Here’s The Ultimate Things To Do in Lombok

There’s a lot of things to do in Lombok which I can’t find anywhere else. Though I haven’t visited every city on this earth, I believe Lombok is a special place that everyone should pay a visit at least once in their lifetime.

Here, I am going to put a list of what things that make Lombok a special getaway you must experience. But, don’t compare it to Bali, or other exotic islands you might have gone to–because Lombok is just special in its own way.

Getting a Taste of Their Spicy Food

If you have ever heard of Indonesian food before, it would be most likely Rendang, Rawon, or Nasi Goreng. They are absolutely tasty, yes. But, Lombok has its own special dishes that would blow your mind.

Lombok people is famous for their love of spicy and savory dish. Nasi Balap Puyung is one of them. It’s named after a region in Lombok Tengah, Puyung. Nasi Balap Puyung consists of white rice, shredded spicy fried chicken, crispy fried soybeans, sambal and sometimes fried noodles or boiled egg.

The first time I landed at Lombok, this is actually the first food I ate. There is a warung or small restaurant just across the airport gate which serves this menu only. It was magical, to be honest as I have not even got a taste any food like that before.

But that’s not the only magic I discovered in Lombok. There’s a long list of sate dishes which I still feel amazed of finding out the new ones. I did get the opportunity to enjoy Sate Pusut, Sate Rembige, Sate Bulayak and Sate Tandjung. Each of them is truly special.

Sate Pusut is made of minced chicken mixed with some spices. It produces a taste of sweet and spicy. Sate Rembige is a bit different. Its texture is a little harder to chew compared to Sate Pusut as it is made with mostly beef. Meanwhile, Sate Bulayak is served with lontong. When I visited Suranadi, where you can find a center of Sate Bulayak sellers, I was offered to pick several types of meat they make Sate Bulayak of. The selections are chicken intestines, chicken meat and chicken liver.

Sate Tandjung is my personal favorite as it is made of fish. I was blown away the first time I had it between my teeth. The sensation of its spices mixed with the smoothness of fish is indescribable. I just can’t figure out the right words to explain its beautiful taste.

However, every sate I have ever eaten in Lombok is special on its own way. They are made by Lombok people with their wisdom and generosity. I cherish every moment I get to experience these food.

Experiencing Its Exotic Culture

There’s a thing about Lombok culture that keeps making me feel grateful of living on its soil. I wasn’t native to this island. Instead, I was born in a more crowded and modern place.

I did not put much interest in traditional music or culture. To me, it appears as an object you often see in museums. It’s rarely lived by the people. However, you’re going to see most Sasak people in Lombok embrace and preserve their unique way of living.

Nyongkolan is one of the exotic things I often get to see after staying in Lombok. It’s a part of wedding ceremony that is still practiced by Sasak people in Lombok. This is the time when two large groups of people representing the bride and groom meet and conduct the ceremony which I still have very limited knowledge of.

They are so beautiful, dressed in traditional attire, assigned differently for male or female. Traditional music is present, with sound that I haven’t heard of before. It is such a precious moment to be able to witness this ceremony. Consider you’re lucky if you can experience this on your short trip to Lombok.

There are certainly a lot of other things you must do when visiting Lombok. Their food and culture, however, are enough to be the reason why you have to start planning a trip to Lombok for your next holiday.