News in English (Info Lombok)

Paradise In Kuta Beach Lombok

2010-01-28T05:47:00.000-08:00

The waves rolled over and over again, chasing each other never looked like desperate to carve out chunks of rock. Meanwhile, the white foam is dispersed, such as reaching out, took a swim white sands of Kuta beach.Blue water mixed with white sand beaches, making the landscape around it like a painting of nature that lay in front of my eyes. As for chunks of rock on one side of the beach, the more complete the harmony of the natural surroundings.

"It’s wonderful (very beautiful)," said Henry, an European tourist who had just arrived in Kuta after traveling from Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), the time for comment on Kuta Beach.

Kuta Beach is one of the flagship tourist attraction on the island of Lombok. The beach is facing "South Sea" is located in the area of Kuta Village, Central Lombok District.

The distance between the city of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara provincial capital, with Kuta Beach about 70 kilometers, or one hour driving four-wheeled motor vehicles.

Although the distance is not too far away, but to reach the tourist attractions we need a patience. Because, in addition to the winding roads and not too wide, the flow of traffic on that route is also quite solid.

Moreover, along the way from Mataram to Kuta, sometime first tourists were treated to cultural attractions "nyongkolan".

Nyongkolan is customary ceremony took prospective bride. With Sasak traditional dress, old and young, they walked or drove, behind the bride to be wed.

Thus, the atmosphere at a number of the more visible street lively, because the procession bride there is also a group art dynamic rhythmic drums “Gendang Belek”, and some of accompanist was dancing.

In fact, the way to Kuta Beach could have delayed a moment, if tourists want to witness the construction of Lombok International Airport (BIL), or paused in the "Village Tourism" in Dusun Sade, Rambitan Village, Pujut District.

BIL Slangit built in Hamlet, Village Tanak Awu, Central Lombok District. Airport later will replace Selaparang Airport, Mataram, which is operated today. While in "Village Tourism", tourists can see traditional houses in a complex inhabited by a number of Familes of Sasak people.

In comparison, Kuta Beach in Bali with Kuta Beach in Lombok Island, each has its own peculiarities.

Kuta Beach in Bali is near the center of town, while Kuta beach in Lombok Island is relatively far from the city. In the area of Kuta Beach Bali was built and visited by many tourists and foreign domestic, while Kuta beach in Lombok Island is far from the city center and is still considered relatively quiet tourists.

Kuta beach in Lombok Island in a bay that is not too long in the southern island of Lombok. This tourism object is about 25 kilometers from the City of Praya, Central Lombok.

The countryside at Kuta Beach in Lombok Island, is still very strong. To see many of traditional houses of Sasak (Lombok Island’s native communities) which was unique was simple and easy to find in this area. Sasak communities who live around Kuta beach in Lombok Island living from farming, livestock breeding, fishing and a woven fabric, is coloring the rhythm of life in this region.

In fact, food stalls, cafes and shop everyday needs and Lombok acceccories far from the modern sense, is also still seen a lot lined up along the coast almost.

Classified as a luxury building in the region perhaps only Hotel Novotel. Although classified as a luxury, the hotel’s spacious enough even built with traditional Sasak architecture as well.

It is said that humility is precisely one of Kuta Beach attraction for tourists visited. A natural and beautiful, not much untouched by human hands, offering exotic.

"In my observation to Kuta beach in Lombok is much more appealing than the Kuta Beach in Bali," so in the travel notes Yusril Ihza Mahendra on March 2008. This man was often travelled and enjoyed the beauty of Kuta’s beach.

Kuta beach in Lombok is also known for the Pepper Coast. The reason, according to locals, this beach is known as the yellow-white sand like grains of pepper.

Pepper-shaped grains of sand that if trodden on, the foot was submerged, removed hard to move. "Because that’s not uncommon for tourists visiting Kuta Beach took it for a souvenir," said Chandra Himawan, a domestic tourist from Jakarta.

Besides playing on the white sandy beach, in the tourist visitors can sunbathe and swim at the seaside, because the water is quite shallow. Visitors who wish to enjoy the beauty of the beach from the waters, can rent a boat, while you want to surf some that rent surfboards .

Visiting the Kuta Beach are likely to feel very special moment in a place that held a ceremony "Bau Nyale" or ceremony to catch sea worms to be eaten.

Kuta beach visitors during a ceremony held on "The smell Nyale" very much, can reach tens of thousands. The beach is so beautiful it will be closed sea of people.

The ceremony of “Bau Nyale” was arrested on 20 months of the tenth. Sasak early years marked by the rising star "Rowot" (natural signs associated with agriculture), which according to the calculation of unity in Sasak tribe began on May 25 and the age of each month is calculated 30 days.

When compared with the solar year, differ little difference in the cycle or the tenth month that ranged in February.

According to local elders, who want to Nyale arrested is believed to be the incarnation of the Mandalika Princess hundreds of years ago chose plunged into the South Sea island of Lombok when trouble choosing one of three princes who were eager to marry her.

