Visiting Lombok Island - Guidance Before Visiting Lombok Island

Cukli Craftsmen Revive their Ornate Skills

2012-01-19T11:31:00.000+08:00

The Heartbreaking first Bali bombings on October 12, 2002, tarnished the global reputation of Indonesia as a safe destination, crippled Bali’s important tourism sector and severely eroded Lombok tourism.

Lombok’s key tourism areas, such as Senggigi, were suddenly devoid of visitors and companies operating hotels, restaurants and travel agencies were forced to lay off workers.

Business ground to a halt, impacting on Lombok’s traditional weavers of Sukarara village, the pottery producers of Banyumulek and the industrious cukli craftsmen of Sayang-Sayang village in Mataram who produce furniture and other items intricately inlaid with pieces of shell such as kerang and mother-of-pearl.

In many cases, craft production ceased and artisans were forced seek work in the fields, as motorcycle taxi drivers or as porters in local markets.

“All work associated with the tourism sector was affected and many businessmen ended up in poverty because of debt and even bankruptcy,” said Suhaili Suaeb who owns Ovi Handicraft, a cukli business at the Sayang-Sayang art market on Jalan Lingkar Utara.

Before the 2002 Bali bombings, said Suhaili, almost 80 percent of residents around Sayang-Sayang were professionally engaged in making cukli handicrafts such as carved tables, chairs, doors, traditional timber windows and masks inlaid with shell.

After the tragedy, which left 202 people dead and shocked the world, only a handful of cukli artisans continued their work.

Now, with the revitalisation of Lombok’s domestic and international tourism business, cukli craftsmen at Sayang-Sayang are again busy producing their distinctive products.

While business is not as brisk as before the downturn, said Suhaili, buyers are crowding into the Sayang-Sayang art market (pasar seni).

Suhaili, who has worked with cukli since 1998, was loyal to his craft during the extended slump and diligently operated alone to produce cukli craft which he was forced to sell at low prices.

“The important thing was to get some capital back to put meals on the table,” he recalled.

After the Mataram city council established the Sayang-Sayang art market in Cakranegara, he rented a market stall for Rp540,000 a year.

His business is growing as Lombok gains a reputation as a tourist destination and visitor spending increases the buying power of the local market. He also is exporting to Spain and Australia.

Export orders can fill three commercial trucks, he says, without revealing the value of the goods. “What is clear is that the price is pretty big,” he laughed.

Suhaili says traditional crafts such as cukli were often taught by parents who had learned the skills from their ancestors.

“Lombok cukli artisans initially only made objects such as the carved doors, ornately inlaid with pieces of shell, which can be found in many ancient buildings on the island, and small wooden items such as masks, lizards and jewellery boxes,” he explained.

Nowadays, cukli craftsmen also make a broader range of interior and exterior furniture and fittings for homes and businesses such as hotels.

Due to limited supplies of shell, however, this essential raw material is sourced from Sulawesi, Ambon in Maluka province and Flores in East Nusa Tenggara.

The craft of cukli is distinctive to Lombok and items, said Suhaili, are priced from Rp10,000 to Rp8.5 million.

source:www.enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Unique Rembiga Rites keep Disaster at Bay

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000+08:00

For hundreds of years, villagers at Rembiga in Mataram have practised the unique and complex Betetulak ritual to protect their community from disaster.

The December tradition features a procession through the village of bottles of holy water and offerings of food. In 2011 it was attended by thousands of villagers, government officials and traditional tribal leaders of the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok.

Displays of various traditional arts, as well as the Chinese lion dance, opened the sacred ceremony before indigenous leaders presented a historic flag to Mataram Mayor Ahyar Abduh to symbolise recognition of him as a traditional Sasak leader.

He was sprinkled with yellow rice and holy water and then paraded through the village on a palanquin.

The Betetulak ritual to ward off disaster is performed only in Rembiga, before sunset, and is linked to the word “tulak” which means to reject.

Rembiga has a special building, named gendeng, for the storage of religiously significant and other historical objects that may date back to the 15th century days of the Kingdom of Selaparang on Lombok.

The artefacts, including perforated urns and bottles, were both tools of empire and tools used to broaden the spread of Islam on Lombok.

Society believes that a ritual offering involving a procession of the ancient objects through the village, and prayers to God for protection and prosperity, will save the community from disease and disaster.

“Every year we perform this ritual and we have always been a blessed village, free from harm and with our citizens existing in harmony,” said Rembiga resident Mohammad.

The sacred artefacts are integral to Betetulak which starts with readings to praise God, or Gedeng Roah. Blessings are incanted over ancient bottles that have been wrapped in white shrouds.

Villagers tasked with carrying the bottles through the community are prohibited from speaking for three days and nights before the procession.

Betetulak, in fact, is a series of rituals performed over four consecutive days. For three days, residents are required to take from their homes any object, such as a kris (traditional sword), believed to have special powers, for parading through the village.

They must also parade any animals considered to be sacred.

Readings of old stories recorded on palm leaves begin at midnight on the last day and continue until morning.

Different offerings are made on each of the four nights. Firstly, sticky pulp in both red and white represents the power of God to create both males (white) and females (red). The pulps are later combined to symbolise an embryo that develops into an offspring which eventually returns to the Creator.

On the second night, cone-shaped pancakes made of rice flour are offered to ensure God will protect the foetus.

Thirdly, small and large diamond-shaped food parcels are offered to signify trust in God to see humans, who should only try and pray, through the trials and issues of life.

On the last night, offerings of rice and side dishes that are not derived from living things are made to signify the requirement for humans to live simply without seeking luxury food.

Sasak people place priority on human harmony with the environment. Their philosophy is that human life stems from and is dependent on nature and must interact with nature.

To conquer and control nature will incite fury and bring disaster and widespread harm.

Sasak people have many different rituals, including Betetulak, to ensure social harmony. In Lembar in West Lombok, the Selamat Gubuk tradition requires villagers to make special incantations, but only after disaster has struck.

The Selamat Gumi ritual in Central Lombok is performed to ensure prosperous harvests. Villagers make a procession to their fields where they place offerings that have been blessed in every corner of the fields.

Maintaining good relations with their natural surroundings is pivotal to Sasak culture and the primary purpose of many of their traditions.

source:http://www.enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

A Racy River Ride through Lombok History

2012-01-17T11:26:00.003+08:00

Visitors to historic Narmada Park can gain a new perspective on the location’s significant attractions by seeing them from the river that intersects the beautiful park’s boundary.

In a bid to boost visitor numbers and enhance the tourist experience, park managers have introduced a rafting package which offers fun and excitement while showcasing the park’s heritage features.

Eleven kilometres east of Mataram, the park is most often reported to have been built in 1727 by Mataram’s Balinese King Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Karang Asem.

Rafting at Narmada Park is both enjoyable and educational. Rafters experiencing the package since it was introduced four months ago receive a taste of park attractions that arouses their interest and brings them back to fully explore the heritage gardens.

Instructors are on hand to guide groups of rafters along the swiftly-flowing Peresak River and to identify convenient points for photographing the passing attractions.

Rafters see two of the park’s important and better-known features: the Dutch heritage “Shiphon” community irrigation system and the garden of Durian Raja, the king of all durian fruit.

