Travel – MAD Hat Lab http://madhatlab.com Wed, 12 Aug 2020 16:31:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://i0.wp.com/madhatlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-Mad-Hat.png?fit=32%2C32 Travel – MAD Hat Lab http://madhatlab.com 32 32 165168261 A Note on Traveling, Collecting Experiences and How It Helps me Feel more Fulfilled and Happy http://madhatlab.com/a-note-on-traveling-collecting-experiences-and-how-it-helps-me-feel-more-fulfilled-and-happy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-note-on-traveling-collecting-experiences-and-how-it-helps-me-feel-more-fulfilled-and-happy Wed, 12 Aug 2020 20:30:00 +0000 http://madhatlab.com/?p=525 This is not a post about minimalism.

My house is not all white and gray and spacious. Sometimes when I am cooking, I have to cut my ingredients on my dining table because my kitchen counter looks more like a liquidation sale shelf.

However, I do not like to spend money on things I do not need. I guess you could say I am an “Essentialist.”

I do not get rid of things just for the sake of getting rid of things or because it doesn’t spark joy anymore, but rather because I do not like owning more things than I need to.

I have the same work bag that I used to travel, however I will not use the same bag when I am going to a sleepover because the 2 bags do not serve the same purpose.

I do not spend money on clothes but instead of having a minimal amount of the same clothes, I will buy more of the same clothes just so I do not have to do laundry every couple of days.

When you have more things that serve the same purpose, you have to maintain it and take care of it. Honestly, I am just too lazy for that.

Minimalist would prefer to have as little material things as possible, I still have stuffs that I like to collect and own. I have 6 pair of headphones, I have a number of watches (an interest that I share with my dad) and many others.

I could download a digital version of a song, but if I am a fan of the music, I will buy the CD.

My de-cluttering report that I have done last year was true and honest but I had been having trouble throwing or donating the rest of my stuffs because I do keep mementos from my childhood, friends and family.

Something that I can relate to when it comes to minimalism, however is collecting experiences and traveling.

A friend of the family once told me,

You don’t look twice at souvenirs that you got from traveling, and you may forget what a place looks like if you travel enough, but you always remember the feeling being somewhere, because feeling is not done by your head, but rather by your heart

I promised my wife when Mason was born that every year we will travel at least once to a place that we have not been before.

When I travel with Mason and my wife, I could give my full attention to my family.

The face that Mason makes the first time he was on the beach.

The face (even his cries) that he makes 2 seconds later when a wave came crashing on him.

The happiness that my wife feels when she finally gets that perfect picture of her OOTD (“Outfit of the Day” for those that are not in the know).

Risking sounding dramatic, for these few moments, life clicks and I found the reason why I welcome hard work and things I have to deal with at work.

Due to the pandemic, this year I have been reluctant to travel but I hope when this all dies down, I can start traveling again.

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iPad Mini as Work Laptop Replacement While Traveling: How I Stay On Top of My Work While Traveling http://madhatlab.com/ipad-mini-as-work-laptop-replacement-while-traveling-how-i-stay-on-top-of-my-work-while-traveling/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ipad-mini-as-work-laptop-replacement-while-traveling-how-i-stay-on-top-of-my-work-while-traveling Tue, 19 Nov 2019 13:30:00 +0000 http://madhatlab.com/?p=304 Ever since I came back from California in 2013, I have been trying to travel more since I have a higher degree of freedom at work. During these travels, I have always bring my laptop because I like to be ready whenever and wherever I have to work.

Lately, as my son grew bigger, I found myself trying to find a lighter and smaller replacement for my laptop during these travels. There are times when I have to carry Mason for a prolonged period of time because he is cranky or when the content of my bagpack has to include toys and baby supplies. While not exactly heavy, my ASUS Zenbook still weighs around 1 kg without charger and takes up around 12″ x 7.5″ in my bagpack.

To get something as light as possible that can do 85% of my workload, I decided to use my iPad Mini as laptop replacement.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at NO cost to you. It just helps me pay for my hosting fee 🙂

The Bulk of the Workload

Before I can completely use my iPad to replace my laptop however, some changes to my work flow has to be done.

