long winding white sandy beach with coconut palm trees and tall hills of green western lombok is the scenery you will find when you drive from the capital. i tried to compare it with Pacific Coast Highway 1 to santa barbara. but, it is just un-comparable. the beauty and the aura of you are being in a place that is much more exotic than california -- once again, it's just beyond comparison.

writing about lombok, i can't help myself not to compare this island with its older sister, bali. bali is the never ending beauty. its aura is different than its younger sister. you always feel excited to fly to this island of Gods. a feeling of prestige that you are vacationing in bali like other ritzies and glitzies. try telling your friends about a plan to visit lombok for a vacation. and, most of the reaction would be -- why not bali?

i felt at peace when i was in lombok -- the feeling i seldom have whenever i was in bali. why? the aura was just different. in sayan-bali, i would prayed hard walking in the dark by myself under the grace of the moon. in tanjung-lombok, i lightly walked under the frangipani trees breezely like i walked inside my own home. i wasn't feeling scared at all. the mysticism of bali does not fare well in lombok island, i guess.