Reached after a few kilometres of white water rafting, Shiphon dominates yet conforms to the landscape to the east of the park’s lake.

Built during the Dutch trading and colonial era which lasted from the 17th century to 1949, the giant Shiphon snakes across the terrain, splitting the river and delivering water to villages in the region.

Rather than interfering with the landscape, the massive structure matches the natural contours of the terrain in its path. Starting from a low hill, it curves and rolls its way in synchronisation with the land towards Peresak village.

Visitors find themselves engrossed in the amazing engineering feat of the one-kilometre long Shiphon as it continues to rush water to meet the irrigation needs of surrounding villages.

The rafting expedition ends where an orchard of the pungent and coveted durian fruit rises from the river banks, providing a cool and shady garden which produces the Durian Raja.

According to local people, the trees bearing this rare and favoured species of durian were planted when the King of Mataram built the Narmada Park complex. A statue in the park which features a history portrayed in symbols indicates the park was built in the early 18th century.

Certainly the 45-metre average height of the Durian Raja trees, and their wide trunks, indicate they are very old. Their fruit is known as the most delicious of all durian.

“Hopefully this new rafting package adds value for visitors experiencing the history reflected at Narmada Park,” said park manager Supriyadi.

Near to the Shiphon and at the bottom of Narmada Park lies a large and beautiful lake which is a replica of the magnificent caldera lake, Segara Anak, on Lombok’s towering volcano, Mount Rinjani.

Park management puts the lake to good use by staging a series of regular and special fishing events which draw thousands of fishing enthusiasts to the park.

In preparation for a major event in mid-January, the lake has been cleaned and restocked with thousands of fish of numerous species including carp, nila and bawel. “We have already released thousands of young fish into the lake,” said Supriyadi, who anticipates thousands of participants in January.

Fishing events include a weekly competition, invitational events and an open tournament in which anglers vie for the West Lombok Regent’s trophy.

Another major angling event in April is expected to draw thousands of anglers from around Lombok.

Supriyadi says the introduction of fishing events as a Narmada Park tourism product in recent years has been a huge success.

Most residents of the Narmada and Lingsar districts own stocked fish ponds which many use a primary means of business by creating traditional lesehan style eating places – diners sit on cushions on raised open-air roofed structures – which are supplied with fresh water fish from the ponds.

Members of fishing groups in both Narmada and nearby Lingsar have embraced the park’s program of fishing events. And the park management is hopeful that travel agents will sell Narmada fishing packages to international and domestic visitors to Lombok.

Many aspects of Narmada Park, which houses numerous buildings of religious and historical significance, are sacred and it is an important location for ceremonies.

source:www.enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

The Hidden Treasure of Karang Bayan

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000+08:00

Hidden treasure is waiting to be found among the rich art, fruit and forest products of West Lombok’s Karang Bayan village, 25 kilometres east of Mataram.

But it has nothing to do with durian or other exotic natural products – it is an ancient mosque that has been there for three centuries.

Known as the Mosque of Honesty, it numbers among several heritage mosques on Lombok, yet until now it has been overlooked as a religious and tourism attraction
.
Moves have started to publicise the historic Masjid Kuno Karang Bayan and to make it a “must see” on tourist itineraries, along with famous places of worship at Bayan in North Lombok; Rembitan in Central Lombok; and Songak in East Lombok.

Local leader Hajji Jayadi says the Karang Bayan mosque may have been a victim of the village’s high profile as a centre of art and fine agricultural produce.

As in many Lombok communities, Karang Bayan’s 300 families are a mix of Muslims and Hindus. Mostly farmers, they live peacefully alongside each other in the time-honoured Lombok way.

The centuries-old Mosque of Honesty sits on a plot of land five metres by six metres and still features its original soil and bamboo walls and thatch roof.

Locals say it has never been maintained or repaired and its structure is deteriorating. Although it is now fenced off, there are no apparent plans to restore the historic building.

Once an important mosque for many, its place on the calendar of traditional events is uncertain and activities at the mosque have dropped sharply. But Hajji Jayadi says local people are still committed to caring for and maintaining historic relics and keeping social customs once mandated from the mosque.

“It was built hundreds of years ago,” says Hajji Jayadi. Because of this history local people believe it not only symbolises religious or customary rites but also regulates social conformity.

“The people all believe in the power of this mystical place. The mosque is considered the protector of the village from outside dangers. This binds citizens to live according to existing rules.

“Those who have been accused of not acting according to the norms are still taken to the mosque to be tried and punished.”
The mosque exerts tremendous power over local people. No one would dare touch or take away items from the building, a factor that has led to its becoming known as the Mosque of Honesty. “If anyone dared to do this, the people would go crazy,” said Hajji Jayadi.

Local belief is that the mosque is the law and will immediately have proof of any violations.
Karang Bayan has high historical value in Lombok’s story as the site at which the Hindu king Anak Agung Gede Patre founded (in about 1618) a rich kingdom that lasted more than two centuries before the Dutch colonial authorities took over in the late 19th century.

What killed the great wealth of the kingdom was a rule introduced by the Dutch that limited individual landholdings to nine hectares. At that time kingly lands totalled 900 hectares in Narmada, Lingsar and Gunungsari.

Aside from the historic mosque, the Karang Bayan area houses remnants of royal buildings including the Kaputeren, still in use, which Anak Agung Gede Patre built as a haven for his wife and daughters during his absence. The only men allowed near it were guards on the parapets outside the building which was made of similar materials to those of the mosque.

Today the Kaputeren serves as a girls’ hostel for students living away from home. The prohibition on men entering the building is still enforced by local custom and transgressors would face customary punishment.

Hajji Jayadi says the rich history of the area could become a mainstay tourist attraction, especially as tourists are aware of nearby destinations such as Suranadi forest park. The park was created during the reign of King Anak Agung of Mataram to honour a Hindu missionary, Dang Hyang Nilarta.

Not far away is historic Pura Lingsar, the biggest and oldest Hindu temple in Lombok. It was built in 1714 by King Anak Agung Ketut Karangasem near the Toya Hengsar spring which is said to have been revealed to Anglurah Ketut Karangasem on his expedition to Lombok in 1692.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Relics of Sumbawa’s Rich Regal Past

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000+08:00

Iconic Dalam Loka Palace, built in 1855 by Sumbawa Sultan Muhammad Jalaluddin Syah III, is one West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) monument that is widely known throughout Indonesia.

A replica of the palace at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) park of miniatures in Jakarta represents links between NTB and the capital and nation.

The palace, in the city centre of Sumbawa Besar, features walls made exclusively of teak and it once functioned as a museum.
Known as Istana Tua, or Old Palace, Dalam Loka Palace consists of twin buildings supported by 99 pillars representing the 99 known names of Allah.

Several royal palaces, including Bala Balong, Bala Sawo and Gunung Setia, previously occupied the Dalam Loka site but either collapsed from age or were destroyed by fire.

The large Dalam Loka Palace complex replaced the old palaces and still stands proudly, reflecting the history and culture of the Sumbawa sultanate.

Westwards in the palace complex is a large field, Lenang Lunyuk, in which stood Makam Mosque which has been renamed Nurul Huda Mosque. In the days of the earlier sultanate, the palace, the field and the mosque were an inseparable unit with interrelated functions.

