Our group of 8 left on our now annual girls-only trip on 6 March, thanks to Jetstar's opening sale fares for their Perth to Lombok direct service. First time to Lombok for all 8 of us, and the first time to anywhere in Asia for one intrepid traveller :-) 6 of us travelled together to Bali in 2013, we have 2 newbies with us this time around.
Although we'd agreed to meet at the airport by 7.30 at latest for a 9.30 departure, one of our group was stuck in traffic and didn't arrive until almost 8.00am. Started to get a bit worried as we were all on a single booking & couldn't check-in until "D1" arrived. More panic sets in as we go inside the terminal to discover that there is a very long queue at the Jetstar counter - flights leaving for Bali and Lombok are full and very close together. By the time we've made our way to the front of the queue, checked-in and then filled out our departure cards we have to bolt to duty-free and are standing in the queue to pay when final calls to board are made. Not a great start -very, very stressful actually - the exact opposite of what this holiday's supposed to be about. Although it's only 9.30 in the morning, I feel like I could do with a stiff drink!
We are near last to board and I heave a big sigh of relief as I take my seat & buckle my seatbelt. We made it, pheeew!!! Now where's that flight attendant with the drinks trolley??
Everybody was in very high spirits and I must admit we were a tad noisy during the flight, not obnoxious or rude, but there was lots of banter and laughter during the 3 ½ hours it took to get to Lombok. When you let 8 Mums off their leashes for a few days it's to be expected I suppose! Apologies if you were on the same flight - I hope we were less annoying than crying children or those who kick the back of your seat :-)
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VOA, Immigration & Customs all went smoothly and quickly upon arrival. I am still wondering how I managed to get away with having two 2L casks of wine in my suitcase (travelling incognito in a water box) and nobody even blinking an eye when it went through the X-ray machine. My friend J also had a 2L cask in her bag which went undetected. Seems that Customs in Lombok are a bit slow to catch on to the 'Duty' gravy train that is so rampant at Denpasar.
The Manager from our accommodation, Malimbu Cliff Villa, and our driver are waiting when we are through Customs and after Made has given the driver instructions to take us to 'the nearest Mini Mart' we head off on the 1.5 hour journey to Senggigi. The first thing that strikes me upon leaving the airport is the wide open spaces and lack of traffic. You basically exit the airport straight into countryside, and it is nearly an hour's drive before you hit anything resembling civilisation. I loved seeing the horse & carts making their way through the traffic of Mataram, it's amazing to see that form of transport still being used in this day and age - and not just for joy rides for tourists either.
Everyone is getting a bit antsy by this stage, we're hot and thirsty and have passed quite a few Mini Marts since reaching the outskirts of Mataram and the driver still hasn't stopped yet. Turns out he interpets 'the nearest Mini Mart' to be the nearest one to the Villa :-) We had many more experiences like this one to come - our drivers did not have a great command of English and there were quite a few humorous situations which arose from their misinterpretations. J did not find this one very amusing - she'd thought it was Bintang time the minute the plane hit the tarmac and did not appreciate having to wait over an hour to get her fix lol.
We all stock up on a few supplies and a cold beer each for the 15 minute drive North of Senggigi to the villa and hit the road again. First impression of Senggigi is how quiet and sleepy it seems in comparison to the tourist hubs of Bali and, for a shopaholic such as me, how few opportunites there are to spend money lol.
The drive along the coast up to Malimbu Cliff is very scenic, the beaches look beautiful and the hillsides are so green and lush. It's a feast for the eyes and I'm already loving the laidback Lombok vibe.
We arrive at our Villa to be met at the portico entrance by the staff, waiting with cold facecloths and big smiles. The entrance is beautiful, and the villa beyond is spectacular to say the least. I have never stayed anywhere so luxurious before and not likely to again anytime soon. This place is only affordable because there are 8 of us sharing the expense. The sweeping ocean views are visible from every room, and the Master Suite is bigger than most apartments. This goes to W (who organised the trip) and the crazy Vodka drinking Scotswoman C. There are 2 bedrooms on the upper floor (the Master and a Kingsize suite with a balcony, which J and I are lucky enough to be sharing). Downstairs is an infinity pool and sundeck with a twin room to the left (D1 and D2 are in here), the 2 living areas & kitchen in the centre, and another King suite to the right for Princesses P and H. We're not occupying the 3rd lower level which is a "Bunk Room" for kids and also doubles as a treatment room if you book in-house massages.
After we've had a quick look around, we change & hit the pool for cocktails and a spectacular sunset. The only time I've ever experienced such amazing ocean views was from the Blue Moon Villas at Amed. There is just nothing but ocean as far as the eye can see. Although it is great to have access to a swimming beach directly in front of your hotel, I'd gladly give that up for the views you get when you're situated on a cliff top. Looking at the ocean is where I feel most at peace with the world.
We'd requested to have dinner prepared at the Villa for our first night - a menu was emailed to us prior to our arrival - and we enjoy some lumpia and mixed satays out on the deck while watching the sun go down. The individual main courses we ordered were all delicious - Beef Rendang for me - and we decide to have the chef prepare dinner for us again the following night. There was lots of discussion about what to have, then the chef suggested Ayam Betutu and asked what we'd like to have as side dishes. 'Surprise us' was the answer he was given as we all declared that not having to decide what to cook for dinner was like a dream come true.
Next up was placing our orders for breakfast the next day, ugggh this is starting to be too much like hard work!! I have a feeling I'm going to be a little seedy in the morning so order Mie Goreng - much to the surprise of D1 (our Asian virgin). 'For BREAKFAST?? Isn't that what I just ate for dinner?' She thinks I'm completely mad when I tell the chef I want it 'medium' spicy lol.
The rest of our first evening is spent in or by the pool, putting good sized dents in the wine & duty-free before heading off to our ever-so-comfy beds, the ones with pillows that are like laying your head on a fluffy cloud. I fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below. Aaaaah Lombok, I think I love you....