Lombok Surfing

How to Get a Lombok Cheap tour

2008-12-23T11:11:00.000-08:00

Located just east of Bali, Lombok has been promoted as "an unspoiled Bali" for quite some time, with beautiful beaches, enchanting waterfalls and the large, looming volcano of Mount Rinjani. The anticipated tourism boom has been halted on several occasions. In 2000, mobs of the ethnic Sasak people, ostensibly provoked by fundamentalist Muslim agitators from Maluku,looted and burned churches as well as homes and businesses owned by Hindus and and ethnic Chinese (who profess to be Christians). The bombing of nightclubs in Bali in 2002 further exacerbated fear held by tourist. For many years many Embassies issued advisory travel warnings against the travel to Indonesia. The ensuing years have been peaceful, but tourists have yet to regain confidence that travel to Lombok is safe.

The Islamic culture in Lombok compared to the Hindu culture Bali may also explain why Lombok is less popular than Bali in terms of shopping, cuisine, nightlife, and a multiplicity of accommodations. Conversely, Lombok offers visitors a chance to see traditional cultures (such as local markets, traditional villages, and numerous traditional celebrations). Lombok is also becoming increasingly popular with tourist and honeymooners who want to relax in an inexpensive, tropical, uncrowded atmosphere, with many "hidden beaches" and majestic scenery. Nothing happens quickly in Lombok and visitors who are stressed from their daily lives back home find Lombok a delightful getaway.

Culture

Lombok's people are 85% Sasak, culturally and linguistically closely related to the Balinese, but unlike Bali's Hindu they are Muslims. A notable non-orthodox Islamic group found only on Lombok are the Wektu Telu ("Three Prayers"), who as the name suggests pray only three times daily, instead of the five times required in the Quran.

Climate

While tropical, hot and humid, Lombok is drier than neighboring Bali, which makes it a particularly attractive option during the October-December rainy season (it rains on Lombok too, but rarely for more than an hour). The peak of the tourist season, though, is May through August.

Talk

The main local language is Sasak. Bahasa Indonesia is universally spoken and English is common in the resort areas.

Get in

By plane

Lombok's only airport is Mataram's Selaparang Airport (AMI), which occasionally also shows up in flight schedules as "Ampenan" (hence the seemingly odd airport code). There are frequent connections to Denpasar on Bali (20 min) and Surabaya (1 hour) on Garuda, Merpati and Germania Trisakti ("GT Air") but lately Merpati cancelled ocasionally some flights so check upfront. Garuda flies daily to Jakarta. A flight offered from and to Yogyakarta (on Garuda) is currently not being scheduled anymore. Sometime flights to Sumbawa are scheduled. New Airport is being constructed.

International flights are limited to Kuala Lumpur daily on Merpati (via Surabaya) and Singapore thrice weekly on Silk Air, with visas available on arrival. Lombok Network maintains a useful, mostly-updated flight schedule listing all flights to the island.

By boat

Slow boats from Padang Bai on Bali leave about every hour( 24 hours )for the four- to five-hour trip to Lembar (Rp 32,000). The slow ferries are a bit rusty and dusty, with minimal restroom facilities, and are used mostly by locals, with few tourists on board. Access to the passenger deck is usually from the vehicle deck via steep and narrow stairs, so maneuvering heavy luggage is a challenge. Would-be porters wait by the docks, and will happily carry your stuff for Rp 10,000 per item. Sometimes they insist on doing so even when you don't ask. They can be a bit intimidating, and sometimes try to overcharge. Lots of Kuta travel agents offer end-to-end transport, including a van ride from your Bali hotel to Padang Bai, the ferry ticket, and a ride from the dock on Lombok to your ultimate destination, for Rp 130,000 and up depending on where you are going in Lombok.

If you're going to the Gili Islands, there are many speedboat services directly from Bali; see Gili Islands for details. A few services continue on towards mainland Lombok. Direct fast ferries from Benoa to Lembar have stopped running.

