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Hello, my name is Emily, I have been in Lombok for almost a decade. Kuta Lombok is my home, and it is one of, if not THE most beautiful places I have ever been; here I will tell you why, and let you in on my top 10 recommended things to do while here.
Lombok is the island to the East of Bali, but actually, the two are very different. They have different languages and religions, as well as different traditions. Kuta is a relaxed beach town but is developing fast since the new Moto Grand Prix track has been built. It has so many amazing things to see and do, as well as having the nicest, most friendly locals. I would recommend hiring a scooter or a car, to give you more freedom to explore the island. Kuta Lombok is great to visit all year round, the rainy season is from about Nov- Feb, but it doesn’t rain all day every day, it is still nice and it's actually the best time of year for surfing.
1. BEACHES
South Lombok is known for its white sand, blue ocean, and empty beaches, they are breathtaking. You could drive up the coast and stop at every beautiful beach but a few I would recommend are Tanjung Ann, Seger, Tampah, Mawun, Mawi, and Selong Belanak
2. SURFING
Kuta Lombok is the best place to learn surfing and if you already know how to surf, south Lombok is a dream! I recommend taking out a guide since you usually need to travel by car or boat to get to the surf spots and it can be a bit dangerous if you try to go out alone! www.cocosurflombok.com is a surf school in Kuta, Lombok, they are local surfers that grew up surfing south Lombok and know these spots like the back of their hand, they can provide transport, boat, surfboards, instructors, surf photography, and all their knowledge packed into one. Selong Belanak is the best place for first-time beginner surfers, it is a small beach break with soft sand. For intermediate, there is Tanjung Ann or Gerupuk Inside, for Advanced surfers, there is Areguling, Mawi, Outside Gerupuk, or even the world-famous Desert Point about an hour away.
3. SUNSET
Going to watch the sunset is one of my favourite things to do, there is a spot called Meres Hill, you drive there and it is a short walk up a hill, to an amazzzzing view of the ocean, coastline, and sunset.
4. SUNDAY MARKET
The Sunday market is so interesting to see, it's where all the locals go to, buy and sell their local produce, and you can get some really cheap food for breakfast e.g. gado gado or pesor for 5000Rupiah = about 50c Australia. It opens at about 6 am and closes around 10 am, and is also open on other days but will not be as big/busy.
5. EATING
Not only does Kuta have the most delicious local warungs to try, but there are also plenty of other restaurants to choose from, from trendy breakfast/brunch coffee spots, to pizza, Chinese, and even Mexican and Moroccan
I have made another blog post just to tell you all about the best places to eat in Kuta Lombok. But you’ll definitely find somewhere to clench those taste buds… I personally love all the local food like nasi campur, which means mixed rice. There are so many tasty and cheap nasi campurs around town! (Warang = means shop/restaurant.)
6. MEETING LOCAL PEOPLE/ EXPERIENCING SASAK CULTURE
The people from Lombok are really what makes it so special, they are so friendly, relaxed and funny. And that’s what traveling is all about, learning about other cultures.
Just chatting to people at the restaurant, going surfing with locals, or talking to people you meet on the street.
You might even get invited to a local wedding…
7. NIGHTLIFE
Kuta Lombok, has some fun parties throughout the week, every night is usually one bars night to open, so ask around where the party is that night. Some bars have live music, and others have DJs, every night is a fun relaxed beach vibe.
8. FISHING
Kuta is a coastal town and most people grew up fishing. I had so much fun going out and experiencing catching my own fish!
9. ROAD TRIP:
I recommend renting out a scooter, car, or asking for transport, and going on a road trip to explore the countryside, just a 10mins drive out of Kuta you can see local untouched villages, buffaloes and epic breath-taking views.
10. BAU NYALE
Bau Nyale is a festival in Kuta, Lombok, usually around the end of Feb. This festival is an annual tradition of the Sasak People. There is a long story behind this festival. Each year worms appear at this specific point in the ocean, at this specific time of the year, and all the locals go fishing for the worms to eat. According to local legend, they say that this is where the princess of Lombok threw herself off the hill at Seger beach, because of villages fighting over her. In Lombok language (Sasak), Bau is translated to "catch", and Nyale is the name given to the sea worms. Many other fun events also take place around this time, including traditional stick fighting, and concerts with live bands.
Final thoughts, Kuta, Lombok, is a relaxed beach town, with insane waves for surfing, beautiful beaches and tropical jungles, so it really feels like paradise and you are sure to have a fun adventure! I recommend staying in Kuta as your base, and venturing out on daily trips around Lombok from there.
This article is solely about Kuta/South Lombok, but I'm also working on an article about the top 10 things to do on the whole of Lombok Island. So stay tuned!
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