Out of the hectic Bali, into the peacefulness of Lombok!
'The morning sunlight wakes me up from a dream White dew drops like pearls On green leavesWhite foam adorns your waves That are blue like a heart amidst the sunset Sinking on the beachYour friendly inhabitants smile at me Oh, such a beautiful island Makes me feel calm and peaceful
Lombok, I love you'
I often hear this unmistakable reggae song about the beauty of Lombok. Roughly translated, the band Amtenar describes how the morning sun of Lombok wakes you up and overwhelms you with its green island, breathtaking sandy beaches, and turquoise blue waters. The friendly locals smile at you and the pure nature brings you peace. Now, when you arrive in Lombok, you are warmly welcomed by this green hilly island. I was lucky to have visited Lombok two years ago and I took my time to explore the island. If you're in Lombok, you must definitely visit the waterfalls and the many beautiful white sand beaches! Just rent a scooter and explore the area, it's definitely worth it! Besides monkeys on the road, the tropical green nature is impressive! However, this time my stay, like many other times, is mainly focused on the essential: SURFING!
Unlike my first visit to Lombok, this time I'm not staying in Gerupuk but spending my 10 days near Kuta. Unfortunately, my trip to West Sumbawa was canceled, so the organizer upgraded me to a fancy hotel. From being a low-budget traveler staying in shared rooms to a large single room in the fancy Origin Lombok hotel.
It's very unusual for me to have someone from the hotel bring my things to the room, and they anticipate my every wish here - almost reading my mind. And just to mention it, I have a large terrace with direct access to a pool.
So, for 10 days, no waiting to use the bathroom, no snoring roommates, and no waking up because someone comes back to the room drunk from a party.
Then I will enjoy my unusual solitude.
On the first day, I was picked up by a driver to be taken to Gerupuk to discuss the arrangements with Benny (the camp manager). The camp is not an unfamiliar place. Right here at Surf Garden, I rented a bungalow with friends 2 years ago. The Surf Garden extends along a hill at the end of Gerupuk with a beautiful view of Gerupuk Bay. Here, you can quickly jump into a boat in the morning to reach the various surf spots.
View from the Surf Garden
Warmly greeted by Yudi, who recognizes me immediately. 'Oh you still have that beautiful smile', I get to know the other guests and camp members.
Yudi, the joker
Yudi, always smiling
Actually, there are only two - Laurent and Chiara - and also Tur (surf guide) and Kaliang (photographer).
The gang
Tur and me
The next day, we're going to start right away. Yippie! How I missed Gerupuk's waves. Unfortunately, in the first few days, the swell wasn't really there, but we could catch some nice small waves. Small but spicy like me, as the Indo people would say.
In addition to daily surfing, on my second evening, we arranged to have a BBQ at the Reef Bar on the beach.
To match the sunset, the owner of Reef prepared an unforgettable meal for us. With a cheerful mood and a few Bintang beers, we ended the evening and got ready to surf the next day.
Still small waves, but with a lot of fun and enthusiasm, we ended the 3rd day of my trip with a view of Seger Beach and its beautiful sunset. Seger Beach is known for its wonderful view of the hill landscape and the breathtaking sunset in the south of Lombok. Up on the viewpoint, you can meet some tourists as well as locals who enjoy the view, and then unwind on the beach with a few Bintang beers.
Although I believed that without a surf camp, it could be quieter and lonelier, I was very wrong. Either I met with the guys from the camp in the evenings, went out to eat with Valentin (a surf buddy from Sri Lanka), or even went out with Dika (the songwriter of the song 'I love Lombok').
Valentin and me
The evenings that were unplanned were unforgettable, like an unplugged concert by Dika at MilkEsspresso or spontaneous farewell gathering for one of Kaliang's friends.
MilkEspresso is a slightly more Western and fancy place but highly recommended. They serve everything from Western food to great cocktails, and on Fridays, you can listen to the voice of Dika. After that, we continued to the Surfers Bar. Here, I could feel the party atmosphere that I know from Bali. Surfer boys from Lombok meet up with guests and other tourists on the beach for Bintang beers, rice wine (more like liquor if you ask me), or whatever your heart desires!
Despite the hangover, the next day, I surf twice. The waves are amazingly good, no wind, and the sun is shining. Let's rock it.
The evening session at sunset is not only worth it because of the beautiful sunset and the nature around you, but now some locals also show off their freestyle skills during their free surf.
From powerful snaps to high airs, they can do it all. Who needs the WSL? Back on the beach, I meet Lisa and Sol, who invite me to their bar for a Bintang beer. The two run a small property with about 5 bungalows overlooking the water and a small restaurant with a bar. Unlike many Western properties, they focus on the essentials and manage the place together with a local family from Lombok. Their philosophy is that everyone can learn from each other and no one should be exploited. And behold, the concept works wonderfully. If you're looking for a nice accommodation with great people, visit them. You won't feel like you're in a typical resort, but rather feel like a part of the family at Swallow the Anchor, which is what defines them!
We ended the evening with a few Bintang beers, lots of laughter, and salsa lessons from Catharina. Since it's not advisable to ride a scooter alone at night between Gerupuk and Kuta, dear Lisa offered me a free night in one of their bungalows. Thank you, my dear! The vibe and the evening were unforgettable!
Now it's already Tuesday, my last day! Unfortunately, 10 days go by way too fast. 'Oh sungguh pulau yang indah' - Oh, what a beautiful island.
You could simply stay here. As with so many trips, you always meet some special people or fall in love with certain places. Aku cinta kamu Lombok, I love you Lombok!