It is said that once upon a time there was a kingdom Seger led by King Seg (Seger) a wise and prudent with Lale Empress Yellow Feather (Yellow Lining) and have a beautiful daughter who as a child was nicknamed "Bear Tunjung" (newly emerging).

Stepping up the princess’s beauty continued to appear and the name was changed to Princess Sarah Wulan (daughter who has a light loveliness). Her beauty had attracted some Prince (crown prince) of Prince Rembitan Arya, Arya Bumbang Prince and Prince of Johor.

The third prince then proposed to her and all three were accepted to appear confused. If one prince was choosen, would cause envy to happen mala disastrous civil war or the disaster for the people.

After getting inspiration through her dreams, the princess finally decided to throw herselves into the sea Lombok’s south coast, on the tenth year 20 months Sasak. However, before doing the act he first announced her decision to three Prince and the people.

Since then Princess Sarah Wulan Mandalika Princess named Manda meaning of confused or uncertain and Lika means the deed. So, Mandalika is trapped and confused actions.

The story is more likely to belong to this legend is still alive in the memories Sasak people, especially residents around the Kuta Beach, Lombok, NTB.

BIL Update

2010-01-28T05:10:00.000-08:00

A MOU of the Lombok International Airport development has been signed by HL Wiratmaja – Central Lombok Regent and Bambang Sarwoto - Directur of PT Angkasa Pura I (PT. AP I) on 15 June 2007. According to Mr. Bambang Sarwoto airport construction is planned to be finished in 2009, being fully operational by 2010.

Mr. Bambang said that PT. AP I, the NTB Government and Central Lombok regency government take full responsibility in making the airport development venture a success. Each party will have their own duties and responsibilities in the Lombok International Airport development.

The total funds stand at Rp 665 milliard. Rp 515 comes from the internal funding of PT AP I and will be used to develop main facilities, including the runway, airside, passengers' terminal and other supporting facilities. While Rp 110 Milliard of funds will be from the NTB government and will be used to develop taxiways, gates and infrastructure. Funding of Rp 40 milliard will come from the central Lombok government will be used to developed surrounding areas, including a park.

The Central Lombok Government also has the responsibility of providing the necessary infra structure, including clean water, telephones and electricity. Mr. HL Suprayatna – vice regent of central Lombok Regency - said that the government will try their best to support the development by providing all support needed. He said 'We all believe that the airport development will give many opportunities for work and business to the local people'. Ir Yudi Maisa MM - Technical Manager of Selaparang Airport and also Site Manager of Lombok Baru International Airport Development, also shared the same idea.

Ir. Yudi said that PT. AP I will involve local people as much as possible on this project. It will also present the best supporter especially for the tourism sector. The land clearing process still stands at 60% complete. It was scheduled to be finished last June but because of weather constraints (an unusual amount of rain in the last couple of months) it has been delayed. At least another four months will be needed to complete this phase of the project.

After the land clearing will be completed, the next plan is to build the run away. The contractor of the runway construction will be announced in the next couple weeks. A total f eight contractors have registered to get the project, one of them is a local contractor from NTB, one from Surabaya with the remaining hailing from Jakarta. The projected time needed to build a 2500m long and 45m wide runway, is two years. Source : Lombok Times

US$800 Million Tourism Investment for Lombok

2010-01-28T05:09:00.000-08:00

Dubai Business Group Pledges to Build Resort and a Giant Mosque to Lure Middle East Passengers to Lombok. (8/4/2007) Taj Hamaad, an Advisor to the Dubai-based Group Emaar International Properties, have confirmed that they will invest US$800 million in a new tourism resort development in Lombok, an island just east of Bali.

According to Hamaad, technical agreements and final a final memorandum of understanding (MOU) are now being hammered out prior to ground-breaking ceremonies planned for later this year. Among the technical issues being resolved between Hamaad, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik and the President's special envoy for eastern Indonesia Alwi Shihab are tax issues, investment licenses and land leases.

The Emaar Group has World-wide investments in various locales, including California and Malaysia, encompassing office buildings, resort and mall complexes. The Lombok project will occupy a 1.175 hectare site in Central Lombok owned by the PT.Perusahaan Pengelola Asset - a state owned firm. The government has pledges that they will support new tourism investment in Lombok through the construction of an international airport capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft.

Development with a Middle Eastern Slant The Emaar Group have indicated that they will steer Middle Eastern visitors to the new resort development, diverting Emirate Airline passengers to Lombok once the airport is completed. Once landed in Lombok, the Middle-eastern passengers will be greeted by two purpose-built luxury resorts and a massive mosque, all built by the Dubai investor.

