Indonesia Vacations » Lombok Vacations

Exploring Lombok Attractions

Admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:09:00 +0000

Lombok island is quiter than Bali. So that, for traveler who don’t like crowded places, Lombok is the best choice. Lombok attractions are various, Lombok beach, Lombok diving and snorkeling in Gili islands, and so many more. Below are some interesting places to visit in Lombok.

Kuta Beach Lombok
One of the best beaches in the popular beach in Lombok Island is Kuta Beach Lombok. I like this beach because it is very clean, with crystal white Sands it’s enough to make this beach so special. Unlike Kuta beach Bali, Kuta beach Lombok calmer and quieter because not many tourist who know of the existence of this beach. This beach is ideal for the tourist crowd who does not like and want privacy. [Read more about Kuta Beach Lombok]

Batu Bolong Beach Lombok
Batu Bolong Beach is one of Lombok attractions. It is located 9 km from Mataram (capital of Lombok). Batu Bolong Beach has a big rock with a huge hole in it. It is a good place to see the amazing sunset from Lombok Strait. After the sunbathing, relaxing and frolicking on this wonderful beach, you can try to stay until the evening to watch one of the best stunning sunset you have ever seen when the sun goes down slowly and started to to disappear behind the Mount Agung Bali with incredibly flaming colors. A Hindu temple lies on top facing the Lombok Strait and beyond is the contour of majestic Mount Agung of Bali. Colorful and musical religious ceremonies are often held in this beautiful temple. [Read more about Batu Bolong Beach Lombok]

Senggigi Beach Lombok
Senggigi Beach is the most beautiful beach in Lombok Island. Like other lombok beach, Senggigi beach also has a very clean beach and crystal white Sands. So that the wide beach tourist akan freely and have more privacy. This beach is not so crowded, so for those of you who do not crowd the beach like this will give comfort. Along the coast also have international hotel, from 2 to 3 stars hotels, as well as traditional and western restaurant that will spoil you so that your tongue. [Read more about Senggigi Beach Lombok]

Mangsit Beach Lombok
Mangsit Beach is located about 10 minutes of North Senggigi, located just a few minutes to the north of Senggigi, Mangsit Beach caters to the upmarket traveller. These carefully designed boutique villas are located on stunning Mangsit Beach just north of Senggigi on the island of Lombok, 22 miles east of Bali.
[Read more about Mangsit Beach Lombok]

Komodo National Park
One of the best of Lombok attractions is Komodo National Park. It is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands, at a distance of 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali. It has a total land area of 75,000 hectares and encompasses a number of islands, the largest of which are Komodo (34,000 hectares), Rinca (20,000 hectares), Padar, Nusa Kode, Motang, numerous smaller islands, and the Wae Wuul sanctuary on Flores. A total of 112,500 hectares of the surrounding waters are also under the jurisdiction of the park rangers.
[Read more about Komodo National Park]

Mount Rinjani Lombok
Mount Rinjani Lombok is one of interest of Lombok Island. As you probably know, there are several active volcano in Indonesia. Mount Rinjani Lombok is one of active volcano. It is one of big mountain which is 12,224 feet or 3,726 meters, this making Mount Rinjani as the second of the highest volcano in Indonesia.
[Read more about Mount Rinjani Lombok]

Gili Islands Lombok
Gili Islands Lombok are a small-scale backpacker mecca and Lombok’s most popular tourist destination. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes playing reggae and serving up banana pancakes, and no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. The beaches are without a doubt better than anywhere on Bali or Lombok. The flip side of the coin is that as they exist solely to cater for travellers, they’re also rather anonymous (you might as well be at anywhere) and, aside from snorkeling and diving, there’s little if anything to do. Note that there are no ATMs on the islands, so bring plenty of cash with you.
From west to east, the islands are:
Gili Air Lombok, Gili Trawangan Lombok, Gili Meno Lombok, Gili Nanggu Lombok.
[Read more about Gili Islands Lombok]

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Exploring Mount Rinjani Lombok

Admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:51:00 +0000

Mount Rinjani Lombok is one of Lombok Attractions. As you probably know, there are several active volcano in Indonesia. Mount Rinjani Lombok is one of active volcano. It is one of big mountain which is 12,224 feet or 3,726 meters, this making Mount Rinjani as the second of the highest volcano in Indonesia.

