The Lombok Guide Issue 110 by The Lombok Guide

The

Issue 110 | 5 - 19 March 2012

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( 0370 6594005 | www.thelombokguide.com

PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY IN LOMBOK, FOR LOMBOK

PERFECT NYEPI ESCAPES

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION WINNERS

AIRPORT TRANSPORT RETURNS TO NORMAL

EXILE ON GILI T!

Page 10 & 62

Page 18

Page 85

Getting to Lombok Attractions & Actitvities Lombok Map Special Feature Senggigi Senggigi Map What’s Hot Local News Local Scene Local News Mr Fixer Distribution Pasar Classifieds Discount Vouchers The Cities Cities Map Southwest Useful Contacts Kuta & The South The Gilis Getting to the Gilis Gili’s Feature Gili Bytes Gilis Map

Page 2 Page 4/8 Page 6 Page 10/62 Page 12 Page 14 Page 18 Page 20 Page 32 Page 38 Page 40 Page 48 Page 50/51 Page 51 Page 52-60 Page 54 Page 63-67

Page 15

LOMBOK – NYEPI ESCAPES!

Nyepi, the “day of silence”, will be celebrated in Bali on 23 March this year. For 24 hours, until 24 March, people in Bali are required to stay inside, and avoid all light and noise. Restaurants and bars are closed, the streets are quiet and there are no flights into or out of Bali airport. Our Balinese community in Lombok also celebrates Nyepi but, as we’re a multi-cultural island, we keep the lights on and life goes on as normal. Restaurants and bars are open, there’s music and dancing, and all the usual fun in the sun. Plus, we join with our Hindu friends for one of the best Ogoh Ogoh parades around! In Lombok, we celebrate the best of Nyepi with no down time - that’s why so many people from Bali escape to Lombok for Nyepi every year! To find out more, pick up a copy of The Lombok Guide from the locations listed on page 48 or visit www.thelombokguide.com and discover the magic of Lombok for yourself…

Batu Bolong by Iwan Haryanto

IN THIS ISSUE

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Tourism Information

GETTING TO LOMBOK

BALI TO LOMBOK BY AIR

It’s easy to get to Lombok from Bali – flight time is only 25 minutes. Buy tickets direct from the airline counters at the domestic airports, or contact local travel agents, in both Bali and Lombok. Garuda Airlines has direct flights between Lombok, Bali and Jakarta every day, Call Center : 0 804 1 807 807, Sales Office : 0370-642303,649999.www.garuda-indonesia.com Merpati Airlines flies direct between Bali and Lombok five times a day. Lombok, ph: 0370 621111, Airport: 0370 633637 / 087864253577. Bali, ph: 0361 420999. www.merpati.co.id Trans Nusa Air operates two flights between Bali and Lombok daily. Lombok, ph: 0370 624555. Bali, ph: 0361 8477395. www. transnusa.co.id Lion Air flies between Bali and Lombok with three flights daily. Lombok, Call Centre: 080 4177 8899. Bali, ph: 0361 765183. www. lionair.co.id

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Lombok International Airport (approx 40km south of the city of Mataram and 1 ½ hours drive from Senggigi ) has full Visa on Arrival facilities, with efficient and fast visa processing. Silk Air (a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) flies direct between Lombok and Singapore, three times per week. Lombok, ph: 0370 628254 / 628255. www.silkair.com Garuda Airlines flies between Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Lombok every day, with a short stop-over in Jakarta. Call Centre: 080 418 07807. Airport: 0370 649100. www.garuda-indonesia.com Merpati Airlines also has flights three times per week between Lombok and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (via Surabaya). Lombok, ph: 0370 621111. www.merpati.co.id DOMESTIC FLIGHTS European connections are easy via Jakarta (the capital city of Java) or Bali. Direct flights from Jakarta to Lombok are available every day and are usually timed to connect with European flights. Lombok is easily accessible from Jakarta, Bali, Jogyakarta and Surabaya and is an important connection for travel to the eastern islands, in particular Sumbawa, Komodo and Flores. Garuda Indonesia has direct flights between Lombok, Bali and Jakarta every day, Call Center : 0 804 1 807 807, Sales Office : 0370 642303, 649999. www.garuda-indonesia.com Lion Air has daily flights between Lombok, Jakarta and Surabaya. Ph: 0370 6627444 / 642180. www.lionair.co.id Merpati Airlines has flights available between Lombok, Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Sumbawa, Flores, Kupang and many other Indonesian destinations. Lombok, ph: 0370 621111. www.merpati.co.id Trans Nusa Air flies between Lombok, Sumbawa and Bima once a day. Lombok, ph: 0370 624555. www.transnusa.co.id

Batavia Air has flights between Lombok, Surabaya and Jakarta every day. Lombok, ph: 0370 648998. www.batavia-air.co.id

BALI TO LOMBOK BY SEA

Padang Bai Harbour (Bali) provides the sea link between mainland Bali and Lombok. Lembar Harbour (Lombok) is approx. 1 hour south of Senggigi, Lombok. Arrange your own transport and buy tickets direct from the harbours, or use a reputable tour company to provide a transfer service. Public Ferries depart every hour for the sea voyage between Padang Bai Harbour (Bali) and Lembar Harbour (Lombok). The crossing between the islands costs Rp 36 000 per person and takes approx. 4 to 5 hours. Lembar Harbour ph: 0370 681 209. Padang Bai Harbour ph: (0363) 41849 / 41840ww.peramatour.com

FAST BOATS There are now numerous “fast boat” services operating between Bali and Lombok. Most serve Gili Trawangan, but several call at both Gili T and Teluk Kodek on mainland Lombok. The crossing between the islands can be treacherous in bad weather, so choose a reliable operator and avoid companies that practice “over loading” in busy times. Gili Cat departs Padang Bai Harbour – Bali at 11.30am every day for Gili Trawangan & Lombok (Teluk Kodek) and has an excellent safety record. The return voyage departs Gili Trawangan at 9.00am. With a crossing time of just over 1 hour, Gili Cat provides the quickest sea crossing between Bali and Lombok of all the fast boat operators. Price includes free transfers between Padang Bai, Ubud, Kuta, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Sanur – Bali. Other locations are available with small additional surcharge. Ph: (0361) 271680. www.gilicat.com Gili Bookings.com is an online booking service offering easy reservations for the leading fast boat services between Bali and Lombok. Availability checks, schedules and e-ticketing, as well as accommodation options on both islands, are all available online at the site. www.gilibookings.com Island Getaway is a comfortable fast boat departing from Benoa Harbour, Bali (only 20 mins from Kuta) daily at 8am. The crossing takes around 2 hours to Gili Trawangan and Teluk Kodek on Lombok. Ph Bali: (0361) 751570 / 726 523; or Bali: 0819 1673 3051; Gili T: 0878 6432 2515. www.island-getaway.com Blue Water Express, operated by Blue Water Safaris, provides transfers between Bali and Gili Trawangan. BWS operates two boats, with 25 and 15 passenger capacities, departing from Serangan (near Benoa Harbour) at 8am and 10am, and from Padang Bai Harbour at 11.15am every day. Return transfer from Gili Trawangan is at 11am. Fares include air conditioned hotel transfers in Bali. Ph: (0361) 723 479. www.bwsbali.com

Tourism Information

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES 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.

BEACHES The whole island is surrounded by fantastic beaches, most of which are covered in clean white sand and 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 also has fine beaches, especially around Sekotong and Taun.

Kuta Lombok by Iwan Haryanto

Visit the small island of Gili Nanggu for rustic accommodation and great snorkelling just off shore or stay at Secret Island Resort on Gili Gede to explore the twelve other undeveloped islands in the southwest. The beaches around Kuta are breathtakingly beautiful. Visit Gerupuk for fantastic scenery, Kuta for long stretches of white sand and turquoise waters, or swim in the peaceful lagoon at Mawun.

DIVING

Tiu Kelep Waterfall by Simon Mammino

With so many beaches and small islands, Lombok offers a myriad of diving and snorkelling opportunities. The best known locations are around the Gili islands Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Snorkelling is easy from the shore and all three islands are well served by professional dive operators who offer full PADI certification courses, day and night dives to the many sites around the Gilis, as well as specialised courses and live-aboard adventures to exotic locations. For the more adventurous, there is superb diving around the islands off the southwest coast, as well as near Kuta on the south coast and the small uninhabited islands off the east coast.

SURFING Lombok is becoming a world-renown surfing destination amongst surf enthusiasts world-wide. Huge waves and challenging surf lure die-hards to BangkoBangko (also known as Desert Point) on the south-western tip of Lombok. Kuta, on the south coast, is surf-central and has a range of accommodations and services catering specially to surfers. Here you can hire a board, get board repairs and take surf lessons from the professionals. The waves at Gerupuk and Kuta offer a variety of challenges from beginners to sheer madness!

TREKKING Much of the island is still covered by natural rain forest and jungles, making Lombok ideal for ecotourism and adventure tours. There are a number of spectacular waterfalls on the island which provide lovely trekking opportunities, whether travelling independently or as part of a tour. Sendang Gile on the slope of Mt Rinjani in the north is an easily accessible waterfall in a stunning jungle setting and popular with visitors. Air Jeruk Manis, near Tetebatu is reached by walking through pretty rice fields and forests. 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.

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ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING Mt Rinjani, Lombok’s famous volcano, soars 3726 m above sea level and is the second highest volcano in Indonesia, attracting thousands of trekkers and climbers annually. 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. There are a number of caves, small waterfalls and hot springs located around the volcano. In 2004 Rinjani won the World Legacy Award and the volcano is recognised internationally as an important eco-tourism destination. 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 animist 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. Pura Narmada (or Narmada Temple), around 10 km east of Cakranegara in Narmada, was created circa 1805 as a replica of Gunung Rinjani and Segara Anak, the lake within Rinjani’s crater. The gardens at Narmada are beautifully maintained and surround the pools and lake. 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

Segara Anak Lake & Mt Baru Jari by Simon Mammino

Tourism Information

with distinctive “Lombok primitive” designs. You can also purchase handwoven sarongs and fabrics (ikat). 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 purchase traditionally woven, colourful fabrics. Masbagik, close to Pringgasela, is a small pottery village. Wander the streets and see the pottery being made in the small yards behind the simple homes here and purchase the wares for amazingly cheap prices. Sukarara is 5 km to the west of Praya, heading south towards Kuta. This is a 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 this village 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 is packed with 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, has become famous internationally and is exported throughout the world.

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Special Feature

PERFECT NYEPI ESCAPES!

Nyepi, the Hindu New Year, will be celebrated in Bali on 23 March this year with the traditional “day of silence”.

For 24 hours, until sunrise on 24 March, residents of the island are required to stay inside their homes, make as little noise and use as little lighting as possible, and avoid all work and entertainment. Balinese Hindus believe that by staying quiet and drawing little attention to themselves, it will appear as if the island is empty and the evil spirits will pass by without noticing them… an auspicious start to a New Year! While Lombok has a large Balinese Hindu community and Nyepi is an important local event, unlike in Bali, the island does not come to a halt for Nyepi. In Bali, the airport is closed, traffic stops for the day, most businesses are closed and all is quiet for 24 hours. To show respect for local customs, visitors to Bali are also required to stay within their hotel and avoid light and noise, which means many people look for a getaway during this time. Lombok, less than half an hour flight time away, is a favourite choice for both tourists and expatriates living in Bali. Many Lombok hotels are offering special deals and Nyepi packages, so now is the time to plan your “Nyepi Escape” to the magical island of Lombok. The choice of where to stay while in Lombok is huge, depending on personal tastes and budgets. Whether you prefer a laid back holiday in a luxury resort, or an adventurous trip with diving and water sports, or a cultural experience with quaint villages and natural scenery, Lombok can offer all this and more! Below is a brief summary of the main areas to stay in Lombok, with some recommendations for hotels, to make the choice easier: Senggigi is the main tourism resort on the west coast of Lombok and a good base for exploring the island, with a large selection of accommodation ranging from 5-star resorts to budget hotels and home-stays. There are a number of good restaurants and bars, as well as shops and other facilities, spread out along the main road. Some of the top accommodation in central Senggigi includes the private pool villas at Kebun Villas and Resort, with attractive rates at much less than comparable villas in Bali. Also in central Senggigi, Puri Bunga Beach Cottages has a range of options to suit all budgets, set on a terraced hillside with views over Senggigi Beach. Sendok Guest House, behind Sendok Restaurant on the main street, has nicely furnished and comfortable rooms in a pretty garden setting with a swimming pool, all at very affordable rates. Slightly south of Senggigi, but only ten minutes away, accommodations on The

