The Lombok Guide Issue 265

The

LOMBOK GUIDE

FREE COPY

Issue 265 | 19 February – 5 March 2018

( 0812 3734 4894 | www.thelombokguide.com

PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY IN LOMBOK, FOR LOMBOK

The Beach Club Beach Bungalows

Page 82

IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Page 4 & 8 Page 6 Page 10 & 11 Page 12 - 45 Page 14 Page 16

Page 18 Page 20 Page 26 & 28 Page 29,30 & 31 Time Out Page 33 Local Scene Page 34 Useful Contacts Page 36 Classifieds Page 38 Land & Property Page 46 - 49 The Cities Page 50 - 52 Cities Map Page 51 Distribution Page 53 The Southwest Page 54 & 55 South Lombok Map Page 56 Kuta & The South Coast Page 57 - 69 Kuta Map Page 66 North Lombok Page 68 - 70 The Gilis Page 71 - 88 Gilis Fast Facts Page 71 Getting to Gilis Page 72 Gilis Map Page 87

The Bullet

To find out more, pick up a copy of The Lombok Guide from the locations listed on page 53 or visit www.thelombokguide.com and discover the magic of Lombok for yourself…

Like thousands of others, you’ll be enchanted!

Fast – safe – comfortable speedboat transfers!

Getting to the Gilis has never been so easy!

Gili Getaway

Senggigi – Gili Trawangan – Senggigi Senggigi – Gili Air - Senggigi Senggigi – Gili Gede – Senggigi DAILY DEPARTURES Senggigi office: Senggigi Jetty, Senggigi Beach | Ph: +62 812 339 188 281 Gili T: +62 87 864 322 515 | +62 852 3836 3899 Gili Gede: +62 812 3661 0812 | +62 819 0732 5135

ONLINE BOOKINGS & INFO

www.giligetaway.com

Young surfers at Senggigi by DC

Getting to Lombok Getting Around Lombok Map Best in Lombok Senggigi Senggigi Map Special Feature What’s Hot / Local News Local News Special Feature Local News

Tourism Information

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GETTING TO LOMBOK

It’s easy to get to Lombok from Bali – flight time is only around 30 minutes and fares start from around Rp 350,000 (approx. US $35) one way. Buy tickets direct from the airline counters at the domestic airports, or contact local travel agents in both Bali and Lombok.

Direct flights to Lombok from Bali, Jakarta, Jogja and Surabaya are available from multiple airlines every day and are usually timed to connect with European flights.

Lombok International Airport (abbreviated to LIA with the IATA code “LOP”) is the main airport on Lombok.

Garuda Indonesia / Citilink have direct flights daily between Lombok and Bali, Surabaya, Makassar and Jakarta. Call Centre: 08041 807 807. Sales Office: +62 370 642303 / 649999. Airport: 0370 649100. www.garuda-indonesia.com

The airport is close to Praya (Central Lombok); approximately 40km south of the city of Mataram, and around 1 ½ hours’ drive from Senggigi, and 25 minutes from Kuta.

Lombok is an important connection for travel to the eastern islands, in particular the islands of Sumbawa, Komodo and Flores.

Lion Air / Wings Air has daily flights between Lombok, Bali, Bima (Sumbawa), Jakarta and Surabaya.

Ph: +62 370 6627444 / 642180. www.lionair.co.id

Airport departure tax is included in the price of all tickets.

BALI TO LOMBOK BY AIR In Lombok, all flights depart and arrive at Lombok International Airport. In Bali, flights arrive and depart at the domestic terminal at Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) Airport.

Garuda Airlines has direct flights between Lombok and Bali every day. Call Centre: 0 8041 807 807, Sales Office: +62 370 642303 / 649999. www.garuda-indonesia. com

Batik Air flies direct between Lombok and Jakarta, with two flights every day. www.batikair.com

BALI TO LOMBOK BY SEA

Padang Bai Harbour (Bali) provides the sea link between mainland Bali and Lombok. Lembar Harbour (Lombok) is on the southwest coast, approx. 1 hour south of Senggigi, Lombok.

Wings Air / Lion Air flies between Bali and Lombok daily. The Arrange your own transport and buy tickets direct from the companies code-share, so you may purchase a Lion Air ticket and harbours, or use a reputable tour company to provide a transfer find yourself on a Wings Air flight! Lombok, Call Centre: +62 80 service.

4177 8899. Bali, ph: +62 361 765132.

Public Ferries depart every hour for the sea voyage between www.lionair.co.id Padang Bai Harbour (Bali) and Lembar Harbour (Lombok). The INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS crossing between the islands costs Rp 44,000 per person and Lombok International Airport has full Visa on Arrival (VOA) takes approx. 4 to 5 hours. Lembar Harbour ph: +62 370 681 209. facilities, including 30 day “Visa Free” (no charge) for tourists.

Padang Bai Harbour ph: (+62 363) 41849 / 41840 Ph: +62 370 622987.

FAST BOATS

Silk Air (a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) flies direct between Lombok and Singapore, four times per week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Ph: +62 370 628254 / 628255. www.silkair.com Air Asia operates direct flights between Lombok and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, with many international connections available. Flights operate between Lombok and KL twice daily, seven days per week. www.airasia.com

There are now numerous “fast boat” services operating between Bali and Lombok.

Blue Water Express has services between Bali and mainland Lombok, with convenient departures from two different locations on Bali – Serangan (near Benoa Harbour) and Padang Bai Harbour – every day.

Fares include air conditioned hotel transfers in Bali. Ph: +62 361 895 1111 / 0813 3841 8988. www.bluewater-express.com

Gili Getaway operates several comfortable fast boats Garuda Airlines flies between Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and connecting Bali and mainland Lombok every day, with a short stop-over in Jakarta. International Lombok (including Senggigi, connections from around the world are available via Jakarta. Call the Gili Islands and Gili Centre: 08041 807 807. Airport: +62 370 649100. www.garudaGede in the southwest) with indonesia.com daily transfers from Serangan Harbour on Bali. Fares include air DOMESTIC FLIGHTS conditioned hotel transfers to main points in Bali.

Ph: +62 819 1673 3051 / +62 813 3707 4147.

European connections are easy via Jakarta (the capital city of www.giligetaway.com Java), Bali and other capital cities such as Jogjakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.

See the “Getting to the Gilis” section for more details.

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Tourism Information

4

GETTING AROUND

Officially, the scheduled departure times are every hour for shuttle buses to Sweta Bus Terminal (near the city of Mataram) and every 1 and 1/2 hours to Senggigi, from 3am until 8pm. However, you may find yourself on a bus that combines both routes, stopping first near Mataram and then continuing on to Senggigi.

LOMBOK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is a relatively small airport that handles domestic flights between Bali, Jakarta and other Indonesian cities and international flights to and from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Getting to the Airport: Lombok Taxi (Blue Bird) is the most convenient taxi operator and are allowed to drop passengers directly in front of the departure terminal. Note that they cannot pick up passengers from inside the airport grounds.

Organising an airport transfer with your hotel is often the easiest option, with the hotel driver meeting you on arrival and transferring you to your hotel in comfort. Check with your hotel – charges are usually only slightly more than a taxi.

a metered taxi independently.

Ignore the many touts that will approach you with offers of cheap fares – they are not licensed operators and often quote low prices, which can quickly change once you are in the car. Avoid eye contact and avoid the hassle.

If you do need to use an independent driver – if you are a large group or have a lot of luggage or sports equipment, such as surf boards – make sure you negotiate a fixed price before you get in the vehicle.

Directly in front is the parking area where the official airport taxis wait.

Kotama and Kotasi are the main operators, using dark blue sedans carrying a maximum of 4 passengers (less if you have a lot of luggage).

The trip terminates opposite the Galleria shops on the main street in Senggigi (just south of Asmara Restaurant). If you need to stop beforehand, let the driver know and he will usually accommodate your request.

The trip to Senggigi takes around 90 minutes and costs just Rp 35,000 per person. At the shuttle stop in Senggigi, flag down a metered Blue Bird taxi to take you to your hotel or villa.

For low cost airport transfers, the DAMRI bus is the cheapest way to travel between Senggigi, Mataram and the airport (see below).

From the Airport: taxis are available to meet all arriving flights.

After collecting your baggage, head out of the arrivals hall and through the terminal to the exit doors.

The helpful drivers tend to stop at other popular points along the route, including dropping off passengers at the roundabout in Gerung (useful if you are heading to Sekotong or Lembar), several points near the city, and outside the old Selaparang Airport on the way to Ampenan (where taxis also await the arrival of the buses).

The public DAMRI bus uses air conditioned Mercedes buses which seat around 40 passengers and are an economical solution to airport transfers to and from Senggigi and the cities.

Around Lombok: Lombok is easy to get around. The roads are in good condition and there is little traffic, apart from in the cities.

The island itself is only slightly smaller than Bali at 115km (70 miles) long and 80km (50 miles) wide; it is not practical to drive around Lombok in one day.

The DAMRI counter is located around the corner from the arrivals hall doors, just past the airport taxi counters (opposite the Maxx Coffee outlet).

The DAMRI counter is manned with an information officer who issues tickets These taxis are licensed and insured for the bus service. Prices are clearly and will use the meter to calculate your shown on sign boards at the counter. fare anywhere on the island.

DAMRI operate a regular schedule of Approximate taxi fares: to Senggigi departures every day to coincide with Rp 220,000; to Mataram Rp 160,000; airline schedules. to Kuta: Rp 90,000; to Bangsal Three airport shuttle services are Harbour Rp 350,000. available – one to and from central There are official taxi counters directly Senggigi (‘Senggigi – Airport’), another outside the arrivals hall that will between Mandalika Terminal in Sweta allocate you a fixed price taxi to most (‘City – Airport’), and one to and from destinations plus charge an additional Selong in East Lombok (‘Selong – airport fee of Rp 17,500; however, it is Airport’). just as easy to walk outside and catch

www.beckrocchi.com.au

Continued on Page 8

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ko - ko - mo RESORT GILI GEDE

Unspoilt Paradise Ko – Ko – Mo Resort Gili Gede 5-star Luxury in Southwest Lombok Escape to the timeless serenity of Gili Gede - Gateway to the Southwest Gilis

Stay in one of our luxurious one- and two- bedroom air conditioned villas with private swimming pools or an absolute beachfront bungalow

Enjoy all day dining at our romantic beachfront restaurant and bar Relax at the Spa or in our Resort Swimming Pool Play on our Tennis Court, Putting Green or in our Gym Explore Water Sports, Island Hopping, Snorkelling and Diving Get there fast and then take it slow... with easy fastboat transfers from Bali, Gili Trawangan and Senggigi direct to our Private Jetty

www.kokomogiligede.com | kokomogiligede@ozemail.com.au | +62 (0) 813 3762 7306

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Lombok Map

Senggigi

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GETTING AROUND Continued from Page 4

Taxis are easily available in Lombok and, unlike in other areas of Asia, all use their meters (argo) to calculate fares, so there is no need to haggle a price.

Bluebird taxis (light blue colour) are the largest company in Lombok and you will find them in the cities and around tourist areas such as Senggigi.

insurance.

Motorbikes are the most popular form of transport and are generally small, light 125cc bikes with automatic gears. Modern and economical motor scooters, such as a Yamaha Mio, are easy to ride and do not have gears. Expect to pay between Rp 35 – 60,000 per day for motorbike rental, depending on age and type.

Both require an international drivers’ licence.

Tours are readily available in all the tourist areas, and drivers and guides are licensed by the local Kotasi (tour organisation), who also regulate prices in the industry.

Express Taksi (white cars) are also available, mainly in the cities.

Taxis can be used to make trips to Kuta or Lembar and Bangsal Harbours and, if you are shopping or making day trips by taxi, ask the driver to wait and leave the meter running. Fares are still very low compared to those in the west. Short trips around Senggigi will cost around Rp 20,000; a taxi from Senggigi to Mataram is around Rp 65,000.

Express Taxi, ph: 0370 647 555 Cars and Motorbikes can be hired in Lombok and driving yourself is easy.

Cars drive on the left hand side of the road (as in the UK). Modern, air conditioned cars that comfortably seat 5 people including the driver can be hired for between Rp 350 – 450,000 per day, including basic

used today, although they have been replaced by cars and motorbikes in the cities. The covered wooden carriages are pulled by small local ponies and, in villages and at the local markets in Kebun Roek, they are popular transport, particularly for carting goods.

Use cidomo for short trips, such as getting to restaurants and hotels around Senggigi. A short trip should cost around Rp 20,000; negotiate the fare with the driver before climbing in.

There are no cars or motorised transport on the Gili Islands, so cidomo are the main form of transport and the islands’ cidomo have a fixed price schedule of fares, much higher than on Lombok.

Most tour operators are reliable and will have a wealth of local knowledge, which can make touring a more rewarding experience. It is also the most comfortable way to explore the island, as you have time to sit back and observe, rather than negotiating traffic and unfamiliar roads.

Bemo (pronounced ‘be moh’) are generally small minibuses used as public transport in towns and cities.

They are a cheap way of travelling, but can be uncomfortably crowded.

Phone for a taxi or ask your hotel to phone, or flag one down from the side of the road. Make sure the driver starts the meter when you get in.

Lombok Taxi (Blue Bird), ph: 0370 627 000 (or download the ‘My Blue Bird’ App from Google Play, iTunes, or from the Blue Bird Group website)

Tourism Information

Popular tours, such as day trips to Sedang Gile waterfall, or to Kuta and the south coast, are structured to take in a full day of sightseeing. Tours range between Rp 350 – 700,000 a day for a driver and an air conditioned vehicle for up to 4 passengers, depending on distances and the number of places visited. * Expect to pay high end prices quoted during peak seasons.

Cidomo (pronounced ‘chi doh moh’) are traditional horse drawn carts that were once the main form of transport in Lombok and are still

The small versions used in villages are vans with an open back and seats along each side. Flag down a passing bemo from the side of the road and climb on board; press the button on the ceiling when you want to stop and get off and pay the driver when you disembark. Short hops cost around Rp 5,000.

These bemos can also be chartered for your private use; negotiate a fare with the driver for a direct trip to a specific location, without stopping to pick up other passengers.

In the cities, larger bright yellow bemos travel the routes from Ampenan to Mataram, Mataram to Cakra, and beyond. You will see them cruising the streets, horns beeping, as they pick up and drop off passengers. If you are travelling between the cities, you will need to change bemo, as each serves only one area. Fares between cities are Rp 5,000.

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Tourism Information

10 Getting around Lombok is easy by car or motorbike and you can hire these in all the main tourism areas, with an International Drivers License. The roads are generally in good condition and traffic is light. Alternatively, hire a car and driver for exploring or take part in the tours and day trips offered by the many tour agencies on the island.

Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan.

Snorkelling is easy from the shore and all three islands are well served by professional dive operators who offer certification courses, day and night dives and specialised courses, as well as live-aboard adventures to exotic locations.

BEACHES The whole island is surrounded by fantastic unspoilt beaches, most with crystal clear waters and clean white sand fringed by coconut palms. Drive just north of Senggigi to Malimbu or Nipah and enjoy deserted beaches with fine snorkelling and swimming.

The southwest coast has particularly fine beaches, especially in Sekotong and the small islands off the coast. Visit the small island of Gili Asahan for rustic accommodation or stay at the luxurious Ko - ko - mo Resort on Gili Gede to explore the undeveloped islands of the southwest.

For the more adventurous, there is superb diving around the islands off the southwest coast, as well challenging dives off the south coast and the small uninhabited islands off the east coast.

BEST IN

facilities especially for surfers. Here you can hire a board, get board repairs and take surf lessons from the professionals.

The waves at Gerupuk and Tanjung Aan offer a variety of challenges from beginners to sheer madness! Ekas Bay has two surf breaks: Inside Ekas and Outside Ekas with waves suitable for beginners to experts, depending on the season.

At certain times of the year when conditions are right, you’ll find locals surfing the breaks at Senggigi and Mangsit Beach, and off Gili Air and Gili Trawangan.

TREKKING Much of the island is still covered by natural rain forest and jungles, making Lombok ideal for ecotourism and adventure tours.

GOLF Lombok Golf Kosaido Country Club (sometimes called Kosaido Golf Course or Pantai Sire Golf Course) is the only international 18 hole championship course in Lombok, located on the shores of Sire Beach in Tanjung, North Lombok (close to the Oberoi and Tugu Hotels). It is around 45 minutes drive from Senggigi.

The beaches around Kuta are breathtakingly beautiful. Visit Tanjung Aan for fantastic scenery, Selong Belanak for long stretches of white sand and turquoise waters, or swim in the lovely bay at Mawun.

DIVING AND SNORKELLING With so many islands, Lombok offers a myriad of diving and snorkelling opportunities. The best known locations are around the Gili islands – Gili Air,

Nestled between the shores of Sire Bay and the slopes of Mount Rinjani, the 18 hole, par 72 course (6295 meters) offers world-class challenges for golfing enthusiasts of all levels in a natural and picturesque environment.

