Welcome to Lombok.
"We will be landing in Lombok shortly" came the announcement over the aircraft PA system.
So this is it, the real adventure begins. There was almost 40 minute wait to clear out immigrations and I was last in line with the guys. Now none of us had return tickets and since the boys are from the EU they both needed to get a visa.
My turn came up and guess what? I got pulled over for not having a return ticket. So there I went into the immigration waiting room to have a 'chat' with a zit faced officer.
"Miss can you speak Bahasa Melayu?"
"Yes"
The rest of the conversation was continued in Malay and I was arguing over why I needed a return ticket and the boys don't. According to law, if you have a free entry without having to pay visa you need a return ticket which is valid. And since I'm Malaysian I have to have a return ticket. I explained to him that I'm willing to purchase one now, right there and then. But he kept saying,
"Oh but that is not it, you should have one even before you left your country. So now we have to send you back"
"No you're not. You are not sending me back plus the next flight is hours later and I'm buying a ticket now and you are going to print it!"
So this is it, the real adventure begins. There was almost 40 minute wait to clear out immigrations and I was last in line with the guys. Now none of us had return tickets and since the boys are from the EU they both needed to get a visa.
My turn came up and guess what? I got pulled over for not having a return ticket. So there I went into the immigration waiting room to have a 'chat' with a zit faced officer.
"Miss can you speak Bahasa Melayu?"
"Yes"
The rest of the conversation was continued in Malay and I was arguing over why I needed a return ticket and the boys don't. According to law, if you have a free entry without having to pay visa you need a return ticket which is valid. And since I'm Malaysian I have to have a return ticket. I explained to him that I'm willing to purchase one now, right there and then. But he kept saying,
"Oh but that is not it, you should have one even before you left your country. So now we have to send you back"
"No you're not. You are not sending me back plus the next flight is hours later and I'm buying a ticket now and you are going to print it!"
So that went on for another 15 minutes before he finally coughed out that I 'needed' to pay like 500,000 rupiah to get in. I clearly made such a bloody scene and fuss, which again went on for a while before I finally paid the damn fee. Even the officer was puzzled that no one on the Malaysian end warned me about this must-have-return ticket policy and said it should have been mentioned before I purchased my tickets. Well it was an expensive lesson for me but what a way to start the journey. Oh well, it's equivalent to a night out in Malaysia anyway so am not complaining too much but am still a bit sore about it. And this line hit the spot,
"It's for my country, not for me"
Like I haven't heard that one before.
Managed to interview the officer though, of where to go and how to get from one place to another for cheap and not being ripped off (yeah and I just got ripped off by him!). But he did furnish me with information which was useful.
*still very much annoyed*
"It's for my country, not for me"
Like I haven't heard that one before.
Managed to interview the officer though, of where to go and how to get from one place to another for cheap and not being ripped off (yeah and I just got ripped off by him!). But he did furnish me with information which was useful.
*still very much annoyed*
Hotel Viktor 3.
Naturally walking with two Caucasians made them an obvious tout target. Eventually I managed to speak to some police officers to ask about how we are to get to Mataram which is our first stop by bus. Cars go for 150,000 rupiah onwards to Mataram while the bus cost 20,000 rupiah but you got to wait for a long time before it leaves or arrives. It usually arrives just before a flight lands and the operator to Mataram and Senggigi is Damri. You can purchase the ticket before hand or on board from the conductor.
The bus operator was nice to give us information about places in Lombok; As I speak the local language it's relatively easy to get around. But as always I need to hide the boys, get info and haggle before revealing them as my 2+. If not it would be double with them two in plain sight.
The bus operator was nice to give us information about places in Lombok; As I speak the local language it's relatively easy to get around. But as always I need to hide the boys, get info and haggle before revealing them as my 2+. If not it would be double with them two in plain sight.
Pura Dan Kemaliq Lingsar.
We got to Mataram under heavy rainfall. The bus driver was kind enough to get a taxi (Blue Bird taxis are the most reliable taxis in Bali and Lombok, and they run on meter) to the accommodation we wanted to go too. We got to Hotel Viktor, which is really a guesthouse more than anything. They have Hotel Viktor 1,2 & 3 all lined up in the same street. We got into Viktor 2 and for 3 people to a room a night, with cold shower and fan it cost us only 150,000 rupiah (all 3 of us). For the rooms with hot water showers, it's located in Viktor 3, just across from us and cost about 250,000 rupiah for 3. This is obviously not including breakfast. You can chill out at Viktor 3 to use the wifi as that's the only accommodation that has wifi connected too.
The people running the accommodation are nice and they were very helpful. We wanted to rent scooters to go around the island and to rent in Mataram it will cost 50,000 rupiah but you must surrender your passport to the rental office. We have done this before in Thailand but over here, there is no insurance plus we were advised against it as scooter thefts are very common in Mataram. We were advised to perhaps rent scooters when we get to Kuta-Lombok as it's safer over there plus we would be needing them to beach hop.
The people running the accommodation are nice and they were very helpful. We wanted to rent scooters to go around the island and to rent in Mataram it will cost 50,000 rupiah but you must surrender your passport to the rental office. We have done this before in Thailand but over here, there is no insurance plus we were advised against it as scooter thefts are very common in Mataram. We were advised to perhaps rent scooters when we get to Kuta-Lombok as it's safer over there plus we would be needing them to beach hop.
