SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW

 It used to be something we would do as a family every year, thanks to the generosity of a loving uncle as the kids were growing up. We would pack up and venture off to somewhere in South East Asia (cheap-cheap compared to other far-away foreign shores) for some days just to chill together. Then the kids grew up, naturally, and the trips stopped naturally; they had their own work, took their own vacations. Then came covid. Then the second princess got married, and knowing very soon, she would be following her husband overseas (probably) for good, well, of course we had to have another family vacation.  We wanted to do Philippines, but were put off by the long flight hours. So where’s a place that doesn’t require hours of travel and yet has enough sun, sea and sand to please everyone, plus won’t burn a big hole in the pocket? Indonesia of course. 

We had visited Lombok way back 9 years ago, and from my old fotos, we had enjoyed it. So Lombok it was again, this time in January 2024. Although that’s supposed to be the rainy season, we took our chances. And yes, it rained, but thankfully only late nights whilst we were there. Despite it being low peak season, there were a fair number of tourists on Gili Trawangan, the island we decided on. We arrived pretty late at night. The first time we had gone to Gili Air, the quieter of the 3 islands that stood off Lombok. Gili T was the “happening” place, full of resorts, drinking-holes, makan joints, lots of sea-based activities etc etc stuff that make tourists happy, spending their money. We had left the planning to my no 2 sweetheart. If it had been my choice, I would have chosen a “cheapo” 3star AirBnB, but since my  so-grown-up kids had offered to bless their “old” mom and uncle, we let them call the shots.   

                

And indeed I am glad for once, for my Sha-Lyn’s excellent taste. She booked us into a fancy resort called Pearl of Trawangan. Inwardly I was amused; coz I am in the process of translating my BM devotional book titled Precious Pearls . But Pearl of Trawangan was indeed very nice, with a very good location…just outside was the beach front. Every morning I would be up early to sit on the deck-chair and watch the sun rise.  

No vehicles except bicycles and horse-drawn carriages  were allowed on the island. We walked (a lot) on our first day to scout out the activities for hire. On the way back, we pampered our tired bodies and tired legs with a good massage.

  
In the evening, we 3 ladies took another long walk in the opposite direction to catch the famous sun-set. There were many people who had “booked” seats on the beach for the event. Unfortunately the sun decided to play hide-n-seek behind a huge cloud. It was the same the next day. It’s pretty hit-n-miss according to the locals during this time of the year.

So the girls decided might as well try out horse-riding along the beach instead. The locals are most enterprising; the price of a horse-ride included nice video and foto shots. 

Actually, there’s always beautiful sun-sets anywhere (even in my own taman back home), if we just stop to take a breather and look up. I am reminded the sun is always there even it’s hidden behind some huge dark cloud. Like God, ever present, in my life. No matter whether I can see, hear, feel Him or not. And He's always beautiful, always  wonderful, always awesome.  

    

It was another long walk back to dinner at the local open-air food court near our hotel. A food-court with a difference - featuring fresh seafood BBQ and local 

dishes. The place was hot, without any fans to blow

away the smoke from all the bbq fires. But what it lacked in ambience, it made up for in the prices. We rented bicycles for the next day, which made life (for me especially) a lot easier.        

This time round, we were on a free-n-easy programme, which meant there was no programme. Each could do whatever he/she liked. So on the second day, eldest princess and I decided to do what every tourist to Gili islands does…

go snorkeling, whilst my one and only son signed up for his first (real) dive since he got his diving cert. Our boat would take us to 4 popular must-do sites. It’s like a well-timed circus. To avoid overcrowding, the operators all ran on a schedule, so at

any one time, there wouldn’t be too many tourists gawking at each other and getting into each other’s way under water. Actually it was pretty crowded. I am sure my flippers slapped into several people jostling for a glimpse of corals, turtles and statues under the sea.                    

My girl had a great time free-diving into the deeper depths.  Old mama couldn’t quite get the hang of trying to hold my breath behind a snorkel mask. So I gave up, and was content to just paddle around on the surface. Our captain cancelled the highlight of the trip to an underwater wreck because of murky waters and strong currents, substituting it instead with a peek at more corals. Honestly, it seemed to me, there were less fish, the corals were less colorful, and the turtles were kinda small. Things have certainly changed from our first trip 9 years ago. Blame it on…whatever. Well, at least they took good shots of my princess underwater. 

2nd daughter decided to try out surfing, and roped in the 2 guys as well. There was an all-night party at the other end of the island. I was (pleasantly) surprised my young man and young ladies didn’t venture out to that or indeed to any of the many watering-holes along the one main road of the island. Hmm, maybe they aren’t that young anymore, or maybe they have passed the phase of boozing and noisy parties. Or we were all just plain tired after a full day at the beach and in the sea. Instead they just treated themselves to another relaxing massage. 

