Ok so we packed our bags, got our air tickets and flew off to Lombok Indonesia. As usual, our hearts pulpitated hard against our chests, in anticipation of what was to come ahead 9 June 2010, marked the beginning of a trip that I will never forget and will always carry deep within me, in my heart and soul. As usual, Indonesia greeted us with politeness, warm hospitality and homeliness.
We found a great place to crash at Lina Cottage. It did not take us that long to locate Lina Cottage since it is located quite prominently on Senggigi Beach in Lombok. The place looked a little quiet and eerie when we first arrived that night. Ironically, Lina Cottage provided us with the best stay throughout our entire time in Lombok.So the first night flew by with basically nothing but dinner, a walk along the
lanes that housed restaurants and bars. In fact, we retired to the cottage and sat at the restaurant for the rest of the night. Now there is one thing I have to highlight. Lina Cottage is situated right by the beach. So sitting at the restaurant provided us with a wonderful and panoramic view of the sand and the sea. It was just peace and serenity, sitting under the stars and chatting while the waves crashing against the shore was like music to our ears. It was a wonderful first night at Lombok. Yes. It was decided. We loved Lombok! (And we still do of course!)
lanes that housed restaurants and bars. In fact, we retired to the cottage and sat at the restaurant for the rest of the night. Now there is one thing I have to highlight. Lina Cottage is situated right by the beach. So sitting at the restaurant provided us with a wonderful and panoramic view of the sand and the sea. It was just peace and serenity, sitting under the stars and chatting while the waves crashing against the shore was like music to our ears. It was a wonderful first night at Lombok. Yes. It was decided. We loved Lombok! (And we still do of course!)
Of course the whole highlight of Lombok was to scale her beauty, Mount Rinjani. Mokhs 
and I found an adventure club (featured in the Lonely Planet) that brought climbers up the mountain. On the day of our climb, all geared up in our cargo pants, climbing shoes and walking sticks, we waited for our ride that would take us to Senaru. It was a good drive. We went through hills, valleys after valleys and the coastal sights were amazingly beautiful as the sun began to rise. The air started to get a little more chilly as we neared our destination.
and I found an adventure club (featured in the Lonely Planet) that brought climbers up the mountain. On the day of our climb, all geared up in our cargo pants, climbing shoes and walking sticks, we waited for our ride that would take us to Senaru. It was a good drive. We went through hills, valleys after valleys and the coastal sights were amazingly beautiful as the sun began to rise. The air started to get a little more chilly as we neared our destination. Once at Senaru, we were introduced to Tuti, our guide for the climb up Mount Rinjani. He was a little man with a smiley face. He was very courteous and extremely polite. Together with the three of us, was Eddy, our porter. He carried everything that we could not live without...food, utensils, toiletries, blankets, jackets , tents and what-have-yous! All I can say is, you named it, you got it! The climb up was hectic. But memorable. Tuti was always watching over us, making sure we were ok. The climb was hard work for my husband who put in quite an effort to ascend. I was ok but breathless and tired nevertheless. Along the way, Tuti chatted with us, sharing with us about the beauty of the moutain. He knew every corner of Mount Rinjani at the back of his hand. He grinned as he told us how he would skip school when he was a kid and would climb the mountain with his friends and stayed at the peak, begging others who camped up there for food. They even fished in the crater lake. Mokhs and I were fascinated by how much Tuti could talk about the mountain. In fact, we were intrigued by how much he related the mountain to himself and how the much the mountain had played a huge part in his life from childhood to adulthood.
Coincidently, Mount Rinjani was erupting that period of time we were there. So we were excited to see the new volcano and its eruption. However, we reached just before the crater rim in the evening. We were advised to camp for the night and then head up to the crater rim the next morning to catch the sunrise and enjoy the eruption. We did. Tuti and Eddy set up our tents, prepared a scrumptuous dinner for us and left us politely for us to rest after a hectic climb. Mokhs and I were freezing! Sad to say, we allowed ourselves to bask in the beauty of the night atop the mountain for only a very short while and then like little hamsters, we cuddled in our tent, shivering with cold.
The next morning, Tuti woke us up. Eddy brought us for a short climb up to the crater rim. And by God's grace, we witnessed what we never thought we would have ever got the chance to, in our entire life. A volcanic eruption right before our very eyes! It was amazing. The roar of the volcano as it spouted hot lava, the sky clouded with new orage-red rays of the day, the blue waters of the crater lake. Oh what would I give to stand at that very spot again and witness the Greatness of His Creation, His Mercy. I was humbled, I was numbed to the bones. I was touched that I teared and I kept my emotions to myself as Mokhs clicked away on his camera. I never knew beauty till then.
As we descended to our tent, we were speechless. But we regained our composure and took pictures, took time to look around us. From where we were, we could see the Gili Islands and Mount Agung in Bali. It was breathtakingly...beautiful.There were more opportunities to get up close and personal with Tuti. He shared with us more stories about his learning journey as a guide. As he reached out his hand each and every time to hold me and made sure I did not slip and fall, he chatted on and we listened respectfully and with envy. Why envy? I envied his passion, his love he had for the mountain. He skipped school to be with his mountain and today, the mountain was his rice bowl. This man was destined to be with his mountain forever! I could never ever forget when he told us how he carried a tourist who had died at the crater rim, all the way down to the foot of the mountain. Tuti had to strap the heavy corpse in between his legs and climb all the way down. Tuti said it was a struggle, his struggle. But it was worth it. All worth it.
There was one point when we were in the middle of our descend, we had actually experienced an earthquake for a split second. Mokhs was in front of me and Tuti was behind me. All of a sudden I thought I was hit by a diszzy spell. I could hear the rustling of the leaves and I actually saw the trees sway. I thought I was seeing things then when I turned back, I realised that I was not the only one who stopped in my tracks. Apparently, Tuti had already slipped his bag off his shoulders and a look of panic washed over his face. Mokhs was calm. It was then that Tuti said it was an earthquake. I was like ... WOW! What an experience!
Tuti, Mokhs and I were greeted by Tuti's friends at the jungle door. It was such a party! Such a welcome! Before we said goodbye to Mount Rinjani, we shortly reminisced the climb that had marked the first of a precious and meaningful friendship with Tuti, Eddy and the beloved Mount Rinjani.
Tuti, Mokhs and I were greeted by Tuti's friends at the jungle door. It was such a party! Such a welcome! Before we said goodbye to Mount Rinjani, we shortly reminisced the climb that had marked the first of a precious and meaningful friendship with Tuti, Eddy and the beloved Mount Rinjani.
I thank Allah first and last for without His Mercy, nothing is possible and nothing is blessed.
All praise and thanks be to Allah, My Lord. - Jaslina Yassin
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