I never expected that becoming a blogger would just be the first step—it turned out to open up so many other opportunities. Since I started blogging in 2005, I’ve been able to publish a book, contribute to various platforms, host a radio show, speak at events, appear on TV, and now, even serve as a judge! This time, I had the honor of judging the #TravelAsyik contest organized by Anak Asyik. The contest was a travel writing competition specifically for bloggers aged 17-22, with the prize being a free trip to Lombok with me (I’m a bit embarrassed—feels like I’m a celebrity or something. Haha!). On top of that, the winner could bring a friend along and would also receive an Acer Slim Aspire V5 notebook.
And the winner is… drum roll… Anindya Phalita! She’s a university student who wrote about Yogyakarta on her blog. My reasons for choosing her include the fact that Anin has been blogging since middle school, she put a lot of effort into her travel writing with a unique angle, plenty of photos, and even made a video. Anin brought along her friend Kisty. Together with Dita from Acer, the four of us girls went on a trip to Lombok. Yihaaa!
This was actually my seventh time in Lombok, but I never get tired of going there. Especially since this time, the trip was organized by a travel agency. From the moment we arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, everything was taken care of—checking in, being picked up at Lombok Airport by a guide with cold towels and chilled water in the car, and not even having to think about choosing meals. For those three days, we didn’t have to worry about a thing because everything was planned out. It was such a luxury!
Traveling with the lovely Anin and Kisty was a lot of fun. It was their first time in Lombok. Despite seeming delicate, they turned out to be easygoing—not afraid of getting a tan, great eaters, and excellent swimmers—perfect travel companions for me! Exploring a beautiful place with great friends is always a blast. The three days flew by so fast!
This was my first time landing at Lombok International Airport since it moved from Selaparang. The new Lombok Airport is impressive; I’d say it’s the second-best in Indonesia after Makassar. On Lombok Island, we visited Pura Lingsar, Taman Mayura, and stayed at a beachfront hotel in Senggigi. On the second day, we moved to Gili Trawangan. We took a glass-bottom boat, snorkeled, swam all day, and stayed at another top-notch hotel. On the last day, we returned to Lombok to buy souvenirs, visited Kuta Beach, and explored Sade Village.
I still believe that “what you can see in Bali, you can see in Lombok, but what you can see in Lombok, you might not be able to see in Bali.” Lombok has definitely become more crowded to the point where I hardly recognized it, but development hasn’t been too rapid. There are still plenty of stunning empty lands, especially along the coast from Senggigi to Bangsal. Gili Trawangan is still beautiful, though the coral reefs near the shore are more damaged. It’s essential for the government to develop tourism while also preserving the environment.
Anyway, I’m a bit “jealous” of Anin for winning this #TravelAsyik contest. She got to visit Lombok for free, fly on a plane, and stay in luxurious hotels. When I was her age, I went to Lombok by bus, enduring hours of travel until my butt was numb. In Senggigi, I stayed at Pondok Sederhana, which I called “Pondok Very, Very Simple” because the room was small, cramped, with only one wooden bed infested with bedbugs, leaving my whole body covered in bites. I remember my first visit to Gili Trawangan—forget about fancy hotels, there wasn’t even electricity! Oh, if only there had been a writing contest like this back then… but, of course, the internet didn’t exist yet.
Now, with the rapid advancement of technology, everyone should be wise in using it. The internet has many purposes, and when used correctly, it can be incredibly beneficial. Just like Anin—she diligently blogs, enters competitions, and wins free trips. Don’t you want that too? While you’re young and full of opportunities, seize the moment! But remember, using the internet comes with its own set of ethics. Happy blogging!