Get around

Perahu fishing boats, Gili Trawangan

By bemo

Bemos (converted passenger-carrying minivans) are the main means of long-distance transport on Lombok. They can be hailed down on all larger streets, and will happily take you even short hops around Senggigi. Fares are cheap: for example, as of November 2005 the official fare from Mataram to Senggigi is Rp. 1500/person, but tourists tend to get charged a bit extra and empty bemos will expect you to charter them for a higher price yet. Travel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Senggigi, the airport, and the harbors of Lembar (for Bali) and Bangsal (for the Gilis).

By taxi

Metered taxis are a fairly new development on Lombok, but they have become quite common in Mataram and Senggigi. The largest operator is Blue Bird, although there are a few other companies competing for your custom. As of November 2005, flag fall is Rp3,850 and the meter ticks up a few hundred rupiah for every hundred meters past 2 km. Figure on Rp10,000 for hops around town and around Rp30,000 from Senggigi to Mataram.

By car

Renting a car is also an option and there are several places in Senggigi and Mataram to rent from. Expect to pay 150,000 (low end Suzuki mini jeep) to 400,000 (Toyota 4x4). Petrol is not cheap but it is less expensive than in some countries.

By horse cart

Horse-pulled carts known as cidomo are very common on Lombok, and while a bit touristy in Senggigi, they're still a serious method of transportation. Make sure that you bargain the rate before the journey. In the Gilis there are no cars or motorbikes, so cidomo or bicycle is the only way to go.

By boat

Traditional fishing boats known as perahu ply the waters around Lombok, and are instantly recognizable due to their outriggers, two logs attached by bars on both sides like a catamaran, for greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa will come in handy) or via any travel agent, who will of course take their cut.

By bicycle

Traffic is relatively light throughout the island so travel by bicycle is quite possible, and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport. You should bring your own touring bike, as local bikes are of a very basic quality although there is one biking tour operator (Lombok Biking)that has decent bikes and guides.

See

The pepper-like sand, Tanjung Aan

Tanjung Aan, a beautiful area near the Kuta Beach. The sand is very unique that it looks like pepper. There are beach guards are on the beach early. They prevent hawkers hasseling tourists, but essentially the hawkers are mostly children trying to make a living and quite good natured.

Weaving process

See the local handicraft and weaving process in Desa (village) Sukarare. The price should be cheaper than in Sengigi shops.

Narmada Park (Taman Narmada). Located 10 km east of Mataram, this park was the relaxation place for the king during the time of feudalism. This park has a Hindu temple and swimming pool. Also it has a fountain which called "Youth Fountain" which is believed to give long life to a person that drink water from the fountain. Entry fee for this park is cheap. It will cost around Rp 5000.

Do

Traditional massage. There will be a lot of women offering the massage service. For more professional service, ask the hotel staffs.

Snorkeling. There are several good sites between the Gili Islands. If lucky, you can spot and swim with turtles.

Hiking. There are several good treks around the island Islands, Including multi day hikes up the mountain (3000 meters high) and around the crater. There are several short treks to see water falls and other island attractions.

Eat

Given that the very word lombok means "chili pepper" in Bahasa Indonesia, the local cuisine isn't quite as spicy as you might expect. Probably the best known local dish is is ayam taliwang, although nobody seems to be able to agree on the exact recipe: most interpretations involve chicken topped with or stewed with a rich red sauce flavored with galangal, turmeric and tomato, which can be either mild or searingly hot.

In general, though, prices and food are much the same as anywhere else in Java or Bali. Senggigi has a few upscale international restaurants, the Gili Islands serve up banana pancakes and other backpacker favorites, and Mataram has Indonesia's easternmost McDonalds and KFC, but elsewhere it's Indonesian food all the way.

Drink

Alcoholic drinks are not available everywhere throughout the island, as Lombok is mostly Muslim. However, local supermarkets offer a variety of local as well as international beers. Note that beer is relatively expensive: a small bottle costs at least the same as a full meal in a "local" eatery.