Pura Lingsar.
There is the Mataram Mall close to the accommodation (turn left at the junction) and there is a big supermarket in there too for everything you need. There are places to eat all around too and sounds like a lot of them are accustomed to tourist so it's easy to order in English. Then again, they keep thinking I'm a Sasak (a local from Lombok) as I'm tanned from my sailing trips. It's funny how they keep asking me which part of Indonesia I am from, and how is it a foreigner could speak their local language well. I find it strange yet comforting to the fact I look like an Indonesian.
Praying at Pura Surinadi.
We got up early the next morning and headed out into Mataram with a driver and a mini van. It was part of a package we took which included the hike up to Mt. Rinjani, ferry transfer in and out of the Gili's, transport to Kuta-Lombok and the ferry transfer to Kuta-Bali. It's a bargain what we got it as people usually pay what we paid for only the hike to Mt. Rinjani. If you want to know the price, drop me a message and I'll let you know cause it's a local price, and a 'secret'.
So our first stop was Pura Dan Kemaliq Lingsar which is a Hindu temple and a Mosque situated side by side. It's a beautiful and quiet place to visit. The carvings on the entrance to the Hindu temple is beautiful but the temple itself is not as majestic as the ones I have seen in Bali. Nevertheless it is beautiful. One must be in a 'sarong' when visiting, as I was in shorts, I had a long shawl which I used as a 'sarong' to enter the temple. The next temple we went to was a Hindu temple known as Pura Suranadi. Its a bigger Hindu temple with beautiful carvings all in black. At the front, you'll be lent a sarong and sash to wear as it's custom to wear these before entering this temple. Plus a small donation is a custom when visiting temples. 10,000 - 20,000 rupiah is sufficient.
So our first stop was Pura Dan Kemaliq Lingsar which is a Hindu temple and a Mosque situated side by side. It's a beautiful and quiet place to visit. The carvings on the entrance to the Hindu temple is beautiful but the temple itself is not as majestic as the ones I have seen in Bali. Nevertheless it is beautiful. One must be in a 'sarong' when visiting, as I was in shorts, I had a long shawl which I used as a 'sarong' to enter the temple. The next temple we went to was a Hindu temple known as Pura Suranadi. Its a bigger Hindu temple with beautiful carvings all in black. At the front, you'll be lent a sarong and sash to wear as it's custom to wear these before entering this temple. Plus a small donation is a custom when visiting temples. 10,000 - 20,000 rupiah is sufficient.
At the market place.
This temple has beautiful carvings on each pillar and the temple ground is beautiful. It's not all that big but big enough for you to wonder around. As always, me being cheeky, approached a lady sitting under a tree about to pray. I asked her if she could show me how to pray, as the custom over here is very different to that of a Hindu temple back in Malaysia. So this wonderful lady told me to first wash my feet in the running water, then place a few prayer flowers at the alter. She actually gave me some of hers. Next is to put a few of those prayer baskets in front of me with lit incense sticks and sat down to pray under the shade of a tree. Once I've said my prayer, the prayer baskets and incense sticks are put on the alter and in return pour some holy water from the pot into the little silver holder.
Under the tree she sprinkled the holy water onto my head 3 times with the flower taken from the alter. Then another 3 times onto my palm where I had to drink the holy water, then wash my face with the water again 3 times and finally one last sprinkle onto the palm which is then placed across the chest. Oh and the flower is later placed behind each ear while the rice grains in the holy water are stuck onto the forehead. Prayer done!
She was really sweet, she's a teacher from Bali who got posted to work here as her husband was transfer over to Lombok for work. She was asking me a lot questions, the standard run of mill of question you normally get people asking tourist. Before I left I wanted to give her some money for the flowers and incense stick but she refused saying that she was happy to help and watch me pray.
Under the tree she sprinkled the holy water onto my head 3 times with the flower taken from the alter. Then another 3 times onto my palm where I had to drink the holy water, then wash my face with the water again 3 times and finally one last sprinkle onto the palm which is then placed across the chest. Oh and the flower is later placed behind each ear while the rice grains in the holy water are stuck onto the forehead. Prayer done!
She was really sweet, she's a teacher from Bali who got posted to work here as her husband was transfer over to Lombok for work. She was asking me a lot questions, the standard run of mill of question you normally get people asking tourist. Before I left I wanted to give her some money for the flowers and incense stick but she refused saying that she was happy to help and watch me pray.
Dried fish and anchovies.
We went to the market place next, which is interesting. Nothing new for me at least as it's the same as Malaysian market places. But some of their produce was different, especially the dried fish and anchovies, don't think I've seen that much variety before. Whilst walking in, a lady just grabbed this little kid and help him up, so to say "Take him!". It was hilarious cause this kid just started wailing and screaming at the top of his lungs. So funny! On our way back he spotted us and started crying and screaming again! I wonder what his mother told him...hmmmm?
There isn't much to do in Mataram other than those places. Mataram is a nice place to take a chill pill but more than a day or two, there really isn't much to do. So am looking forward for tomorrow when we head up to the mountain.
Next up: Mt. Rinjani
There isn't much to do in Mataram other than those places. Mataram is a nice place to take a chill pill but more than a day or two, there really isn't much to do. So am looking forward for tomorrow when we head up to the mountain.
Next up: Mt. Rinjani
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