Welcome to Lombok
Getting from one place to another is often said to be the biggest part of the adventure.
This is without a doubt true in the islands of Indonesia.
This hit us hardest on our path from the island of Bali, with a pit stop in Gili Air; a remote circle of sand only a kilometre or two from Lombok, and then on to the main event, Lombok Island.
The journey is relatively short in distance, but throughout we rode taxi, ferry, speed boat and of course, horse and cart.
Lombok feels a step removed from its nearby neighbour Bali, and people we met on the journey there warned us several times about the infamy of the island. A few moments of darkness in its recent history and a reputation for crime was a common topic when talking about the island.
However, once we arrived (and found a replacement for our driver who never turned up) and navigated through the windy, pot-holed village roads, the majestic aura of the island hit us.
Lombok is filled with an island-lifestyle as strong or even more so than Bali or the Gili Islands.
Surfing is everywhere, smiles are everywhere, beaches are everywhere.
The daily commute here is a buzz of locals and tourists heading out in small boats to surf.
We were still warned not to stray from the village after dark and there are a few rugged roads that made our butts hurt after an hour of motorbiking, but our experience in Lombok couldn't have been more exciting, awe inspiring and relaxing.
