Latest news with #Lombok
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
I went in search of the Indonesia I saw on Instagram. The reality was tragically different
After 12 days in Bali and neighbouring Lombok, my friend Ally and I finally addressed the elephant in the room. Sitting on the floor of a cockroach-infested hostel bathroom, we admitted that we weren't having much fun. The reality, it turned out, wasn't what we'd expected. It was on the second night that I'd begun to notice it. We were on the isle of Gili Trawangan, between Bali and Lombok, and had, until then, been wandering around this fascinating new place in a haze of tropical euphoria. But as night fell, the island had begun to morph into a darker, altogether more sinister place. It was quiet, mostly empty, with a few people lurking around trying to sell us mushrooms or marijuana. As we hurried to our hostel arm in arm, we started, for the first time, to become truly aware of our surroundings. The skeletal horses chained to carriages stared out like ghosts. Their necks were contorted into unnatural positions, and looking at them – as one living thing to another – made me sick to my stomach. At 2am, the poor creatures stood shackled – skin and bones – waiting to pick up the drunk tourists who couldn't be bothered to walk five minutes back to their hostel. My friend Sara, who lives in Bali, had told us the day before that the horses looked better than they had the year before. When we asked what she meant, she said: 'It looks like they're being fed now, they were like sticks last time I was here – but I think people started complaining.' When I asked some locals about it the next day, they explained that a local mafia was in control and there was nothing that could be done. They ran the island, making money – mostly from tourists – by selling drugs, sex and profiting from animal cruelty. It was an open secret, but no one spoke up. After that second eye-opening evening, our moods shifted. Though neither of us could bring ourselves to say it out loud, we were both suddenly seeing the island as it was: walking through the sewage and mud that flooded the streets; the buildings windowless and stacked high with rubbish; abandoned washing machines and decades-old furniture dotting the roadside. We also became suddenly aware of how filthy we were. The ocean was full of rubbish. Ally had even spotted a raw chicken foot floating in the sea, and the flooded streets had covered our legs in goodness-knows-what. It was after one such walk – days later, after we had rushed back to the hostel to scrub ourselves clean – that we'd ended up on the floor of the hostel bathroom, and it had all come spilling out. We realised we had fallen for the oldest trick in the book – we had been seduced by pretty pictures; duped by Instagram. We had travelled across the world in search of a picturesque paradise, and though we'd found something quite different, it hadn't stopped us sharing our own social media posts along the way – of dreamy sunsets, tropical waterfalls, the two of us bikini-clad and smiling – feeding the very illusion we had bought into. Friends messaged to say how jealous they were, and that our trip looked beautiful. We hoped things might improve once we reached mainland Bali, but they didn't. The overcrowding was particularly awful – and there was no escaping it, especially when riding around on mopeds. Whenever I drove anywhere, I'd return covered in thick soot, and the traffic was horrendous: we were told by other travellers that they had seen people fall off bikes and their heads 'explode like watermelons'. At one point I saw a man carrying a guitar fall from his bike in the midst of the traffic: the guitar smashed to pieces, but no one stopped to help him. Since returning, I've reflected a lot on my trip, and while there were moments of fun and beauty, ultimately it remains a sobering experience. In particular, I feel guilt for the impact that I had, not just on the environment, but on the local community. The average Indonesian person in Bali makes just £140 per month, while tourists like me take advantage of the low prices and cheap accommodation. Even the rate of road accidents has been exacerbated by the tourist boom – with travellers hiring mopeds, as we did, contributing to the dangerous overcrowding. Last year, nearly 550 people died in motorbike accidents in Bali, making up over 80 per cent of all road accidents in the area. How Bali came to this, I'm not sure – but, as is the case with so many once-idyllic destinations suffering under the weight of over-tourism, I suspect social media has a lot to answer for. There is hope for Bali, but change must come from the tourists themselves. The power lies in the Instagram feeds of those passing through, and until tourists are brave – braver than I was – and start posting the truth about what they see, I fear nothing will change, and this once-beautiful place will be lost forever. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Climber Rescued from Volcano 3 Weeks After Brazilian Woman Plunged to Her Death on Same Trail: Reports