Qunci Villas, Mangsit

Hill provide breath-taking views from the sanctuary of a private estate. The Puncak offers luxurious suites and receives rave reviews from guests, while The Studio is an affordable retreat for couples and small families. Closer to town, Batu Bolong is the beach resort at the southern gateway to Senggigi. The Chandi is a newly opened boutique resort with contemporary villas in a peaceful beachfront location. The Beach Club, also on the beachfront, has an excellent reputation, with well-priced upmarket cottages set around a swimming pool and a popular bar and café. Best dining choices include Café Alberto Italian restaurant on the beach in Batu Bolong, The Square Restaurant for fine dining and Asmara Restaurant for delicious Indonesian, German and international cuisine; both are on the main street in Senggigi. At the Art Markets, both De Quake and the newly opened Kafe Foto serve quality meals in comfortable surroundings with wonderful views over Senggigi beach. Mangsit is only five minutes’ drive north of Senggigi and boasts some of the best beaches and resorts in the area. For upmarket accommodation, try the stylish Qunci Villas, with two excellent restaurants, beachfront infinity pools, spa and a range of contemporary rooms and villas right on a lovely beach. The Holiday Resort is a large property located on its own beach with beautiful gardens and pool, and a good selection of rooms and facilities for couples and families. For budget accommodation, Windy Beach Resort is a peaceful escape with an un-crowded white sand beach, good facilities and a relaxed atmosphere. Kuta, South Lombok is only around 20 minutes’ drive south of the newly opened Lombok International Airport and has

some of the most stunning beaches on the island. Famous for surfing and awesome scenery, the beaches have blindingly white sand and are largely deserted. Kuta itself is a small, laid back town with simple restaurants and lots of budget accommodation catering mainly to the surfing crowd who flock to the area. The Novotel Lombok is a stunning resort on the pristine beach at Mandalika, with wonderful architecture and first class facilities, including two excellent restaurants. To the east of Kuta, Bumbangku Beach Cottages near the famous surfing spot at Gerupuk, offer budget cottages and comfortable deluxe rooms right on the shores of a glorious sweeping bay. Dine on fresh seafood in the funky bamboo restaurant and play Robinson Crusoe! Further to the east, Heaven on the Planet and Ocean Heaven offer the most secluded escapes, with rooms perched on the cliff at Tanjung Aan overlooking the Indian Ocean, and on the private beach below. Swim, snorkel, surf and relax at the Spa and wellness centre. To the west of Kuta, the long white sand beach of Selong Belanak is an idyllic escape, with Sempiak Villas offering luxurious villas and outstanding service for the lucky few who secure a booking here. Even if you can’t get a room for the night, Laut Biru Café on the beachfront is worth a day trip for the delicious snacks and meals prepared from fresh local ingredients by the creative kitchen team. The Southwest Islands, also known as the Secret Islands, are another option for those looking to really get away from it all. The beautiful natural coastline all around the Sekotong region is filled with turquoise beaches, hidden bays and mainly deserted small islands just offshore. Continued on Page 62

Tourism Information

SENGGIGI WEST COAST RESORT 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.

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.

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

Senggigi Bay by Simon Mammino

About 2 km north of central Senggigi is Kerandangan Valley, with a popular beach nearby and some small boutique hotels, such as Dream Estate, Puri Mas Spa Resort and Villa Campi Sorga, situated in a pretty valley.

Kerandangan Beach

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. 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 Map

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18 We were delighted with the response to The Lombok Guide 2012 Photography Competition and in awe of the beautiful images of Lombok that we received, as well as the talent of Lombok’s photographers. The Lombok Guide held the photography competition from January until 20 February 2012, inviting all photographers in Lombok to submit entries in three categories: Culture, Landscapes and People. After judging the many beautiful entries we received, we are pleased to announce the following winners in each category: Culture (Sasak Culture and Traditions) 1st Prize: “Adat Nikah” by Iwan Marindra 2nd Prize: “Peresean Sesaot” by Ambara Jaya 3rd Prize: “Sasak Bride” by M Hariadi Mahsyar Landscapes (Beautiful Places in Lombok) 1st Prize: “Selong Belanak” by M Hariadi Mahsyar 2nd Prize: “The Beauty of Rinjani Landscape” by Ghani 3rd Prize: “Batu Bolong” by Iwan Haryanto People (The People, Character and Faces of our Island) 1st Prize: “Fisherman at Malimbu” by Iwan Haryanto 2nd Prize: “Anak Nelayan” by M Hariadi Mahsyar 3rd Prize: “Kids Screaming at Waterboom” by Jason and Anne Kelly The photos will be used to grace the pages of this year’s The Lombok Guide 2012 International Magazine when we “Take Lombok to the World” in April 2012 and in future The Lombok Guide publications. We’ll also publish the winning images and photos from our awards presentation in our next issue. The dispute between airport taxi drivers and the DAMRI bus operated by the Department of Transport is over at last, with all transport services at Lombok International Airport now operating normally.

What’s Hot! Taxi drivers licensed to operate out of the airport stopped work and have staged a series of demonstrations over the past few weeks, demanding an end to the DAMRI bus service – saying that the public bus transfer was costing them money in lost fares, with less passengers travelling from the airport by taxi. An agreement to end the dispute was hammered out between representatives of the respective taxi companies, the Department of Transport, DAMRI reps and airport authorities on 11 February, 2012. The seven point agreement includes a promise from all parties to be committed to maintaining the conduciveness of the airport and not to engage in conduct that would prejudice the interests of public. DAMRI is to continue operating its passenger service but has reduced the number of buses it operates from eight units to six. The agreement also calls for DAMRI to replace the 40-seat buses with smaller 25-seat buses, no later than April 2012. Hopefully, public demand will help overturn this latest decision, as the DAMRI bus provides an excellent service from Lombok International Airport to Mataram and Senggigi. For passengers wishing to use the DAMRI bus service, look for the large bus painted with the DAMRI and “Visit Lombok Sumbawa 2012” logos parked on the right hand side directly after you exit the airport terminal. Bus departures are timed to coincide with arriving flights and travel to Senggigi via the city of Mataram, making several stops along the way. Fares to Mataram are Rp 15 000 p/p and to Senggigi, Rp 25 000 p/p. From Senggigi to the airport, buses leave regularly during the day from outside the Galleria shops on the main street (between Senggigi Abadi Supermarket and Asmara Restaurant). Check times with the driver the day before you depart and ensure that you allow around 2 hours travelling time and one hour check-in for domestic flights.

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Jl. Raya Mangsit, Senggigi, Lombok | Phone: +62 370 693800, Fax: +62 370 693802 Email: stay@quncivillas.com | Website: www.quncivillas.com

Local News

THE FUTURE OF SELAPARANG STILL UNCLEAR

The fate of Selaparang Airport, Lombok’s old airport which was closed on 30 September 2011 when the new Lombok International Airport commenced operating on 1 October, remains unclear. Currently a signed “Memorandum of Understanding” exists between the airport authority, PT Angkasa Pura (AP), and gold mining investment company, PT Merukh Enterprises, to use the airport for aircraft repair and maintenance.

Another area of the airport has been approved for flight school activities by the Lombok Institute of Flying Technology (LIFT). However, local parliament members are arguing that the agreement between Angkasa Pura and Merukh Enterprises is not legal and have called on NTB Governor, M Zainul Majdi, to make new decisions on how the former airport should be used. There is a push amongst Mataram politicians for the 68 hectares of land occupied by the airport to be returned to the city for future development. Many are also complaining about the lack of maintenance carried out at the airport and the shabby appearance of the buildings and gardens. Since its closure, Selaparang Airport has fallen into a state of neglect with local people using the grounds for playing football and there are rumours that the old runway has now become a local racing track for motorcycles. Some farmers are even grazing their cows on the grounds.

AIR AUSTRALIA GROUNDED

Air Australia, formerly operating as Strategic Airlines, have grounded their entire fleet of airplanes, leaving an estimated 4,000 passengers stranded in destinations from Hawaii to Bali and Phuket.

The grounding of the airline occured when aircraft at various international destinations were reportedly refused refuelling by airport operators. Air Australia subsequently posted an announcement on its website declaring that it has entered into a state of voluntary administration. The company has appointed John Park and Mark Korda of KordaMentha as voluntary administrators. Virgin Australia, JetStar and Qantas assisted Air Australia passengers stranded by the grounding with special fares to enable them to return home. Air Australia flew domestic routes within Australia and internationally to Bali, Honolulu and Phuket.

FUEL PRICES TO INCREASE

Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, has warned that fuel prices are set to increase but, to his credit, he has also apologized in advance. Quoted by Kompas.com, Wacik said, “Apologies to the people of Indonesia because the price of fuel will increase.” The Minister’s apology was made to a group of reporters while Wacik was accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a session to brief and instruct Indonesian diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 23 February, 2012. Wacik told the press that the government is still in the process of calculating the size of the hike in fuel prices. Plans to increase fuel costs, however, may be hampered by Section 7 of the 2012 Law on the State Budget, which forbids increases in fuel costs. In theory, before any increase in fuel costs can take place the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Executive Branch must revoke Section 7 to clear the way for price increases. Separately, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, Djoko Suyanto,

said that protests and demonstrations by those opposed to the government’s plans to increase fuel costs are not forbidden. “Protests are allowed; what’s important is that any protests be non-violent; as long as protests are proportional, do no damage and do not disturb public order,” explained Djoko. Both Wacik and Djoko offered assurances that the government will provide compensations to the public directly affected by any increase in fuel costs. President Yudhoyono has repeatedly underlined that the decision to increase the subsidised price for fuel cannot be separated from the current world economic crisis. In the midst of the ongoing economic disruption in the Euro zone, there is also rising political tension in the Middle East involving Iran, the U.S. and Europe. The decision by Iran to halt oil sales to all European nations has resulted in an increase in global fuel prices. “The price of our crude oil increased quickly over the past few weeks. This has had an extraordinary effect on the

economies of many countries, including Indonesia,” explained the Indonesian President as he opened a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 22 February, 2012. On Wednesday, the price of crude oil in Singapore for delivery in April hit US$106 per barrel. At the same time, the price of crude (ICP) reached US$110 in Indonesia; a figure well above the assumed cost of US$90 per barrel contained in State Budget (APBN) for 2012. The President admitted that the increase in crude oil prices has delivered a significant blow to the Indonesian economy. Faced with the certainty of an increase in Indonesian fuel prices, the President said he will continue to urge vehicles be converted to liquefied gas consumption. The government had earlier announced that subsidies on fuel would end on 1 April, 2012. The three options before the Government include increasing prices of subsidised fuel at the pumps, converting use from gasoline to natural gas, and compelling private vehicles to only use non-subsidised Pertamax fuel, which costs around double the price of subsidised fuel.

Living in Style * Own Private Pool * Huge Bath Room

* Private Villas

* Comfortable Bed

* Bamboo Restaurant

* Spacious Dining

* Garden Lounge Café

& Living Room

* Billiard Bar

* Lush Surroundings

Jln. Raya Senggigi Km. 8, Lombok, Indonesia | Telp: +62 370 692 999 | Fax: +62 370 692 888 Email: booking@mannavillas.com | Website: www.mannavillas.com

Live Music! Great Food! Good Times! Friday - ‘Ary Juliyant and Friends’ from 7.30 pm in the front garden

Free Fast

Available

Jl. Raya (Main Street) Senggigi, Lombok 0370 693619 restaurant@asmara-group.com

www.asmara-group.com

Windy Beach Resort Mangsit, Senggigi, Lombok

“Next to Nature”

Phone: 0370 693191 | Fax: 0370 693193 Email: reservations@windybeach.com | Web: www.windybeach.com

SENDOK

GUEST HOUSE, BAR & RESTAURANT

For a Memorable Stay in Lombok

NYEPI SIMPLE PACKAGE

Rp 800,000 net for 2 persons (3D/2N) Benefits: - Stay at Junior Standard for 2 persons - Continental Breakfast for 2 persons - Welcome drinks upon arrival - 1 x Set Lunch Menu for 2 persons - 1 X Set Dinner Menu for 2 persons - Shopping Voucher at Delasan khas oleh-oleh Lombok - Special simple price for extension night Rp 200,000/night

NYEPI DEAL PACKAGE

Rp 1,000,000 net for 2 persons (3D/2N) Benefits : - Stay at Standard room for 2 persons - Continental Breakfast for 2 persons - Welcome drinks upon arrival - 1 X Set Lunch Deal Package for 2 persons - 1 X Set Dinner Deal Package for 2 persons - Shopping Voucher at Delasan khas oleh-oleh Lombok - Special deal price for extension night Rp 300,000/night

NYEPI BEST PACKAGE

Rp 1,200,000 net for 2 persons (3D/2N) Benefits : - Stay at Superior room for 2 persons - American Breakfast for 2 persons - Welcome drink upon arrival - 1 X Set Lunch Best Package for 2 persons - 1 X Set Dinner Best Package for 2 persons - Shopping Voucher at Delasan khas oleh-oleh Lombok - Special best price for extension night Rp 400,000/night *Validity 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 24 March 2012

Jl Raya Senggigi Km 8, Senggigi, Lombok | P: 0370 693176 | F: 0370 692270 | E: sendokguesthouse@sendok-bali.com | W: www.sendokbali.com

IMMIGRATION SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR IMMIGRATION AND INVESTMENT SOLUTIONS Visas and Residency Permits Work and Business Visas Retirement Visas Police Permits Land Certificates Land and Building Permits Foreign Investment (PMA) Company Documents VOA Extensions up to 60 days For free information and advice contact:

DAMSIAH Office: 0370 692 253 / 0818 360 415 / 0858 5822 3619 perwiralombok@yahoo.com / damsiah@yahoo.com

Italian Beachfront Restaurant Delicious Fresh Seafood, Authentic Italian Dishes Oriental Food, Barbecue on the Beach Wood Oven Pizza, Homemade Pasta and Italian Bread

Jl. Raya Batu Bolong, Senggigi | Phone: 0370 693039 / 693313 info@cafealbertolombok.com | www.cafealbertolombok.com

Open-air Garden Lounge CafĂŠ An ideal place to relax with your loved ones and listen to your favourite tunes Live Band & Singers 7.00pm - 12.00 midnight

Try the food specialties at Bamboo Restaurant Enjoy the lush surroundings and relax at our breezy poolside terrace. 11am - 11Pm Jln. Raya Senggigi Km. 8, Lombok, Indonesia (Opposite The Sheraton) www.mannavillas.com

OPEN 10am until LATE

Delicious and Authentic Indonesian Food... At Local Prices! Soto Ayam, Soto Ceker, Rawon, Nasi Campur, Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng and all your Indonesian favourites! Fresh Juices, Es Buah, Soft Drinks and Beer. Delicious home-made cakes! Take Away Orders and Home Delivery Service. Catering, Birthday Cakes and Special Requests Welcome! Senggigi Plaza, near Achi Acha Boutique. Ph: 0878 6558 0330 / 619 4109

LOSMEN

Cover Yourself in

TJABE MERAH

Jl. Saleh Sungkar, Gg. Sawah, Ampenan, Lombok Ph: +62 370 636150 - Fax: +62 370 637635

THE RED PEPPER INN New season swimwear now in store! New designs every two weeks!

