From coast to coast: Adventures in Lombok, Indonesia

In search of empty line ups, turquoise blue water and white sand beaches, we decided to take the long way.  The long way, took us by way of Lombok and we definitely were not complaining.  A tropical paradise with its deep blue oceans and jungle-clad vistas, Lombok was an oasis of fun waves, good laughs and even better food. 

We decided to head to Lombok because Bali was having one of it's moments, where swell direction wasn't right, winds were too strong and the crowds were unbearable.  Also, we wanted some fun right handers...a rare commodity in Bali. 

We took off during Ramadan, which had it's pros and cons....but mainly cons.  Cons being - everything happens at a much sower pace because many businesses are closed & yet Bali is packed to capacity with tourists and traffic.   On a semi impulsive decision, we opted for the overnight local ferry to Lombok instead of flying because we wanted flexibility to explore the deserted coastline.  

Little did we know that our impulsive decision would be one of our worst ones.  

What should have been a 6-7 hour trip, door to door, turned into a 12+ hour trip.  1 hour turned 2, turned to 3 hours simply waiting to board the ferry at Padang Bai.  Squeezed between precariously overloaded trucks, we finally boarded around 1:30am.  Grabbing some questionable mattress from the crew, we hauled ass up to the roof of the ferry and quickly fell asleep to the rumble of the engine and smell of diesel fuel.

Foolishly hoping to catch a sunrise surf season in Lombok, we woke to realize we were sitting heavy in the Port of Lembar and waited patiently for our ferry's turn to dock.   

Ivy wears the Elena One Piece & Ambre wears the Honolua Top & Lilly Bottom

But the long trip, was totally worth it.  Our days spent in Lombok were filled with long drives on dirt roads, new experiences and undiscovered views.   Compared to Bali's humid, lush, tropical landscapes, Lombok's was relatively dry & barren, with vast empty spaces and bare panoramic views. With our car and small boats, we scored secluded, beautiful and unusual spots to surf, protected from the wind, with clear waters and right-hand point breaks.

Ivy wears the Eden Top & Lucky Bottom & Ambre wears the Infinite One Piece

Blurry Ivy in the Eileen One Piece.

Sunburnt and with bellies aching from laughing too much, we reluctantly headed back to the hustle and bustle of Bali, but knew we would soon return to Lombok for some more of it's unique beauty and charm. 

Ambre in the Malibu One Piece & Ivy in the James One Piece