Road to Soul Writing

I stood on a white glittering sandy beach while asking my friend “is this Semeti?”. He looked at me then showed his coyly smile. “Hold on, the secret triangle pyramid rock is behind that hill”. His hand pointed to the south. I’ve seen many beaches, to me white glittering sandy beach is not enough to make it beautiful. As I get closer I heard the roar of ocean. The wave banged over the stoning hill, the triangle pyramid stands in the middle, blue and white looked angry, simultaneously created stunning water labyrinth. Three meters coast make this place looks like tiny semi circle bay. The join up shiny black rocks in various shapes, green hills, wild waves and dark blue ocean shivered and amazed me. I put off my shoes, walked along on this ten meters beach. At the end, I saw the black rocks stand still. It challenged my bravery. I put my shoes on and carefully climbed it. As I reached the rocky terraces, I sat down and took a deep breath. It was around 2 met...

Fishy smell was in the air as I walked close passed the harbor gate of Tanjung Luar. Many Sasak women were sitting and squatting in front of the fish that they were selling. Many people were bargaining, paying, waiting for changes, and lifting some big buckets and sacks. My attention was attracted by two big fishes. I looked at them steadily. I fumbled my camera. In sudden, two Sasak females stood in front of me with a metal big plate on their hand. They offered me squids. I firmly said no. She begged but I went away. I wish I could buy it but I did not want to carry squids to Gili Kali Bumbung.  Boat man called me, I was late. I was supposed to be in the harbor an hour before. I walked briskly to the shore and got on to the boat. As I showed my apologetic face and asked for forgiveness. He simply said “It’s ok”. He asked his little kid to pull the anchor out. Then he turned the machine on. As the machine sound rose, the boat moved. The wave was calm under the gloomy skies ...

Desa Maringkik Island, Keruak, East Lombok Lombok eastern sky looked very gloomy as I rode to the east, but it didn’t change my mind to put my trip off. It should have been one and half hour if the heavy rain had not fallen to get my destination. It made me stop more than twice on the way because I didn’t have my rain coat with me. The first stop was in Sengkereng village. I sat in a wooden gazebo which is less than one meter from the main road. I was sitting with a lady who was trying to cheer her little kid up. Behind me, mix of traditional houses with some brick houses stood still. Some long poles to support a dove house stood disarray among the houses. Almost 40 minutes, heavy rain was replaced by the drops and I was ready to hit the road again.  In the wet season, south eastern land looked much more alive. Land along the road was so green and ready for planting season. At its back, Rinjani showed its massive reflection on the watered field and I still feel the dr...

Jln. Pariwisata Bagek Nempor , Pemongkong, Jerowaru, East Lombok Following the winding and jolting road made me keep thinking when I would arrive in my destination. Between the road, woods was filled by leafless trees. The heat was getting sting. It reached 35 degrees Celsius. My body was sweaty. I drank many times to get sufficient water. About after 5 km, I found a sign that written “Pantai Pink” with its arrow pointed to the south. Some men were lying down on a bamboo- made gazebo next to the sign. I took IDR 5.000 from my pocket and handed it to one of them. He pulled the rope to make a pole up so I could drive through. I drove very slow, watched my balance carefully. The road from the gate down to the beach had not finished yet. As I passed, some workers were taking rest under the shadow of trees.   I parked my motorbike and walked closer to the beach. Starting to enjoy the panorama, some tourists were colleting sea cells and were snorkeling, the boat men were ...

Tengeq, Desa Sungkun, Ekas Bay, East Lombok I was surfing on the internet having a look of photography in various website. As I look through some pictures in Art Fine America, I was stunned when I found a picture of a huge yellowish turtle with its green cell on the sea, underneath the picture, it‘s written "Sungkun Beach, Ekas". On Wednesday October 8 th I hit the road, tried to find that place. It took about two hours from Mataram to get there. The road from Lendang Terak to Sungkun was really bad. It was very dusty and a lot of pebbles scattered on it. I was jolting all that way because of the bulges and the holes. It was challenging road to past. However, along the way I was spoiled by the landscape of traditional Sasak life. I even dropped in the Sungkun village and talked with the villagers. There is no electricity in the village around Sungkun. Some villagers said that the electricity would be available next two months. Their eyes were shining when they ...