SURFING Lombok is a world-renown surfing destination amongst surf enthusiasts world-wide.

Huge waves and challenging surf lure die-hards to Bangko-Bangko (also known as Desert Point) on the southwestern tip of Lombok.

Kuta, on the south coast, is surf-central and has a range of accommodations and

There are a number of spectacular waterfalls on the island which provide lovely trekking opportunities, whether travelling independently or as part of a tour.

Tourism Information

LOMBOK

11 attracting a hundred thousand visitors every year.

The huge crater near the top contains a beautiful lake, Danau Segara Anak (Child of the Sea Lake) and a smaller volcanic cone, Gunung Baru Jari, which was formed a couple of hundred years ago and is still active.

There are a number of caves, small waterfalls and hot springs located around the volcano. Rinjani, and its surrounding national park, are recognised internationally as an important eco-tourism destination.

Pura Suranadi, a complex of three temples located a few kilometres north of Narmada in Suranadi, is the oldest and holiest of the Balinese temples in Lombok, founded by the 16th-century Javanese priest, Danghyang Nirartha.

Underground streams bubble up into restored baths, used for ritual bathing.

Huge sacred eels live in the pools and streams here, and can sometimes be lured out with an offering of boiled eggs (purchased at a nearby stall). To see a sacred eel is considered very lucky!

HANDICRAFT VILLAGES Lombok is famous for its traditional earthenware pottery made from local clay with distinctive designs, as well as hand-woven sarongs and fabrics (ikat).

Two, three and four day treks on the volcano are offered by tour companies and trek organisers in all the main resort areas of Lombok.

HISTORIC SITES & TEMPLES There are a number of interesting temples around the west coast, many of which are Hindu or ancient animist sites of worship.

Pura Lingsar is possibly the only place in the world where Hindus and Moslems come together to pray and celebrate. Built around 1714, Pura Lingsar was originally based on the prevailing animist beliefs of the time, and some of the original statues remain today. Perang Topat is an annual festival held at Lingsar and features a ritualised war with rice cakes, which also serve as an offering to the Gods.

Sendang Gile near Senaru in the north is an easily accessible waterfall in a stunning jungle setting and popular with visitors.

For the more adventurous, there is a second beautiful waterfall – Tiu Kelep – located around an hour’s trek way.

Air Jeruk Manis, near Tetebatu, is set in a cool mountain location and reached by a pretty walk through rice fields and forest.

The awesome Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu waterfalls, in Central Lombok, are located within a short trek of each other and make a perfect day trip for those who appreciate truly magical natural surroundings.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING Mt Rinjani, Lombok’s famous volcano, soars 3726 m above sea level and is the second highest volcano in Indonesia,

Taman Narmada (or Narmada Park) in Narmada (around 6 km east of Cakranegara), was created in the late 1800’s as a replica of Gunung Rinjani and its crater lake.

The gardens at Narmada are beautifully maintained and surround the pools and lake in this cool hillside setting.

Pringgasela in Central Lombok is a small village which is steeped in tradition and is a major centre for weaving ikat. Visit the small houses and shops here to see the old traditional looms being used to create intricately woven, colourful fabrics.

Sukarara is 5 km to the west of Praya, heading south towards Kuta. This is another weaving village where quality ikat and traditional cloth is displayed and sold.

Weavers work outside many of the shops, using antiquated “back strap looms” to painstakingly produce works of art.

Some of the larger pieces can take several months to weave and collectors from around the world visit these villages to purchase the blankets, sarongs and cloth produced here.

Banyumulek, easily reached on the road south to Lembar Harbour, is an important centre for pottery on Lombok. The small village has many shops selling pottery produced in the area, as well as from the other main pottery-making villages such as Penujak and Masbagik. Lombok pottery, with its distinctive terracotta styles, is famous internationally and is exported throughout the world.

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SENGGIGI West Coast Resort

Tourism Information nearby and some small boutique hotels, such as Puri Mas Spa Resort and Villa Campi Sorga, situated in a pretty valley.

Dream Estate Park comprises private villa accommodation for owners and investors, and has villas available for short and long term rental in a secure, well-managed estate.

At the end of the road through Kerandangan Valley is the Taman Wisata Alam – Kerandangan Nature Reserve – with clearly marked hiking paths leading through the rain forest along the river.

There is a small Ranger’s hut and visitors centre near the entrance, and picnic areas with basic concrete tables along the paths.

The park boasts a small waterfall, pretty river scenery, families of local monkeys, and a variety of tropical plants and birdlife.

Just over one hour from Lombok International Airport, Senggigi is the main tourism centre on Lombok and, apart from the Gili islands, the most developed tourism area on Lombok. The town of Senggigi is about 10 km north of Ampenan, and about 30 minutes drive from Teluk Nara and Bangsal – the harbours to the Gili Islands.

Nowhere near as large or as busy as its Bali counterparts, Senggigi is a great base for exploring the rest of the island. The pace is laid-back, with activities centred on the beaches and day trips to places of interest, which are all within a few hours drive from the town.

At night, Jalan Raya Senggigi (the main street) comes alive. Dine in the many restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets, listen to live music at the bars, or dance the night away at the nightclubs.

Senggigi Beach is the large bay that forms the centre of Senggigi, with the main road running parallel to the beach, and large resorts occupying the space between. The Senggigi Beach Hotel, Santosa Villas and Resort, and the Sheraton Senggigi Resort all line the curved bay of Senggigi Beach and offer a full range of resort facilities, equally attractive for singles, couples and families.

The beachfront is currently undergoing “revitalisation” by the West Lombok Tourism Department, which threatens to ruin the natural beauty of the beach. It can become very crowded and is best avoided on Sundays and public holidays.

However, many more beautiful beaches exist just minutes away to the north.

One of the most spectacular sights on the island is the sunset viewed from Senggigi Beach, with the bright orange sun sinking into the sea to the west and Bali’s

Gunung Agung volcano silhouetted on the horizon like a giant pyramid floating in the ocean.

Senggigi Reef, off the southern point, has good coral for snorkelling and, in the right conditions, some decent surf breaks.

Canoes can be hired from the beach on the weekends and during peak tourism times. Local outrigger boats (prahu) can be chartered from the beachfront for trips along the coast or out to the Gili Islands.

The main road in Senggigi is lined with small attractive hotels catering to all budgets, shops, tour agencies, restaurants, bars and nightclubs; many of which have live music in the evenings. There are a couple of supermarkets, numerous ATM’s and moneychangers, a post office and all the normal tourist facilities.

Senggigi is a relaxing and attractive place to stay, with a good range of luxury hotels and resorts, as well as mid-range and budget accommodations.

Tourism development runs north along the coastal road for about 10 km, with many hotels and restaurants positioned along the beautiful beaches that line the entire west coast.

About 2 km north of central Senggigi Kerandangan Valley has a popular beach

Further north, Mangsit has developed as an accommodation alternative to Senggigi, with boutique style hotels positioned along the breathtaking beaches of this section of coast. The popular Qunci Villas, Puri Mas Beach Resort, Windy Beach Resort and Holiday Resort Lombok are located in Mangsit.

Furthest north are Klui and Lendang Luar, with two hotels – Jeeva Klui and Hotel Bulan Baru – and long stretches of pristine beaches.

Mainly deserted white sand beaches, flanked by coconut groves and untouched by hotel development, continue all the way north along the main coastal road.

Malimbu and Nipah are two picturesque bays less than half an hour from Senggigi, which are good for snorkelling, swimming and getting away from it all.

Teluk Nara and Teluk Kodek are on a large bay that forms a natural harbour, about 25 kms north of Senggigi. All the main dive operators have boats here, which transfer guests to the Gili islands, as an alternative to nearby Bangsal Harbour.

Bangsal Harbour, less than 5km further north, is reached by turning left at the crossroads in Pemenang and from there it is easy to catch the public ferries (actually large outrigger boats) out to the Gilis, or to charter boats for island hopping.

Whether you are seeking luxury accommodation at a top resort with fine dining and spa facilities, or a budget holiday with days spent exploring – or all the choices in between – Senggigi caters for all tastes and budgets.

From Senggigi, it’s easy to explore the attractions of the stunning south coast or to hop on a boat to the famous Gili islands lying just offshore. Swim, snorkel, dive, hike, lie in the sun, have a massage, eat and drink at some of the great restaurants and bars in town; or just take a break and be enchanted by the peace and beauty of Lombok.

Senggigi

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BEACH CHILL OUT - AMAZING SUNSETS

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Senggigi Map

Senggigi

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Special Feature

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LOMBOK WINS IN 2018 TRAVELERS CHOICE AWARDS! Love it or loathe it, TripAdvisor® is one of the world’s most influential travel sites.

The site announced the winners of its “2018 Travelers’ Choice™ Awards” for hotels on 23 January 2018 and we are delighted to see so many Lombok businesses being recognised internationally.

The 16th annual awards has recognized 8,095 properties in 94 countries and eight regions worldwide.

Travelers’ Choice Award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice winners are remarkable service, quality and value.

Infinity pool at the Oberoi Lombok

Congratulations to the following Lombok winners – you are amongst the best in the world!

TOP 25 LUXURY HOTELS INDONESIA

TOP 25 HOTELS INDONESIA

22. Hotel Tugu, Tanjung, North Lombok

4. The Oberoi Lombok, Tanjung, North Lombok (beating the Oberoi Bali, which ranked at No. 12) 14. Hotel Tugu, Tanjung, North Lombok 16. Jeeva Klui Resort, Klui, Lombok 19. Sudamala Suites & Villas, Mangsit, Lombok TOP 25 SMALL HOTELS INDONESIA 4. The Lombok Lodge, Tanjung, North Lombok 22. The Puncak, ‘The Hill’, Batu Layar, West Lombok

10. The Oberoi Lombok, Tanjung, North Lombok

TOP 10 VALUE FOR MONEY HOTELS - INDONESIA 10. Le Pirate Beach Club, Gili Trawangan, Lombok TOP 25 HOTELS FOR SERVICE – INDONESIA 13. The Oberoi Lombok, Tanjung, North Lombok TOP 25 GUEST HOUSES – INDONESIA 4. Anggrek Putih Eco Resort, Senggigi, West Lombok 25. Marygio Resort, Gili Trawangan, North Lombok TOP 25 HOTELS FOR ROMANCE – INDONESIA 8. The Lombok Lodge, Tanjung, North Lombok TOP 25 BARGAIN HOTELS – INDONESIA 14. Les Villas Ottalia, Gili Meno, North Lombok

Senggigi

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Complete Spa Services at Local Prices!

1 HOUR MASSAGE ONLY Rp 70,000 NET

ORCHID PACKAGE 1 Massage, Body Scrub, Body Mask Rp 175,000 net / 2 hours

ORCHID PACKAGE 2 Massage, Body Scrub, Body Mask, Manicure, Pedicure, Nail Polish Rp 250,000 net / 3 hours

Phone: 0819 1593 2899 0819 0753 1704 FREE WIFI

THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS IN SENGGIGI Senggigi Beach Road 10am - 10pm

Next to Santosa Resort 10am - Midnight

Galeria Shops 10am - 10pm

What’s Hot / Local News

18 Ruby’s Café on Gili Air is wellknown for fabulous fresh food created by talented local chef, Ruby Fitzgerald. The Beach Club Gili Air is one of the nicest places to stay on the island, with comfy bungalows just steps away from the best beach on Gili Air. Put them together and you have Ruby’s @ The Beach Club Gili Air! The owners have taken the best of both worlds and joined together to create the most exciting new restaurant on Gili Air. Located roadside at The Beach Club on the southeast coast of the island, the restaurant has a relaxed vibe and beautiful beach views.

The new restaurant serves fresh and delicious food and drinks and is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as all day dining. There’s also a fully licensed bar serving all your favourite drinks and icy cold cider and beers.

Must try menu items include the famous Jalapeno Poppers, the big and juicy homemade burgers and any of Ruby’s seasonal curries! See page 82.

Don’t forget the 3rd Annual Ayam Taliwang Competition at Qunci Villas in Mangsit on Sunday 25 February.

If you love to dance, put your dancing shoes on and head out to Salsa Nights at Palate Café in Kuta.

The exciting competition sees top Lombok chefs competing to create the best versions of Lombok’s iconic dish – Ayam Taliwang (grilled chicken in spicy sauce).

Come along and join in the fun as the chefs create mouth-watering Taliwang on the grills set up in the garden. The competition starts at 10am and will be adjudicated by special guests – Master Chef Indonesia judge, Matteo Guerinoni and Jed from Foodie Magazine Jakarta, together with Resident Chef, Gianluca. Winners will be announced at 12 noon.

After the Taliwang Competition, enjoy a fabulous Sparkling Brunch from 12.30 – 3.30pm featuring a feast of tempting appetisers, Arabic Mezze, home-made pastas, grilled meats and seafood, cheeses, and delicious desserts (including a chocolate fountain and Qunci’s famous gelato). Buffet only price is Rp 320,000++ and well-priced beverage packages are available. See page 25 for details.

The newly opened café, next to Pipedream Villas, hosts Salsa Nights with informal Salsa lessons every Monday night at 7pm.

There’s music and Latin-inspired cocktails all night long plus “buy 1 get 1 free” Happy Hours from 6 - 8 pm.

Don’t miss the next Cellar Party at Square Restaurant in Senggigi on Friday, 2 March.

Held on the first Friday of every month the Cellar Party features three and a half hours of free-flow imported red and white wines, together with a delicious buffet including sushi, tapas, pasta, roast meats, salads and desserts.

The Cellar Party starts at 7pm and costs just Rp 450,000 per person (inclusive) for a night of wining and dining.

Or you can choose the ‘buffet only’ option for just Rp 200,000 net per person... excellent value for a delicious meal and a great night out at one of Senggigi’s best dining venues! See advert on page 3.

AIR ASIA INCREASE LOMBOK – KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHTS The transition from two to three flights daily was introduced on 22 January this year, with three flights operating from KL to Lombok (and the normal two flights operating from Lombok to KL during this transition period).

AirAsia has added an additional direct flight between Lombok and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, taking the number of flights operating on the route to three flights daily – a total of 21 flights per week!

From 5 March 2018, flights from Kila2 (Kuala Lumpur Airport) to Lombok International Airport will operate at 6.50, 8.35 and 15.40 daily.

Passenger numbers on the inaugural third flight indicate success, with the additional flight from KL on 22 January carrying 131 passengers of which 91 were foreign tourists.

Flights from Lombok to KL will operate at 10.25, 12.15 and 19.15 daily.

The airline uses an Airbus 330 for the flights with a seating capacity for 257 passengers. Flight time is 3 hours and 10 minutes. One way flights from Lombok to KL start at Rp 919,000 per person.

The growth of the Lombok - KL route has been remarkable over the past 6 years.

However, as market demand grew, the airline quickly increased its frequency to four flights weekly and then introduced daily flights in June 2013.

AirAsia commenced flights between Lombok and Kuala Lumpur on 12 October 2012 with just three flights per week, primarily to test the market. The flights were initially dominated by migrant workers travelling from Lombok to Malaysia for employment.

Between 2014 and 2015 the number of Malaysian tourists visiting Lombok grew rapidly and AirAsia increased the route from 10 flights per week to two flights daily (14 flights per week) in January 2015.

Arrivals data recorded the nationalities of passengers from China, Finland, Chile, Spain, Maldives, New Zealand and Malaysia.

The AirAsia flights are seen as a significant asset to the tourism industry in Lombok and the airline hopes for an increase of 30% in passenger loading with the additional flights.

Kuala Lumpur is the hub for AirAsia and offers easy connectivity throughout the world, with routes linking KL to other major destinations in Southeast Asia as well as Europe, the Middle East, China and Australia.

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Local News

20

NAM AIR LOMBOK – BIMA FLIGHTS

NAM Air has made aviation history by being the first airline to use large-bodied jet aircraft on flights between Lombok and Sumbawa.

The new service will operate daily departing from Bima at 11.20 (arriving in Lombok 11.50) and departing from Lombok at 12.30 (arriving in Bima at 13.00).

NAM Air introduced its new service between Lombok International Airport and Sultan Salahuddin Airport in Bima (on Sumbawa, the neighbouring island to the east of Lombok) on 7 February 2018.

Fares on the route start from Rp 294,000 per person one way (economy) and average Rp 329,000 one way.

The route between Lombok and Bima is also served by Garuda Indonesia and Wings Air.

The airline uses Boeing 737-500 aircraft on the route with a capacity of 120 seats, comprising 8 Executive Class seats and 112 Economy Class seats.

Until now, flights between Lombok and Sumbawa have always been served by a small planes or ATR propeller aircraft.

By using Boeing 737-500 planes, flight time is cut in half, with Nam Air boasting a 30 minute flight between the two islands; compared to the usual flight time with a small plane of around an hour.

