Indonesia: Lombok!

We headed to Lombok via boat Saturday morning. The boats we took to Lombok were far more unstable than the one we took to Gili T. However, it was cheap and we did get there in one piece. Heidi and I got separated though, so we were on different boats for the ride to Lombok. Once we arrived on the Island we still had to take a van to our destination, which was Seungiggi. Once we arrived in Seungiggi we looked around for a place to stay and that's when we decided, since we were only there for two days we would put some money into getting a nice resort with a swimming pool, comfy beds, continental breakfast and hot water. We found a place called, The Santosa and it was just what we were looking for.

We were told by some friends on Gili T that Saturday nights the place to be was 'Happy Cafe,' so Heidi and I decided to check the place out. We went for dinner at this quaint little restaurant beside our hotel that we fell in love with and then we headed to Happy Cafe. The place was packed with foreigners and there was a live band playing that would play to people's requests. Heidi and I concluded that people who go to Happy Cafe will be happy while inside it and will leave happy as well.

You can tell by our happy faces in this picture that Happy Cafe did its job. However, we could just be happy from the alcohol consumed. I loved this workers shirt and wanted one so badly, but there were none for sale. Just look closely and you should exactly what you are meant to see. The bartender, Heru, who we befriended made Heidi and I a FREE drink. Unfortunately, it contained pineapple juice, which I don't drink, so I had to tell him and he was just that nice that he made me a brand new drink and still didn't charge for it.

We ended up getting invited to 'the club' of Seungiggi called, The Marina, by Heru. We saw a live band play there who were from Jakarta. They rocked the joint until around 3:00 a.m.

The girls were beautiful and they knew how to rock out. My favorite is the one on the left. This is Heru, the Happy Cafe bartender and I at The Marina. He was such a nice guy. Heidi and I got a picture with the band, Simply D'Best! We took a liking to each other.

Since Chinese New Years was during our vacation our hotel a dragon dance ceremony take place. Some local kids danced around and played some instruments and tried to collect money from the guests, which is part of the tradition of Chinese New Years.

Here is the dragon that was in charge of money collecting. These little boys were in charge of the music, but they looked like they would rather be doing anything but playing the instruments.

Our last night in Seungiggi we headed back to Happy Cafe and enjoyed some more live music. Heru even dedicated a song to Heidi and I, Steven and the Coconuts - Welcome to my Paradise, which was my song of choice the entire two weeks in Indonesia. When we left Happy Cafe, Heru gave me a CD that he made for me, which was so sweet. Now, I will always remember him and then he offered me a ride back to the hotel on his motorbike, which may I just say is the sweetest mode of transportation ever.

This is the restaurant Heidi and I ate dinner at our first night in Seungiggi and we also enjoyed breakfast here as well.

When our visit in Seungiggi was over we opted to take a plane from Lombok to Bali because it turned out to be cheaper than the boat and it was only a 20 minute flight.

We had to walk out on the tarmac to get to the plane, which is always cool.

This is the outside of the airport that we saw on our way to the plane.

It was the hottest, sweatiest and longest 20 minute plane ride of our lives. We were so uncomfortable during the flight as well. When we landed in Bali, Heidi forgot her book on the place, so we literally waited over 30 minutes to get it before we grabbed a taxi to Ubud, which was an hour way and our next destination.