Clean and comfortable. Located in the middle of the”kampung”near the local Kebon Roek traditional market you immediately have a sense of the real Indonesian life. Ampenan is near Mataram and Cakra and only 7 kilometers away from Senggigi.

Room rates (smoking & non smoking) Standard room with fan – Rp 80 000 Standard room with TV & AC – Rp 130 000

OOK NEDERLANDS SPREKEND AMPENAN BEACH JALAN SALEH SUNGKAR KEBON ROEK MARKET

Gang Sawah

TO MATARAM

TO SENGGIGI

LOSMEN TJABE MERAH

www.hotel-lombok.nl

Jl. Raya Senggigi (next to Senggigi Jaya Supermarket) ciokolataclothing@ymail.com

www.ciokolata.com

Jl. Alpa Raya Blok IV No. 4 BTN Sandik - Lombok Mobile: 0812 3693 5382 / 0818 0363 6609 Phone (0370) 6657069 / Fax: (0370) 621627 Email: anantagl@yahoo.co.id

Puri Bunga Beach Cottages

Luxury and Tranquility Privately positioned on terraced slopes of beautiful flowers, overlooking Senggigi Bay and the Lombok Strait to Bali Standard, 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

Open 9am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday

Now available in Senggigi! Imported products, pastas, herbs, cooking oils, lentils, butter, cheeses incl fresh mozzarella, jams and sauces, Lindt chocolates, fresh milk, juices and daily needs

Jl Raya Senggigi (next to Rambo Petshop) | Phone: 0370 693177

Complete pet supplies in Senggigi! We carry a large selection of quality Dog and Cat Foods Pet Accessories (Collars, leads, cages, bowls, toys, etc) Pet Care Products (Vitamins, shampoos, flea and tick powders, coat conditioners and pet medicines) Hamster and fish foods and more!

Jl Raya Senggigi (30m from Asmara Restaurant)

Phone: 0370 693177

LUXURY RESORT & SPA LOMBOK

Job Vacancies Career Opportunities January 2012 We are an established 5-star luxury villa resort, located to the north of Senggigi. Our beautiful resort has 66 rooms, minimalist-design modern villas, Spa centre and meeting/conference rooms. Our sophisticated facilities are designed to satisfy our broad customer base from MICE, families and groups, couples, honeymooners and leisure travellers. Our 5-star Living Asia Luxury Resort & Spa is opening in March 2012 and we are currently seeking suitable applicants for the following positions: A. Level: * Minimum 2 years’ experience in the same position at 4 - 5 star hotel (preferably): 1. Head of Department | 2. Assistant Dept * Minimum 1 year experience working in a similar position at 4 - 5 stars hotel: 3. Coordinator | 4. Supervisor | 5. General Staff B. Departments 1. Front Office 2. Housekeeping 3. Engineering 4. Food & Beverage Service 5. Food & Beverage Product 6. Accounting (with Bachelor’s Degree in finance) 7. IT Dept 8. Sales & Marketing 9. Human Resources 10. Safety & Security Dept General Requirements for all Levels and Departments: • Good English language, both written & oral • Hotel Background preferable • Good Communication Skills • Good Performance Record • Able to work individually and as member of the team • Able to work under pressure and with flexible working hours • Honest and able to keep confidential matters • Good managerial skills, team player, analytical abilities and sense of initiative • Excellent organizational skills with an eye for details • Active and Dynamic person Dedicated and service-minded hoteliers, please email your detailed CV to: recruitment@livingasiaresorts.com Only suitable candidates will be contacted | All applications will be treated confidential

Living Asia ... Feeling Asia

LUXURY RESORT & SPA LOMBOK

JI Raya Senggigi - Lendang Luar - Lombok - INDONESIA E: info@livingasiaresorts.com W: www.livingasiaresorts.com

Local Scene

BBQ NIGHT @ THE CHANDI Special guests from overseas joined Mehdi, Melanie and friends at the newly opened beachfront restaurant at The Chandi in Batu Bolong for a delicious barbecue feast, including locally grown oysters, scallops and other specialties provided by Lombok seafood supplier, Bruno.

Exotic Style Fashion - Bags - Accessories

Treasure Chest Gift Shop

We Sell Nice Resort Wear, Hand Made Bags From Natural Materials and Many Kind of Accessories For Your Style at Tropical Island

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE Phone: 0370 693 358 | Art Market, Jl Raya Senggigi Lombok

Phone: 0370 692 183 Art Market, Jl Raya Senggigi Lombok

The Little Shop Unique Gifts with Reasonable Prices

We Sell: Wood Bowls, Shells, Accessories, Paintings, Statues, Bronze, Candles, Frames and Many More... For your gift choices to your family and friends when you back home from our island

Phone: 0370 693 647 | Art Market, Jl Raya Senggigi, Lombok

“De Quake is One of the Most Enjoyable Places to Eat in Senggigi” – The Lonely Planet 2011

Art Market Senggigi Lombok - +62 370 693694

www.dequake.com

BLUE MARLIN DIVE SENGGIGI ...DIVE THE DIFFERENCE!

Lombok’s premier PADI 5 Star Dive Centre Senggigi’s most time efficient daily return trips Professionally trained dive and snorkel staff We do not combine our Senggigi-based guests with our other dive centres providing a more personalised service for you We ensure small groups for your comfort and safety Daily transfers direct from your hotel Excellent Restaurant and Facilities to enjoy during your break on Gili T

PADI Dive Courses Daily Dive & Snorkel Trips - Gili Trawangan Transfers - Hotel Dive and Stay Packages

Please email and quote “Lionfish” for special discount offers

HOLIDAY RESORT & SENGGIGI BEACH HOTEL +62 370 693 719 www.bluemarlindive.com | senggigi@bluemarlindive.com

36 • Imported Meats, incl Harvey Beef • Home-baked Breads, Cakes & Pastries • Dairy – Yoghurt, Cheeses, Butter, Cream • Wide Range of Imported Products • Open Every Day for your Convenience!

Ask us about our Catering Services, Wedding & Birthday Cakes! Jl Palm Raja No 5, BTN Green Valley, Senggigi. Phone: 0370 693251

SINTA PEST CONTROL

Melayani Pengendalian: Nyamuk DB / Malaria / Cikungunya Lalat, Kecoa, Semut Hama Tikus Rayap Hama Gudang

Controlling: Dengue, Malaria & Cikungunya Mosquito Fly, Cockroach, Ants Rats Termites Spiders and Other Pests & Bugs

PT SINTA AGRO MANDIRI (Ijin Dikes No: 03/52.71/PC/VII/11) Jl. TGH Hambali No 8, Mataram, Lombok | Phone: 0370 631176 / 627991

The Studio Your ecofriendly home in Lombok The Hill - Bukit Batu Layar - Senggigi

phone: +62 81 933 172 356 email: thestudio.lombok@gmail.com website: http://the-studio-lombok.page4.me/

Annaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Giftshop

Looking for nice presents or home decorations?

We sell: Salt and Freshwater Pearls, Lombok Pottery, Hand Painted Modern Wooden Statues and Masks, Paintings, Handwoven Ikats, Sarongs and much more! Jl Raya Senggigi (next to Rambo Petshop) | P: 0817 5730 012 | E: lombok_annasgiftshop@hotmail.com

Local News

CALM RETURNS TO BALI PRISON

Local news reports say that Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison had regained a degree of normalcy on Saturday, 25 February 2012; after five days of rioting that saw the inmates take full control of the facility, sending guards and prison staff scampering for safety outside the prison walls. The Bali Post reports 37 members of the press were allowed a 10-minute tour of the prison on Saturday, but were forbidden from interviewing any of the inmates. The interior of the prison suffered significant damage during the siege. The administrative offices of the prison had been gutted by fire, including the office of the prison’s warden. Also destroyed by fire were the areas used for prison visits. Reporters say they saw heavy damage in other parts of the penitentiary. Most windows were broken. The buildings used to house prisoners, however, were left largely unscathed; suffering minimal damage. After five days of violent standoffs with police and prison officials, the visiting reporters witnessed the prisoners engaged in team-building games of physical challenge and group lectures. Prison officials said the contests and classes were being staged to restore “psychological calm” among the prisoners.

While some prisoners have been relocated to other jails in Bali and Java, many prisoners are resisting efforts to place them in new prisons, claiming such a move would require significant and unwanted adaptation to a new living environment. A special team comprised of representatives of the Bali Police, the Udayana Military Command and other stakeholders has been established to review security and management of Bali’s largest prison. Both the prison’s warden and head of security were dismissed from their jobs during the course of the riots. As a precautionary measure, 250 police personnel are still on stand-by outside the prison. At the height of the prison riot, 1,000 police were called to help quell the violence. With more than 1,000 inmates, Kerobokan Prison houses 300% more prisoners than the 300 for which it was originally designed. There are 60 foreign prisoners housed at the jail. Counted among the 60 prisoners are the 12 Australians known as “The Bali 12” – including two Australians on death row awaiting execution. The start of the melee is traced to an altercation between two prisoners and an ensuing knife battle that sent at least two Indonesian prisoners to hospital. No other injuries are reported among the prison inmates during the five day riot that ensued

The Jakarta Globe quotes a security official from the Justice Ministry, saying: “We are in control of the prison. The situation has returned to normal. Prisoners are following our orders. I can confirm that no prisoner escaped during the riots“.

Reporters making a quick tour of the prison on Saturday saw groups of prisoners cleaning soot from walls damaged by fires and removing trash and debris from the grounds. Another group of some 500 prisoners were in a main hall of the prison engaged in group songs and dance, part of a “trauma recovery program” organised by prison authorities. During the five days, police tried to storm the prison only to be driven back by angry prisoners wielding stones, Molotov cocktails and other weapons. Police were able to retake control of the prison on Friday. 14 foreign prisoners were briefly evacuated, only to be returned on the weekend to Kerobokan when they refused to serve their sentences in alternate jails. The overcrowded jail is also home to

125 female inmates and 11 Indonesian children. Meanwhile, Kompas.com reports that the regency of Badung in South Bali is calling for the relocation of the Kerobokan Prison to another area of the island, ideally not within their regency. Saying the continuing pattern of unrest at the over-crowded prison is intolerable, the Vice-Regent of Badung, I Ketut Sudikerta, added, “For a long time we have wanted to see the prison moved to another region.” Sukikerta said in addition to capacity issues the prison now stands too close to residential areas and villas used by foreigners staying on the island. The Director General of Prisons at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Sihabudin, admits that the Kerobokan prison is no longer viable for housing convicted criminals. At the same time, no easy solution is at hand. “It isn’t as easy to build a prison as it is to build a community health centre. There are various considerations including location, the local environment and security,” Sihabudin said.

FORBES RANKS BRUNEI AS FIFTH RICHEST NATION

According to the Asia News Network, FORBES has ranked Brunei Darussalam as the fifth richest country out of 182 nations worldwide, due to its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields; giving the Sultanate just over US $48,000 per capita. Brunei Darussalam’s economy has been dominated by the oil and gas industry for the past 80 years, and hydrocarbon resources account for over 90 per cent of its exports and more than half its GDP. Brunei currently has the second highest GDP per capita in the Southeast Asian region and is the fourth largest oil producer in the region and ninth largest exporter of LNG (liquefied natural gas) in the world. Information from the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) stated that the Sultanate has a “low tariff regime and no capital gains or personal income tax”. The Forbes report ranked Qatar as the wealthiest country in the world, also due to its oil prices and massive gas reserves. “Adjusted for purchasing power, Qatar booked an estimated GDP per capita of more than US $88,000 for 2010,” it reported. The country has the third largest reserve of natural gas in the world. “Qatar has lured multinational financial firms to the country, as well as satellite campuses of US universities,” stated the report. It added that the Qatar Government is also investing heavily in infrastructure, including a deep-water seaport, an airport and a railway network, “all with the eye to make the country a better host for businesses and the 2022 World Cup”.

