I went to Lombok, few years ago. I was solo traveling in Lombok - Bali. I was amazed by Lombok's beauty. The streets are clean and no traffic jam which so relaxing. No skyscrapers so you can see the blue sky with big cottons everywhere. I wanted to go back again.
It happened this May. I made a trip back to Lombok with my one of my besties. This time the journey is way more awesome because our main plan is to hike Rinjani.
Rinjani claimed to be the second Indonesia's highest mountain. It rises to 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), so i prepared for everything. Started from the gear, there were so many things to buy (good jacket to prevent you from cold and wind, polar gloves, good trekking shoes, trekking pole, bivvy mattress, emergency blanket, etc) and it cost a lot of money. These exclude the tickets to Lombok, to pay the trip, porter, logistics, transportation during in Lombok and Gilis, meals, etc.
But i tell you, it all worth the experience.
We settled the first night at Rumah Singgah Lombok as recommended by my sister. After we arrived we strolled the neighborhood and went to Mataram Mall that we luckily got free massage and reflexology. The next day we went to Senggigi Beach for its beautiful beach and sunset. In the evening we got picked up to the basecamp for Rinjani trip.
After dinner together all team rested. I didnt have good sleep but it was enough. We were getting ready in the morning, breakfast and then left to Sembalun, where we gonna start hiking.
We hiked through the wide savana, it was beautiful. The sun shines bright but the soft wind blew so it was not so hot. The background view was amazing; green hills, blue sky with big cotton clouds. It's just like a painting or a back drop but no, it's real!
The trek still smooth until after 3 hours i think, we reached the first Post. After that we hiked again. It was getting dark and we havent reach the camping ground until finally we decided to stay the night at an empty dry river. A bit worry but the spot seem okay, it's an old dry river. Not only us were camping there, another group also decided to spent the night there as the info we heard that the camp site at Post 3 were packed.
The next morning, after breakfast we continued trekking to Plawangan Sembalun where we planned to have rest before we go summit attack in midnight. That's the plan but the reality was different. We girls and 2 guys reached Plawangan Sembalun way before the porters and the other guys who arranged the trip, LOL! We killed time by taking pictures, watching people and enjoying the view. Funny thing happened, a guy asked me to take picture with him, i thought he was asking me to take his picture with his friends.
After one guy of our group arrived and he has nesting and noodles and rice to cook. We had a quick meal before trek again a bit to the camp spot near the water source where 2 of our group awaited there for us. They were there to tag camp spot as that day many hikers.
The other guys who had tents and the porter that carried the logistic arrived way too late and we were starving and couldnt have rest because our tent that should be filled with 3 people only, that night there were 6 of us!
I couldnt sleep at all that night. I went out (the wind blew hard that night) the tent to ask the porter to cook for us. Not many food were able to cook that moment due to the time for summit attack and we ate all it together.
Daypack with a litre of water, gloves, buff, glasses, trekking pole, polar hat.. all ready and we start hiked the sandy trek along the way to the top. It was around 1am. At some point the group separated. At first it was just me and a bit old guy named Bang Darisman. He used to hike mountain and he helped me when my shoes couldnt grip the trek (think i should get a new one for another mountain trips). After like an hour we met the other guy of our group, Iwan. He was sitting. I recognized him from his "skeleton" buff and his yellow bright outfit. And then three of us hiked together.
That night was so cold but the view really beautiful. The crescent moon was there, like so close and stars accompanied our journey. It was dark but i can see that at my both sides are cliffs. I prefer to stay focus on the trek. The "Letter E" is getting closer and the wind blew harder. The cold a bit reminded me of Spring i had in Netherland. It's just more cooler. I said to myself, it's okay.. oh i miss Spring in Europe. So i just enjoyed the night.
When stepping the sandy trek at that "Letter E", i found that it was a lot easier to step on people's track. The sand more firm and steady. When you stepped without flowing down, dont stop. It became easier and faster. Yes, this is the tips. I stopped every 6 or more to rest my legs few seconds and then step again.
I was a bit rushing to catch sunrise on top but then i just went slower and enjoy it on the way there. I sat and took picture of sunrise. I thought Iwan and Bang Darisman already gone to the top but then i found them sat. Maybe they were just resting, maybe they're waiting for me. Few minutes after they left and i stayed for rest and took pictures before continued.
When the top is closer, you still have to climb a big rock and then walk a bit to the top. Ahh, i finally reached the top! It was like "is this how it feels reaching the top of Rinjani Mountain?" Almost crying and couldnt believe it that i made it! Did i feel proud? No, i feel satisfied :)
All packed and we left to Segara Anak Lake. We hiked down the harsh trek and it's getting dark when my head started spinning around. I need sleep! Finally we (lucky that the 2 guys of the group that with us had tents and cooking stuff) stay overnight at a spot that i know in the morning was near the bushy cliff. That night so cold and Doren took care of us, he made us hot tea and food. Dodo, set us tent to rest. The other group that transit there for rest and cooking, shared us a bit cooked rice.
Not a very good sleep but at least my body and brain got rested that night. I forgot at what time i heard foot steps, think it was still dark. I didnt opened my eyes and back to sleep. I awake again when i heard some noises. Oh, it's Herlina with her stuff. It was like early morning. Lemme get back to sleep!
Around 8am, me and Herlina walked through the trek to reach Segara Anak without Doren and Dodo while they are still repacked. We met last night group, they set a tent to sleep before the rocky climb route. They got confused and prefer stay overnight there. Few minutes there we met another 2 person whom walked to Segara Anak for fishing and hot springs. She was with her porter. From him we know the right trek to the lake.
The view along the way to the lake was sooooooooooooooooo amazing!! You wouldnt believe it's Indonesia. Betsi, the girl told us that there were few graves near the Segara Anak. They're found dead by the porter. Could be lack of knowledge about mountain, sick or accident.
We found our team's tent near by the river. The porter served me hot drink and i took rest while waiting for the meal cooked. I had rice, eggs, kornets and chicken soup. That day me and Herlina got a chance to bath at the hot springs not far from our tent. Oh, it felt sooo damn good.. finally can wash my hair and body. Still want to bath a bit longer tho. We still have an hour to get ready for next destination: hiked down via Torean, the illegal route for hikers!
Tho, Torean trek is famous with its beauty yet it's dangerous. You'll meet small treks with cliff on the other side, climb up and climb down monkey stairs, trek up or trek down in the forest with abrupt side. The view of waterfalls from above really eyes entertaining.
We then stopped at Goa Susu (Milk Cave), the name Goa Susu because its white color like milk inside of the cave. The stalagmite rises hot water.
*to be continued..
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