Saturday, August 27, 2011

We can see light at the end of the tunnel

The next day didn't start off much better than the last had ended but we were optimistic since there was only improvement possible. We got on to a bemo (the same thing as a becak) to Materam, the capitol of Lombok, from where we made our way to Senggigi.
The original idea was to go to the south-western peninsular and the legendary Desert Point, from where we would head north and end up on the Gili islands. That way I thought I could get some surf and we would escape the tourist mainstream but Bekki made up her mind, literally in the last minute, so we went to Sengigi.The trip there was as always. Short and over crowded bus rides from and to the different bemo terminals, wild and frustrating bargaining battles with helplessly overcharging bus drivers, (pseudo) friendly strangers on the bus who tell you where you should stay ( and try to drag yuo there) and complete exhaustion after arriving and fighting off all those people who offer you "cheap" rooms. If it sounds bad to you imagine it ten times worse experiencing it. And it's the same every trip. By the time we arrive we always feel completely exhausted and as if we have been traveling all day and night. Lombok was the worst but Sumatra and Bali follow very close and we decided (after the long trip to Sengigi) to, from now on, consider the expensive shuttle option at all times.
After arriving in Sengigi it took us another hour to find accommodation that suited our budget but we failed and ended up paying 125.000Rp per night. At least it included breakfast and had "clean" rooms. We didn't feel like doing anything else that day than go down to the beach and sleep until sunset.
The sunset is one of the major attractions Sengigi offers so we looked for a good spot close to the water and enjoyed the sight of the sinking sun next to Bali's highest volcano, the Gurung Agung. We started to relax after the hassles of the past days and were really looking forward to some quiet days on the beach. The day ended with a nice dinner at an European restaurant (a funny thing was that the menu was also labeled in German which we didn't notice at first, we just read it, and we were very surprised to see it was) and a peaceful stroll through Sengigi with greatly lifted spirits, looking forward to ten harmonic days on Lombok.
How do I look after 35 hours of sleep...?



6 comments:

  1. Hey guys, I hope your next days are filled with sun, surf and slow times (and no more bus trips) :-)

    L, Ian

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  2. You can say many things he is a wise man, our father, dont you think? (bold and white-bearded)

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  3. Hmm how can I edit my comments? I was gonna go to bed but realized daddio does not deserve a comment like that...he made me BANANA PANCAKES this morning (like every morning).

    Love you heaps mate.

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  4. Yeh he is wise...
    The only time when we get pissed off is, when we're moving. Settling almost always fees good.

    But what don't you like about BANANA PANCAKES? I have them every morning and I love them...

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  5. Banana pancakes for brains? You don't seem to get my drift..he is spoiling me! And I'm loving it.

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  6. Hey Tim, I like the short hair! You look like me without wrinkles :-)

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