Lombok

Lombok promised even more rain than our previous stop, so we booked three nights in a very cheap hostel in Senaru, with views of the volcanic Mount Rinjani and its rainforested slopes. The hike to the summit/crater rim is currently closed because of weather conditions, but the area below is full of waterfalls and forests, our actual objective. At least it would be cheap, so even if we were forced to stay inside the whole time, we could relax and just enjoy the rain noise and the view.

True to form, on our first day we managed a quick walk to the nearest waterfall before it started raining, and retreated to the hostel. The common area has a mat, two flat cushions and a single hammock, augmented by a handful of sticks, masquerading as handmade wooden chairs. Dan took the hammock and Chelsea took a “chair”; this nearly led to the first major argument of our relationship. After two hours, Chelsea had developed a deep, pathological loathing for the wooden chair. "It's the worst chair in the world! It's impossible to be comfortable! It's not a chair, it's a torture instrument! I'd rather die than have to spend three days sitting on this chair!" She was ready to pack it all in and leave the next morning, but our laundry was still drying so we were forced to stay. That chair almost ended our gap year.

(FYI, Dan tried the same chair the next day and it seemed... fine.)

Luckily, the following morning was, if not totally dry, at least surprisingly bright, so we could leave the cursed pile of sticks in the hostel and go out. We hiked to the Tiu Kelep waterfall, where Dan had to sacrifice his boxers because his swimshorts were still in the laundry. Any excuse to skinny dip.

...and then we found an activity so ridiculous that we had to do it. Along an old stretch of concrete canal/disguised sewage piping that runs beneath the footpath, local entrepreneurs have set up a 'river tubing' experience. This involves riding through a small tunnel on some inner tubes that have been strapped together. It was worryingly cheap. Needless to say, we strapped on our headtorch and GoPro, and climbed aboard.

Senaru has been, astoundingly, even cheaper than the rest of Indonesia. £7 a night accom, £1 for dinner, £3 for river tubing, etc. We are leaving one day early though, to get more time in other places, where there is more to do in spite of the rain (and fewer torturous seats). Next update incoming in a couple of days!Læs mere