Luxembourg is ranked second on the Forbes list, with a GDP of just over US $81,000. “The country of half a million people became a financial hub in the latter half of the 20th century, in part, thanks to strict banking secrecy laws that earned it the reputation of a tax haven,” stated the Forbes report. Singapore falls in third place with a GDP per capital of nearly US $56,700. Brunei’s neighbour has a thriving technology, manufacturing and finance hub, which has allowed it a space on the top three richest countries in the world. Norway was ranked the fourth richest country, also due to its petroleum, which accounts for nearly half of exports and is the main contributor to its GDP per capita of nearly US $52,000. Forbes also reported that the three poorest countries in the world are African nations: Burundi, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where their PPP-adjusted GDP per capita are US $400, US $386 and US $312, respectively.

Mr Fixer

Tongue-in-cheek answers to your personal and building problems QUESTION: I am a single male and the owner of a small holiday villa in sunny Senggigi. I have a small garden and I chose the location because of the many coconut trees in the area. My next door neighbour is also single and very nice. She smiles and waves every time she sees me. I’m sure she fancies me! She has many coconut trees in her garden. She also has 2 beautiful coconuts at the front. Just the other day, a coconut fell on my roof and smashed through the ceiling onto a glass topped table and nearly decapitated the cat. It caused a great deal of damage and several tiles had to be replaced. As the coconut came from my neighbour’s tree next door, who is responsible for the damage to my roof? MR FIXER: There are no prior rights laws in Indonesia and no rights regarding overhanging trees onto a neighbour’s property. The best you can do is consider it an act of nature and pay up. If the coconut tree was in existence before your property was built, then it’s “builder beware”, I’m afraid. If the coconut tree was planted after your villa was built and

you could prove malicious intent, you might have a case. This would be almost impossible to prove and would cost a fortune to institute a private prosecution. You might suggest your neighbour harvest the coconuts more regularly, so that the chances of another mishap would be reduced. The local villagers actually pay you to take the coconuts away!

MR FIXER: The correct height for a kitchen surface is 93cm. The correct height for a basin sink in the bathroom is 80cm. The correct height to the bottom of overhanging cupboards is 1.7m. Your kitchen sounds like an accident waiting to happen. As most accidents in the home happen in the kitchen, I suggest you move the cooker to the bedroom.

The other thing you could do is quite drastic and should only be done as a last resort, and that is to cut down the offending tree. To do this, you will need your neighbour to agree. Again, someone from the local village will be happy to do this for free as long as they can keep the wood. You might have to pay a small amount as a token of your appreciation. In Europe, you would probably need a court order and permission from the local council in triplicate before you could cut down a tree and, even then, you would have to pay a tree surgeon and his helper a small fortune to cut it down, plus he would charge you to take it away. If I were you, I would put on a clean shirt, go and visit your neighbour and admire her coconuts at the front. She might have other tropical delights to show you.

QUESTION: I have just read a survey issued by scientists for “Health Canada” suggesting that men should take a look at their beer consumption, considering the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. The theory is that drinking beer makes men turn into women. Do you think there is any validity to this outrageous claim? MR FIXER: To test the finding, we went to the Happy Café in the popular tourist area of Senggigi where we found men who were regular consumers of beer.

It was then observed that 100% of the men gained weight, talked excessively without making sense, became overly emotional, couldn’t drive, failed to think rationally, argued over nothing, and refused to QUESTION: I have just bought a cheap villa apologize when wrong. No further testing is planned. in the popular tourist area of Senggigi, but the kitchen seems to have been designed Got a question for Mr Fixer? He’s for a four foot midget. Everything is in the always got a quirky answer your wrong place! The gas stove is located personal building problems! Just underneath some wooden cupboards that email your problem to “Mr Fixer” at are too low and the only electrical socket is kitadesign@hotmail.com above the sink. What do you suggest I do?

For more information: Jalan Wisata Alam Kerandangan 0813 3868 8524 | 0813 3972 1541

PLOTS and VILLAS

Models available starting from IDR 525.000.000 Sqm Building

Sqm Ground

IDR Price from

Studio

200

525.000.000

Kerandangan

200

615.000.000

Wine

118

200

950.000.000

Dream + Pool

243

8 are

2.534.000.000

Heca + Pool

360

10 are 3.900.000.000

Model

*All prices are 10% tax included and subject to (currency) change

Models for rent starting from IDR 3.700.000 pw Model Studio Kerandangan Wine

Per Week IDR Per Month IDR

3 700 000 4 500 000 6 300 000

8 500 000 11 000 000 15 400 000

*All prices are 10% tax included and subject to (currency) change Including electricity, water, gas, daily towel change and cleaning.

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

Lombok’s Boutique Hotel [ The Lonely Planet: “Top Choice for Lombok” ] [ Cosmopolitan: “Lombok’s Hidden Beauty” ] [ Guide du Routard: “Le Reve!” ] Jl. Raya Mangsit, Senggigi, Lombok | Phone: +62 370 693 800, Fax: +62 370 693 802 Email: stay@quncivillas.com | Website: www.quncivillas.com

NOW OPEN IN SENGGIGI! MAMAS, NIKMAT, CATER PRODUCTS Sirloin, Tenderloin, Fillet Steaks Cold Cuts and Deli Meats Salami, Ham, Chicken and Turkey Sausages - Breakfast, Pork, Chicken, Beef, Herb and Mixed Dry Pasta and Sauces Gandari Purified Ice Cubes

Open 9am to 10pm every day

Jl Raya Senggigi, next to Sendok Bar & Restaurant | Ph: 0370 693 531

UD. GANDARI ICE SOLUTION

Pure refreshing ice cubes made from UV sterilised and purified spring water. Hygienically packaged for your convenience Supplying hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes & private villas

FREE DELIVERY EVERY DAY Jl Raya Senggigi, Duduk Garden No.6 Batu Bolong

www.gandari.com

Hotline: Hp: 081 836 8731 | Ph: 0370 619 4273 | Flexi: 0370 668 1958

Puri Mas Gallery The Essence of Tradition, Luxury & Style

Fine Arts and Collectibles From Around the Archipelago

AT PURI MAS BOUTIQUE RESORT

Just 5 minutes north of Senggigi Phone 693831 for free pick up and drop off service in Senggigi area Jl. Raya Mangsit Beach, Senggigi, Lombok NTB Indonesia | Tel: 0370 693831 | Fax: 0370 693023 info@purimas-lombok.com | www.purimas-lombok.com | Skype: purimasreservations

Swiss Bakery & Cafeteria • High Quality home roasted Arabica, Robusta and Luwak coffee beans • Coffee Machine Rental and Maintenance • Oven fresh, made to order bread, pastry & cookies • Bread Supplier for Hotels & Restaurants • Aircon * Library * Notebooks • Best Cappucino - No Foam = Money Back!

Oven fresh Baguettes every morning at 9:30am! TRY THE WORLD’S MOST EXCLUSIVE COFFEE!

Visit us at Senggigi Square Blok A/04. Ph: 0370 692085 / 0818365790 | Email: info@cafelombi.com

GILI AIR INLAND PLOT - 23 ARE (2,300m2) Ideal location with main thoroughfare access. Only 150m from a white sandy beach. Palm trees and sunset views. FREEHOLD IDR 50 million per are / USD 128,000 approx.

VALLEY ESTATE PLOT - KERANDANGAN 1,350m2 plot. Residential plot on an already established private estate. Gentle sloping hillside with palm trees and concrete road infrastructure. FREEHOLD USD 52,000

2 SEPARATE BUILDINGS FOR RENOVATION SEA AND VALLEY VIEW VILLA 2 bedrooms with en-suites. Walk in wardrobe. Pool, 56m2 of build on 483m2 plot. Water and electricity connected. garage. 1.500m2 plot. Still under construction. Choose your Immediate asphalt road access. Kerandangan location. own taps and tiles. FREEHOLD USD 245,000 (approx) Only 5 mins to the beach. ONLY USD 42,000 approx

CHARMING 2 BEDROOMS (1 EN-SUITE) With separate guest WC and H/W shower. French doors to rear patio. European standard kitchen. Open plan house. Furniture included. Gated car space. FREEHOLD USD 38,000

GATED COMMUNITY VILLA COMPLEX OF 3 VILLAS 6 Double bedrooms with en-suites, H/W showers. 3 fitted kitchens. 5 A/C’s. Salt chlorine pool. Spiral staircase. 313m2 build on 2,400m2 plot. USD 389,000

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

www.lombokpropertyandvillas.com

PALM BEACH... Magnificent Land and Property for Sale

Palm Beach Garden Residential Plots - Palm Beach Garden is situated 5km north of Senggigi, in Klui - a quiet valley surrounded by hills and open to the nearby sea. Astonishing panoramas, natural beauty and always a nice cool breeze from the many palm trees. Easy access from main road near Jeeva Klui. Shared services and facilities such as garden maintenance, cleaning, laundry, catering, security and staff housing are available. Palm Beach Hill - A new residential development next to Palm Beach Garden! Located on the hills above Klui Valley with wonderful views over the valley and Klui Beach, and across the ocean to Mt. Agung on Bali. Level plots with access roads and electricity connections are ready to build.

Everything you need to start building your own dream villa! But hurry.... five lots have already been sold!

Villa Senja Ayu Perched on the hilltop, this luxurious and modern designed villa consists of 3 bedrooms built to the highest standards, set around a with large infinity swimming pool. Stunning panoramic views across the sea and amazing sunsets! Must be seen!

Villa Gajah Mujur This superb quality villa is surrounded by 1549 sqm of peaceful tropical gardens and privacy walls. The main residence has a total floor area of 260 sqm with a huge living room, dining area, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a lobby, an open garage and large swimming pool.The villa also has a separate 55sqm guest house. A comfortable and secluded villa in a lush valley setting.

Office: Gallery Intan Laguna No 3, Jl Raya Senggigi, Lombok NTB Indonesia | www.lombokrealestate.com Phone: +62 370 693 796 | Hp: 0818 544 731 / 0813 5341 4121 | Fax: + 62 370 693 872

Distribution

The Lombok Guide is published by CV Kita Design

EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO ADVERTISE IN THE LOMBOK GUIDE Pone:

0370 659 4005 Email:

kitadesign@hotmail.com

DEADLINE NEXT EDITION 12 NOON 9 March

3500 COPIES DISTRIBUTED

EVERY TWO WEEKS AT THESE LOCATIONS:

Garuda Indonesia Airlines: Departure counters in LOMBOK, BALI & JAKARTA. BALI: Arena Sport Bar & Rest, Asia Collection Tour, Asian Trails Tour, Balcony Rest, BIMC, Blue Water Express, Bounty Cruises, Caesar Rest & Bar, Café Canggu, Café Marzano, Café Seminyak, Café Smorgas, Canggu Club, D Corner Bar & Rest, Double Dutch, Eco Beach Rest, Exotissimo Travel Indonesia, Gili Shop Poppies 1 & 2, Gili Cat Bali, Gloria Jeans Coffee 1 & 2, Go Vacation Tour, Golden Kris Tour, Grocer & Grind, Havana Club Bar & Rest, Jimmy Sport Bar & Rest, Junction Bar & Rest, Khaima Rest & Bar, Made’s Warung Kuta & Seminyak, Maya Coffee & Smothie Bar, Ocha Warung, Pacific World, Pacto Tour, Piduh Rest, Poppies bar & Rest, Red Carpet, Sate Bali Rest Echo Beach, Sendok Bar & Rest Legian, Sol Beach Rest, SOS, Sticky Fingers Italiana, The Cameng Bar & Rest, The Wicked Parrot, Ultimo Bar & Rest, Un’s Rest, Vila Lumbung, Warung Bale Bali, Warung Bonita, Warung Eropa, Warung Indonesia, Warung Italia, Warung Kolega, Warung Made Bar & Rest, Warung Max, Warung Pregina, Warung Sulawesi, White Sands Rest & Bar, Yut’s Place Rest. MATARAM: Blue Bird Taxi, Citramulia Travel, Depo Jaya Bangunan, Harapan Keluarga Hospital, Losmen Tjabe Merah, Mataram Mall (Delicio Café, Hero Supermarket, Joli Sourire Dental Care, McDonalds, Oceanic Café), Melissa Bakery, Pavilion Seafood & BBQ, Permata Hati Hospital, Redwood Café, Sekolah Nusa Alam, Sinta Pest Control, The Berugaq, Toko Susana, XO Suki Rest. SOUTH LOMBOK: Bumbangku Beach Cottages, Dive Zone, Novotel, Pearl Beach Resort, Secret Island Resort. SENGGIGI: Anna’s Giftshop, Art Market (The Little Shop, Exotic Style, Treasure Chest), Asmara Restaurant, Blue Marlin Senggigi, Café Alberto, Cafe Foto, Cafe Lombi, Ciokolata, De Quake, Deli Senggigi, Delasan Gift Shop, Dream Divers, Dream Estate, Elements, Holiday Resort, Kebun Villas, Lombok Property & Villas, Lombok Real Estate, Mawar Jewellery, Meat Mart, Puri Bunga Cottages, Puri Mas Boutique Resort, Qunci Villas, Rambo Petshop, Royal Spa, Sendok Bar & Restaurant, Senggigi Abadi Supermarket, Senggigi Jaya Supermarket, Square Restaurant, Sundancer, Temptations, The Beach Club, The Chandi, The Office, The Pub, The Puncak, Warung Kangen, Windy Beach Resort. GILI T: Blue Marlin Dive, Blue Water Cruises, Coco’s, Coconut Dream, Desa Dunia Beda, Gili T Resort, Gili Villas, Island Getaway, Horizontal, ko-ko-mo Resort, Pesona Resort, Hotel Vila Ombak, Manta Dive, Ombak Sunset, Queen Villas & Spa, Scallywags, The Beach House, The Trawangan, Tir Na Nog. GILI MENO: Blue Marlin Dive, Tropical Hideaways Resort. GILI AIR: Karang Divers. SUMBAWA: Mini Mart, Newmont Mining Site. Special thanks to our contributors: Barbara Lucas Cahyadi, Dian Cahyadi, Iwan Haryanto, Iain Kent, Nanang Wirawan, Simon Mammino, www.balidiscovery.com. Printed by PT. Temprina Media Grafika, Denpasar, Bali Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Nothing in The Lombok Guide can be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher.