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik, told the Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia: "I hope that by 2009 the airport and the resort will be finished and both operational. The investors are optimistic that Lombok will surpass the popularity of Bali offering a range of international facilities." Source : (Lombok Times the 50th issues)

About Lombok

2009-12-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

Geographical Lombok is situated in the province Nusa Tenggara Barat. Together with the Sumbawa Islands it formats the Island group east of Bali, only 50 kilometers distant from Lombok. From the west coast of Lombok you can see the magnificent sunset view of Bali's mountain Agung.

Lombok's total size is 4.680 km2 and the population 2,5 million habitants. The capital is Mataram together with adjoining municipalities Chakranegara and Ampenan, having a population of 340.266 persons.

Political
Indonesia is in principal central governed from Jakarta, but more and more decentralization is taking place. Lombok has its own local parliament and every 5 years elections are held for choosing the members of Parliament. Parliament appoints the Governor. Lombok's government get more freedom to handle important issues by themselves.

Economical
The 4 pillars of Lombok's Gross Regional Domestic Product are agriculture (25%), mining & quarrying (30%), trade, hotels & restaurants (12,5%) and services (11,75%).

Climate
The climate on Lombok is the same as said for Indonesia in general. An average temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. Characterized by 2 seasons : summer and winter season. Summer season with more sunshine than winter season. But also the winter seasons on Lombok do have a lot of sunshine and sometimes alternate by some heavy but short showers.

Landscape
Lombok is world wide known for her pearl white sandy beaches, but it offers more than that : beautiful mountains, rice fields, luxuriant valleys, water falls, tropical islands like Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air and naturally the hallmark of Lombok : the Rinjani, second highest mountain of Indonesia, determine the landscape and view of Lombok.

Tourism
Lombok is also called the "New Bali" and has become Indonesia's new "in" destination. Comparisons with neighboring Bali are inevitable. Lombok's area and population are just slightly smaller. Climate and landscape are similar. Even there is a great number of Balinese people living and working on Lombok.

The almost 400.000 foreign tourists who yearly visit the island is not as much as the number landing in Bali, but this figure is sure to rise as the many new hotels being constructed open for business. Also the development of the new international airport in 2005 (see Infrastructure) will boost the number of tourist coming to Lombok from all over the world.

Not only the central government but also Lombok's local government takes great concern in developing and improving the tourist industry by giving incentives to foreign investors, improving infrastructure in tourist centers, providing adequate information about Lombok as tourist destination and so on.

For commercial investors on Lombok it is important to know that local government appointed only specific areas as tourism areas, the Tourism Development Areas (click here for see the Map). Only in these areas it is possible to develop tourist projects like hotels, boutique and villa resorts and so on.

Infrastructure
Lombok has a good network of roads. One good maintained orbital road around Lombok which connects the different tourism and commercial areas. Off the main roads the asphalt roads are not so smooth anymore and need constantly repaired.

Taxi service in Lombok is excellent (Bluebird Group) : honest, good service, very reasonable prices. If for a short stay and for not too long trips the ideal transportation.

There are 2 main harbors in Lombok : most known is Lembar, where the ferry to and from Bali arrives, as well as Mabua express.

Selaparang Airport in Lombok's capital city Mataram is the only airport at this moment on Lombok. However this is going to change with the development of the new international airport projected near Praya (central Lombok).

You can go oround to lombok with this guide (lombok map)

or you can see it at this link

Emaar Withdraws From US$600 Million Lombok Project

2009-12-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

(3/14/2009) The Jakarta Globe reports that a massive US$600 Million mega-resort planned for South Lombok is now in jeopardy.

The project of shopping, recreation areas, golf courses and luxurious hotels on a 1,200 hectare site is a “pet project” of Indonesia’s Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, who personally invited Dubai’s state-owned Emaar Properties to spearhead the investment.

Citing bureaucratic delays and an inability by the government to fulfill its obligations, Emaar announced that thy have closed their Jakarta office and are abandoning it plans for investing in Indonesia. Elly Savitri, a representative of Emaar said. “there have been too many delays on the realization of the project and the company just could not wait any more.”

Jakarta Globe coverage suggests that greed on the part of government officials seeking hand-outs may have also played a role in a decision to cancel the project. Meanwhile, others suggest that the worsening global financial crisis may have adversely affected the liquidity of Emaar and diminished their keenness to pursue the Lombok investment.

Lombok is almost certain to be sent reeling by Emaar’s decision to quit the project, seen as the catalyst for planned new roads and a new international airport in Lombok. The final project was targeted to host 10,000 luxury villas, eight hotels and two 18-hole golf courses.

Emaar told the press that they have already expended US$4.2 million in consultancy fees in connection with the Lombok project.

Jusuf Kalla’s plans to woo Middle Eastern investors appears to be in serious strife. The withdrawal of Emaar from the US$600 million Lombok Project follows the recent pull out of the Saudi Arabian Bin Laden Group from a US$4.3 billion agricultural project planned for Papua.

Vice President Kalla has reportedly convened a special meeting of cabinet ministers in a last ditch effort to salvage the prestigious Lombok project. © Bali Discovery Tours.

(Author : balinews.balebali.com