About 500 metres to the north of the palace is a modern palace built by the Dutch colonial authorities in 1934. Named Wisma Praja, it is also known as Regency Hall and has been well maintained.

Wisma Praja is believed to have been the office of Sultan Kaharuddin III, before he eventually moved to Bala Kuning palace, the private yellow-coloured home which he occupied until his death.
Wisma Praja now serves as the official office of the Sumbawa regent and features a tennis court around where there was once a sacred well with a depth of 19 metres.

The southern part of the Wisma Praja complex, once a residential area for royal officials, houses a primary school, the Brang Bara village office and Sumbawa Besar offices.
At the front of the Wisma Praja complex is a three-story building known as Bale Jam, or Hour House, on whose third floor hangs a large bell imported from Holland. The bell, which no longer operates, would sound on the hour to inform Sumbawa Besar city residents of the time.

When political changes altered the status of Sumbawa from a sultanate to a second-level autonomous district, the sultan and his family moved from Wisma Praja to Bala Kuning which still displays some of the heritage of the sultanate.
Well maintained relics depicting the greatness of the sultanate include clothing and banquet and other ceremonial equipment. Other items include ceremonial swords and other weapons, umbrellas and a copy of the Qu’ran (Koran) hand-written by Ibnu Abdullah Al-Jawi during the reign of Sultan Harrunnurrasyid II, from 1770 to 1790.

According to Sumbawa’s head of Youth, Sport, Culture and Tourism, H Naziruddin, relics from the ancient Sumbawa sultanate, such as those found at Dalam Loka, Wisma Praja and Kuning Bala, are the main attractions in city tours of Sumbawa Besar.
“There is one more palace containing relics of the Sumbawa sultanate,” he said. “This is the former residence of the First Minister of Sumbawa and it is not well known by the public.

“Of course, in addition to our rich historical tours, Sumbawa regency also has many other interesting and exciting attractions and destinations.”

Source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Women Weave a Living from Ancient Art

2011-12-17T09:30:00.000+08:00

When people ask where they can see the age-old process of weaving traditional Lombok fabrics, they are invariably directed to Sukarara village in the Jonggat district of Central Lombok.

Sukarara gained a reputation during West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province’s tourism boom in the 1980s as Lombok’s prime production centre for traditionally designed and woven fabrics.

And while many other Lombok communities have since developed a profile for their customary and colourful handicrafts including weaving, Sukarara’s pioneering spirit has secured its position as the prime destination for tourists wanting to examine and buy the island’s distinctive woven fabrics.

According to Intan Art Shop owner and manager Nizom, the weaving expertise of the Sukarara villagers is a legacy inherited through generations that today provides the livelihood of most village residents, especially the women.

“For the women of Sukarara, weaving is a daily activity that has been passed down from generation to generation,” he says. “In fact, village girls generally start weaving at around age eight, when they are in their second or third year of elementary school.

” In early days, said Nizom, weaving was an additional activity performed by Sukarara women after they had returned from the fields and completed their daily chores. Nowadays, tourism development has turned their weaving into regular work and a prime source of income.

Nizom’s Intan Art Shop was established in 1992 and he inherited the craft business from his mother only a few years ago. Today he employs five weavers and has produced hundreds of motifs for various sized pieces of woven fabric.

Among the distinctive Sukarara motifs that characterise the island of Lombok, is Subahnala, which Nizom says is Lombok’s most ancient woven fabric design.

Other well-known designs include Wayang, Keker, Bintang Empat, Barong, Bulan Begantung and Lumbung – all representations of culturally significant influences such as traditional puppetry and dance, stars, the moon and rice barns.

Sukarara generally produces two sizes of fabric. Depending on the intricacy of the design, it takes about six or seven weeks to produce a sarong-sized length of 2 metres by 120 centimetres. Lengths of 4 metres by 60 centimetres are woven in only one or two weeks, says Nizom, because much simpler motifs are used. Price depends mostly on the complexity of the motif and the type of yarn used to weave the fabric. “In general, prices for a length of woven material can range from Rp200,000 up to Rp3 million for hand-woven silk with a complicated motif,” he said.

Nizom has worked with travel agents and tour operators to ensure a good spread of buyers across the year. “The local and domestic markets peak in December and January, during school holidays and the New Year season,” he said. “High season for foreign visitors coincides with peak tourism season during the European summer months of June, July and August.” As part of his business development strategy, Nizom participates in national and regional trade events such as promotions at the Jakarta Trade Centre, the Pekan Raya Jakarta fair and the NTB Expo handicrafts exhibition.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Lombok on Show at World Travel Event

2011-12-16T16:05:00.002+08:00

FOR THE first time, Lombok tourism was collectively represented in 2011 at London’s World Travel Market – the annual leading global promotional event for the travel and tourism industry.

The intensive four-day event in November gives business-to-business opportunities to present destinations and industry sectors to United Kingdom and other international travel professionals.

This year’s event was the busiest ever, attracting 28,000 visitors which was a five percent increase on 2010 attendance which soared 10 percent over visitor numbers in 2009.

Lombok tourism at the event was represented by the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) branch of the Indonesia Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI); the Lombok Hotels Association and five Lombok resorts.

Lombok’s attendance at the event was supported by Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwanda. His London program included a trade show seminar on 8 November titled Wonderful Indonesia in which the Visit Lombok Sumbawa 2012 campaign was promoted along with a program to attract tourism to South Sulawesi.

Overall, the Lombok delegation was successful in presenting the island’s tourism potential to industry operators capable of promoting and sending tourists to the island and to the British and international media.

On behalf of NTB’s branch of PHRI, Santosa Resort & Villas general manager Stephane Servin said while many travel agents at the exhibition responded well to products from throughout Indonesia, they were particular impressed with Lombok’s presence and products.

“Many of them previously knew little of Lombok and were excited to be presented with a ‘new’ market,” said Mr Servin. “Some of the main wholesalers at the travel market commented that it was time to see much more of Lombok at major travel trade events.”
World Travel Market London presents a rare opportunity for the global travel and tourism trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business.

Participants therefore gain a competitive advantage for their businesses and are exposed to new developments in the tourism and travel industry.

Lombok resorts which sent representatives to London were Puri Mas Villas, Puri Bunga Cottages, Qunci Villas and Cocotinos Sekotong as well as Santosa.

Puri Mas has two boutique properties a little north of the Senggigi tourist strip; Puri Bunga overlooks Senggigi Bay, Qunci ‘s beachfront boutique property is north of Senggigi; Cocotinos sits on the bay in Lombok’s developing southern destination of Sekotong; and Santosa occupies prime beachfront land at Senggigi.

Lombok tourism operators have responded enthusiastically to broader opportunities to promote travel to the island with the opening of the new Lombok International Airport which can accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.

Charter flights will deliver 4000 Russians directly to Lombok airport for two-week vacations through to May 2012. And tourism professionals are hopeful that successful low-cost carrier Air Asia will be one of the first airlines to schedule new regular services to Lombok in 2012.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Finding Nemo with Gili Air Divers

2011-12-16T15:36:00.000+08:00

Every who has watched the movie Finding Nemo is familiar with the cute, orange-white striped fish that got lost in the big wide ocean.