NAM Air is a subsidiary of Sriwijaya Air. The airline is listed as a Category 1 airline

by Indonesia’s Civil Aviation Authority: the highest status that can be achieved for operational safety.

The inaugural NAM Air flight landed smoothly at Lombok International Airport

The Wings flight, using ATR-42 aircraft, takes 50 minutes to one hour (but delays are common) and one way fares average Rp 373,000 per person. at 12.40pm on 7 February to applause from the waiting crowd.

Management of Angkasa Pura I, the airport authority, and NTB Tourism Office officials greeted the flight by arranging for two water cannons to spray water over the fuselage of the plane to celebrate its first arrival in Lombok.

Passenger numbers on the first flight indicate success for the new route, with NAM Air carrying 119 passengers from Bima, and 113 passengers on the return flight from Lombok.

The Garuda flight is onboard an ATR-72 aircraft with a flight time of one hour.

Fares average Rp 967,500 pp one way.

Connectivity between Lombok and Sumbawa is in high demand and the route has been rapidly growing over the past 5 years.

Garuda Indonesia has already requested permission to increase the frequency of its Lombok - Sumbawa flights to two times a day and the airline reports seat occupancy rates average 80% per flight from Lombok, with seats from Sumbawa often sold out.

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Puri Bunga Beach Cottages

Luxury and Tranquility Privately positioned on terraced slopes of beautiful flowers, overlooking Senggigi Bay and the Lombok Strait to Bali Deluxe and Suite Cottages with air conditioning, hot water, television, mini bar, telephone and internet access

Sea view cottages

From US$40* / room!

(Incl breakfast) * tax and service charge and high season surcharges may apply

Enquire about our special offers!

Jalan Raya Senggigi, Senggigi, Lombok, Indonesia, Ph: +62 (0) 370 693013 Fax: +62 (0) 370 693286 | info@puribungalombok.com | www.puribungalombok.com

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Live Music! Great Food! Good Times!

Jl Raya (Main Street) Senggigi Ph: 0370 693619 E: restaurant@asmara-group.com

www.asmara-group.com

Live Music Every Friday ‘Ary Juliyant and Friends’ from 7.30 pm in the garden

Senggigi

Anna’s

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Giftshop

Looking for nice presents or home decorations?

WE SELL: Salt and Freshwater Pearls, San Marco Jewellery, Lombok Pottery, Hand Painted Modern Wooden Statues and Masks, Unique Lamps, Paintings, Handwoven Ikats, Sarongs and much more!

Lombok.Annas.Giftshop

We are at TripAdvisor!

Jl Raya Senggigi (next to Papa Besar Cafe) | P: 0819 171 37 308 | E: annasgiftshoplombok@gmail.com

CAFE LOMBI ~ COFFEE SHOP In House Roasted Coffee Beans or Ground to order Kopi Luwak Coffee Machines (Sell, Rent & Repair) Coffee Business Solutions Show roasting Single Origin Specialty Grade Arabica Beans Sandwiches Pastries & Cakes Wild Kopi Luwak

TELP. 0370 692085 / 0818 365 790 www.CafeLombi.com

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Qunci Villas Celebrates a Month of Love 20 January – 28 February

[ Y ou r Key to an Id yl l i c L ombok ]

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[ Celebrating romance, love of food and the arts ] Stimulate your senses with the culinary delights of talented chefs, the creations of accomplished artists and the unspoilt beauty of Lombok all in the luxurious surroundings of Qunci Villas

25 February – THE 3RD ANNUAL AYAM TALIWANG COMPETITION It’s the cook off of the year when Lombok’s top chefs compete to create their best version of Lombok’s iconic dish – Ayam Taliwang!

Join us in the Quali Restaurant garden for an exciting morning of fun and fantastic food!

Featuring special guest judges Matteo from Master Chef Indonesia and Jed from Foodie Magazine Starts 10am

After the competition, stay for our fabulous...

25 February – Qunci Sparkling Brunch 12.30pm to 3.30pm Relax in style at Qunci with a decadent feast of appetizers, Arabic Mezze, home-made pastas, grilled seafood and meats, imported cheeses, a selection of delicious desserts, chocolate fountain and Qunci gelato Buffet Only Rp 320,000++ | Free-flow Non Alcoholic Drinks Rp 85,000++ | Free-flow Heineken Draft + Non Alcoholic Drinks Rp 220,000++ | Free-flow Wines + Heineken Draft + Non Alcoholic Drinks Rp 450,000++

20 – 28 February

Come and meet President Jokowi’s favourite painter, artist in residence Kunara Exhibition: 27 February

LIMITED SPACE, BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

0370 693 800 | love@quncivillas.com | www.quncivillas.com

Special Feature

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BAU NYALE FESTIVAL – 6 & 7 MARCH 2018 One of Lombok’s most important and popular festivals is “Bau Nyale” – a unique event that attracts thousands of visitors to the south coast every year.

Many visitors to Lombok plan their trip to coincide with Bau Nyale.

Bau Nyale, or the Nyale Festival, is a cultural tradition said to date back to at least the 16th century and takes place every year on the 20th day of the tenth month of the lunar Sasak calendar. It is celebrated in either February or March each year.

This year the festival will be held on Tuesday, 6 and Wednesday, 7 March at beautiful Seger Beach, around 5kms to the east of Kuta.

Bau Nyale (Bau meaning “to catch” in the local Sasak language and Nyale being a type of marine worm) is centred on the seasonal appearance of Nyale (a variety of Palolo worm found in tropical waters in certain parts of the world, including Lombok).

Once a year – when seasonal, marine and lunar conditions combine – the Nyale come to certain beaches around Lombok to spawn and, for a few days, the seas are filled with wriggling sea worms in a variety of colours, ranging from simple brown to red, blue and green.

The appearance of the sea worms has special cultural significance for the Sasak people of Lombok and is celebrated every year. These days the celebration has become a national event and a highlight on the Lombok calendar.

During the festival guests will be entertained by performances such as traditional dancing and music, the election of this year’s “Princess Mandalika”, live theatrical performances, as well as Peresean (traditional stick fighting competitions), live bands, surfing competitions, and more.

During the lead up to the main festival (or Core Event), the government has planned a number of events including: * Peresean (stick fighting) competitions every day from 1 - 5 March on the Kuta beachfront, starting at 4pm. * Mandalika Etno Performances (ethnic performances from around the region), on the beachfront at Kuta on 4 March, starting at 7pm. * Surfing Competition at Seger Beach on 4 March, starting at 8am.

Festival Kulinar with a variety of stalls selling traditional foods will start at Seger Beach from 4pm. It’s best to get there early!

The night is filled with music and performances including traditional theatre and Gendang Beleq (the big drums for which Lombok is famous). The big night officially opens at 7.30pm and the crowning of Putri Mandalika 2018 (Princess Mandalika contest) takes place at 8pm.

* Mandalika World Music Festival with live music on the beachfront at Kuta on 5 March, starting at 7pm. * Parade Budaya – a wonderful parade representing Lombok culture and arts with music, dance and colourful costumes.

Held along the main street of Praya on 6 March, starting at 4pm.

The ‘Core Event’ takes place on 6 March at Seger Beach and continues all night long, culminating with the catching of the nyale in the early morning hours.

Bau Nyale attracts tens of thousands of people every year to beautiful Seger Beach. Crowds of people will begin arriving in Kuta during the day and by the late afternoon, the road leading to the beach will be jammed with traffic; typical waits for entrance can stretch to two hours.

This doesn’t, however, deter the crowds and the overall festive atmosphere.

On the land surrounding the beach, tents and stalls are set up selling food and drinks, and thousands of spectators sit around the main stage where the different performances are held.

Continued on Page 28

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Special Feature

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BAU NYALE FESTIVAL – 6 & 7 MARCH 2018

Continued from Page 26

beachfront to see if the Nyale have started to appear. Excited crowds splash into the water carrying small nets, buckets and torches, hoping to be the first to catch a Nyale worm.

No one really knows for sure when the Nyale will appear, so anticipation is high prior to the first sighting. The first catches start around 2am and by sunrise the beachfront is an awesome sight, swarming with thousands of wet, happy people scooping up the worms with nets, buckets, shirts and anything else they can use to catch them!

The highlight of the festival is the theatrical dance and music drama which re-enacts the legend of Putri (Princess) Mandalika and is the basis for the magic surrounding the Bau Nyale festival.

even if she loved one of the suitors – she loved her parents and her kingdom too much to cause strife.

The highlight of the ceremony occurs when the Dukun (local priest) wades into the sea to observe the spawning Nyale and predict the future rice harvest, based on the number of sea worms.

Declaring that, rather than choose one person she would give herself to everyone, she threw herself into the sea from the promontory overlooking Seger Beach and disappeared into the waves.

A good catch is a sign that this year’s rice harvest will also be good. Nyale are traditionally associated with fertility and the sea worms are often ground up and placed in irrigation channels and fields to help ensure a good harvest.

According to a local priest, or Dukun, the princess’s body had been transformed into these sea worms, and thus they became a traditional symbol for the Sasak people.

Considered a rare delicacy, the people collect the worms and eat them as a special annual feast. Nyale are sometimes eaten raw when they are caught, but more often are steamed, fried, or made into Pepes Nyale – a popular local specialty with the Nyale mixed with coconut and spices, then wrapped in a banana leaf and roasted over the fire.

According to the legend, Putri Mandalika was the daughter of the King of Tonjang Beru – a large and prosperous kingdom in South Lombok – and was known throughout the land for her beauty, wisdom Everyone searched the sea for the princess, but instead they found masses of colourful and kindness. sea-worms, called Nyale.

Other legends say that the long strands of the Nyale worms are the princess’s hair, floating in the water where she drowned.

The sea worms are rich in protein and are also believed to have aphrodisiac Whether or not the stories are true, the properties, so the feasting takes place with legend continues to be celebrated and has much gusto! become a parable of sacrifice for the sake of the greater good; re-enacted each year at Although it’s possible to drive to the south the Bau Nyale festival as a reminder to the coast for the event, staying in nearby community.

When she was of suitable age to marry, princes and suitors from all over the island travelled to the kingdom to ask for her hand. So many men wanted to marry her that it began to cause trouble between the different kingdoms and the princess felt unable to choose between them without her decision causing further strife.

For days the princes competed for the princess, leading to tensions and threats of war between the rival kingdoms. Finally the princess’ father gathered all the rivals together and instructed Princess Mandalika to choose her husband before sunrise the next morning.

Thousands of people gathered on what is now Seger Beach to see the princess choose her husband but, fearful of causing a war, Princess Mandalika declared that –

Performed on the main stage during the Core Event, the Putri Mandalika drama is one of the most unique and enchanting cultural performances to be found in Lombok.

The spell-binding and well-acted spectacle features beautiful and authentic Sasak costumes, traditional music, drumming, peresean (stick fighting) and gamelan.

It is a fascinating insight into the life and history of our island during the times when Lombok was ruled by kingdoms and Sasak royalty.

At the end of the drama, thousands of people make their way down to the

Kuta is the best way to experience Bau Nyale. For upmarket accommodation, we recommend Novotel Lombok Resort (see page 67) which has a good variety of rooms to suit all pockets; for budget travellers, Mimpi Manis Homestay is a good choice.

Local News

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NEW FAST BOAT ROUTE BALI - BANYUWANGI

Fast boat operator, Marina Srikandi, has started a new fast boat service linking Bali and Banyuwangi in East Java.

The boat departs Bali from the Kedonganan Pier in Jimbaran and docks at the Pantai Boom Pier in Banyuwangi just two hours later.

The same journey by road and ferry between Gilimanuk and Ketapang in East Java would require a traveling time of 5 - 6 hours.

In welcoming the new service, the Regent of Banyuwangi, Abdullah Anas, welcomed the new boat transfer connecting Bali and Banyuwangi as certain to become a popular alternative means of travel between the two points and open Banyuwangi to new tourist visitors.

Mulyono Sugito, a Director of Marina Srikandi who operates the fast boats, explained that his company would initially operate one trip per day each way. As the market develops, two trips will eventually operate each day between the two ports.

The boat departs Banyuwangi at 9.00 am and the return voyage departs Bali at 1.00 pm. The fare for the 2-hour trip is Rp 375,000 per person, one way.

Marina Srikandi also offers a drop off service to points around Banyuwangi for an additional Rp 50,000 pp.

The fast boat has a length of 21.84 metres and a breadth of 6.3 metres, with capacity for 70 passengers. The boat is powered by five Suzuki 250HP outboard engines and can travel at speeds of up to 40 knots.

The new service opens up options other than flying for travellers moving between Lombok, Bali and Java.

Marina Srikandi also operates fast boat services between Serangan Harbour in Bali to Nusa Lembongan (Bali) and Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, Bangsal Harbour and Senggigi in Lombok.

Local News

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INDAHNYA SENGGIGI?

The jetty cannot be used because of the damage and boats – including fast boats from Bali – are forced to land on the beach. When the waves are too large, boat services to Senggigi are cancelled.

Two months later, the jetty still hasn’t been repaired and no attempt has been made to retrieve the salvageable pontoons. Bad weather has now broken up the sections further and carried them out to sea.

The beach is littered with broken sections of the pontoons being buried by the sand, some left over from when the jetty was built several years ago.

Recently two candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial elections erected a huge sign across the main street of Senggigi announcing “Indahnya Senggigi” (“beautiful Senggigi”) – prompting some of us to ask when these politicians last stepped foot on Senggigi Beach.

The once-beautiful beach of Senggigi, which is the centrepiece of the west coast resort area, has suffered badly from neglect and misguided government ‘development’ over the past few years.

We publish these photos in the hope that the “powers that be” don’t just erect signs but come and have a look at the true state of Senggigi for themselves.

The recent storms and heavy rains in early February has done further damage – leaving the beach in a very sorry state.

The river embankment has collapsed

Due to the recent heavy rains, the small river that flows into the sea behind the Santosa Resort has overflowed and broken the embankment. The concrete retaining wall has now collapsed allowing the river to further erode the beachfront.

Fishermen have erected what now appear to be permanent structures on the beachfront. While a year ago, some small tents housed temporary shops on the beach, the structures are now much bigger and people have taken up permanent residence on the beach.

The main Sengiggi Jetty was extensively damaged by a storm on 19 December 2017.

The pontoon moorings broke away from the main jetty and several sections were submerged.

No longer a beach to be proud of

Local News

31 and general rubbish created from living on the beach (with no access to toilets!)

The fishing boat problem is particularly bad in the section of beach near the Art Markets, where boats are parked so closely together they block access to the beach.

Back in August 2017, the NTB Tourism Department built some large and extremely ugly concrete tables and chairs on the Senggigi beachfront.

High tides have washed away the beachfront, exposing the foundations of these heavy concrete tables and causing them to slide into the sand.

In some areas, the tables are now unusable – just more unsightly debris adding to the atmosphere of neglect.

Although this is clearly illegal, no one from the government appears to want to police the beachfront.

As happens every year during the monsoon season, the bad weather and high seas has forced more of the fishermen from Ampenan to moor their boats on the beach.

Unfortunately, some of these fishermen refuse to return to their own harbour and have taken up residence on the beach, where they carry out boat repairs and repair nets, as well as sort and clean fish ready for market.

This means the beach is littered with sections of boats, broken wood and nails from the repairs, as well as smelly fish guts

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Time Out

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CAMPURAN CROSSWORD Solve the clues in Bahasa Indonesia, write the answers in English Selesaikan petunjuk dalam Bahasa Indonesia, tulis jawaban dalam Bahasa Inggris

A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper, Guido, has scammed him out of $10,000,000.

Guido the bookkeeper is deaf. That was the reason he got the job in the first place, so that Guido would hear nothing and would never have to testify in court.

When the Godfather goes to confront Guido about his missing $10 million, he takes along his lawyer who knows sign language.

“Ask him where the money is!” the Godfather tells the lawyer, The lawyer, using sign language, asks Guido, “Where’s the money?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Guido signs back.

The lawyer tells the Godfather, “He says he doesn’t know what you are talking about.”

The Godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to Guido’s head Across: and says, “Ask him again or I’ll kill him!”

1. Jalan melandai 3. Mata The lawyer signs to Guido, “He’ll kill you if you don’t tell 6. Mobil pakai argo him.”

9. Murni 11. Pewarna Guido trembles and signs back, “Okay! You win! The money is in a brown briefcase, buried behind the shed 12. Bebas 13. Jubah at my cousin Bruno’s house.”

14. Petinju terkenal M …

“What did he say?” the Godfather asks the lawyer 15. Kaki 17. Bunga bakung The lawyer replies, “He says you don’t have the balls 20. Paus to pull the trigger!”

21. Rencana

Down: 1. Tikus 2. Campur 4. Kamu 5. Melihat 7. Setuju 8. Ide ide 9. Mara bahaya 10. Pemberontak 15. Bibir 16. Celah 18. Sakit 19. Mata uang Jepang

-------------------------------------Crossword Solution Issue 264.