I made a rough plan of the bulk of work done on my laptop and also work that I usually do while I am traveling.

Most of the time if I am only gone for up to 10 days, my planned workload is

  • 80% WhatsApp to communicate with my office
  • 15% Emails
  • 5% Creating files in Google Sheets/ data inputting

Speed of Information

I work in the inter-state public bus transportation industry and a bulk of our daily work is reacting to situations (car accidents or bus breaks down on the street) and the handling of cash flow (we still use cash instead of cashless payment system). So, we create group chats in WhatsApp for various devisions like the Mechanic team, the Accounting team and the Spare Parts Supply team. With WhatsApp, everybody in the group will always be updated to the situation at hand and allow faster reaction time.

Personally, I found myself using WhatsApp Web more than using WhatsApp on my phone whenever I have access to my PC or iPad + Keyboard because replying to messages are so much faster with a keyboard than my phone’s virtual keyboard.

I have also migrated our company’s Excel files to Google Sheets because of the following benefits:

  • Easier files creation and data inputting through iOS without any downside to Windows users
  • Faster data processing because as soon as data is inputted by my admins, I can see it
  • No data loss when there is electricity blackouts (which happens a lot in my city)

Paperless Information

Most of the information that passes through my office is scanned into digital format and emailed to me every day by my office admins. This information ranges from payment slips to daily employees attendance charts.

We are also moving toward digital files for as many as we can to save storage space. By going paperless, I don’t have to lug around files or folders, but instead just access the files through the clouds.

As of my to-do list and project notes, I have been using OneNote, which is accessible through iOS as well.

iPad Mini 5 & Logitech Keyboard K380

In order for my iPad Mini to be a true laptop replacement, I needed a keyboard whether a keyboard case or a separate Bluetooth keyboard. I was on the fence between Logitech K380 and iClever BK-05, but in the end I settled on the Logitech K380 because I could get my hand on one for a cheap price.

The K380 turns out to be perfect because it has a desktop keyboard typing feels, only loses in term of portability compared to the iClever. I have thoroughly enjoyed using the K380 and haven’t had any buyer’s remorse since yet.

Logitech K380
iClever BK-05

Future Improvements

So far, I really like bringing my iPad Mini traveling since it allows me to travel very light and stays on top of my work while I am not in the office. The Mini also double duty as entertainment during long flights or as books when there is no internet.

I know, technically I only need my phone to get my work done since most of my files are in Google Sheets and in WhatsApp, but when you have to look at 6″ all day, an iPad Mini is a welcome size (trust me, I tried). Besides, the Logitech K380 is such a joy to use that I actually look forward to when I have to use it, and it puts me in “Working Mode” whenever I have it in front of me.

Working Mode, Wherever…Whenever…

Also, some countries like Japan and America has strict baggage policy regarding laptops, and having an iPad Mini allows breezy X-Ray screenings.

In the future, I am looking into changing my iPad Mini to iPad Pro with USB-C which lets me to share cables between the iPad and my phone, plus the bigger screen doesn’t hurt.

Finally I am currently looking into carrying case that I can put my iPad and keyboard for easier packing and carrying.

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Our 5 Days Trip to Lombok with a 22 Months Toddler http://madhatlab.com/our-5-days-trip-to-lombok-with-a-22-months-toddler/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-5-days-trip-to-lombok-with-a-22-months-toddler Tue, 12 Nov 2019 14:00:05 +0000 http://madhatlab.com/?p=190 In October, we went on a 5 days trip to the Lombok island in Indonesia. Lombok is just across the island from Bali and while Bali is a must-visit destination if you have never been to Indonesia, Lombok is where all the beaches you see in travel magazine is at.

Crowd wise, Lombok offers a sweet spot in tourism; you don’t get the traffic jam and level of crowdness that you see in Bali, but it’s enough that you don’t get that creepy feeling because there is nobody around.

