HNR (here now report) 9 Day One Lombok

Day Eight holiday Day One Lombok

I didn’t sleep well (no doubt stressing about the flights) up early breakfast, barely any for me still not 100%. Finished the final packing and met Honeyman in reception paid final balance of Rp 650,000 and collected the glasses.

Negotiated with the hotel driver to take us to the airport for our flights to Lombok Rp 70,000. When I negotiate a price I don’t tip on top of that with drivers! It’s more than I would pay a taxi.

Had to buy eats at the airport for hubby and son then of course they needs drinks are eating salty eats so Rp 100,000 later.

Saw a Bali street map like a UBD so we decided we needed one of those Rp 200,000 then there was departure tax each of Rp 30,000 x 3. Our boarding passes were hand written (this takes time x3) and we head up to the departure lounge. Our flight is listed on the board and has an 1100 ETD listed but no gate. 1100 comes and goes our flight keeps moving up the board but still no gate listed. Then at 1130 there is a final boarding call and we are off. This was the first call!!! On to bus and out to aircraft. You are handed your “meal” pastry and water in a little paper bag as you exit terminal building then you hang on for dear life on the bus as it drives like a lunatic out to the aircraft. All boarded and we are off!

Flight short-thank God -as very hot and sticky! Arrive at Lombok – one of the first off the plane and quite a walk into the terminal and then we collect our luggage. Bought a taxi voucher at counter (what a rip off) of Rp 83,500 out to Holiday Resort. (taxi from HR to Airport –on our way elsewhere later in the week only Rp47,000) But anyway!!!

Arrive at the Hotel and there is a special welcome for our family on the Notice board (thanks Josi) Check in is short and sweet and we are taken across the road to the upstairs two bedroom apartment that we have for 7 wonderful nights.

The apartment is great. Two HUGE bedrooms, three balconies, one lounge dining and kitchenette and two complete bathrooms. It’s lovely in comparison for what we are actually paying. Very impressed and pleased that we decided to stay here! But it’s bucketing down and how!!!!
So we use the resorts umbrella and decide to go across and treat ourselves to a late lunch at the resort which we know will be expensive when you stay at a four star place we don’t usually eat there!

But anyway! Lunch arrived and the food just looked as good as it tasted! Rp 384,175 (2 sm beer and 2 soft)We taxied Rp 20,000 to Senggigi a bit later on and ate at La terrazzo (2 lge beer, 2 juice, 1 soft) Rp 186,000 Then we taxied back Rp 15,000 to the resort dropped Mr 14 off and Dad & I taxied Rp 22,000 back to Senggigi and we had a round of drinks at The Office Rp 48,500 – we were sitting beach front and just for us they turned off all the lights it was soo romantic (power cut for 3 minutes till the generator kicked in)

We bought couple of long sleaved t-shirts at the Art market for Rp 75,000 there are some really nice Lombok designs. Then we walked further back into Senggigi for supplies at the supermarket Rp 192,000 then I realized that the resort sign had said you only get two small bottles of water so back in for water Rp 26,000 but found out afterwards we get four small bottles even though we are three.

Hubby by this time is hungry so round of drinks plus garlic bread at Angel Rp 39,600. Final taxi back up to resort Rp 15,000.

One thing we did notice here is that flag fall on Taxi’s is lower than Bali they start at Rp 4250.

Early night for me - worn out. Exchange rate on Lombok in Senggigi is Rp 8200 today but I bought a fair amount of Rp over from Bali so that I won’t have to change money here. Well not yet anyway!

More later for those that are interested. Thanks for reading!

Funtrecker, the best place to exchange money is the money changer at south end of Senggigi (almost the last group of shops on your left as you head out of Senggigi and just before the hill). Last week they were doing 8450 when everyone else was doing 8200.

Also, do try 'the tent' one night for dinner. Cheap and tasty. Food is fresh and in 5 years since they opened I've never been sick eating there.
Also Yessy Cafe has great local food (mid-range prices). It's a bit past the art market on the main street (across from Asmara)

If you get a chance, treat yourself to a lulur treatment at Qunci Pool Villas, it's US30++ but well worth it.

Had worked out about changing money...............but you're getting ahead of me in my HNR. You like Josi will have to be patient!

Thanks hubby keeps looking at the tent as it smells wonderful as we walk past!

Fun Trecker,

Freogirl and Josi want you to have pleasant memories of Lombok.

We also want you to:

o Get the best exchange rate

o Enjoy good meals

o Get one pampered experience in Quincy Villas like a newly married and

o Be prepared for another flight by your favorite airlines Tranusa.

Enjoyed your HNR as usual. Nice to be reading about Lombok now rather than Bali

Will you be venturing down south at all? I hope so. Would like to hear what you have to say on the area if you do.

FunTrecker wrote:

Had worked out about changing money...............but you're getting ahead of me in my HNR. You like Josi will have to be patient!

Thanks hubby keeps looking at the tent as it smells wonderful as we walk past!

Funtrecker my comments were designed to assist you enjoy your holiday, not getting ahead of anything. Your report reads like you are in Lombok now, if otherwise, then forget it or remember for next time

Cheers

My last reply was all in jest!

I have no idea where I would be without advice from you and others like it.

I'm like a sponge before I go anywhere.

Thats one of the reasons I try to be thorough when doing my reports as I've gained so much from others.

I do need one more bit of help!

We hope to head South tomorrow and I would like to buy a throw. They are like the sarongs but bigger and woven on Lombok. Can anyone give me a good idea of price so I don;t pay way to much?

Thanks so much

More of my HNR later tonight hopefully.

Way to busy today and yesterday on the Gilis which incidentally I LOVE!!!

Fun Trecker,

There are Aussie-English words (brollie?), then American-English words, English-English words but I am going to interpret "throw" as a cloth you spread over a sofa.

If that is what you meant, then I would suggest you tell a Blue Bird Taxi Driver to take you to one of the wholesalers in Ampenan. You may have to explain that this shop is in an area where they sell children's toys and the store sells Tees and other stuff.

As for the price, two years ago I may have paid $5 but more importantly the appreciation in USA was much more than $5. These are heavy colorful cotton spreads. I got volume discount (usually the boss "Orang China" will know a smattering of English).

However, if you are talking about visiting one of the villages en route Kuta where you see Sasak weaving, then it is a totally different matter. The work product is exquisite and you will pay a lot.

Josi

As Josi said it depends a lot on if you are looking for something that is mass produced or hand woven. A hand woven item can take months to complete and will cost accordingly.

Will people back home be able to tell the difference? Will you? Does it matter? if not just pick up something in a market that appeals to you for a price that you are happy with.

The locals will refer to these as a blanket. The machine made ones are sold out the front of your hotel on the beach. If you ask for Misdan and tell him you are a friend of Karen (wife of Damsiah) and tell him from me to give you a good price he will look after you.
5 years ago we were buying doubles wholesale in bulk for rp 180,000 to 300,000 depending on quality.on the beach they will sell for about double that. I don't know the current price but most things have gone up 30-50%.
You could go to a wholesaler in Chakra, but if you are only bouying one or two it is hardly worth the time and effort. Buying from the beach will feed someones family.
Misdan is the first person I met in Lombok 15 years ago when he came up to me and started practicing his English. He is lovely.