The island's most touristic city, Senggigi, has numerous bars and clubs with the usual international favorites. The local favorite, though, is tuak, a red or white fermented palm wine with 2-5% volume.

Sleep

Nearly all of Lombok's better-quality accommodation can be found in Senggigi. Backpackers tend to travel to Gili Islands. See those articles for details; the following covers only accommodation elsewhere in Lombok.

Hotels

Mid-range

Novotel Lombok, [1] Mandalika Resort Pantai Putri Nyale Pujut, Central Lombok, tel. +62-370-653333, Fax +62-370-653555. Best hotel on the south coast & friendly for travelling with children - with interesting swimming pool design, good playing and sport areas for kids. The resort is located approx. 1h drive from Mataram. Rates: US$66-77/night.

Splurge

The Oberoi Lombok, Medana Beach, Tanjung West Lombok, Tel. +62-370-638444, Fax +62-370-632496, email: gm@theoberoi-lombok.com, The most expensive hotel in Lombok. An ideal hideaway due to its 'secluded' area. Rates: US$270-952/night (discounts available).

Hotel Tugu Lombok, Sire Beach, Email: lombok@tuguhotels.com or bali@tuguhotels.com . The upcoming Hotel Tugu Lombok is located on the northwest coast of the island. Neighboring the site is an 18 hole-golf course and virgin landscapes, traditional village houses and empty green fields where local life continues in today’s age much the same as it has done for centuries. Tugu Lombok land comprises of approximately six hectares of mature palm plantations, facing the open ocean and the sunrise of Mount Rinjani. The clear blue water in front of Hotel Tugu Lombok is most ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving during the day.

Qunci Villas, Mangsit Beach, (email: stay@quncivillas.com). Qunci Villas: Peace, Tranquility and Style. Picked as Lombok's Hippest Hotel by Lonely Planet and called "Le Reve!" ("A Dream") by France's largest guide (Routard). A small resort where the staff know and greet you by your first name. Two swimming pools directly on beachfront which look as if they are part of the sea. The rooms dont have TV, in order to 'detach' the guests from the outside world. The restaurants serve very good food at reasonable price, and dinner can be enjoyed directly on the beach. Rates: US$70-95 for the hotel rooms to $135 for rooms with personal pools to $300+ for luxury private villas.

Imaj Private Villas, Batu Layar, Sengiggi Currently has an amazing anniversary special which will save you hundreds of dollars, gorgeous villas from as little as US$10.00 per night, hurry and visit the website, special started 01/11/08 and will run until the allocated vouchers have been purchased and paid for.

Private villas

One accommodation option for which is becoming more popular, emulating what has has happened on its sister island of Bali, is private villas complete with staff, although not every place sold as a "villa" actually fits the bill. Prices vary widely: some operators claim to go as low as $30/night, but realistically you'll be looking at upwards of $200/night for anything with a decent location and a private pool, and at the top of range rents can easily go north of $1,000/night.

-Villas can also be found in Senggigi and, increasingly, the Gili Islands; see those articles for more listings. The following covers only accommodation elsewhere in Lombok.

The Anandita. Private luxury villa over 3 acres in size next to the Kosaido golf course and five minutes by boat from the Gili Islands. Nearby is the Lombok Oberoi. It boasts a 27 meter private swimming pool and a volleyball court. The villa includes four bedrooms, private pool and garden - comes with a full complement of 16 staff (private chef, maids, security, etc). Prices vary from US$830-1270 depending on season, for the entire villa.

Stay safe

Although Lombok is a safe and stable place, these tips may help you along the way:

There is no written curfew, but when travelling in villages or non-tourist areas you are best to stay indoors after dark (if you're afraid of the dark, if you're not the whole world is still out there).

Always have locks on the zips of your bags. Not only do they keep thieving hands out they also prevent people slipping prohibited substances in.

Dress modestly in villages and religious sites; long pants or sarongs are suggested and a blouse that covers the woman's bust and shoulders should do the trick. This is not so much a safety measure, but it does save you and onlookers from embarrassment.

