Good morning/afternoon/night: Selamat pagi/siang/malam

Thank you: Terimah kasih

How are you: Apa kabar

Currency and exchange rate (2018): $1=14580 Indonesian rupiah

Climate: tropical year round; dry season lasts from May to September and wet season is from October to April

 

 

Cultural notes:

• While there are no expected dress codes of foreigners, you may feel more comfortable dressing modestly when visiting smaller villages.

• Local transport is bare bones. If you can, rent a motorbike.

• Never use your left hand for anything. Use your right thumb to point to things.

• Always bend slightly when meeting an older Indonesian or person of authority.

• Go with the flow. Indonesians practice patience and calmness. The country is primarily Muslim, so being conservative in dress and demeanor is the norm.

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Super laidback surfer town. ​Not much to do other than enjoy the beaches and talk waves at night, but makes for the perfect escape from the bustling urban centers of the country.

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STAY: Pipes Hostel - movies every night, food delivery service, pool, skate park

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EAT:

• Milk Espresso

• El Bazar

• Kenza Lombok

• Warung Flora

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DRINK: the bus bar

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TO DO:​

• Learn to surf - rent a motorbike and get to the beaches yourself where you can rent a surfboard for $4 (a good beginner beach can be found by typing “Watung Aula 2” into Maps.me

• Take a yoga class at Ashtari yoga

• Climb Merese Hill for sunset - you will need to bike from here in the dark so make sure your bike has working headlights, the view is incredible

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WARNING: The only ways to get around the area are by motorbike or walking. If you want to surf but can't motorbike, see if you can pay a local surf shop to drive you to the beach.

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Famous for their small size and the coral reefs that surround, the Gili Islands are a nice place to unwind and meet fellow backpackers.

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GETTING THERE: Access to the Gili Islands is by ferry. Prepare for rough waters and wading inland from the boat when you dock. A good tip is packing your valuables high in your backpack or in waterproof bags before arriving.

• From Bali: take the fast boat from Amed (single journey = ~$43)

• From Lombok: public ferries leave from Bangsal harbor three times a day (single journey = ~$1-3)

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GILI AIR

The most laidback island of the three Gilis and the closest journey from Lombok.

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TO DO:

• Take a snorkeling tour to view sea turtles

• View sunset while sipping happy hour cocktails oceanside

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GILI MENO

Nicknamed the "honeymoon island," there is not much backpacker culture on the most expensive of the Gili Islands.

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GILI TRAWANGAN

The backpacker / party island and the most popular for that reason.​ Many tours are offered from here to Flores and the Komodo Islands, world renowned for diving and natural parks.

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EAT: 

• BBQ fish

• Gado gado - steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, tempeh, tofu, boiled potato, and lontong in a peanut dressing

• Nasi goreng - fried rice

• Rendang - spicy meat dish

• Anything with sambal - extremely spicy chili paste

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TO DO:

• Take a snorkeling tour

• Learn how to freedive

• Go diving - Indonesia has world renowned dive spots, just make sure to compare dive shop prices around the island

• Rent bikes and explore the island (entire island perimeter takes about 1.5 hours)

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I didn’t go here myself but both are full of National Parks and world-class diving.

 

TO DO:

• Four-day boat tours operate from the Gili Islands if you want to meet other travelers and have a more guided sense of direction around the areas

• https://stingynomads.com/flores-backpacking-guide/

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A strenuous two-day hike of the second tallest volcano in Indonesia and Lombok's highest peak at 12,215 feet, rewarded with awe-inspiring sunrise views over the crater on the second day. 

 

WARNINGS: 

• Only book ahead of time if you are worried about high season popularity. Guides can be found in the town of your desired starting point and people have found tours for as cheap as $80 (compared to the $200-400 some guides will quote)

• The Mount Rinjani National Park is closed during monsoon season, January-March

• The cost of hiking Rinjani ranges anywhere from $100-350 as it requires permits and experienced guides

• There is nothing glamorous about the hike itself. It is extremely strenuous and overnighting is in tents

• Make sure to pack warm weather gear as well as rain gear, hiking boots, sunscreen and a headlamp (the second day hike begins at 2:30am)

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EAT: 

• Seeds of Life

• Warung Biah Biah

• Soma

• Lazy Cats Cafe

• Sayuri Healing Food Cafe

• Zest

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TO DO:

• Take a homemade botanicals class at Ubud Botany Interactive

• Get the best massage of your life at Sedona Spa

• Take a yoga class or do ecstatic dance at the Yoga Barn (if doing ecstatic dance, show up an hour early to get a ticket, includes free vegan meal)

• Do the Campuhan ridge walk

• Rent a scooter and visit the Tegalalang rice terraces and local waterfalls

• Hike Mount Batur for sunrise - book through hostel or tour agencies downtown 

• See a cultural dance performance at the temple

• Bali Silent retreat - an expensive but life realigning experience. Unlike the rigidity of a vipannasa, this center offers five hours of meditation and yoga a day, a stocked library, and the best (and freshest) food of your life. Excursions within the stay include rice terrace walks, trips to local hot springs, and a vegan cooking class at the New Earth Cooking School.