Thursday, March 12, 2009

Lombok island - the perfect holiday in the sun



The island of Lombok is located east of Bali island and can be easily accessed by air or by sea. Tourism is not quite as developed yet as Bali and it is that reason which makes Lombok the perfect getaway.
Escape to picturesque mountainside landscapes to white sand beaches of the Gili Islands. A place to relax and unwind from the daily life back home.

Lombok also has the third largest volcano in all of Indonesia, Mount Rinjani, which extends 3726 meters high with a crater lake called Segara Anak.


Mt. Rinjani is one of the largest mountains in Indonesia. On a clear day you can see break taking views from the summit. There is a crater lake, Segara Anak and a natural hot springs there. The trek usually takes about three days and it is advised to go with an experienced guide.


The main season here are wet season which starts from November to May and dry season start from May-October. The best time to come is in the month of May when the weather is just perfect with bright daylight and green scen

The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks. They speak Indonesian as well as their local Sasak language. The other main ethnicity’s include Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese.

Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok. The majority of the population on Lombok are Muslims. Every Friday around 12.30 noon, Muslims go to the mosques j
Visitor can explore the tiny island by using various kind of transportation such as: Chartered/Car Hire, Taxi, Bus, Bemo/Angkot (local’s public transportation) and Motorcycle.

There are plenty of activities you can do to complete your holiday. Sightseeing or touring organized by reputable local tour operators is the best option to discover what Lombok has to offer. Renting a car or motor cycle is also good alternative to get around, either self-driving, or with a driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. Car rental in Lombok is more expensive than Bali. Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or diner. If you are pleased with service, tip the driver or local guide at the end. If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all costs.

Senggigi
Senggigi is the most developed area for tourists on Lombok. You can find a variety of restaurants, bars, discotheques, travel agents, photo processors, money changers, souvenir shop and a range of accommodations starting from budget guest house to 5 star hotels. Restaurants and small cafes line the colorful main beach road. Swimming off the beach is safe.

Most visitors to Lombok usually start their stay at Senggigi, Lombok's most famous resort area. Private villas, boutique hotels giving more options to the visitors of Lombok

The town of Senggigi spreads out along nearly 10 kilometers of coastal road. This road continues north to Bangsal, port for the Gili Islands. Along the way be in store for winding turns, steep hills, and a fantastic scenery of the coast.

Senggigi bay area, is much cooler than Bali. Senggigi is a four-kilometer strip of beach front, restaurants, and luxury resorts. Located about half an hour ride by car from the airport, it was first established and developed as a tourists area in 1986 by the Indonesian government.

The majority of the four- and five-star hotels in the island are located here. Its fame comes mostly from the breathtaking view of its bay facing the Lombok strait, which is also paralleled by the lush hills that blow a cool breeze to the whole Senggigi area.


The simple pleasure of sunshine, white sandy beaches in quieter settings, unique culture, and eco tours makes Lombok a perfect getaway for honeymooners, families or those who look for a total relaxing holiday



Surfing In Lombok
KUTA BEACH & SOUTH LOMBOK


The best-known place on the south coast is Lombok's Kuta Beach (Sometime spelt Kute Beach) a magnificent stretch of white sand and blue sea with rugged hills rising around it, famous for its surfing spots.

Kuta Beach Lombok attract visitors for its beautiful virgin beaches and surfing spots. Surfers from all over the world find Kuta Lombok as a surfer paradise. South coast of Lombok is famous for the high waves and Kuta Lombok is a good base for the surfers.

Many visitors come back year after year to surf the famous Kuta waves. Whether you are an experienced surfer or a beginner you will find the surf spot for you. Surf boards & boogie boards are available to rent or bring your own. You will need transport to the waves from Kuta, most guests choose to rent motorcycles which come with a special surf rack attached.

People usually head out to south Lombok for the best waves. Kuta Beach Lombok has white sandy beaches with good reef breaks.

You will need to take a boat to reach most spots. Another famous surfing spot is Bangko bangko, or known by most surfers as "Desert Point".
Like Bali, it has a beautiful surfing beach named Kuta. But unlike Kuta in Bali, which is densely populated with hotels ranging from the local inns to the five-star hotels, the Kuta beach in Lombok is remote and ideal for honeymooners. There is only one five-star hotel there where most up-market tourists stay.

Near the beach are several Sasak villages where the native Sasak people live. Their ancestors migrated to the island from the ancient Hindu Majapahit Kingdom in East Java at the end of the 14th century. Though the majority of the Sasak today are Moslems, anthropologists have noted that their language, songs, and dances show a strong link with the Hindu and Buddhist cultures that once dominated the Indonesian archipelago



Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

The Gili Islands is where everyone goes to dive and snorkel. Clear blue-green waters with abundant undersea life. There are many professional dive shops on the Gili’s with certified dive masters. The most popular ones are Blue Marlin, Dream Divers, Trawangan Dive, Dive Indonesia, Blue Coral, and Manta Dive. Trips are from beginners to advanced. A note of caution if snorkeling alone due to strong currents.

the sasak traditional costume
Lombok has great woven textiles like songkets and ikats that can be used as a sarong, wall hanging, table cloth and more. The design woven is special to each weaver and it is passed down through the generations before. There is a traditional hand weaving village in Puyung, central Lombok. You can even try on a traditional Sasak costume.
peaceful lombok countryside

Banyumulek (West Lombok), Penujak (Central Lombok) and Masbagik (East Lombok) are famous villages in Lombok for making pottery. Lombok pottery has gained popularity and is shipped throughout the world. There is a wide range of selections and it can custom made to your liking. We hope to develop the economy of the area by directly meet them with serious buyer from all over the world.

There are many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e. wooden masks, baskets made out of ketak grass, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.


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3 comments:

1589jaipur said...

1589 Boutique hotels and restaurant. A comfort stay at jaipur

Unknown said...

kapan bisa maen lagi ke lombok ya....udah lama ga maen kesana....

Dodi Sudrajat said...

bener bener alami tempatnya..
saya suka..
smoga Lombok menjadi tempat wisata yang terkenal di seluruh dunia.