Today we parted with the Gili Isles. They were fun. And I’d definitely return.
We boated over to Bengsal, the northern port town of Lombok. However, we needed to connect with a bus some unknown distance ahead. We guessed it was a short distance but weren’t sure. We needed to catch the morning bus to Sengiggi–our next destination–about 45 min away.
We reluctantly paid a cidomo driver $2. The bus stop was less than a mile away. Oh well. It was a bit uphill. And we didn’t know how much time we had. So that’s how I rationalized it away.
Jameelah bought a necklace from some kids at the bus stop. They said the necklaces were authentic, handmade. But then some other kids approached us with the exact same jewelry. Obviously, it was mass produced.
The bus ride to Sengiggi was a pleasurable sight around the curvy ocean mountainside. We arrived in Sengiggi without a reservation. We oriented ourselves with the guidebook. Several touts tried to sell us a long-range bus ticket or a room. One was especially aggressive and drunk (at 9am). We told him no several times but he persisted. Then we shouted “Tidak!” He shouted “Tidak?!” Then he mumbled “Tidak” a few times. Then he left us alone–finally.
One of the touts was clever. He saw we were heading for a certain lodge near him–the one we ended up choosing. He got in front of us and “led” us to the front desk (to get a commission). We ignored him the whole time. But he since he “led” us, he could claim a commission with the lodge. What a sly dog.
We were greeted with a new annoyance: the mosque loudspeaker. The local mosque blared their prayers and service for the whole town to hear. I’m not joking. It was freakin’ loud. And there’s no escape. Most lodges, homes, and businesses are open air or poorly insulated, since the temperature sticks in the 80s for the whole year.
Jameelah and I walked about two miles south for dinner. It was a nice Italian place on the beach. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset. And we took our time eating. We shared an appetizer, a pizza, and a desert.
Then we asked about the free shuttle bus back to town. They said it would come soon. They gave us a complementary laptop with WiFi connection while we waited. Wow! And then they gave us each a shot of vodka. It was unexpected and awesome!
However, overall, I felt Sengiggi was desperate and scummy. I won’t return.
