2 months in Lombok (October 2023)
Almost two whole months in one place! Holy CRAP! This may be a record for the past four years! And man, what a time we have! So much so that we soon realized that even two months would not be enough. And, to be honest, we discovered last month that accommodations around Christmas in the Philippines and Thailand are ridiculously expensive, if there is availability at all. Our original plan? Celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve on a tropical Filipino beach. But as always with our plans, this one soon landed in the water. Secretly, we are quite happy about that, because the peace and quiet here, this place…. we simply can’t get enough of it.
WORK, SURF, EAT & REPEAT
Working a few hours in the morning and then quickly on the scooter, looking for a new beach. And if the waves allow it, then hup, fast into that water with a surfboard. So for the past few weeks we haven’t done very much, and again, that feels very nice. We have already met some nice people, discovered a fine gym, a regular address for our laundry, often start the weekend with beers and a dance at the surfer’s bar, dive into the spa once a week, and by now have tried almost all the hot spots in Kuta Lombok. And if one of us gets a little restless, because of the idea that maybe we’re not enjoying or doing enough, we’ll take the scooter and look for something new nearby. Every week we discover new beaches, viewpoints, restaurants and bars.
Cow blocks and chickens on tables
One such beach is Pantai Tampa, “the cleanest beach in Indonesia,” according to a roadside sign. That’s what we want to see! By scooter, we turned off the regular road and tore along a narrow dirt road, past traditional houses, chicken wire and a cow block. Arriving at the beach, we are greeted not only by a few local kids, but also by a group of goats and some chickens chilling on tables. These are exactly the places that make Lombok so wonderful. The beach is really beautiful and the surroundings absolutely breathtaking.
Besides Tampa Beach, we also decide to visit the beautiful Mawi Beach and cross the Bukit Merese viewpoint off our bucket list.
Family Visit
It seems that this year the whole family is coming to Indonesia. Unfortunately, we are just missing Danny and Naomie, but by chance my nephew Jonathan is in Lombok when we are there. Although we haven’t seen each other in years, it immediately feels familiar. We surf, toast with beers and most of all live the Lombok life. It remains special to meet family or friends here.
The second month on Lombok is flying by and unfortunately our visa has expired, so we have to leave the country. We decide to go to Bangkok for a few days, but more on that later.