Tourist Attractions in Lombok & Gili Islands
Lombok is an island in Indonesia that is relatively less known than its neighboring island of Bali. However, it is gradually attracting a large number of foreign travelers. In fact, the moment we landed, we were immediately transported to El Bazar café for a refreshing Mediterranean lunch, which got me wondering where all the local travelers were.
We flew in from Yogyakarta via a connecting flight to Bali. This was day 5 of the Trip of Wonders 2016, a 12-day trip to several key destinations organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism with 40+ travel bloggers from Southeast Asia. We were already having a blast during our visit to Bandung and Yogyakarta over the last couple of days, but our energies showed no signs of running out.
Sade Village
Soon after lunch, we headed to the town of Sade Village. As its locals are called, the Sasak people warmly welcomed us into their community by offering beautifully woven scarves to be hung around our necks. Some of us girls got creative and wore them around our heads in varying styles. All while a cultural performance was unfolding right before us. It was a mix of various traditional instruments being played, coupled with some dance shows as well.
Like many other regions in Indonesia, farming and handicraft making are the main sources of livelihood amongst the Sasak people. While it is said that developments on the island are underway, their heritage is seemingly still well preserved. Hopefully, the changes that will eventually be made here will only uplift the locals and benefit their environment in a positive way.
That evening we finally got to rest at the Golden Tulip Hotel Mataram (hotel info). Our rooms were incredibly spacious, and they came with a beautiful view! Their breakfast and dinner buffet consists of western and Indonesian food, and they sit quite well with our palettes. By this time of the trip, we were just eating healthier than usual – loads of veggies thrown into the mix of meat. At least, that’s how my plate was beginning to look like from the selection of food available. Plus, my body clock seemed to rise earlier than my set alarm!
The next day, we explored the Gili Islands – the sun, the sea, and all the salt air that came with it!
Gili Islands
The mainland of Lombok is situated in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, surrounded by white-sand beaches, breathtaking azure waters, lush forests, and surfing spots. You should take note of three small islands off its northwest coast. Gili Trawangan, the biggest of the three, if you want to check out the local party scene. Gili Air, if you want to stretch that cultural immersion with the locals much further. Gili Meno is the perfect spot to laze around and bask under the tropical sunshine. We did all three of them.
From the base camp, where we got dropped off by the bus, we boarded a small ferry that took us to Gili Trawangan. We picked up our snorkeling gears and got on a smaller boat to sail to our first snorkeling spot.
We passed by Gili Meno, dotted with these traditional cabana huts and sun beds, but I was having so much fun in the water that I took the time to just film underwater footage instead of experiencing the place!
Our next snorkeling spot was the Gili Air, which is yet another stunning scenery of turquoise water under the bright blue sky. We only stayed there briefly, but I took the time to dive right in, searching for some nice corals to film.
By 12 noon, we were back at Gili Trawangan for a lunch buffet at the beachfront restaurant of Villa Ombak Hotel. There was a bit of free time to explore the island on our own, and there were options to rent a bike and go around or to ride horse-drawn carts called cidomo and get to the famous sunset swing on the beach. Well, I chose the latter, of course! The rest afterward was just lounging by the beach and enjoying the afternoon breeze.
Islands like these won’t be hidden gems for long, especially with Indonesia gaining a steady flock of new visitors. I hope the place remains as well-maintained as it is now and perhaps even better. Spending half a day wasn’t enough, but that is definitely a reason to return for the next trip. I’ll be sure to make it longer the next time, though! Meanwhile, we are gearing up for our next destination – Labuan Bajo (where possibly the only living dragons could be found)!
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Also read:
- 12 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Indonesia
- 10 Top-Rated Airbnb Vacation Rentals In Lombok, Indonesia