A1.
CUSTOM REGULATIONS
You must have at
least 6 (six) months validity of passport to
enter Indonesia.
Visa On Arrival
(VOA) can be obtain at Mataram Airport.
According to
customs regulations, one adult is allowed to
bring into Indonesia a maximum of one liter
of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes, 50
cigars or 1000 grams of tobacco, and
reasonable amount of perfume.
Photographic, video and filming equipment
radios, typewriters, and cars are admitted
provide they are recorded in your passport
on entry and taken out of the country on
departure.
Narcotic, firearm and ammunition, TV set,
and Chinese medicine are strictly
prohibited.
Fresh fruit,
plants and animals must be passed by
Quarantine Office.
A2.
TRAVELING ALL OVER LOMBOK
Visitor
can explore the tiny island by using various
kind of transportation such as:
Chartered/Car Hire, Taxi, Bus, Bemo/Angkot
(local’s public transportation) and
Motorcycle.
Taxis operated
from all major hotels and airport with rate
varying according to destination. Taxi
companies in Lombok are Lombok Taxi
(627000), Lendang Express (634444)
and Airport Taxi. Taxis are metered
and charged accordingly to distances.
Public
Transportation or known locally as "Bemo", a
non-AC minivan (in yellow colour) are
available in major town i.e: Mataram,
Ampenan and Cakranegara, founded in every
corner of the island with quite inexpensive
price. They take and drop off local
passenger and often load over capacity,
without travel insurance coverage. For those
who prefer to travel more privately,
car-hire option or charter or motorbike
rental may be the choice. The prices,
however, do not always included insurance.
And they vary depending upon the type of
vehicle and the duration of hiring. Petrol
pomp and service stations are available at
every large town. In emergency there are
always road side kiosks fuels out of drums
at a bit dearer price.
If you rent a car (self drive), you may find
the rental fare are much more expensive than
in Bali because of limited car available on
Lombok. While driving yourself, please take
out most care since the traffic rules may be
some what different from those observed in
your country. Indonesian and any other Asian
Countries uses "right side steering system"
An international drivers license is
required, but one can apply for temporary
permit in Lombok and go for test driver in
tourist driving license office in Jalan
Langko Mataram Lombok.
It is compulsory to wear a crash helmet
while you ere on the road on a motorbike.
Helmets are available at motorbike hire
outlets. Small horse drawn carts called
Cidomo serve as convenient transportation
during off hours and off the beaten track.
RAMADHAN
(FASTING) BREAK
Most tourist
facilities in Lombok (Gili Islands &
Senggigi) remain open during Ramadhan. Local
Restaurants might close in residential area
in Mataram or Cakranegara to respect the
majority of Moesleem Fasting. Tourist are
suggested to eat and drinks in hotel's or
resort's area.
B. TRAVEL TIPS
-
Peel the fruit before eating; avoid
raw vegetables except at reputable
restaurants. Ice in restaurants is
safe.
-
Drink
always from bottled water and eat
well done cooking food, unless when
eating at recommended
restaurants/cafes or hotel's outlet.
-
Street
or beach vendors are often pushing
too hard on selling and most
visitors feel inconvenient. Never
try to look at any of their item/s
even they might be interesting to
you, even this could be fun for
those who want to learn about
bargaining tactic. For most visitors
this is hassling.
-
Protect yourself from the intense
equatorial sun. Use sun block and
hat.
-
Sexually
transmitted diseases are increasing
in Indonesia. Local sex workers have
multiple partners from all over the
world. Act responsibly and use
condoms, available over the counter
at pharmacies.
-
Due to
the limited number of flights to
Lombok, during the peak season we
highly recommend you to make flight
booking far in advanced. Don't
forget to ask your local tour
operator to re-confirm your ticket
minimum 24 hours in advanced to
ensure yourself to get seats.
DURING
YOUR TRIP TO GILI ISLANDS
-
Do
not let the local porters carry
your bags for whatever reason.
This guys are usually try to be
gentle or act like a boatman
crew. They often charge an
expensive and unreasonable
amount. If you have to pay, a
regular porter cost is about Rp.
1000-2000/bag.
-
Do
not buy any mosquitoes coil from
some kids at the harbor, as they
are trying to sell things at the
highest they can. There are lots
of shops on the Islands selling
those stuffs with better prices.
-
Do
not try to look at the things
that they offers, and do not
make any promises to say "maybe
later". Those guys can recognize
your face and ask for the
promises.
-
When
you returned from the Islands,
many kids brings water to wash
your foot. At first you may feel
convenient, but at the end they
ask some money. Give them some
school needs i.e: pens, or
writing book. It's better not to
let them do anything to you.
-
Carry small changes to pay
public buses or taxi. Call the
taxi operator: 627000 (lombok
taxi) if you need to be picked
up. If you have to go by private
car, try to fix the price first
rather than argue at the end of
the journey.
-
Stonefish are found on the coral
reefs where they are camouflaged
and almost invisible. They are
poisonous if stepped on.
-
Also, be aware of strong
currents while swimming or
snorkeling. It is best to ask
the advice of a dive master
before swimming alone.
-
Jelly Fish is almost invisible
on the water. It looks like a
crystal/plastic, but very
dangerous.
Some kind of jelly fish is
making your skin itchy, and some
are poisoning.
-
Use
a high protection of Sun Cream.
The weather can be very hot on
the afternoon.
-
Do
not leave any valuable
belongings unattended at the
beach while swimming or
snorkeling. Ask for a deposit
box at the hotel where you stay.
