Mataram Diaries: Drumming Through Lombok's Heat
it's hot. like, really hot. i'm sitting here in mataram, lombok, trying to remember why i thought bringing my entire drum kit on this trip was a good idea. the humidity is doing a number on my snare, and i'm pretty sure my cymbals are going to melt into puddles of brass by the end of the week.
anyway, i just checked and it's 26.44°C there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the locals seem to handle it like champs, but i'm over here sweating through my vintage band tee like it's my first day at band camp.
i've been staying near the city center, which is... interesting. not gonna lie, it's not the most glamorous spot i've ever been to, but there's something about the chaos that i kinda love. the streets are alive with the sound of motorbikes, street vendors, and the occasional stray dog barking at nothing in particular.
i heard that the food here is supposed to be amazing, but so far, i've mostly been surviving on instant noodles and whatever i can scrounge up from the local convenience store. someone told me that the sate pusut at a place called *sate rembiga is life-changing, but i haven't worked up the courage to try it yet. maybe tomorrow.
if you get bored, bali and sumbawa are just a short drive away. i've been thinking about taking a day trip to bali just to cool off in the ocean, but then again, i'm also really lazy and the thought of packing up my drums again is exhausting.
anyway, here's a little map of where i've been hanging out. it's not much, but it's home for now.
i've been trying to document my trip with some photos, but let's be real, most of them are just blurry shots of my feet or the inside of my hotel room. here are a few that aren't completely terrible:
i've also been checking out some local spots for drummers. apparently, there's a place called musik kencana* that's supposed to have a decent selection of gear. i haven't been yet, but i'm planning to swing by before i leave. maybe i'll finally find a replacement for this cracked cymbal i've been lugging around.
anyway, that's all for now. i'm gonna go take another cold shower and try to convince myself that i'm not dying of heat exhaustion. if you're ever in mataram, let me know. we can sweat together.
p.s. if you're looking for more info on mataram, check out these links:
- TripAdvisor - Things to Do in Mataram
- Yelp - Restaurants in Mataram
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