NEED TO KNOW Benedikt Emmenegger, a 46-year-old Swiss tourist, was rescued after falling while hiking a trail on Indonesia's volcanic Mount Rinjani, according to reports He reportedly sustained "a serious leg fracture" amid the fall on July 16 His rescue comes just a few weeks after Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins died after falling off a cliff while hiking near the crater of the active volcanoA Swiss tourist was successfully rescued after falling while hiking Indonesia's volcanic Mount Rinjani, where a Brazilian tourist died just last month. Early local reporting by Jakarta Globe referred to the hiker as being 40 and used the initials "BE." According to he was later identified as Benedikt Emmenegger, 46. Emmenegger was on the trail headed toward the popular volcanic lake Segara Anak with a group including his daughter and a guide. They took off on Tuesday, July 15, and his fall occurred around 11:25 a.m. the following day, according to He is said to have suffered "a serious leg fracure," per Jakara Globe, and was unable to climb to safety after the fall. The outlet noted that the Mount Rinjani National Park Office was collaborating with Edelweis Medical Health Center and had joined forces with Bali Air to commission a helicopter to get Emmenegger to safety. When they were able to get to him, emergency responders provided care. Video footage showed the tourist covered in a foil blanket before he was taken to the hospital by air. The severity of his injuries has not yet been revealed. However, Jakarta Globe reported that the journey was "registered legally" with the Mount Rinjani National Park Office. His rescue comes after Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins, 26, died as emergency responders spent days attempting to get her to safety after she fell on the mountain. Marins fell on June 21 in the early hours of the morning, and her body was recovered on June 24. Her cause of death was ruled to be "internal bleeding caused by damage to organs and bone fractures," per Agência Brasil. She reportedly sustained the deadly injuries "a few hours before the body was recovered." In the aftermath of her fall and death, Marins' family has accused the rescue team of "negligence" on social media. 'If the team had reached her within the estimated time of 7 hours, Juliana would still be alive,' the family wrote. 'Juliana deserved much more! Now we are going to seek justice for her, because that is what she deserves! Don't give up on Juliana!" Emmenegger's fall comes only a few days after local news agency Antara reported that the government is taking steps to keep climbers safer while they explore Mount Rinjani. 'We should not gamble with people's lives. We are not collecting PNBP (Non-Tax State Revenue) at the expense of tourists' safety,' Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni said, with the outlet noting that he is working with the Mount Rinjani National Park Office to improve safety measures. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Steps that will be taken include ensuring that all tour guides are certified, imposing more testing to ensure that only experienced climbers embark on the trail and installing more signage to warn of risky areas. According to the outlet, the signage will designate zones as red, yellow or green, with green being the paths that tourists should stay on. If a less experienced climber wants to climb the mountain, the new guidelines will have employees direct them to a different mountain that is better for beginners. Read the original article on People
News.com.au
7 days ago
- News.com.au
Dad plunges into volcano just weeks after death of young hiker
A Swiss mountaineer has been dramatically rescued from Indonesia's Mount Rinjani — just weeks after a Brazilian woman plunged to her death on the same trail. Benedikt Emmenegger, 46, slipped and fell while descending a steep slope on the active volcano at around 11.25am on July 16. The hiker, who was with his daughter and a local porter at the time, survived the fall but was unable to move due to an injury. In scenes eerily similar to that of Juliana Marins — the 26-year-old Brazilian tourist who died after falling into a ravine on the mountain last month — Mr Emmenegger became stranded and unable to climb back to safety. Miraculously, mountain rescue teams were able to reach the injured dad and administer first aid before he was airlifted to hospital. Yarman, head of the Mount Rinjani National Park in Lombok, told local media: 'We, along with the medical team, have already moved to provide assistance.' Dramatic footage showed the Swiss hiker lying on mats, wrapped in a gold aluminium thermal blanket as his daughter knelt beside him. Rescue crews later arrived to carry him on a stretcher to a post with a waiting helicopter. 'The helicopter has been prepared and has flown to the evacuation point. Hopefully, the weather cooperates,' Yarman said. Authorities are yet to reveal the extent of Mr Emmenegger injuries but confirmed the climber had set out on Tuesday to reach the Segara Anak, the volcano's famous sulphur lake. The route he used is notorious for being particularly hazardous in rainy or humid conditions. Mount Rinjani, is an active volcano located on the island of Lombok in Indonesia, standing at 3,700 metres (12,200 feet) and is the highest point in the province and is Indonesia's second-highest volcano. Just last month, Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins, a pole dancer and publicist from Rio de Janeiro, tragically died after rolling 500 metres into a ravine during a group hike on June 21. Although she was initially spotted alive by drone, rescue teams were unable to reach her immediately due to fluctuating weather and heavy fog. Her body was recovered four days later, with her family now slamming what they called 'serious negligence' by Indonesian authorities during the botched rescue attempt.
