Today I didn’t have an excursion so decided instead to just get a taxi to show me around the island.  Less traffic from Bali but lots of garbage. It seems as if the population is poorer… ramshackle homes and businesses. See less motorcycles/scooters here than Bali but many are with 2 adults and 2 kids…. and no helmets. 

10,000,000 rupiah ($842 CAD) to buy one cow but it’s enough to feed 20 people 

Effan is my driver. He asked me if I like mangos…. who doesn’t!  We drive up a small lane to his village. Oh my, so poor. Effan has roosters…. for cock fighting. There,  his wife (only to 25 years old) cuts up fresh mangos, that are green but surprisingly are actually ripe and so sweet. While there I meet his 2 sons (12 & 3), a nephew (8) and his mother (75). His mom is sweet and happy. She is grinding something and I ask what it is … betel leaves.  She is rubbing it on her teeth and around her mouth but not swallowing it. No wonder she is happy!!!

From there we went to a gorgeous resort to relax a bit on the beach. I thought that  the cost to stay there would be out of sight. Alas…. Only about $140 CAD a night, but then it’s low season now.

Later as we were driving back to the port I asked about a pot in middle of road. It is for donations toward the mosque. 

Below are miscellaneous pictures of life on Lombok.