Hotels Lombok

Harga | Tarif Jayakarta | hotel di Lombok

2011-10-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Hotel Jayakarta Lombok

Jayakarta Hotel Lombok, terletak di 5 hektar taman lanskap tepat di pantai indah Meninting, Senggigi, sekitar 10 menit berkendara dari Bandara Selaparang di Lombok. Jayakarta Hotel Lombok menyajikan layanan kamar (room service) masakan Eropah & masakan Indonesia tersedia 24 jam.
Suranadi Coffee Shop membuka sepanjang waktu, menawarkan internasional dan spesialisasi makanan laut. Selain itu tersedia seafood corner dan pizza. Hotel Jayakarta Lombok terletak di taman tropis yang indah tepat di depan pantai. Sebuah kolam renang besar yang unik berbentuk di Jayakarta Hotel Lombok mengundang Anda untuk berenang dan bar kolam renang akan menyediakan Anda dengan pendingin menyegarkan.

Kamar Hotel Jayakarta Hotel Lombok:

Standard room
The Standard room di Jayakarta Hotel Lombok faciliteated dan fasilitas dengan pengkondisian udara, jam alarm, sarapan termasuk dalam harga, kabel Film Channel, pembuat kopi, telepon saluran langsung, tempat tidur ekstra, Gunung / Garden View, layanan binatu, mini bar,
Kamar Mandi & WC pribadi, TV satelit, televisi, balkon, Kulkas, Dressing, teh dan pembuat kopi, pengering rambut (berdasarkan permintaan), meja kerja, telepon nirkabel, dan Bathtub shower
Deluxe room
Ruang Deluxe di Jayakarta Hotel Lombok difasilitasi dan fasilitas kecerdasan AC, telepon saluran langsung, mini bar, Kamar Mandi Pribadi & WC, TV satelit, televisi, balkon, pembuat teh dan kopi, shower, Bathtub
Cottage
Jenis Cottage di Jayakarta Hotel Lombok faciltated dan fasilitas dengan penyejuk udara, Sarapan termasuk dalam harga, pembuat kopi, telepon saluran langsung, Layanan laundry, mini bar, Kamar Mandi Pribadi & WC, TV satelit, Sea View, Teras, televisi,
Balkon, Kulkas, teh dan kopi, pengering rambut (berdasarkan permintaan), Sandal, shower, Bathtub
Junior Suite
Tipe Junior Suite di Jayakarta Hotel Lombok difasilitasi dan fasilitas dengan penyejuk udara, Jam alarm, Mandi, Sarapan termasuk dalam harga, pembuat kopi, telepon saluran langsung, pengering rambut, layanan binatu, mini bar, Kamar Mandi Pribadi & WC, kotak Keselamatan, satelit TV, Sea View, Sofa Bed, Teras, televisi, balkon, microwave, Kulkas
Dapur, teh dan kopi pembuat, DVD,

Fasilitas Hotel Jayakarta Lombok

Olahraga dan Rekreasi
Layanan dan Fasilitas
Tempat Bunga
Dining & Hiburan
Ruang serba guna & Fasilitas Konferensi

Senggigi Beaches Lombok Destinations

2010-07-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Senggigi region is the main tourist destination on Lombok and is centred around the beach town of Senggigi on the West coast of the island of Lombok.

The Senggigi region is formed by several different nearby areas all lying along the same two-lane coastal road. The exact boundaries of each area can seem rather ill-defined. While pockets of development can be found in some areas, long stretches of open undeveloped land lie in between. Nightlife and major restaurants are concentrated in the central township of Senggigi. The first time visitor should be aware of these distinct regional differences. Simply booking a hotel in Senggigi could mean a relatively remote location where the town centre can only be reached by taxi or public transport.

Mangsit — a little to the north of Senggigi township it has a well established hotel strip running along a long tranquil sweeping beach with traditional outrigger boats resting on the sand. Mangsit is the gateway to the northern area of activities at Gili Islands, Tanjung and Mount Rinjani. It has well established resort hotel choices but few other tourist activities, such as shopping and nightlife. Mangsit can be quickly and conveniently reached from the center of Senggigi by taxi or public bemo.

Kerangdangan — in a large quiet bay to the immediate north of the Senggigi township with some rental villa's in the valley behind the beach.

Senggigi (center) — not a typical tourist resort town, such as may be found in Bali where a day can be spent shopping and socializing at the local bars and restaurants. However there are enough bars, pool tables, TV screens with sports broadcasts, relaxing lounge areas and beach side restaurants to keep people occupied should that be their focus. Many visitors use Senggigi as a home base and take day trips to the waterfalls, the Gili Islands, or just go exploring the still authentic villages, temples, and forest habitat found within a couple hours drive.

Batu Bolong — is to the immediate south of Senggigi and has a sparsely spread out collection of hotels, cafes, restaurants, several karaoke style establishments and a large barn like nightclub all situated along the coast road. A smaller restaurant and hotel strip is concentrated at the Senggigi end. It feels in the most part like a southern satellite extension of the Senggigi township. In the valley behind Batu Bolong is a large housing complex catering to both Indonesian and expatriate long term residents and visitors. Taxis, or Bemo if during daylight hours, give very quick access the center of Senggigi.

Both Mangsit and Batu Bolong are more focused on the hotels situated along their respective beach fronts where at night the centre of Senggigi has a more lively street feel to it with live music playing and people moving about from one venue to another.

Lombok's tourism sector has had a difficult past decade and tourism activity in Senggigi went through a very subdued period with many developments halted and businesses closed. Recently things have been starting to improve again, with a few new villas going up and new shops and tourism ventures opening. Senggigi is now becoming increasingly popular with visitors seeking out the stunning scenery and unique culture and flavours of Lombok.

Jayakarta Lombok Hotel On the untouched Natural Senggigi Beaches

2010-07-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

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Senggigi Beach is a famous tourist spot in Lombok. It is located on the western coast of Lombok Island. Senggigi Beach is not as big as Kuta Beach in Bali, but once we were here will feel like staying in Kuta Beach, Bali. Coastal beaches are still beautiful, although there are still littered with trash because the leaves
are rarely cleaned. Very beautiful underwater scenery, and tourists can do snorkling much as you like because the wave is not too large. It is also available hotels with prices ranging from expensive to budget hotel.

Jayakarta Hotel Lombok is one of the prestigious hotels in Senggigi beach Lombok, this comfortable hotel is lying on untouched natural beauty of Lombok

Altogether Jayakarta Lombok Beach Resort & Spa featuring 171 rooms. In Jayakarta Lombok Beach Resort & Spa expanded 4 storey floor new wing, we have 95 rooms that include 12 Junior Suites, which overlooking pool & ocean view with private balcony, wooden floor, living room and kitchenette with microwave. At the other side, 2-story cottages have 76 rooms consist of 4 Jayakarta Suites, which feature private balcony and living room.

All rooms are equipped with IDD telephone, radio, mini-bar, air conditioner, hairdryer, remote control television featuring TV cable & in-room movies and tea/coffee-making facilities.

The accommodation guest room ranging from type Standard garden, deluxe garden, cottage beach front, Junior suite, Jayakarta Suite

Thousands Tourist Ready to Visit Komodo National Park

2010-07-22T05:30:00.001-07:00

At least 24 000 tourists from various countries was reported to have signed up to join the delegation that will visit the Komodo National Park in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Tourist it will come gradually with boarded a cruise ship in the coming months. The number is expected to increase after the dragons began to overseas media reported as a candidate seven wonders of the world.

Support Section Head of Culture and Tourism Promotion Agency (BUDPAR) NTT Bonaventure M Rumat in Kupang on Friday (15 / 7), said that tourists visit in large numbers was only
The first time this has happened in the Komodo National Park.

That is why the government hoped their arrival at the same time help promote dragons all over the world. "This is a great opportunity for Indonesia to have a visit of foreign tourists in large amounts," he said.

Komodo increasingly known to the world community after nominated in seven wonders of the world. Currently dragons are in sequence to 20 from 28 nominees seven wonders of the world. He barharap support the Indonesian people and the world of dragons rising dragons in order to raise ratings.

Komodo competing with strong nominations as the Amazon River in Brazil and an underground river in the Philippines in Group E the forest / national parks, nature reserve. Nominator seven wonders of the world is divided into seven groups namely group (A) landscape / ice formation, (B) Island, (C) mountain / vulcanoes, (D) cave / rock formation / valley, (E) forest / national parks, nature reserve , (F) Lakes / Rivers / Waterfalls, and (G) Seascape.

