Retweeted by
Heidi Anderson
PerthNow @perthnow 53m
"I’ve fallen in love with
#Bali’s better-looking sister,
#Lombok," writes
@RealHeidi:
http://bit.ly/U2dIDr #travel
Heidi Anderson: I’ve fallen in love with Bali’s better-looking sister, Lombok, but my heart is already broken
- HEIDI ANDERSON
- PerthNow
- July 09, 2014 12:00AM
Heidi Anderson has just returned from holiday in Lombok, which she describes as Bali's better-looking sister.
Lombok is the new Bali.
Holidays are over and it sucks. It’s not because I’m no longer in Lombok and the Gili Islands soaking up the rays while sucking back $5 cocktails, it’s because come October, Jetstar will no longer be flying Perth to Lombok. This breaks my heart.
You see I am a Lombok virgin; this was my very first experience on this beautiful Indonesian island, which I’ll now call paradise.
I have fallen hard and fast for this beauty – some would say I was head over heels in love.
I have never felt so relaxed and loved all at the same time. Paradise is Bali’s sister, they are right next door to each other and I reckon Lombok is the better-looking sister.
When I first moved to Western Australia more than four years ago, I had my first Bali experience and I had very similar feelings.
I think I went back five or more times after my first holiday. I reckon you either love it or hate Bali. You have to embrace it for what it is.
In Kuta, that’s the smelly and busy streets, the average beaches and the cocktails that taste like flavoured syrup.
Don‘t get me wrong I still love the place. I’d spend hours roaming the markets in the smelly busy streets and I spent countless nights at the world famous Bounty sucking back syrup-flavoured cocktails for under a fiver.
Heidi Anderson has just returned from holiday in Lombok, which she describes as Bali's better-looking sister.
But now I’ve met Bali’s sister Lombok and the Gili Islands and I don’t ever want to go back to Bali.
But I may have to in order to get to my new favourite place in paradise. You see, Jetstar will still be flying directly to Bali from Perth but then you’ll have to endure a gruelling boat ride that I’m not sure would pass safety standards in Australia.
My love for Lombok and the Gili Islands will never die. I have been lucky enough to travel to some of the most beautiful places in the world like Greece, Italy, Malaysia, France, Portugal, Spain and Croatia.
But none of these have come close to my new paradise. The beautiful crystal clear waters are warm and inviting, ready for you to snorkel or dive or swim at your own leisure. The Gili Islands are free of scooters and cars which means less pollution and noise. The only way to get around is to walk or get a horse and cart.
The people are friendly and willing to give you the best service despite their terrible wage.
Heidi Anderson has just returned from holiday in Lombok, which she describes as Bali's better-looking sister. She raves about the local food on offer.
Oh and the food! Oh, it’s making my mouth water right now thinking about it. Oh the food is some of the best I’ve ever eaten.
Big call I know, but seriously if you ever make it to Gili Air, one of the islands just off Sengiggi coast in Lombok, drop into the Gili Air Hotel for dinner.
It’s nothing special to look at, the rooms and the gardens look like they haven’t been attended to in years, but the seafood there is the best I’ve ever eaten.
It’s seafood BBQ right on the beach and you can watch the sunset while feasting on seafood fresh from the ocean. I swear, between my boyfriend and I, we ate enough to feed a small army and all for under 50 Aussie bucks.
You can’t go to an Indonesian island without getting a massage right? We spent seven out of the eight days being pampered and treated like royalty. It was heaven and seriously cheap. The massages ranged from $8 to $17 for one whole blissful hour.
Heidi Anderson has just returned from holiday in Lombok, which she describes as Bali's better-looking sister.
I could keep banging on about my new-found love and paradise; Gili Islands and Lombok but I won’t as sadly some of you – actually probably most of you – have had to slug it out at work the last week in crappy weather with moody bosses and annoying colleagues.
I hope you get to Lombok and the Gili Islands sometime soon, I promise you will love it. Their winter is the best time to travel, as it’s not too hot or muggy it’s just right. I hope you can get there before October. Before Jetstar pull the pin on flying directly from Perth.
Jetstar, if you’re reading this, I’m gutted. I’m gutted you’re making me break up with my new crush. I’m gutted I can no longer jump on a plane and land directly in my new paradise. I’m gutted that Perth can no longer support the locals in Lombok with direct flights. Their economy was just starting to grow.
I’m just gutted. That’s all I can say!
●
You can hear Heidi weekday mornings from 6am on 92.9FM with Heidi, Will and Woody