Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 279

o ce here (daily 8am-3pm), and
several warung. Boats to Pulau
Menjangan can be hired any time up to
3pm; they hold ten people and cost
around Rp500,000 for a four-hour
snorkelling tour - it takes thirty
minutes to reach the island. You'll also
have to pay about Rp70,000 for your
guide (one per boat), plus Rp25,000 per
person for the national park permit.
here are occasional reports of thefts
from the boats while snorkellers are
underwater, so leave your valuables
elsewhere. Pulau Menjangan also
features on day and overnight tours for
snorkellers (from $50) and divers (from
$100) based in Pemuteran, Lovina,
Kuta, Sanur or Candi Dasa.

Lombok and
the Gili Islands
hirty-five kilometres east of Bali at its
closest point, Islamic Lombok (80km by
70km) is populated by Sasak people. It
differs considerably from its Hindu
neighbour, with lots of wide-open spaces
and unspoilt beaches, and much less
tra c and pollution. Tourist facilities are
less widespread (though improving) and
public transport sparser. he island's
northern area is dominated by the
awesome bulk of Gunung Rinjani
(3726m), and trekking at least part of the
way up is the reason many tourists come
to Lombok. Most base themselves in the
nearby villages of Senaru or Sembalun
Lawang. Other visitors enjoy the cool
foothills at tiny Tetebatu and Sapit. he
other big draw is the beaches. he trio of
Gili Islands , just off the northwest coast,
attracts increasing numbers of visitors,
while the resort of Senggigi on the west
coast and south-coast Kuta , a popular
surfing centre, also offer a range of tourist
facilities. Lombok's capital and main city
area Ampenan-Mataram-Cakranegara-
Sweta has good transport connections
and is pleasantly user-friendly.

GILIMANUK
Situated on the westernmost tip of Bali,
about 17km west of Labuan Lalang,
the small, ribbon-like port town of
GILIMANUK is of interest only for its
ferry connections to East Java less than
3km away.

4

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By boat The ferry terminal is a 100m walk northwest of
the bus terminal to the north of town.
Destinations Ketapang, East Java (24hr service, every
20min; 45min).
By bus and bemo Buses and bemos depart when
full from the transport depot across the road from the
ferry terminus.
Destinations Amlapura (4hr); Cekik (10min); Denpasar
(Ubung; 3hr 15min); Kediri (for Tanah Lot; 2hr 45min);
Medewi (1hr 45min); Labuan Lalang (25min); Lovina (2hr
15min); Padang Bai (5hr); Pemuteran (1hr); Singaraja
(Banyuasri; 2hr 30min).

AMPENAN MATARAM
CAKRANEGARA SWETA
he AMPENAN-MATARAM-CAKRANEGARA-
SWETA conurbation comprises four towns
and stretches over 8km from west to east,
but is easy to get around and offers a good
opportunity to experience Indonesian city
life. At the western end of the city is the
bustling old port town of Ampenan , the
jumping-off point for Senggigi a few
kilometres up the coast. Merging into
Ampenan to the east, Mataram is the
capital of West Nusa Tenggara province as
well as the district of West Lombok and
full of o ces and government buildings.
East again, Cakranegara , usually known as
Cakra (pronounced “Chakra”), is the
commercial heart of the island, with
shopping centres, markets and workshops.
Sweta , on the eastern edge of the city area,

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in Gilimanuk is grim, so avoid staying
overnight unless absolutely necessary.
Hotel Sari Jl Raya Gilimanuk, about 800m south of the
ferry terminal, next to the karaoke bar T 0365 61264.
The best of a bad bunch, despite the wailing from the
karaoke bar next door. Rooms are big and clean enough.
Rp150,000

DIRECTORY
Banks The only ATM that accepts foreign cards is in the
ferry terminal compound.