Travel and Living!

After a good breakfast, we visited the Pool Villa at the corner of the hotel. The Pool Villa has a collection of 16 private modern villas and the area is noticeably better maintained than the hotel. Each villa is 2-storey high, has a living room, dining room, master bedroom (on the upper level), foldout sofa beds and shower facilities on each level, private balcony, private whirlpool, and direct access to the lagoon pool. It is really luxurious living with the lagoon pool at its doorstep.

We could not get our check-out time extended, and had to leave our bags with the concierge. Our mission for the rest of the afternoon was to look for nice white stone-carvings. We embarked on our journey tracking southwards as we remembered seeing some of the shops selling batu paras in that direction.

Well let’s just say that the scorching heat got the better of us, and we decided to take their local mode of transport quarter way through our tracking. We hailed the first vehicle we saw, boarded the empty bemo (passenger-carrying minivans) without negotiating for a lower fare. I think we probably paid 10x the local price for the short ride. Nevertheless we were reminded to spare a thought for the less fortunate.

We arrived at the factory furthest south, but decided to check out the rest of the batu paras store up the street before deciding on our purchase. After some 2 hours of walking, we ended up with a white stone tea light holder shaped like a lamp for just RP35K. The quality is not as intricate and refined as Balinese stone carvings, but it is a nice souvenir piece from the island of Lombok.

We stopped for lunch at a seafood restaurant by the beach and ordered their local BBQ ikan and some vegetable. The garlic and onion sauce mix were delicious. We returned to the hotel by bemo although there are many alternative transportation like the cidomos and cabs. At the hotel, we were appalled to find that our luggage were still at where we left them at the lobby. Urgh... what poor service.

Our return flight departed at 1840 hr, and we arrived home at around 10 pm. Thank God for a safe and eventful journey.

Labels: Lombok

The van arrived at 8 am and after picking up more divers from the Sheraton down the street, we were headed for Bangsal Harbour, near Pamenang. From there we boarded an outrigger boat to Gili Air, the nearest island off the northwest coast of Lombok. The boat ride took about 15 mins.

Gili, in Sasak means ‘Island’. There are three cluster of islands, namely Gili Air, Gili Meno (middle) and Gili Trawangan (in the west, more touristy and pricey). We chose to visit Gili Air due to its proximity and ‘unspoilt’ nature. To get around the isle, the only means of transport are Cidomos (horse drawn carriages).

Upon arrival at Gili Air, we were taken to the Dream Divers hut by the beach. While most were back on the boat heading to the deep sea for their dive, we were provided with snorkel, fins and mask to swim along the shore by the white sandy beaches. At sea, we saw many of God’s wonderful creation of colorful fishes and corals, though felt very clumsy initially flapping into the sea with the big fins.

While admiring the marine life, I was unknowingly stung by a jellyfish on my right arm. I stood up and held my hand up as a stinging sensation shot through my veins. Thinking that it was just a sting, I continued my exploration while struggling not to drink any seawater as I breathe through the apparatus. I have obviously yet to master the proper way to snorkel though it was not my first trial!

It was when I got out of the beach for lunch that I noticed my arms have erupted into red spots resembling mosquito bites. We informed the diving instructor back at the hut, and were taught how to treat jellyfish stings. We need to apply vinegar to the wound, then soak the wound in warm salt water. Fresh water should not be used if the sting occurred in salt water, as a change in pH could cause release of additional venom. Rubbing the wound, or using alcohol will also encourage the release of venom.

We had our lunch at a restaurant serving wooden oven pizza and other local snacks. We got to sit/lie under one of those bamboo/straw huts along the beach while enjoying the warm food and lovely sea breeze. It’s really alfresco dining at its best with ballads playing in the background.

As it is not a private beach, there were a few hawkers hovering around selling fruits, necklaces, bangles, bookmarks, woodware etc. Still, we were relishing the moment and wished that it would last. After persistent touting by the hawkers and also tempted by the colorful fruit basket balanced on the top of their heads, we ordered a whole pineapple for dessert at RP10K. The hawker skillfully sliced and carved the pineapple into what looked like a candy cone.