LOMBOK TOURS AND TRAVEL AGENT

2008-12-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

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Lombok Island

Lombok island is officially known as one of two main island in West Nusa Tenggara province of Republic Indonesia country, and is located in northern of Darwin Australia and South tern Makasar Celebes island Indonesia, Western part of Komodo dragon island and Eastern part of Beautiful island Bali Indonesia. Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia and largest Town or some say it Mataram City, is the most peace, safe, pure amazing nature with one of unique cultures in Indonesia.

The Island is bounded on the north by the Banda Sea has connection with Pacific Ocean pristine water, on the east by Alas straight of the second West Nusa Tenggara Province Main Island called Sumbawa, on the south Indiana Ocean has direct connection with Darwin Australia and on the west by Lombok straight the Ferry way to Bali Island The Island has width about 8500 km in total, and its surroundings by over than 10's islets add the natural wealth of heritage for future generation.

Lombok Island spread out by two main of landscapes, as on the north is lined by mountainous clustered from the east to the west, which Rinjani Volcano 3.726 m as the highest and a flat with little hills of lands added with gorgeous coastal bays, rank on the south, just right from across of Nusa Penida named Bangko-Bangko at the west, and Ringgit islet is as the eastern part of the island. Some said that Green Island with pure scent air waiting to be sniffed added with the wealth of undersea water life in wild and nature.

Lombok island population is about 3.7 million people on consensus 2005, 80% of the total are Sasak people as the ethnic name of aborigines whose hold Moslem religion and approximately 10% of the populations are Balinese hold Hindus religion first got in and trooped to Lombok Island in 16 Century, the Buddhism religion people hold about 4% of the population whose origin from central Java, sailed to Lombok Island in 13 Century became the first people who were found Lombok Island. Other 5% of the population is Christians with about 1% of the population is from international countries. The 50% of the population are farmers, 10% are fishermen and the rest are civil servants and in tourisms business colored the unique culture of the island as one of ultimate Archipelago of Indonesia.

Lombok Island is one of the best first arrival islands in Indonesia beyond Bali Island, especially to reach the Sumbawa Island, Komodo Island, Flores or other island in Indonesia especially via Singapore and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

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All about Lombok

2008-12-13T03:12:00.001-08:00

averview, accomo•Lombok location:
Lombok lies directly east of Bali across the Lombok Strait. The island is roughly the same size as Bali, but rather than having a line of large volcanoes, Lombok has one massive volcano named Gunung Rinjani, which dominates the skyline.

•Lombok overview:
Lombok offers an interesting alternative, to fast developing, and often ‘in your face’ Bali. Indonesia has 27 provinces (propinsi) Bali being one, Lombok and Sumbawa forming the province of Nusa Tenggara Barat. Each province has a governor. The closest point of Lombok is 35 kms from Bali, however the ferry ride from Padangbai takes about 4 hours 30 minutes to get to the port of Lember on the west coast of Lombok. The island itself is 80kms by 70 kms and is a bit smaller than Bali with a population of 2.3 million.

•Sasak people:
The native Sasak people are Muslim, and there is also a strong Balinese community on the west coast. Years ago Lombok was under Balinese control, and now both islands are part of Indonesia, so you don’t need to take your passport.

•Sasak language:
In Lombok people speak Bahasa Indonesia like the Balinese and also have their own Sasak language. The Sasak language is spoken by the Sasak ethnic group, which make up the majority of the population. It is closely related to the languages of Bali and Sumbawa.

Wetu Telu: A very different brand of Islam in Lombok:
Lombok has a branch of the Muslim religion called Wetu Telu, which is a major divergence from all other forms. The Wetu Telu still strongly believe in ancestor worship and the old animist beliefs are still recognized.

•Lombok history:
Lombok is Bali’s neighbor to the east. While tourism has run rampant in Bali, it has progressed at a crawl in Lombok. A trip to Lombok can be like going back 40 years in Bali.

