Reminiscing Lombok

A friend of mine took a stroll down memory lane sharing her adventures from last year when she celebrated her 50th birthday with a trip through SE Asia. We were together for the portion in Lombok, Indonesia when we traveled to attend a mutual friend’s wedding. While she shared her photos, I started reminiscing and realized that it was the last international trip that I took.

The Mister and I left Dulles for Doha on Qatar airlines. It was my 1st time flying that airline and my first time doing a layover in Qatar. The airport was amazing – such beautiful architecture and artwork. I’m not gonna lie, the journey was long. The flight to Doha was 12 hours 15 minutes with a layover; then we boarded a flight to Jakarta, which was 9 hours. When we landed in Jakarta, there was another short layover, and then we hopped onto a 2-hour flight to Lombok. The journey didn’t end there! After we landed, there was still a 1 hour & 30-minute car ride to the final destination. WHEW! I’m tired just writing this!

I liked the clean lines of the Jakarta airport as well as the cool artwork on display. If you know me, then you know that I enjoy all aspects of eating (whether I’m at a fancy restaurant, a hole-in-the-wall, a food truck, or airport food). This was some astounding chicken congee at the airport!

We stayed at a lovely resort called Qunci Villas. It was blissful and completely serene.

The outdoor surroundings were beyond spectacular. There was a choice of infinity pools and areas where you could relax under an umbrella or in a pavilion. No crazy minimum bottle service, just get there early enough to claim it. You will find the staff friendly and very accommodating. Since we were visiting a Muslim country, we wanted to be respectful of the culture, so I covered up as much as I could when walking outside of the property. We would sometimes sleep with the windows open, and although it was early in the morning (I didn’t mind because I usually am up around 5am), hearing the call to prayer was a beautiful way to start the day.

We also had the opportunity to enjoy the spa with massages and yoga.

Lombok sunsets are magical. Genuinely amazing to experience.

We’ve already covered that I enjoy eating. The food at the resort was soooo good! Since many of the guests come from around the world, the hotel offers a variety of foods that you can have throughout the day. Breakfast is included in your hotel stay (amazing!). This includes coffee or tea, a fruit plate along with your choice of entree. Since we were there for a week+, the Mister and I basically had everything they had to offer. There is also an Indonesian section, so I had a lot of local cuisine. Also, you can’t beat the view!

I admit it – I spent a lot of time under an umbrella enjoying the view and reading a ton of books. It was divine. Since we were there for a wedding, there were also excursions with the other guests (nearly 40+ people!), so we had the opportunity to learn more about Lombok.

Religion can be found everywhere in Indonesia. I learned that Indonesians register their religious affiliation with the government once they reach a certain age. Lombok is predominantly Muslim, while Bali is primarily Hindu. Mosques are everywhere. We visited the Hubbul Wathan Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the Nusa Tenggara Barat province in Lombok. Both traditional Lombok & Muslim Arabic styles decorate the interior. The piece hanging from the ceiling is symbolic of a Lombok flower. I also learned that green is a traditional Muslim color, so when we ventured to the roof, I could identify the mosques located in the area from the color of their roofs.

It was a remarkable experience filled with all the good things I enjoy when traveling. Learning how people enjoy their lives while being with friends who embrace different aspects of a culture makes travel worthwhile.

Hope you enjoyed the photos of my trip. Where do you want to travel next?

Wishing you well!

MXM