September 1847 was the first historical eruption of Mount Rinjani. The latest eruption of Mount Rinjani was on 1 October 2004. The volcano and beautiful Segara Anak lake are protected by national park which is founded in 1997. About 6 km 8.5 km oval caldera partially by a lake known as Segara Anak (about 2000m above sea level is at 300 and 200 meters deep), contains the caldera – including Hot Springs. An explosion in the years 1994, 1995 and 1996 were something of Gunung Baru or New Mountain about which is anout 2,300 meters above sea level), it is in the center of the caldera and lava from the eruption in the lake.

In the top of the mountain mostly are forests clad. In the lower area there are rice plantation, tobacco, soybeans, coffee, cotton, vanilla and cinnamon. They are the main crops in the fertile soil of the Lombok island.

Mount Rinjani National Park is located in the main field of bio-geographical transition area called Wallcaeae, where the flora and fauna of Southeast Asia meet the Australia. The National Park was established in 1997. The people of Lombok (Sasaknese) and Balinese are so alike. Mount Rinjani Lombok was respected and sacred for people in Lombok. The Crater Lake is a place of pilgrimage for thousands of people each year. Pilgrims offering water to bathe and clean the disease in the spa.

For visitors, the 3 days route of Rinjani trek from Senaru to the crater edge, you can go down to the Crater Lake, and after that go on to Sembalun Lawang,this place is considered as one of the best treks in South East Asia. The Trekkers who like adventurous usually go to the summit, the close way from Sembalun Lawang returning after 4 days to Senaru. If you like, you can join the communities to help with the National Park and tourism revenues. Mt. Rinjani Trek is organized by a company of National Park officials, the private and public sectors of community representatives and industry of Lombok tourism. The community give very cooperatives coordinate of the trek in the Rinjani Trek Center (RTC), it is located in Senaru and also in Sembalun Lawang at the Rinjani Information Center (RIC). Each of them has scheduled system to guide and they also have some porters, activities for touring around the village and find the handicraft sales.

The benefit of entry fees and tourism activities can be used for conservation, management, raining and assisting the National Park and to maintain Rinjani Trek, so that need to making sure sustainability. Overseeing and supporting these activities is the Rinjani Trek Management Board, combining the authority of the central government (National Park) and local government (tourism office), with the voices of Lombok tourisms private sector, and the boundary communities. This institutional model is unique in Indonesia and considered an example for practical implementation of the ideals of ecotourism.

How to get to Mount Rinjani ?
You can manage the transport to Senaru or Sembalun Lawang. These two village can be reached by private and charter vehicle, or by public bus. Form the west, catch a bemo to Anyar, from where bemos travel to Senaru about every 20 minutes until 4 pm. If you are coming from, or going to, eastern of Lombok Island, get off at the junction near Bayan (your driver will know it), from where bemos go to Senaru. To Sembalun Lawang and Sembalun Bumbun, from Kali Putih to the north, a few bemos run along the rough road to both villages, usually only in the morning.

Segara Anak Lake
Segara Anak Lake is so wide it appears like the sea with its blue water. The name Segara Anak means child of the sea. Segara Anak Lake holds various mysteries and invisible power.

Eternal Flower or Edelweis
The plant or the flowers should not be taken because it grows in the park and in the mysterious world of the spirit kingdom. In the past, someone who wanted this flower must be brave enough to fight and gamble his soul. That is why the flower is called Sandar Nyawa. The flower has never wilted and is as old as the mysterious spirits.

The Peak of Rinjani
The people of Lombok believe that the peak of Mt. Rinjani is where Dewi Anjani, the queen spirit and ruler of Mt. Rinjani lives. To the south-east from the peak in a sea of dust called Segara Muncar is the invisible palace of the queen Dewi Anjani and her followers.