Pages Contents

Hotel: Katamaran Resort (Google Maps)

Katamaran Resort is a relaxing 5 stars beachfront resort located right at Senggigi beach where it’s currently happening. Some of the equipments and facilities look dated and the price is a little steep for the service and food that you get.

Even though it is a 5 stars resort, it is priced around Bali’s 4 stars hotel. However, if you are on a budget, you may want to look at other alternatives since most of Lombok’s resorts are beachfront resorts anyway.

Rooms & Suites

Katamaran Resort has many tiers to their room type but it’s mainly

  1. Premier. Regular hotel type room
  2. Suites. Bigger than the premier with an outdoor & indoor bathroom and no bathtub
  3. Villas. Biggest room with small size pool outside the room and bathtub

We stayed at the suite because we got a free upgrade when we got there and after looking around the resort for 3 days, I do believe that the suites are the best-bang-for-the-buck room. Katamaran Resort has a beautiful swimming pool with clear acrylic on the side, so even if you were to stay in their villas, I don’t see you wanting to swim in the villa’s pool, but rather in the main public swimming area. Also the villas’ swimming pool doesn’t feel private since it’s right outside the door to your villa with everybody passing by.

Price Paid: ~$100 / night for beachfront suite (after the free upgrade)

Katamaran’s Beach

You pretty much pay a premium for its location right at the beach and it is a premium beach. White sandy beach and clean clear water where you can play with your kids or just lounging around on their bean bags and chairs. The bar by the beach plays music but not loud like the party music that you will find in most of Bali’s beach clubs, rather more like elevator electronic music.

The breakfast buffet and the dinner area is right next to the beach. So the location itself almost made up for the steep price (sunset dinner by the beach with family; really hard to beat).

A side note for those of you who are bringing your children to the beach, there is no lifeguard in this resort’s beach.

Service

Starting off with the positives, checking into the resort was a breeze and the staffs’ friendliness is top notch. We even got upgraded to beachfront suite when we just booked for the regular premier room. Everybody was friendly and you can tell that they are trying their best, however a lot of times, the service just feel inefficient like not refilling any of our toilet papers or shampoos. They eventually refilled our toilet papers after 45 minutes after we called the room service. However, the inefficiencies seem to be due to lack of Standard Operating Procedure that you usually find in bigger corporate establishments rather than the staffs not knowing how to do their job

We also decided to book a trip to Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, & Gili Kedis through the hotel since they were the second least expensive agency that we can find. They even throw in a plate of fruits and bottled water despite their cheap price. Unfortunately, the travel company that they pass us to, while friendly enough doesn’t feel very personal even though it is a private tour. Nevertheless, we had a good time.

Despite, some slow services, upgrading us was a nice touch and while we were there, all the staffs are very friendly and helpful and during our day trip, we had a lot of fun snorkeling around the Gilis.

Price Paid: ~$105 for half a day trip to 3 Gilis (Not including lunch)

Breakfast Buffet and Food

Anybody that knows me know that I am a big hotel breakfast guy. One of the things that excite me the most when traveling is the breakfast. Whereas when I am home and at work, I want to get through breakfast as quickly as possible, when I am traveling, the breakfast table is where the family meets and hang out and spend the most time on.

The breakfast buffet at Katamaran, however was disappointing to me and feels more like a 3 stars hotel’s breakfast, where the omellettes are pre-cooked and kept in a heated pan; you get bread, cereal and a mix of Indonesian and Western food, but honestly they are all just pretty blah. Fortunately they have pretty good coffee, which was surprising considering the rest of their breakfast offerings.

Service was again feels inefficient and hard to come by during breakfast, but this time I think it’s more because they were short staffed and you have to ask multiple times for something as minor as napkins or forks.

We also happened to have dinner at the resort’s restaurant and the meal was pretty good, further surprising us considering the breakfast buffet’s taste. My wife and I were guessing that the chef that actually cooks for dinner may not be the same chef that prepares the recipe for breakfast.

Also for those of you that are traveling with babies, they only have 3 baby chairs for a dining room that can fit close to 250 – 300 people if not more.

Will I Come Back to Katamaran Resort?