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Tourist reveals scary truth about Mount Rinjani in Bali
A British travel blogger has shared the scary reality of one of Bali's most popular trails after a woman died at the hotspot. Juliana Marins, 26, from Brazil, was climbing Mount Rinjani on Lombok - the second highest volcano in Indonesia — earlier this month when she fell some 200 metres down the mountainside. She was close to the summit that sits at an elevation of over 3,000 metres when tragedy unfolded. An autopsy revealed Ms Marins died from severe trauma to 'almost all parts of her body'. Mt Rinjani is extremely high with deep ravines, extreme temperatures and volcanic gases. 'If people fall while trekking, they can sustain multiple broken bones and traumatic head injuries which are the most dangerous and can be fatal,' Global health expert and medical doctor at YARSI University in Jakarta, Dr Dicky Budiman, told 'If people survive the initial fall, there are other risks such as poisonous gases and extreme temperatures which can cause asphyxia and hypothermia.' Jack Arnold, who runs a TikTok account highlighting his travels, recently hiked the trail and said it was a lot tougher than people may think. 'It is the most mentally and physically draining thing I have ever done in my life,' Jack said in a clip that has amassed almost 1 million views. 'It's pure volcanic sand. You take two steps up … and three steps back,' he said as she showed footage of himself sliding back down. 'I was walking past girls on the floor and they were just like 'I can't do it'. They had been separated from their guides. A lot of the guides are like severely under equipped and for lack of a better work, under trained.' Jack, who hiked the volcano with a company called Ali Topan Rinjani, said he was thankful his guide was really good and often checked on each hiker in the group. 'He would come and walk with you and make sure you're all right.' 'I remember sitting at the point where the girl fell and was thinking if the weather was bad this could be really dangerous. 'There's long path with a big drop down the side. It's really, really not an easy hike.' Jack was shocked to find some people wearing inappropriate shoes and wondered why 'it is not advertised more that's it's not just a walk in the park'. 'People think it's a really easy hike and it's just really not. It's amazing don't get me wrong but on the way down it's dark and I was sliding sometimes up to 20 metres. 'It's like snow, it's just really fine ash. I was thinking at some point if I slip any further I am going straight over that edge.' Jack warned anyone interested in doing the hike to do their research. 'Look at what you might need,' he demanded. 'It's so remote you can't get cars and motorbikes up there. If you fall, you've got to be pretty lucky for somebody to find you.' Indonesia cracks down on safety The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and the National Search and Rescue Authority have pledged to conduct an immediate evaluation of the total standard operating procedures for mountaineering activities nationwide. It comes following multiple deaths in the past five years at famous peaks including where Ms Marins died, Mount Batur and Mount Agung in Bali. According to The Bali Sun, the aim is to minimise the risk of accidents and increase safety for climbers, guides, porters, and support staff. The Head of Basarnas, Mohammad Syafi'i said all efforts made in the search and rescue mission of Ms Marins on Mount Rinjani were in accordance with international standards and that the biggest obstacle the team encountered was extreme weather conditions, which increased the rescue time. Initially, drone footage shot by passing hikers showed Ms Marins alive having fallen some 200 metres down the mountainside. In the harrowing video, she is sitting with her legs splayed out beneath her and with dust in her hair from the tumble down the steep slopes. She appears distressed and disorientated as tourists shout words of encouragement to her. When rescuers tried to reach Ms Marins by repelling down the mountainside using ropes, they were unable to locate her in the place where she had originally been spotted. Due to poor weather conditions and difficult terrain, her body was finally discovered much further down the mountain at around 600 metres, several days later. As such, it is likely that the blunt force trauma that killed her occurred when she fell for the second time. Ms Marins' body was evacuated from Rinjani on Lombok on Wednesday and transported to Bali Mandara Hospital where an autopsy was conducted on Thursday. Speaking to the media, forensic specialist Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Alit said she died 'very quickly from her injuries'. Mr Syafi'i said in the future, the government hopes to improve the potential SAR capability. 'In the example of a tourist area, it must be able to start from communication. With communication we can assess the potential danger, prepare the personnel and equipment. Our hope, with this limited ability can complement each other'. The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, confirmed his commitment to evaluating and improving standard operating procedures on Indonesia's trekking routes. He also called for tourists to seriously assess their abilities before heading out on intensive climbs, the national publication reported. 'We will evaluate the total SOP, increase the number of posts on the climbing path, and prepare technology such as RFID that is installed on the climber's bracelet, so that it can be quickly detected if there is an emergency condition.'