Mount Baru Jari
Gunung Baru is the name of the new volcano which emerged in the center of Segara Anak Lake. People believe that Gunung Baru is the navel of Mt. Rinjani. That is why if Gunung Baru erupted it will not harm the people of Lombok unless the eruption is from the peak of Mount Rinjani Lombok.

Map Of Mount Rinjani Lombok

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Celebrating The Chinese New Year in Lombok

Admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:34:00 +0000

Lombok is an island with a variety of cultures and religions. These are mingling together to create a fascinating blend of people that is resulting a series of celebrations and festivals throughout the year.

The indigenous Sasak people are the majority population in Lombok island, They practice a moderate form of Islam. In the practice, they often blend Islam with old animist traditions and beliefs that already existed before the advent of organized religion. Besides Sasak people, there are large communities of Balinese who live on the west coast and in the cities. Balinese predecessors settled in Lombok in the 17th century. They still practice their colorful form of Hinduism until these days. Communities of Arab settlers, Bugis seafarers, Christians from Flores and many Chinese whose families have settled throughout Indonesia over the centuries, all live together in harmony on this idyllic island.

Lombok’s Chinese communities celebrated the Chinese New Year in Lombok on January 26. The Chinese immigrants brought beliefs and practices that are incorporated into Chinese New Year celebration in Indonesia. This tradition is still followed and handed down from their parents.

Chinese New Year in Lombok that is also called the spring Festival or the Lunar New Year is very important in the traditional Chinese holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first New Moon in the Chinese calendar (Jan. 26) and ends on the 15th day (called the Lantern Festival), on Feb. 9.

As the Chinese year 2008 was signified as the “Year of the Rat”, 2009 (or the year 4707 in the Chinese calendar), begins the “Year of the Earth Ox”.

The celebration of Chinese New Year in Lombok was under restrictive Indonesian laws that made it a unique event. There was no Chinese celebration or Chinese national holidays were allowed to be celebrated in public. It is only 2002 that Chinese New Year was officially admitted and declared as a public holiday in Indonesia. That’s why, last year in Lombok, the Chinese New Year in Lombok celebration was a fantastic cultural performance.

Sahara Restaurant & Club and The Lombok Guide were responsible to organize the event. It was originally planned to be a small inaugural celebration that performing a dragon dance through the centre of Senggigi beach. However, it got bigger and merrier. We must give thanks to the amazing skills and performance of a not famous Barongsai or Dragon/Lion dance group based in Lombok.

From the hotel, the Barongsai troupe progressed to Sahara Restaurant & Club in Senggigi Plaza. A large crowd of local Indonesians, tourist and resident Chinese were already waiting there. Accompanied by drumming and traditional music, a wonderful Lion dance was performed in front of 100 people. It has been a part of tradition for the Chinese to feed traditional red envelopes containing money into the mouth of the hungry dragon. It is believed that the Barongsai bring good luck on New Year and red envelopes are traditionally offered to the Barongsai when they visit.

The hotel in Senggigi Beach Lombok was the starting point of the Chinese New Year Celebration. The hotel itself held a special Chinese buffet and New Year party, where the guest were shown an amazing demonstration of traditional and modern Chinese martial arts performed by some top athletes who were all trained in Lombok. The highlight of the evening was the Lion Dance, performed by two agile and highly entertaining “lions”, in a skilful display of athleticism and theater.

From Senggigi Plaza, the parade went on to Senggigi Jaya supermarket for blessing and envelopes.. And then it continued along the main street of Senggigi. A crowd of excited spectators followed them to Restaurant Taman Sari. The surprised restaurant guests were spoiled with another amazing performance of barongsai dance. The procession then danced and drummed their way to Square Restaurant in Senggigi Square, where another New Year celebration was taking place. After that, they marched way back down main street and home. It was the first highly successful Chinese New Year celebration in Senggigi that brought a diverse range of people and cultures blending together in harmony.

This year, many of Lombok’s hotels already made preparation for the celebration. They offered special packages to welcome Chinese New Year in Lombok. Don’t forget to check the buffet theme dinners that will serve you delicious Chinese foods. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky to be able to feed a friendly dragon or lion when it dances its way into the New Year.

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