•Getting to Lombok / Gili Islands:
There are 3 main ways to get to the Gili’s from Bali (4 if you’re Monte Monfore). The first is taking a bus, car, motorbike to Padangbai. Catching a ferry to Lember in W.Lombok. Ferries run every 90 minutes 24/7 and the journey takes anywhere from 4-7 hours depending on port congestion and weather. From Lember you drive to the port of Bangsal in NW Lombok. This will take you about 2 hours. At Bangsal you can catch a small local ferry to the Gili’s, journey time, up to 45 minutes for the furthest island, Gili Trawangan, less for the other 2.

The second way is to fly from Bali to the airport in Mataram. The flight takes 30 minutes and costs around 400,000rp one way. From there you catch an airport taxi to Bangsal, and take a ferry. Airlines that service Lombok from Bali include, Merpati (6 flights a day), Wings Air, GT Air.

The third way is to take a high-speed charter boat from Benoa harbor. This way is the fastest overall, if you left at the same time as the others, but you have a bumpy ride across the Lombok Strait. This cost 690,000rp one way, to the island of your choice.

•Getting Around Lombok:
Perama bus serve Bali and Lombok. Here are the Perama bus times in Lombok.

Boats in Lombok & the Gili Islands:
Here is a quick glance at boat transport in Lombok & the Gili Islands.

•Senggigi:
Visitors to Bali, as well as expats sometimes look for an close alternative, to the Bali beach scene. One option is Senggigi Lombok. Senggigi is the most developed part of Lombok, as far as tourism is concerned. You can find budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation, get online, have a selection of nightlife activities, visit sweeping bays with no people, hike in the forest and get some R&R. Senggigi is a great place to use as a home base for exploring Lombok.

•Accommodation in Senggigi:
Here is a guide to accommodation options in Senggigi Lombok. Senggigi is the main tourist center on the west coast of Lombok, and the accommodation is spread over a few kms. Central Senggigi has many budget options while north Senggigi has a better choice of luxury accommodation.

•North Lombok: Senggigi to Kokok Putih
The best way to explore the north coast of Lombok is with your own transport, whether that be a car or motorbike. There are local buses that serve the area also. It is possible to catch a bus from Sweta up to Anyar on the central north coast. Coming from the other direction a bus runs from Labuhan Lombok to Bayan. One of the favourite areas on the north coast is the Sembalun valley, which can be accessed via a bus from Kokok Putih and Pringgabaya.

•Central Lombok: Mataram to Tetebatu:
Central Lombok is the fertile strip that runs from Mataram in the west to Tanjung Luar and Labuhan Haji in the east. The 74km long east-west highway from Ampenan to Labuhan Lombok is the busiest road on the island, trafficked by cars, motorbikes, bemo buses and cidomos (horse drawn carriages). Road conditions are good and a speed of 50km/h can be maintained, allowing one to cross Central Lombok in a couple of hours, allowing for breaks. Major towns along and close to the main road include Sweta, Lingsar, Narmada, Suranadi, Mantang, Kopang, Pomotong, Masbagik, Rempung, Aik Mel and Pringgabaya. There is also a parallel east-west road that runs from Mataram and Sweta, to Cakranegara, Praya, Ganti, Tangun and Tanjung Luar.

•Central Lombok: Kotaraja to Sapit
Kotaraja in Central Lombok, is located 5kms south of the mountain village of Tetebatu. Centuries ago the Langko kingdom fell to invaders from Bali and the royal family took up residence here, hence the name ‘City of Kings.’