A guy was sitting quietly reading his paper when his wife walked up behind him and whacked him on the head with a frying pan.

“What was that for?” he asked, rubbing his head.

“That was for the piece of paper in your pants pocket with the name Mary Lou written on it,” she replied.

“Two weeks ago when I went to the races, Mary Lou was the name of one of the horses I bet on,” her husband explained.

“Oh honey, I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have known there was a good explanation.”

Across: 1. Food. 3. Rest. 6. Dark. 9. Slop. 11. Now. 12. Gone. 13. Echo. 14. Era. 15. Seal. 17. Term. 20. Pool.

21. Stay.

Down: 1. Fad. 2. Oar. 4. Eel. 5. Tip. 7. Alone. 8. Kneel.

9. Sweat. 10. Other. 15. Sip. 16. Ago. 18. Eat. 19. May. Three days later he was watching football on the telly when she walked up and hit him in the head again – this time with the iron skillet, which knocked him out cold!

When he came to, he asked, “What was that for?”

“Your horse called.”

Local Scene

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CHEFS IN THE WILD @ QUNCI VILLAS

Qunci Villas hosted another “Chefs in the Wild” dinner on Saturday, 3 February – featuring renowned Indonesian Chef Juna Rorimpandey of MasterChef Indonesia and Hell’s Kitchen Indonesia fame.

Guests enjoyed an exclusive 5-course degustation dinner prepared by Chef Juna in collaboration with Qunci Executive Chef, Gianluca Viscaglia.

The dinner also coincided with the opening of an art exhibition by Indonesian artist, Diyah Yulianti who is one of the artists-in-residence at Qunci Villas during the resort’s “Month of Love” programme.

Il Vitello Tonnato non Vitello

Chef Juna

Acclaimed Chef and owner of Burnt Ends Restaurant in Singapore, Dave Pynt also attended the dinner.

All about Chocolate dessert

(left) Performance Art artist Diyah and her son at the exhibition opening

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[ Elegant Italian Dining ] Available 7pm until 10.30pm

[ Y ou r Key to an Id yl l i c L ombok ] Jl. Raya Mangsit, Senggigi, Lombok | Phone: +62 370 693 800 Email: stay@quncivillas.com | Website: www.quncivillas.com

Useful Contacts

36

USEFUL CONTACTS EMERGENCY SERVICES Senggigi Police (POLSEK Senggigi): Jl Raya Senggigi. Phone: 0370 693267 | 632733 Lombok Police (POLDA NTB): Jl Gajah Mada 7, Mataram. Ph: 0370 693110. Emergency No: 110 Fire Brigade: Phone: 0370 672013. Emergency No: 113 State Hospital UGD (Emergency Unit Service): Phone: 0370 622254 Ambulance: Phone: 0370 623489. Emergency No: 118 Emergency Rescue (RSU Mataram) Ph: 0370 620009.

HOSPITALS (Rumah Sakit) Rumah Sakit Harapan Keluarga Jl Ahmad Yani 9, Selagalas. Ph: 0370 670000 | 6177000. Emergency (24hrs): 6177009.

Mataram Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Mataram) Jl Pejanggik No 6, Mataram Phone: 0370 6660224 | 638464

TAXI Blue Bird Taxi, Ph: 0370 627000 AIRPORT BUS / DAMRI Senggigi / Mataram, Ph: 370 642947 | 0878 6475 5513 | 0813 9862 4975 IMMIGRATION Jl Udayana, Mataram, Ph: 0370 632520 PUBLIC SERVICES ELECTRICITY PLN Mataram. Ph: 0370 643123 PLN Senggigi. Ph: 0370 693535 WATER PDAM Mataram. Ph: 0370 632510 PDAM Senggigi. Ph: 0370 693886 TELKOM (Phone/Internet). Ph: 0370 147 Directory Assistance (Lombok Phone Numbers): Ph. 0370 108 POST OFFICES (Kantor Pos)

New NTB Province Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Propinsi) Jalan Prabu Rangkasari, Dasan Cermen Phone: 0370 7502424

Mataram Jl Sriwijaya. Ph: 0370 632645 Senggigi Jl Raya Senggigi. Ph: 0370 693711

Central Lombok Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Praya) Jl H Lalu Hasyim, Tiwugalih, Praya. Phone: 0370 6635050

AUSTRALIA Phone: 0361 2000100. Emergency: +61 26261 3305. Email: Bali.congen@dfat.gov.au

East Lombok Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Dr R Sudjono) Jl Professor M Yamin No 55, Selong, East Lombok. Phone: 0376 21599 Biomedika Hospital Jl Bung Karno 143, Mataram.

Phone: 0370 645137 Risa Sentra Medika Hospital Jl Pejanggik 115, Cakranegara.

Phone: 0370 625560 | 632117 DENTISTS (Dr Gigi) Drg. Farida Istiarini, Sp.Ort (Joli Sourire Dental Care) 1st Floor at Lombok Epicentrum Mall.

Jl Sriwijaya, Mataram. Ph: 0878 6490 1535 Drg. Yuanita Jl Sriwijaya (opposite Kura-Kura Waterpark). Ph: 0812 3763 156 Drg. Mumu Jl Bung Hatta 14, Mataram. Ph: 0853 3730 7008 VETS (Dr Hewan) / PET CARE Dr Gede (Nobel Petshop) Jl Sriwijaya (Nex t to Town Palace). Ph: 0370 6160300 Dr. I Gede Sudiana (FB: lombokanimalrescue) Jl Sadewa 9, Cakra. Ph: 0878 6585 6260 Dr. Ajus. Ph: 0878 6441 3232 Dr. Yoses Kristianto (DC Petshop) Jl Saleh Sungkar, Ampenan. Ph: 0819 99831337 Dr Dwik. Ph: 0819 99831337 Dr Irfan. Ph: 0817 579 0834 Dr Nurul (Kuta). Ph: 0818 0366 2612

CONSULATES

BELGIUM Phone: 0343 740274. Emergency: 021 3162030.

Email: Stefaan.vancolen@st-group.com BRAZIL Phone: 0361 8446530. Emergency: 0821 44440018. Email: renato@bythesea.co.id BRITAIN Phone: 021 23565200. Emergency: 0811 8860053. Email: Consulate.Bali@fco.gov.uk CHILE Phone: 0361 756781. Emergency: 021 29401677. Email: chilehonconsulate@bali-villa. com CHINA Phone: 0361 239001. Emergency: 081239169767. Email: chinaconsul_dps_id@ mfa.gov.cn CZECH REPUBLIC Phone: 0361 286408. Emergency: 0812 3970129. Email: bali@honorary.mzv.cz

HUNGARY Phone: 0361 287701. Emergency: 0811 389680. Email: huconbali@gmail.com INDIA Ph. 0361 259502/3. Emergency: 08113976388.

E: hoc.bali@mea.gov.in ITALY Phone: 0361 701005. Emergency: 0361 701005.

Email: italconsbali@italconsbali.org JAPAN Phone: 0361 227628. Emergency: 0361 227628.

Email: denpasar@mofa.go.jp MEXICO Phone: 0361 223266. Emergency: 0811 399929.

Email: yudhara@astinatravel.com NEW ZEALAND Phone: 0361 8446456. Emergency: 0819 99477552. Email: indy.honcondibali@gmail.com NORWAY Phone: 0361 282223. Emergency: 0817 9723658. Email: norwegianconsulatebali@ yahoo.com POLAND Phone: 0361 282474. Emergency: 0811 389449.

Email: iblolec@pacificworld.com PORTUGAL Phone: 0361 975736. Emergency: 0813 38189313. Email: arief@indobamboo.com RUSSIA Phone: 0851 00791560. Emergency: 021 5222912. Email: bali@russiaconsul.com SLOVAK REPUBLIC Phone: 0361 9005583. Emergency: 0811810680. Email: konsulslowakbali@yahoo. com SOUTH AFRICA Phone: 0361 751223. Emergency: 0857 39114748. Email: bagus.sudibya@ bagusdiscovery.com SPAIN Phone: 0361 975736. Emergency: 0818 365920.

Email: amir@rabik.co.id SRI LANKA Phone: 0361 726200. Emergency: 08123801063. Email: citrabaliide@yahoo.co.id SWEDEN Phone: 0361 282223. Emergency: 0817 9723658. Email: sweconsul@yahoo.com SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA Phone: 0361 264149. Emergency: 0811 3850041. Email: bali@honrep.ch

DENMARK & NORWAY Phone: 0361-8216979. Emergency: 0361 766638 | 0812 39186023. Email: danishconsbali@gmail.com

THAILAND Phone: 0361 249461. Emergency: 021 29328190. Email: rtcdps@yahoo.com

ESTONIA Phone: 021 70 82 8803. Emergency: 0811 987111. Email: bharat@consul-estonia.or.id

TIMUR LESTE Phone: 0361 4722099. Emergency: 0813 38556373. Email: cgtl@dpsbali.com

FINLAND & SWEDEN Phone: 0361 282223. Emergency: 0817 9723658. Email: finnishconsulatebali@yahoo. com

TUNISIA Phone: 0361 242659. Emergency: 021 52892328. Email: tunisconsulbali@popodanes. org

FRANCE Phone: 0361 4730834. Emergency: 021 23557600. Email: consul@dps.centrin.net.id

THE NETHERLANDS Phone: 0361 761502. Emergency: 0818 789444. Email: dutchconsulate@kcbtours.com

GERMANY Phone: 0361-288535. Emergency: 0812 3913938. Email: sanur@hk-diplo.de

USA Ph: 0361 233605. Emergency: 0811 334183.

Email: CABali@state.gov

Senggigi

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Pasar Classifieds

38

PASAR CLASSIFIEDS CERTIFIED LAND FOR SALE Fantastic investment opportunity in Lobster Bay, Bumbang - South Lombok

YOUR PRIVATE DRIVER IN LOMBOK

IHR DEUTSCHSPRACHIGER PRIVATFAHRER UND REISELEITER AUF LOMBOK

Do you need a driver for your private tour in Lombok?

Please text me via WhatsApp to this number +62 818 0555 9594 in English/German Bräuchten Sie einen deutschsprachigen privaten Fahrer auf Lombok?

Schicken Sie mir eine Nachricht auf Deutsch per WhatsApp an +62 818 0555 9594

https://goo.gl/KcVKnN

7,700sqm (77 are) Stunning ocean views.

Drive-on access Close to surf breaks

Email: iwan.manyong@gmail.com

MITRA POOL LOMBOK SWIMMING POOL CHEMICALS & EQUIPMENT Pump, Filter, Spare Parts, Accessories, Jacuzzi, etc

ONLY Rp 35 million per are Phone: 0821 4587 5594 Email: landinbumbang@yahoo.com

SOLAR WATER HEATER LOMBOK Distributor of LUMINOUS, battery back-up and solar-power systems INTI SOLAR, solar water heaters All installations by our own service-team.

Spare parts directly available.

Please call or send an email for a free quotation: 0878 6494 2137 / 0813 3721 9666 info@solar-waterheater-lombok.com

PASAR CLASSIFIEDS Employment, Land & Property for Sale and Lease, Goods for Sale, Services, etc...

The economical way to advertise!

Phone: 0819 1734 8141 / whatsapp: 0812 3842 4758 Swimming Pool Design, Construction & Maintenance Jl Raya Senggigi 88 (Next to Square Restaurant) Website: www.mitrapool-chemical-equipment.com

HOUSE FOR RENT / SALE Located in Green Raflesia Complex B89 Ampenan.

Land size 110m2. 3 bedrooms, 2 AC, 2 bathrooms with water heater. Kitchen set, CCTV, wifi, 3 TV’s, Dining table and chairs, refrigerator.

Electricity 2200 watt.

Freehold (Hak Milik) Certificate.

Phone Ibu Sari: 0819 1660 4000

LAND FOR SALE

Great Views out over Kuta Bay Formed road access to site of 60 are (6,000sqm) Hak Milik Certificate (Freehold).

Drive to Kuta town or beach in less than 3 minutes.

Price: Rp 39 million / are Ph: 081 7667 3983

Nyoman Transport

Box 9.5cm x 4.9cm ONLY Rp 100,000 / Box / Issue

Safe and professional English-speaking driver with comfortable air conditioned car (seats 5 - 6). Private airport transfers or airport to Kuta, Mataram, Senggigi, Gilis, etc. Available for private charter and Lombok tours.

Competitive rates and friendly service!

Email: kitadesign@hotmail.com

Ph: 0819 1701 3714 / 0821 4458 7910 Email: nyoman.translombok@yahoo.com

Senggigi

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40

Senggigi

Senggigi

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w w w. l o t u s - r e s t a u r a n t s . c o m

Specialising in delicious and authentic meals... real Italian food from our real Italian chef!

FREE Transport and delivery service in Senggigi area

On the beachfront, Senggigi Art Market Ph: +62 (0) 370 693 758 | Fax: +62 (0) 370 693 375

Senggigi

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[ Yo u r K e y to an I d yllic Lombok ]

Lombok’s Boutique Hotel [ The Lonely Planet: “Best Place to Stay in Lombok” ] [ Cosmopolitan: “Lombok’s Hidden Beauty” ] [ Guide du Routard: “Le Reve!” ] Jl. Raya Mangsit, Senggigi, Lombok | Phone: +62 370 693 800 Email: stay@quncivillas.com | Website: www.quncivillas.com

43

discover nature’s greatest gift

Pearl Farm Tours

(Groups or 2 adults minimum)

Pearl and Jewellery Showroom Private viewings welcome

Showroom Open Daily 9am - 5pm

PT Autore Pearl Culture, Teluk Nara, Malaka, Lombok Phone: +62 8133 992 0015 / +62 8133 992 0020 | Email: pearlfarm@pearlautore.com.au

www.pearlautore.com.au

Senggigi

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Puri Mas Luxury Spa Kerandangan Full and Half Day Spa Revitalising Hydrotherapy Pool Ultimate Spa Treatments from Babor Facials for all Skin Types

Pamper your friends and loved ones...

Spa gift vouchers available

Delicious Body Rituals Body Scrubs, Wraps & Peelings Massages Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, Accupressure and Hot Stone Reflexology Manicure & Pedicure Gel Nails Pretty Feet and Hand Pampering Open 8am to 10pm Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Menu

We use only the famous international Babor Brand of Body & Facial Products

Conde Nast Johansens Voted “Best Couples Spa” 2015

Dine in our Javanese Pavilions

Enjoy authentic Indonesian feasts in our traditional Javanese Pavilions an unforgetable experience in an intimate setting with Personalised Butler Service

SPA OR RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS: (0370) 693 831 | Email: info@purimas-lombok.com FREE PICK UP AND DROP OFF IN THE SENGGIGI MANGSIT AREAS

Senggigi

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Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa Beach Resort - Mangsit

The Ballroom Restaurant Enjoy first class a la carte dining with some of the best seafood platters in town Uninterrupted views across the ocean to Bali Intimate candle light dinners Romantic sunset cocktails Enticing authentic Indonesian cuisine prepared by our internationally experienced Chef.

The Way Exceptional Dining Should Be! Open 7am to 11pm Child policy - Minimum guest age 12yrs

The Ballroom Restaurant is Ranked #1 out of 55 Restaurants in Senggigi by TripAdvisor

Monday Night is Latin Night!

Bring your dancing shoes or just enjoy the entertainment during dinner Performances by the students and champions from the Lombok International Dance Sport Studios Junior Amateur Champions of Indonesia performing weekly “Dancing with the Stars” in Lombok!

Show starts 8pm

Happy Hours - 5 to 7pm Every Day Sunset Happy Hours Buy 2 Get 1 Free - Cocktails and spirits

Tuesday Free Cooking Classes!

Buy a happy hour cocktail and get a free voucher to join in our fun and friendly cooking classes with Indonesian specialties by chef Ridwan.

5pm every Tuesday. Visitors welcome!

Thursday Night is Cultural Night!

A great opportunity to enjoy dinner while watching authentic traditional entertainment from Lombok Show opens with the famous Gendang Beleq Big Drums of Lombok, Peresean “Stick Fighting” from Central Lombok, Sasak Wedding Dance and Baris Dance from Bali – Lombok style!

Show starts 8pm

JUST 5 MINS FROM SENGGIGI - FREE TRANSFER SERVICE RESERVATIONS CALL: 0370 693 831 / Email: fb@purimas-lombok.com

Land & Property

46

LAND & PROPERTY SECTION Advertise your home, villa and land in our “Land & Property” Section - your Guide to investment in Lombok!

We offer the most economical and effective way to market your property with 4,000 copies of The Lombok Guide distributed every two weeks throughout Lombok, the Gilis and Bali PLUS reach thousands of readers around the world through our website and our online digital paper!