Pasar Classifieds

PASAR CLASSIFIEDS

Private Villa Pantai Kerandangan (located between Puri Saron and Hotel Pacific). They are looking for a hotel-trained housekeeper with basic English skills, and able to cook simple breakfast.

PT MULTIGRAHA KELOLAVALAS Authorized Money Changer Pedagang Valuta Asing Berijin

The Best Rate in Lombok !

Contact: 0819 3317 2356

Main Office: Jl Raya Senggigi, next to Taman Rest. Ph: 0370 693 680 Branch Office: Toko Mas Melati, Jl. Pejanggik No. 1-3, Cakranegara. Ph: 0370 631 567 / 633 748 Mobile: 0811 391 269 | Flexi: 0370 660 1269

Bumbangku Beach Cottages

GOLF PLAYERS WANTED

Required a good English speaking and writing person for: 1. Administration Clerk 2. Sales Executive Please send your CV to info@bumbangkulombok.com or call 08123 757 070

Home Stay For Sale in Sumbawa - Bima Home Stay with 7 guestrooms, restaurant and 3 bedroom house. (big house). All new build in 2010-2011 and fully opperational. PMA company. Price USD 250.000 (negotiable)

Phone: 0813 3963 7753 | Email: info@bimamantika.com

SUPERBIKE FOR SALE Honda CBR 1100XX Super Blackbird 2003 Model Fuel Injected Contact:

0878 6529 3838 / +601 2870 2845

GILI TRAWANGAN LAND FOR SALE 48 are Beachfront at Paradise Beach (South) Great sunset views Rp 200 million per are Ph Made: 0812 382 6262

SENGGIGI HACKERS AMATEUR GOLF SOCIETY (SHAGS) Friendly, non-profit golf Games every week â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monthly Cup New members, tourists and casual games Discount rates! ALL WELCOME!

Ph: 0813 398 11140 (Jim) | www.golf-lombok.com

HARDTOP FOR SALE

Contact: 0878 6529 3838 / +601 2870 2845

Toyota Hardtop Rebuild in 2008 Aircon,power steering Suspension lift kit Body lift kit Disc brake front Audio system Wheel spacer for tires Tires 36 x 12.5 x 16 Simex extreme trekker Hi-lift jack

FOR RENT

Kuta Beach: 9 are land inlcude bar & restaurant looking for long term lease.

LAND FOR SALE

KUTA: 2 are, 15 are & 90 are

Call owner 0878 6460 0950

LAND FOR SALE

Located in Setangi, 1,8 hectare, road and electricity access available, 5 minutes to the beach. Freehold certificate.

Contact 081 836 0415

Pasar Classifieds & Discount Vouchers

PASAR CLASSIFIEDS CV SUGESTI

CLASSIFIED AD

Located in Gerupuk village, south Lombok are currently looking to hire an experienced and highly motivated national hotel manager for surfcampindonesia.com

Box (9,5cm x 4,9cm) only Rp 50 000 / issue

You are fully responsible for the operation of our hotel including management of staff (about 10 people), salaries and recruitment.

Email: kitadesign@hotmail.com

Phone: 0370 6599 4005

Working hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600. Commuting from Mataram or Praya is recommended.

Meno Mojo Beach Resort

Requirements: Fluent in English, experience within team building and hotel management.

is under construction and we invite applicants for the position of Marketing Manager.

Duration: Trail period for 3 months to start with

Resort / tourism experience is essential. Please forward your c.v. to marketing@gilimenomojo.com

Surfcamp Lombok, end of the road, Gerupuk village Email: info@surfcampindo.com Phone: 081337564513

DISCOUNT VOUCHERS Got a special offer or a bargain for our readers? Discount vouchers only cost Rp 50 000 per issue. Phone: 0370 659 4005 or email kitadesign@hotmail.com

Present this coupon or quote “Lionfish” for either:

Please book in advance and present this voucher upon registration Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers

Gili Trawangan: +62 (0) 370 614 36 49 info@manta-dive.com | www.manta-dive.com

Valid 5 - 19 March 2012

Real Fish ‘n’ Chips, Fresh Seafood, Salads and much more... Bring this voucher in for

10% Discount on all meals

Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner Gili Trawangan, Lombok. Ph: (0370) 642 217 Email: wrapasnapper@dps.centrin.net.id

Valid 9 - 19 March 2012

10% Discount on all diving activities

10% Discount on Snorkel Tours 5% Discount on PADI Dive Courses. Please book in advance by phone: (0370) 693 719 or visit our offices at the Holiday Resort / Senggigi Beach Hotel

* Discount applies to a min 2 people – Not in addition to any other promotions or discount offers

SECRET ISLAND RESORT Gili Gede, Southwest Lombok Valid 9 - 19 March 2012

Valid 9 - 19 March 2012

10% Discount on Fun Dives

Rp 200 000 / night Get 2nd night for Rp 150 000 (Low season discount!) Plus free use of double kayaks (for minimum 3 day stay) On presentation of this coupon

Phone: 0818 0376 2001 secretislandresort@xl.blackberry.com | www.secretislandresort.com

The Cities

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 at low prices. There are numerous pearl shops in Ampenan selling unset pearls and pearl jewellery at cheap prices. These are genuine pearls from the pearl farms on Lombok and Sumbawa and, if you bargain the price, are a good deal. Gold shops are also popular in both Ampenan and Cakra, with 24 kt gold being sold by the gram, regardless of the design. For cheap and interesting food choices, explore the many restaurants, warungs 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 old 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. This area becomes a market at night, filled with warungs and kaki lima (food carts) for cheap, tasty food and local flavour. With its numerous shops, cheap hotels, dusty roads and plentiful cidomo (horse carts), gold and pearl shops, and its Arab quarter, Ampenan is a colourful town to explore. Kebun Roek, just near the traffic lights in Ampenan on the road from the airport, is the site of the local 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

THE CITIES

Mataram Mall come in. A stroll through the markets is a pungent and enlightening experience! Mataram, about 3 km to the east of Ampenan, is the administrative centre for Lombok and Sumbawa (NTB 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. Mataram Mall, on the main street in Mataram, has an upstairs food court for cheap local meals. Lombok’s only real mall, there are four floors of shops and stalls selling a vast selection of goods. Particularly good buys are shoes, jeans, and copy brand bags and belts. There is a department store, several electronics stores, and shops selling clothing, CD’s and DVD’s. Hero Supermarket, on the ground floor, is useful for some western goods, food and toiletries. The Chemist next door has imported toiletries, supplements and medicines. McDonalds and KFC have outlets on the ground floor.

Pura Meru (Meru Temple)

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 tour with gold

shops, sporting goods, clothing stores and very good fabric stores selling imported silks, laces and cottons, to name a few. Many of Lombok’s weaving and basket making industries are located near Cakra; turn left at the central traffic lights and look for the market on the right near the bridge. The baskets in particular are sold in Bali at many times the local price. The next large town east of Cakra, Sweta, has a huge market every day near the Bertais bus terminal, with all kinds of goods on sale, from foodstuffs to clothing, exotic birds, handicrafts and more. 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. 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 a large artificial lake here and is used as a place for meetings and to relax. Today the palace gardens are a playground for children. The temple sits behind the sedate water gardens and is open daily; admission is by donation.

The Cities

Redwood Café & Lounge Upstairs (2nd floor) at Melissa Bakery

And No

It’s Coffee!!! And delicious meals, cakes, snacks, desserts and drinks. Coffee Breaks, Meetings, Lunch with Friends, All day dining!

Fresh Brewed Coffee

1st Floor

Live Music 7pm: Friday, Saturday & Sunday Melissa Bakery & Redwood Café Jl Pejanggik Mataram Mall

SMUK Kesuma

Jl Pejanggik, Cakranegara, Lombok | 0370 6886581, 628446

The Cities

International Standards at Local Prices

Stop by The Berugaq to purchase a coffee lovers gift pack or beautiful artwork by local artists, or simply to enjoy one of our delicious specialty coffees and home-made cakes!

Jl. Adi Sucipto, KP Griya Ellen Indah | Telp: 62-0370-616-2667

Open urday: Monday - Sat 8am – 8pm Sunday: 8am – 7pm

Domestic Fares | International Tickets & Packages Visa Services | Tours | Direct Agent to Airlines (no middleman!) Express Check-in Services | Fast, Modern & Professional We speak English!

LOMBOK: Jl. Pejanggik No 198 Cakra (Past the Mall, Opposite “fruit street”) P: 0370 633469, 633888 F: 0370 633453 E: citramulia@indo.net.id

WEST SUMBAWA: Jl. Teluk Balas RT 5 RW 6 Ds Pasir Putih, Maluk, Jereweh P: 0372 635535 HP: 08113943789 E: citramulia_swq@yahoo.com

The Cities

MRI 1,5 TESLA

Specialists: Childrens (Pediatric) Specialist Maternity Specialist Internist Nerve Specialist Ear, Nose & Troat Specialist Eye Specialist Skin Specialist Heart & Vein Specialist General Surgery Specialist Nerve Surgery Specialist Orthopedic Specialist Urology Specialist Lung Specialist Gynaecologist Psychiatrist Nutritionist Dental Clinic

A hospital with modern technology and high quality facilities... NOW OPEN IN LOMBOK!

CT SCAN TECHNOLOGY

24 HOURS

HI-END 128 SLICES

Medical Facilities: CT Scan (128 Slices) MRI 1,5 Tesla Fluoroscopy USG / Ultrasound Radiology Physiotherapy Medical Check Up

Ambulance, Emergency Room, Pharmacy, Laboratorium, Radiology

General Facilities: CafĂŠ Canteen Mosque ATM WiFi Internet Spacious Parking Area

Jl. Ahmad Yani No. 9 Selagalas, Lombok (2km north of the Sweta traffic lights) Telephone: (0370) 670 000 Fax: (0370) 673 666 Email: info@harapankeluarga.co.id Facebook: harapan.keluarga@live.com Website: www.harapankeluarga.co.id

The Cities

PERFECT NYEPI ESCAPES! snorkelling, and tranquil clean beaches make this a good choice for families and couples.

Tropical Hideaways opened here last year has some very nice upmarket rooms and a swimming pool, in a peaceful setting just five minutes’ walk away from the fabulous beaches. Gili Trawangan is the most popular of the three islands, and for good reason! The range of accommodation is amazing – from simple budget bungalows to stylish villas, there is something to suit everyone here. The restaurants line the beachfront, again ranging from simple warungs to quality international restaurants, as well as exotic offerings such as Ryoshi Japanese, Tir Na Nog Irish Bar, and Pesona authentic Indian restaurant and Sheesha lounge.

