eunike's posts with tag: john adventure
|  | March 16-20, 2007
Ok! Here were the soldiers; mas Sony, Hany, Kekeuw, Mommy Sylvi, Putu, and mas Fedi! Actually it’s not original format. Mas Yudi (the shouldbe trip leader, betrayed us. LOL). Harum, om Roni and mas Yadi changed their mind few days before. Mommy Sylvi replaced Harum, mas Fedi took om Roni’s place and Putu got mas Yudi’s. The rest just about hesitated to realize this trip. Remember how many bad news around our public transport those days, especially ships fatal accident? Phuwh! We had to cross the sea to Lombok by ferry! That’s scary! But thx god that finally we did it! We made it happened! For it was a trip with a looot of good lucks!
First luck was about delayed flight. Actually we got 3 different flight schedules but they became one same flight. AA did inconvenience for that delaying and we got reason to match up our flight. So this group was never separated away.
Having only AA tickets to Denpasar, we took ferry across to Lombok. Here’s the luck number two; good timing we arrived at Padang Bay port, the ferry was departing soon. And lucky us, it was opposite of our assumption. The ferry was quite clean and cheap. No crowd, no big wave, no shaking. Only tight sleeping on rented mattress, everyone got more than a seat. Just like a wink, we’d arrived at Lembar, Lombok with refreshed body and happy soul. A driver and an already booked car was ready to pick and carry us around.
On the way to Kuta Lombok, we visited Sade, a Sasak (naïve Lombok ethnic) village. It was relatively good destination. Local good guide seem always available on the welcome gate. He told many about the Sasak history, lifestyle, architecture to some common words in Sasak dialect.
Wandering in Kuta Lombok, we found Novotel hotel took on one of best area inside, private beach that was beautiful, clean and empty. Later we took Anda home stay and café with 1/10 much cheaper rate, friendly people and good view! Hahaha.. *We won’t do any effort for Novotel laah!* Anda had delicious local menu such as kangkung plecing ayam taliwang which was very cheap. Only 27,000 IDR for one whole chicken! Nyam!! And luck number 3, we got Tanjung Aan as our private beach *hurray!* that also clean, beautiful and no visitor but us! One unique point was the sand. Tanjung Aan had 2 kind of sands that separated in several steps. The big one was white to light brown – as big as pepper granule; you should try how comfy it is to lay on (actually mommy Sylvi regret not to take some home, but better you keep them remain as it should be ^^). In contrary the other was very tiny and so fine. Like ethereal! I did rub it on my face, but it didn’t hurt me.
Moving to Senaru, we stayed at John adventure guest house. It also provided some packages to top of Rinjani; interesting offer but it required more days. Waking up and getting breakfast by John, we trekked to 2 waterfalls; more famous but so-so Sindang Gila and exciting Tiu Keleb! *Prepare your self to be wet, you must try jumping out of Tiu Keleb water wall!* The trekking was easy and nice, good view and a surprise on return way.
Going back from Tiu Keleb, the guide, Rusman, told us to take an alternative path to home; the water tunnel! It was very exciting, yet safe! Yeah, still it was totally dark *bring light, plz*, cold water with current, some bats, insects or unknown things hit your feet, but you must try! It's so thrilling! Asiik deeh! ^^ laen kali mo rafting pake ban bekas. LOL.
Next destination was Gilis. There were 3 small islands next to Lombok main island, called gili; Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. We had to hurry to Bangsal across to Gili Trawangan, since the last public service was closed at 5 p.m. but we were late. Bad luck? Nope, even we had to pay more to get our own boat; we met Yono and Umang that led us to a cheap home stay! LOL. No need to be puzzled or meet any scalper. Indeed we could enjoy more the view on boat our selves. Kekeuw, Hany and mas Sony were lucky to see big group of sea gull across our boat slowly against the wind *tp ga berani motret takut air laut. Very beautiful! It was sunset while we were arriving at Gili Trawangan.
We extended staying in Gili Trawangan for 2 days/2 nights and passed up the Senggigi. Mas Fedi and I got 2 dives in Trawangan and Meno. Hany, Mommy, Putu, mas Sony and Andreas Tyo (new comer) snorkeled around with a boat. Poor under water scene, mostly was damaged. They said for bombing. Hiks.. Seeing 6-7 sharks and a turtle, I was still lucky but brokenhearted.
Gili Trawangan was originally beautiful, but too busy with cafés, hostels, home-stays, dive center, any service provider for tourist. The foreigners seem as many as local people, or may be more. While Bali had Nyepi, Gili had party! Wuuw!! I lost my words for Gili. Only it was lovely, yet tragic..
Returning back to main island, we again lost the earlier boat *LOL*, meant we might got late for our flight. It was rushing way home. But even we knew we should be hurry, still.. we couldn’t resist to stop on some spots to take pictures. Hahahaha.. the view was tempting! Aah.. I’d wrote to much… endingnya langsung deeh… after the ferry, we did really really hurry driving from Padang Bay to Denpasar. I could say that it was impossible to catch the flight to Jakarta. We were still on half way while the boarding time reached. Only miracle could save us!!
In Ngurah Rai airport we ran even we knew the plane had should been flying since 15 minutes ago. But IT DID! The last luck was happened! The flight was delayed. As we checked in, the officer told us that we’re lucky… and yes, we were lucky during the trip. Always! For it’s LOMBOK, our journey of fortune.
*thx to mas Fedi and mas Sony that "EO" this trip well.
and to whole group that made it so fun!! ;)
SUMMARY:
Flight Jakarta – Denpasar:
± 2 hours, we got AA special promo price (360,000 IDR PP)
Denpasar – Padang Bay:
1.5 – 2 hours by car (250-300,000 IDR)
*rather not to take car to ferry, expensive tariff; indeed Bali rented car’s banned in Lombok.
Padang Bay - Lembar:
± 6 hours (4 hours on sea + ship queuing) by ferry (@ 24,000 IDR – one way).
Sade Sasak Village:
Note: good enough but no need to buy anything here.
Anda home stay (kuta lombok 0370-654836):
60 – 90,000 IDR for twin bed room/day.
Tanjung Aan:
Note: no sunset view from this side.
Kuta – Senaru:
± 3 hours by car. Note: better to take this route at day than night for safety.
John Adventure guest house (www.rinjanimaster.com):
75.000 IDR for twin bed room/ day.
Going to Sindang Gila:
± 30 minutes nice and easy trekking (sambil motret yg bikin lama :D).
Going to Tiu Keleb:
30 minutes more. Much bigger and more exciting than Sindang Gila.
Water Tunnel:
only 15 minutes thrilling-MUST TRY! activity!! :))
Senaru – Bangsal
± 2 hour by car.
Bangsal – G. Trawangan:
less than 30 minutes; @ 8,000 IDR before 5 p.m or 150-200,000 IDR to rent boat your self.
Rumah Hantu home stay, Gili Trawangan:
30,000 IDR for queen bed/ day.
Warung Anna, GT:
± 7,000 IDR for dining and drink.
Bicycle Rental:
15 – 25,000 IDR/ day for good bargainer *such as Hany. LOL*.
Staring the sky, watching the star:
Free! We found good space and nice seat after biking around the island.
Dive Indonesia, Big Bubble dive center, etc:
Standardized price. US$ 35 for 1st dive, $ 30 for next ones. Includes all gear, dive master, boat and drink. Discount 10% for local diver.
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