FOR SALE

Email us now to find out how easy it is to market your property! kitadesign@hotmail.com

FOR LEASE FOR RENT

VILLA FOR SALE BUILDING PLOT on THE HILL HOME-STAY & VILLA in KERANDANGAN FOR SALE in MENINTING 2 15.56 ARE (1,556m ). Unobstructed 2-storey luxury holiday villa with pool on 13 ARE divided: 7 are for Home-stay sea and Bali views. Excellent road 900m2 land. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, (4 bedrooms with A/C, pool, fully access, water and electricity available. guest toilet, big balcony, kitchen, open furnished) and 6 are for Villa Located in an established prestigious plan living/dining, separate guest house, (3 bedrooms with A/C, open plan residential area, ready to build. storage room, laundry area with toilet. living & kitchen, plus 4 extra rooms).

10 mins drive to Senggigi.

Established garden, quiet lush location, secure parking. Price on application NOW ONLY USD 215,000 NEGO!!

Price IDR 255 million / are (100m2)

Jl Raya Senggigi (50m from Happy Café) | Ph: 0812 3734 0117

info@lombokpropertyandvillas.com l www.lombokpropertyandvillas.com

Land & Property

47

Land & Property

48

ISLAND PROPERTIES LOMBOK Real Estate Specialists MAGNIFICENT OCEAN VIEW VILLA - SENGGIGI This property has a truly magnificent high view of the ocean, palm trees and Mt Agung on Bali.

Beautifully presented 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, and large lounge home with spacious verandah.

Fabulous new teak kitchen (chefs delight!) Landscaped with pool, alfresco area, overlooking the ocean.

Private parking. 1.5 km from central Senggigi.

Asking Price Rp 2.8 billion

PANDORA HOTEL MATARAM

MAGNIFICENT VILLA SANDIK Brand new!

3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms.

Home located in Sandik - the Ubud of Lombok!

Superb large family room, formal lounge.

Enormous main bedroom with ensuite.

Exquisite outdoor entertaining area and 11 x 4 m pool.

10 minutes to Mataram and 15 minutes to the heart of Senggigi.

Asking Price USD 20,000 27.61 are of land.

8 are of land vacant for further development.

Excellent central location!

57 rooms - all rooms with ensuites.

Large conference room with kitchen.

Half of the commercial building is leased by Rocket Chicken.

Asking Price Rp 15.5 billion

TAMPAH BEACH LAND

VILLA GANGGA

A Must to View! DIRECT BEACHFRONT! Fantastic Tampah Bay. 9 km from Kuta and 10 km from Selong Belanak.

40 are (4,000m2)

Direct beachfront luxury villa.

3 bedroom, 3 ensuites. Open plan home. Full ocean views across to Gili Trawangan.

Open plan kitchen and dining with alfresco entertaining areas. Large 12 x 4 salt pool. Outdoor kitchen and barbeque. BMW 4WD car and bike included in the price! 45 minutes from Senggigi and 15 minutes from Bangsal. 15 minutes by boat to the Gili Islands. Land area 13.20 are (1,320 sqm).

Price Rp 100 million/are

Asking Price USD 500,000

Phone Angela: 0819 1742 0804 / Santi (Indonesia): 0877 6660 3939 islandpropertieslombok@gmail.com | www.islandpropertieslombok.net

We can make your dreams come true!

Land & Property

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50

THE CITIES The three main cities in Lombok – Ampenan, Mataram and Cakranegara – have expanded over the years and now merge together to create what is, for Lombok, an urban sprawl of shops, administrative centres and residential areas.

A visit to the cities makes an interesting day trip, exploring the numerous small shops selling everything imaginable from everyday items to gold and pearls.

There are many pearl shops in Ampenan selling unset pearls and pearl jewellery at attractive prices. These are genuine pearls – some cheap quality from China and the more expensive ones are farmed in Lombok and Sumbawa. If you bargain the price, you can usually get a good deal.

There are gold shops in both Ampenan and Cakra with 24 kt gold being sold by the gram at market price.

For cheap and interesting food choices, explore the many restaurants, warung and food stalls in the cities. Or just wander around the streets to soak up the atmosphere and discover fascinating insights into Lombok city life!

Ampenan was the original port in Lombok during Dutch colonial times and some of the old architecture is still visible around the town, particularly toward the beach to the west where the remnants of the port are slipping into the sea.

The streets become a market at night, filled with warung and kaki lima (food carts) for cheap, tasty food and local flavour.

Kebun Roek, just near the traffic lights in Ampenan on the road from the old Selaparang airport, is the site of the local

Province), with government offices, banks, mosques, schools and colleges, bookstores, the main post office, and Mataram University downtown.

In Mataram, the Nusa Tenggara Barat Museum houses historical and cultural artefacts from Lombok and Sumbawa.

It’s an interesting place to visit and occasionally hosts special exhibits.

Displays include exhibits on geology, history and culture. Address: Jl Panji Tilar. Ph: 632159 for opening times.

There is a small admission fee.

Also worth visiting is the cultural centre, Taman Budaya on Jl Majapahit. Music and dance performances are presented here regularly. Phone: 622428 for details.

Cakranegara (usually abbreviated to “Cakra”) is Lombok’s main shopping area. It is also home to many Chinese and Balinese, who make up over 50 percent of the city’s population. The streets of the city make an interesting walk with gold shops, sporting goods, clothing and fabric stores selling imported silks, laces and cottons, to name a few.

There is a local market at the main intersection in Cakra; turn right at the traffic lights and look for the entrance to the market on the left. Inside is a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from baskets to fresh flowers and local foods.

The next large town east of Cakra is Sweta. The Bertais bus terminal is located here for connections to the east of the island and beyond. Near the bus terminal there is a huge local market every day with all kinds of goods on sale, from foodstuffs to clothing, exotic birds, handicrafts and more.

Mataram, about 3 km to the east of Ampenan, is the administrative centre for Lombok and Sumbawa (NTB

Lombok City Centre on Jl Raya Narmada (the main road east of Sweta) is Lombok’s newest mall and is still in the final stages of construction.

However, some stores are already open for business in LCC including Matahari Department Store, Hypermart supermarket, and other small retailers, as well as cafes and food stores.

Nearby Temples and Places of Interest Pura Meru on Jl Selaparang, Cakranegara, was built in 1720 by Balinese Prince Anak Agung Made Karang and is the largest temple on Lombok.

Its three meru are for the Hindu trinity – Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.

This is an important temple for the Balinese here and its annual Pujawali festival, held over five days during the full moon in September or October, is the biggest Balinese Hindu event on Lombok.

The outer courtyard hall has large drums used to announce ceremonies and festivals. In the central courtyard are two buildings with raised offering platforms.

The interior enclosure has 33 shrines as well as the three multi-tiered meru.

The caretaker will meet you and give you a sash to wear in the temple. Please sign the guestbook and give a donation.

Shopping Lombok Epicentrum Mall on Jl Sriwijaya (see cities map) was opened in October 2015 and is a large, modern shopping centre with four floors of retail outlets. The complex houses a Hypermart supermarket and a Matahari Department Store, as well as a Cinema XXI movie theatre and Timezone entertainment centre.

markets. Every day traders set up stalls selling fresh produce from around the island, local snacks and products, live chickens and fresh fish in the afternoon when the fishing boats come in. A stroll through the markets is a pungent and enlightening experience!

Tourism Information

There is a well-stocked Ace Hardware store, an Informa furniture store, and a Guardian pharmacy. Other retailers sell a wide variety of fashion, shoes, electronics, sporting goods, and much more.

There are many food outlets and cafes, as well as Bread Talk, J. Co, Starbucks, Excelso, The Coffee Bean, Wendy’s and more.

Pura Mayura, just across the street from Pura Meru, was built in 1744 as the court temple of the last Balinese kings in Lombok. An open hall or bale kambang (floating pavilion) stands in the middle of a large artificial lake here and an interesting temple is sheltered under huge old trees at the rear of the lake.

The gardens and the adjoining Pura Jagatnatha temple complex are a peaceful place to escape the bustle of the city and well worth exploring. Taman Mayura is open every day, from 8am to 8pm; admission is Rp 5000 per person. The gardens are popular on weekends so the best time to visit is during the weekdays.

Cities Map

51

52

The Cities

Distribution

53

LOMBOK GUIDE The

LOMBOK’S #1 TOURISM NEWSPAPER AND INFORMATION RESOURCE 8000 copies distributed throughout Lombok, the Gilis and Bali every month!

Around 200 international & national visits to our website every day! www.thelombokguide.com An average of 7000 people reading our online digital paper every month! http://issuu.com/thelombokguide WITH MORE THAN 20,000 READERS EVERY MONTH, HOW CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO ADVERTISE???

Contact us now for economical advertising that gets results!

0812 3734 4894

kitadesign@hotmail.com

www.thelombokguide.com

4000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EVERY TWO WEEKS AT: BLUE BIRD TAXI: Exclusively available in every Blue Bird Taxi in Lombok.

AIRPORT: LIA Tourist Information Board, Lombok Baru Taxi, Kotama Taxi, Golden Bird Travel, Trec, BLT Travel and every counters outside International Lombok Airport.

MATARAM: Autore, Lombok Epicentrum Mall (Ace Hardware, Burger King, Bread Talk, Cinema XXI, Excelso, Food Centrum, Front Desk, Hypermart, Informa, J.Co, Joli Sourire, KFC, Maxx Coffee, Mokko Factory, My Kopi-O, Omah Cobek, Paris Castle, Quali, Solaria, XO Suki), Mataram Mall (Delicio Café, McDonalds, Mokko Factory, Oceanic Café), Toko Susana.

KUTA: Bombora Bungalows, Discovery Coffee House, El Bazar, Kemangi Bar & Kitchen, KRNK, Kuta Bay Homestay, Kuta Heights, Kuta Indah Hotel, Mimpi Manis Homestay, Novotel, Nuggets Corner, Puri Rinjani, Sekar Kuning / Yellow Flower, The Chili Cafe, Warung Bule.

SENGGIGI: Anna’s Giftshop, Aruna Senggigi Hotel, Asmara Restaurant, Café Alberto, Cafe Lombi, Dive Zone, Island Properties Lombok, Katamaran Resort, La Chill Bar, Living Asia, Lombok Property and Villas, Lotus Bayview Restaurant, Orchid Spa, Pasta Pojok, Puri Bunga Cottages, Puri Mas Boutique Hotel, Qunci Villas, Senggigi Jaya Abadi Supermarket, Sheraton, Square Restaurant, Temptations, The Chandi, The Cowshed, The Office, Verve Beach Club.

GILI T: Blue Marlin Dive, Desa Dunia Beda, Gili Getaway, Kayu Cafe, ko-ko-mo Resort, Oceano Resort, Pearl Beach Lounge, Manta Dive, Martas Bungalows, Scallywags, The Beach House, The Trawangan.

GILI AIR: Scallywags, The Beach Club.

SOUTH LOMBOK: ko-ko-mo Gili Gede, Novotel Resort, Sempiak Villas BALI: 707 Beachberm, Air Bali, Asia Collection Tour, Asian Trails Tour, Bale Bali Restaurant, Bali Deli, Bali Medical Clinic, Bakfickan Bar & Rest, Batu Jimbar Resturant, Bebek Bengil Kuta, BIMC, Black Canyon Seminyak Square, Blue Café, Blue Water Express, Bounty Cruises, Bow Restaurant, Bungalow Café, Cafe Bali, Café Canggu, Café Marzano, Cafe Moka, Café Smorgas, Canggu Club, Canggu Station, Captain Cook Rest, Chez Gado-Gado, Club Havana, Cocoon Spa, Corner House Restaurant, Corner Store, Dijon, Eco Beach Rest, Exotissimo Travel Indonesia, Finn’s Beach Club, Firestation Restaurant, Gardenia Cafe & Bar, Gili GIli, Gili Shop Poppies 1, Gloria Jeans Coffee 1, Go Vacation Tour, Golden Kris Tour, Gourmet Cafe, Grain Bar, Grocer & Grind, Gypsy Restaurant, Habitual Queench Feed, Happy Chappy Canggu, Hog Wild Restaurant, Istana Kuta Galeria, Jalapeno Rest Sanur, Jones Lang Lasalle, Junction Bar & Rest, Kantor The Yak, Keraton Hotel, L’Assiette Restaurant, La Laguna Restaurant, Lila Pantai Sanur, Loop Rest, Living Stone Bakery, Mamas Rest, Mamasan Restaurant, Massimo Italian Restaurant, Meno Mojo, Metis Restaurant, Milk & Madu Restaurant, Monsieur Spoon Canggu, Monsieur Spoon Laksmana, Monsieur Spoon Rest, Motel Mexicola, Manikepis Restaurant, Nero Rest, Noemah by Lonny, Nude Nasty Fasion, Ocha Warung, Old Mans Rest & Bar, On On Bar, Pacific World, Pacto Tour, Pantarei Restaurant, PT Dimatique International, Reborn Salon, Red Carpet, Rutica Cucina Italiana, Samudra Bar, Sanur Beach Grove, Serba Antik, Soho Restaurant, SOS, Soul In Bowl, Souq Restaurant, Sprout Restaurant, Starbucks Coffee Kuta, Starbucks Discovery Mall, Stiff Chilli, Strawberry Fields, Taco Casa Restaurant, The Plumbers Arms, Tourist Information, The Savage Kitchen, Trattoria Cucina Italiana, Two Fish Drivers, Vila Lumbung, Warung Bonita, Warung Sulawesi, Y Bar, Zanzibar Restaurant.

Special thanks to our contributors: Barbara Kathleen, Dian Cahyadi, Iwan Haryanto, www.balidiscovery.com.

Printed by PT. Temprina Media Grafika, Denpasar, Bali

Copyright © 2007 – 2018. We have spent years travelling all over Lombok, documenting, photographing and updating.

If you want to write about Lombok, we suggest you do the same!

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form (electronically, print or otherwise) without prior written permission from the Publisher. Opinions expressed in The Lombok Guide are those of the author and not necessarily the Publisher. We reserve the right to refuse advertising or articles at the Publisher’s discretion.

While all care is taken to avoid copyright infringements, The Lombok Guide will not be held responsible for images or text directly supplied by advertisers and/or contributors.

Tired after a day of mischief

Tourism Information

54

The Southwest Sekotong by Didik Haryadi

Secret Islands, Pristine Beaches!

The picturesque Sekotong region starts just south of Lembar Harbour and features stunning beaches and bays set against a backdrop of rolling green hills.

The drive down the southwest coast is an enjoyable trip, meandering through villages where life is largely untouched by tourism and where the people are involved in their day-to-day activities of farming, fish cultivation, boating and fishing, brickmaking and other traditional pastimes.

Along the roadsides you will see people selling freshly caught fish, laying out hand-made bricks to dry in the sun, working in the fields, and sometimes guiding primitive wooden ploughs harnessed to huge water buffalo, as they prepare the fields for planting.

The peaceful village of Taun (or Tawun), is situated on a wide, placid bay in Sekotong.

The ocean is sparkling turquoise and the dazzling white sand stretches in a wide sweep around the bay.

Southwest Lombok... a meandering coastline of pristine white sand beaches and thirteen small islands - the Southwest Gilis - floating in the sparkling turquoise waters just offshore.

Unlike the famous ‘Gili Islands’ in northwest Lombok, the Southwest Gilis are largely uninhabited and have yet to be discovered by most travellers... that’s why we call them ‘The Secret Islands’!

Just out in the calm bay are the three lovely islands of Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong and Gili Sudat (and the tiny island of Gili Kedis) – all easily accessible by local outrigger boats. A small sign in the nearby village will direct you to the local boat hire area, where you can arrange boat trips out to Gili Nanggu and the other islands.

Back on the main road and slightly further south is the turn off for Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resort, set on the secluded beach at Tanjung Empat.

With 28 rooms, including beachfront villas with private swimming pools, Cocotinos is the only upmarket accommodation on the mainland.

Accommodation at Taun has grown over the past few years and there are now a few small hotels and home stays on the bay.

It’s easy to base yourself on the mainland and take boat trips to explore all the southwest islands from here.

Travelling a little further south, before the marine culture complex (Balai Budaya Laut), there is a small dirt road leading out onto a white peninsular of sand that juts into beautiful clear waters. Drive to the end for superb views and a close up look at Gili Genting.

Gili Nanggu has accommodation for visitors, with simple cottages on the beach and a restaurant. The island is small and the beach has soft white sand and a good reef just offshore for snorkelling.

Gili Genting sits just off the tip of the peninsular and at low tide you can walk across the sandbar and explore this uninhabited island.

There is also simple accommodation on Gili Sudat (the island closest to the mainland).

Old volcanic rocks and stone carved from centuries of tidal flow create small caves and alcoves, providing shelter for picnics and interesting nooks and crannies to explore.

Further south you will come to the only petrol station along the south coastal road at Tembowong Village. Nearby is the site for catching boats out to Gili Gede, only minutes across the water.