But what do we really know about these amazing creatures that are found all around the Gili islands? Firstly, Nemo was originally named a False Clown Anemonefish (Amphiprion percula) and is part of a big family of numerous species of anemonefish.

The fish grow up to about 11 centimetres and live in venomous anemonies. Their symbiosis with anemones is extraordinary: while an anemone (with its stinging cells) protects an anemonefish from predators, the brightly-coloured fish attacks prey for the anemone.

Divers from Gili Air Divers usually notice that the lively anemonefish always move very quickly — and sometimes it even seems as though they are dancing.

The fact is that by moving very quickly anemonefish, or Nemos, protect themselves from the stings of the anemone that they inhabit.

It has been said that anemonefish can create a mucus which carries the anemone’s chemical signature and therefore protects them from the poisonous stings. Gili Air Divers staff always ensure that clients understand that anemonefish are not at all aggressive, and that they are always fun to watch underwater.

They usually live in an anemone as a small monogamous family of a pair of adult anemonefish and several small juveniles, which are not actually their real offspring, but juveniles that were brought to the anemone with currents and waves. Another amazing feature of these small and lively animals is their way of changing sex during their life cycle. All anemonefish are born as males. Later, the largest one in an anemone takes the leading role and transforms into a female.

If a female dies, within a week another male will change sex to ensure there is a leader in an anemone.

There are a lot of diversities around the Three Gilis (Lombok’s north-west islands of Air, Meno and Trawangan), where divers can get up close to anemonefish at dive locations such as the Air Wall, Frog Fish Point, Mirko’s reef, Shark Point, Bounty Wreck and Manta Point. Did you know that you can hear anemonefish underwater? At Gili Air Divers, we always like to take our time and let our customers listen to the sounds of these small, colourful creatures. It’s well worth the experience.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

New Lombok International Airport

2011-12-08T15:16:00.001+08:00

Bandara Internasional Lombok BIL (Lombok International Airport) (IATA: LOP, ICAO: WADL) is a new airport on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. It is located approximately 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) from the town of Praya.

The new airport Bandara Internasional Lombok (BIL) officially opened on October 1, 2011, replacing the present Selaparang Airport (IATA: AMI, ICAO: WADA), which is now officially closed. Indonesia promotes both Lombok and Sumbawa islands as tourist destination second only to Bali, and expects one million passengers by year-end 2012. The Airport is administered by 'PT. Angkasa Pura 1'.

With one long runway (more to be added in the future), Lombok International Airport is to accommodate wide-body aircraft and is currently served by airlines offering mainly flights within Indonesia and to Singapore. New airlines with larger aircrafts are expected to join Lombok in the future.

Lombok International Airport has one passenger terminal, presently accommodating 2.4 million passengers a year.

Parking at Lombok International, The carpark occupies presently 17,500 square meters will accommodate widebody high capacity Airbus 330, Boeing 767 airliners as well as smaller aircraft such as Boeing 737 and Airbus 319-320 aircraft already serving Lombok.

Aerial View of BIL

Toll Gate of BIL

Arrival Gate

Passenger Check-In Area

Check-In Situation

Apron Area of BIL

(Pictures are taken from Flickr)

This is another picture taken from Youtube

Lombok Fast Food Restaurant Info

2011-12-06T08:30:00.000+08:00

Did you think that there are no Lombok fast food restaurants? Think again, there are as many fast food restaurants in Mataram as any other type. You can order around Mataram. They will deliver it as soon as possible

Pizza Hut
Jln. Pejanggik 47A, Mataram
phone: 0370 – 649.266

Kentucky Fried Chicken
1st Floor, Mataram Mall
Jln. Pejanggik, Mataram
delivery service: 14022

Mc Donald
1st Floor, Mataram Mall
Jln. Pejanggik, Mataram
delivery service: 14045 (24 hours)

The Best of Lombok’s Tourism Today

2011-12-05T14:46:00.001+08:00

Best surfing

Kuta Waves

Head south to Kuta Lombok and other beaches nearby: Gerupak, Mawi and Ekas. Kimen Surf on the main street has all the gear and information you need, along with surfing lessons and motorbike hire. Desert Point is harder to get to,
but has world-class waves.
Best seafood barbecue
The seafood is great anywhere on Lombok, but Scallywags on Gili Trawangan stands out. Choose what you want from their display of fresh fish and seafood to go straight on the barbecue. Meal comes with a salad buffet.

Best bar
Rudy’s in Gili Trawangan is good value, friendly and lively. Settle in for the night on a cushion in one of its burruga (gazebos).

Best exercise
Earn those hours lazing on the beach by putting on some warm clothes and tackling the tough climb up 3,726-meter high Mt. Rinjani. There are various routes, taking up to five days, through protected forest to the massive freshwater lake and natural hot springs.

Best sunset

Sunset @ Gili Trawangan

Head to the Sunset Bar on the west side of Gili Trawangan, and watch the sun set over Bali’s Mt. Agung.

Best backpackers
G’Day Inn in Kuta Lombok is a friendly, family-run place with simple, clean rooms, and a great little restaurant/cafe. Ask for the prawn curry – it’s not on the menu, but it should be. Tel: 0370-655342.

Best beachside bungalow
The recently opened Beachcombers Cottages sit right by the beach on the north side of Gili Trawangan, with excellent views and all the mod cons – huge bed, A/C, cable TV, minibar and hot/cold freshwater shower in a dreamy
alfresco bathroom. Tel: 0878 633 33309.

Best air
The rural village of Tetebatu is a cool, lush mountain retreat, from where you can do plenty of hikes or bike rides through country lanes to nearby craft villages and waterfalls.

Best base
If you want to visit several places, tourist center Senggigi is the most convenient. It has all the tourist facilities you need– car/driver hire, tour organizers and transport, including the shuttle boat to Bali.

Best surprise
It seems odd to visit an island famous for its beaches and mountain, only to head for the river. But if you are staying near Mataram, Crocodile River Cottages is an unexpectedly wonderful find, its luxurious timber bungalows alongside the Meningting river offering a quiet hideaway. It has bar, restaurant, room service, massages, river cruises, tourist information and beach transfers. Tel: 0370-664 6444.

Best sunrise
Book a room at mid-range Flush Bungalow on the east of Gili Trawangan. Pull back the curtain and mosquito net, and watch the dawn without even leaving your bed … until it’s time to go eat banana pancakes for breakfast. Tel: Ping on
0819 1725 1532.

Best diving
Big Bubble Dive on Gili Trawangan has fully certified instructors to give dive lessons and to take you to the area’s best world-class spots.

Best private island experience
Gili Nanggu, near Lembar (the port for the ferry to Bali) in the southwest, is a small island with nothing but the Gili Nanggu Cottages (Tel: 0370-623783) and a Buddhist temple. At full moon, you might have to share your island with monks from around the world, come to worship at the temple.

source:lombokbridge.com

Weavers meld Tradition with Modern Fashion

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000+08:00

Weaving is an integral part of Lombok society, especially for women, who often practise techniques and create designs handed down from their ancestors.

Traditional weaving and batik craft has survived on Lombok through the ages and, nowadays, is competing admirably in the modern world of fashion.