In the afternoon, we got to go out to the ocean with the divers. The color of the water turned from light clear blue to a darker blue as we venture further out to the sea. It was interesting to observe how the divers prepare their equipments for their dive, and how they together did a backward somersault flip into the water. Sam also very bravely jumped into the sea with his snorkeling gear, to check out the reefs and creatures of the deep sea. Regrettably, the spot was more suitable for diving and there was nothing much to see from the surface. The divers later told us that they spotted sea turtles at the bottom of the sea.

Needless to say, it was an enjoyable experience and we got sun burnt despite applying much protection. We were back at our hotel in time for the sunset at 6+pm . It was a pretty sight with the sun setting behind the mountain on Bali island opposite us. Unfortunately as it got darker, we were attacked by sand flies. We had thought that they were harmless, till the rashes appeared a week later back in SG. Sigh...

That evening, we returned to the same restaurant but ordered Thai food instead for a fiery feast. After dinner, we walked down the streets towards Sheraton, before heading back to the hotel.

Labels: Lombok

Our SilkAir flight to Lombok departed at 8 am. We failed to do internet check-in this time, and realised that we should have gone to the SilkAir website instead of SQ. Nevertheless, we got to sit together and that’s what really matters. :)

The 2 hrs 40 mins journey did not feel long even though we did not have a personal flight entertainment system. 90% of the passengers on board were westerners, mostly expatriates with their family in toll. It gave us the impression that the ‘unspoiled’ island, east of Bali, could be a family-friendly holiday destination since there were so many young children on board.

On arrival at Mataram airport, we walked the empty tarmac to the exit, patiently waiting in line with the other passengers only to realize later that the queue was for obtaining tourist visa. So we whizzed past the queue, through the custom, and headed to the taxi counter at the airport entrance. We ordered a transfer to Senggigi Beach Hotel at RP50K (~$10).

On the way to the hotel, our driver struck a deal to take us around the island in the afternoon for RP250K, which at the end of the day became RP350K with tips and some haggling. Not very wise, sigh.

After checking into the hotel, our first stop was the Lombok Pearls Collection at Mataram. That’s when we were educated on the different types of pearls.

Pearls fit into 2 categories: freshwater and saltwater. Freshwater pearls are formed in mussels that live in lakes etc. Its natural colours are white, pink and yellow. Saltwater pearls on the other hand grow in oysters that live in the ocean, usually in protected lagoons. South sea saltwater pearls are usually white or golden in color. Pearls are classified by origin, then graded by size, shape, nacre thickness, color, luster and surface clarity. I purchased a pendant with 3 freshwater pearls which cost RP360K. The higher quality saltwater pearl commands a premium price.

Next we headed southwest and toured the craft villages noted for potteries (at Banyumulek) and traditional hand weaving (at Sukarare). We were next taken to Sade, a traditional Sasak village located on the hill near to Kuta. The houses have thatched roofs and bamboo frames. The village shows the unique way of life of the Lombok native.

By then I was famished, and exhausted from the little sleep the night before and draining hot weather. After the tour, we headed to Kuta beach for our late lunch. We ordered the local specialty Ayam Taliwang (fried/grilled wild young chicken with chilli sauce). It was tasty, except that there was little meat to consume from the bony chicken!

We strolled along Lombok’s own Kuta beach after our meal. The ‘unspoiled’ picturesque sight provided great photo opportunity. On the way back to the hotel, we observed groups of children rehearsing their march past along the road for their upcoming Independence day. There were soccer games being played on large empty fields with many spectators watching, obviously a local pastime. We also saw the locals being transported on trucks with their arms and legs waving in the air, together with some cattle on board! It was an amusing sight but they were traveling too dangerously fast for me to snap any pictures.

In the evening, we walked from our hotel to the main street of Senggigi. There are many shops and restaurants lining the street. We had our dinner at Bumbu Restaurant that serves pretty good local and Thai cuisine. We were also entertained by a music band from across the street. The nightlife is quieter than Bali and there are fewer tourists. We are not complaining though…

We walked along Senggigi street for the rest of the evening and bought some woodenware from Bayang Lombok. We also booked our snorkeling trip for the next day with Dream Divers located along Senggigi street before heading back for an early night rest.

Labels: Lombok