Lombok

It's fascinating to see how the different Indonesian islands have different boat designs. On the way over to Lombok we were passed by about 20 of these style boats. They are very narrow with a small outrigger. Powered by dual direct drive engines that are air cooled and loud. It looked like we were in he middle of a race.

We've gotten ourselves settled into the Medana Bay Marina. There's a few berths here along with 25+ moorings. The Red and White flag is the Indonesian flag that you see flying everywhere. After getting a few boat projects done, like cleaning the bottom and jerry jugging 160 liters of fuel out to the boat, we decided to take a half day tour of Lombok. The half day was from 9:00am to 5pm, which matches nicely with the Indonesian notion of time being very fluid.

One project we had to do while in Lombok is get our visa extended for another 30 days. This is Chris at the immigration office getting her picture taken and electronic fingerprints done. We sent the paperwork and passports in last Wed. Everyone tells us it is a 3-day process, so expect the passports with visa back next Wed -- fluid time.

 There are a lot places you can go on a 'half-day' tour, including beaches and waterfalls. we wanted to see a couple of old temples and then go to the crafts villages for weaving, pottery and woodwork. We started at the Hindu Pura Batu Bolong temple.

Before entering the beach side Hindu Temple above you pass by the entry rules sign. I'll let our reader read the rules in yellow.

We didn't learn much about this temple -- no tour guide -- but it sure was located in a picturesque spot, right on the beach.

Lots of incense lighting and burning.

Then we were off to Taman Mayura Park temple. This is the Harem pool above. Gotta keep those royal girls clean. Not sure what the yellow duck boats are all about.

This was a guided tour. It started out a little slow, but after awhile our guide got on to telling us a lot about the temple and its history. It was built around 1744.  To this day it is a meeting place for the religions of Lombok. He listed Hindu, Catholic, Buddhist, Protestant, Muslim-3 and Muslim-5. We all looked at each other having never heard of the numbered religions. He then nonchalantly cleared this up with the obvious clarification that Muslim-3 pray three times a day and Muslim-5 pray five times a day.

I did learn that the three roof tops on the Hindu structures represent earth, air and paradise. You leave earth, pass through the air and end in paradise.

Next up was some serious weaving and fabric purchasing. This lady is doing songket weaving. Whole communities focus on songkat and ikat weaving, much of it sent to Bali for the tourist trade.

A stop in the pottery shop gave Chris an opportunity to get her fingers muddy on the wheel.

We've been out cruising a long time now -- nearing 10 years. We haven't settled on what house we want to buy when we finally get back to Washington, but have we settled on the front door. Easily ordered, fumigated and shipped via container to the US from this small wood working shop.

  A craftsmen working on a large wooden chair. He's clipping Nautilus shell into small triangles and inlaying them into the patterns on the chair that another craftsmen has chiseled in.

We are astounded by he number of mosques you see while driving around. They must consume a fair amount of the local GDP.

 The majority of transport is done on motor scooters.  This one shot through the front window of our taxi is laded with live birds in cages.

The north end of the island, were we are, still has a lot of visible destruction and rebuilding going on from last year's earthquake.

Driving back to the marina we past this monkey kindergarten sitting on the guard rail next to the road.

Paul