While Katamaran does a lot of things right, they do a lot of things wrong as well, mainly their breakfast quality for the price that they charge and their service’s efficiency. I am not the type who demand to be pampered, but when you travel with a 22 month toddler that just spilled juice all over the table, you don’t want to wait 20 minutes for napkins.

Now, if you are not a big breakfast person or you have an older infants, Katamaran has a lot to offer you, like beautiful beach and swimming pool area, and their location on the island is very convenient

The next time I come back to Lombok, I will most likely look into other alternatives like

  • Sheraton
  • Sudamala (which won an award for the best breakfast and cheaper rate)
  • Novotel (Kuta area)

Currently, the winner of the alternatives is Sudamala because they have a lot of chains, so I assume that they have better Standard Operating Procedure compared to Katamaran, and because breakfast.

Food: Lombok means Chili

Lombok literally means Chili in Indonesian, so take this as your warning. If you can handle the heat, the food are all amazing, especially anything to do with fresh seafood. If you don’t want chili or at least their milder version, you should emphasize to the waiter or restaurant “Tidak Pedas” (pronounced “Tea-Dug Peh-Dust”) which means not spicy.

Places of Note

Kedai Setia Pak Jenggot (Google Maps)

On our second night in Lombok, we decided to have delivery from Pak Jenggot. We only had the Ayam Taliwang and it was really spicy, but in a good way. We were so hungry, I forgot to take any pictures of our dinner.

The sauce, spices and taste are all on point, even if the foods are a little on the pricier side.

Highly recommended if you can handle the fire.

Warung Menega (Google Maps)

Warung Menega was a chain of Bali’s famous Warung Menega and they have the same recipes, but I heard that as of October 2019, they are no longer part of the main Bali’s Warung Menega, instead a stand alone restaurant.

Just like in Bali, when you enter the establishment, you will be greeted with aquariums and buckets of fresh seafood where you can make your selections and tell the servers how you want it to be cooked.

Price point wise, Warung Menega is a little expensive for Lombok but their seafood is fresh and they are generous with the sauce and spices.

If you are looking for good seafood, you can’t go wrong with Warung Menega and a good dinner is pretty much guaranteed.

Ashtari (Google Maps)

On our first day in Lombok, we had a driver to take us around Central & South Lombok and based on many reviews online, we stopped by Ashtari, a cafe/ yoga loft/ lounge near Kuta area.

Ashtari is located on the hill to the north of Kuta and you can catch a beautiful view of Kuta’s coastline. The decoration of the cafe feels very organic, decorated with some murals and simple but homey. You will also find some board games and card games available while you are lounging and hanging out.

While I really like the view, atmosphere and the decoration of the cafe, sadly, the food and service are very sub-par.

We were there around 11:45 and the place was pretty empty, but food was slow in coming and the person helping us, while not rude or unfriendly acted like we were not supposed to be there. She looked impatient while taking our order and was not helpful at all about the menu. We ended up getting the fried rice just because she seems just as clueless about the menu as we did.

La Chill (Google Maps)

We were hungry on our last day in Lombok but wanted to go somewhere close by our resort. La Chill is located behind a small motel and we were very skeptical while we walked in. But once you are in, La Chill is actually right next to the beach, serves good food, friendly service and a very relaxing place to just laze around.

Milk Espresso (Google Maps)

Milk Espresso is small, hip and happening. They had one of the best coffees I had tasted while in Lombok and the service was excellent. I definitely see myself stopping by everytime I am in the area.

Itinerary

Including the flight in and out of the island, the total time we spent on the island is actually only 3 days. This is how we planned our 3 days

  • 1 day to explore various areas of Lombok (We hired a driver that takes us to the south and central Lombok)
  • 1 day to island hop to the many Gilis around Lombok (We went to Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak & Gili Kedis)
  • 1 day to enjoy the resort just chilling at the beach or the swimming pool.

