Gunung Sari Market (wet and dry) at Lombok island - Indonesia

On the third day morning, before we travel to Sendang Gile Waterfall at the Mount Rinjani, we stopped by the local market - Gunung Sari Market - wet and dry  (S8.54177 E116.10707).

As Pak Uji said, they called this type of market '7-11'. But it's not similar to the convenience stall we familiar with, 7-11 is the operating or business hour of the market...means 7-11am.

Before we step into the market, there was a row horse-drawn carriage called 'Cidomo', use as a short distance public transport for the locals.

Cidomo - a small horse-drawn carriage as local transport

We walked through the dry market and there were many stuffs that really new to me. From the daily necessity, cloths, snacks and foods.

I noticed some of the foods (for breakfast) were really look delicious! Too bad, we already had our breakfast in resort...or else I will definitely try some of it...

Unique foods in the market

After about an hour, we came to the end of the dry market...unfortunately the time was not allow for us to continue to the wet session.

Another type of public transport spotted at the exit, it looks like 'Angkot' from Jakarta but with a smaller capacity...too bad I forgot to get the name of it...

Public transport of Lombok island

The familiar scene in Bali island also happen here in Lombok, the gasoline for light vehicles was easy available along the busy street of Lombok island.

Gasoline widely available along the street

While waiting for our teammate - Tony who was missing in the market, we took another group photo before our next destination - Sendang Gile Waterfall.

Group photo of our teammate in Lombok island

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Location map of Gunung Sari Market in Lombok island

Tai Zhi Wei Formosa Noodle House 台之味台湾麵馆 at Taman Sutera Utama, Skudai - Johor Bahru.

This Tai Zhi Wei Formosa Noodle House 台之味台湾麵馆 (N1.51609 E103.67048) is located at the corner shop lot unit of Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, Skudai - Johor Bahru. The corner lot is the 'foot reflexology centre' and this cafe is just situated beside it. The area is well ventilated but it can be warm sometimes during the hot humid weather of Malaysia.

Tai Zhi Wei Formosa Noodle House 台之味台湾麵馆

The well ventilated dining area of the cafe

The owner of the cafe was friendly and he introduced some of their authentic Taiwanese dishes for us...

*  Taiwanese scallion pancake - 蔥油饼
*  Braised pork rice - 控肉饭 (recommended)
*  Taiwanese beef noodle - 台湾红烧牛肉麵
*  Chicken chop rice - 鸡扒饭
*  Taiwanese minced pork homemade noodles - 卤肉手工麵 (recommended)
*  Pot sticker - 锅贴 (recommended)
*  Rainbow dumplings - 七彩水饺 (recommended)

Really appreciated for the recommendation, we like some of the dishes very much! But some were mediocre...

The Taiwanese scallion pancake - 蔥油饼 was served slightly dry and the scallion was too little, but the sauce was nice.

Taiwanese scallion pancake - 蔥油饼

The braised pork rice 控肉饭 was one of our favorite! The pork were braised to perfection! It was tender, succulent and tasty! I love it!
Must try if you are pork lover!

Braised pork rice - 控肉饭

The beef noodle 台湾红烧牛肉麵 was taste average, but the homemade noodle was nice and springy. Strongly recommended on the noodle.

Taiwanese beef noodle - 台湾红烧牛肉麵

The chicken chop rice 鸡扒饭 served with vegetables. If the chicken chop serve in more moist then it will be perfect...

Chicken chop rice - 鸡扒饭

The taste of the minced pork homemade noodle 卤肉手工麵 was 'authentic' and delicious! It served the similar taste that I had in Taipei, oh...this noodle really made me missed my days in Taipei...
Recommended!

Taiwanese minced pork homemade noodles - 卤肉手工麵

The pot sticker - 锅贴 (or Chinese pan fried dumplings) was served in juicy and tasty! It was not too dried, we all like it! Another recommended!

Pot sticker - 锅贴

Rainbow dumplings 七彩水饺 was Perfect! Each of dumpling skin was not artificial colouring but it was from the natural resources...natural, seaweed, yam, pandan and others. The fillings were fragrant and fresh, some with minced pork and some with chives or seasonal vegetables.
Each of them had different taste where you can enjoy the delicious dumplings one-by-one slowly...
Recommended and must try!
 

Rainbow dumplings 七彩水饺

Overall, the foods were nice and tasty. Some of them need some adjustment to suit the public taste, or it just my personal opinions. But the bottom line is...the price is very reasonable! You may say, it's cheap and good! Go and try it out yourself with all these affordable Taiwanese Cuisines at Tai Zhi Wei 台之味, Taman Sutera Utama.

Beside the foods, I would like to highlight the lemon juice. The lemon they use was not the local normal lemon, the taste was super refreshing! It's a good way to cool you down under the hot weather.

Tai Zhi Wei Formosa Noodle House 台之味台湾麵馆

134, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3,

Taman Sutera Utama,

Skudai, Johor Bahru.

