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Air Terjun Sindang gila
About
Air Terjun Sindang gila (En. Slightly crazy waterfalls). Located near Senaru on the slopes of Mount Rinjani this attraction is sadly dissimilar to the situation presented upon arriving at the Narmada water park. The sometimes sneering gate staff, annoying touts and self appointed guides frequently vigorously pester visitors for business. These individuals, along with various other opportunists and skimmers present at the locality often turn on a show of both overt racism and threatening abuse towards visiting tourists. This is most especially so if the visitor or person taking them there does not pay an exorbitant fee for a local guide. Certainly a guide is not needed to walk down the steps to the primary waterfall area and back up again. There is only the one pathway leading down from the entrance gate and the waterfall is rather obvious when you arrive at the bottom unless the visitor is likely to misunderstand the sight of water free-falling from a great height. The extra money extorted from 'foreigners' at the gate is clearly not being spent by the local community on any maintenance or improvement of the facilities such as providing rubbish receptacles. The waterfall surroundings are usually covered with litter discarded by uncaring visitors. In early 2011 the northern regional government tourism authority instituted an upgrading program and is attempting to improve amenities at the base of the waterfall. They are also developing some other waterfall visit sites in the region to provide an improved range of alternative waterfall sites for visitors. Sindang gila is a beautiful place and many local people and visitors alike have enjoyed the splendid falls and a refreshing swim. The 20 min trip down the long run of steps and trail to the fall and then climb back up again requires a bit of effort especially on a hot day. Sadly this naturally beautiful location has a dark side of bad attitude and neglect by the local custodians. Some may prefer to avoid it for those reasons and seek a more welcoming alternative venue.
