Instead of doing like a day tour with a guide in a group of other tourists, we decided to try to do our own thing - going from Senggigi to Senaru, on our moped.
During the first bit of the journey there were stunning views over the three Gili Islands, nice roads and not much other traffic.
When we came to Bengsal after about 30 minutes, we asked this local man for directions to Senaru and he thought we were crazy for trying to drive all that way on a moped "it's 2 hours from here! 80 km! You need jackets, it's cold and rainy!"
We didn't let that scare us, but thanked him for the helped and continued on a much busier road. I held on for dear life on that moped and was scared half to death when dogs were running out on the road from nowhere and when crazy people drove by. But after a while the roads were less bumpy and less crowded again - thank gosh!
After following a tour bus that was going to the exact same spot as us, we finally made it to the entrance of the national park where the waterfalls are located.
We think that the main entrance might be a bit further up the road, and we were just lucky to find a short cut where there was only one guide trying to make us believe that he needed to lead us through the djungle park to the waterfalls - otherwise we might get lost. But thanks to Guy's research skills we knew about guides like him and we also knew that it's easy to go in without a guide. And so we did. The only thing we paid was the 10 000 rupiah entreance fee.
They said that the walk to the first waterfall would take 30 minutes and then another hour to the next one. But after walking on a path with a stunning view over rice fields and Mount Rinjani, we saw the 50 metre high waterfall just after about 10 minutes.
We continued the walk, through steep stairs and scary paths and at the end of way to the second waterfall we had to go through the river to get through.
It was so slippery that I just saw myself falling, head first down the water, but we made it and when we got to the waterfall it was so worth the moped ride and the trekking there!
It was one of those times I really wish I had a Go pro, as we could swim in this waterfall. It was absolutely amazing! The water was so fresh and perfectly cooling after the sweaty journey we had. After that swim, I felt as if I boosted my energy levels and could walk all the way back without a problem. This is honestly one of the coolest experiences in my life, it just felt so unreal to stand right next to a waterfall, with hardly anyone around us and just the sound of birds and, of course the water crashing down in the water.
Trekking like that really takes it out of you, so when we got out of the national park we were starving and stopped at the closest restaurant and we had a lunch with such a beautiful view.
Once again, what I love about Indonesia is how easy it is to be a vegan. Anywhere you go (where they serve local food) tempeh and tofu will be at the menu. So at this place I tried Urap Urap (cooked vegetables with spiced grated coconut) with tempeh and tofu for the first time and it was delicious. Don't know what I enjoyed more - the view or the food..
Anywho, this day was just incredible (mostly because the way back went quick and smoothly and we made it back on the moped without a scratch) and you are defiantly missing out if you don't go for a swim in the waterfalls of Senaru if you're in Lombok!
No comments:
Post a Comment