 minute car ride (also offered from the villa) we had to wait a little bit until there's a table available for 7 of us. Definitely and delightfully stuffed. I mean, fresh grilled fish of choice! The best, ever. The restaurant had both Indonesian and Western menu. Ate, paid, then got a car ride back to the villa.
I shared my room with my usual bedmate, the big sister, Kakak Iyut. Whilst Kezia shared the room with Opung, their room had a cable tv! It was easy to swap bedmates though. :)
Anyway, I'm trying my best to keep this a short post.
The next day started with breakfast at the villa, and right away to the nearest beach! Very, very, exciting. We walked across the street a little bit and...
...the vacation started! Woohooo for laying on the sandy beach facing the sea with a good book and family!! The sea wasn't the greatest, due to the huge rocks and dead corals. But it was very enough with the sand and clear sky:)
Shortly, this happened...
Pictures are number two whilst on vacation, right? And being in a tropical country, of course I brought my sunnies with me! I guess because of the dry weather or something, (i mean, it's a kind-of-cheap sunglasses) it broke! It was just so 'fragile' when I touched it. Bye-bye 5€ from eBay hipster sunglasses :(
We spent the first day mostly to really enjoy the beach. So happy, blessed to be on a vacation with my complete sisters (and Opung, ofc)!
This was how excited I was. CUDDLES WITH MY BITCH BY THE BEACH YAAAY!!
After the photo sessions are done, we were sitting inside a small "hut"? Eating whole coconuts:)
The next thing I know, our eyes met the first by-the-beach sunset this year. :')
Beautiful Indonesia, you never fail to make me fall in love again and again with you.
Without realizing, I'm getting more and more tan. Only because of the photo sessions, ouch! Don't even wonder, most of the times sunscreens just don't work. But check out our view! I tried the pool the next morning.
and this is why it's called "The Riverside".
After the swim, it's beach beach beach again. I mean, might as well make the most of it, rite?
Pissed off of how tan I already turned after a day, I only stayed under the shadows that day. While Kezia, always enjoyed the sea and not caring about her skin colour even a little bit. She always put fun #1.
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| Black and white sand. Oh, the difference. |
Kakak Iyut & Kezia went snorkeling a little while, and Tara chilled in her sick sand-ride watching her sisters from her towel cover. She refuses to get sunburnt! I literally only took naps and photos. Ew for the sun. (sometimes)
I forgot to mention, we were on Mangsit Beach that day, which was the second next beach to Krandangan, since it was more sort-of touristic, and had clearer sea.
See what I mean? 1st, clearer sea. 2nd, I really tried my best to stay mostly in the shadows. Lol
The idea was "Kak, please take a picture of me here! I haven't got a nice pic of me at all today!"
Then we walked a little bit to find somewhere to get lunch in the city, not by the beach.
We found a little bar, it was quite pricey for a big lunch, so some of us shared and only had a light-lunch.
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| came all the way to Indonesia to find myself eating a pizza. a damn pizza. italian style. uh |
We walked back to the villa by the beach through Coco Beach, Krandangan that evening.
(THIS POST HAS GONE WAY TOO MUCH DETAIL. OKAY I'M REALLY GOING TO CUT IT NOW.)
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| i.. waited.. for this.. sunlight.. for a selfie.. my whole life.. |
Sunset lighting are always ever so wonderful. I couldn't get enough photo-shoots while it lasted.
Oh, we also got tatted. definitely bitches by the beach. hahaha
There was also one night where we went to Mataram for the tuesday- fruit market, suggested by the friendly Pak Rocky (our hotel manager)!
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| Indonesia with our exotic fruits :) ever so proud! |
Krandangan to Mataram was a 45mins car ride. We had to stop for dinner on the way home.
had Lombok's famous Sate Bulayak for dinner in the streets of Mataram.
And the pictures below are on the day where we got a car for a day and went to the north - mountainey side of Lombok... Senaru. Also to take a sneak peek of Mt. Rinjani, since the Opa was going to have a trekking day there.
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| back to the mother! (nature) |
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| the traditional village nearby Senaru was also one of the tourist attraction. |
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There isn't a day without having to watch the sun setting down, who would miss that sight? It always ended our day beautifully.
Other than that, we also visited a lot of temples during our visit in Lombok.
Lombok's population is mostly Muslim (well, like the most Indonesia part is populated with Muslims.) and it got it's title of "the island of 1000 muslims". But, because it's located as a neighbor island from Bali, it already makes sense that there are alot of temples around.
I'm closing this post with those sunset-silhouette pictures, i'm totally in love with them and for the guitar one, just stay tuned for what will be coming from us :))
I'm so happy to reminisce while writing this post. I thank God for all the chances I can take, I thank all the media He used, I thank everyone who supported me through, while I'm making this post. and I thank YOU, for reading it! aw, all the happiness!! See, I'm smiling :''''')))
tampiaseh, Lombok 2015!!
(that's "thankyou" in Sasaknese.)
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