Tooth City

Trip Start May 15, 2004

Trip End Aug 20, 2004

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Flag of Indonesia Sengiggi, Indonesia
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

From Ubud, I took a bus to Padangbai, a nearby port city, to catch the ferry from Bali to the island of Lombok. The ferry took about 5 hours, but I had great views of the ocean and surrounding islands to pass the time. On Lombok, I'm put on a minibus and told that this will take me to Sengiggi, where I'll spend the night before heading off for the Gili islands. So, I'm just chillin in the back and then, suddenly, the van pulls over at this guesthouse in the middle of the jungle, apparently about 5km outside of Sengiggi. The driver and his two friends tell me this is where I must get out, but I say that I was told that I would be taken to the guesthouse I want in Sengiggi and they say that they were only paid to take me this far. Now, I happen to know that many guesthouses will pay locals if they bring travelers to their places, and since I'll be seeing the guy who arranged this van for me again in a week for catching a bus to Java, I'm pretty sure these guys are trying to pull one on me

Beach Temple

. So, I refuse to get out, I mean, there's no way I'm getting out in the middle of the jungle on some strange island! So, I just decide to sit there and not budge and then these 3 Indonesians start yelling at one another and then me and then one of them rather boldly tries to grab my backpack, I suppose thinking I'll do whatever he wants if he has my bag. Well, I knock his hand away and grab my pack, causing the other 2 Indos to talk harshly to the other. The driver then says "OK, 20,000 rupiah and we take you to town." I say, "No, lets just go back to see the travel guy and ask if he told you to take me here!" Now, I really don't want to do this because it's kind of far and who knows where they'd end up taking me! After a half-minute of driving back they turn back and say they'll take me for 10,000, which really is just like $1.25, so I say OK and we head into Sengiggi. In Sengiggi, we stop again and they say this is it, but I refuse again because it's not my hotel and we keep driving until I see the sign. I put on my huge backpack before exiting and when they demand the 10000 rupiah I say "Lets go inside and call the travel guy and we can ask where you were supposed to take me." The guy gets really mad, and I have my hand on my knife ready if these guys decide to do something (ok, I know, knife! But hey, there are three of them!), when about 6 locals come out and ask what's going on, so I tell them and they all get so mad at the driver and his friend and totally go off on them, waiting until they drive away without my 10000 rupiah

Lombok island

! They then tell me that they really hate these drivers because the locals business depends on tourism and when the drivers do these things it drives the tourists away, so they were more than happy to help!
Anyway, I check in and then decide to walk down the beach to a Muslim seaside temple. On the way, a local guy named Barry pulls over to talk with me saying he always likes to talk to tourists to practice English and be friendly. Barry is obviously really gay...as he keeps commenting on my appearance (fit body, teeth, etc.) and he invites me to a private dinner at his restaurant, but I say no thanks and nice to meet you and keep walking! Then, on the way back, another guy comes out of nowhere and starts talking me up...again, definitely gay....man, Sengiggi must be the gay hotspot of Lombok! So, I maintained my masculine virginity and head back to the hotel for a nice quiet evening.