Lombok Island!

Taken from http://wikitravel.org/en/Lombok

Located just east of Bali, Lombok in many ways lives up to or exceeds the promotional term, "an unspoiled Bali". With beautiful beaches, enchanting waterfalls, the large, looming volcano of Mount Rinjani combined with relatively few tourists, Lombok is indeed the paradisaical tropical island that many people still mistakenly imagine Bali to be now.

Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" to the southwest, about 70 km across and a total area of about 4,725 km² (1,825 sq mi). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.

Lombok Island consists of 3 regencies (kabupaten), West Lombok, Central Lombok and East Lombok .

The Island is dominated by MT Rinjani. It provides adventurous treks and wonderful views of captivating natural forest and agricultural scenery, down to a coastline of numerous pristine beaches and fabulous waters that about with surfing, fishing, sailing and underwater activity opportunities.

The major accommodations can be found in Senggigi, Mataram, the Gilis, Kuta in south Lombok and Sekotong. However, there are small pockets of accommodation in Tetebatu, Senaru, north east Lombok and other beach or mountain slope areas offering adventures, arts and cultural experiences and great scenery.

About the Region

The climate of Lombok is perfect with annual temperatures ranging between 21*C and 33*C, it has only two seasons, the dry from May to October, and the wet from November to April. Vegetation in the area is native forest, agricultural,

Forests (plantations), cultivated land (gardens and rice fields), coastal shrubs, heaths and grasslands and narrow mangrove communities.

Lombok is dominated by Mt.Rinjani (3800m), a towering northern volcanic range at its centre. Another non-volcanic range transverses the relatively barren southern side of the island, and most of Lombok‘s arable land and the majority of her population occupy a narrow 25 km wide strip of land in between. The western third of the plain faces across the strait to Bali. There are water springs, a number of rivers from the southern slopes of Rinjani,hot springs at and to the east of it, and a number of waterfalls around its slopes. Interestingly there are a number of Dutch accommodations located on these southern slopes of Rinjani taking advantage of the climate and topography. Also there are a number of excellent bays and beaches formed by the ridges radiating from Rinjani.

The presence of Mt.Rinjani results in a variety of ecosystems, year-round rainforests (higher up and on southern slopes), ferns and tropical plant varieties. Traveling eastward and southward the land becomes drier and less fertile, and also the flora and fauna changes accordingly. Large parts of Lombok mainland are coastal wetlands, irrigated fields and other wetlands. Extensive dry land areas are found on the island of Lombok. Species of plants growing in Lombok have specific importance for the life of the people. Species of plants found in the forest are kesambi, bungur, sonokeling, mahoni (mahogany), jati (teak), kelicung, pala, ipil, bamboo, tutul etc.

Wild animals found in Lombok are monkeys (silver leaf and black monkey), wild pigs (babi hutan ), small deer (menjangan), deer (kijang rusa), iguanas ( biawak), pocupines (landak), turtles (penyu) and many kinds of poisonous snakes. Many kinds of birds are found here including pring, parrots (kakatua), bering, koak koak, cucak rawa.

In Lombok, the most significant tourism and recreational activity is found in SenggigiBeach and surrounds, around Mt.Rinjani for trekking , and the western and southern coastal area for diving, surfing, sunbathing, and fishing . Many overseas people come to Lombok and the Gillis for diving or diving courses conducted by a number of PADI accredited dive centre. Surfers from overseas, particularly Australia,United States, Europe, Brazil and Japan are regular visitors to the southern beaches including KutaBeach and Bangko-Bangko (desert point), at the Southwest tip of the island. The accommodation for marine tourists (cruises to Sumbawa and further to Komodo or Flores) has improved significantly in recent years. However, many travel to specific locations by charter boats from Lombok and particularly, Bali.

The economic activity in Lombok since 2000 is dominated by the copper and gold mine in West Sumbawa (30 % RGDF), followed by agriculture, forestry product, fishing and small informal industry (employing 70 % of the population). Tourism development has centre on the ‘beaches’ and the eco-tourism of Mt.Rinjani.. Crop farming involving rice, tobacco and corn cultivations is often harvested three times a year because of good sources of natural water for irrigation. In addition, crops of Soya bean, mug beans, peanuts and corn are grown. Vegetables, particularly onion, garlic and chilies, are particularly found at Sembalun . Plantations of cashew nuts, bananas and jati (teak) can be found in appropriate climates just north of Mataram . Oumic stone mining is a significant enterprise in north-west and south east Lombok. Pearl, fresh water fish (in ponds) and seaweed cultivation, as well as ocean fishing are significant contributors to the economy of Lombok .

People, Religion , Arts & Culture

Approximately 90% of the 3 million populations living on Lombok are indigenous Sasak people. In western Lombok, descendants of Balinese reside following their Hindu beliefs and intricate ceremonies. The Sasak people are predominantly Muslim. In addition, Buddhist and Arab cultures are found mostly in Mataram. The accent Wetu Telu relegation that still exist around the old mosques of Bayan , north of Mt. Rinjani , and Rambitan (and elsewhere) in southern Lombok are significant in the island’s culture. The diversity of the people provider the region with a rich tapestry of dialect and diverse range of languages, traditional dance, music and rituals.

Lombok is will know for its beautiful pottery making, cloth and basket weaving with exquisite stone and wood carving.

