Al-Hamra Restaurant at Mataram - Capital of Lombok Island

After a long distance traveling from the jetty of Gili Nanggu, we reached the capital of Lombok Island - Mataram. Our driver directly drive us to the restaurant for dinner, yes...we were hungry!

Al-Hamra Restaurant (Arabian cuisine) (S8.58223 E116.10534),  we reached the destination in the perfect timing! Because power failure! The whole restaurant was lighted with candles and looks romantic in the way...haha!

Al-Hamra Restaurant, Mataram

There were candles lighted in every corner in the restaurant, and all us were waiting in the room...for dinner.

Patiently waiting...

Fortunately the electricity resume in about 15 minutes...smile on everyone face instantly! Haha!

And I started to snap around...the restaurant is decorated in Arabian way...cozy, relax and comfort in every corner.

Different deco in different corner of the restaurant

One of our tour mate is a vegetarian, and her dish was the first on our table...well, no comment on it.

The vegetarian dish of that evening

After a while, everyone food was served on table, pretty fast! Everyone has same dish which was the chicken soup, followed by their signature grilled lamb.

Chicken soup

The soup was tasty, and somehow a bit unique of the taste. I quite like it.

The grilled lamb was well marinated, but not tender enough...maybe due to the power failure...maybe...but we enjoyed the lamb very much!
It taste differently compare with Arab cuisine in Malaysia, I believe all because of the different herbs and spices were use to prepared.

The grilled lamb from Al-Hamra Restaurant

Everyone was served for the Arabian fried rice after the lamb. We like the special taste of it, went well with the sambal chili. Excellent!

Arabian fried rice

I'm not good to verdict in Arabian cuisine, but our dinner was taste above average. It's worth to try if you are happen in Mataram, Lombok Island.

The restaurant has ample parking lot, even for express bus...we realized it after the electricity resume.

After our dinner, we had another 45 minutes on road traveling back to Senggigi beach where our resort located...let's rockz!

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
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Location of Al-Hamra Restaurant at Mataram, Capital of Lombok Island - Indonesia.

Nirvana Beach Restaurant at Gili Sudak, Lombok island

After our fun activities at Gili Nanggu, some were tired, some were exhausted but all of us definitely hungry! So we moved to the next island for late lunch - The Nirvana Beach restaurant at Gili Sudak. (S8.72575 E116.02772)

The area was nice and the restaurant is just situated next to the beach. A simple timber style setup, but the attraction is the surrounding...

Once we settled with everyone bags and belonging, we started to snapped around...the BBQ of tropical colourful parrot fish became our main attraction!

Everyone was busy taking photos with the fish...rarely have a chance to see the process of the BBQ parrot fish...

BBQ parrot fish at Nirvana Beach Restaurant

Our fellow tour mate - Sock Peng (http://mylovelybluesky.com/) was helping the BBQ preparation...haha!

While waiting for the lunch to be serve, the corns soup was ready for everyone in the restaurant. All of us can't wait to try out the Lombok food at the restaurant...actually, we were starving...:)

Corns soup offer by Nirvana Beach restaurant

Before we finish the soup, other delicacies like veggies and toufu were ready at the serving counter...

Then followed by the BBQ fish...

BBQ parrot fish

For every dishes we chose, don't forget to taste some of their magic cut chili, which was super hot! I like it very much!

The cut chili and local sambal

One fish for one person (or more).
All of us enjoyed each of the BBQ parrot fish and some of us took 2...the fish was fresh and I believe only BBQ with a little salt which made perfect of the taste!

End up, I couldn't resist myself to had another BBQ parrot fish...oh! it was excellent!

We took more than 2 hours to enjoyed the scene and our fabulous lunch along the beach of Gili Sudak, it was a unforgettable experience, especially with the friendly staffs in the restaurant.
Recommended for the first time visitor to Lombok island!

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
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Location map of Gili Sudak (island) at Lombok island.

Snorkeling and having fun at Gili Nanggu (island) in Lombok, Indonesia

Gili Nanggu (S8.71957 E116.00938) is one of the beautiful island located at southwest of Lombok island. 'Gili' is means island in the local. After 20 minutes ferry ride, we reached the paradise island with the super clear water! Very excited!

Jetty of Gili Nanggu

The weather was cloudy and was good for snorkeling...but not good for photography, too bad...

Crystal clear water of Nanggu island

Not wasting any minute, everyone started their own activities...some went for snorkeling, photography and other activities...
Some of our tour mates not forgot to taking photos with the youngest boat boy who brought us the island.

Photograph with the youngest boat 'boy'

Our guide - Pak Uji started to gave snorkeling briefing to those who want to enjoy snorkeling around the island.

Pak Uji and the beauties!

Everyone had their nice pose before getting wet...

The best part of snorkeling in Gili Nanggu was, we no need to swim far away from the island, you can really enjoy the corals and the colorful tropical fish approximately around 10 meter from the beach.
This was Great!

You can see from the photo above that our snorkeling activities was only nearby the beach. This proved that the area is really unpolluted.

I was enjoyed my walk around the island for photo taking, the jetty was my favorite place of the island.

Part of the jetty

The lovely couple having their own sweet time strolling on the beach...spotted female photographer action at the jetty...and pretty lady relaxing on the jetty...bread feeding for the fishes around...beside that, there were still many many more that I missed the shoot...

We spend almost 4 blissful hours at Gili Nanggu and proceed to the next island - Gili Sudak for our late lunch...

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Location map of Gili Nanggu (island) in Lombok

Tawun Jetty at south Lombok island, Indonesia

Our second day in Lombok island.

The first stop in our itinerary was snorkeling at Gili Nanggu (Gili means island in Indonesia language). Tawun jetty (S8.74473 E116.01998) seems to be the only jetty ferrying visitors to the Nanggu island.

The jetty area is only a small hut with the snorkeling gears...

The small hut at the jetty...

One poster was spotted next to the public toilet...

Everyone was busy selecting their snorkeling mask, foot fins, life jacket and other gears...

Busy looking for their sizes...

After settled with the snorkeling gears, don't forget to bring some breads to feed the lovely fish at the island...

Breads for the fish

I was searching around for the name of the tour agency who provide all this snorkeling facility...couldn't find until I saw this...

The life jacket with the tour agency name on it - Maju Jaya Tour

Alright, let's move on!

The boat which ferrying our group to the island...

There was a little boat 'boy' waiting for us on the boat, with the age around 3-4 years old...it was a surprised!

Our little boat 'boy'

Are we ready to go?
She said : "Yes!"

It was not a sunny day, fortunately only cloudy without rain...otherwise, our trip to the island will be cancel...

We reached Gili Nanggu after 20 minutes later, everyone was happy and enjoyed the boat ride...

The island is clean and well maintain, can't spotted any rubbish around the beach area and of course with the super clear water...

The Gili Sudak is just stone throw away, we will having our lunch later at the only restaurant in the island...

Gili Sudak, next to Gili Nanggu of Lombok

Our activities on the island will be continue in the next post...

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Location map of Tawun Jetty in Lombok