Tag: beach

LOMBOK TRAVEL GUIDE – Every traveler’s dream a perfect tropical paradise holiday, but usually what is depicted on a brochure, poster or any other kind of promotional media is not what you get. Don’t get it wrong; you do end up getting tanned on a nice beach, but the whole packages is far from the meaning of “paradise”, the moment you turn back from the exotic beach you’ll need up in something pretty much you seen everyday crowd, traffic, al the hustle and bustle the very same thing you’ve been trying to escape by taking a holiday trip.

There is one place that truly worthy for the title of “Tropical paradise” and it can be found in Lombok. But no the overcrowded-popular Gilis, which had become the mini version of Kuta, Bali. With all the villas, spas, cafes or nightclubs.

It is their less popular brothers on the eastern shore of Lombok, The Gili Kondo and co, East Lombok. With Gili Kondo as the biggest and other two smaller island : Gili Bidara and Petagan. They are located on the eastern shore of Lombok island, about three hours trip from Senggigi or Mataram. You will need to take a boat from the Labuan Lombok habor to reach this little paradise; it took about 45 minutes of crossing. The other two is also nice to visit but most of activities and facilities can be found in Gili Kondo.

Beautiful clean white sand stretch around this 20-acres (8 hectare) island a perfect matrass for your dream sunbath, turquoise blue water with breathtaking underwater views with colorful coral reefs and beautiful underwater marine life can be seen even from the surface, magnificent scenery surrounding it. Face west and you will be served with a majestic view of the rooftop of Lombok, Mount Rinjani, face east and view the dazzling scenery of Sumbawa Island and on top of all it’s absolutely away from all the hustle and bustle. A bright blue sky and warm sun will add as a cherry on the top to this perfect tropical paradise.

Facilities on this island also keep as natural as possible; no permanent building is built here. Several exotic bamboo cottages can be rented if you are intend to sped a night or two, with nice clean water and meals also served at the restaurant. It may be just a small island in the middle of the ocean but this is land is greener the main land, shady trees planted by all over the island.

Another interesting thing to see is barrier island that can be found near Gili Kondo. This tiny sand island will make you realize how its feel being cast away also a very nice place to take some memorable pictures.

Gili Kondo was once a deserted island, only used by the local fisherman to make stop to repair the boats before continuing their trip. But then by the late 1970s Perama Tour a travel company, with their Komodo Trip Program which starts from Lombok island began to make Gili Kondo as a part of the trip program and together with the local people and the regency administration start to develop the island.

With the concept of sustainable tourism, programs such as preventing the illegal coral bombing, tree planting, and coral reforestation which is done by the visitors, all to ensure that Gili Kondo becoming the true Tropical Paradise.

Writer : Dewi Supartini
Source : The Journey Magazine, April 2014
Editor : Jackysan