Visitors to Bali, as well as expats sometimes look for an close alternative, to the Bali beach scene. One option is Senggigi Lombok.
An old copy of the Indonesia Handbook, from 1991 has this description:
The coral and snorkeling at this popular beach area, 6km north of Ampenan, is fantastic-4 straight kms of pure white sand, blue-green sea, and no crowds.
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Climbing any mountain in Indonesia as in any place in the world no matter what its height should not be taken lightly and all due care and awareness should be a priority.
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Lombok feels like Bali did 30 years ago. Largely undeveloped for toursim the island does have some infrastructure. Here are some useful contacts numbers which are mostly in Mataram and Senggigi on the west coast.
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Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim country. I have mentioned before that the brand of Islam practiced here seems to be a liberal and accepting form. Lombok has a branch of the Muslim religion called Wetu Telu, which is a major divergence from all other forms. The Wetu Telu still strongly believe in ancestor worship and the old animist beliefs are still recognized. Islam has been adapted here so that instead of praying 5 times a day they pray 3 times and the holy month of Ramadan becomes a 3-day observation. The most important festival in the calendar is called Maulid, which is Mohammed’s birthday. The most important rituals are the life-cycle ceremonies to recognize birth, death, marriage, circumcision etc. There are many crossovers into Balinese Hinduism and in fact the Wetu Telu believe Gunung Rinjani, the largest volcano in Lombok is the dwelling place of their ancestors and the Supreme Being.
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The island of Lombok is located to the east of Bali. Although its tourism is not as developed as that of neighbouring Bali it is the perfect alternative. You can visit picturesque mountainside landscapes or the white sandy beaches of the Gili Islands or even ride around the island on a motorbike.
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Bali is a wonderful and most of us love it. Sometimes though, even Bali is too crowded and you need a special remote place. Lombok is the next island to the east and the level of tourism is a fraction of Bali’s. The level of everything is a fraction of what Bali is, including hotels, shops, warungs and it seems people. A German friend of mine came out a couple of years ago and went to Tetebatu on the slopes of Gunung Rinjani, the massive volcano. She said it was totally peaceful and lovely. Here’s what my book says.
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Visitors to Bali often crave a more remote, undeveloped place after the hectic tourist scene in Kuta. Some people take a day trip to Kintamani, or better still, an overnight trip to East Bali. If you really want to get away from the tourist scene and step into an environment that is extremely mellow you might consider Lombok. Situated across the Lombok Strait to the east can be reached in just 30 minutes with a flight from Bali. An alternative route would be to take the ferry from Padangbai in East Bali, which takes 4-6 hours. Plane tickets can be purchased from any of the small travel agents in the Kuta area and ferry tickets can be bought at the terminal. You can take your motorbike from Bali across with you on the ferry, which is great if you are on surfari.
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