Selong Belanak, Kuta area, and Tanjung Aan with Pak Nas

For our first day in Lombok we hired Pak Nas as our driver for the day and we can’t recommend him enough. Pak Nas knows all the shortcuts, and he even helps us plan our day to make sure we don’t have any unnecessary detours. We paid around Rp. 500,000 for the full day, which usually means around 8 – 9 hours depending on the driver.

We asked Pak Nas to come around 9 am and it was already 10 am when we left Katamaran. I was worried that we were not going to have enough time to see everything on our plan, but Pak Nas ensured us that he is not picky about hours and just worry about having a good time. By the time we came back to the resort, it was 8:30 pm; Pak Nas did not charge us extra and he was still full of smiles when he dropped us off. Of course, we gave him a big tips and bought him lunch and dinner.

If you are in need of a driver while you are in Lombok, click on this link (Pak Nas on TripAdvisor) and give Pak Nas a call, he is the best driver I ever had in Indonesia’s Eastern Side. By the way, if you are reading this, Pak Nas, we are sorry for our tardiness but thank you very much for your kindness!

Moving on to our 1st day plan, we stopped by Ashtari on our way to Kuta and passed by Selong Belanak Beach, a beautiful beach but full of surfers. We hung around in Tanjung Aan Beach and let Mason play on the sand before heading to Merese Hill to catch the sunset. On our way back, we had dinner at Warung Menega.

Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak & Gili Kedis

On our second day, we went on a snorkeling day trip to the 3 Gilis around Lombok through a private tour company.

Snorkeling in Lombok is highly recommended as the water is clear, coral reefs are abundant and the fish are friendly.

Packing & Travel Tips

Pack how you pack for the beach because even their nightlife scenes are pretty laidback and casual. Laundry services are also abundant in the island

If you are like me and prefer to wash your own T-Shirts, underwears and socks, supply marts are everywhere and you can buy a little bit of detergent and make use of your room’s sink.

Free Wi-Fi can be found everywhere and they are generally fast

Common sense do apply here just like everywhere in the world. Lombok is pretty safe but if you are a woman, do not go down a dark, shady looking alley at night. Also, since the majority of the population are Muslims, try not to go around the island in a bikini or publicly intoxicated (tipsy is fine, flat out screaming drunken is not). These are very frowned upon and considered disrespectful.

Show the culture and the island respect and they will greet you with smiles and friendliness.

Will I Come Back?

Without a doubt and without a second thought. Lombok is an island worth a return visit and you should too. On this trip, I was unable to do more of the physical activities, like hiking to Mt. Rinjani, or checking out the multiple waterfalls that the island offers. The next time I return, those will be on the top of my list.

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Bali or Lombok, Which Island is Better for Your Next Holiday? http://madhatlab.com/bali-or-lombok-which-island-is-better-for-your-next-holiday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bali-or-lombok-which-island-is-better-for-your-next-holiday Tue, 29 Oct 2019 14:00:23 +0000 http://madhatlab.com/?p=173 As usual, the TL;DR conclusion right off the bat, followed by table of content.

If you can’t decide which island to go for your next holiday, you really can’t go wrong with either one. All it comes down is whether you want a more tranquil beach vacation (Lombok) or a more hectic big-city-infused beach vacation (Bali). Either way, Both islands will have a little bit of everything for everybody.

If you are traveling with small children, Bali will be the safer bet due to the options it provide, while if you just want travel-magazine-esque beaches, Lombok is the place to be.

Beautiful Islands with 2 Different Personalities

Bali and Lombok has long been considered sister islands due to their similar marine location in Indonesia. That’s where the majority of the similarity ends, however. Visiting Bali and Lombok will provide you with a beach vacation but both will give you different flavors and tone to your holiday. Local’s religion (Muslim vs. Hindu) and culture play a big part in this difference and mostly in how the province gets their source of income (Lombok was a producer of pearls for a long time, while Bali obtain a majority of their income from tourism).

If you have never been to Indonesia, Bali is a must visit destination but it could get a little hectic and overwhelming compared to Lombok. It all comes down what you are looking for in your holiday when comparing these 2 beautiful islands.