•Gunung Rinjani:
Lombok has one huge volcano, Gunung Rinjani (3726m), which is even taller than Bali’s Gunung Agung. Surrounded by forest, but itself consisting of bare trails and summits, Gunung Rinjani is a popular place to hike. At the top of the mountain sits Segara Anak, the mountain lake 8kms long. The slopes from the mountain cover 65kms across the north of Lombok and make a great place for some peace and quiet. Trekking to the summit of Rinjani is a 3-day trip and can be done with the aid of a local guide, or with a tour group. It is the most challenging hike in Bali an Lombok. There are 2 main access points which are Senaru to the north, or Sembalun Lawang to the east.
Hiking Rinjani

•Tetebatu Lombok and surrounding areas:
Tetebatu is located on the south slope of Gunung Rinjani, 11km north of the main road that runs east-west across the center of the island. Tetebatu’s elevation is 400m, about half that of Sanda / Pupuan. Views are wonderful and Tetebatu’s local scene very peaceful with rice and tobacco being farmed. Temperatures are cool and cloud will often cover the sky providing relief from the intense tropical sun.

Accommodation in Tetebatu Lombok:
Tetebatu in the highlands of Central Lombok could be the perfect place to relax. Its beautiful scenery, cool temperatures and lack of tourists can feel like heaven. Here is a description of the accommodation options.

•Maps of Lombok:
Lombok Map
Tetebatu Map
Kuta Lombok Map
Greater Senggigi
Senggigi Map

•South coast of Lombok:
Longterm Bali visitors, tell me stories of Poppies Lane being a sand track, and Legian being the outer reach of westernization, warungs serving only Indonesian food, and the barest of western dishes. Those days are long gone, but a trip to the south coast of Lombok, will put you right back in that era.

•Kuta Lombok:
Accommodation in Kuta Lombok:
Most of the accommodation in Kuta Lombok is budget style, simple places lined up on the beach road. There are however mid-range and luxury places, which will no doubt increase. The great thing about the cheap places in Kuta Lombok is even with a cold water shower, it feels luxurious after the salt water showers of the Gili Islands.

SW Lombok:
Visible from the east coast of Bali, the SW corner of Lombok offers an entirely different experience in terms of culture and scenery. Complete with quiet bays, white sand beaches, a tranquil village style and half a dozen small islands, SW Lombok can be the break you’re looking for.

•Tembowong, Bangko Bangko & Pandana: SW Lombok:
Bangko Bangko is the location of the famous Desert Point surf break in SW Lombok. Surfers and other visitors arriving from Bali and intending to get to Bangko Bangko, can find accommodation at the village of Tembowong, which is 11km west of Taun. The Putri Duyung Homestay (0812 - 3752459) offers simple cold water mandi rooms with traditional toilet for a bargain price. This is also a good stop off point if you are looking to explore Gili Gede, another island offshore. Boats can be arranged for a day, prices negotiable.

•East Lombok
East Lombok is probably the least popular part of the island as far as tourists are concerned. Stories circulate about unfriendly locals are in this part of Lombok, although in reality they can be very friendly once contact has been made. The Sasak Muslim culture of Lombok means people are generally more reserved than in Bali, which could be misinterpreted as unfriendly.

•Gili Islands:
The Gili Islands are located of of Lombok’s NW coast. Basically they are 3 sand islands, (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air) with no rivers, streams or lakes, hence no fresh water. The Gili islands have peace a and quiet, no cars, white sand beaches, snorkeling, diving and some good hotels.

•Gili Trawangan
The Gili’s are part of Lombok and the population is Muslim. I spoke to many people who were from the mainland or a different island. People seem quiet and respectful and are used to westerners in bathing suits. Donovan told me about one Italian lady who was strolling down main street topless and said that she was getting more than a few glance from the local guys. If you need more privacy it’s not hard, you simply move around the coast a little way and another nice thing is that the locals will leave you alone.

Gili Trawangan is the largest and busiest of the Gili Islands. Gili Trawangan has good hotels, pools and an Irish pub, Gili Air has a selection of guest-houses and Gili Meno has not much going on. I know people think of going to a tropical island would be paradise but if the food isn’t good and you can’t get a cold drink how long are you going to stay there?

Gili Trawangan has the reputation as the ‘party island’ but my impression was that most of the island is undeveloped, even for farming and the strip of wall to wall bars and restaurants was originally set up for scuba divers, not the low budget beer swilling crowd.