To prove it, dozens of graceful models saunter along the catwalk, taking turns to spread their garments to full effect before hundreds of pairs of eyes.

Few in the room are strangers to some batik and other clothing and accessories which have been created by a noted local designer. And people recognise typical batik motifs, such as one of spinach leaf.

On show are ranges of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) woven work clothes for men and women and batik fashion wear for men and women.

The occasion is the annual weaving and batik design competition of the National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) NTB, which this year attracted hundreds of fashion designers including some of national repute.

“At this event we are displaying three designs that all are based on patterns of the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok,” said Dekranasda West Lombok representative Muslihan.

Also at Mataram’s Hotel Grand Legi ballroom for the October event, aimed at publicising and attracting wider markets for Lombok’s woven products and batik, were Governor Zainul Majdi and representatives of Indonesia’s Trade Ministry.

Interest was high in the build-up to the long-awaited moment at which Dompu district was judged overall champion for its work with Sasambo (a word representing NTB’s ethnic Sasak, Samawa and Mbojo people) batik for men’s wear. Dompu was successful in three categories of work clothes for men.

“We dedicate this victory to all lovers of cloth and batik in our county,” said Dekranasda Dompu chairman Ery Eryani.

In its regional development master plan, NTB has identified the development of creative industries which produce superior products, such as woven and batik goods, as a mean of supporting the priority regional objective of tourism development.

Already, some NTB villages have developed their traditional activities such as weaving to become recognised as leading production centres which attract tourists and benefit community welfare.

“There are 14 sectors of the creative economy that have big advantages and two of them are fashion and woven crafts,” said Dekranasda NTB chairman Zainul Majdi Rabiatul Adawiyah, who is the Governor’s wife. “We are maximising both.”

Earlier this year, the NTB branch of Dekranasda was named third national champion at a modern ethnic weaving competition attended by designers of traditional woven fabrics from all 33 Indonesian provinces.

The competition in Jakarta was conducted simultaneously with a weaving exhibition and fashion show to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the National Crafts Council.

NTB gained third place after Kalimantan and Central Java with its distinctive and exotic woven fabrics from the renowned craft villages of Gumise and Sukarara.

Aspects of judging included authenticity of the product, fusion between traditional local motifs and modernity, and the responsiveness of the design to existing market opportunities.

Being named third national champion was a source of pride for Dekranasda NTB which takes quality local craft products to regional and national events where they gain market exposure and craftsmen can exchange information with their colleagues from other regions.

Earlier this year NTB was chosen, along with West Java, Yogyakarta and Bali, to present its characteristic ketak and cukli woven work at a major Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) exhibition in Tokyo.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Craftsman’s Vision takes Ketak Offshore

2011-11-22T08:30:00.000+08:00

As a Young craftsman of ketak products, Suhartono dreamed of opening his own shop in his own community, to gain better prices for his products and to bring gains to his village.

Ketak is a kind of natural twine which was widely available in the forests of Lombok and which is used for weaving handicrafts such as bags, wallets, jewellery boxes, trays and table mats.

Suhartono, who now owns Mawar Art Shop in the Nyurbaya Gawah community of Batu Mekar village, about 10 kilometres from Mataram in Lingsar district, says the skill of ketak is a legacy inherited by Nyurbaya Gawah residents from their ancestors.

“Almost everyone at Nyurbaya Gawah, which consists of 300 families of three to four people, has the expertise to produce ketak goods,” he said.

The settlement sits on the outskirts of the forest of Argapura – the mountain range that stretches from the Senggigi in the west to Sesaot in the east – and its residents know the forest and how to use its products such as ketak in their daily lives.

“Our ancestors living near the forest took Argapura ketak to make products such as tobacco boxes and fishing creels,” said Suhartono.

Once tourism started to develop on Lombok, the tightly-woven ketak products became a favourite of visitors and the craftsmen extended their product range beyond meeting their own needs.

They produced a variety of souvenirs and other goods that appealed to visitors, and business flourished.

The work of the Nyurbaya Gawah craftsmen is in high demand from people who operate and stock art shops because it is known to be smooth, neat and of high quality.

“No matter how much ketak product we create, we always take orders for it all,” said Suhartono. “As a result, the Nyurbaya Gawah community has benefitted economically.”

As a young man who crafted ketak goods and planned for the future, Suhartono dreamed of setting up his own art shop so that he could achieve better prices for his work by selling directly to tourists and bypassing the middleman.

He also realised that a shop in the craft centre itself would bring visitors directly to Nyurbaya Gawah, create spin-off benefits for the community and support other sectors of its economy.

“My dream was finally realised in 1998,” he said. “With initial capital of only Rp750,000 and with the support of my wife Mawaryanti, I worked hard to set up the Mawar Art shop at home.”

Then, the shop was stocked with items crafted by Suhartono, Mawaryanti and their neighbours.

“Thanks to God, even though my business was small it was constantly growing, so eventually I was able to raise capital,” recalled Suhartono.

“Now, although my shop at home is not large, it has become a central outlet for the Ketak crafts of the community,” he said with pride.

“Prices for ketak items range from Rp2500 up to Rp7.5 million and we are exporting to markets including Australia, Spain, France and the United States as well as selling locally. We are exploring potential markets in Japan and China.”

As market demand increases, however, the raw material of ketak is becoming more difficult to find on Lombok and is being sourced from Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara province.

“We hope and pray for guidance from the government on how to rejuvenate the plant so we do not exhaust our supplies of the Ketak twine and endanger our successful craft industry,” said Suhartono.

Crafting a ketak product usually takes three of four days. Initially the ketak twine must be smoothed with a small knife, subjected to other processes and then stained using a special method to preserve its natural appearance.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Heavenly Surf to put Dompu on a Roll

2011-11-21T08:30:00.000+08:00

Almost every day, tourists from around the world gather at Sumbawa’s Lakey beach to indulge their love of surfing and meet the challenge of Lakey’s ferocious waves.

The strength and height of Lakey’s world-renowned waves, in the Hu’u district of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province’s Dompu region, have been a natural blessing for local tourism development and are seen as the starting point for promotion of other Dompu tourist attractions.

Dompu Culture and Tourism head Sayuti Melik, in connection with the NTB Regional Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) roadshow in October, said the consistent roll of the waves defied seasonal influences to make serious surfers of the world regard Lakey, about 90 minutes by car from Dompu city, as their “heaven.”

“Every year, Lakey beach hosts world-class surfing championships,” he said. “There are four types of waves at Lakey beach that are highly sought-after and preferred by surfers. They are Lakey Peak, Cobble Stone, Lakey Pipe and Periscope.”

The Lakey Peak wave, said Sayuti Melik, was a firm favourite that allowed sportsmen to surf from either the left or the right. From the left, the wave forms a long and intense tunnel. From the right, the roll of the water creates the perfect wave.

In addition to providing year-round waves that are perfect and highly-challenging, Lakey offers amazing scenery including a striking white sand beach and crystal-clear waters which are idyllic for swimming.

Below the ocean surface teems a variety of marine life that provides wonderful viewing for snorkelers.

And when the tide recedes, often in the late afternoon, there are beautiful scenes of villagers gathering seaweed against the backdrop of the sinking sun.

