Introduction to Lombok

Previously recognised simply as Bali’s sister island, Lombok is now a full-grown destination with its own set of charms. Each year, more people are skipping Bali for Lombok’s pristine, unspoiled nature. Some say Lombok’s exotic beaches remind them of what Bali looked like decades ago – and that doesn’t include the island’s hidden, untouched spots still waiting to be discovered. While Bali is getting touristy, those who prefer an island that has more local vibes would choose to visit Lombok instead.

Starting 16 October, Scoot will be launching direct flights from Singapore to Lombok. For me, I had to travel via Jakarta to get to Lombok.

Unlike the Hindu-majority Bali, the residents of Lombok are predominantly Muslim. That religious background impacts the island’s landmarks and culture, making Lombok more than just ‘another Bali’. Before the independence of Indonesia, Lombok was mainly ruled by chiefs of the indigenous Sasak tribe, which still dominates the local population at about 85%.

Many local people in Lombok make concentrated efforts to uphold their traditions, with strong adherence to cultural rituals. Other communities practice a unique, fascinating mix of Islam and animistic beliefs.

Mataram

Mataram is the capital city of West Nusa Tenggara and probably the single most lively urban area in Lombok. This is where you’ll find shopping malls, modern restaurants, and majestic houses of worships – including the glorious Pura Meru. Mataram has been a centre of civilisation since ancient empires ruled the land, leaving traces of history in the forms of buildings, landmarks and other historic sites.

Rinjani

Rinjani is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia, which attracts many hikers from Indonesia and all over the world to attempt this summit. The view along the hike is unparalleled and crater lake at the top of the mountain is worth the three days toil. If you’d rather save that kind of adventure for another day, the national park area just at the base of the mountain has beautifully picturesque hills and majestic waterfalls that make for an excellent day trip.

My main purpose of coming to Lombok was to climb Mount Rinjani, which I had arranged beforehand to join a guided tour. I will share more about my Rinjani hike in the next post. A day before commencing the hike, I reached Senaru, a small village, and had time to check out the waterfalls around the area.

Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall

These two waterfalls were located a walking distance from my guesthouse in Senaru. Since I arrived in the afternoon, there was some time to check out the waterfalls. Entrance fee is RP10,000. There are many guides at the entrance to the falls, who tell you that you need to get a guide. Just ignore them and proceed to the ticket counter to buy your tickets.

It was a short hike to the first waterfall, about half an hour. For this falls you can even swim under it. I made friends with an Indonesian family and we went swimming together. The water was so refreshingly cold and the force of the water soothed my aching back.

Tiu Kelep waterfall is the second one in the area and takes a longer time to reach. I saw a few people with guides but I just walked to the falls on my own. We passed some steep stairs, a reservoir and also did a few river crossings with ankle-deep water level. Wearing slippers or sandals would be more advisable, unless you do not mind your shoes getting wet.

For Tiu Kelep waterfall, you can’t swim at the bottom of the falls. Standing at this spot, you can feel some of the waterfall mist. Most people only visit Sendang Gile as it is more accessible.

The terrain that you need to traverse while going to Tiu Kelep waterfalls, which is not as well paved as the way to Sendang Gile.

On the way out, I took a longer way as I was following one of the couples with a guide. This brought me to a scenic view of the rice plantation. Using Google Maps, I managed to find a way out, cutting through people’s backyards before reaching the main road in Senaru.