This is a typical view:
Gorgeous school children, we see hundreds of them when we're cycling and their smiles are so big.
This is us at the port in Labuhan Lombok just before we got on the ferry:
As usual the ferry was hilarious but we did have to passive smoke really strong cigarettes for 2 hours. We also had people staring and others trying to sell us the usual variety of items, including magic mushrooms!
We stayed the night in Alas, a small, poor, dirty, totally un-touristy city. The locals were amazed at the sight of us. Surprisingly, we managed to find a really nice place to stay but it was next to the mosque so we got woken up at 5am by a man wailing. I was still off my food but Nic ate at a very dodgy street stall and then we had some birthday cake. A very sweet nutty pancake sort of thing:
The people in the rural areas are so poor but it's a very beautiful place:
The following day we left out bikes and some of our luggage at Kanchana Beach and got the bus to Bima. When we arrived at the bus station they tried to get us on a very dodgy looking purple bus then we found a slightly less scary one that was leaving 20 minutes later so we got on it. We were the only passengers but we had 2 drivers and a mechanic (tells you something!).
Nic looking rather apprehensive about the bus journey!
After about 10 minutes one of the 4 wheels at the back of the bus got a puncture so we stopped up the road at the Sumbawa version of Kwikfit and spent an hour getting the puncture repaired.
We had a wonderful easy cycle ride to Kanchana Beach near Sumbawa Besar. We stayed at an empty touristy hotel on the beach and my body was grateful for the safe western-style food.
We did a day ride to the large city of Sumbawa Besar to ask about the bus to the other end of Sumbawa and to use the ATM. We got the impression that they don't get alot of tourists here as some people ran away from us when we asked directions to the bank and others just gathered around to stare and ask questions. We did eventually find the ATM and then we went for lunch. At the restaurant all of the staff, including the manager, came our to meet us and when we left they all had their photos taken with us using the mobiles. They were so excited and it was hilarious.
The following day we left out bikes and some of our luggage at Kanchana Beach and got the bus to Bima. When we arrived at the bus station they tried to get us on a very dodgy looking purple bus then we found a slightly less scary one that was leaving 20 minutes later so we got on it. We were the only passengers but we had 2 drivers and a mechanic (tells you something!).
Nic looking rather apprehensive about the bus journey!
After about 10 minutes one of the 4 wheels at the back of the bus got a puncture so we stopped up the road at the Sumbawa version of Kwikfit and spent an hour getting the puncture repaired.
The bus journey was 10 hours long and we didn't stop for food or to use the loo. However, it was thoroughly entertaining. The bus was packed by the end of the trip and we discovered that the bus is used for the collection and delivery of goods, a school bus and a local bus. This is us collecting a ton of cabbages, chillis and tomatoes that we delivered to someone 3 hours later. We had tomatoes rolling around on the floor and out of the door (which was never closed during the journey).
The condition of the road was shocking. We had tarmaced parts but some of it was mud. You had to cling on for dear life.
We eventually got to Bima and went to the loo and then we got our own small rusty bus to take us to Sape. Another 2 hours of bone shaking fun!
The following morning we got on the ferry, which took 9 hours to get to Flores. We paid extra (about 1 pound) to go in 'First Class' mainly to get away from the cigarettes and so we didn't have to watch everyone throw their rubbish into the sea.
The condition of the road was shocking. We had tarmaced parts but some of it was mud. You had to cling on for dear life.
We eventually got to Bima and went to the loo and then we got our own small rusty bus to take us to Sape. Another 2 hours of bone shaking fun!
We spent the night in Sape at a homestay and met Musinda and her parents (the owners). She was really sweet and we our now friends on facebook. She gave us both friendship bracelets and practiced her English.
The following morning we got on the ferry, which took 9 hours to get to Flores. We paid extra (about 1 pound) to go in 'First Class' mainly to get away from the cigarettes and so we didn't have to watch everyone throw their rubbish into the sea.
We got to the port at 6.30 as we'd been told the ferry left at 7am. Anyway, it left at 9am so we had 2 hours to meet the girls trying to sell us food and watch everyone else on the boat settle themselves in:
These ladies spent the whole journey on the car deck. They are obviously professional travellers:
These ladies spent the whole journey on the car deck. They are obviously professional travellers:
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