Along the coast of Lakey, on hilltops directly overlooking the ocean, are caves that were part of the occupying Japanese Army’s defence in World War Two.

There is also the Nangasia megalithic site of ruins that points to Dompu’s long history and is thought to have existed since 4500 BC. The site, believed to have been a necropolis or burial place, has revealed archaeological objects such as beaded jewellery and pottery which indicate quite advanced technological skills of the ancient ancestors of the Dompu people.

“In the Nangasia site area there is the place known as Batu Kursi (Wadu Kadera or Stone Chair) which was the location for the coronation of the Dompu Ncuhi, or tribal chieftains,” said Sayuti Melik. Batu Kursi is believed to contain prints of the soles of Ncuhi feet.

The Lakey coastal region offers a variety of accommodation and restaurants to meet tourist needs.

BPPD’s NTB chairman Awanadhi Aswinabawa welcomed Dompu’s achievements in progressing tourism development, saying Dompu’s Culture and Tourism department’s contribution to revenue of almost Rp100 million a year was substantial.

BPPD NTB, appointed by the NTB provincial administration to promote the tourism sector, said Lakey’s reputation in the global surfing community was an asset to its own task of increasing NTB’s tourism profile.

“Clearly, the existence and reputation of Lakey beach can be a very good starting point for introducing other tourist destinations in Dompu, which certainly are no less appealing and interesting,” said Awanadhi.

“There is, for example, the legendary Mount Tambora, known to the world for its catastrophic eruption whose 200th anniversary will be commemorated in 2015.”

Dompu also was home to the archaeological Nangasia sites, the Dorabata site, Ria beach and Felo Janga beach, he said.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

‘War’ reveals Lombok’s Unity of Religions

2011-11-20T08:30:00.000+08:00

At Lombok’s historic Lingsar Temple, both Hindus and Muslims gather to give thanks to God for regional prosperity by staging the lively and combative ritual of Perang Topat, or rice-cake war.

The annual ritual, in which opposing sides hurl rice wrapped in diamond-shaped parcels of coconut leaf at each other, has become a widely-known West Lombok cultural tradition and a popular tourist drawcard.

The Perang Topat series of ceremonies takes place on the full moon of the sixth month of Sasih on the Balinese Hindu calendar and this year falls at the end of November.

The Lingsar Park complex of religious buildings is about nine kilometres from Mataram city in Lingsar village, West Lombok. The unique complex includes a sacred Hindu shrine and a central temple which includes buildings (kemalik) that are sacred to the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok who practice Islam.

The Hindu / Muslim complex was built in 1759 by King Anak Agung Ngurah of the Balinese Kingdom of Karang Asem which then ruled the western part of Lombok island.

Gaduh Temple is at the north of the Lingsar complex, facing west, while the kemalik sites are at the south, also facing west. The buildings feature traditional Balinese architecture.

At the appropriate time on the Balinese Hindu calendar, which also is known as pitu on the Sasak calendar, Lingsar people of both Hindu and Muslim faiths gather to give thanks to God for prosperity and well-being through the year. Lively traditional arts are performed before and after the significant ceremony.

Perang Topat is a core traditional performance of the ceremony and is staged after prayers at the temple and kemalik. The topat, or rice parcels, to be used in the “war” have been prepared previously as offerings by the villagers.

At around 5pm, worshippers gather to conduct an animated display of throwing the topat at each other. After the “war”, the topat is collected and sown back into the rice paddies at night as a symbolic plea for fertile soil and abundant crops.

Other offerings made at this agrarian ritual include representations of rice barns containing glutinous rice, to symbolise social welfare and prosperity, and trays of nine fruits and rice, symbolising fertility and prosperity.

Miniature gardens are made by plugging the flat tops of old coconuts with nine stems of bamboo, measuring up to 30 centimetres, and various fruit, representing fertile earth filled with lush trees and fruit.

Eternal life, in the afterlife, is symbolised by an intricate object involving an implement of Muslim prayer rolled up in a mat of pandanus leaves on which the Koran (Qur’an) is placed inside a closed cover of woven bamboo. The representation also involves an empty bottle, tightly wrapped in white cloth.

The Perang Topat tradition is believed to have taken place since Lingsar temple was built two and a half centuries ago. Today it attracts tourists who are invited by the event organisers and others who find their own way to the lively scene.

Visitors are intent on capturing images of the amazing ritual which for more than 200 years has transcended cultural and religious differences. Some even manage to put down their cameras for long enough to return a volley of topat, thrown at them by locals keen to involve their guests in the activity.

For the people of Lingsar, the rice-cake war portrays unity and harmony between Lombok’s Muslims and Hindus, says one of Lingsar village’s tradition leaders, Suparman Taufik.

It shows how religious tradition and a sense of community can be harnessed to improve welfare and aid development, in this case through tourism.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Say Satay for Sensational Local Flavour

2011-11-19T08:30:00.000+08:00

Lombok society would consider its religious rituals incomplete if Satay Pusut was not among the many dishes prepared as ceremonial offerings.

If you happen to find Satay Pusut – minced fish, chicken or beef mixed with fresh coconut, chilli and spices moulded and grilled on bamboo sticks – you can be sure it is derived from Lombok, the Island of One Thousand Mosques.

Exploring Lombok’s culinary world, in which raw native chilli is the dominant ingredient of most seasoning, is a welcome challenge for visitors. Among favourite dishes are Pelecing Kangkung, sautéed water spinach and bean sprouts with tomato sauce and shredded coconut, and Nasi Puyung, very spicy rice wrapped in banana leaves.

Local people, however, love to savour the flavour of Satay Pusut which features at almost every religious and customary event where large ceremonial food trays (pesaji) are filled with various delicacies, including Satay Pusut and steamed white rice.

Satay Pusut is available every day, though, at locations such as on the streets of Gerung, about 20 kilometres south of Mataram, where women congregate in the afternoons to sell all kinds of Satay Pusut in various sizes.

“These satays will sell fast, especially if they have been newly grilled,” said local seller Inaq Ming, 45.

The distinctive Satay Pusut has long been a typical culinary icon of Lombok. In other areas of Indonesia, satays are usually made from cubes of meat skewered on bamboo sticks. Satay Pusut is different.

The 15 centimetre bamboo skewers have been refined to accept the Satay Pusut mixture which is moulded to the stick by placing the mixture, known locally as kekatik, in a fist and slowly clenching and unclenching it around the stick.

Most mixtures consist of minced meat, grated coconut, coconut milk and seasoning.

Firstly, the meat is boiled, cut and minced and mixed with coconut milk, citrus, salt and pepper. At this stage the special skill, which eludes many people, of making exactly the right amount of mixture adhere to the stick, comes into play. Usually about half of the mixture is kept for later.

Don’t make the mistake of concluding that Lombok’s Satay Pusut is the same as Bali’s Satay Lilit as there are fundamental differences which reflect historical variations between the two islands.

While both satay mixtures are moulded to bamboo sticks with clenched fists, the Satay Lilit mixture is made from minced seafood and different spices.

Satay lover Sinta, of Mataram, says the essential difference lies in the larger size of Satay Lilit which creates problems in adjusting the seasoning for each satay stick.

