Posts Tagged ‘Lombok’
While it takes only 20 minutes of flying time for Garuda Indonesia’s Boeing 737-400 to bring you from Ngurah Rai airport in Bali to Mataram, the capital city of Lombok, the two islands are actually worlds apart.
Lombok’s quite and undeveloped environment stands in marked contrast to that of Bali’s, beckoning travelers seeking a relaxed pace and spectacular natural beauty.
Most well-heeled tourists tend to gravitate towards Senggigi, a 10-kilometer strip along the coastal road north of Mataram, where most star-rated beach resorts and nightlife action are found. Read the rest of this entry »
Learning to dive has been near the top of my ‘to do’ list for a while. Fuelled by diving specials on The Discovery Channel, it was time for action. Options included Amed and the PADI Openwater Course or Gili Trawangan, off Lombok.
‘Gili’ is the Lombok word for the small islands off the coast but the three most famous Gilis sit off the north west coast, about ten minutes away by boat. Gili Trawangan is the most popular island with the best tourist infrastructure. The other two islands (Gili Air and Gili Meno) provide more of a Robinson Crusoe feel. Read the rest of this entry »