To get from Nusa Tiga on the north end of the island to the main strip would cost 25,000rp on a cidomo. This seems a little expensive considering a cheap room might cost 50,000rp. The cidomo’s have a monopoly unless you like to walk. Since the island has no lakes, rivers or wells you have to buy bottled drinking water and also a large water jug of river water from the reception for 5,000rp. Salt water showers are the norm is most guest houses.

Apart from small patches of road paved with bricks the whole perimeter of Gili Trawangan is a sandy track. You might feel like you are walking in the desert and should bring water along. To walk around Gili Trawangan takes about 2 hours. At the southern end of the island is a hill fairly close to the beach. This is the highest point of the island. Tourists like to head down there for the sunset.

The scuba diving infrastructure is responsible for a wide selection of western food, some of it pretty decent. One of the favourite places is the Irish pub. For some people the mention of an Irish pub is enough to send them packing, but this place is cool. Located downtown on the inland side of the beach road its was large with high ceilings, large screen showing Premiership soccer on Saturday night. Outside are many bale structures each with it’s own DVD player. It is possible to eat dinner while watching a DVD. Across the street is the beach-side part of the pub where you can sit up at the bar. A nice atmosphere and not 200 drunks going crazy.

Villa Almarik is Italian owned and serves good food. An Almarik house sandwich with all the trimmings including bacon is around 35,000rp. There are 4 internet cafes in Gili Trawangan. The time I tried to get online the connection had failed. Donovan tells me the price is around 30,000rp per hour.

Going back from Gili Trawangan to Lombok you go to the main beach and check with the guys who run the little ferry office. The Public ferry had needs 25 people before it can leave. A charter boat might cost anywhere from 100,000rp for the boat or 100,000rp for each person depending on what you look like. Its all negotiable. Funny that the prices coming back to Bangsal are way cheaper than coming in the opposite direction. The crossing takes 35-45 minutes and can be a bit rough. There is no safety gear on the boat. From Bangsal a taxi back to the airport might cost you 85,000rp.

Accommodation on Gili Trawangan:
Looking at a map of Gili Trawangan, you will see that most of the accommodation is located on the south eastern side of the island. This is also the location of most everything else, such as bars and restaurants. For people with money, the best place to stay is probably Vila Almarik on the NE side. A good budget option is Pondok Lita, just inland from the Beer Shack on the SE coast. Being close to the ‘action’ in Gili Trawangan, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as its not an ‘all night rocking party’.

•Gili Meno:
Located in the middle of the 3 Gili Islands, Gili Meno is the quietest island with the least infrastructure.

Accommodation on Gili Meno:
Gili Meno has a good selection of accommodation options ranging from guest houses to modern boutique hotels. As with Gili Trawangan, most of the accommodation is located on the southern and eastern coast, with scattered places further north.
Gili Meno

•Gili Air:
Gili Air is the second largest island of the 3 Gili Islands. It is also the second busiest.

Accommodation on Gili Air:
A map of Gili Air shows that most of the accommodation is on the west and south coasts. There is also a mosque on the south coast, which may be one of the reasons the local population, of 1,000 Muslims, keep a tight lid on the partying activities. Late night action is limited to 3 nights a week. Although quieter than Gili Trawangan, Gili Air still has a good choice of accommodation.
Gili Air

•Diving in the Gili Islands overview:
There are dive operators on all 3 Gili Islands, and there is a developed industry there, with well known dive spots and plenty of supporting infrastructure as far as transport, hotels and food places. The Gili Islands are surrounded by reef and located on the northern side of Lombok, are sheltered from big swells. The depth is around 25 meters, with visibility around 15 meters, water temperature warm.

•Learning to dive in Gili Trawangan Lombok
Gili Trawangan offers a good place to get a taste of diving in Indonesia, before moving onto more challenging sites. Learning to dive in something that many tourists have on their agenda. A 4 day PADI course will get you your Open Water certificate, allowing you to rent equipment and fill tanks anywhere in the world. Gili Trawangan has several dive shops offering Open Water courses, many with their own training pool. It always pays to check out your dive operator and choose one you trust.

