A Crazy Little Adventure at Sembalun : The Heart of Lombok

Sembalun which is the name of a Village at Lombok and it's popular among Indonesian Traveller even tourist from different parts of the world. Usually, this location is a Mountain Rinjani trekking route, the second highest mountain in Indonesia. Slowly, Mesmerized by the beauty of Sembalun view, the traveller realizes there are plenty of wonderful spot to explore which can spoil their eyes and dream. So if some of you visiting Lombok, and doesn't have a plan to climbing Rinjani,  you still can put Sembalun in your destination list.

Let me tell you, some reason why you should try visiting Sembalun

1. Traditional Travel and a Low Budget

Coming here will give you another perspective about different lifestyle of village people. The air is so refreshing really different if you are living in the city that has pollution and dust. People here which is sasak people live in traditional way, some of them still cooking using traditional stuff like fireplace made from brick and burning a firewood or chaff to make fire. Inevitably, it's easy to find some sasak traditional house. Try visiting Dusun Beleq at Sembalun Lawang Village which has 7 traditional sasak house. Beleq means big, the house is made from bamboo while the floor of this house is made from soil mixed it with cow feces to dispel mosquitoes.

Staying in the village is not boring, there still many fun activity to do especially if you need a low budget. The cold weather really support a farmer growing strawberry garden and many visitor coming to pick this fresh strawberries, bring it home as a gift or drink it as a juice.

2. Enjoying the view of Green Hills and Rice field

Sembalun is the highest area at Lombok, there are many hills surrounded the village. Some of the hill is easy to climb, whereas some high hills is a good place to do an easy trekking. Bukit Selong or Selong Hills is one of easy hill which high is 2000-an mdpl. By riding a motorbike and passing the bamboo forest, you will find some stairs do climb this hill. The admission fee is Rp 5.000,00. Unfortunately I am coming here in the rainy season. It will be good if you come at summer because  this place offering you an amazing view of colorful ricefield and surrounded with a green big hill.

3. Being closer with nature by doing hiking and camping 

I am admitted myself is a beginner for doing such thing like hiking, trekking or climbing. But it doesn't stop my dream for climbing Rinjani Mountain eventhough I am sure I won't be able to do it right now. But, to console myself, my friend suggest me to climb Pergasingan Hills which is also good for training and give me an experience about trekking before I am doing a hard one. Actualy, there are many hills to climb at Sembalun such as Inspiration Hill but Pergasingan hill looks so challenging for me. It needs around 3 hours to reach the top when normally people just need 1.5-2 hours.

When we reach the top, it's already dark, so with some equipment we built a tent and preparing our dinner which is instant noodle. It's a little surprise to me knowing that our group is not alone, we found out many group also trying to find a good spot and build their own tent. It's a cold night with a beautiful sky and warm people.

Morning comes, and guess what's a beautiful view in front of or tent ? It's a view of Magnificent Rinjani Mountain... Standing high and tall, seems like nature convince me to stay longer. I missed sunrise but I would never forget the moment when the  morning breeze blew into my skin and the warm sunlight shining brightly.

Sembalun gave me a beautiful memories I couldn't imagined before. But... the incredible thing is.. I spent this memories with an amazing people with has a courage to see the beauty of another things in life. Thank you to all my partner that brought me here, we help each other in this adventure, even it's just a first time I met them, but after spent two night together, it feels like they are the closer people I can trust. Adventure is wonderful, it changes you a lot, giving a courage and makes you appreciate a little thing you never expected before.

My regards to Sembalun and to all my partner...

 Suggestion and message : 

• The weather at Sembalun is cold, wearing a jacket and sweater could help a lot 
• Please don't throw your rubbish and keep your attitude 
• It's easy to find a cheap accomodation or homestay with hot water, wifi and breakfast
• Other places also good to visit at Sembalun is Mangku Sakti waterfall, Dandaun hills, Pusuk Sembalun