The Beach

While Bali has many (and I mean many) beach clubs for you to laze around or party in, Lombok has all the white-sand-blue-clear-water beaches you see in the travel magazine. In contrast, it’s getting harder and harder now to find idyllic beaches in Bali that have clear blue water or not filled with trash.

Because of the beautiful beaches, it is not hard to understand why many people come to Lombok just to lay around the beach or to surf the waves

If you crave even more beaches while you are in Lombok, the island itself is surrounded by many small islands (“Gili” in local language), with Gili Trawangan being one of the more famous one. There are many boats that can take you from Lombok to these Gilis on a day trip depending on which one you want to explore for the day. Some of the gilis are the size of a small island (2 hours plus to walk around the island) to the size of a sand dune. All of these gilis is surrounded by clean clear water where you can see fish from the beach.

This is the kind of beach you can expect in Lombok and its surrounding Gilis.

Service Level & Kid Friendliness

Lombok is slowly catching up to the service level that you will get in Bali, but hands down, Bali blow Lombok out of the water in term of service received by tourists and patrons.

Bali’s income as a province comes mainly from tourism and it’s easy to see why. The people in Bali are naturally friendly and family oriented and combined with all the years in the service industry, you can feel the genuine care.

Since Bali handles all kind of tourists, you also almost never have to worry about baby chairs or non baby friendly area when visiting.

In comparison, in Lombok, there will still be restaurants, cafes or warung (small eatery place, usually on the side of the street; very simple and furnished with a few wooden table and chairs and open kitchen) where they do not provide baby chairs or baby stroller friendly entry access.

The service level that you receive in Lombok is also not as high as Bali, which may be due to the fact that Lombok does not have a lot of big corporate establishments. Service in some places may feel inefficient, or slow or less friendly. But, like I said, in the near future, with more and more investors coming into the island, the gap in service level should be less obvious

Nightlife

If you are looking for nightlife, Bali has many offerings and options, ranging from casual partying to high end lounge by the beach. However, in Lombok, you will get less options in term of clubs and lounges. You can always island hop to Gili Trawangan for the night and party there, but the bars in Gili Trawangan, while still just as lively as Bali’s are nowhere close in term of fanciness.

A note of caution, while both Bali and Lombok both offers lively nightlifes, Lombok is mainly populated by people of Muslim religion, so please refrain yourselves from showing too much skins or acting too rowdy, as it is very frowned upon, especially for women.

Crowd

In both islands, you will see a good mix of local tourists (people from other part of Indonesia) and foreign tourists. My wife feels there is more foreign tourists in Lombok, while I feel otherwise. But, the difference between the 2 islands is just the sheer number of tourists. I try to go to Bali once a year (usually with my son’s grandparents and my brother’s family) and compared to 5 years ago, I often feel it’s harder and harder to find a spot for ourselves.

On the other hand, in Lombok, you will not get the traffic jam or the level of crowdness of Bali, but enough that you don’t feel creeped out because there is nobody in sight.

La Chill at 1 pm. Look at all that crowd

The Price

If price is an important part of your decision, then Lombok is definitely the cheaper option between the two. Mainly because there are not that many big businesses establishments in Lombok, so everything is still priced in Indonesian currency (Rupiah), whereas in Bali, there’s a running joke to local tourists that everything is calculated in U.S. Dollars then priced into Rupiah.

To put it in comparison, a local beer in one of Lombok’s 5 star hotels was Rp. 60,000 (roughly $4 USD) and Rp. 1,400,000 (roughly $100 USD) for room, while the same beer and room costed me Rp. 80,000 (roughly $6 USD) and Rp.1,650,000 (roughly $117 USD) in Bali’s 4 star hotels. Not a big difference, but it does add up if you are vacationing for 5 days or more.

This is not to say that you can’t find cheaper options in Bali or a more expensive one in Lombok, but as a guideline, Bali will run up a bigger budget than Lombok.

How Many Days are Enough?

Because of the difference in island size, you cannot have the same itinerary for both islands. The following recommendation is what I usually tell people because it allows you to enjoy 80% of what the island offers. You can always add or reduce more days depending on your time and situation.

