Mataram to Labuhan Haji

Down from Rinjani summit I still had to wait for the procession of my visa extension. An elderly driver named Rashid came to collect me with his old 4WD and bring me back to Sengiggi. Although both of us didn´t have enough language skills of the opposing language we had a great chat about life on lombok, muslim cultures here and alot of other topics. The two hour drive later turned into a full karaoke session, singing Indonesian pop classics named Dangdut.

A shot while after, I found myself walking the outskirts of Ampenan, a part of Mataram, the largest city on the Indonesian island of Lombok. I came accross these men playing domino. Sitting there in the evening sunlight with them, I wasn´t able to understand a single word. The men where speaking Sasak, the local language. Yet i quickly noticed their custom to play domino with the looser having to pin strong clothes pegs to their ears and necks.





I spent another day in Sengiggi before leaving to Selong in east Lombok. The small town of Labuan Haji had come to my attention. It is famed for it´s fish market, where during highseason the local fishermen pull huge mantas from the sea as well as sharks for shark fins.
Sadly the rising demand for shark fin soup in Asia has it´s tribute on small fishing towns such as Labuan Haji.
The fishermen, not the wealthiest, hunt the great creatures of the ocean in order to sell them mainly on the chinese market.
Luckily no large creatures where there for sale during my visit.

I then set off to cross Sumbawa in the direction of Flores and the Komodo National Park.