CNA
08-07-2025
- CNA
Two Indonesian police officers arrested over subordinate's death in Lombok
LOMBOK, Indonesia: Two Indonesian police officers have been arrested over the death of a fellow officer, in a case that has drawn public scrutiny and triggered calls for accountability and transparency within the force. Muhammad Nurhadi, a brigadier in West Nusa Tenggara police's Internal Affairs Division, was found dead in a swimming pool at Tekek Villa in Gili Trawangan, North Lombok, on the night of Apr 16. According to investigators, Nurhadi had attended a private party at the villa with his superiors - Yogi Purusa Utama and Ipda Haris Candra - alongside a woman identified as Misri and another witness known only by the initial P. While Yogi and Haris initially claimed he had drowned, an autopsy in May later uncovered multiple injuries, including signs consistent with strangulation. They were arrested on Monday (Jul 7). Local police have not explained the delay between the autopsy findings and the arrests. Investigators now suspect that Nurhadi was assaulted and sedated after allegedly flirting with a female guest linked to either Yogi or Haris. They have named Yogi, Haris and Misri as suspects in the case. Misri was arrested on Jul 2, according to local news site Detik. Yogi and Haris have been dismissed from the force and will be held in custody for at least 21 days as investigations continue, reported local news outlet Jakarta Globe. 'This detention follows due legal process based on our investigation and is not a response to public or social media pressure,' said Catur Erwin Setiawan, head of Sub-Directorate III of West Nusa Tenggara's Criminal Investigation Department, at a press briefing on Monday. The pair are being held in separate cells under tight security to safeguard their rights and ensure their safety, according to Muhammad Rifa'i, director of detention and evidence at West Nusa Tenggara police department, as reported by Detik. AUTOPSY FINDINGS Nurhadi's body was exhumed on May 1 for a post-mortem examination. The autopsy revealed bodily injuries categorised as antemortem wounds, meaning they had occurred shortly before Nurhadi's death, according to Arfi Syamsun, a forensic doctor from Mataram State University, who was part of the post-mortem team. 'There were many types of wounds - abrasions, scrapes, bruises and lacerations. These were found on the head, neck, back and legs, especially on the left leg,' Arfi said on Jul 4, as quoted by local news platform Kompas. Nurhadi's hyoid bone was also found to be fractured - an injury that indicates strangulation. 'If the hyoid bone is fractured, there is an 80 per cent chance that strangulation or pressure is applied to the neck area,' Arfi said. Director of the regional police criminal investigation department Syarif Hidayat told local media that no closed-circuit television footage of the incident has been found. He further said that Yogi and Haris were believed to have given dishonest statements during a lie detector test. 'All of them were found to be lying publicly,' Syarif was quoted as saying by Kompas on Friday. Nurhadi's family has voiced frustration over the pace of the investigation, with his elder brother Hambali calling for those responsible to be held to account. 'We heard that my brother died from strangulation. We want justice. The perpetrators must be caught and punished severely,' Hambali said on Monday, as quoted by Jakarta Globe. Indonesian politicians have also weighed in on the case. Abdullah, a member of the House of Representatives from the National Awakening Party, called for a thorough and transparent investigation. 'I am deeply concerned and strongly condemn the brutal act that led to the death of Brigadier Nurhadi. If it is true that he was assaulted by his seniors, this is a shameful abuse of power that must not be tolerated,' Abdullah, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, was quoted as saying by Kompas on Monday. 'We do not want the image of the national police to be tarnished by the actions of a few rogue individuals. The police must show firmness and integrity in uncovering the truth. Do not protect the perpetrators just because of their rank or position,' he said.
