or Lombok i
DESTINATIONS INDONESIA | ASIA
Bali and lesser-known Lombok are ripe for Indonesian adventures, discovers Nick Goodyer
’m snorkelling in bath-warm tropical waters, looking down at the seabed some 10 metres below me, when my eye is drawn to a creature stirring among the rocks. It’s a turtle, gently rising from the depths for a few breaths of air. As it descends, I follow it down. It’s not alone; there
are eight of them – green turtles, some nearly a metre in length. I’ve dived all over the world and seen plenty of turtles, but never this many in one spot. Not far from here is a remarkable set of underwater statues: a ring of standing and recumbent life-sized figures, the work of British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. This underwater tableau and the abundant marine
life around it are just two aspects of Indonesia’s Gili Islands that make them and nearby Lombok and Bali such compelling destinations. And while they might be off-limits to UK travellers for the moment, they offer exactly the type of socially distanced escape clients are likely to be seeking in 2022 and beyond.
LOMBOK
Lombok, to which the Gilis lie close, is not as well known as Bali, but offers a quieter, more reflective take on Indonesia. It’s also very different in terms of the way it looks.
The two islands are divided by the Wallace Line,
the boundary of the biogeographic zones of Asia and Wallacea (the region between Asia and Australasia). While Bali is mainly lush, green and tropical, Lombok is visibly drier, with sparser vegetation. Like all 18,000 islands in Indonesia, Lombok is the result of volcanic activity – especially evident in the form of the still-active Mount Rinjani, which towers over the island and offers trekking and camping adventures. For those who prefer lying on a beach to lying in a volcanic crater, there are plenty of lovely spots with accommodation options for most budgets. At the top of the spectrum is Puri Mas Boutique
Resort and Spa. Split between two locations close to Senggigi Beach, the island’s main tourist town, it’s about an hour’s drive from Lombok’s airport. In addition to its beautifully appointed pool villas, infinity pool and sumptuous pampering at the separate spa, one thing that marks Puri Mas out as different from the competition is its connection to ballroom dancing. Founded and owned by Marcel de Rijk, a former world champion of the discipline, the Ballroom Restaurant hosts displays of dancing in the evenings and has attracted participants and judges from Strictly Come Dancing.²
travelweekly.co.uk 7 OCTOBER 2021 41
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