Our first visit to Lombok, December 17-23, 2000.

Lombok is the island east of Bali. It is similar in size to Bali and also has significant Buddhist and Hindu populations along with some Christians and the Muslim majority. People generally describe Lombok as "Bali 10-30 years ago." Development has been happening, but has a long way to go most places. We stayed on Senggigi Beach on the west side of the island. We thought Lombok was generally cleaner than Bali.

Map of Indonesia with Lombok highlighted. - gif - 23899 Bytes
Clare Ann on Senggigi Beach. Our hotel is on the beach at the right of the picture. - jpg - 11747 Bytes Clare Ann on Senggigi Beach. Our hotel, the Maskot Berugaq Elen Cottages, is on the beach at the right of the picture, hidden in the trees since it is all one-storey buildings.
Standing in the shadow of our Sasak-style cottage looking toward the beach, which is the other side of the shaded tables. - jpg - 19173 Bytes Standing in the shadow of our Sasak-style cottage looking toward the beach, which is the other side of the shaded tables. The Sasak tribe is the largest group on Lombok.
If you walk from the last picture to the beach and face left this is what you see. It was a lot like a private beach, but is a couple of miles long. - jpg - 16005 Bytes If you walk from the last picture to the beach and face left this is what you see. It was a lot like a private beach, but is a couple of miles long.
The scant number of tourists is traceable to riots in
January 2000 which were accompanied by church
burnings. The riots seem to have been the work of
outsiders and local people have been working hard
to rebuild their tourist-friendly image. There are
even banners across the main street exhorting people
to offer tourists a safe and enjoyable time. We left
Dec 23, and the next day three churches were bombed
on Christmas Eve in Mataram, the capital where the
airport is located, along with 12 others around
Indonesia. Once again, likely the work of outsiders
due to the timing. Unfortunately, fresh communal
clashes broke out near Mataram January 3 with at least
nine villagers killed. Based on news reports it
appears to be a feud between two villages.		  
Looking across the garden to a Sasak-style cottage like ours on the other side. Wood floors and walls with some use of woven bamboo and a thatched roof. Large bed, TV, a/c, shower that wasn't icy, all for $21 a night. - jpg - 21553 Bytes Looking across the garden to a Sasak-style cottage like ours on the other side. Wood floors and walls with some use of woven bamboo and a thatched roof. Large bed, TV, a/c, shower that wasn't icy, all for $21 (Rp200,000) a night. The web site listed US$35 a night. We had an Indonesian co-worker telephone and make the deal for a better price.
Each area of Indonesia has its own indigenous horse cart. In Yogya we have the four-wheeled andong. In Lombok there is the two-wheeled cidomo. - jpg - 18938 Bytes Each area of Indonesia has its own indigenous horse cart. In Yogya we have the four-wheeled andong. In Lombok there is the two-wheeled cidomo. They are everywhere.
A cidomo as most often seen, leaving a market. The driver sometimes sits on the shafts to hold them down. It looked to me like the horse might get lifted off the ground occasionally. - jpg - 24821 Bytes A cidomo as most often seen, leaving a market. The driver sometimes sits on the shafts to hold them down. It looked to me like the horse might get lifted off the ground occasionally.
The elderly Kijang (Indonesian version of a Toyota) we rented. The picture does not do justice to the color. The car without driver or gas would be Rp170,000 for a day. With driver and gas it was 250,000. The exchange rate is about 9200 to the US$. - jpg - 26388 Bytes The elderly Kijang (Indonesian version of a Toyota) we rented. The picture does not do justice to the color. The car without driver or gas would be Rp170,000 for a day. With driver and gas it was 250,000. The exchange rate was about 9200 to the US$.
On the north side of Mt. Rinjani, the tallest volcano in Indonesia at 3,726 meters. - jpg - 23257 Bytes On the north side of Mt. Rinjani, the tallest volcano in Indonesia at 3,726 meters. It is a two day climb to the top. We left that for next time.
Air Terjun (waterfall) Singang Gila on the north side of Mt. Rinjani. The top part of the falls is taller. It is set in a forest surrounded by upland rice fields. Most of the path is steps and it is a steep climb down, then back up. The guides are boys who live nearby and have a little English. Our young guide lives there and has a dream of building his own losmen, a cheap tourist hotel. Clare Ann slipped on the stone steps as we began to climb back up, and the guide insisted on holding her arm for the whole climb. - jpg - 33030 Bytes
 Air Terjun (waterfall) Singang Gila on the north side of Mt. Rinjani. The top part of the falls is taller. It is set in a forest surrounded by upland rice fields. Most of the path is steps and it is a steep climb down, then back up. The guides are boys who live nearby and have a little English. Our young guide lives there and has a dream of building his own losmen, a cheap tourist hotel. Clare Ann slipped on the stone steps as we began to climb back up, and the guide insisted on holding her arm for the whole climb. Since until quite recently life expectancy in Indonesia was 45, we probably do look pretty old. His fee was "it's up to you."
Duane at the same waterfall. jpg - 21349 Bytes
 Duane at the same waterfall.
Clare Ann on Senggigi Beach at sunset. - jpg - 11464 Bytes Clare Ann on Senggigi Beach at sunset.
Sunset on Senggigi Beach. - jpg - 13924 Bytes Sunset on Senggigi Beach, the 200 mm lens version.
Boats along Senggigi Beach waiting in vain for tourists. At this time of year many of them should be in use. - jpg - 23079 Bytes Boats along Senggigi Beach waiting in vain for tourists. At this time of year many of them should be in use.
Here's how you get to the Gili Islands or around the bend to a restaurant. - jpg - 23274 Bytes Here's how you get to the Gili Islands or around the bend to a restaurant. You can also walk along the beach to reach restaurants if you prefer.
From our hotel you walk west along the beach, around the point formed by the Senggigi Beach Hotel, and you see this beach which serves that hotel. Notice it is not crowded, except with unused boats. - jpg - 16767 Bytes From our hotel you walk west along the beach, around the point formed by the Senggigi Beach Hotel, and you see this beach which serves that hotel. Notice it is not crowded, except with unused boats.
Here's where we ate breakfast every morning. The menu that came with the room was coffee, fresh fruit salad including banana, pineapple and papaya, and a pancake with banana and pineapple. The hawkers would line up along the fence and show things, trying to catch your eye. One morning there were twelve. They don't come onto the hotel grounds. - jpg - 24960 Bytes Here's where we ate breakfast every morning. The menu that came with the room was coffee, fresh fruit salad including banana, pineapple and papaya, and a pancake with banana and pineapple. The hawkers would line up along the fence and show things, trying to catch your eye. One morning there were twelve. They don't come onto the hotel grounds.
Heliconia growing near our room. We've seen this plant in the Caribbean too. - jpg - 27636 Bytes
 Heliconia growing near our room. We've seen this plant in the Caribbean too.
Last modified January 6, 2001. Prepared by Duane Ruth-Heffelbower.

visitors since December 25, 2000.
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