He said that if elected in dragons became one of the seven kejaiban world, the tourists who visit there would be increased. Thus, bring in foreign exchange for the country.

Anticipating a flood of tourists to the Komodo dragon, the government has built four-star hotel in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai regency capital. Among Jayakarta Suites Komodo Hotel Flores and Hotel Bintang Flores.

Diving Tours in Komodo Island

2010-07-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

Sea around the island of Komodo offers brilliant colors and exotic marine life. This makes it great fascination for divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. If you're one of them, this sea area should be explored.
When diving in the waters around Komodo Island, you can see the collection of fish into waterways rushing up from deep sea vents. Meanwhile, the sea floor left by the hordes of fish is covered with a thick fluorescent corals and marine invertebrates. This also makes it a paradise for underwater photographers.

Pure coral reefs in Komodo Island Mantas filled with stingrays, sharks, turtles, dolphins, dugongs, Pelagic, seahorses, nudibranchs, frog fish, and various other fish species.

Water surrounding the island is filled with turmoil and the unique marine life. A marine reserve has recently also been set up and most of these reserves have been documented but not yet investigated.

You can find sites that vary in these waters ranging from reef slopes gently up in the area that will create a heart pounding and warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to cooler waters in the southern Indian Ocean.

Underwater plateau varies with the wall of cliffs, peaks, plateaus under water, slopes, caves, and various channels that have a variety of colors and sizes and various types of hard and soft corals.

Some interesting dive sites around Komodo Island sea is Angel Island, Sabolon, and Batu Bolong. Each has its uniqueness and of course have the underwater scenery is very beautiful.

Water temperature at the dive sites range from 20-28 degrees Celsius and the southern site has a colder temperature. 3mm wetsuit is recommended when enjoying the beautiful view with a rare view of 10-50 feet throughout the year.

For a more amazing experience, you can perform a dive at night. When you do, you'll see the beauty of color and diversity of life is more amazing. More information about diving around you can see in www.floreskomodo.com.

Komodo Island which is also the Komodo National Park (KNP) was established in 1980 and declared a World Heritage site in 1986.

KNP includes three major islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, and several smaller islands. If the combined total land area of the island has 41 000 hectares while the area covering 132 thousand hectares of waters.

To get to the dive sites, you can use the services of the prevailing daily flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo Komodo Airport or to Airport. Each will take 1.5 hours

Three Gili "World Village" in Lombok Sea

2010-07-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is the "world village" post-Bali. This was the nickname for the three earthen sights or a small island located in Gili Indah Village, District Pemenang, West Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

This title can be proved through the existence of a number of star hotels are generally owned by foreign investors who work together with local residents as the land owner. Three coastal Gili, Trawangan, Meno, and Air, also dominated by young tourists from abroad, who tour the small island that is still clean from the pollution and separated from the island of Lombok.

The atmosphere of "world village" is very strong in Trawangan. This is indicated from the language used by tourists, such as German, French, Spanish, and Japanese; even a small group of tourists who communicates with the language of Lebanon. Nevertheless, the English-speaking travelers who are more dominant.

Not as busy as Kuta, Bali, indeed, but Ali and Khalil, both descendants of Swedish tourists Lebanese citizen, admitted Trawangan entertained with the atmosphere. "Here the atmosphere of calm, natural, no pollution, I like it," said Ali, who along with 12 colleagues stayed for three days in mid January.

On Gili Trawangan not allowed to use motorized vehicles. Which allowed only Cidomo (typically vehicles), horses and bicycles bailer. Transportation is rented out to tourists who want to walk around the island area of 338 hectares of it.

Gili Trawangan is located in the western row of choice because it has a more complete facilities, such as lodging, nightclubs, and other means of communication and transportation that almost all day to serve local residents or tourists from Port Ward, Pemenang of the Village, to Gili Trawangan, Gili included Water that was in the easternmost row.

Gili Meno

Somewhat different from Gili Meno, sandwiched between two neighboring islands, facilities and infrastructure supporting the complete lack of atmosphere despite the surrounding environment is relatively quiet and peaceful Meno, might be appropriate for family tourism.

Of the three Gili, tourists can enjoy the sunrise over Mount Rinjani, past sunset, and Mount Agung in Bali, as well as many nautical attractions are popular, such as diving and snorkeling. There are marine parks Meno Wall, a steep cliff walls in between Meno and Trawangan, which can be witnessed at a depth of 15 meters.

Gili Meno lake also features a "natural" salt water, as well as stopover areas where migratory birds, various types and colors of ornamental fish, such as tiger fish, blue moon, and fish of leadership-leadership that went out of coral reefs. The divers were brought bread to be included in the mineral water bottle. When in water, the bread is sprayed in order to attract the attention of the ornamental fish.

Unless ribbon coral and finger coral, almost everywhere in the waters there are three earthen blue coral reef. Blue coral reef into the genus Acropora. The blue color is caused Zooxanthela pigment color or single-celled algae living in blue and coral symbiosis in the network. The atmosphere was like blue coral in the Caribbean Sea.

Want to test the guts? Try to ride boats to about 100 yards south-west of Gili Trawangan. There, in addition to existing fish and ornamental fish, lion fish, cuttlefish, there is also a shark point, the nest of white tip sharks at depths of 25-30 meters. For those who follow the course dive, this location shall be visited. If reluctant wet, there are glass bottom boat translucent floor.

Towards Gili
All roads lead to it dike. If just a quick tour or "eye wash", can be chartered boat from Senggigi tourist attraction, West Lombok, the rent is Rp 350 000-Rp. 550 000. Senggigi-Trawangan taken about 60 minutes by boat.

Ride public transportation to Port of Senggigi Ward, Pemenang of the Village-Gili entrance to the three-was another alternative. Conditions in this lane paved road hotmix, with uphill terrain and coastal region as well as tracing the curve at a particular place from a distance it looks clusters of three Gilis.

May also ride public transportation from Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara, to Port Ward. On the way, the tourists stop off in the surrounding area Pusuk Forest, playing with the gray ape community and then taste the sweet palm sap that peddled on the streets.

Also look at all the red sugar production process made people around the forest area, from taking sugar palm water on the tree until the java process into sugar.

Three earthen comparative advantage becomes a magnet which tourists enjoy, among businesses, and community. Only, promote the economic calculations are achieved and then ignore the fact exacerbate the environmental aspects of environmental issues in the last two decades was felt by the public. If you fail to maintain the environmental attractiveness of the three Gilis, then undoubtedly "world village" was left by travelers.

Hi Guys, This Gili Trawangan Lombok

2010-07-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

The party never seemed to stop on Gili Trawangan. Tuesday at the Blue Marlin on Wednesday at Sama sama the Cafe, and Saturday at Rudy's Bar. Night and day, both fun.

At the end of the night, the Blue Marlin added crowded. Dum ... dum ... dum, electronic music sounded deafening clatter. Twinkling lights and the tourists are mostly white dance fun. Hubbub that ended just before the morning.

Not far from Blue Marlin Cafe Equally hold rock music. Approximately 20 foreign tourists booked to sing along songs, rocking, and cuddling. That night, Monday (21/06/2010), there's a Norwegian girl's birthday. He also was asked to be the queen of the night. Visitors toast for her and she laughed happily.

On page Manta Cafe, hundreds of foreign tourists to watch World Cup matches together between Portugal and North Korea. They like not playing when Ronaldo and friends 7-0 crushing of North Korea.

That was the atmosphere in the entrance area Trawangan Gili Indah Village, District Pamenang, North Lombok. Small island separated from mainland Lombok sea is almost never slept. Fun at the end of the night it continued until the morning, afternoon, until evening the next day.

When the morning sun was shining and the fog had faded, the foreign tourists flocked to the beach. There who want to sunbathe while reading a book on the white sandy beaches, snorkeling in clear blue sea water, surfing, diving, cycling, horse riding, up Cidomo surrounding area of 338 hectares of small islands, seeing the turtles hatch, or watch migrating birds, sipping that has not been polluted air.

Morning, evening change, foreign tourists were moved to the western part Trawangan. They gathered in front of the Sun Set Bar to watch the sun sink slowly accompanied by the song "Desert Rose" Sting's, Tuesday (06/22/2010). The tourists were probably no longer need to dream of a rose in the desert as in the lyrics of that song on the white sand Trawangan because they get a "paradise".

"Here it lovely and fun. Even better, it all seemed within grasp. Like a small paradise," said Edeline (22), blond-haired woman from Germany.

The night comes again. The tourists drink and dinner at the seaside restaurant before partying again until morning.

Global village

Gili Trawangan is pampering tourists who come. The island is relatively isolated from the city. Want to party till the morning there was no banning.