We checked out early the next morning to cross back to Lombok as dear uncle was scheduled to preach at a church in Mataram district, which was about an hour’s drive from the jetty. There was no time to drop the kids at the booked  homestay, so we all trooped into church, luggage and all. As family of the visiting pastor,  we were given seats right at the front as most honored guests. My brother  had told me I could say a brief greeting, but instead I felt led to release a Word I had gotten on the way to church itself. It’s indeed my honor to speak blessing to God’s people. We took a group photo under the stained glass panel at the entrance. Only later I realized how prophetic it was, being a picture of tongues of Holy Spirit fire. 

I rate Indonesian church hospitality as 10-star love. After the service a husband-wife couple whisked us off to a very nice restaurant for lunch. Not enough with that, we were driven to a beautiful resort out of town for dessert/early tea. On top of all that they arranged 2 of their workers to pick us up and drive us around in their own SUV the next morning, making our final day in Lombok truly enjoyable and memorable. Indeed we are so so blessed. For we got to see and do things which we would never have managed to do on our own. 

We had no idea where to go or what to do to fill up the hours before our late evening return flight, so we simply left it to our 2 local guides to take us wherever. For starters it was about an hour plus drive out of Mataram in the morning,

heading out to Kuta in south Lombok. We were driven past villages to a traditional songket weaving centre, where my eldest and I had a go on the loom; a  job reserved only for women. We ladies couldn’t resist buying some of the woven products on sale. Then it was onto a winding narrow uphill stretch of road to Bukit Merese in the district of Mandalika. 

There were several viewing spots on the hill which wasn't difficult to climb, as the area was fairly flat and open. The highest points of course offered the most fabulous sea and land view of the whole of Lombok; a veritable 360 degrees all round feast for the eyes. We could even hear the sea waves from the hill top. I can imagine how beautiful the view would be from such a vantage point, had we arrived at sunrise or sunset time.                                                                                                  

“Our” driver made the perfect final stopover at Selong Balanak, a beach for surfers. So it was I got to do something I have never done in my 63 years of living.

I surfed. Or at least I tried to surf. Together with my no 1 princess, we were given the drill over 2 hours with our “teachers.”  The beach is perfect for surfing; there’s a section for beginners, intermediate and experienced surfers. The waves are amazing and the sand (not just on the beach but) in the waters are fine and soft, so there’s minimal risk of injury when one falls. My young teacher was very patient and kind to me. I didn’t have to paddle on my board; I just dragged it along after each fall, and when I got tired, he did it for me. And fall I did, many many times. But he was so encouraging, urging me to “semangat, mama.” I just had to lie down positioned on the board, listen for his shout of “berdiri” and do what I am supposed to do – get up, legs apart, squat a bit and balance.  Easier said than done. But in spite of all the falls, I did manage to ride the waves sometimes, like 5 out of 20 tries…for some seconds. So the record is “gagal” but still, it was pretty fun. My eldest did a little better than I. No 2 and 3 tried out on their own at the other end of the beach, since they had already learnt the ropes the day before. For a fee  we got some very nice (and hilarious) shots of our attempts. Uncle just chilled under the shade, until it was time to get up and go.

     Our guides took care of us right to the very end, tapau-ing us a nice lunch before driving to the airport in good time for our return flight.  

As I sat in my window-seat on board, watching the sun set over passing clouds, I thought how life is so like riding the waves. We are all at different stages at 

different times. It can get scary, especially in the beginning when we don’t know what to do, when to do or how to do. We can have the best teachers – books, TikTok, experts in science, philosophy, religion even.

But we can still get it all wrong, and life flips and throws us off into what can seem pretty scary waters. We can get hurt… a little or even a lot (think sunburn, aching muscles, tired arms and getting salt water up your nose or into your throat). Sometimes it gets so bad we don’t or can’t get up anymore after the umpteenth attempt. Then along comes someone who not only says you can get it right but actually helps you up to do it right, if you pay attention, listen and just do as he says.  Sure, you may fall some more, but you know you are gonna “graduate” to ride the next level of (higher and bigger) waves some time, any time, sooner or later.  The human surf-instructor comes and then goes, when you/he thinks it’s time you go independent. That’s fine with surfing. 

But it’s different with real life. I am so glad I’ve got SomeOne who’s there for me, bigger, greater, so much smarter than I, showing me the only right way to live, to love, and to face even death-waves anytime. I don’t need, I don’t want, to be independent of God.  I’ve wandered that way before; and for a while it seemed good, but the truth is it sucks. I may have failed the surfing test, but I know for a fact, I have passed the real life-n-death test....because I am a follower of Christ, as He conquered and as He promised, so will I. 

Rom 8:37-39  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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