The largest of the islands in the area is Gili Gede, appropriately meaning ‘Big Island’.

The island lays just offshore and is so large visitors often mistake it for part of the mainland.

Gili Gede is one of the few islands in the area that has a choice of accommodation, including the luxurious ko – ko - mo Gili

The Southwest

55

Gili Layar

Gede Resort, which opened in February 2016. ko - ko - mo Gili Gede is the sister resort to ko - ko - mo Resort on Gili Trawangan and is a stylish all villa resort, comprising fifteen 1 and 2 bedroom villas with private swimming pools, and one bedroom Villa Kecil (small villas), spread out over spacious grounds on a pristine beachfront.

All modern comforts such as air conditioning and ceiling fans, flat screen televisions with satellite channels and DVD, WiFi, fresh (not salt) hot water, plentiful power points for charging devices, and more are provided in each villa.

Facilities at the resort include a tennis court, a putting green, a small gym, a resort swimming pool and purpose-built Spa facility and a beachfront restaurant.

Guests at the restaurant can enjoy upmarket dining with a menu prepared from fresh locally-sourced seafood, imported Australian meats and in-house breads and bakery items. There is also an outstanding wine and drinks list. ko – ko - mo has a purpose-built jetty at the front of the resort and operate their own fast boat service under the ‘Gili Getaway’ mantle between Bali, Gili T, Senggigi and Gili Gede... making Gili Gede easily accessible, even for a day trip.

There are also a few home stays on the island for simple accommodation. Each provides meals and can arrange boat trips, island hopping and snorkelling around the islands.

Gili Gede is large enough to provide a range of activities such as hiking to the hills in the centre for fantastic views across the other islands, exploring deserted beaches and hidden coves, and meeting the people living on the island, who are very friendly and, as yet, unspoilt by tourism.

To the south of Gili Gede, the islands of Gili Ringgit, Layar and Asahan are lined up like secret treasures in the calm sea.

Bounty Cruises, a Bali based company, own a large parcel of land on Gili Ringgit and have constructed a boat mooring and pier on the island. There is good snorkelling on the west side of Gili Ringgit, accessed by boat.

Large gardens of hard and soft corals lay just beneath the surface and the reef extends along most of the island’s coast.

On the other side of the island is where the pier is located, on a fantastic white sand beach.

It’s easy to snorkel offshore, just north of the pier and, although the reef isn’t as large as on the other side of the island, there is still plenty to see, and the scenery and beach are lovely.

Many are astounded by the pristine conditions and huge schools of turtles seen near Gili Layar – the island between Gili Ringgit and Gili Asahan. Bright blue starfish drape themselves across patches of coral, and bright yellow and black Moorish Idols dart through the water. Schools of hundreds of small iridescent fish swim past and weirdly shaped squid drift by in the deeper areas.

There is simple accommodation on Gili Layar and a restaurant serving fresh juices, beers and tasty meals.

Slightly further south, beautiful Gili Asahan attracts visitors with its deserted white sand beaches, clear calm waters and swaying palm trees.

Gili Asahan Eco Lodge offers comfortable accommodation in charming bungalows and provides good dining options on the island.

Leaving Gili Asahan and back on the mainland, continue south on the coastal road until you come to a main intersection.

A signpost to the left leads to the spectacular large bay at Mekaki. The road to the right leads to Labuhan Poh and Pelangan.

There are small home-stays and private accommodations spaced out along the road to Bangko-Bangko – known as Desert Point and the surfing Mecca for those in the know – located on the far southwest tip of Lombok.

The wide white sand bay is lined with fisherman’s huts and draws hundreds of surfers every year from as far away as Hawaii and Brazil to challenge the huge waves of Desert Point, just offshore.

Although the road deteriorates after Labuhan Poh, it is still passable for most vehicles in the dry season. During the surfing season, from mid-May to September and again in December, the beach is buzzing with surfers, but otherwise it is a remote and peaceful area.

Bali is clearly visible, with the island of Nusa Penida only about an hour’s sail away.

The drive to the point is dotted with bucolic scenery and tiny villages, making it a worthwhile trip even for non-surfers.

There is basic surfer accommodation in the area and plans for development in the near future.

The dive sites of the Southwest reflect a good cross-section of what Indonesian diving has to offer. Dive in and be fascinated by turtles, white tip reef sharks, cuttlefish, moray eels and many other varieties of marine life.

The reefs are full of colourful corals, which harbour an amazing variety of marine life, including ghost pipe fish, leaf fish, pygmy seahorses and much more.

For non-divers, the islands are a delight for snorkelling – abundant coral reefs lay just below the surface waiting to be explored, filled with thousands of brightly coloured tropical fish, huge sprawling blue starfish and magical turtles gently gliding through the water.

It’s easy to imagine hotels and resorts on all these beaches and islands in the future but for now, the Southwest is unspoilt and the Gilis remain the secret islands… stunningly beautiful, pristine and unique, and visited only by the lucky few.

www.thelombokguide.com

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Tourism Information

Tourism Information

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Kuta by Barbara

KUTA AND THE SUBLIME SOUTH COAST

Lombok boasts some of the most magnificent scenery in Indonesia and the south coast of Lombok easily rates among the best!

South Lombok is a region on the move and it’s easy to see why so many people are investing here. The south coast has views that inspire – and leaves visitors from around the world speechless at the sublime panoramic beauty that unfolds beach after beautiful beach.

Tourists are drawn to the stunning beaches of the south coast for the pure white sands and the crystal clear oceans, as well as some of the best surf breaks in Indonesia.

Kuta (sometimes spelt Kute) is the main town and tourism centre on the south coast of Lombok, and is the hub for exploring the fantastic southern beaches and the many places of interest in the region.

The Lombok International Airport (LIA)

is the only commercial airport on Lombok and is located just 25 minutes’ drive north of Kuta , making access to the south very easy.

Located around 60 km south of Mataram, and about one and a half hour’s drive from Senggigi, Kuta makes for a wonderful day trip from other points in Lombok, or an alternative holiday destination for travellers exploring Lombok. Major roads have been upgraded and the main road to Kuta is in very good condition.

The proposed Mandalika Resort development, with its plans for luxury hotels, villas and supporting facilities on over 1000 hectares of prime beach land, will further transform the south coast in coming years.

But for now, the south is uncrowded, pristine and spectacular.

The proximity to the airport has sparked an investment boom in the area over the past couple of years and Kuta has blossomed, with many new hotels, restaurants and cafés catering to increased numbers of tourists.

The drive down to the south coast is an interesting rural tour through small villages and farming communities. Fields of tobacco, corn and peanuts line the roadsides and farmers till the fields using antiquated ploughs pulled by large water buffalo.

Just before arriving in Kuta, the road passes two traditional Sasak villages – Sade and Rambitan. On the east side of the road is Rambitan, a village that caters to tourists and has authentic clusters of thatched Lumbung, or rice barns, and traditional homes made of thatch and bamboo, with hardened cow and buffalo dung floors.

Continued on Page 58

Tourism Information

58 Continued from Page 57 Nearby, on the hilltop, is one of the oldest mosques in Lombok: Mesjid Kuno. The small building with a thatched roof is considered holy and many believers make pilgrimages to pray here.

Slightly further south is Sade, another hilltop village with more Lumbung and traditional homes.

Both villages have been renovated and cater to the tourist market, but there are still interesting examples of traditional Sasak architecture and communal living within the compounds, where life continues as it has for centuries.

Residents, who act as guides for a small fee, encourage walks through either of these villages and are happy to share a glimpse of their lifestyles with visitors.

Seger Beach

Kuta town and the surrounding beaches.

With investment taking off, more options are opening all the time.

As with accommodation options, new restaurants, coffee shops and eateries are springing up in the area. These offer a range of choices – Mediterranean, Japanese, vegan and gluten free, nouvelle cuisine, home-made cakes and breads – diners are spoilt for choice.

Tourists are well catered to in Kuta and the main streets in the centre of town, particularly Jl Raya Kuta, offer a full range of tourist facilities from clothing stalls to motorbike and surfboard rental.

Kuta itself is a small town that is transforming every year. In the past, it offered mainly home-stays and backpacker’s hotels catering to the thousands of surfers from around the world who are drawn to the area every year to surf the left- and right-hand breaks out in the bay.

These days, there is a good variety of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes, from simple and cheap hotels to luxurious villas with private swimming pools.

When looking for accommodation on the internet, use a search engine for “Kuta Lombok” and you will find many new places on offer, both in

There are several mini-markets in the town selling drinks, snacks, toiletries and other daily needs, as well as ATM facilities, tour agencies and more.

At present, Kuta boasts just one luxury resort: the Novotel Lombok. The Novotel has a range of accommodation, from comfortable hotel rooms to spacious suites and luxurious villas, some with private swimming pools.

Designed to blend in with the environment, the unique style of the buildings at the Novotel are a wonderful example of traditional Sasak architecture.

The Novotel occupies a privileged location on the scenic beachfront at Mandalika with a long white sand beach and lovely views across the bay.

There is a resort swimming pool and a bar overlooking the beach (happy hours in the late afternoon are popular even with nonstaying guests).

There is also an upmarket Spa and two restaurants at the resort, which hosts a good variety of theme dinners with traditional entertainment during the week.

Kuta attracts thousands of visitors every year for the great surf locations at Gerupuk, Ekas and the beaches to the east. It’s easy to hire a board and a surf guide from here to learn surfing or, for experienced surfers, to access the more challenging surf breaks in the area.

First-timers to Kuta can benefit from an orientation tour operated by British expat Gemma and her Balinese husband, Made, from Mimpi Manis Homestay in Kuta.

The long-established guest house is popular with budget travelers not just for the good value accommodation, but also for the local knowledge the couple freely shares with anyone visiting Kuta.

Orientation tours are also available to outside guests and usually include a tour of Kuta and its main attractions, as well as visits to nearby Seger Beach and Tanjung Aan. Other tours can be arranged to take in your particular interests and Made also runs “Shore Thing” fishing trips and boat tours at reasonable rates. Visit their website for details: www.mimpimanis.com Continued on Page 60

Kuta and The South Coast

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Tourism Information

60 Continued from Page 58

Mawun Beach by Asriel aryadi www.instagram.com/asrielharyadi

Otherwise, hire a car or motorbike and you can spend days visiting beautiful, mainly deserted beaches, both to the east and west of Kuta.

surrounding hills. There are small stalls selling drinks and snacks to enjoy after taking a swim or a stroll to enjoy the views.

Just east of Kuta is Seger Beach (sometimes called Mandalika Beach, after the legendary Princess Mandalika – a beloved character in Sasak folklore who is believed to have sacrificed herself for the good of her people from the rocks overlooking the beach).

The government has built a rather ugly building here to host the annual Bau Nyale Festival but nearby there is a lovely monument in the bay commemorating the Mandalika Legend.

It is here that thousands of people gather every year to celebrate the colourful ritual of Bau Nyale, when masses of sea worms spawn in the waters offshore.

There are great views from the beach and even better views if you climb the

Tanjung Aan, around 5km east of Kuta, is a long picturesque beach with a wide sweep of white sand, perfect aquamarine water and shady trees on the shore.

There are a number of warung or beach cafés along the beach selling cold drinks and beer, as well as snacks and simple meals. One of the best is Warung Turtle.

Guests are welcome to relax on the sun lounges on the beach in front of Warung Turtle and spend the day swimming in the calm waters. Dine on the beachfront or in the shade of the café. The fresh grilled fish and the Chicken in Red Sauce are both highly recommended.

The Warung has snorkeling equipment, surfboards and stand-up paddle boards for hire and the local owner, Herman, is a friendly host with a wealth of information to help make the most of your visit.

The water at Tanjung Aan is calm and clear, with a white sandy bottom making it fantastic for swimming.

There are also perahu (local outrigger boats) available for hire, offering trips out of the bay to Batu Payung (an unusual shaped rock and local attraction) and to the nearby surf breaks.

There is a small hill towards the east end with steps cut into the side. It’s an easy climb to the top for lovely views and you can watch the surfers catching the waves offshore.

On the far western end of the beach is Bukit Merese – a larger hill and a slightly tougher climb – but worth the effort for the fantastic views from the top. It is popular in the late afternoon, when everyone climbs up to see the spectacular sunsets.

Further east of Tanjung Aan is Gerupuk – well known as a top surf location and situated on a peninsula of land that juts out into the ocean.

Continued on Page 62

Kuta and The South Coast

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62 Continued from Page 60 The bay is used for lobster farming and is filled with local boats, which ferry avid surfers to no fewer than five surf breaks nearby.

Kuta and The South Coast

Gerupuk is also evolving and offers a range of simple accommodation and restaurants to cater to the growing tourist trade.

The beaches and scenery continue all the way to the east coast, with fantastic places such as Bumbang, Awang Bay, Ekas and Pantai Sorga (Heaven Beach)‌ the name says it all!

At Bumbang, Bumbangku Beach Cottages has simple thatched cottages and comfortable brick deluxe rooms right on a beautiful deserted beach.

There is a good restaurant, serving fresh fish and seafood caught by local fishermen, and easy access to the best surfing spots nearby.

Even for non-surfers, Bumbangku is a delightful place to spend a few days; swimming, strolling along the wide calm bay and relaxing in the peaceful natural surroundings.

Heading west from Kuta are another series of beautiful beaches and bays hidden behind headlands and rolling hills, providing peaceful and secluded spots for picnics and swimming. All are within easy day trips of Kuta.

Continued on Page 64

Our bungalows and restaurant overlook one of Lombok's best surfing beaches with spectacular views over the ocean and Gili Nusa.

Our air conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms and simple traditional bamboo bungalows are a ten minute walk from Are Guling Beach and Mawun Beach, so the surf is easily accessible.

Enjoy one of the best views in Lombok while enjoying a meal at our onsite restaurant serving delicious meals all day; or many restaurants, family-friendly activities, and nightlife are just 7km away.

Bamboo bungalows from just Rp 250,000 Air conditioned rooms from just Rp 400,000

Are Guling, South Lombok. T: +62 878 6417 6660 E: aregoling@gmail.com | www.aregoling.com

Kuta and The South Coast

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Tourism Information

64 Continued from Page 62 Are Guling is popular with surfers, with left and right hand reef breaks as well as a beach break for beginners. There are great views over the bay and to the small island of Gili Nusa just off-shore.

Are Guling has a good amount of simple accommodation, mainly catering to surfers and a number of local cafés, including places on the beach.

Mawun Beach is around 30 minutes’ drive to the west and is an almost circular bay with small green headlands rolling into the ocean from either side.

It is a spectacular beach with calm blue waters, perfect for swimming and spending Villas is a beautiful all-white venue right a day lazing on the white sand. There are on the beachfront with lovely views. It is stalls on the beach selling drinks, snacks a popular place for a stop – and justifies and simple meals. a day trip in itself – serving fresh and Mawi, around another 7km to the west, is delicious snacks and meals throughout the for experienced surfers and has good right- day in a pretty restaurant on the beach. and left-hand barrels for surfing when the There is also a serene Day Spa offering swell is large enough. massages and beauty treatments.

vista and one that has been attracting hundreds of guests since Aura opened.

There are both covered and outdoor options for dining at comfortable tables and couches artfully arranged to take in the fabulous views. Guests can choose from a delicious assortment of all-day snacks and meals, or pull up a stool at the stylish bar and order an icy cold beer or signature cocktail.

The outdoor viewing deck overlooks a 23m infinity pool edged in white stone where guests can relax on sun lounges or float in the cool water with the illusion of flowing out into the blue of the bay beyond.

Further west of Selong Belanak are the picturesque bays of Sepi and Blongas, and many more scenic beaches along the way; all are mostly deserted.

For non-surfers, if you can brave the treacherous road, it is a lovely beach surrounded by small hills, with impressive views; look for the three pinnacles of rock jutting out of the ocean.

Selong Belanak is a long sweeping bay framed on each end by headlands and surrounded by rolling hills. The beach is lovely for swimming and has good waves for body surfing, as well as being popular for beginners surfing lessons.

There are many small stalls selling drinks and snacks, as well as offering surf lessons and surf board hire.

Sempiak Villas has plush villas, some with private pools, perched on the hillside overlooking the bay with breath-taking panoramic views.

Laut Biru Restaurant and Bar at Sempiak

Spend a day exploring the area, with lunch and a swim here as the highlights of your trip.

In the Jabon hills behind Selong Belanak is the stunning Aura Lounge and Bar at Selong Selo Residences. Approaching via the winding mountain road, the contemporary design creates a surprising contrast to the small traditional homes dotted on the hilltops.

Perched high on the hilltop, Aura Lounge and Bar overlooks the terraced green valley across to the wide crescent of Selong Belanak Beach and beyond.

It’s a breath-taking

The road deteriorates rapidly and the going can be rough at times. For exploring this remote area it’s best to use an experienced local guide with a good vehicle.