Natural beauty and clearances in the end to suck thousands of foreign tourists from several countries to this island every year. Foreign tourist peak usually falls from June until September. At that time, a small island which became the main destination for tourists was transformed into a global village. In the streets, cafes, hotels, and beaches, white-skinned people from some countries dominate. Like not in Indonesia alone.

Gili Indah village chief Taufik said, holiday peak season, every day the island was visited by foreign tourists 750-1000. They stayed an average of three days. "Sometimes, foreign tourists are here more numerous than the local population that only 1529 people," he said.

Language that sounds more British, French, German, or Italian. In fact, Gili Trawangan own young children now use more English. "Hi, guys," they greet anyone who is younger.

"My friend there who are not fluent in Indonesian, but her English is excellent," said Tohri, Manager Sama sama Cafe.

Some people may not suspect Trawangan island will be so crowded tourists. Taufik told, until the 1970s, the island is known as a place to exile criminals and place Bugis fishermen find fish. The island was then inhabited by people and growing.

In the mid-1990s, said Firdaus Zakaria (38), Trawangan residents, tourism activities began to grow. Tourists began to arrive, a simple inn also emerged. Tourism in the island's increasingly shines when diving companies that bring in more foreign tourists began to appear.

Attracted foreign tourists visiting the beauty Trawangan. Some stay longer and eventually established diving company, opened a hotel, cottage, or a bar where the party lasted until morning.

Dum ... dum ... dum. We partied all the time ... dum dum dum ...

Translated from : http://travel.kompas.com/read/2010/07/11/08561593/Hi.Guys..Ini.Gili.Trawangan

Variety of Tourism in Labuan Bajo Flores

2010-07-07T22:50:00.000-07:00

Aternoon the sunlight entering through a large hole in the cave. Light then bounces on the stone wall that reflects little light to other areas in the cave like a mirror. This is what you will see when visiting the site Batu Cermin.

Batu Cermin is actually a tunnel or a dark cave in the rock Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. This cave is located to the east of the port of Labuan Bajo, about four miles from downtown.

Around the forest there are also caves where you can find a long-tailed monkeys and wild boar. This is one tour that will impress you from the various attractions in Labuan Bajo

Almost all the interesting sites in Labuan Bajo on the islands situated overlooking the harbor. Mostly empty and you can go there to sunbathe, scuba dive or snorkel.

Some of the islands you can go to Angel Island that has such a beautiful beach for sunbathing. Sea around the island is also good for snorkeling and diving.

Kanawa and Small Island steamers are also good for snorkeling and diving. In addition, Serayu Island has white sand and beautiful coral.

To explore every place on the mainland of Flores, you can use a rental car from the Airport of Labuan Bajo. Prices depend on your negotiation, but usually around 500 thousand per day. Hotels can also help you find a rental car.

While for mobility in the city, you can use bemo (traditional public transport) and motor taxis are available, but they only operate until 21:00 pm.

If you want to visit nearby islands such as Komodo or Rinca, rent a motor boat and speed boat are also available at the port of Labuan Bajo.

For visiting Labuan Bajo, every day there are 2-3 flights from Bali with TransNusa, IAT (Indonesia Air Transport), and Pigeon. In addition, there are two flights a week from Kupang.

Motor boats between islands of West Nusa Tenggara Sape also available daily (weather permitting), and ships from Bali and Lombok Pelni also stopped at the port of Labuan Bajo every two weeks.

When visiting here, make sure you bring anti-mosquito lotion and anti-malaria medicines because of Labuan Bajo is a malaria endemic area. When the dry season, there's a good idea to carry sunscreen lotion, hats and sunglasses, because here the weather can be very hot.

Indonesia Promote Komodo in Asean

2010-07-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Indonesian promote Komodo to participants in meetings of senior level Head of National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), the ASEAN region which runs from June 29 until July 3 at the Sheraton Hotel, Senggigi, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

On occasion, the Indonesian Komodo dragon that is trying to promote one of the nominees for The New 7 Wonder of Nature with a way to provide laptops, counters and flyers for the participants to provide support for Komodo Vote program.

The participants of the meeting of them are from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were also present in addition to representatives from Japan, China, Korea, India and UNEP.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture and Partiwisata Wardiyatmo said, Lombok chosen as the location of the meeting as well as to help promote the program Visit Lombok, Sumbawa (NTB) in 2012 also seeks to promote the Komodo.

As is known to Komodo National Park (KNP) is now one of 28 finalists for The New 7 Wonder of Nature (7 Natural Wonders of the New World). Voting will last until 2011.

TNK Diharapan become one of the seven wonders of the New World of Nature which will be determined by the number of online votes from the voters in the entire world. Selection is done through the website www.new7wonders.com.

Dozens Country Dance Contest Involve

2010-07-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

International dance competitions in 2010 in West Nusa Tenggara Lombok or "Lombok International Dance Championships 2010", 2 to July 4, 2010, will be followed by a dancer than a dozen countries.

"Eligible participants from dozens of countries and it would boost tourist arrivals to this region," said Head of Culture and Tourism of West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB) Gita Aryadi Then, in Mataram, Monday.

He said, like "Lombok International Dance Championships 2009" held June 21, 2009, the world-class dancer competing in the international arena was a good dance Ballroom and Latin categories.

World-class amateur dancer who won the "Amateur Ten Dances" in Paris, France in 2008, the Eldar and Anna Dzafarov Sazhin from Azerbaijan (Europe), is rumored to be present in the dance competition.

"Hopefully, a professional dancer as a world-class professional dance partner from Russia, Evgeny Ryupin and Yana Pokrovskaya, who has won several dance competitions in Europe and has become one of the world's best dance partner, will be participating in a race," he said.

Also expected, other professional dance partner as from Hong Kong which Alexander and Irina Zhiratkov and Professional Champions Slovenia, Domen and Monica Krepez, will also take part in the "Lombok International Dance Championships 2010" is.

International dance competitions held in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara dance was held by the organization of the world or the World Dance Council (WDC), which collaborated with the Indonesian Indonesian dance organizations Ballroom Dancing Council (ICBD) based in Jakarta.

But usually the implementation of international dance competitions were handed over to the event organizer PT International Dance Indonesia (IDI).

Implementation of international dance competitions were also received support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (the ministry) of Indonesia, Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Department of Culture and Tourism of West Nusa Tenggara and the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) NTB.

Support also comes from tourism in NTB actors such as The Santosa Hotel and Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa.

International dance competitions in Lombok in this year is the number-six activities are held each every year since 2004 and has been scheduled in the calendar of tourism value added.

"Even the international dance was part of a WDC in sports activities as well as the activities of the dance show,` `International Holiday & Dance that was held to attract tourists to come to Lombok," said Aryadi

Translated from : http://oase.kompas.com/read/2010/06/14/19221694/Lomba.Dansa.Libatkan.Belasan.Negara-3

Lombok International Airport Ready for Operation

2010-07-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

A spokesman for Vice President Boediono, Yopie Hidayat, said the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara has been reported to the vice president of development in Lombok International Airport development. Currently, its readiness has already reached 95 percent.

"It is expected later this year are already in operation," said Yopie Airport after attending the meeting in the Vice Presidential Palace, Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

Lombok International Airport development, Yopie said, had hampered by problems of land to build access roads to the airport. "The inhibiting classical, land acquisition," said the former Chief Editor of this Kontan. The access road from Mataram to the airport is 19.9 miles long.

However, according to Yopie, Governor of NTB reported land acquisition can be completed starting today. "The governor said, starting today is clear," said Yopie.

Making access road to the airport is also scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Access plans will be made two-lane road, each seven meters wide. "Until the end of the year at least one lane is finished," said Yopie.

Before the International Airport, the flow of tourists who use the air route to reach 1.7 million passengers every year. Construction of new airport is expected to anticipate the number of tourists increasing to Lombok

translated from: http://bisnis.vivanews.com/news/read/157806-bandara-internasional-lombok-siap-operasi

American Hospitality Sues Trademark Cancellation Holiday Resort Lombok

2010-07-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

Six Continents Hotels Inc., the corporate hospitality (hospitality) American origin known to litigants in the middle of the Central Jakarta Commercial Court. The company is suing a local hospitality company,
PT Lombok Seaside Holiday Resort Lombok related brands. Brand owners as Holdiay Inn and Holiday Inn Resort, Six Continents Hotels objection for trademark registration Seaside Holiday Resort Lombok property.