The number of foreigners in Lombok is getting bigger each year. This number has created cultural mix. Lombok is getting more westernized so does with the foreigners that's getting more easternized. Being part of this mix culture has made me feel more globalized and more aware that I'm a world citizen.   It was a year a go, after teaching all female teachers at Nusa Alam were heading to Sophie’s house. We parked our rides at the back yard. When we arrived, some people were busy tidy up all of Sasak cakes—Kelepon, Putri Nyelem, Banget, Wajik and etc—on some wooden table in the garden, small sound system stood and was ready to play. On the terrace, two women were mixing some flowers and yellow grains. Some teachers take quickly initiative to help. When everything was ready Sophie picked Sarah up at Senggigi. Sarah was fitting her wedding dress accompanied by Michelle and Sonia.  About a half hour later, we could hear sounds of antique car parked in front yard garage....

On the higher ground, is set with paddy terraces as background and is under old frangipanis, lies a royal tomb from Pejanggik Kingdom, those are King Pemban Haji’s   and his royal family’s.   This grave is famously known as Serewa .   It is derived from refined Sasak word serioq which means “look”.   Serewa consists of nine rectangles. Eight rectangles are tomb and one rectangle is a water spot. The eight tombs are in various sizes. The longer rectangle is the more people lie in it. Generally, there are two grave stones represent one body that lie in a grave. These grave stones were curved in Balinese curving style and Buddhist touch.  The king’s tomb can be easily distinguished. It is forted by the iron fence and is the highest one. This tomb is next to a gazebo that is decorated in white fabrics. Under the gazebo, there is a stone and a soil made plate to put some offerings. This place is where the pilgrims make a wish and pray. This Royal cemet...

I pass Ampenan everyday when I go to work and I’m always in rush. I haven’t noticed this old special city until one Friday afternoon I read an article about three main cities in Lombok. Then in the following day, I drove my motorbike to the west, passed through the traffic jam, headed to Ampenan to find remains of its history. For the first time, I took a walk under sunny sky among some verdant old buildings that are influenced by Dutch architecture. There were some tables and chairs piled up in front; some street vendors were preparing their spots; some old men were chatting in Sasak while sipping their cigarette. I felt like I went back to the past, drifted to the story when it was a harbor city. Nowadays, Ampenan is the second biggest trading center in Lombok. This beach front city is inhabited by Chinese Indonesian, Arabic Indonesian, Javanese, Bugese and Sasaks. Besides, its black beach is still being the favorite place of local tourists. On the beach, there are some pill...

I hadn’t realized my middle finger was bleeding as I passed the bush that’s fully filled by shrub with thorny spikes. I kept carefully going up while concentrating to hear a stream.  In about thirty minutes, a narrow creek lies in front of me. It’s adorned by small cascade that fall over the stones, the water was very clear but I was puzzled and asking myself where the waterfall was.  Then I walked along the creek side, at the end I saw a light and I found myself stood on the top of the Timponan Waterfall. Before me thick tropical forest under the cloudy sky looked like green Turkish carpet. As I looked down, I could see the line of white foam flow ed on the black wall. I sat down on the big rock while enjoying the view and thinking about a path that could lead me to the area where the water fell. After regaining my energy, I went carefully down and tried several paths. I was trying hard to keep my balance as I walked down on the steep path. Roots were useful...

Gunung Runjani 3726 m-Lombok Island, Indonesia Photo by Daniel Hookins I was walking about 20 meters away behind from my group. I found myself in the middle of a misty mountain. My eyes tried to look through. There were only some trees and edelweiss looked obvious to me. And I realized that this place is still far away from the summit but I knew I would make to the top. I used to wondering a lot why people suffer themselves by climbing a mountain, why they walk through the woods on a narrow dangerous path and why they think it is a worth experience. This curiosity has forced me to find the answer.   On July 16 2013, a black shiny AVP picked me up at 5 0’clock in the morning. I was standing in front of my house with my Mom when the car arrived. I hugged my Mom before I left. “Sudah siap mbak Zi” said a Javanese man while opening the car door for me. I gave him only a smile. I was still sleepy.  The car headed to the south and stop in front of a huge gate. A...