Lombok Island (West Nusa Tenggara)
Lombok is the most popular destination in West Nusa tenggara, with the gilis surrounding drawing visitors for action both in nd out of the water, mighty Gunung Rinjani luring trekkers, and the big breaks on the south coast a magnet for surfers. Matram, Lombok’s capital, is a good spot for day trips to the surrounding areas, and nearby Senggigi is superbly positioned along a stretch or sweeping bays. In east Lombok, the very scenic Sumbawa Island offers low key tourism and some good surf breaks. There are two main islands in West Nusa Tenggara Lombok Island And Sumbawa Island also some other small islands are more popular known as Gili, presents a variety of spectacular natural beauty, interesting places and activities for the tourists around the world. Exotic tropical islands and coastline that offers the most beautiful beaches of all time, comfortable climate and natural beauty of this virgin island charm can not be separated from the water call it a variety of activities concerned with water sports such as swimming, diving, sailing, sunbathing under the hot sun, surf, fishing and many others.
Location
Lombok be between 115 and 119 ^ 45 ^ 10 in the east and south of the equator, between 8 ^ 9 ^ 52 and 52 latitude south, so this beautiful island vantage point, which is located in beautiful golden triangle in a circle in Indonesia such as East Nusa Tenggara, Bali Island , Toraja in Sulawesi, with a unique tribe.
Land
The area is covering, 20,153 square kilometer. And most of the lands are mountains and hills with high and low plains stretching from the western to the eastern tip of the island of Sumbawa. Its length from west to east around 80 KM. Sumbawa extent of 300 km from west to east and 100 km from north to south and 2500 km long coastline and territorial waters along the 29.000 square kilometers including 137 islands, each of 70 regions have been inhabited. Sumbawa with 75% of land area has only 25% of the population despite has only 75% of total population
Climate
Climate in Lombok are generally similar to other parts of Indonesia. Temperature ranged from 21 ^ to 33 ^ degrees. There are two seasons namely the rainy and dry seasons, the rainy season starting from October to March and the dry season from April to September, in January, quite heavy rain and wind blowing through February.
Environmental
Marine ecology plays an important role in the growth of shellfish and seaweed and other marine vegetation where most live coral found in the region of Nusa Tenggara. They are very big potential in tourism development, fisheries, and pharmaceutical products in the future. With this seasonal rainy season, plant’s in the East part of Nusa Tenggara is determined by the help of rainfall each year.
Under Water (Flora & Fauna)
According to the Wallace Line, the Flora and Fauna in Asia are different from Australia. spread from north to south between the island of Lombok and Bali. The forests are found in mountainous areas. A major part of Lombok is the inshore region, irrigated fields, and other waters. While the largest land area in the island of Sumbawa. In particular species of plant growth has a great influence impact on the lives of local residents, snorkeling, mahogany, teak, Ipil, bamboo, leopards and others. several species can be find that spread in the region according to climate and natural conditions such as wild pigs, small deer, foxes, lizards, hedgehogs, turtles, and several types of snakes and birds , and others.
Religion
Native of Lombok at first embraced animism and believed come from the north and west of Burma or India. Nowadays, people mostly Moslem about 75% of the population but there are also other religions such as hindu bali (mostly located in the west), Christianity and Buddhism. Interestingly, the shape of religious life that varies with the places of worship and religious rituals are always side by side.
Transport
A Cidomo is a small horse-drawn carriage used on Indonesia’s Lombok Islands used instead of motorized transport for a traditional market at lombok island. Cidomo came from word of Cikar Dokar Motor. Cikar is a traditional transport for Indonesian traditional village. Dokar is a traditional carriage to mount some good to bring and it to traditional market. And Motor is motorized transport. Cikar and dokar is the name for the body and the horse. In Jakarta it’s mean andong. And motor came form the tire. Some of unique name for this traditional transportations.
The carriage usually seats up to four people, two people in the front and two in the back, and in the Gili Islands is one of the most common forms of transport as motor vehicles are not allowed. The horse carts or the cidomos are the most popular mode of transportation in the island of Lombok in Indonesia. In Senggigi and Gillis the Cidomo is mostly used by the tourists. But in the other places in Lombok, the Cidomo is a very important means of transportation for the local travelers also. The Lombok Cidomo Service is very popular amongst the visitors for the availability and the fun that the ride provides. The fare of taking a Cidomo ride often depends on two factors – whether the Cidomo is available or not and whether there is enough demand or not. There is no dearth for the demand for Cidomo service in Lombok during the peak seasons. The price that you have to pay for taking a ride in the Cidomo for a short trip is 2000Rp, which may rise up to 500Rp.