For Lombok, I do recommend at least 5 days (not including flight days) and you should be good. The way I allocate these 5 days are usually

  • 1 Day for lounging on the pool or playing by the beach
  • 2 Days to explore the cities or surrounding areas
  • 1 Day to explore the nature that the islands offer
  • 1 Day to rest before or after your flight.

Keep in mind, the days recommended are for regular travelers. If you are an extreme traveler (like hiking to volcanoes), then you might want to add 1 or 2 days more.

If you have the energy level of batman and doesn’t need more than 6 hours of sleep and you want to pack as much activity as you can in a day, then you might want to reduce 1 or 2 days.

Due to Bali’s bigger island size, you can stay for a month before you fully explore all corner of the island. But, if you are just staying near the major cities, then 7 days should be enough. Again, the same guideline if you are a regular traveler or batman applies.

  • 4 Days in Seminyak, Canggu and surrounding areas
    • 2 Day for the beach
    • 2 Days for the city and surroundings (because of the traffic)
  • 2 Days in Ubud and surrounding areas
    • 1 Day of hiking and nature
    • 1 Day for the city
  • 1 Day for resting

Bali or Lombok?

Both islands will undoubtedly scratch your vacation itch and considering their close proximity, trying both islands is definitely doable. However, for people who only has the time or means to visit just one island, the answer lies on your level of expectation and what you hope to get out of your holiday.

First Timer

If this is your first time traveling to Indonesia and you absolutely only can visit one or the other island, then I recommend Bali because Bali will definitely have more for everybody. You are less likely to be disappointed with Bali if you are going in blind and not knowing what to expect of this island.

All About the Beach

If you are coming to Indonesia for the beach, whether it is to hang out by the beach all day or simply to just surf, then Lombok is definitely the place for you due to its clean untouched beaches

If you crave for even more beaches, Lombok is surrounded by small islands (Gili Trawangan being one of the more famous one for its party scene and clean beautiful beach) and you can island hop to these 30+ islands around Lombok for lower prices than if you were in Bali.

I am Here to Party and only to Party!

If you want a taste of Indonesian nightlife outside of the capital, then hands down Bali is the place to go. Bali’s nightlife has everything for everyone (ghetto dark alley night clubs all the way to fancy, pyrotechnic-filled clubs). Also, due to the island’s main religion of Hinduism, you are less likely to get in trouble if you leave the club not as sober you liked (it happens).

For partying, I recommend Bali over Lombok because while I enjoyed partying in Bali and Lombok’s Gili Trawangan before, I feel Gili Trawangan’s party scene is more toward drinking and sleeping in the toilet rather than the music, mingling and enjoying the atmosphere. Of course, your miles may vary.

Family Vacation with Toddlers or Kids

If you are on vacation with young children, then either island should be fine, again depending on your level of expectations and what you want to do.

If you have energetic kids who like to lounge by the pool and play on the sand, then Lombok is a safer choice due to its clean beach and numerous nature hiking trails.

If you have older kids who would be interested to go to the market and a more city like offerings instead of going to the beach all day, then Bali will be more fun and child friendly.

Have a Fun Holiday!

Whichever island you decided on, there is no doubt Bali or Lombok will have whatever you want. You just have to tune your expectations accordingly and decide on what is important for you and your family during the holiday.

While both islands are fairly safe for foreigners or locals to go, do exercise common sense and respect for the local culture, rules and laws. These include but not limited to:

  • Not wearing bikinis outside of the pool or beach when in Lombok
  • Not properly cover yourself when visiting temples in Bali
  • If you are taking the taxis, ask for metered fare or negotiate beforehand if the driver insists on fixed fare
  • Do not go down a shady looking dark alley alone, especially ladies (common sense)

For any seasoned traveler, you will know the above pretty much apply to wherever you go and not just Indonesia. If you can exercise caution and respect for the locals, all that remains is for you to have a fun holiday.

If you have any questions or comments or you just want to chat about your vacation, feel free to shoot me a message or email!

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