When Lombok’s Calling You, Just Listen

 

All photos here are my personal photos

“You need to go to Lombok as soon as possible. No questions asked.” That’s what someone—or something—told me in my dream, back in November 2024. Three nights in a row.

My first trip to Lombok was around 2016 or 2017 for work. It was just a business trip—I didn’t even get the chance to explore this beautiful, still pure island. So on the fourth night in November, I finally shared this recurring dream with one of my best friends, Achi. She said: “If Lombok’s already calling you, then go in April—or May at the latest. But check the weather first. And I still insist you’re not going alone. Especially if it’s a road trip.” Guess what I did? I followed her advice religiously.

I’m not trying to sound like a clairvoyant or dive into spiritual woo-woo, but since I was a kid, dreams like this have happened to me from time to time. Especially the ones that come out of nowhere—when I’m not even thinking about something I want. They just come straight into my dreams. When I asked my grandparents about it, they explained it thoroughly. And honestly, it kinda made sense, considering our family bloodline. Sometimes it’s cool. Sometimes it’s scary. So I just try to keep my feet on the ground and keep counting my blessings.

Lombok taught me how to let go of my hyper-independence and start rebuilding trust in myself. This island showed me not only how to slow down and detach from the outside world, but also how to dive deeper, inward. Some parts of the island are completely off-grid—no electricity, no internet. Just human beings and nature. I panicked at first. My trip partner laughed and said, “We’re off-grid here, babe. Just enjoy it, we’ll be fine,” while tapping my shoulder and sipping his young coconut. And you know what? I stopped panicking. I let go of all my worries—right along with the sea breeze.

When we snorkeled in Gili Petelu and Gili Gambir, I swam with coral, dozens of fish species, and a few sea turtles. Then I heard something underwater. At first, it was unclear—but then I realized it was Sasak, the traditional language of Lombok. I recognized it because earlier that day, our guide Gendy had taught us a few words and phrases.

After hearing the voice underwater for the second time, I tried swimming back to our boat, but my right calf cramped. I panicked again—struggled to climb into the boat. Gendy and Ismul, our snorkeling instructors, reacted instantly. I was short of breath, couldn’t talk straight, and almost ripped my life vest off because my chest was burning from the inside. Then my trip partner and our third guide (who introduced himself as Jack Sparrow, by the way) came over to check on me.

Gendy massaged my calf for about five minutes while I tried to calm down. Once I caught my breath, I asked for 10 minutes to myself. I needed to process what had just happened. I plugged in my earbuds, played a song, and lit a cigarette. After playing the same track three times, my earbuds died, and my phone battery suddenly dropped. So I took off the buds, shut off my phone, and closed my eyes—still floating in the middle of the ocean.

Then I heard it again.
The same voice.
The same language.
A longer message this time.
I’m not gonna share the details here—but it was exactly what I needed to hear. A kind of spiritual confirmation about something I’d just decided.

And that, my friend… was only the second day of the trip. HAHAHAHAHA.

The third day wasn’t overly ambitious—snorkeling in the open water around Gili Air and Gili Meno. But honestly, it was terrifying. The current was strong. I was struggling, trying to fight it. Then I remembered—who the fuck am I to fight nature, anyway? So I let go again. Let it be.

As soon as I surrendered, my trip partner reached me, helped guide me through the water, held my hand, and pointed out fish I hadn’t seen yet, explaining each one and its traits like a walking underwater encyclopedia.

I always love listening to him tell stories—especially about the ocean. There’s this light in his eyes when he talks about marine life. Sparks. Whatever you want to call it. He comes alive. We always find peace in nature, whether it’s the jungle or the ocean. As long as we’re out there, we’re happy as fuck.

Our snorkeling itinerary:

Pink Beach Trip
* Gili Pasir
* Gili Petelu & Gili Gambir
* Tangsi Pink Beach (swam with a few Blacktip Sharks here!)
* Segui Beach

3 Gili Snorkeling
* Gili Air
* Gili Meno
* Gili Trawangan (we just stopped for 15 min—too crowded, got me too anxious, saw tons of people)

At the end of the third day, after we got back from snorkeling the 3 Gilis, Gendy gave us two bottles of original Bayan Brem—a sweet, traditional rice wine from the north. While passing Kelui Beach, we caught a gorgeous sunset, with the sun setting right behind Mount Agung.

We didn’t do anything heavy on the fourth day. Just strolled around Kuta, visited Kuta Mandalika Beach, snacked by the shore, soaked in the sun, chatted with locals, snapped beautiful photos—then ended the day at Selong Belanak Beach.

And I kid you not—it was as beautiful as Phi Phi Island in Thailand. Blue and aquamarine water, white sand, no big resorts—just local warungs and barefoot kids playing soccer in the blazing sun, laughing like they couldn’t feel a thing. We sipped the Bayan Brem while watching the ocean from the shore—it was insanely beautiful and peaceful at the same time.

On day five, we were still drunk on happiness. But also sad, because we had to go back home—to traffic, trash, and work. Still, we were grateful. We did this together. Laid the foundation for something, on the rhythm that nature gave us.

Just a gentle reminder—not just for us, but for you too (yes, you, the one who made it this far): No matter what happens, we all need to return to nature before we lose our sanity. It’s the best medicine. Trust me—I’m the most mentally unstable one in this equation, and I’m doing the dirty work every damn day to stay steady, HAHAHAHAHA.

We wouldn’t have had this unforgettable trip without: Lalu Habibi, Ophi, Jack Gondrong, Gendy, Jack Sparrow, Ismul, Ijun, Pak Kamal, and Mas Andi—the best Lombok crew who deserve more recognition for their heart, grit, and magic. Also, shoutout to Bruga Villas for the warmest hospitality during our stay.

If you ever want to explore Lombok and need the best team to guide you, slide into my DMs. I got you.


Ubud, 30th April 2025
“Damocles” – Sleep Token