Therefore, Six Continents Hotels through its legal counsel from the office of George Wijdojo & Partners asked the court to cancel a trademark registration Seaside Holiday Resort Lombok property. "We requested the cancellation of the brand Holiday Resort," said George Widjojo, Six Continents Hotels attorney, Tuesday (22 / 6).

In its lawsuit No.41/Merek/2010/PN.NIAGA.JKT.PST. Six Continents Hotels explicitly objected to the use of the word Seaside Holiday Lombok used to brand the hotel as it is the essential part of Six Continents Hotels brand. Holiday word usage can lead to a public impression as if the brand Holiday Resort Lombok have a relationship with Six Continents Hotels.

Company based in Atlanta, the United States was claiming exclusive owner of the mark, the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Resort. Both brands have been registered in various negara.Tidak including in Indonesia, Holday Inn brand is registered in the Directorate General of Intellectual Property since January 29, 1987 and extended several times. Last under agenda No. R 00 2007 000 232 on January 9, 2007 in class 16. While for the Holiday Inn Resort brand registered on 26 September 1994 with No.DM000074788 to protect the brand in the field of hotel services.

While they have registered Seaside Lombok Holiday Resort Lombok on February 15, 2007 under No.IDM000110726 and March 28, 2007 under No.. IDM00115786 among others, to protect the class of advertising services and business management of the hotel. At the same time on March 28, 2007, marks the Holiday Resort Lombok is also listed under No.IDM000115785 to protect class hospitality services.

Use of the word used by the Lombok Holiday Seaside is blamed by Six Continents Hotels is used with the aim only to hitchhike his fame Holiday Inn brand. Subsidiary Intercontinental Hotels Group Plc is asking the court to cancel a trademark registration Holiday Resort Lombok and simultaneously declare Six Continents Hotels is the sole owner of the brand Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Resort.

Translated from: http://www.kontan.co.id/index.php/nasional/news/39218/Raksasa-Perhotelan-Amerika-Gugat-Pembatalan-Merek-Holiday-Resort

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts introduces the ‘Oberoi Advantage’ offer

2010-06-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts introduces the ‘Oberoi Advantage’ offer that rewards guests with a complimentary stay at an award-winning Oberoi leisure hotel in India, Indonesia, Mauritius or Egypt.

After five stays at any one or a combination of Oberoi hotels in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, guests can enjoy a complimentary two-night stay at some of the world’s best leisure hotels. The complimentary stay includes accommodation for two consecutive nights in a standard double room, all taxes and an additional room for up to two children below twelve years of age, subject to availability. Guests may avail of the complimentary stay at any of the following Oberoi leisure hotels:

India: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra; The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur; The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur; The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore; The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla and Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas; Mauritius: The Oberoi; Indonesia: The Oberoi, Lombok and The Oberoi, Bali; Egypt: The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh, Red Sea and Mena House Oberoi, Cairo.

The ‘Oberoi Advantage’ offer is valid until 31 October 2010. For reservations call 011 2389 0606 or toll free, or visit www.oberoihotels.com.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Oberoi-Hotels---Resorts-introduces-the--Oberoi-Advantage--offer/639479/

Mount Rinjani Lombok

2010-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Mount Rinjani or Gunung Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia on the island of Lombok West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). It rises to 3,726 meters (12,224 ft), making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia, and similar in height to Mount Fuji.
The first historical eruption occurred in September 1847. The most recent eruption of Mount Rinjani was in May 2010 and the most recent significant eruptions occurred during a spate of activity from 1994 to 1995 which resulted in the further development of Gunung Barujari. (G.Baru).

Historical eruptions at Rinjani dating back to 1847 have been restricted to Barujari cone and the Rombongan dome (in 1944) and consist of moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows that have entered Segara Anak lake.

The eruptive history of Rinjani prior to 1847 is not available as the island of Lombok is in a location that remained very remote to the record keeping of the era.

The 6 km by 8.5 km oval-shaped caldera is filled partially by the crater lake known as Segara Anak ('Child of the Sea') This lake is approximately 2000 metres above sea level and estimated at being around 200 metres deep; the caldera also contains hot springs.

The Rinjani caldera forming eruption is thought to have occurred in the 13th century. Eruption rate, eruption sites, eruption type and magma composition have changed during the last 10,000 years before the caldera forming eruption. The eruptions of 1994 and 1995 have presented at Gunung Baru (or 'New Mountain' - approximately 2300 meters above sea level) in the center of this caldera and lava flows from subsequent eruptions have entered the lake. This cone has since been renamed Mount Barujari (or 'New Finger Mountain').

The highlands are forest clad and mostly undeveloped. The lowlands are highly cultivated. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, cacao, cloves, cassava, corn, coconuts, copra, bananas and vanilla are the major crops grown in the fertile soils of the island. The slopes are populated by the indigenous Sasak population. There are also some basic tourist related activities established on Rinjani primarily in or about the village of Senaru.

The volcano and the caldera are protected by the Gunung Rinjani National Park established in 1997. Tourism is increasingly popular with trekkers able to visit the rim, make their way into the caldera or even to make the more arduous climb to the highest point; fatalities, however, are not uncommon. In July 2009 the summit route was closed due to volcanic activity at that time and subsequently reopened when the activity decreased. During early 2010 up to and including May 2010 access to Rinjani was at times again restricted due to volcanic activity.

On 3 November 1994, a cold lahar (volcanic mudflow) from the summit area of Rinjani volcano traveled down the Kokok Jenggak River killing thirty people from the village of Aikmel who were caught by surprise when collecting water from the river in the path of the flow.

In connection with the eruption of the cone Gunung Barujari the status for Gunung Rinjani has been raised from Normal (VEI Level 1) to 'be vigilant' (VEI Level 2) since May 2, 2009 . In May 2010 Gunung Rinjani was placed in the standby status by Center for Volcanology & Geological Hazard Mitigation, Indonesia with a recommendation that there be no activity within a radius of 4 km from the eruption at Gunung Barujari.

Dance Competition in 2010 Will Be Held in Lombok, Indonesia

2010-06-21T02:27:00.000-07:00

international dance year 2010 competition will be held in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara or "Lombok International Dance Championships 2010", 2 to 4 July, will be followed by a dancer than a dozen countries.

"Eligible participants from dozens of countries and it would boost tourist arrivals to this region," said Head of Culture and Tourism of the Province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Gita Aryadi Then, in Mataram, Monday.

He said, like "Lombok International Dance Championships 2009" held June 21, 2009, the world-class dancer competing in the international arena was a good dance Ballroom and Latin categories.

World-class amateur dancer who won the "Amateur Ten Dances" in Paris, France in 2008, the Eldar and Anna Dzafarov Sazhin from Azerbaijan (Europe), is rumored to be present at the dance contest.

"Hopefully, a professional dancer as a world-class professional dance partner from Russia, Evgeny Ryupin and Yana Pokrovskaya, who has won several dance competitions in Europe and has become one of the world's best dance partner, will be participating in a race," he said.

Also expected, other professional dance partner as from Hong Kong which Alexander and Irina Zhiratkov and Professional Champions Slovenia, Domen and Monica Krepez, will also take part in the "Lombok International Dance Championships 2010" is.

International dance competitions held in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara dance was held by the organization of the world or the World Dance Council (WDC), which collaborated with the Indonesian Indonesian dance organizations Ballroom Dancing Council (ICBD) based in Jakarta.

But usually the implementation of international dance competitions were handed over to the event organizer PT International Dance Indonesia (IDI).

Implementation of international dance competitions were also received support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (the ministry) of Indonesia, Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Department of Culture and Tourism of West Nusa Tenggara and the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) NTB.

Support also comes from tourism in NTB actors such as The Santosa Hotel and Puri Mas Boutique Resorts & Spa.

International dance competitions in Lombok in this year is the number-six activities are held each every year since 2004 and has been scheduled in the calendar of tourism value added.

"Even the international dance was part of a WDC in sports activities as well as the activities of the dance show,` `International Holiday & Dance that was held to attract tourists to come to Lombok," said Aryadi.

source: http://oase.kompas.com/read/2010/06/14/19221694/Lomba.Dansa.Libatkan.Belasan.Negara-3

Voyage to the dragon's lair

2010-05-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Natalie Paris sails the islands where ancient reptiles rule.
Indonesia's vast archipelago has lured adventurers with tales of stormy straits, desert islands and man-eating dragons. European trading ships sailed here in the 16th century in search of treasures. These days the Spice Islands, now known as Maluku, have fallen off the charts of the average seafarer but, further south, legends of dragons live on. Here lie remote islands perfect for modern voyages of discovery.