Tel : +6016-2956676

Business hour : 11am - 10pm (daily)

Facebook : http://goo.gl/PKDtgi

GPS Coordinates : N1.51609 E103.67048

Location map of Tai Zhi Wei Formosa Noodle House 台之味台湾麵馆 at Taman Sutera Utama, Skudai - Johor Bahru.

Al-Hamra Restaurant at Mataram - Capital of Lombok Island

After a long distance traveling from the jetty of Gili Nanggu, we reached the capital of Lombok Island - Mataram. Our driver directly drive us to the restaurant for dinner, yes...we were hungry!

Al-Hamra Restaurant (Arabian cuisine) (S8.58223 E116.10534),  we reached the destination in the perfect timing! Because power failure! The whole restaurant was lighted with candles and looks romantic in the way...haha!

Al-Hamra Restaurant, Mataram

There were candles lighted in every corner in the restaurant, and all us were waiting in the room...for dinner.

Patiently waiting...

Fortunately the electricity resume in about 15 minutes...smile on everyone face instantly! Haha!

And I started to snap around...the restaurant is decorated in Arabian way...cozy, relax and comfort in every corner.

Different deco in different corner of the restaurant

One of our tour mate is a vegetarian, and her dish was the first on our table...well, no comment on it.

The vegetarian dish of that evening

After a while, everyone food was served on table, pretty fast! Everyone has same dish which was the chicken soup, followed by their signature grilled lamb.

Chicken soup

The soup was tasty, and somehow a bit unique of the taste. I quite like it.

The grilled lamb was well marinated, but not tender enough...maybe due to the power failure...maybe...but we enjoyed the lamb very much!
It taste differently compare with Arab cuisine in Malaysia, I believe all because of the different herbs and spices were use to prepared.

The grilled lamb from Al-Hamra Restaurant

Everyone was served for the Arabian fried rice after the lamb. We like the special taste of it, went well with the sambal chili. Excellent!

Arabian fried rice

I'm not good to verdict in Arabian cuisine, but our dinner was taste above average. It's worth to try if you are happen in Mataram, Lombok Island.

The restaurant has ample parking lot, even for express bus...we realized it after the electricity resume.

After our dinner, we had another 45 minutes on road traveling back to Senggigi beach where our resort located...let's rockz!

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Location of Al-Hamra Restaurant at Mataram, Capital of Lombok Island - Indonesia.

Star fish spotted along the beach on our way back from Gili Nanggu and Sudak - Lombok island

A lot of fun activities at Gili Nanggu, satisfied lunch at Gili Sudak...while on the way back to the jetty, another surprised! Star fish spotted! (S8.74618 E116.01814)

It was low tide while we were back, and we had to stop at the other site of the jetty and walking back to the jetty where we parked our party van. There were many star fishes along the beach, every 5 steps...you will see one star fish laying on the beach...
Everyone couldn't resist to taking photos with the colourful star fish!

Star fish

This was also my first time holding the wild star fish in my hand! Not from the aquarium but from the ocean...
We were curiously hold, touch it and having photo with it then put all of them back to the beach...

The star fish

Our friend - Tony almost want to bite it...haha!

Beside the star fish, there were also mudskipper, sea urchin were found along the beach. I really like to stroll along the beach, too bad we had no enough time...

We were going on the long journey again to Mataram - the capital of Lombok for our dinner.

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Location map of the Tawun beach at Lombok island

Nirvana Beach Restaurant at Gili Sudak, Lombok island

After our fun activities at Gili Nanggu, some were tired, some were exhausted but all of us definitely hungry! So we moved to the next island for late lunch - The Nirvana Beach restaurant at Gili Sudak. (S8.72575 E116.02772)

The area was nice and the restaurant is just situated next to the beach. A simple timber style setup, but the attraction is the surrounding...

Once we settled with everyone bags and belonging, we started to snapped around...the BBQ of tropical colourful parrot fish became our main attraction!

Everyone was busy taking photos with the fish...rarely have a chance to see the process of the BBQ parrot fish...

BBQ parrot fish at Nirvana Beach Restaurant

Our fellow tour mate - Sock Peng (http://mylovelybluesky.com/) was helping the BBQ preparation...haha!

While waiting for the lunch to be serve, the corns soup was ready for everyone in the restaurant. All of us can't wait to try out the Lombok food at the restaurant...actually, we were starving...:)

Corns soup offer by Nirvana Beach restaurant

Before we finish the soup, other delicacies like veggies and toufu were ready at the serving counter...

Then followed by the BBQ fish...

BBQ parrot fish

For every dishes we chose, don't forget to taste some of their magic cut chili, which was super hot! I like it very much!

The cut chili and local sambal

One fish for one person (or more).
All of us enjoyed each of the BBQ parrot fish and some of us took 2...the fish was fresh and I believe only BBQ with a little salt which made perfect of the taste!

End up, I couldn't resist myself to had another BBQ parrot fish...oh! it was excellent!

We took more than 2 hours to enjoyed the scene and our fabulous lunch along the beach of Gili Sudak, it was a unforgettable experience, especially with the friendly staffs in the restaurant.
Recommended for the first time visitor to Lombok island!

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Location map of Gili Sudak (island) at Lombok island.