We’re in Lombok!

So we made it! After two years of procrastinating, we finally crossed the Wallace Line and are chilling out in Lombok.

First we drove two hours north from Sanur to Padang Bai where we got a ferry for the four-hour trip to Lombok. As you can see, we were careful to pick one with deckchairs.

Our ferry with deckchairs

Once we were off the boat it was about a one and a half hour drive south to Kuta on the south coast. As per usual we got lost (even though we had a map and a GPS) but it actually worked out and we probably saved a little time, and best of all nobody vomited!

It was raining when we arrived, which just made the “panicked looking for a room because we had no reservations” period all that much more awesome, but in the end, most places had rooms, so it was no big deal. Remember just because you can’t book a place online doesn’t mean you’ll need to sleep on the beach.

Talking of beaches, here is Kuta Beach the next morning (very low tide).

Kuta Beach, Lombok

We hung around a bit, the accommodation wouldn’t win any awards, but the staff are very obliging and the room is big enough to swing a dead kid in — ahh I mean dead cat — dunno where that thought came from.

That morning, there was a market happening, so I went and took a looksee. The market rotates through different towns each day (in Kuta twice a week apparently) but it was a complete fluke. It was a pretty typical village market type deal — garlic, chilli and shallots were the business end of things.

Sunday market, Kuta Beach, Lombok

In the afternoon we went to another beach called Mawan Bay, and it was lovely!

Mawun Bay, Lombok

The weather was a bit overcast, but the beach is lovely and there is no development on the beach whatsoever – no hotels or guesthouses or anything! Just a shack selling drinks and a few beach vendors. Was awesome and Lyla loved it – especially the swimming.

Lyla at Mawun Bay, Lombok

Will though, wasn’t so impressed:

Will at Mawun

The next day (that would be today) we headed to another glorious, totally undeveloped beach called Aan Beach, for which Will decided he wanted to wear his dedicated beachwear:

Batwill

Batwill aside, the beach was a cracker:

Aan Beach, Lombok

It was really anvil under the sun material though. Brilliant white sand reflecting the sun back up and while the water was a little murky (due to all the rain) it was great for kids and didn’t have the deep drop off Mawun did. Batwill though, turned his nose up at it:

Will at Aan Beach. Lombok

But, at the end of the day, is your sea urchin half full or half empty?

Sea urchin, Aan Beach, Lombok

More to come soon