A latter-day explorer, Dirk Bergsma, got his first taste of the country in the 1970s when he caught a lift on a wooden schooner used by locals. The journey inspired him to start a tour company, Sea Trek, which organizes intrepid but relaxed cruises along the old spice routes.

Nearly two decades after Bergsma bought his first schooner, I am joining 14 other passengers on an adventure of our own. We have gin and tonics, sun lounges and a wonderful crew who rinse our walking boots for us but we still feel like adventurers.

The double-masted Katharina sails all over the eastern archipelago, including to Maluku, but our voyage is the most accessible that she offers - a 10-day trip east from Bali to the island of Flores and back. This popular itinerary allows us to make various stops within the Komodo National Park, a divers' haven with sharks and manta rays below the surface and, above, the island homes of the Komodo dragon.

While not exactly fire-breathing, these large monitor lizards have an acute sense of smell, large claws and a toxic bite. Although they eat mainly carrion, they prey on deer and water buffalo and killed a man as recently as last year.
An encounter with the lizards is certainly the most obvious reason to explore this scattering of volcanic islands but there are plenty of others.

In the days before we search for dragons, the boat stops at Flores (''Flowers''), an island named by the Portuguese that has smoking cones, fertile flanks and forested ridges studded with the tin roofs of villages glinting in the sun.
We have come inland to see the dramatic crater lakes at the top of Mount Kelimutu, which change colour depending on mineral levels.

At sunrise, two lakes that are brilliant turquoise are the first to be bathed in light. These are the two that welcome the spirits of the good and the young and the sun gives them a pink halo. A chill remains at the third, on the other face of the mountain, supposedly the resting place of evil spirits. This lake is as black as an inkwell and, while it is shrouded in shadows, an air of foreboding is almost tangible.
That feeling returns a few days later on the boat, as we check our zoom lenses and prepare to set foot on Rinca Island, dragon territory. Rinca and neighbouring Komodo, where the dragons also live, have a more arid landscape than Flores. Shoes or flip-flops, I wonder?

Apparently the dragons can launch themselves into a sprint as quickly as a small dog. Shoes it is, then. I have just started to weigh up whether it will be safer to stride out with the ranger or stay close to the others when the first group of dragons appears.

Six or seven lie under a ranger's hut, the occasional yellow forked tongue sliding from square jaws. They are just as big as I had imagined. Shutters whirr and we edge nearer. ''Careful,'' one of the rangers says. ''Not too close.''

For a minute the dragons seem docile. But then something disturbs them. In a flash they rise up on haunches encased in folds of scales and dart forward at speed, their thick bodies switching from side to side. Deep inside, an impulse screams ''run''. I flinch and the ranger laughs. ''Don't worry,'' he says, waving a stick as if idly flapping at a mosquito. ''Their noses are really sensitive; they will run away.'' We have no choice but to believe him and follow him into the woods.

These stocky predators are the largest lizards on Earth and are a protected species. There are only about 4000 living in the wild, all on this cluster of islands.

It is a pleasure to return to the blissfully relaxing routine on board Katharina. Soon I am sitting with my legs over her bow, sea salt in my hair and the waves slapping at my bare soles.
On board are seven airconditioned, amply appointed cabins. We have communal dinners with wine at a large, deck-top dining table and there are sun lounges for optional massages against the backdrop of sublime sunsets. The small lounge and bar downstairs is the perfect nook for nightcaps.
Each day starts with some sailing, typically past pods of dolphins and lackadaisical turtles. Then, as we travel slowly back to Bali, we drop anchor to visit island communities on Flores, Sumbawa and Lombok. Some demonstrate how to weave ikat cloth, others how to master the steps of traditional dances.
Sumptuous lunches are served on board before afternoons spent exploring pristine beaches such as the pink sand at Gili Banta, turquoise bays around Riung and snorkelling at Gili Lawa.
As we approach the glittering lights of Bali's coastline, I feel every bit the returning explorer, with a successful voyage and an encounter with fearsome reptiles under my belt.

Garuda has a low-season fare to Bali for about $850 from Melbourne and Sydney, including taxes. Sea Trek has 10-day schooner itineraries from $US2700 ($3080); see anasia-cruise.com. Explore has a 14-day Volcanoes and Dragons Schooner Adventure that costs $3249 a person, including four nights' accommodation in Bali and nine nights on board; see www.explore.co.uk.
- Telegraph, London

Lombok eyes 2012

2010-05-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

He speaks fluently English and Arabic and his clear way of talking makes a difference with some other Indonesians, rather shy when they have to speak in public. Muhammad Zainul Majdi is the current Governor of West Nusa Tenggara and belongs to this new generation of Indonesian politicians who start to give a new impetus to the World's biggest archipelago. One of Majdi's objectives is to turn Lombok into a major tourism destination, emulating Bali, its Western neighbour just 90 minutes away by high speed-boat. Lombok has been so far protected from massive tourism development.

But the Muslim-dominant Island has very big ambitions and feels that it has many assets. "We like to say that you can see Bali in Lombok but you cannot see Lombok in Bali", likes to say the Governor, referring to the cultural diversity on the Island where local Sasak people cohabits since the dawn of age with Balinese communities. Lombok is indeed an interesting mix of culture where Sasak traditional villages are facing Balinese temples and where some local Muslims are praying indifferently in mosques or temples…

Lombok emergence as a tourism destination will be stimulated by the organization of a "Visit Year Lombok-Sumbawa"- due to come in 2012. Promotion just started with the hosting of TIME-Pasar Wisata, Indonesia's professional incoming travel show, last October. This is the first time ever that Lombok is hosting an international event from this size and we are very happy about the outcome of the show as delegates seem very happy with this choice. We know that we make some mistakes but we will learn for the next edition of Pasar Wisata in 2010," said Majdi. For the show hosting, the provincial government has given away INR 5 billion, the equivalent of US$ 532,000.

The objective is to boost over the next five years total arrivals from 250,000 to 450,000 foreign travelers. With domestic travelers, NTB hopes to be able then to welcome some 1.3 million visitors in a year. This will be a far outcry from Bali's own tourist arrivals (over three million per year currently for both domestic and international travelers) but it still means a growth of over 20% per year over the next decade. More advertising, participation at international travel shows such as ITB are now firmly planned.

Major projects should boost arrivals to Lombok over the years to come: the development of a fully integrated resort area in the South of Lombok and the opening of a new airport in Central Lombok, 45 minutes away from the capital city Mataram. The first project was announced two years ago with Dubai-based investor Emaar Properties announcing to invest US$ 600 million to invest into five- and four-star hotels, a shopping mall, recreation areas, golf courses on a 1,200 hectare site. The final project is targeted to host 10,000 luxury villas, eight hotels and two 18-hole golf courses but it faced numerous delays due to the financial crisis, corruption problems and a lack of improvement in infrastructure. The project study has been extended by six months until year-end.

Development is however more advanced for the airport. According to the airport's managing company Angkasa Pura, new Lombok International Airport should be finished by the first quarter of 2010 but it looks already that the facility will open later in the year as work is still going on the control tower. Once the first phase completed, the new airport will offer capacity for two million passengers while its 2,750 m runway will be able to take large aircraft such as the Airbus A330. " We will then target new markets such as Australia or Hong Kong. Improving access is essential for our future" tells Lalu Gita Ariadi, Head of West Nusa Tenggara office of tourism. Another important project is the construction of a proper convention center with an investor from Singapore already showing interest.

Local authorities remain however optimistic about the future of the island as a destination. "Lombok gains increasingly fame among foreign travelers. We do still have some problems to find human resources matching international tourists' expectations. But the future mega- resort in the South will contribute to improve sharply manpower quality," estimates Awan Aswinabawa, Chairman of the Travel Expo Pasar Wisata. Progress will definitely be judged with the next hosting of Pasar Wisata in October 2010.

eturbonews.com

Komodo, Indonesia: Into the dragons' den

2010-05-12T01:07:00.001-07:00

Indonesia's vast archipelago has always lured adventurers, with tales of stormy straits, desert islands and man-eating dragons. European trading ships sailed here in the 16th century in search of treasures. These days the Spice Islands, now known as Maluku, have fallen off the charts of the average seafarer, but farther south, legends of dragons live on. Here lie remote islands perfect for modern voyages of discovery.

While not exactly fire-breathing, these large monitor lizards have an acute sense of smell, large claws and a toxic bite

Dirk Bergsma, a latter-day explorer, got his first taste of the country in the Seventies when he caught a lift on a wooden schooner locals used to transport cargo. The journey inspired him to found a tour company, Sea Trek, that organises intrepid but relaxed cruises along the old spice routes. "You can sail to places so incredible you can't believe they still exist," he says.

