A royal vacation for peasant fare

Lombok Island, however, offers all that and more to those looking for an affordable tropical getaway.

Moments after stepping out of the newly constructed sole airport on the island just off the coast of the tourist powerhouse Bali, one can see just how untouched the island is. On the lawns and outside the gates of the airport, locals gather and watch the planes take off and land, and also those who disembark them. Families sit on a blanket enjoying the evening while Boeing 737s ferry locals and tourists alike from all over the world. The pastime has become such a hit that food stalls have been set up next to the lawn.

Often described as the “unspoiled Bali”, and still free of commercialisation, Lombok offers a glimpse into what the Indonesian archipelago once was.

Just to give an idea of how raw Lombok can be, horse-drawn carts ferry people on the island and its most popular tourist destination, the Gili Islands. And although those taxis more closely resemble a donkey hauling a box, it really does take you back to a simpler time.

If you find yourself in need of native fare, a trip to the open market, Pasar Kebon Roek, offers an experience that’s about as “local” as you can get. Not only will the stares from midday shoppers alert you to the fact that you are no longer on the tourist-beaten path, but the smells, colours and energy of the market will satisfy your need for a local rush.

Within the tented canopy are colourful displays of fruits and vegetables, fish and other gems as well, such as freshly ground coffee.

Other finds include coconut sugar that costs a small fortune in the organic foods section of department stores in Seoul.

But all this is by no means an indication the accommodation for tourists will be as rustic. In fact, on the western coast of the island, just north of the small town of Senggigi, sits some of the finest accommodation that Lombok has to offer. And although it is hard to imagine that Lombok vacationers will spend most of their time cooped-up in their rooms, Lombok resorts, particularly Puri Mas Boutique Resort & Spa, make it very hard to walk out the door.

Despite being the most developed part of the island, Puri Mas and other resorts in Senggigi offer bargain rates for presidential villas to their budget options. This makes Lombok a popular place for backpackers and honeymooners alike.

For the price of a basic love motel in Korea, Lombok offers an infinity pool that stretches out to the turquoise ocean, full service breakfasts, immaculately kept tropical gardens and friendly staff.

Lombok’s biggest selling point is that everything is a couple of dollars away. With terrorist scares and bombings plaguing Indonesia, hotels and resorts have been bringing their prices down. And the natives have also noticed the dry spell, and the lack of cash that follows, and are quick to condemn acts that drive away tourism.

Lodgings are breathtakingly beautiful but cheap, as is the food, which is always fresh, and the leisure activities are but a short taxi ride away.

Lombok is a budget vacation island that doesn’t feel like it needs a budget, but it might be better to jump on the opportunity now, before vacationers turn it into another Bali.

 

         If you go

Slow ferries from Padang Bai on Bali leave approximately every hour around the clock for the four to five hour trip to Lembar.