Steeped in history and legend, surrounded by beaches of almost surreal beauty, the south coast is a fascinating area to visit, whether your interests are historical, cultural or just the opportunity to see and explore some of the most beautiful and pristine coastal scenery in Indonesia.

Kuta and The South Coast

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Luxurious Escapes...

Private Villas | Holiday Houses | Restaurant & Bar | The Spa Relax and unwind with a luxurious escape at Sempiak Villas with the stunning beauty of Selong Belanak Beach.

Enjoy delicious snacks, meals, cool drinks and cocktails at Laut Biru Restaurant on the beachfront or escape to the cool sanctuary of The Spa by Sempiak.

Ph: +62 821 4430 3337 | www.sempiakvillas.com

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Kuta Map

Kuta and The South Coast

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Tourism Information

MAGNETIC NORTH LOMBOK

For those looking for a change of pace in sublime natural surroundings, North Lombok is a relaxing and rewarding escape.

Sasak people’s traditional animistic beliefs with Islam and elements of Hinduism.

One of the oldest and most important mosques in Lombok, Masjid Kuno, is in Bayan, near the village of Beleq. Believed to have been built in 1634, the mosque sits on a small hill with pretty views.

From Bayan the road leads to Senaru, the gateway to the Rinjani National Park and one of the main bases for trekkers climbing Mt Rinjani.

Segara Anak Lake at Mt Rinjani by Iwan Haryanto

Dominated by the majesty of Mt Rinjani and the surrounding mountain ranges, North Lombok offers stunning landscapes for travellers who like to go “off the beaten path”.

The many waterfalls and rivers, jungles and rainforest with towering old-growth trees, and the unique flora and fauna of the region – together with long curves of deserted beaches – make the north coast an ideal destination for those who appreciate true natural beauty.

North Lombok is one of the oldest settlements on the island and, with Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists living in the district, many different cultural traditions originate from this historic area.

Travelling north, look for the small signpost to Kerta Gangga Waterfalls, located between Gangga and Kerta Raharja village.

There are three beautiful waterfalls and pools set amongst the jungle, and a small bat cave nearby. Local guides are useful for showing the best places (they will find you!)

Bayan, further north, is steeped in history and maintains old Sasak traditions. This is a fascinating area to explore, although accommodation is limited.

Bayan is the home of the unique religion, Wetu Telu, which is only found in Lombok. Wetu Telu combines the original

The large town of Tanjung is the administrative capital for North Lombok and has numerous warung and shops, and one of the few public telephone offices (wartel) on the island.

Further up the coast, Godang is a small village near a good beach. A trail leads northeast to Tiu Pupus Waterfall, around 6km away. In rainy season, the spring-fed falls flow into a deep pool at the base.

Nestled on the northern foothills of Lombok’s magnificent volcano, the village of Senaru is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Rinjani National Park and has glorious views of both the mountains and the valleys below.

Sendang Gile Waterfall, Senaru by Barbara

Senaru is also the perfect base for those wishing to visit the famed waterfalls of Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep, or to spend time trekking through the jungles and visiting remote traditional villages.

There is a good selection of accommodation available in the area, ranging from basic backpacker home-stays to nice cottages in scenic settings.

Continued on Page 70

North Lombok

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Stunning mountain and valley views located at the gateway to Mt Rinjani and the waterfalls Stylish bungalows with WiFi, A/C, Cable TV, DVD’s, garden bathrooms, hot water and private terraces Infinity swimming pool, chill-out spaces and restaurant serving fresh western and Indonesian specialties

Perfect for mountain getaways and day trips from Senggigi and the Gilis!

SENARU - BAYAN - NORTH LOMBOK | Ph: +62 819 0738 4944 | E: info@rinjanilodge.com

www.rinjanilodge.com

Tourism Information

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MAGNETIC NORTH LOMBOK

Continued from Page 68 By far the nicest place to stay is the newly-opened Rinjani Lodge, with deluxe bungalows and a stunning infinity pool perched on the side of a lovely valley and located around 100m from the main gateway to Sendang Gile Waterfall.

The restaurant serves fantastic food, with a varied menu that ranges from traditional Indonesian favourites to fresh seafood to modern cuisine such as falafel wraps in tortilla served with hummus and tahini... not your usual Senaru fare!

The Rinjani National Park is a nature reserve of 41,330 hectares surrounding the volcano that provides many opportunities for eco-tourism.

Tiu Kelep Waterfall by Iwan Haryanto

Trekking on the volcano is open from the beginning of April until the end of December every year, with a variety of

treks available including the challenging climb to the 3726m summit, or 2 and 3 day treks to the spectacular lake cradled in the caldera.

The whole area is a picturesque haven, featuring magnificent waterfalls, lush and accessible jungle trekking, traditional villages, and plantations of tobacco and cashew nuts, grown alongside verdant rice terraces.

Tropical animals including monkeys, deer and tropical birds live in the surrounding jungle, as well as abundant varieties of tropical plants and flowers.

Tourism Information

GILI ISLANDS FAST FACTS

Boats and Island Hopping: Gili Air, Meno and Trawangan are grouped together off the northwest coast of Lombok and only a short distance apart, so it is easy to move between the three islands. You may want to explore each island for a couple of days or base yourself on one and take day trips to the other islands.

Public boats leave from the harbours on each island with transfers to the other islands available every morning and afternoon, eg; Gili Air to Gili Meno, or Gili Air to Gili Trawangan. Prices are reasonable. Check at the ticket office at the harbour of whichever island you are staying on for transfer times and prices.

It is possible to charter perahu (local outrigger boats), speed boats and even glass bottom boats for exploring the islands. Bargain hard!

Electricity is fairly stable on all three Gilis, although blackouts are sometimes a problem. Most places have their own emergency generators for back-up power but smaller businesses may rely on candles and lanterns when the power goes out.

Water is a scarce resource on the islands and is supplied by desalination plants and ground water wells. Your awareness in conserving this finite resource is appreciated; take short showers and opt to reuse bedding and towels.

The tap water on all the islands is not suitable for drinking but bottled water is cheap and readily available.

Internet is available on all three Gilis at most hotels and restaurants. Connections can be intermittent and speeds are generally slow.

ATM machines are available on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. Credit cards are accepted at most dive shops and larger hotels and restaurants.

Money changers are available on all the islands, although the rate is lower than on Lombok.

Health services on the islands are improving. There are around a dozen clinics on Gili T, including a 24-hour Clinic at Hotel Vila Ombak. Gili Air also has several clinics and there are local clinics on Gili Meno.

Dive shop staff have emergency first aid training and basic medical supplies but for anything serious, get to the mainland as fast as possible.

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Dress is casual on the islands and it is normal to see tourists walking around in swimsuits, sarongs and shorts. Remember that the islands’ residents are Muslim and nude or topless sunbathing is frowned upon. Please respect island sensibilities and keep your clothes on!

Mosquitoes can sometimes be a problem, especially during rainy season. DEET repellents are the best protection and local products such as “Autan” and “OFF!” are relatively cheap and readily available in the shops.

Alcohol and the risk of methanol poisoning have been in the spotlight since 2009 and there have been a significant number of deaths from contaminated alcohol in Bali, Lombok and the Gilis. Avoid bars and places that serve arak or other “local spirits”, including cocktails such as “Jungle Juice” and “Arak Attack”.

Weather is generally hotter on the islands than mainland Lombok. Make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and use sun protection, even on cloudy days.

With imported alcohol heavily taxed in Indonesia, “Welcome drinks”, “Two for one” cocktails and cheap shots should all be viewed with suspicion. If it seems too cheap to be the real deal, it probably is.

There is no motorised transport on any of the islands. Walk, ride a bicycle or catch a cidomo (local horse cart). None of the islands is very large, so walking is an easy option.

Large hotels and restaurants generally serve imported alcohol; otherwise, stick to beer and steer clear of places that put profits before your safety.

Bicycles can be hired for around Rp 50,000 per day, depending on the type and condition of the bike. Some hotels provide bikes free of charge for guests.

Cidomo fares are generally expensive and rates are fixed by the koperasi on each island.

On Gili T, rates are displayed in the front of the cart.

Generally, short distances will cost around Rp 50,000 – 100,000; depending on your bargaining skills. Walking or riding a bike is a nicer option.

The Gili Eco Trust (GET) is a non-profit organisation based on Gili T that works to protect and conserve the environment.

GET activities include reef conservation, waste management and education programmes, to name a few.

The Eco Trust raises funds for its programmes through an Eco-tax collected from divers on the islands. The Trust holds regular clean-up days to collect rubbish from the beach and sea. Register at Gili T dive shops and join in the fun! To find out more about Eco-projects and to support GET programmes, visit: www.giliecotrust.com

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GETTING TO THE GILIS

harbour on the north-west coast, about 30 minutes from Senggigi.

There are dozens of fast boat services operating between Bali and the Gilis (as well as many that stop at Teluk Nara on the northwest coast of mainland Lombok).

Alternatively, you can fly to Lombok and travel across to the Gilis.

Fast Boats: With Lombok’s airport based in central Lombok, fast boat services are a popular option to flying, and provide fast and easy transfers between Bali and the Gilis.

In good weather, fast boats can make the crossing in around 80 minutes but in heavy seas the trip can take two hours or more.

The crossing between the islands can be treacherous in bad weather and sometimes transfers must be cancelled for the safety of passengers. Some companies have a good safety record and offer a high standard of customer service, including hotel pick-up and drop off services, insurance, and international safety equipment and procedures.

Others can be a risky proposition – practicing overloading of baggage and exceeding the number of passengers a vessel can carry safely.

The Lombok Strait – between Bali and Lombok – is one of the deepest bodies of water in the region and, during certain times of the year, waves can reach up to 4 metres.

As there are so many boats to choose from, search the internet for “fast boat Gili Islands” to check other travellers’ reviews and choose a reliable operator. Avoid companies that practice “over loading” in busy times.

mins from Kuta) daily. This is the only fast boat that offers direct transfers between Bali and Gili T. Passengers are transferred from Bali to Gili T first, and then the boat transfers onward passengers to Gili Air and Teluk Kodek on Lombok, avoiding the “island hopping” route of other boats. The return trip leaves Gili T at 12.15pm direct to Bali.

Fares include air conditioned hotel transfers to main points in Bali. Ph: +62 819 1673 3051 / +62 813 3707 4147. www.giligetaway.com

By Plane: Fly to Lombok and either stay on the mainland before making a trip out to the Gilis or travel to Senggigi (1 hour 15 minutes) to arrange transport to the Gilis. Alternatively, organize a taxi or private driver to transfer from the airport to Bangsal Harbour (1 hour 45 minutes).

There are many different options, as described below. Tour companies and dive operators in Senggigi also provide transfers daily.

HOTEL TRANSFERS: Many of the larger hotels on the islands provide speedboat transfers for guests, as well as pick up services from the airport – enquire when you make your booking.

FROM TELUK NARA AND TELUK KODEK: Teluk Nara is a large peaceful bay on the west coast, about 25 minutes’ drive north of Senggigi. Most of the dive companies and many businesses on the Gilis have their boats moored in the bay and transfer guests to the islands every day from Teluk Nara.

Blue Water Express is one of the longest running and best fast boat operators travelling between Bali and Lombok.

Blue Water Express has services between Bali, Gili T, Gili Air and mainland Lombok, with convenient departures from two different locations on Bali – Serangan (near Benoa Harbour) and Padang Bai Harbour – every day. Fares include air conditioned hotel transfers in Bali. Ph: +62 361 895 1111 / 0813 3841 8988. www.bluewater-express.com Gili Getaway is a comfortable fast boat departing from Serangan Harbour (only 20

It is possible to negotiate private boat trips (including speed boat transfers) out to the islands with local boat owners here, thereby avoiding the hassles of Bangsal.

At the northern end of the bay is Teluk Kodek, where Vila Ombak, The Beach House, kokomo and Scallywags have bases for transferring their guests by speedboat to the Gilis. Blue Water Express and Gili Getaway also operate fast boat services between Lombok and Bali from this harbour.

FROM BANGSAL HARBOUR: Catch a taxi or bemo to Bangsal Harbour, the small

Public ferries depart regularly to each of the three islands and charters are available, with prices depending on the number of passengers and your bargaining skills. Public ferries operate from 8am – 5pm; it’s best to get there in the morning.

Unfortunately, the area is plagued by touts and scams, so ignore them and head directly to the ticket office on the beachfront. Public ferry and charter boat prices are displayed clearly on the wall of the ticket office.

Be aware that public boats leave when there are enough passengers to warrant the trip, so you may have to wait for a while. Best times are between 8am and 4pm. If you don’t want to wait, or if the public boat looks dangerously overloaded, you may want to charter a boat, especially if you have a few people in your group.

Check charter prices at the ticket office.

Don’t let anyone carry your bags or, if they offer to carry baggage, negotiate a price first. Ignore people who tell you that there are no return public transfers (there are); or that there is no water, mosquito repellent, etc., on the islands. All the essentials are readily available at shops on all three islands.

Bangsal is a pretty area; it’s a shame some of the touts try to ruin it for everyone.

If you get stuck at the harbour in the evening, there are some basic home-stays on the road from the beach.

Arnel Bungalows is a nice option with pretty rooms at reasonable prices. The attached Salero Minang restaurant serves delicious Minang meals and the friendly owners can help with everything from vehicle hire to travel information and laundry services.

FROM SENGGIGI: You can charter local outrigger boats from the beachfront in Senggigi (in front of the Art Markets). The trip out to the islands takes around one and a half hours.

The journey up the coast in the morning is very scenic, but you may get wet on the way back. Make sure you negotiate a price with the boatman first!

A good alternative is to check out the many dive centres on the main street in Senggigi who offer reasonable rates for transfers, usually including pick up from your hotel.

Arranging snorkelling and dive trips inclusive of island transfers is a good way to save time, money and hassles.

The Gili Islands

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Tourism Information

The Gili Islands Unique tropical escapes!

Three perfect coral islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – fringed with white sands and swaying palm trees, lay in the sparkling ocean just off the north-west coast of Lombok.

Every year the Gilis attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world for their pristine waters, great diving and snorkelling opportunities, and laid-back charm.

The word Gili actually means “small island”, and so these islands have come to be known as “The Gilis” by travellers. The Gilis are Lombok’s most popular islands and are consistently rated as top SEA island destinations by travellers and travel publications.

Although previously popular mainly with backpackers, the Gilis now attract a diverse range of visitors – serious diving enthusiasts, sun-seekers looking for the perfect beach getaway, singles, families, and couples of all ages find something to attract them to the Gilis.

There is a good selection of accommodations, restaurants and bars on all three islands, with the biggest range on Gili Trawangan.

While nobody comes to the Gilis for shopping, each island has many small shops selling essentials such as sunscreen, mosquito repellent, toiletries, cold drinks, snacks and more. In addition, there are cheap clothing and t-shirts, sarongs and local handicrafts stalls.

Activities include walking, riding bikes, horse riding and kayaking on Gili T, yoga, massage and beauty treatments, glass bottom boat trips and island hopping, liveaboard dive trips and cruises to nearby islands, fishing, sailing, surfing and all kinds of water-based activities.

The islands provide ample opportunities for visitors to swim, relax, sunbathe, explore, snorkel or scuba dive with the many internationally accredited dive operators based in Lombok.

Tourism Information

Snorkelling is easy in the calm waters directly off the beaches, with plenty of colourful fish to see.

At greater depths and at specific dive locations around the three islands, the pristine waters are home to an abundant variety of corals, aquatic life and thousands of species of tropical fish.

An impressive array of sea life can be seen, including green and hawksbill turtles, morays, barracuda, reef sharks, occasionally leopard sharks and manta rays, and much more.

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Many of the popular dive companies are owned and operated by westerners and PADI and SSI licensed dive operators, with professional standards of safety and environmental awareness, exist on all three islands.

Each Gili has developed independently and at different paces, giving each a different “personality” or style, and catering to different types of holidaymakers and travellers.

developed and popular of the three, with the greatest range of facilities and activities; while Gili Air has a relaxed, laid-back style and is popular with couples and families.

This means that travellers have a good choice, depending Gili Meno is the quietest of the three, on their individual tastes and perfect for really getting away from it all. what type of island escape they Choose the island that suits you most, or prefer. it’s easy to combine an island-hopping Gili Trawangan is the most holiday to sample the best of all three!

Visibility is very good and commonly in the 15-30 m range; and water temperatures average 23°C (73°F) to 29°C (84°F).

Currents around the islands can be quite strong and drift diving is the norm.

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Gili Trawangan

Tourism Information

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GILI TRAWANGAN

Gili Trawangan – affectionately abbreviated to ‘Gili T’ – is the most wellknown and popular of the three Gilis.

It is the largest island of the three and the furthest from the mainland, but easily reached in less than two hours from Bali and only 10 minutes by speedboat from Lombok.