Foods
In the main Tourist area; Senggigi, Gili Islands and Kuta Beach Lombok, numbers of Tourist’s Restaurant available serving Western food, Indonesian and Chinese food. In Mataram and in some remote area on Lombok, Indonesian food, Padang food and Chinese food are dominating. Rumah Makan (eating place) can be found easily in Mataram, Ampenan and in most main street. Sasak Food uses white rice as staple, served with vegetable curries or soup, chicken, beef, fishes, hot chilli and no pork. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word Lombok means Chilli paper and it used liberally in local cooking. The famous sasak food are:
Ayam Taliwang fried or grilled wild young chicken with chilli sauce is originally from Taliwang Sumbawa, but it has become a Lombok speciality.
Sate Ikan Tanjung one of the tastiest food on Lombok, originally coming from a village called Tanjung – Northern Lombok. Pieces of fresh snapper or tuna mixed with coconut milk, lemongrass, garlic, chilli paper, spices, wrapped onto sate stick and grilled. Try them on your way back from a day tour from waterfall or gili Islands.
Ares a dish made from the pith of banana tree stem, with coconut juice, garlic and spices.
Pelecing Kangkung very popular on Lombok as a daily dishes to eat together with plain rice. Cooked water convolvulus (kangkung), mixed with a sauce made with chilli, fish paste (terasi), tomato salt and lime.
Attractions
Peresean is a name of a game that shows strength and fighting skill. People are keen on this game. This traditional game is performed in a special event. Two men fight each other with rattan whips. Each of them tries to protect him self with cowhide shields. The authorized Pekembar who will judge either player is defeated or win on the game umpires the performance. He is also authorized to stop the gamers if he thinks it would become worse. This performance is accompanied by an instrumental traditional music.
Gendang Beleq is one of the specific art performance in Lombok. Gendang means drum and Beleq means big. In this music we will see dancer bring the big drum.n ancients time, Gendang Beleq is used as to encourage the spirit of the kingdom troop go toward battle field and also perform to welcome the troop returning from the battle of field as well but after independence period this art performance still existed as a welcome dance to the government guest who visit Lombok.
This dance usually perform by 15-17 dancer who play many kind of gamelan instrument such us big drum and some young beautiful dancer wearing soldier uniform. For the time being this attractive dance used for accompany of wedding ceremony procession, circumstance party and take apart in cultural carnival which held to celebrate big day and also as cultural delegation in national or international event. This dance also has sacred value which in occasional time some offering is given to drum in order to kept it’s sweetness of sound still remain.
Gandrung is a social dance, particularly for the youth and is usually performed in an open air. A single girl dancer performs it with a fan in her hand. When she touches a man/spectator with the fan, it means that he is requested to dance with her, the Gandrung dancer. Gandrung means “being in love.” It is expressed in movements of the dance itself. This dance is frequently performed in some villages in Lombok
House
Sasak House is a traditional ancestral house of the ethnic group in Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia. The roof of this house is made from straw and the wall is built from plaited bamboo. Sasak house has unique floor. The floor is created from clay that mix with dung (of buffalo), latex, and straw ash. The function of that mixture is like cement. All materials to build a Sasak house are from the environment around them, even to connect parts of the wood, they don’t use iron nails, they use bamboo nails.
And the house’s sole access is through a narrow door and no windows there House isn’t just a dwelling place, but also has aesthetic values and philosophical messages inside the architecture for the dweller. The shape of Sasak house was developed when the Karang Asem monarchy existed in the 17th century. Lombok architecture is integrated with Bali architecture, for example, the living room doesn’t have walls and the top of prop is carved. Berugak is a traditional Sasak Shelter. Is like a living room, but it isn’t inside the house.
Cultural Tips
Do’s :
- Smile and greet people, especially elders.
- Shake hands, gently.
- Accept hospitality and food. You do not have to eat and drink, but it is polite to ACCEPT.
- Say goodbye and thank you when you leave.
- Dress modestly. Women should keep upper arms and thighs covered.
- Bend down and walk around seated people when you need to pass.
- Use only your right hand to eat and to hand objects or money to someone.
- Be sure to sit at the same level as other people.
- Wear a sarong when entering the house of Melokaq (Adat leader) and when participating in ritual and adat ceremonies.
Dont’s :
- Enter houses, building or village without being invited.
- Wear shoes inside a house.
- Point at people with your finger. Don’t ever use your foot to point at objects or people.
- Point the bottom of your feet directly at people whilst sitting on the floor.
- Touch anyone’s head.
- Step over people or food on the floor.
- Eat with your left hand, or use your left hand to give or accept objects or money.
- Raise your voice, especially in anger.
