Lombok

Traditional Indonesian sailing boat....................Relaxing before dinner at

As far as ease for cruising yachts we think that Medana Bay should get the prize. We had a great little booklet given to us prior to arriving that gave us all the info we needed to know about – fuel, water, groceries, tours, bike hire, rubbish disposal and somewhere to gather a drink a cold beer. Medana Bay had it all. We felt Lombok is probably like Bali was 20 years ago and felt we were going to enjoy it.

I went out of my comfort zone and agreed to hire a bike for the day and see the country from the pillion of a motorbike. The coast road is hilly and I wondered whether we would make it up –but make it we did and I have to admit I enjoyed it.

Another day we hired a car and driver for the day (a 12 hr day at that) and did the tourist thing, visited a weaving village, pottery village and one of the many temples. We stopped to watch the workers in the paddy fields and learnt all about the growing and harvesting process. Our observation while we have been here in Indonesia is that the women seem to be the ones who do most of the manual work, carrying up to 50kg supported on their heads.

The same car a different day we visited a different temple, cane furniture making, the making of palm sugar, a local honey shop and this time Daryl and Dave helped with the rice planting, much to the amusement of the locals. We love to be out and about merely watching the everyday living.

The motorbike is by far the most typical mode of transport and recently we saw one adult and four small children on one bike. The horse and buggy is still often used around the towns, especially to and from the local markets. They travel within a 3 km radius for less than a dollar per person. Many a time we have felt sorry for the pony as he hauls the bulging buggy load.

So I am now having palm sugar in my porridge and we still laugh over the guide trying to explain that the honey is used as an aphrodisiac.

Eating out isn’t expensive with local dishes being only a few dollars each and most western meals costing less than $10 each. So you can imagine what happy hour costs!! Daryl ordered local chicken the other day and got a whole chicken but he reckoned it had less meat on the whole thing than a NZ chicken drumstick. I don’t think he’s getting used to the spicy food but he’s managing.

The bargaining and bartering I am still finding somewhat tiresome. We are trying to relax and not react to their initial high price but just come in real low and the barter to something reasonable in the middle. But all that for a few tomatoes when you’re standing in 35 degrees is a test on the patience!! The hawkers can be persistent and most of the time we both loose out because I won’t even start the process. By the way, is anyone needing a Rolex watch for a mere $5?? or a hand woven wall hanging for not much more??