Nearly two decades after Dirk bought his first schooner, I joined 14 other passengers boarding another on an adventure of our own. We might have had gin-and-tonics, sun loungers and a wonderful crew who rinsed our walking boots for us, but we still felt like adventurers.

The double-masted Katharina sails all over the eastern archipelago, including to Maluku, but our voyage was the most accessible that she offers a 10-day trip east from Bali to the island of Flores and back. This popular itinerary allowed us to make various stops within the Komodo National Park, a diver's haven with sharks and manta rays below the surface, and above it, the island homes of one of the world's most impressive creatures the Komodo dragon.

While not exactly fire-breathing, these large monitor lizards have an acute sense of smell, large claws and a toxic bite. Although they eat mainly carrion, they prey on deer and water buffalo, and have killed a human as recently as 2009. From Ari, our companionable guide on board the Katharina, I learnt that the dragons eat their dead and are cannibals, forcing their young to live in trees for up to five years to avoid being attacked. Suddenly our planned two-hour hike to spot them seemed less appealing, knowing that they could be anywhere around us on land, in branches above us, in the sea. That's right. They swim, too.

An encounter with the lizards is certainly the most obvious reason to explore this scattering of volcanic islands, but there are plenty of others. In the couple of days before we went in search of dragons, the boat stopped at Flores ("Flowers"), an island named by the Portuguese that has smoking cones, fertile flanks and forested ridges studded with the tin roofs of villages glinting in the sun.

The winding island road, forever either climbing or falling, is lined with Catholic churches, neat wooden houses and tethered goats, pigs and tawny cows. As our driver negotiated the many switchbacks through the lush interior, old women squatting next to fires of coconut husks smiled up at us through lips stained red by betel-nut juice, and schoolchildren yelled "Hello, mister" at every bend.

We had come inland to see the dramatic crater lakes at the top of Mount Kelimutu, which change colour depending on mineral levels and have, in the past, been a rainbow palate of brown, cream, red, blue and emerald green. Kelimutu's three lakes have a spiritual meaning for locals and represent the afterlife.

At sunrise, two lakes that were brilliant turquoise during my visit were the first to be bathed in light. These are the two that welcome the spirits of the good and the young, and the sun gave them a pinky halo. Yet a chill remained at the third, on the other face of the mountain, supposedly the resting place of evil spirits. This lake was as black as an inkwell and, while it was shrouded in shadows, an air of foreboding was almost tangible.

That feeling returned a few days later on the boat, as we checked our zoom lenses and prepared to set foot on Rinca island, dragon territory. Rinca and neighbouring Komodo, where the dragons also live, have a more arid landscape than Flores. Shoes or flip-flops, I wondered? Apparently the dragons can launch themselves into a sprint as quickly as a small dog. Shoes it was, then. I had just started to weigh up whether it would be safer to stride out with the ranger or stay close to the group when our first group of dragons appeared right in front of us.

Six or seven lay under a ranger's hut, the occasional yellow forked tongue sliding from square jaws. They were just as big as I had imagined. Shutters whirred and we edged nearer. "Careful," one of the rangers said. "Not too close."

For a minute the dragons seemed docile. But then something disturbed the group. In a flash they rose up on haunches encased in folds of scales and darted forward at speed, their thick bodies switching from side to side in a manner that was alarming in something 10 feet long. Deep inside, some innate urge screamed "Run".

I flinched and the ranger laughed. "Don't worry," he said, waving a stick as if idly flapping at a mosquito. "Their noses are really sensitive; they will run away." We had no choice but to believe him and follow him into the woods.

These stocky predators are the largest lizards on earth and are a protected species. There are only about 4,000 of them living in the wild, all found on this cluster of islands. We spotted one with its head close to the ground, camouflaged by the trees. "He is waiting for a monkey," the ranger said. Sure enough, 15 yards along the track we saw a young family of long-tailed macaques skipping along the forest floor.

On the crest of a hill another dragon sat on its hind legs, leaning against a rock and staring down at the bay where the Katharina was docked. Fearing an ambush of the kind recently filmed by the BBC's Life crew in which dragons had sat mercilessly waiting for a wounded buffalo to die, tongues flicking in anticipation our group filed back down to the jetty with new purpose.

It was a pleasure to return to the blissfully relaxing routine of the Katharina. Soon I was sitting with my legs over her bow, sea salt in my hair and the waves slapping at my bare soles, watching another uninhabited island slip out of view.

On board were seven air-conditioned, amply appointed cabins, shared by passengers from all over Europe. We ate communal dinners with wine at a large, deck-top dining table and there were sun loungers for optional massages against the backdrop of sublime sunsets. The small lounge and bar downstairs was the perfect nook for nightcaps, and the crew raised handsome maroon sails whenever there was a brisk wind.

Each day would start with some sailing, typically past pods of dolphins and lackadaisical turtles, sheets of ferocious currents and whirlpools. Then, as we travelled slowly back to Bali, we would drop anchor in order to visit island communities on Flores, Sumbawa and Lombok. Some demonstrated how to weave ikat cloth, others how to master the steps of traditional dances.

In Sumbawa we disembarked onto a beach at Wera, where village children ran out to greet us and show us half-built wooden ships positioned like breakers along the black sand. Skilfully made but incomplete, they resembled skeletal Mary Celestes that required years of crafting before they could be blessed and put out to sea.

Sumptuous lunches would be dished up on board before afternoons spent snorkelling or exploring pristine beaches, such as the smudged pink sand at Gili Banta, turquoise bays around Riung and the corals at Gili Lawa.

We came to learn that other passengers had enjoyed previous voyages on the Katharina. At night they swapped stories under the stars of journeys further east, of meeting warrior tribes and sailing through the Alor strait, where "there was nothing but swirling seas". A retired Dutchman told me on our final night: "You should come when we sail to Papua. Now that is truly magnificent."

As we approached the glittering lights of Bali's coastline, I felt every bit the returning explorer, with a successful voyage and encounter with fearsome reptiles under my belt. Even in this day and age, new adventures are always possible at sea.

Explore

(0844 499 0901; www.explore.co.uk) offers 16-night "East Indies Seatrek" tours including a 10-day Bali-Flores-Bali voyage on the Katharina between May and October. The trip includes four nights in a hotel in Bali on a b & b basis and nine nights' full board in ensuite cabins on the schooner: prices from £2,370 with international flights; £1,621 without. Between July and August, places are available for children at £2,478, with adult places costing £2,601, both with flights.

Sea Trek

(0062 361 283358; www.anasia-cruise.com) offers a range of voyages on the Katharina to Indonesian destinations farther afield.

Telegraph.co.uk

Volcano on Indonesia's Lombok Island spews lava, ash 4,000 feet into sky as eruptions continue

2010-05-12T00:45:00.001-07:00

JAKARTA, Indonesia — An active volcano on Indonesia's Lombok island has spewed lava and hot ash nearly 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) into the sky but poses no immediate threat to local villagers.

Surono, director of Indonesia's Volcanology Agency, said the Tuesday eruption followed four smaller eruptions on Friday.

Surono said the nearest village is several miles (kilometres) away from the 7,795-foot (2,376-meter) Mount Barujari and is not threatened.

Surono, who uses only one name, said Barujari has shown mild activity for the last two years.

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago nation. It is located on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Associatedpress

Maritime minister planning Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012

2010-05-09T19:31:00.001-07:00

Lombok Barat, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad has made Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 part of his program to support development of the tourism sector in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.

"It will be West Nusa Tenggara`s turn to host an international marine event, namely Sail Lombok-Sumbawa, in 2012," Fadel Muhamad said in the company of Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik after harvesting Lombok pearl cultivation product at Senggigi resort on Thursday.

The pearl harvest was part of Lombok Sumbawa Pearl Festival 2010 which was centered at Sentosa Hotel on Senggigi tourist resort in Lombok Barat district.
Fadel said the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would continue to organize continuous sail event every year.

Last year was Sail Bunaken event in North Sulawesi and this year the similar event would be conducted in Maluku as Sail Banda 2010, next year it would probably be moved to Central Sulawesi as Sail Togean 2011, and in 2012 it will be called Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 in West Nusa Tenggara.

Head of the Central Sulawesi cultural and tourism office Suaib Djafar said in Palu late last month that the office would organize Sail Togean 2011.

Djafar said the Central Sulawesi provincial administration would learn from the experiences of North Sulawesi in organizing `Sail Bunaken` and Maluku which would hold `Sail Banda`.

The Togean island chain is an ecological wonder located in Tojo Una-Una districy Central Sulawesi, about a 10-hour`s journey from Palu, the province`s capital.

Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainul Madji said he would continue to make things ready for the implementation of Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012.

He said the provincial administration would make every effort to improve supporting facilities of electricity, clean water, and telecommunication for the international marine event in the province.

"Besides hosting Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012, West Nusa Tenggara will also be ready to organize International Seaweed Forum in the same year," the NTB governor said.

Source: Antara.com

Bring on the hammock

2010-05-09T19:26:00.001-07:00

Shed that urban stress on Indonesia's laidback Gili Islands

THE peeled-onion syndrome, whereby visitors instantly shed layers of stress along with their clothes, is a naturally occurring phenomenon on the tiny Indonesian island paradise of Gili Trawangan.

"People instinctively unwind here," says British expat Di Somerton, encapsulating the ethos of this tropical island off the coast of Lombok. Indeed, people seem to literally fall out of the boat (the only access to the island) into a hammock or on to the beach and stay there for a week or so. "People feel they have no need to do anything or go anywhere," says Somerton, co-owner of a couple of landmark restaurants and several villas on the island with her Australian partner, Matthew Blundell.

Access is via a two-hour boat ride from Bali or a 20-minute plane trip from Bali to Lombok; add another 30 minutes for the boat transfer and you are in heaven.

While Gili Air and Gili Meno (the smallest) are idyllic and largely undeveloped, offering some accommodation, Trawangan, with its urbane style, quaint character and community of about 900, transcends the picture-postcard island cliche. It's the most popular of the trio, with the feel of a miniature adult playground: palm trees, piercingly beautiful aqua water and fine white-sand beaches.

Gili T, as the locals call it, is a rare gem where motorised traffic, water sports and dogs (barking or not) are banned.

The pint-sized village boasts a colourful strip -- with the implausible label of Central -- consisting of six diving centres offering courses and certification, boutique accommodation, beachside bars and clubs, restaurants, shops, a market and an outdoor cinema. From the main stretch of beach, Goodheart, it's just a few steps to adjacent cafes.

A walk around the 3km long and 2km wide island, tree-lined and overgrown in places, is an adventure. But if the two-hour stroll or a bicycle ride is too arduous in the heat, you could taxi about in cidomos, horses and carts flaunting gaudy bells and whistles.

Prices vary according to the driver's perception of the size of your wallet and you should bargain. But be prepared for a rough ride: partly paved dirt tracks are badly potholed.

Good food is a preoccupation and local and foreign purveyors are ample. Indonesian warungs serving the ubiquitous nasi goreng (sticky fried rice), Italian, Indian and Japanese fare, Spanish tapas, pizza and even an Irish pub run the gamut from cheap and cheerful to trendy and swank.

Succulent seafood buffets and Australian steaks beachside are consistent crowd pleasers among an eclectic mixture of tourists, from backpackers and expats (many Australian) to a hip European set.

A local treat is barbecued whole snapper or mahi mahi cooked on the beach and served in thatched alang-alang grass bales amid starry skies and lapping water.

Your cook is likely to ask you to join a spirited local jam session on the beach around the fire after dinner.

Sinking into a bale's plump cushions with a good book and a fresh juice during the day is bliss, though you may not move for hours, especially if you order your meals there. The main attractions here, though, are the snorkelling and scuba diving, considered among the best in the world. Not to mention the crystal clear water. There is even good surf to the south in the right conditions.

While snorkelling off the beach is an easy stroll from your villa, marine life is far more diverse and rewarding out to sea. Boats ferry divers daily to top sites off Gili T and its smaller cousins, Gili Meno and particularly Gili Air, which provide a wonderworld of brightly coloured coral and marine life, including pygmy seahorses, green sea turtles, bumphead parrot-fish, frogfish, manta rays and reef sharks.

The predominantly Muslim locals on the Gilis are relaxed and coexist happily with tourists.

Alcohol is served throughout the islands (even during Ramadan) and female tourists wear bikinis but topless sunbathing is 2lconsidered disrespectful and is ill-advised.

Gili T was uninhabited 50 years ago until the Bugis fisherfolk from Sulawesi settled. Now the islands have grown so popular, the local diving centres and fishermen have banded together to protect the ecosystems. The Gili Eco Trust, supported by local businesses, was formed in 2002, implementing reef programs and, last year, land projects, including recycling.

Gili T's bustling, vibrant centre has attracted a recent boom of largely foreign-owned up-market bungalows, cabins and hotels, sparking some environmental concern. Biorock, a coral reef conservation initiative, has introduced 40 artificial reefs around the Gilis to attract marine life and encourage coral regeneration of reefs damaged after explosives were used illegally for fishing. Gili T also has a turtle sanctuary.

A sacrosanct part of the day is sunset when the heat is more forgiving and people stake out chairs in the sand in church-like reverence to marvel at the changing spectacle. Pre-dinner drinks on the beach watching the incandescent sky are an obligatory evening ritual.

Gili T is where Bob Marley still rules. Most nights of the week musicians sporting dreadlocks thump out Marley's stock-in-trade reggae, drawing enamoured tourists until the wee hours. There are also rotating party venues during peak season from May until August, but persistent comparisons with Ibiza are somewhat wide of the mark. While Gili T is known as a party island -- it has no police and numerous signs advertising magic mushrooms or "bloody fresh magic mushroom" shakes -- it is just too laid-back for a real party culture. Its neighbour Bali is much more like Ibiza.

A great lunchtime perch is Ko-ko-mo, one of the island's newest up-market eateries, owned by Somerton and Blundell, who also own the Beach House villas and restaurant.

Tables decked in white linen and good cutlery sit a stone's throw from the water's edge at Ko-ko-mo, with a view to the neighbouring ranges of Lombok's Mt Rinjani and Bali's Mt Agung. We eat there on a perfectly clement day, but the calm weather makes way within 30 minutes for a raging tropical storm.

As it starts brewing and land and seascape morph into bewitching shades and contours, we munch our way through Tahitian-style tuna with coconut, avocado, ginger, coriander and lime, a sashimi plate, Peking duck wrapped in a herb crepe, lightly fried calamari, ravioli filled with mud crab and coconut, all washed down with a bottle of chilled Astrolabe pinot gris from New Zealand's Marlborough region. The bonus is the monsoonal downpour, which provides a kaleidoscope of scenery changes. As rain pelts down, waiters hastily erect a canopy and a cacophonic roar drowns out all vestiges of conversation. Forced to stay in our seats and regard the theatre of Mother Nature, we could not be stuck in a more congenial place.

Then, as abruptly as it started, the storm blows over.

Lombok and Bali, which had vanished, re-emerge, silver light slithers across the ocean and the sun shines benignly.

As I walk back to my villa, the island is awash with puddles and remains so for days, making cidomo taxi rides a hairy exercise.

Accommodation on Gili T varies from budget hotels and bungalows to luxury, including the four-star Villa Ombak (which has the only ATM on the island); most accommodation is in Central, on the eastern side. Some prefer to stay outside Central, avoiding any late night party hullabaloo and early-morning calls to prayer from the mosque.

I stay a 15-minute walk northeast of Central, where accommodation is not so dense; it's quiet and the snorkelling is better. My choice is the new Villa Kokita with four oversized rooms, huge ensuite bathrooms, half under open skies; it's perfect for groups of friends or families. All rooms spill out to a central pool overlooking the beach, providing a clear view of sunrises and sunsets. A spacious family room equipped with couches and cable television seamlessly merges with the pool.

If you are after pure indulgence, the Oberoi Lombok, on a secluded beach outcrop at Medana Bay, takes guests snorkelling and diving daily to the Gilis. The five-star resort has a PADI certified diving centre and its own reef. "But guests usually don't want to hang about for lunch on Gili T," says the Oberoi skipper. It's too boisterous and too small. They can't wait to get back to the Oberoi." Well, who wouldn't? A superb resort sanctuary, the Oberoi has been open for 13 years but is still one of Lombok's best-kept secrets.

What to take to Gili Trewangan? Several page-turners and little else. You will live in your swimmers and a hat. You'll be impelled to peel back to the bare essentials, and you'll curse yourself if you take a large suitcase.

Deborah Cassrels was a guest of the Oberoi Lombok, Villa Kokita and Ko-ko-mo.