Tagged “the party island” by The Lonely Planet, Gili T continues to cater to the party crowd but also has a cosmopolitan vibe that becomes more evident every year.

Today, Gili T is rated as one of the top destinations in Indonesia and the popular TripAdvisor® website recently rated it as one of the ‘Top 10 Islands in Asia’.

Gone are the days when backpackers flocked to the island for Rp 20,000 a night huts on the beach and Rp 5,000 Bintang beers. While Gili T still hosts backpackers and budget travellers, these days they are joined by singles, couples and families from all walks of life and all around the world.

The island itself is around 3km long and 2km wide, so walking is easy and you can cycle around the island in around 1 1/2 hours (but will need to get off and push your bike through sandy sections in the north).

This is the only Gili to rise significantly above sea level and the hill in the south is a great lookout from which to enjoy the spectacular sunsets across the ocean to Bali or the brilliant sunrise over Mt Rinjani on mainland Lombok.

Accommodation on Gili T ranges from basic home stays to luxury hotels and villas. The old style bungalows have mostly disappeared, to be replaced by simple hotels to suit the budget crowd.

At the other end of the scale, boutique hotels and luxurious villas boast all the comforts of 5-star resorts, including designer furnishings, private swimming pools or Jacuzzis, WiFi internet, iPod docks, DVD and satellite TV.

On the far south end of the hill are the remnants of old WWII Japanese gun emplacements and crumbling bunkers, but the hand-dug tunnels have been blocked up.

The main development on Gili T is on the east coast, but Gili T’s popularity means growth has extended around the entire island.

The busiest area, called ‘Sentral’, is on the southeast of the island, close to the jetty where the boats dock. Resorts, restaurants, bars and shops line both sides of the paved ‘road’ that runs along the entire east coast up to the northern corner of the island.

Scallywags Resort and The Beach House are both popular options in this area, with comfortable rooms and all mod cons such as air conditioning and swimming pools. The Beach House has a range of rooms, suites, private pool villas and a large 4 bedroom private pool villa, while Scallywags offers tasteful double and twin rooms, some with private plunge pools.

Tracks meander from the main coastal road inland, where many of the island’s local people live and where investors have built home-stays, small hotels and private villas that offer a quieter (and often cheaper) alternative to the beachfront choices.

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villas with private pools and sophisticated facilities in an exclusive setting on the beach.

Continued from Page 77 Amalika Villa is a new and ultra-stylish 2 bedroom villa located in a walled garden with private pool, just back from the beach in Sentral. Modern amenities, personalised services and beautiful designer furnishings provide a luxurious escape close to the action.

Gili Villas, just behind the Night Market, has four elegant villas each with private pools. 1 and 2-bedroom villas offer comfortable and modern facilities just off the main strip.

The north coast has a quieter vibe and offers peaceful alternatives to the central area. Although the beaches to the north can be a bit ordinary, the views are beautiful and snorkelling from the beach is good; plus the location makes it easy to access the dining and nightlife options only minutes away.

Oceano Resort offers comfortable and affordable rooms and bungalows on a nice section of beach. Desa Dunia Beda, slightly further north, features unique restored teak Joglo houses with sumptuous ethnic furnishings, modern facilities and a romantic atmosphere.

The Trawangan Resort combines south coast tranquillity with tasteful rooms, suites and private pool villas just steps from the beach, close to the surfing and only a few minutes to Sentral.

Likewise, the south and west coasts are popular with travellers seeking a place away from the crowds and are now dotted with small hotels, private villas and a couple of larger resorts. Although the beaches aren’t as nice as those on the east, the sunsets across the sea to Bali are magical.

Just minutes from Sentral, Pearl of Trawangan boasts a beautiful beachfront and modern, comfortable rooms, suites and villas with lovely furnishings and all modern amenities, including a secluded waterfall swimming pool.

Slightly further south, but still on the fringe of the action, ko-ko-mo Resort is a collection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom boutique

Restaurants rival Bali in quality and there are bars, Internet cafés, movie “theatres” and beachside cafés galore. Dining choices range from the typical Indonesian dishes to Indian, Italian, Mexican and more; simple cafés on the beach to international fine dining restaurants, and everything between.

There is a lively bar scene at night and the island has a rotating roster, where different bars have licenses to host a party on one night of the week (hence the “party island” reputation). These parties are a big drawcard for the crowds of younger people who come to the island.

For those who prefer quieter entertainment, there are sophisticated dining opportunities, particularly at places such as ko-ko-mo Resort, Scallywags Resort, and the stylish Pearl Beach Lounge next door, and at Wilson’s Retreat and Desa Dunia Beda in the north.

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Gili Trawangan

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Gili Trawangan

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k o - k o - mo G I L I T R AWA N G A N R E S O R T

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Gili Trawangan Continued from Page 78 These days, Gili T is a serious tourist destination with a good infrastructure and a wide range of tourist facilities.

Many of the larger restaurants, hotels and dive shops accept credit cards and there are ATM’s in front of Gili T Resort (near Sentral), in front of Vila Ombak on the east coast and further north, near Blue Beach, as well as on the west side at Ombak Sunset.

81 shops are springing up almost monthly.

Shops and kiosks selling the usual sarongs and t-shirts now rub shoulders with 69 Slam, Billabong, Innuendo and Blu Glue outlets, as well as stylish little boutiques such as Topaz Shop.

Internet cafés are readily available, as are But it is the beaches money-changers, tour operators and a large and the diving that number of fast boat services. remain the main draw card for Gili There is a tennis club and fitness centre at T. People flock here to sunbathe on Kelapa Villas and a medical centre at Vila Ombak with basic emergency facilities and white sand beaches and swim in clean blue waters, to dive the fabulous reefs a doctor on call. and to bask in the hedonistic pleasures of a tropical paradise.

Free diving, SUP and other water sports are popular activities. Horses can be hired from The Stud on the southeast coast; sea kayaking is available at Karma Kayak on the north coast; yoga, meditation, massages and other health and beauty treatments are available at numerous places around the island.

Even the shopping scene on Gili T is starting to resemble nearby Bali and new

There is a good surf break on the south coast near The Trawangan Resort with a fast right-hander that pumps in the right conditions.

Local surfers will happily lead the way and rent you a board.

The best snorkelling on the island starts on the northern end of the east coast, where you can wade to the reef just offshore.

The water is calm and there is a drift from north to south, making it easy to lie on the surface and float down the coral outcrops.

Although much of the coral is damaged, there is a variety of tropical fish species to enjoy.

Further off shore, the island is famed for its vast gardens of coral and is one of the best dive spots in Lombok, which is why thousands of divers visit Gili T every year.

It is also one of the safest and easiest places to learn to scuba dive, with warm water temperatures, calm seas and excellent visibility almost all year round.

There is a very good selection of professional western-operated dive shops and a range of dive locations suitable for beginners through to thrill seekers.

It’s been a slow evolution over the past 20 years for Gili Trawangan but now a worldclass tourism destination is emerging.

While some will no doubt lament the constant development, there’s a whole new scene unfolding on Gili T. That’s not to say that the original charms that attracted travellers in the beginning are gone. The perfect white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters and laid-back island style are still what attract visitors today.

Gili Air

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The Beach Club Gili Air Beach Bungalows

6 Comfortable Double and Two Family Bungalows with AC, Fresh Hot Water Showers, Balcony and Day Bed and one of Gili Air’s best white sandy beaches – just steps from your room!

Gili Air, Lombok | M: +62 (0) 818 0520 8807 | E: thebeachclubgiliair@hotmail.com

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Tourism Information

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GILI AIR

The views from all points of the island are stunning but the east coast, facing Lombok, is probably the most fantastic – looking back at the big island with its white beaches and green mountains dominated by Indonesia’s second largest volcano, Mt Rinjani.

Accommodation on Gili Air ranges from simple back-packer bungalows to luxurious air-conditioned rooms with hot water and swimming pools.

Old-style hotels built from wood with thatched roofs sit alongside some of the more modern boutique hotels and villas, such as the up-market Waterfront Hotel with eight contemporary air-conditioned

Gili Air is the island closest to the mainland and can be reached in around 20 minutes by local boat or five minutes by speedboat.

Being the closest of the Gilis to the mainland, Gili Air has the largest local population of the three islands; combining the charm of a tropical island with access to the people and culture that make Lombok unique.

Gili Air was originally spelled as “Ayer”, with the word “Air” meaning water; thus Gili Air is the water island.

While nowhere near as busy and developed as Gili Trawangan, Gili Air has evolved rapidly over the past few years and is certainly slated for more development in the future.

some swanky new places along the beachfront.

As is the case on all the Gilis, there are no cars or motorbikes allowed on the island, thus there is no pollution to spoil the clean air and the peaceful atmosphere.

The island’s main appeal is its low-key and unspoilt nature… and that’s why so many people love it.

Telephone and internet facilities are available on the island, as are most of the normal tourist amenities.

Although there are no banks, there are ATMs on the south coast (near 7Seas) and two machines on the east, near Bel Air Resort.

There are three clinics on the east of the island – one to the north (inland from Orong Cottages), Gam Clinic (inland from Biba Beach Village) and Royal Medical (to the south near 7 Seas).

For now, Gili Air is still a laid back island There are also some funky shops selling with funky bars and simple cafés bars made from bamboo rubbing shoulders with home-made jewellery, arts and wooden crafts, as well as three small boutiques with eclectic mixes of island wear, jewellery and accessories.

bungalows and a swimming pool set in nice gardens.

Guests can wine and dine at the very good Waterfront Restaurant and Bar housed in a stylish wooden Joglo on the beachfront.

Next door, Manta Dive offers comfortable bungalow accommodation, a swimming pool, and professional dive courses and dive trips to all three Gilis.

Scallywags – who have another popular resort on Gili Trawangan – operate Scallywags Organic Beach Club on the southern end of the beach.

The restaurant has an excellent menu and guest facilities, as well as a friendly atmosphere and excellent swimming directly in front of the restaurant.

Just next to Scallywags, The Beach Club Gili Air offers accommodation for Like all the Gilis, the best couples and families in eight charming swimming beaches are on the bungalows with large air conditioned east coast and most development bedrooms, private terraces and semi-open runs along the beaches here down air bathrooms. to the south.

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Gili Air

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Other activities include kite surfing, glass bottom boat trips, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and surfing.

Continued from Page 83

There is a good surf break with a barrelling right hander known as “Play Gili” off the south coast that attracts crowds when it is pumping. It breaks over sharp coral, so check with local surfers about conditions and board hire.

The calm waters and good visibility make Gili Air an ideal place to learn to dive or to upgrade diving skills. There are a number of popular dive sites that attract divers from the other Gilis, including Air Wall off the west coast, Hans Reef and Frogfish Point off the north coast.

The beachfront here is a popular place for lounging on colourful bean bags during the day, or for romantic dining in the evening.

The beach bar and restaurant serves delicious meals and snacks, as well as all day breakfasts.

There are also free movies for restaurant guests on the beach every night (weather permitting) starting with children’s movies in the evenings, followed by adult feature movies.

Further south, near the harbour, 7Seas International is a professional dive operation, and also offers comfortable and modern air conditioned cottages on the white sand beach.

It is one of the few places on the island that offers family accommodation, in

Duplex Family Cottages, only a step away from the pool. Each has two spacious rooms, a big bathroom, a large terrace and small garden, and sea views from the 2nd floor.

The existing bedding is suitable for 5 people and up to 3 extra beds can be added on request.

There is a good variety of restaurants and beachside cafés on the island, offering everything from traditional Indonesian dishes to up-market international fare. The beach barbecues with freshly caught fish are particularly good.

The bar scene can get pretty lively in the evenings and, during high season, the island kicks into high gear with Full Moon parties on the beach.

Activities include walking and cycling around the island, sun bathing, and swimming, snorkelling and diving, as well as yoga and meditation, and relaxing massages and body treatments.

For exploring, there is a path running parallel to the beach and it takes around 90 minutes to circle the whole island. The interior is criss-crossed with a maze of tracks that can get confusing, but all lead back to the beach.

The water surrounding the island is a clear, translucent aquamarine, made even more pure by the sparkling white sand beneath.

Gili Air still boasts living reefs off much of its coast and there is wonderful snorkelling directly from the shore, particularly from the east and northeast beaches.

The coral starts within metres of the beach, making it easily accessible to anyone – even novices who have never snorkelled before. Because the island is protected by reefs, there are few waves and the ocean is usually gentle, allowing snorkellers to drift in a dreamy daze amongst this panorama of aquatic shapes and colours.

For those who have never had the pleasure of viewing the magical world under the ocean, Gili Air offers a superb opportunity to do so in safety and comfort.

For those of us who are already addicted to the silence and beauty of the depths, this is an island where days could melt into weeks, quite happily drifting with the current and immersing oneself in the wonders of the underwater landscape.

Gili Meno

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GILI MENO

Gili Meno is the smallest and probably the least known of the Gili Islands. Located between Gili Air and Gili T, Meno has the lowest population of the three Gilis and the least number of visitors.

Meno’s popularity has soared over the past 5 years as travellers discover this ‘quieter Gili’ with its beautiful undeveloped beaches and laid back charm – all within easy reach of the diving and activities that have made the Gilis famous.

The island has not developed as quickly as Gili T or Gili Air and suffered a setback when, in the mid-90’s, The Lonely Planet wrote that the salt lake on the island created mosquito problems. This is untrue – mosquitoes are no more prevalent on Gili Meno than anywhere else in Indonesia.

Many would say that the bad publicity was a blessing in disguise. Today, Meno is a haven for those seeking a unspoiled island escape.

other facilities. It is easy to make day trips to Gili T and Gili Air via public boats and private boat charter. ATM’s are located near Malia’s Bungalows (east coast), Kontiki Cottages (southeast), and Little Bali Restaurant (north coast).

It is possible to walk around the whole island on a small beachside track in around 90 minutes. Those seeking total tranquillity head to the north and west coasts, where more development has been quietly taking place over the past years.

The north coast boasts some beautiful quiet beaches and quality accommodation such as the luxurious Mahamaya Boutique Resort, quirky Adeng-Adeng Resort, and the elegant Seri Resort and Yoga Retreat to the northeast.

On the east coast, Karma Resorts operates The Reef Resort with comfortable air conditioned bungalows in a prime beachfront location.

Although investors have been steadily buying up land for the past ten years, there is no large scale development on the island as yet. Much of the investment taking place is low-key and – perhaps recognising the pristine nature of the island – development tends to be environmentally sensitive.

Like all the Gilis, the best swimming beaches and the most tourist facilities (including the boat harbour) are located along the east coast. Many of the hotels and restaurants are located along the south-eastern coast, with beautiful views over Gili Air and to Mt Rinjani in the east.

The water surrounding the island is clear turquoise and the beaches are covered in brilliant white sand, fringed with coconut palms and sea pines.

Facilities include simple stalls selling t-shirts, sarongs and handicrafts, as well as shops selling bottled water, snacks and drinks, and basic necessities.

There are money changers and internet cafés, tour businesses, boat charter and

Nearby, Meno Mojo Beach Resort has 16 stylish villas, a restaurant and beach club and provides sun lounges, shady bales and comfortable tables overlooking the beach, with a good selection of meals and drinks; grilled and barbecued fresh seafood is the specialty.

element with grace – is perhaps the most special underwater experience of all and a major reason for visiting Gili Meno.

There is also good snorkelling off the west coast near the now-defunct Bounty Resort.

Swim out to where the old pontoon has sunk and become a home for many fish.

Inland from the beaches, the island is quite dry with small places scattered through the coconut groves.

In the middle, toward the west coast, is a salt lake from which the local people still harvest salt on a small scale. It can be quite full in rainy season but dries up in the summer.

Dotted around the island, casual beachfront cafés and bars serve Indonesian and popular western meals, with fresh fish and wood-fired pizzas being Gili Meno specialties.

Some provide low-key entertainment in the evenings, more so in the high seasons, but visitors to Gili Meno largely come for romantic escapes and a chance to rejuvenate on the island’s deserted beaches.

Also on the east coast, Tropical Hideaways, located a short stroll inland (down the lane next to Blue Marlin Dive), is a good mid-range option and has air conditioned rooms with western bathrooms.

Apart from these, small hotels and basic bungalows provide accommodation for those seeking a peaceful place in the sun with un-crowded beaches, clean waters and peaceful nights under the star-filled skies. There is no rowdy bar scene or noisy full moon parties here.

There is good snorkelling along the northwest coast and it is often possible to see Green, Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles. To swim with these huge creatures – that are so awkward and ungainly on land but move through their natural

Eka Jaya Fast Boat is the only company that provides transfers direct from Bali to and from Gili Meno.

From Lombok, public boats operate between Gili Meno and Bangsal Harbour several times daily.

Charter boats are available to and from Bangsal Harbour and Teluk Nara – share the cost with others if possible.

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Gili Trawangan

Tourism Information

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Senggigi