Places of Interests

1. Mataram and Cakranegara

Mataram is the capital of the province which has in the past decades joined with Ampenan, the port, and Cakranegara to become the province's biggest urban complex. At around the beginning of the 18th century, Mataram was the residence of the crown prince of Karang Asem, a kingdom in southern Bali. The ruler himself had his seat in Cakranegara. The royal pal¬ace no longer exists, but many of the old temples and pleasure gardens are still there. Lombok's biggest Balinese temple is the Pura Meru in Cakranegara. Dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu, it was built in 1720 by Anak Agung Made Karang. Three pagoda-like places of worship stand in a line from north to south in the innermost courtyard. The one on the north is dedicated to Vishnu and has a roof with nine tiers. The central is dedicated to Shiva with 11 tiers on its roof and the southernmost one is for Brahma with a roof of seven tiers. Nearby is Taman Mayura. Once part of the royal palace, it has an artificial lake set in the middle of a park. A raised path leads from the side of the pond to a pavilion built in the middle of the lake. In former days, justice was meted out and religious rituals were performed in this open-sided pavilion.


2. Narmada

Taman Narmada, 11 kilometers east of Mataram, was built in 1727 by King Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Karang Asem as both a pleasure garden and place to worship Shiva. Its big pool is said to represent Segara Anakan, the crater lake on the volcano Rinjani where they used to make offerings by throwing valuables into the water. As he became too old to make the pilgrimage up the 3,726-meter high mountain, he had Narmada made to represent the mountains and the lake.


3. Pura Lingsar

This may be the only Hindu shrine in the world where both Hindus and Moslems come to worship. About 7 kilo¬meters west of Narmada, it was built in 1714 and rebuilt in 1878 to symbolize harmony and unity between the Hindu Balinese and Moslem Sasak population of the area, especially those who adhere to Lombok's unique Wektu Telu school of Islam.
The Balinese temple is built on higher ground, behind the Moslem section in the compound. In the lower yard is a spring in which pilgrims in the temple yard stage a mock battle between Hindus and Moslems, in which both parties hurl rice cakes at each other.


4. Pura Agung Gunung Sari

This great temple on a hill at Gunung Sari, about four kilometers from Mataram, was witness to the Puputan battle to the last man, fought on November 22, 1894, between Lombok's last Balinese ruler, Anak Agung Nengah and followers, and the Dutch troops under General Van der Vetter's command.


5. Sukarare

This is a village of weavers south of Cakranegara. Lombok is known for its brightly patterned songket cloth. People have been making it on their handlooms for many generations.


6. Sengkol, Pujut and Rambitan

Time seems to have frozen in these three villages in southern Lombok on the road from the capital to Kuta Beach. All the houses and barns are built in the age-old traditional style where life itself appears to be as it always has been.
The arid savanna-like landscape of this area is impressive even in its starkness.


7. Batu Bolong Beach

Located 9 km from downtown Mataram, this beach has a huge rock with a hole in it. A Hindu temple lies on top facing the Lombok Strait and across is the contour of majestic Mount Agung of Bali.
After sunbathing, relaxing and frolicking on this beautiful beach front, try to stay till the end of the day to watch one of the most stunning sunsets you have ever seen when the sun slowly begins to disappear behind Mount Agung with incredibly flaming colors.


8. Taman Mayura

The Mayura Park is what remains of the once existing Karang Asam kingdom of Bali whose King A.A. Ngurah built it in 1744. In the middle of a large pond is a structure called Balai Kambang which at the time functioned as a legal court of justice as well as a hall for important meetings. Curiously, its architecture shows both Hindu as well as Islamic influences, whereas around the place statues made of stone are found in the form of a Moslem hajji.


9. Pura Meru

Another relic remaining from the Karang Asam Kingdom is the Meru Temple at Cakranegara, close to Mataram. The temple was built in 1720 during King A.A. Made's rule as a symbol of Hindu unity on Lombok Island. Several structures are found in this complex, all of them designated to function for particular purposes, including the 33 stalls located next to the main temple.


10. Kuta Beach

Also known as Putri Nyale Beach, Kuta on the south coast of central Lombok is one of the most scenic and unspoiled beaches in this part of Indonesia. From Kuta to Tanjung Aan five km away, it is an unbroken stretch of clean white sand on the Indian Ocean. It is safe for bathing and swimming. Further to the west are surfers and windsurfers beaches. Each year, on the 19th day of the tenth month of the Sasak lunar calendar when the nyale fish come to the sea's surface, Kuta Beach is the site of great festivities. Fishermen sail out to sea while young men and women gather along the beach to join in the merrymaking, tease each other and perhaps meet to build a more lasting relationship.


11. Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan

Gili in Sasak language means "island". These three are clustered together just off the northwest coast of Lombok. Coral gardens abound in clear waters around the islands. Gili Air, the nearest island, can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes by outrigger boat from Bangsal harbor, near Pamenang.


12. Senggigi Beach

Senggigi, north of Bangsal, belongs to the most scenic and most popular beaches on the island of Lombok with good accommodation facilities. Coral gardens grow in the sea just off the shore.


13. Mount Rinjani

Mount Rinjani, a 3,726 meter high active volcano, is one of the tallest mountains of Indonesia. At the floor of the volcano's huge caldera is the sickle shaped crater lake Segara Anakan, surrounded by steep walls. The mountain is popular with hikers.