Mount Rinjani Lombok

2010-05-09T19:22:00.001-07:00

Mount Rinjani or Gunung Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia on the island of Lombok. It rises to 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia, and similar in height to Mount Fuji in Japan. second in height among Indonesian volcanoes only to Sumatra's Kerinci volcano

The first historical eruption occurred in September 1847. The most recent eruption of Mount Rinjani was in May 2010 and the most recent significant eruptions occurred during a spate of activity from 1994 to 1996 which resulted in the further development of Gunung Barujari. (G.Baru). Historical eruptions at Rinjani dating back to 1847 have been restricted to Barujari cone and consist of moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows that have entered Segara Anak lake

The 6 km by 8.5 km oval-shaped caldera is filled partially by the crater lake known as Segara Anak ('Child of the Sea') This lake is approximately 2000m above sea level and estimated at being around 200m deep; the caldera also contains hot springs.

The Rinjani caldera forming eruption occured in the 13th century. Eruption rate, eruption sites, eruptiion type and magma composition have changed during the last 10,000 years before the caldera forming eruption.The eruptions of 1994, 1995, and 1996 have presented at Gunung Baru (or 'New Mountain' - approximately 2300m above sea level) in the center of this caldera and lava flows from subsequent eruptions have entered the lake. This cone has since been renamed Mount Barujari (or 'New Finger Mountain').

The highlands are forest clad and mostly undeveloped. The lowlands are highly cultivated. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, and vanilla are the major crops grown in the fertile soils of the island. The slopes are populated by the indigenous Sasak population. There are also some basic tourist related activities established on Rinjani primarily in or about the village of Senaru.

The volcano and the caldera are protected by the Gunung Rinjani National Park established in 1997. Tourism is increasingly popular with trekkers able to visit the rim, make their way into the caldera or even to make the more arduous climb to the highest point fatalities, however, are not uncommon. In July 2009 the summit route was closed due to volcanic activity at that time and subsequently reopened when the activity decreased. During early 2010 up to and including May 2010 access to Rinjani was at times again restricted due to volcanic activity.

West Nusa Tenggara eyes international marine event

2010-05-09T08:35:00.001-07:00

West Nusa Teggara (NTB) province has all the supporting facilities needed to host an international marine event dubbed Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012, a local tourism official said.

"We have all supporting facilities, we have potential, and therefore we want to host an international marine event in the province," NTB Culture and Tourism Office spokesman Lalu Gita Ariadi said in Lombok on Saturday.

Gita said he had proposed that West Nusa Tenggara host such an international marine event in 2012 with hundreds of participants from various countries being predicted to attend.

"Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 will be a precious moment for West Nusa Tenggara to promote its abundant tourism potentials," Gita Ariadi said, adding that he had sent a letter of request to the Culture and Tourism Ministry to host the event.

In Sail Bunaken 2009 last year, he said the participants sailed by the northern coastline of Lombok, while the participants of Sail Banda this year would go through two courses namely the northern and southern parts of the island.

According to Gita Ariadi, Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 would be a good momentum for West Nusa Tenggara to net even more tourists into the province.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammat at Senggigi resort in Lombok Barat regency said on Friday he would make Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 part of his program to support the development of the tourism sector in the province.

"It will be West Nusa Tenggara's turn to host an international marine event through Sail Lombok-Sumbawa, in 2012," Fadel said in the company of Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik after conducting pearl harvest at Senggigi resort on Thursday.

The pearl harvest was part of Lombok Sumbawa Pearl Festival 2010 which was centered at Sentosa Hotel on Senggigi tourist resort in Lombok Barat regency.

Fadel said the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would continue to organize sail event every year.

Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainul Madji said he would continue to make things ready for the implementation of Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012.

"Besides hosting Sail Lombok-Sumbawa 2012, West Nusa Tenggara will also be ready to organize International Seaweed Forum in the same year," the governor said.

Antara, Lombok

Enchanted on Gili Trawangan Lombok

2010-05-09T08:29:00.001-07:00

The second time my idle to Lombok, one place that always wanted me to go is to Gili Trawangan. Somehow, Gili Trawangan is always fascinating to me. Either the beach, or the atmosphere. First to Gili Trawangan at the year 2008, the first impression is the beautiful and bustling. Understandably then seasson peak, so the bule-bule much wandering along the road on Gili Trawangan. So seemed not in their own country. But my second visit this time happens to go low season, so the landscape is slightly different, because it is not too full.
I also get a slightly cheaper room at the Unique Hotel is situated near the main road.

If my first visit, I ride public transportation from the city of Mataram, the route of Mataram - Rembiga - Pamenang connected with public boat ride from the harbor to Gili Ward, this time I use my motorcycle in Ward Leave.

The most beautiful areas while traveling from Mataram to the ward, according to me is when we enter Pusuk forest, famous for the number of monkeys that roam. If using public transport I can not stop, this time I can freely stop in some beautiful spot.

One hours drive from Mataram to the ward, rather make my body a little tired. Arrive at the Hall, the existing public boating accident that will progress towards Gili Trawangan, so I do not have to wait too long and avoid the merchants who have sometimes disturbing degree.

After 30 minutes passed, our boat arrived at Gili Trawangan. I hurried down, again happy to be touched again Gili Trawangan beach water. Impressed childish perhaps, but enatahlah, magnets what can make me have always been interested in this one island. But this time was a few local tourists have to register himself at the security post, located not far from the ticket counter dyke. Strange, my first visit did not have to go through procedures such as this, but yes've been, you just follow the rule.

Apart from the postal survey of visitors, I hurried to find cheap lodging. But really inns in Gili Trawangan is still in its early stages rather expensive, for the size of puppy travelers like me. I could actually stay at the guard post or at beebrapa beruga in the west of Gili Trawangan, but this time it felt like a little spoiled bermanja-for business lodging. I also get a slightly cheaper room at the Unique Hotel is situated near the main road (it is definitely a bit expensive), but its most important Internet access, hehehehe ... ..

Done business check-in and loading and unloading, I went to the beach to just enjoy the weather leyeh-leyeh a slightly overcast afternoon. There are few foreign tourists who casually opened her boss (topless) and then sunbathe on the beach. Different scenery he-he-he .... Initially I wanted to snorkel on the west coast, but because it had never been to snorkel here, I too was discouraged. And without any felt I finally fell asleep in a beachside Beruga until late afternoon.

Unfortunately the weather was again overcast, so I can already predict you will not see a beautiful sunset. I went back to the lodge for a shower. On Gili Trawangan, I could at any moment to take a bath. In addition to its hot weather, also supported the water we use to shower is salt water, so that will be felt sticky and hold in this body. So much so that I often chuckle to myself if it was walking on Gili Trawangan and meet the drinking water bucket Cidomo towing horses, which turned out to contain fresh water and only intended for the horses. It turns out here, holding horse power, he-he-he ...

One that I like to Gili Trawangan is the night life. Here, for the affairs of the café to café was quite entertaining. And for every night, there's only beach party. In contrast to the café-café in Kuta Bali, which always provides evening entertainment at the same time, there is a turn on Gili Trawangan for their time, so that each day would be different from the café which will hold a beach party. Unfortunately this time I was less interested in enjoying the nightlife in Gili Trawangan, so after dinner, I decided to use the internet facilities of the inn.

The next day, before noon, I was leaving Gili Trawangan. A bit too fast indeed, but it is because I still want to visit some places in Lombok. Maybe then I would like to visit Gili Nanggu, which is currently being discussed because of the beauty of a crowded beach. (Johan Sobihan)

Translate from Kompas.com

Lombok, Sumbawa set to attract more tourists

2010-05-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

West Nusa Tenggara's Lombok and Sumbawa Islands, which are renowned for their marine tourist attractions, are set to attract more visitors in the coming years as they gear up for Visit Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 campaign.

Director general for marketing at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Sapta Nirwandar, said in Jakarta Thursday that West Nusa Tenggara, a province located adjacent to Bali, would be the focus of the ministry's tourism programs in 2012.

The Visit Lombok-Sumbawa 2012 campaign will be launched by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Lombok by the end of the week to mark the beginning of West Nusa Tenggara's campaign to double its number of visitors to 1 million in 2012.

"We want to sell tourism in West Nusa Tenggara. We want to make Lombok an established center for the pearl trade and ecotourism," Sapta told a press conference.

Often dubbed a more pristine and tranquil, some also say more beautiful, version of its neighbor Bali; Lombok and Sumbawa are home to a range of white sandy beaches and turquoise seawaters, as well as a rich variety of underwater life.

Lombok particularly is a renowned center for the production of pearl jewelry and is also home to Mount Rinjani, the second highest mountain in Indonesia and one of the best trekking spots in Asia.

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

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Harga | Tarif Jayakarta | hotel di Lombok

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West Nusa Tenggara eyes international marine event

Enchanted on Gili Trawangan Lombok

Lombok, Sumbawa set to attract more tourists