I awake to the sound of J's snoring from the far side of our huge bed around 5.30am. This is not the first time I've been awake since going to bed last night - I was woken almost hourly by the loud calls of the half dozen geckos that were gathered on the vaulted ceiling right outside our bedroom door. That and the fact that I'd 'won' the left hand side of the bed from J and had spent the night with a piercing white light drilling through my eyelids coming from the aircon nearest my side! Note to self: get organised & have the sleep mask and earplugs at the ready tonight.
I can't get back to sleep so head downstairs and make myself a coffee and dive in the pool for a revival swim. The early risers amongst us soon make their way out to the sun deck and as we sit and chat a troupe of monkeys appears in the clearing below the villa and puts on a very entertaining show. This pleases D1 no end, she's an animal lover who runs a wildlife sanctuary on her property in the Perth hills, and she spends the next half hour or so getting lots of shots with her fancy-schmancy camera. The rest of us make do with our iPhones. The monkeys make a regular appearance each morning & evening during our 5 days at Malimbu despite the Security guard doing his best to discourage them.
There is a set of steep concrete steps at the side of the villa, leading partway to the beach below and D2 wants to lead the charge in doing some runs up and down them before breakfast. Princesses H and P sign up for D2's bootcamp but unfortunately I had no room in my bag for runners once I'd packed my 5L cask of 'water' and my Deluxe Ninja (mini food processor for crushing ice & making cocktails). I have my priorities right. The 2 Princesses spend 15 mins getting ready for the run and about 3 minutes actually running. The stairs are even steeper than they appear and one lap down & up is enough for them despite the 'encouragement' they were getting from the peanut gallery (...). They climb back up the spiral staircase which leads up from the lower level, red faced and sweating, and declare that they're ready for breakfast and a swim. Somehow I don't think D2's 5 Day Body Challenge is going to take off.
Breakfast on our first morning was a la carte - our dish of choice accompanied by freshly squeezed juice and a Nespresso coffee. Just like being at home, except I am not the chef or chief bottle washer for a change. I have found it hard so far to stay out of the kitchen, much to the staff's amusement (and frustration). They keep trying to chase me out, and I keep wanting to help myself to whatever it is I require. I get the feeling they really want me to stay on the other side of the breakfast bar!
The morning is spent swimming and relaxing in the pool. The weather is fantastic - despite being Wet season it is quite hot and doesn't feel particularly humid. We've requested the driver take us into Senggigi to check out the Art Markets and the beach at 1.00pm so it's a luxuriously lazy start to the day. We also arrange for a private charter boat tomorrow for a day trip to the Gilis. The price of the boat, guide and skipper for the day is Rp 1,000,000 to visit all 3 islands. We're told the boat can take up to 15 people comfortably so it is a very reasonably priced day out.
C and W opt to stay behind in the afternoon so the remaining 6 of us head back down the hill to Senggigi for a bit of shopping. Our 2 newbies are very keen to hone their bargaining skills and after a few tips from the regulars, they take to it like ducks to water.
J and Princess P can not stand the hassling of the stall holders so our driver leads them to the beach restaurants at the front of the markets for some peace and quiet. That's where I find them 15 minutes later - sitting at a table and surrounded by beach sellers lol. We all snack on some lumpia and fries for lunch, drink some cold Bintangs and do a bit of shopping. There is a seller offering personalised woven 'Lombok' keyrings in bright colours, so I have one made for my 7yo to hang on her schoolbag. The pearl sellers are out in full force, they are quite aggressive and start to get on my nerves. Nobody once offers me a watch or sunglasses though. I can already tell it is going to be hard going to find presents to take home for my daughter and 18yo stepdaughter. I am not really a market shopper anyway, and most of the merchandise on offer in Senggigi reminds me of shopping in Bali on my first visit back in 1993. Poor quality, garish clothes that you think look great with your Bali tan... and that you would never be seen dead in at home. Local handicrafts that are really not all that handy (although we did purchase some local handwoven table runners and throws which are both beautiful and useful).
Nobody should go to Lombok expecting to find a 'mini Bali', particularly in regard to shopping. There are very few shops on the main drag, the street is mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, tour operators, a few money changers, ATMs and Mini marts. No DVD shops (although they are available from the sellers on the beach), no clothing or shoe shops. This is going to be a cheap holiday!
I need to escape those pesky pearl sellers for a bit so I take a wander up the beach and check out the Sheraton hotel. It is ideally located, and looks lovely from the beachfront so I file that one away for future reference.
The rest of the girls are all shopped-out when I return so we head back to the villa for a swim and a sunset drinks before dinner. I enter the no go zone of the kitchen to get some more ice for the champagne bucket and catch a glimpse of our 2 chickens roasting in the oven. Hmmm, I hope nobody's too hungry. That's 2 very skinny chickens in there! Maybe we should've had a proper lunch....
Dinner time arrives and we sit down to our meal. Everything smells and looks delicious, even if the chickens are a little on the bony side. There is a sauce accompanying the Ayam Betutu, along with a green bean dish and steamed rice. Princesses P and H are the first to tuck in, and then it begins. 'OMG how f**king hot is this??' screams Princess P (who actually looks, and usually speaks, like a Princess). Princess H can't even speak, she is just gulping down water and fanning herself with a napkin. Pffft what a pair of girls. I like my food spicy but the skinny chicken is not that appealing, so I dish myself up a serve of beans and steamed rice. I take my first bite... and it is like I have been transported to the fires of hell. Everything is burning - lips, mouth, throat and I immediately break into a sweat. All around the table plates are being pushed away and 'I couldn't eat this even if I was starving' is the general consensus. The staff think our reaction is hilarious & are all in stitches, including the chef. 'Surprise us' we told him last night. Surprise all right. I decide to try the chicken instead and it's as I pick up a piece and try to identify it that things really get interesting...
D1 (the animal lover): 'What is it Steph?'
Me: 'Hmm, I'm not sure' (turning the piece this way and that with the tongs and looking quizzically at it). And then, the lightbulb moment: 'OMG it's the head!!! And the beak!!! Bahahahaha'
That does it, now nobody wants to eat the chicken, and nobody is able to eat the beans. 'Let's go out for dinner tomorrow night' I suggest as the staff cackle hysterically in the background.
After requesting Titik make a reservation for us at the Thai restaurant at Qunci Villas for tomorrow, I down a couple of nightcaps before heading off to my ever-so-comfy bed, the one with pillows that are like laying your head on a fluffy cloud. I fall asleep to the sound of my rumbling stomach. Aaaah Lombok, I still think I love you :-)