Pearl Beach Resort, Gili Asahan

Gili Gede is the largest southwest Gili and has a number of small budget accommodations, including Secret Island Resort which has a range of funky backpacker and budget rooms, and a unique bungalow built on a pier over the reef. Snorkelling, island hopping and fishing trips can also be arranged by the resort. Slightly further south, Pearl Beach Resort on Gili Asahan has six comfortable cottages just steps away from a delightful white sand beach and fantastic snorkelling. Walk around this beautiful undeveloped island, swim, snorkel, dive and island hop to other nearby paradises! The Gili Islands need no introduction, being a favourite with Europeans and the expat community in Bali and Java. These three idyllic islands each have their own style to suit the personal tastes of all travellers. Gili Air, closest to the mainland, has great diving and snorkelling, good restaurants and a variety of accommodation catering to all budgets. Try the Gili Air Hotel on the north of the island, with a range of rooms and a beachfront pool, or the lovely Scallywags Mango Retreat set in a shady location slightly inland, with comfortable air conditioned rooms and a plunge pool. Scallywags Organic Beach Club is a great place to hang out and has a varied and delicious menu, as well as a superb bar, right on a lovely swimming beach. Gili Meno, the central island, is the quietest of the three Gilis and perfect for a Robinson-Crusoe style escape. Small restaurants, fresh seafood, good diving and

In addition to the island’s only authentic Indian restaurant, Pesona Resort has a range of comfortable rooms and spacious suites with sumptuous decorations and a resort swimming pool near the restaurant. Right in “Sentral” and only moments away from the beaches, Gili Villas offers upmarket villas with private swimming pool and all mod cons, including WiFi and I-pod docks; perfect for couples and small families. Nearby, Gili T Resort (next to the jetty) has a beachfront restaurant and bar, with well-priced air conditioned rooms hidden away in a peaceful setting around the swimming pool. Slightly further south, The Beach House is always popular, with a good selection of mid-range rooms and more upmarket villas with private swimming pools, including a two-storey four-bedroom villa with private pool for groups and families. The beachfront bar and restaurant is always busy… a good indication of the quality of the food and the fun atmosphere here at any time of the day or night. Scallywags, next door to The Beach House, has a very good restaurant serving tapas, snacks, tasty meals and fresh seafood on the beachfront. Comfortable rooms and a private swimming pool are hidden away behind the restaurant. Always popular, the resort also offers day trips to their sister resort on Gili Air. Hotel Vila Ombak is the island’s largest resort, with a range of comfortable rooms and villas, a beachfront swimming pool, spa and several good

Special Feature Continued from Page 10

restaurants. The resort also owns the newly opened Ombak Sunset – a huge resort with an enormous swimming pool and a variety of upmarket accommodations on the quieter south coast of Gili T; stays at both (each with a different atmosphere) are possible. The beachfront bar and restaurant here is the perfect place to view gorgeous sunsets across the ocean to Bali. Next to Ombak Sunset, Villa Queen is another large resort that has recently opened on the much quieter south coast. The resort boasts amazing architecture and a range of comfortable accommodation options, from spacious deluxe rooms to luxurious villas. Facilities include swimming pools, beachfront bar with live music, and two restaurants – one of which is a beautifully decorated Chinese eatery serving authentic Dim Sum. For budget stays in this area, the newly opened “The Exile” is located roughly half way between The Trawangan and Ombak Sunset, and has six simple thatched roof cottages in a spacious garden just behind the beachfront bar and restaurant, and across the road from a quiet beach with beautiful sunset views. Back towards Sentral, but still in the quieter south coast area, The Trawangan offers luxury without pretension in their one, two and three-bedroom villas with private swimming pools, or in comfortable suites alongside the swimming pool and alfresco restaurant. Between The Trawangan and Vila Ombak, ko ko mo Resort has earned an excellent reputation for luxurious stays in their well-designed one, two and three bedroom villas, each with private swimming pools tucked away in walled gardens. The beachfront fine dining restaurant serves a varied gourmet menu and has one of the best wine selections on the island. The north coast is another popular escape from the busier “Sentral” area on the east coast, but still close to all the action. At high tide, the snorkelling from the beach is very good. Desa Dunia Beda offers comfortable and unique accommodation in spacious wooden Joglo – wonderfully decorated Javanese traditional houses – with a resort swimming pool, restaurant and lovely beach views.

Desa Dunia Beda, Gili Trawangan

The Southwest

Secret Islands, Pristine Beaches!

Floating in the sparkling turquoise waters just off the southwest coast are thirteen small islands called the Southwest Gilis. Unlike the famous Gili islands in the northwest of Lombok, the Southwest Gilis are largely uninhabited and have yet to be discovered by most travellers, thus they are often called “The Secret Islands”. The Sekotong region starts just south of Lembar Harbour and features stunning beaches and bays set against a backdrop of rolling hills. The drive itself is a worthwhile 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 building and repairing boats, 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, while the hills behind form a perfect backdrop to this idyllic setting. Just out in the calm bay are the three lovely islands of Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong and Gili Sudat – 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 small islands offshore. Of the three, only Gili Nanggu has accommodation for visitors, with Gili Nanggu Cottages providing simple cottages on the beach and a restaurant, as well as some more up-market rooms further back from the beach. The island is small and the beach here has soft white sand and a reef just off the beach for snorkelling. Travelling a little further south, before the local 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 Genting sits just off the tip of the peninsular and at low tide you can walk across the sandbar and explore this uninhabited island. Old volcanic rocks and stone carved from centuries of tides create small caves and alcoves, providing shelter

for picnics and interesting nooks and crannies to explore. Back on the main road and slightly further south is Sundancer Resort, with its distinctive blue roofs dotted on the hillside overlooking another white sand beach. The hotel development is still under construction. Across the road from Sundancer, on the beachfront, is Dive Zone – currently the only diving facility in this part of Lombok and the experts on diving around the southwest islands, having pioneered development of previously unknown dive sites in this area. Dive Zone offer dive trips around Sekotong and the islands, as well as in three locations in South Lombok – including challenging world-class diving off southeast Lombok. Past Dive Zone another few kilometres is Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resort, which opened in mid 2010 on the secluded beach at Tanjung Empat. With 28 rooms, including beachfront villas with private swimming pools, Cocotinos brings the first luxury accommodation option to the area. At the next intersection there is a signpost to the right for Labuhan Poh and Pelangan, the site of Bola Bola Paradis. This is a small hotel, situated right on the beachfront with comfortable and clean rooms at reasonable prices. The hotel is popular with people surfing the big waves at Bangko Bangko. Continued on Page 66

The Southwest

64 One and 2 Bedroom Apartment Suites Private Hillside Lots & Exclusive Homes Resort Amenities and Facilities 100m Pier and Boat Dock Diving, Fishing and Island Hopping

360 panoramic ocean and hill views 900m Freeflow Resort Swimming Pool Spa & Wellness Centre Tennis Courts & Gymnasium Exclusive Beach Club and Restaurants

Beach Resort & Spa

With the opening of the new Lombok International Airport, now is your chance to be in at the beginning of this Ultimate Lifestyle Investment Opportunity located at Sekotong on Lombokâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pristine southwest coast Take Advantage of Special Pre-opening Prices! Guaranteed Rental Returns Minimum 5 Years Secure Leases | 5 Star Hotel Facilities | Fully Managed and Maintained Gated Community

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Call our professional staff now to discuss your dream lifestyle property, or private investment opportunities with guaranteed returns! Ph: 0878 6408 5363 (English) | 0878 8705 6879 (Indonesian) Lombok sales office: Art Market - Jl. Raya Senggigi, Lombok - NTB - Indonesia Email: alfie@t-ierra.com

www.sundancerbeachresort.com

The Southwest

66 The largest of the islands in this area is Gili Gede, (appropriately translated as “Big Island”). The island lays just offshore and is so large, visitors often mistake it for part of the mainland. Gili Gede is easily reached in only minutes by boat from the village of Tembowong. Gili Gede is one of the few islands in the area that has accommodation, at Secret Island Resort and at Via Vaccare on the other side of the island, with more hotels planned for the near future. There are around 400 people living on Gili Gede, who are very welcoming and not trying to sell tourists anything. Gili Gede is a great island to explore, because of its natural beauty and friendly people. Secret Island Resort has a range of accommodation, including a unique bungalow perched on a pier over the reef – the only one in either Lombok or Bali. The Resort offers activities that all the family will enjoy, while also being a place where you can get away from it all.

Continued from Page 63

The Southwest Gili Ringgit, Gili Layar and Gili Asahan are lined up like secret treasures in the calm sea. Gili Asahan attracts visitors with deserted white sand beaches and swaying palm trees. Pearl Beach Resort, newly-opened in 2010, is a lovely boutique hotel with charming and well-designed bungalows here looking out over a breath-taking beach.

Secret Island Resort has two different speed boats offering “Snorkel Mania” trips around some of Lombok’s very best snorkeling reefs, plus professional Sport Fishing Charters aboard their comfortable 9m custom-built boat, “Scorpio”. The resort can also organise transfers and island hopping excursions to the other beautiful islands in the area. To the south of Gili Gede, the islands of

Of a much higher standard than most of the southwest accommodation, each bungalow has a private terrace, and western standard bathrooms with hot water. There is also a beachfront bar and restaurant serving western and Indonesian meals, and good snorkelling directly from the beach in front. The lovely setting calls visitors from the sea to picnic on the beach and swim in the clear turquoise waters. Pearl Beach is perfect for romantic escapes and for those seeking the tranquillity of a private island resort.

The Southwest

Useful Contacts

General Information (Directory Assistance): (0370) 108 AIRLINES Batavia Air Jl. Pejanggik No.88, Mataram, W. Lombok Phone: 0370 648998, Fax: 0370 648400. cs@ batavia-air.co.id. www.batavia-air.co.id Garuda Indonesia Jl. Pejanggik 42 – 44, Mataram, W. Lombok Phone: 0370 638259, Fax: 0370 637951. www. garuda-indonesia.com Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) Mataram, Ph: 0370 639589 Lion Air Mataram, West Lombok. Ph: 0370 6631444, 6640009, Fax: 0370 642180. www.lionair.cohh.id Merpati Jl. Pejanggik No. 69 Cakranegara, W.Lombok. Phone: 0370 621111, Fax: 0370 633691. www. merpati.co.id Silk Air Jl. Panca Usaha No.11, Mataram, W. Lombok. Phone: 0370 628254, Fax: 0370 628292. www. silkair.com Trans Nusa Jl. Adi Sucipto, Mataram, Lombok. Ph: 0370 6162428, 6162433, Fax: 0370 646840. Email: info@transnusa.com, www.transnusa.com Trigana Air Jl. Adi Sucipto, Mataram, Lombok. Ph: 0370 6162428, 6162433, Fax: 0370 646840. www. trigana-air.com BANK / ATM Bank Central Asia (BCA) Jl. Pejanggik No.67, Mataram, Lombok Phone: 0370 632588, Fax: 0370 622347 ATMs - Jl. Raya Senggigi, Senggigi, W. Lombok - Mataram Mall, Mataram, W. Lombok - MGM Plaza, Jl. AA Gede Ngurah, Mataram - Jl. Airlangga, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Praya, C. Lombok - Jl. Langko, Mataram, W. Lombok Bank Danamon Indonesia Jl. Pejanggik No.117, Mataram, W. Lombok Phone: 0370 631322, Fax: 0370 633068 ATMs - Jl. Koperasi 1, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Raya Senggigi, Senggigi, W. Lombok - Komplek Ruko B1, Sweta, W. Lombok Bank International Indonesia (BII) Jl. AA Gede Ngurah No.48, Mataram, W. Lombok. Phone: 0370 635027, 633347 ATMs - Jl. Airlangga No.25, Mataram, Lombok - Mataram Mall, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Raya Senggigi, Senggigi, W. Lombok Bank Mandiri Jl. Pejanggik No.20-22, Mataram, W. Lombok. Phone: 0370 631311 ATMs - Jl. Pejanggik No.20, Cakranegara, Lombok - Jl. Taruna Jaya, Mataram, W. Lombok - Mataram Mall, Mataram, W. Lombok - Selaparang Airport, Mataram, W. Lombok Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) Jl. Langko No.64, Mataram, W. Lombok Jl. Raya Senggigi, Senggigi, W. Lombok Phone: 0370 631046, Fax: 0370 631005 ATMs - Jl. Langko No.64, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Pejanggik No.68, Mataram, W.Lombok - University of Mataram (UNRAM) - Jl. Sandubaya, Sweta, W. Lombok - Jl. Selaparang No.37, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Raya Senggigi, Senggigi, W. Lombok - Mataram Mall, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Jendral Sudirman 51, Praya, C. Lombok Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) Jl. Pendidikan No.16, Mataram, Lombok Phone: 0370 632246, Fax: 0370 633084 ATMs - Jl. Airlangga, Mataram, W. Lombok - Mataram Mall, Mataram, W. Lombok - Jl. Pahlawan No.92, Selong, E. Lombok