•Dangers and annoyances in the Gili Islands / Lombok:
Exploring the Gili Islands and Lombok myself, first solo on a motorbike, and secondly, with friends in Gili Trawangan, I experienced no dangerous or annoying situations. I found the people in the Gili’s / Lombok, to be reserved, respectful and the place in general to be quiet and laid back. Bali is way more in your face, and 10 times times as busy, with people hanging out, watching what you are doing etc. There are dangers in the Gili’s / Lombok, however and they are worth pointing out.

Surf on Asian Beach Games 2008

2008-12-13T02:47:00.000-08:00

19 October 2008, Kuta-Bali: 20 year old Garut Widiarta from Bali became the first surfer in history to win a gold medal in the sport of surfing at an Olympic event today at Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia. The talented young surfer proudly held up the Indonesian flag as he and silver medalist Raditya Rondi accepted the cheers of the crowd in front of the judging tower.

In an intense 30 minute round of competition in their home break of Kuta Beach, the two cousins fought a pitched battle in the 2 foot low tide surf with Rondi leading for most of the heat, until Widiarta maneuvered into the perfect position to let loose with a couple of amazing aerial displays that had the judges reaching punching some big numbers into their keypads. When the horn blew Widiarta had tallied up a score of 18.50 for his best two waves, leaving Rondi just short with 17.20.

10 surfers from 5 countries, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, the Maldives, and Vietnam competed today in the 1st Asian Beach Games men’s shortboard surfing event, with Widiarta winning the gold over Raditya Rondi and Shigenori Suzuki from Japan getting the bronze.

This is truly a benchmark for surfing, as it is the first time the sport of surfing has ever been included in an Olympic event. In addition to the men’s shortboard event held today, there will also be a women’s shortboard event, a men’s longboard event, an aerial surfing event, and a team event.

About the Asian Beach Games:

The 1st Asian Beach Games started yesterday the 18th of October and will be concluded on the 26th. 45 countries are participating in 17 sporting events taking place on the island of Bali in Indonesia. To find out more log on to www.asianbeachgames.com.

About the Olympic Council of Asia:

The OCA was approved for formation in New Delhi, India during the Asian Games Federation (AGF) Council Meeting held on November 26, 1981, the Council’s aim is to develop in the youth of Asia those moral and physical qualities that come from fair competition in sports and to promote the international respect, friendship and goodwill.

To find out more about the OCA log on to their website at www.ocasia.org

Surf Season Indonesia

2008-12-13T02:46:00.000-08:00

Both wet seasons in north and south of the equator can be typified with NW winds and less swell.

However the less people that go there means more waves for you.

If you want lefts there are less of them in the wet season but some left breaks are still ok wet season.
Wet season is generally righthander season, unless in the doldrums (100k either side of equater)
Where you see variable winds and more glassy surf.

More south, wet season is october to march, up north you will have to do some research as a lot of the breaks are not worth visiting any more and im not telling you everything...

Buy a few books like-
-Wavefinder indonesia,
-Indo surf lingo,
And any others you can afford.

Also search google earth for waves, find out what areas have what winds..

SurfZone in Indonesia

2008-12-13T02:40:00.000-08:00

	Surf Zone	Surf Spots	SubZones
1	Sumba, Flores, Savu, Timor	11 surf spots	0 surf zones
2	Sumbawa	9 surf spots	0 surf zones
3	Lombok	15 surf spots	0 surf zones
4	Bali	47 surf spots	0 surf zones
5	East Java	5 surf spots	0 surf zones
6	Central Java	1 surf spots	0 surf zones
7	West Java	21 surf spots	0 surf zones
8	Mentawai	22 surf spots	0 surf zones
9	Sumatra Mainland	14 surf spots	0 surf zones
10	Sumatra Islands (Enggano,Nias, Hinako Islands)	8 surf spots	0 surf zones