INDONESIA: sweet surf & beaches of LOMBOK

Slow ferry from Padangbai in Bali to Lembar in Lombok took 4 hours (of relaxed reading on the deck) & then 2 more hours by Perama bus to Kuta of Lombok...that has nothing in common with Kuta of Bali. Kuta of Lombok still looks like a fishermen village. Hope it stays that way!

LOMBOK 1st impressions:

• Cool horse carriages as a mean of transportation
• Wild & green
• Hint of Indonesia as a predominantly Muslim country: mosques, skirts are getting longer  
• Simple architecture compared to Bali`s decorative style
• Less developed & virtually no tourists

+

   

  And Lombok will always be remembered as the place of my first solo motorbiking experience :)!  

Kuta of Lombok

 Main & the only road right by the beach. Supper relaxed & supper cool! Some surfers. Some surfboards.  

And many 7- 10 year old kids trying to sell you bracelets... 

...and magical mushrooms... with amazing sales pitches like " need money for education ...to buy books to go to school" 

Beach of Kuta 

Motorbike quest in search of the beach & some surf

Novotel in Kuta area. The fanciest place to stay in that area at the moment. 

One of the beaches..

Gurupuk village


Hidden surfers` mecca. 

We took a a boat to have a look at what it`s all about..

It takes some 10-15 minutes by boat to get to the waves.

And looks like it`s well worth it!

And then 10 minutes to other waves.  Also a perfect spot for swimming.

Back to Gurupuk village.

...and some more biking looking for beaches around Awang. Found this instead of beaches :) 

And had a splashing show!

Villages on the way.

What can be better that a juicy pineapple after a good swim?!:)

And around the sunset time followed surfers to discover a hidden paradise - cliff with amazing views to some surf & heavenly landscapes!

Gunung Rinjani volcano - Lombok`s highest peak

On the way to school

And we`re back to Gurupuk village surf spot at 7:30 am. Surf lesson.

Success! :)

Sade village - traditional Sassak village.

Miss, sarong? Please buy 1 sarong. No business today. Give you afternoon (morning/ evening) price ;) 

Next to Gili islands!

My childhood dream come true: BALI + some more of INDONESIA! :)

Pura Ulun Danau Bratan, BALI

2012 Chinese New Year escape destination was INDONESIA!!!

2 people :)

2 weeks

4 islands

7 accommodations (as usual no reservations) in 5 different locations on 3 islands

Cheapest room - 11 $

Most expensive room - 25 $

All in all millions of Indonesian rupiah spent ;)

Unforgettable adventures!

Here`s how it went... :)

View Indonesia trip 2012 in a larger map

TRIP ROUTE

Jan 13: Rizhao - Qingdao - Seoul - Bali

Jan 14: Bali: KUTA - UBUD

Jan 15: Bali: UBUD

Jan 16: Bali: UBUD - LOVINA by motorbike

Jan 17: Bali: LOVINA - UBUD by motorbike

Jan 18: Bali - Lombok island

Jan 19: Lombok island: KUTA & GURUPUK villages

Jan 20: Lombok island: KUTA & GURUPUK villages + SADE village

Jan 21: Lombok island - Gili Trawangan island

Jan 22: Gili Trawangan island

Jan 23: Gili Trawangan island + Gili Meno island by kayak

Jan 24: Gili Trawangan island - Bali

Jan 25: Bali: LEGIAN, ECHO BEACH

Jan 26: Bali - Seoul - Qingdao - Rizhao

Top 5 experiences:

The power of open sea.... stay tuned for more info on this in the next posts ;)

..we felt it all the way..

      Water activities: surfing, rafting, kayaking in the open sea

Kuta, Bali

surfers, Gurupuk village, Lombok island

White water rafting on Telaga Waja river, Bali

   

      Motorcycle trip around Bali discovering its unique & amazing culture!

Dance performance in Ubud, Bali

riding Central mountains in Bali

Gunung Batur, an active volcano, Bali

Temple ceremony, Bali

         Amazing coast of South of Lombok island around Kuta

Beach of Novotel in Kuta of Lombok island

Beach close to Kuta, Lombok island

             SPA fun :)

Fish doctors :)