MEDICAL / HEALTH CARE Harapan Keluarga Hospital Jl. Ahmad Yani No.9 Selagalas (2km north of the Sweta trafic lights). Ph: 0370 670 000 Medika Husada Clinic Jl Raya Senggigi (next to Choice Café, 50m from Art Market) Phone: 0370 6644820 Hospitals Mataram Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Mataram) Jl. Pejanggik No.6, Mataram, W. Lombok Phone: 0370 623498 / 6604605 New Mataram Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umum Mataram) Jl. Bung Karno 1 Mataram. Phone: 0370 645045 Central Lombok Public Hospital Jl. Jendral Basuki Rachmad, Praya, Central Lombok. Phone: 0370 654007 East Lombok Public Hospital Jl. Professor M. Yamin No. 55, Selong, East Lombok. Phone: 0376 21680 Biomedika Clinic Jl. Bung Karno 143 Mataram. Phone: 0370 645137 Risa Clinic Jl. Pejanggik 115 Cakranegara. Phone: 0370 625560 / 632117 DENTAL drg. Farida Istiarini, Sp.Ort (Permata Hati Hospital) Jl Majapahit No 8 Ampenan. Ph: 0370 631999 / 0818368528. Joli Sourire Dental Care Mataram Mall. Jl. Pejanggik, Cakranegara. Ph: 0370 668 1797 drg. Lina Kulsum Jl. Gunung Dieng No.7, Mataram, Lombok Phone: 0818536236 / 0370 632131 MONEY CHANGERS Multigraha Kelolavalas - Jl. Rasa Senggigi km.10, Senggigi, W. Lombok, Ph; 0370 693693 - Jl. Pejanggik No.1, Mataram, W. Lombok, Ph: 0370 631567 Multigraha Valas Jl. Saleh Sungkar No.1 Ampenan, W. Lombok, Ph: +62 370 624045 PT. Bali Mispintjira Jl. Raya Senggigi km.13, Senggigi, West Lombok, Ph: 0370 692247, 0370 692247 SHOPPING Senggigi Abadi Supermarket Jl. Raya Senggigi, Km.8.5, Senggigi, West Lombok. Phone: 0370 693311 Senggigi Jaya Supermarket Jl. Raya Senggigi, Km.8, Senggigi, West Lombok. Phone: 0370 693530 Art Market (Pasar Seni) - Jl. Raya Senggigi, Senggigi West Lombok - Gili Trawangan, West Lombok Barata Department Store Jl. Niaga II, Ampenan, West Lombok Phone: 0370 646123 Grand Store Mataram Mall, 3rd floor, Jl. Pejanggik, Cakranegara, W. Lombok. Ph: 0370 629931 Hero Supermarket Mataram Mall, 1st floor, Jl. Pejanggik, Cakranegara, W. Lombok. Ph: 0370 629918 Tiara Department Store Mataram Mall, 1st & 2nd floor, Jl. Pejanggik, Cakranegara, West Lombok Phone: 0370 629902 Kharisma Book Shop Mataram Mall, 2nd floor, Jl. Pejanggik, Cakranegara, West Lombok Phone: 0370 629875 Ruby Supermarket Jl. Pejanggik No.111, Cakranegara, West Lombok. Phone: 0370 631092 Jembatan Baru Supermarket Jl. Pejanggik No.41, Cakranegara, West Lombok. Phone: 0370 636106 MGM Plaza Jl. AA Gede Ngurah No.98, Cakranegara, West Lombok. Phone: 0370 646007

EMERGENCY Senggigi Tourism Police: Jl. Raya Senggigi, Phone. 00370 693267 Lombok Regional Police: Jl. Gajah Mada No. 7 Ampenan. Call this emergency number: 110 Fire Brigade: Phone. 0370 672013. In emergency call 113 Hospital UGD (Emergency Unit Service): Phone: 0370 622254 Ambulance: Phone. 0370 623498. In emergency call 118 TAXIS Blue Bird Taxi, Phone: 0370 627000 Lendang Karun, Phone: 0370 644444 IMMIGRATION Jl. Udayana, Mataram, Phone: 0370 632520 PUBLIC SERVICES ELECTRICITY PLN Mataram. Ph: 0370 632182 PLN Senggigi. Ph: 0370 693535 WATER PDAM Mataram. Ph: 0370 632 510 PDAM Senggigi. Ph: 0370 693886 POST OFFICES Mataram: Jl. Sriwijaya, Phone. 0370 632645 Senggigi: Jl. Raya, Phone. 0370 693711 CONSULATES AUSTRALIA (incl. New Zealand, Canada) Phone: 0361 241118, Fax: 0361 221195, Email: bali.congen@dfat.gov.au BRAZIL Phone: 0361 757775, Fax: 0361 751005. Email: brazilconsul@bytheseatropical.com BRITAIN Phone: 0361 270601, Fax: 0361 287804, Email: bcbali@dps-centrin.net.id CHILE Phone: 0361 756781, Fax: 0361 756783. Email: chilehonconsulate@bali-villa.com CZECH REPUBLIC Phone: 0361 286465, Fax: 0361 286408. Email: bali@honorary.mzv.cz DENMARK & NORWAY Phone: 0361 701070, Fax: 0361 701073/4, Email: mimpi@mimpi.com FINLAND & SWEDEN Phone: 0361 288407, Fax: 0361 287242. Email: segara1@denpasar.wasantara.net.id FRANCE Phone: 0361 285485, Fax: 0361 286406, Email: consul@dps.centrin.net.id GERMANY Phone: 0361 288535, Fax: 0361 288826, Email: germanconsul@bali-ntb.com HUNGARY Phone: 0361 287701, Fax: 0361 287456. Email: cristofoli@denpasar.wasantara.net.id ITALY Phone: 0361 701005. Email: italconsbali@italconsbali.com JAPAN Phone: 0361 227628, Fax: 0361 265066. Email: konjpdps@indo.net.id SPAIN Phone: 0361 975736, Fax: 0361 975726, Email: rabik@indo.net.id SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA Phone: 0361 751735, Fax: 0361 754457. Email: bali@honrep.ch THAILAND Phone: 0361 263310, Fax: 0361 238044 THE NETHERLANDS Phone: 0361 761502, Fax: 0361 752777, Email: purwa@denpasar.wasantara.net.id USA Ph: 0361 233605, Fax: 0361 222426. Email: amcobali@indosat.net.id

Kuta and The South Coast

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Kuta and The South Coast

Indonesia boasts some of the most magnificent scenery in the world and the south coast of Lombok rates as being among the best.

South Lombok has beaches that inspire photographers from around the world and draw crowds to bake on the blindingly white sands, swim in the crystal clear oceans and challenge some of the best surf breaks in Indonesia. Kuta 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 points of interest in the region. Located around 60 km south of Mataram and about one and a half hour’s drive from Senggigi, Kuta (sometimes spelt Kute) makes for a wonderful day trip from other points in Lombok, or an alternative holiday destination for travellers exploring Lombok. With the Lombok International Airport currently under construction in the area, all the major roads are being renovated and the main road to Kuta is very good. The new airport is located only 15 minutes north of Kuta and is expected to spark major development in the area. For now, the beaches are pristine and spectacular. Kuta and the surrounding beaches have gained an international reputation for some of the best surfing destinations in Southeast Asia. It is here that the gentle waters surrounding Lombok meet the currents of the Indian Ocean, forming

great swells and surf breaks. Kuta attracts thousands of visitors every year for the great surf locations at Gerupuk, Tanjung A’an and nearby beaches. 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. The drive down to the south coast is an interesting rural tour of 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 (rice barns) and traditional homes made of thatch and bamboo, with hardened cow and buffalo dung floors. 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, a hilltop village with more Lumbungs and traditional homes. Both villages have been renovated and cater to the tourist market, but 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. The south coast itself provides plenty of opportunities for exploring beaches and coastal scenery of such breath-taking beauty it is hard to describe. Hire a car or motorbike and you can spend days visiting beautiful, mainly deserted beaches, both to the east and west of Kuta. Continued on Page 73

Kuta and The South Coast

Continued from Page 71

Kuta itself is a small, relatively unattractive town of hotels, home-stays and backpacker’s hostels that cater mainly 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. There is a good variety of hotels and restaurants for budgets travellers and one luxury resort: the Novotel Lombok Resort. Designed to blend in with its environment, and with a stunning beachfront location, the Novotel is a wonderful example of traditional Sasak architecture. Situated just to the east of the main Kuta area is Mandalika, named after the legendary Princess Mandalika. It is near 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. Around 4 km east of Kuta is Tanjung A’an, with perfect white sand beaches and good waves for surfers. Slightly further east is Gerupuk, well known as a top surf location and situated on a peninsula of land that juts out into the ocean, with stunning views of the sea, and the surrounding islands and bays. There is a good surf school here and no fewer than five surf breaks. 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! Simple beach cottages and a charming restaurant sit right on the sands of Bumbang beach, for those wishing to stay a few days, surfing and exploring the eastern beaches. To the west of 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. Ashtari, around 2km west of Kuta, stands out from the usual Kuta cafés and is a “must stop” for those touring in the area. Perched on top of the hill with spectacular views over Kuta and the surrounding beaches, Ashtari serves exquisite teas and juices, and delicious vegetarian meals and

snacks that are truly out of the ordinary. Mawun Beach is around 30 minutes drive to the west and is a picturesque, 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 a day lazing on the white sand. Mawi, around another 7km to the west, has good right- and left-hand barrels for surfing when the swell is large enough. At other times, it is a lovely beach with impressive views of Gili Lawang just offshore; with three startling pinnacles of rock jutting out of the ocean. Further west are picturesque Selong Blanak, Sepi and Blongas, and many more scenic bays and beaches along the way; all are mostly deserted. The road deteriorates rapidly and the going can be rough at times. Be sure to use an experienced local guide with a good vehicle. The recently opened Sempiak Villas in Selong Blanak has a restaurant and several comfortable villas for those wishing to stay in this secluded region. 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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Tourism Information

The Gili Islands Pearls in The Ocean

Gili Trawangan Three perfect coral islands, fringed with white sands and swaying palm trees, lay in the sparkling ocean just off the north-west coast of Lombok. For many years the Gilis have attracted visitors from around the world for their pristine waters, great diving and snorkelling opportunities, and laidback charm. The word “Gili” actually means “small island” and so these islands have come to be known as “The Gilis” by travellers, who have long considered them to be at least equal to the appeal of Thailand’s and India’s south coasts. The Gilis have sparse vegetation and rainfall, and it can seem much hotter than on the mainland. This means there is sunshine most days of the year, even when it’s raining in Lombok and Bali. Water is mainly drawn from wells or shipped from the mainland, so there is a need for conservation to preserve the limited resources. Be prepared for salty showers in most of the small hotels and homestays, although the larger hotels and villas provide fresh water. There are no cars or motorbikes on the islands, and the main form of transport, apart from walking, is by horse and cart (locally called cidomo). There is a

good selection of restaurants, bars and accommodation on all three islands, with the biggest range on Gili Trawangan. Telephone and internet facilities are available, and most of the normal tourist amenities, although there are no banks and only the larger hotels and dive operators accept credit cards. Moneychangers exchange at a slightly lower rate than the mainland, so it’s wise to change your money before going. The islands provide ample opportunities for visitors to swim, sunbathe, snorkel or scuba dive with the many internationally accredited dive operators based in Lombok. Popular dive companies are owned and operated by westerners with PADI qualifications, and professional standards of safety and environmental awareness. Blue Marlin Dive, Dream Divers and DSM Dive Centre are probably the biggest dive companies, with offices on the Gilis and in Senggigi on the mainland. Manta Dive, Big Bubble, Trawangan Dive and Vila Ombak Diving Academy on Gili Trawangan also have good reputations. Snorkelling is easy in the calm waters directly off the beaches and, although much of the coral in the shallow waters has been destroyed, it’s still enjoyable,

with plenty of fish to see. At greater depths and at 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, at least comparable to the top dive locations in Thailand. All three islands have developed independently and at different paces, giving each a different personality or style, and catering to different types of holidaymakers and travellers. This means that travellers have a good choice, depending on their individual tastes and what type of island escape they prefer. Gili Air is closest to the mainland and the most quickly accessed of the three Gilis. This island has the largest local population of the three and combines the charm of a tropical island, with access to the people and culture that make Lombok so special. Diving facilities abound and there is nice snorkelling directly from the shore, particularly from the east and northeast beaches. The south of the island has some good surf, in the right conditions. Gili Meno is the middle and smallest island of the three, with the lowest population. It is not as developed as Trawangan or Air, but has its own special tranquil style. Continued on Page 79

The Gili Islands

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The Gili Islands

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Tourism Information

The Gili Islands Pearls

in The Ocean

Continued from Page 76

The pace is a much slower, with the laidback charm of a true castaway tropical island experience. Small hotels and basic beach-side huts provide accommodation for those seeking a peaceful place in the sun, with unpopulated beaches, clean waters and quiet walks under the star-filled skies at night.

reached in less than an hour by local boat or 10 minutes by speedboat. This is the most famous of the three Gilis, with a reputation as “the party island”. While this reputation refers to the many fun parties held at different bars and restaurants on the island, it is a misleading description of this lovely place.

Gili Trawangan is the largest island and furthest from the mainland, but easily

There is a wide variety of accommodation on Gili Trawangan, ranging from simple

home-stays to up-market hotels and villas with swimming pools. There’s a great selection of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes, particularly toward the southern end, known locally as “Sentral”. Snorkelling is extremely easy just off the shore and there is still an abundant variety of tropical fish species to enjoy. The island is famed for its vast gardens of coral and is one of the best dive spots in Lombok.

