Malimbu Cliffs Villa, Lombok

Our friends Lou, Kutty, and Malvy invited us to join us in a beautiful villa on a cliff, over a beach just north of Sengigi on the island of Lombok.  We spent an entire week eating and napping and drinking and playing.  It was soooo relaxing.  We were happy that Copeland traveled very far to join us for a week away from the winter, in the tropics.  We also met long-time-friends of Lou and Kut and Californian couple Leslie and Alex, and had a great time hanging out with them.  We especially liked that they had the spa people come every day for various treatments--and we didn't feel right letting them endure that all by themselves!


We didn't move much because the view was fantastic, the pool was fab, the weather was mostly perfect, the cook was great, and the lady running the place, Ibu Titik, made GREAT gin and tonics.

Eben decided that being naked in the pool was the only way to be.. Kutty feels the same way but saved it for after dark.

The grown-ups spent most of our time like this...

...looking right out onto this.

 

Every meal was wonderful, and because we were on vacation, there was plenty of time to learn elaborate napkin-folding techniques.   

 

We even enjoyed it a little when it rained.. usually napping.

 We celebrated new year's together.. and everyone stayed up till midnight

(and little littles were quite monstrous the next day!).

 

Did I mention that, thanks to Kut's planning, there were cases and cases of bubbly and wine? ahhhhh

 

Kutty decided to give the staff the day off on New Year's day, so our meals were a little bit different than what we had become accustomed to.

 

After having looked at it for days and days, we did venture down to the ocean below...

 

 

...and had to drag up as many sticks up the hill as we could carry, of course!

 

With all of the energy we had from having taken naps every day, we danced..

  ..and got creative with our swimming costumes (we were outnumbered by Brits and started talking like them.. sorta!).

 

We ventured out a few more times, once to to the swimming beach, a quick visit to a Hindu temple, and another trip to find baskets -- see upcoming posts.  And then, sadly, our week in paradise came to an end.. and we said good by to Lombok.  But wait!!  We got to enjoy eight extra hours in the Lombok airport as our plane needed a part that had to come from Bali.  The dining options were meager.  The tv was pretty awful and the announcements were VERY LOUD, but we had great company!!  And.. we eventually got home.  The delay even meant that we got to keep Copeland with us an extra day :)