Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 539: Chapter 539: Lombok Island

The hustle and bustle of Bali Island was intoxicating, but it was also crowded with tourists.

The next morning, Li Xu found Ding Kaifang. "President Ding, I heard there’s an island next to Bali called Lombok Island. It’s supposed to be beautiful and less crowded. How about we head over there for a look?"

Ding Kaifang had been worrying about how crowded Bali Island was, with lines for everything. Li Xu’s suggestion was exactly what he wanted to hear. "Great idea! I’ve also heard there’s a Pink Beach over there. I’ve been wanting to see it for ages. I’ll arrange it right away."

The Ding Group was not short on cash.

Ding Kaifang went ahead and chartered a medium-sized yacht.

Li Xu, Song Sisi, Lin Xiaoyu, and Ding Kaifang—the four of them boarded the yacht.

As the engine roared to life, the yacht cut through the waves, heading for the eastern seas.

The sea breeze whipped around them, messing up their hair and blowing away their worries.

Li Xu stood on the deck, a travel brochure in hand, listening to the tour guide’s introduction.

Lombok Island, the little brother situated next to "the world’s most beautiful island," Bali Island, may not be as famous as its elder sibling, but it was by no means inferior.

It was still dazzlingly beautiful, with a unique charm all its own.

If Bali Island was a peerless beauty, heavily made-up and overflowing with worldly charm, then Lombok Island was like the girl next door emerging fresh from the water—pure, refined, and untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

Relaxed, primitive, and tranquil.

This was the first impression Lombok Island gave people.

Some called it Bali Island’s "sister island," not only for its similar size but also for its equally rich topography of beaches, volcanoes, and jungles.

Others called it the "Old Bali," because it retained an untouched, simple purity, as if time had turned back to the Bali Island of twenty years ago, before it was trodden by the world.

Some predicted it would be the "New Bali," destined to become the next top-tier international island destination as the world gradually unveiled its mysteries.

And still others simply called it "the little chili pepper," because its name, "Lombok," means "chili" in Indonesian—spicy and full of wildness.

But Lombok Island really needed no labels.

Its scenic spots were a royal flush from the get-go:

Mandarika’s fine white sands and its top-tier international racing circuit;

The rare and romantic soft pink of the Pink Beach;

Mount Rinjani, one of the world’s most beautiful volcanic hiking trails and a once-in-a-lifetime destination;

The crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Gili Islands, an "island within an island" paradise;

And the ancient homes of the Sasak Tribe, fragrant with a mix of flowers and herbs; the exquisite handwoven crafts; the tranquil peace of sitting on the shore to watch the calm sea at sunset...

Listening to these descriptions, the longing in their eyes grew stronger.

A little over an hour later, the yacht slowly entered the waters south of Lombok Island.

What came into view was a long, wide, beautiful white sand beach, facing the glittering Indian Ocean and backed by lush green hills, like a magnificent oil painting.

"We’re here. This is Mandarika."

As the site of a top-tier international racing circuit, Mandarika had successfully established itself as a new world-class tourist destination.

It boasted various water parks, luxury hotels, and resorts, and was a secret haven for surfing and diving enthusiasts.

Every corner of it was an expression of "the beauty of paradise."

The yacht docked, and the four of them stepped onto the beach.

As expected, there were far fewer tourists here than on Bali Island. There was none of the noisy, shoulder-to-shoulder crowding, only the sound of the waves and the cries of seagulls.

The beaches of Mandarika were mostly fine white sand. Stepping on it felt soft and yielding, like getting a foot massage.

Every stretch of its beach was a God-given embrace, and sinking into any one of them offered the most soothing and complete comfort.

"Wow, this sand is so fine."

Lin Xiaoyu excitedly kicked off her shoes and ran along the beach.

Song Sisi also took Li Xu’s arm, strolling along the water’s edge and letting the waves wet the hem of her dress, her face beaming with a happy smile.

In addition, Mandarika was also home to the charming Merese Mountain.

Its captivating curves divided the ocean in two.

As evening approached, the four of them climbed the hill.

The rolling hills, the untouched coastline, and the endlessly graceful waves performed a breathtaking symphony of mountain and sea against the backdrop of a magnificent sunset, where the ocean met the sky.

The setting sun dyed the entire sea gold and stretched their shadows long behind them.

Night fell, and the four of them rested for the night at a nearby resort hotel.

「The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.」

Li Xu suggested, "Let’s go to the Pink Beach today. I hear the sunrise there is the most beautiful."

His main objective, of course, was to find the seahorse in the hidden cave.

But to avoid arousing suspicion, he used the Pink Beach as a cover.

The others didn’t know about his little scheme, but having heard the description of the Pink Beach yesterday, they were already captivated by the idea and naturally had no objections.

A pink beach is a rare sight anywhere in the world.

But on the southeastern coast of Lombok Island, there were several.

They were separated by hills, and some didn’t even have names, retaining their most primitive appearance.

But the "most famous" pink beach on Lombok Island was named "Sugar Beach."

It was located in Lombok Island’s Jelovaru District and remained largely unspoiled and relatively hidden.

About an hour’s boat ride from Mandarika, the four of them once again set out by yacht.

As the yacht drew near, the magical beach finally appeared before them.

The reason it was pink wasn’t that the sand itself was pink, but because of the red coral reefs in the sea.

This red coral came from the skeletons left behind by dead coral polyps—red foraminifera.

As the coral reefs broke down, these tiny red fragments were washed ashore and mixed with the white sand, creating a perfect pink hue under the refracting sunlight.

Moreover, the color of the Pink Beach was not constant.

The pink was most vibrant in the morning and late afternoon when the light was softest.

The four of them had gotten up early, arriving just after eight in the morning.

The soft morning light spilled across the beach, making the pink seem especially delicate and romantic, like a young maiden’s blushing cheek.

Paired with the crystal-clear turquoise water, it was so beautiful it seemed unreal, like stepping into a fairy tale world.

"Oh my god, it’s really pink!"

Song Sisi and Lin Xiaoyu shrieked and ran over, striking all sorts of poses for photos, completely immersed in the dreamlike scenery.

After admiring the beautiful scenery for a while, it was around ten in the morning. The sun had climbed higher, the light grew stronger, and the pink color faded slightly.

Li Xu saw his chance and pointed to a cluster of reefs in the distance. "I heard there’s a natural diving spot over there. The water’s deep and clear, and there’s a hidden cave. How about we rent a small boat and go check it out?"

That place was precisely the "right side of Sugar Beach" mentioned in his intel.

The four of them rented a small wooden boat from a local and paddled over.

Huge rocks dotted the area, forming natural platforms that were indeed perfect diving spots.

And because the location was remote and difficult to access, there were almost no other tourists.

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