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The Gili Islands

Relaxing Day Cruises Mentigi - Gili Islands on a traditional phinisi Cruise from Mentigi Bay, 20 mins north of Senggigi, to the Gili Islands where you can swim, snorkel, dive, water ski banana boat, kayak, ride horse-back * or just plain chill out. Departs Mentigi Bay 9am. Free pick up (at 8am) in certain areas and drop off. Fare: Rp 750,000 per passenger. On board restaurant

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Komodo Island Tours by Traditional Schooner

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The Gili Islands

Tourism Information

Getting To The Gilis

The Gilis are easily reached from Bali via the numerous fast boat services now operating between Bali and Gili Trawangan.

From mainland Lombok, there are many different options, as described below. Tour companies and dive operators in Senggigi also provide transfers daily. FROM BALI: The fast boat services are a popular option, providing fast and easy transfers direct from Bali to Gili Trawangan. www.GiliBookings.com is a booking site offering easy online ticketing services for fast boat transfers. See the “Getting to Lombok” section on page 2 for full details. HOTEL TRANSFERS: Many of the larger hotels on the islands now 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 have their boats moored in the bay and transfer guests to the islands every day from Teluk Nara.

Gili Cat, Blue Water Express and Island Getaway also operate fast boat services between Lombok and Bali from this harbour. It is possible to negotiate private boat trips out to the islands with the 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, ko ko mo and Scallywags have bases for transferring their guests by speedboat to the Gilis. MENTIGI BAY: Also on the west coast, a few kilometres before Teluk Nara, Mentigi Bay is a base for Blue Water Cruises. The company offers relaxing day cruises around the Gilis onboard a beautiful traditional phinisi boat, with plenty of opportunities for swimming and snorkelling.

Boats depart daily at 9am. There is a small café at the bay and a variety of fun water sport options available.

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

Blue Water Cruises also operate regular cruises to Komodo Island and other islands to the east, as well as dive and cruise packages. Visit their website for details: www.bluewatercruises.com.

If you get stuck at the harbour in the evening, there is a nice home-stay called Arnel on the harbour road with pretty rooms at reasonable prices.

FROM BANGSAL HARBOUR: Catch a taxi or bemo to Bangsal Harbour, the small harbour on the north-west coast, about 30 minutes from Senggigi.

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.

Public ferries (really just large outrigger boats) depart regularly to all three islands and charters are available, with prices depending on the number of passengers and your bargaining skills.

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.

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 posted clearly on the wall of the ticket office.

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!

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, it doesn’t cost very much to charter a boat, especially if you have a few people in your group. 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

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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Special Feature

EXILE ON GILI T! Here you will find small places tucked away between the trees and little rickety shacks set up on the beach, reminiscent of the old Gili T. So it was that, with a sense of nostalgia, I set off to find the newlyopened “The Exile” and recapture some of my backpacker past.

Bumping along the track in a cidomo (horse cart), about five minutes ride past The Trawangan Resort, the large white sign on the roadside announces “The Exile” in bold letters, alongside an incongruous bicycle hanging from the tree.

Back in the 90’s, Gili Trawangan was just a small – albeit heavenly – dot on the backpacker trail east of Bali. Accommodation was limited mostly to thatched huts on the northeast coast, with places like the old “Good Heart Bungalows” offering a basic bed and mandi bathroom for less than Rp 50 000 a night. Bamboo lean-to’s on the beach with palmleaf roofs dispensed nasi goreng to hungry beachgoers and, at sunset, the local ladies on the mainly Muslim island would furtively dispense large bottles of Bintang beer from coolers filled with tepid melted ice water hidden behind the huts. Nowadays, that scene is well and truly gone. Luxury villas with private swimming pools elbow out the old style concrete block “home-stays”. Dreadlocks rub shoulders with designer bikinis and French manicures on the beach. The backpackers lament and move on to Gili Air and Gili Meno; while the Euro crowds still pack the beaches every European summer. The east and north coasts, having the best beaches on the island, were the first to be developed on Gili T and this is where you will find the biggest selection of accommodation, bars and eateries. Wander south, however, past Vila Ombak, ko ko mo Resort and “sunset point” and you will still find traces of the Gili T of old. Here the sandy track winds along the beachfront and past large blocks of undeveloped land. Island old-timers still herd their goats and cows, oblivious to the fact that their grazing land is now worth a small fortune.

The beach has just been swept when we arrive and the white sand stretches out in a clean unbroken strip down to the turquoise sea. The reef and rocks come quite close to the shore and this isn’t a perfect swimming area, but a lone lady sits in the sparkling shallow water obviously enjoying the luxury of having the entire beach to herself. The beach in front of The Exile is long and wide, and decorated with an eclectic collection of driftwood, old chairs and hand-made tables, and shells and coral collected from the tides. Rustic groupings invite you to sit and relax a while, mesmerized by the gentle waves and the beautiful landscape of mainland Lombok just across the ocean. Just across the track from the beach, the bar is housed in an old wooden Joglo. These traditional houses, originating in Java, were painstakingly handcrafted from wood, held together with tongue and groove joints, and decorated with carved motifs. This Joglo has been dismantled and carted from Java, and then reassembled to create the heart of The Exile’s bar on Gili T. A few tourists sip cold beers at the bar as we order freshly squeezed juices and climb onto the wooden stools looking across to the beach. A herd of cows wander past. An old man in a woven coolie hat drives an old cart loaded with grass along the track, grinning as he passes. The local staff working at the bar smile shyly and speak in halting English – they’re from the island, working for the first time in their lives, and are a world away from the “seen it all” guys in the main tourist area. Even the music captures the atmosphere of the old Gili T, with a feel-good mix of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s hits playing in the background. Behind the bar, six bungalows are set in a spacious garden that stretches back to the hill – the highest point on Gili T.

85 Each bungalow has a thatched roof and boasts a different style; some are in typical Indonesian or Balinese designs, one is Sumatran, and a couple use the local Lombok Lumbung or “rice barn” style, with the bedroom upstairs and a shady area for lounging underneath. Inside, the bungalows are simply furnished but comfortable and clean, with queen beds, mosquito nets and electric fans. Steps lead down to open-air bathrooms with fresh water cold showers and western toilets, enclosed by bamboo walls and open to the sky. This basic accommodation evokes the 90’s philosophy, when it was enough to have a comfortable bed to sleep in and a clean place to shower after a day spent on the beach. And it is the beach that is the focal point at The Exile. Even though it has only been open just over a month, there is a constant flow of customers moving from Villa Queen, Ombak Sunset and hotels further around to the west coast to the tourist area of “Sentral” and vice versa. It can get hot walking along the beach in the endless summer of Gili T and the bar at The Exile lures the sweaty and thirsty to stop and have a cold drink or two, while enjoying the beach views and the cool atmosphere. As the shadows lengthen and the sun starts to sink toward the mountains of Bali across the ocean, people wander to this side of the island to watch the sunset. Slowly the tables and chairs on The Exile beachfront fill up with singles, couples and groups; quietly chatting and drinking, gazing in awe and taking photographs of the glorious sunset. The guys at the bar switch music to the mellow sounds of Buddha Bar and everyone relaxes back, strangers start talking to each other and another timeless day in paradise draws to a close for those exiled on Gili T.

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LUXURIOUS VILLAS AND SINGLE SUITES Gili Trawangan, Lombok-NTB Indonesia P: 0370 6647066, M: 087864297487, F: 0370 647741 E: booking@thetrawangan.com W: www.thetrawangan.com

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The Beach House on Gili Trawangan is an innovative and contemporary resort set amidst tropical gardens, facing the sparkling turquoise waters of the Lombok Straits. Accommodation choices include a range of private villas, each with their own freshwater pools. Pool suites sharing a freshwater plunge pool, and 12 bungalows set in tropical gardens. The Beach House provides a range of facilities, including a beachfront freshwater resort pool and bar, and a beachside bar and restaurant serving international cuisine.

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GILI AIR

This is my tenth column for the Lombok Guide – how exciting is that?! This being the tenth column lends itself perfectly to a “Top Ten List of Things to do on Gili Air”. I asked on Facebook and Twitter to see what people thought and I received at least thirty different answers. I was really hoping that there would be a clear “Top Ten” but, as everyone has their own favourites, it became a list of ten great things to do on the island – in no particular order! Of course, it includes some of my favourite things and only represents some of the many things you can do on the island. Diving (where else is a diving instructor going to start?)

Whether it’s learning to dive, improving your dive skills or just going for a fun dive, the Gilis have something for everyone. Gili Air is a wonderful place to learn. The island’s relaxed atmosphere is perfect for finding your own area of beach and chilling out with a drink while you do a bit of dive study. All the dive shops have great facilities, perfect for learning and, once you’ve qualified, there are twenty or more sites to explore. The Gilis are known for having an abundance of turtles and on 99% of our dives we see them. Often we see several, many even seem happy to pose for photos! Whatever you do in the Gilis, don’t miss out on the diving! If you’re not qualified and don’t have time to do a course, you can still see an amazing dive site by taking a three-hour trial dive, which gives you some time in the pool and then a dive in the sea – it’s a fantastic use of three hours!

89 Psy-trance at Space Bar If your idea of fun is partying all night long to music that makes the pretty colours all the brighter, then this is the place for you! The Space Bar is right on the sea and they make it bright and psychedelic. I have only been once; it was for Halloween and the place looked really cool. I arrived far too early, asked what Psy-trance was; a friendly man played me some and I’ve never been back! I do like to sing along to songs – I don’t sing well, of course, but I sing anyway. Just because it’s not for me, doesn’t mean that it’s not amazing for those who come to play! I chat to lots of people on the island who love the party nights. Give it a go – they get especially crazy at their full moon parties! Walking Around the Island It takes about one hour and ten minutes to walk around the entire island and much, much longer if you stop for drinks and snacks on the way. To avoid the heat of the day, I recommend setting off from the harbour at just after 5pm. With your back to the sea, walk to the right and continue on the track around the island. If you walk at a nice relaxed pace you will reach Wanderers and Safari bars first or, a touch later, Sunset Bar at just after 6pm. You can either stop at one for a drink (they are perfect for the sunset) or you can walk a little further and take a seat on the beach to watch the sun setting over the volcano in Bali. Yoga This wonderful island lends itself very nicely to the wonders of yoga. The Yoga Centre is a great place and is run by a friendly team. They have a quiet setting in the heart of the island (follow the signs, they are everywhere) and classes twice a day. If you have come to Gili Air looking for inner peace and relaxation, they also have meditation classes and special events with visiting practitioners. Eat Fantastic Italian Food There are lots of places that serve western food on the island. Sadly, many of them are just awful: small portions and three times the price of the tastier local food. Thankfully, a few places shine and one place that shines above all the rest for me is the Italian restaurant, Biba at Biba Beach. Their food is really excellent; so fresh and tasty. A pizza costs around Rp 50,000, which seems to be the standard price for a pizza on the island. However, unlike many of the others, these are delicious, large and full of juicy ingredients. They have excellent wine here, too; although, like everywhere in Indonesia, wine here isn’t cheap but it is more than drinkable for the money. The Natural Spa The staff at The Natural Spa are really friendly, the place is clean and they use

lots of fresh products straight from their garden. After a strenuous walk around the island, a foot massage or a Balinese massage are most welcome. And do try their fresh Aloe Vera for sunburn after a day at the beach! Beach and Harbour Clean-Up Days This is a fabulous initiative by Oceans 5 to help keep the island clean! Meeting every Wednesday afternoon at 4pm at Oceans 5 Dive Resort, the large dive shop near the harbour, is the beach and reef clean-up crew. This is a great way to support the island and give a little something back. It is free and everyone is welcome to join in! Snorkelling “Where is the best place to snorkel?” This is a question we hear all the time in our shop. One of the best places to snorkel is at the dive site “Hans” on the north side of the island. The reef comes all the way to shore and is a fantastic place to snorkel. Many people actually see turtles there so it’s well worth a look. The east coast has good snorkelling with a slight drift that will let you float all the way down to the front of Scallywags. There is also interesting coral off the south coast, slightly further out in the deeper water. Look for the Anemone and the Nemo fish! Write a Novel The peace and laid back style of Gili Air is perfect for artists and writers, especially those looking to hibernate and get creative! Negotiate a monthly rate (you can get simple accommodation at places for as low as Rp 40,000 a night), set three hours aside each day and, by the end of the month, there is the chance that you’ll finish a novel. Perhaps the next “Eat, Pray, Love” is inside you, just waiting to be released! Eat Local Food I eat local food every day and think I’ve now been to nearly every local warung and café on the island. Of these places, there are two that I visit regularly – one for take away food and one for sitting down, chilling out and encouraging the owner there to have a chat in Indonesian. To reach both places, walk inland from the harbour and turn left on the track at the cross roads. Look out for “Warung Kampung” for a sit down meal with the local people and “Warung Muslim” for delicious take away – check them out and let me know if you agree with me on the quality!

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Gili Trawangan, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia P. +62 370 6141 575 F. +62 370 6141 585 M. +62 811 39 06 76 ddb@desaduniabeda.com www.desaduniabeda.com

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