This place no longer exists…. an unspoilt haven ….sandy paths, lush gardens, grass roofs, outside bathrooms, no swimming pools..just a step into the ocean. In the name of progress and $$s this place was knocked down and replaced with all things concrete.
I feel a great sadness at times for humanity’s future.
I have a long standing and continuing connection with this island.
Lombok is somewhat less tourist dominated than south Bali,tho it seems to want to progress in the same direction. And in some ways who can dispute that. Sengiggi is busy squeezing in as many new accomodations as it can. Its busy and noisy hot and dry. I did stay one night in Sengiggi and that was enough! I was lucky enough to find accomodation in Mangsit that was just affordable….mostly its well out of the range of those travelling on a budget.
Arriving at the airport which is now very far away from Mataram and Sengiggi. It is a sharp contrast to Bali.
The beach at Sengiggi…
Looking back towards the hills in Sengiggi.
Before my memories have paled into insignificance under the weight of my everyday life back in oz I have still some adventures and beauty to share. This one is about west lombok in and around Mataram and Mangsit.
This is Mangsit beach….the volcano is gunung agung on the east side of bali. The sunsets are always different, sometimes spectacular and always a meditation. Its quiet and peaceful and the locals friendly and hospitable.
Yes these cidomos (c is pronounced ch) are a regular form of transport in and around ampenan and mataram. They are particularly busy around the main market. Another form of transport , the bemo is a common sight…its an openbacked van which is happy to transport most things
And on one of my journeys I traveled with a pan of fish, a large bundle of coconuts and had an interesting conversation with the owner of this hat which he had plaited out of coconut fronds..it was magnificent and extremely useful as this person was a fisherman.
A beautiful park to the west of mataram called narmada. Its famous for its fresh spring water and the fact that it used to be the rajah’s home. Its very beautiful and has numerous pools and places to hangout under the trees and picnic.
My friends and I had a wonderful picnic under a large tree overlooking one of the lakes and right next to a warung which sold lontong (rice steamed/ cooked in coconut leaves) and delicious spicey chicken and beef sates with an even more delicious spicey peanut sauce. Not only did we have that for lunch, but we also had brought along some nasi bungkis ( smallish packets wrapped I n banana leaves with rice , green veg, sambal, corn fritters, jackfruit stew). Really it was a veritable feast and my mouth is watering even now as I type and recall how wonderful that day was…..thanks to ibu febi, pak hermann and their beautiful son athaya. : )) for taking me there.
Beautiful bougainvillea
And the first time I had really seen a mangosteen tree. If you look really carefully you can see the young green fruit. It is o e of my favorite fruits and has a dark purple skin when its ripe. Mmm.
I always leave a small piece of my heart in lombok …. ♡
Really looking at these photos you would never guess what was going to happen after we left gili trawangan…..
It can take quite a long time to get to lombok whether you fly or go by boat. Plan for it to take most of a day. Then if it takes less its a bonus :)) The slow ferry from padangbai to lembar is usually the longest and maybe even the safest and definately the cheapest !? On a calm day its a beautiful trip, slow and leisurely.
Time wise and cost wise the fast boat and the plane can work out about the same depending on where you come from…..
I think going by plane will now become my preferred option.
My hairraising and fearful journey back from Lombok to Padangbai this trip has convinced me that I will never go on the fast boat again!
I have a little pendant with Kwanyin on it. Well, I clutched her in my sweaty saltsprayed palm and gazed out through the plastic window at a small cloud to the north of the boat and contemplated what might happen, was there an escape route, where were the life jackets , would i have time to put one on? Was there anything in my life that I hadn’t done! What about my family?
OMG, in indonesian ‘ Sayang’. ….The swell was huge, the troughs were deep, we were bobbing up and down like a cork….and then the engine stopped…wallowing, people vomiting grimfaced, the workers on the boat sporting tight worried looks on their faces. Sick bags were handed out ….one of the workers armed with a screw driiver disappearing back to the motors. Coming back wet and worried looking .. all this time the driver peering out through the saltsprayed windows working hard at keeping us afloat. This happened twice!
Mmmmmm finally after nearly 2 hours we got into the lea of Bali. Here it was rough but it seemed like nothing and we were nearly at Padangbai…..
I was very glad to walk off that boat onto the jetty at Padangai.
And never again!