Lombok authorities had flagged the concept of patenting Satay Pusut as an original food of Lombok, but little has been heard of the plan.

For the flavour-conscious Lombok society, of equal popularity to Satay Pusut is traditional Satay Bulayak, made from beef dressed with typical spices of Lombok and served with rice cake wrapped in coconut leaf.

The distinguishing flavour of Satay Bulayak is created from a seasoning made from roasted crushed peanuts boiled with coconut milk and herbs. The resultant flavour is often described as a curry.

Satay Bulayak can be readily found along Jalan Udayana in Mataram and at Narmada Park in West Lombok.

Don’t deny yourself some of Lombok’s sensational culinary specialities, and be sure to seek out the every-popular and hard to concoct Satay Pusut.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

How to Get In Komodo Island

2011-11-17T17:16:00.000+08:00

While most visitors enter Komodo National Park (KNP) through the gateway cities of Labuan Bajo in the west of Flores or Bima in eastern Sumbawa, the departure point for your trip is actually Denpasar, Bali.

By Air:

Indonesia Air Transport (IAT)
Depart	:	Everyday
DPS - LBJ	:	10.00 – 11.30
LBJ - DPS	:	12.00 – 13.30

Price:
Y CLASS	:	IDR 751.000
H CLASS	:	IDR 696.000
Q CLASS	:	IDR 641.000 (NON REFUND TICKET)

Trans Nusa Airlines (TGN)
Depart	:	Everyday
DPS – LBJ	:	10.00 – 11.50 & 13.00 – 14.20
LBJ – DPS VIA BMU (BIMA)	:	12.05 - 12.35
BMU-DPS	:	12.50 – 13.45
LBJ – DPS	:	14.35 – 15.15

Price
Y CLASS	:	IDR 761.000
L CLASS	:	IDR 651.000
M CLASS	:	IDR 541.000

By Land:

The gateway cities of Labuan Bajo and Bima are connected to Denpasar, Bali by overland buses.

By Sea (ferry):

Travel time: approximately 36 hours

The gateway cities of Labuan Bajo and Bima are also connected to Denpasar, Bali by inter-island ferry.

Contact the Indonesia Sea Transportation Company (PELNI) at Jalan Raya Kuta No. 299, Tuban - Bali (Tel: 0361 - 763 963) to reserve a seat on the KM. Tilong Kabila, which departs Benoa Port, Bali bound for Bima and Labuan Bajo

Benoa-Bima-Labuan Bajo
Fortnightly (every two weeks) on Saturdays: 09.00-20.00 (next day).
One-way ticket (as of 10/6/06) from Rp. 143,000.00 - Rp. 435,000.00

Labuan Bajo-Bima-Benoa
Fortnightly (every two weeks) on Thursdays: 08.00-11.00 (next day).
One-way ticket (as of 10/6/06) from Rp. 143,000.00 - Rp. 435,000.00

Note: the ferry schedule and ticket prices may change with or without prior notice

By Sea (live-aboard):

Komodo National Park is serviced by a wide range of live-aboard boats, with return packages to Komodo National Park from a variety of departure points, including Bali, Lombok, Bima and Labuan Bajo

Prices (as of 10/6/06) are ranging from USD 230.00 - USD 295.00 / person / night.

From Gateway Cities to Komodo National Park (KNP)

You can easily organize a shared boat charter by local boat from either ports at Labuan Bajo or Bima (Sape) to the two major points of access in the Park: Loh Liang (on Komodo Island) or Loh Buaya (on Rinca Island)

Charter price (as of 10/6/06) - excluding meals, KNP entrance fee etc:
Labuan Bajo: KNP: Rp. 750,000 - 1,500,000 per boat / day
Bima (Sape): KNP: Rp. 1,500.000 - 2,000.000 per boat / day

Note: the charter prices may change with or without prior notice

More About Komodo National Park

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000+08:00

LOCATION :
Komodo National Park lies in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the border of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2 of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2

HISTORY :
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.
The majority of the people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.
Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

DEMOGRAPHICS :
There are presently almost 4,000 inhabitants living within the park spread out over four settlements (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran). All villages existed prior to 1980 before the area was declared a national park. In 1928 there were only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people on Rinca Island in 1930. The population increased rapidly, and by 1999, there were 281 families numbering 1,169 people on Komodo, meaning that the local population had increased exponentially. Komodo Village has had the highest population increase of the villages within the Park, mostly due to migration by people from Sape, Manggarai, Madura, and South Sulawesi. The number of buildings in Kampung Komodo has increased rapidly from 30 houses in 1958, to 194 houses in 1994, and 270 houses in 2000. Papagaran village is similar in size, with 258 families totaling 1,078 people. As of 1999, Rinca’s population was 835, and Kerora's population was 185 people. The total population currently living in the Park is 3,267 people, while 16,816 people live in the area immediately surrounding the Park.

EDUCATION :
The average level of education in the villages of Komodo National Park is grade four of elementary school. There is an elementary school located in each of the villages, but new students are not recruited each year. On average, each village has four classes and four teachers. Most of the children from the small islands in the Kecamatan Komodo (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, Papagaran, Mesa) do not finish elementary school. Less than 10% of those which do graduate from elementary school will continue to high school since the major economic opportunity (fishing) does not require further education. Children must be sent to Labuan Bajo to attend high school, but this is rarely done in fishermen’s families.

HEALTH :
Most of the villages located in and around the Park have few fresh water facilities available, if any, particularly during the dry season. Water quality declines during this time period and many people become ill. Malaria and diarrhea are rampant in the area. On Mesa island, with a population of around 1,500 people, there is no fresh water available. Fresh water is brought by boat in jerrycans from Labuan Bajo. Each family needs an average of Rp 100,000.- per month to buy fresh water (2000). Almost every village has a local medical facility with staff, and at least a paramedic. The quality of medical care facilities is low.

SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ANTHROPOLOGIC CONDITIONS :
Traditional Customs: Traditional communities in Komodo, Flores and Sumbawa have been subjected to outside influences and the influence of traditional customs is dwindling. Television, radio, and increased mobility have all played a part in accelerating the rate of change. There has been a steady influx of migrants into the area. At the moment nearly all villages consist of more than one ethnic group.
Religion: The majority of fishermen living in the villages in the vicinity of the Park are Muslims. Hajis have a strong influence in the dynamics of community development. Fishermen hailing from South Sulawesi (Bajau, Bugis) and Bima are mostly Moslems.
The community from Manggarai are mostly Christians. Anthropology and Language: There are several cultural sites within the Park, particularly on Komodo Island. These sites are not well documented, however, and there are many questions concerning the history of human inhabitance on the island. Outside the Park, in Warloka village on Flores, there is a Chinese trading post remnant of some interest. Archeological finds from this site have been looted in the recent past. Most communities in and around the Park can speak Bahasa Indonesia. Bajo language is the language used for daily communication in most communities.

TERRESTRIAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT :
Topography: The topography is varied, with slopes from 0 – 80%. There is little flat ground, and that is generally located near the beach. The altitude varies from sea level to 735 m above sea level. The highest peak is Gunung Satalibo on Komodo Island.
Geology: The islands in Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin. The area is at the juncture of two continental plates: Sahul and Sunda. The friction of these two plates has led to large volcanic eruptions and caused the up-thrusting of coral reefs. Although there are no active volcanoes in the park, tremors from Gili Banta (last eruption 1957) and Gunung Sangeang Api (last eruption 1996) are common. West Komodo probably formed during the Jurasic era approximately 130 million years ago. East Komodo, Rinca, and Padar probably formed approximately 49 million years ago during the Eocene era.
Climate: Komodo National Park has little or no rainfall for approximately 8 months of the year, and is strongly impacted by monsoonal rains. High humidity levels year round are only found in the quasi-cloud forests on mountain tops and ridges. Temperatures generally range from 170C to 340C, with an average humidity level of 36%. From November through March the wind is from the west and causes large waves that hit the entire length of Komodo island’s west beach. From April through October the wind is dry and large waves hit the south beaches of Rinca and Komodo islands.

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS :
The terrestrial ecosystems are strongly affected by the climate: a lengthy dry season with high temperatures and low rainfall, and seasonal monsoon rains. The Park is situated in a transition zone between Australian and Asian flora and fauna. Terrestrial ecosystems include open grass-woodland savanna, tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest, and quasi cloud forest.
Due to the dry climate, terrestrial plant species richness is relatively low. The majority of terrestrial species are xerophytic and have specific adaptations to help them obtain and retain water. Past fires have selected for species that are fire-adapted, such as some grass species and shrubs. Terrestrial plants found in Komodo National Park include grasses, shrubs, orchids, and trees. Important food tree species for the local fauna include Jatropha curkas, Zizyphus sp., Opuntia sp., Tamarindus indicus, Borassus flabellifer, Sterculia foetida, Ficus sp., Cicus sp., ‘Kedongdong hutan’ (Saruga floribunda), and ‘Kesambi’ (Schleichera oleosa).

TERRESTRIAL FAUNA :
The terrestrial fauna is of rather poor diversity in comparison to the marine fauna. The number of terrestrial animal species found in the Park is not high, but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic.. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin (e.g., deer, pig, macaques, civet). Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.
Reptiles: The most famous of Komodo National Park's reptiles is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is among the world's largest reptiles and can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Click: the komodo dragon
Other than the Komodo Dragon twelve terrestrial snake species are found on the island. including the cobra (Naja naja sputatrix), Russel’s pit viper (Vipera russeli), and the green tree vipers (Trimeresurus albolabris). Lizards include 9 skink species (Scinidae), geckos (Gekkonidae), limbless lizards (Dibamidae), and, of course, the monitor lizards (Varanidae). Frogs include the Asian Bullfrog (Kaloula baleata), Oreophyne jeffersoniana and Oreophyne darewskyi. They are typically found at higher, moister altitudes.
Mammals: Mammals include the Timor deer (Cervus timorensis), the main prey of the Komodo dragon, horses (Equus sp.), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus lehmanni), the endemic Rinca rat (Rattus rintjanus), and fruit bats. One can also find goats, dogs and domestic cats.
Birds: One of the main bird species is the orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardti), a ground dwelling bird. In areas of savanna, 27 species were observed. Geopelia striata and Streptopelia chinensis were the most common species. In mixed deciduous habitat, 28 bird species were observed, and Philemon buceroides, Ducula aenea, and Zosterops chloris were the most common.

MARINE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT :
The marine area constitutes 67% of the Park. The open waters in the Park are between 100 and 200 m deep. The straits between Rinca and Flores and between Padar and Rinca, are relatively shallow (30 to 70 m deep), with strong tidal currents. The combination of strong currents, coral reefs and islets make navigation around the islands in Komodo National Park difficult and dangerous. Sheltered deep anchorage is available at the bay of Loh Liang on Komodo’s east coast, the South East coast of Padar, and the bays of Loh Kima and Loh Dasami on Rinca.
In the North of the Park water temperature ranges between 25 – 29°C. In the middle, the temperature ranges between 24 and 28°C. The temperatures are lowest in the South, ranging from 22 – 28°C. Water salinity is about 34 ppt and the water is quite clear, although the waters closer to the islands are relatively more turbid.

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS :
Indonesia is the only equatorial region in the world where there is an exchange of marine flora and fauna between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Passages in Nusa Tenggara (formerly the Lesser Sunda Islands) between the Sunda and Sahul shelves allow movement between the Pacific and Indian oceans. The three main ecosystems in Komodo National Park are seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. The Park is probably a regular cetacean migration route.

MARINE FLORA :
The three major coastal marine plants are algae, seagrasses and mangrove trees. Algae are primitive plants, which do not have true roots, leaves or stems. An important reef-building algae is the red coralline algae, which actually secretes a hard limestone skeleton that can encrust and cement dead coral together. Seagrasses are modern plants that produce flowers, fruits and seeds for reproduction. As their name suggests, they generally look like large blades of grass growing underwater in sand near the shore. Thallasia sp. and Zastera spp. are the common species found in the Park. Mangroves trees can live in salty soil or water, and are found throughout the Park. An assessment of mangrove resources identified at least 19 species of true mangroves and several more species of mangrove associates within the Park's borders.

MARINE FAUNA :
Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of forams, cnidaria (includes over 260 species of reef building coral), sponges (70 species), ascidians, marine worms, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, cartilaginous and bony fishes (over 1,000 species), marine reptiles, and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). Some notable species with high commercial value include sea cucumbers (Holothuria), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and groupers.

About The Komodo Dragon

2011-11-15T08:30:00.000+08:00

“The Komodo dragon, as befits any creature evoking a mythological beast, has many names. It is also the Komodo monitor, being a member of the monitor lizard family, Varanidae, which today has one genus, Varanus. Residents of the island of Komodo call it the ora. Among some on Komodo and the islands of Rinca and Flores, it is buaya darat (land crocodile), a name that is descriptive but inaccurate; monitors are not crocodilians. Others call it biawak raksasa (giant monitor), which is quite correct; it ranks as the largest of the monitor lizards, a necessary logical consequence of its standing as the largest lizard of any kind now living on the earth…. Within the scientific community, the dragon is Varanus komodoensis. And most everyone calls it simply the Komodo.” Claudio Ciofi

The Komodo dragon is an ancient species whose ancestors date back over 100 million years. The varanid genus originated between 25 and 40 million years ago in Asia. The Komodo descended from this species and evolved to its present form over four million years ago.

The Komodo is long lived (as are most of the larger reptilian species) with an estimated life expectancy of over 50 years in the wild. In keeping with its longevity, the Komodo matures late in life, becoming sexually viable at five to seven years, and achieving maximum body density in fifteen years. Komodos are sexually dimorphous, which means males are bigger than females. The largest recorded specimen was 3.13 meters in length and was undoubtedly a male. Females rarely exceed 2.5 meters in length. What is perhaps more important, is that the characteristic bulk is achieved by older dominant males in clearly delineated territorial areas. As an adult Komodo can consume up to 80% of its body weight in one gorging, weight is a highly variable factor, and is largely dependent on the most recent feeding. A typical weight for an adult Komodo in the wild is 70 kilograms.

Komodo dragons are first and foremost opportunistic carnivores, and predators second. Although the Komodo can sprint briefly at 20 kilometers an hour, it does not chase down game as do thelarger mammalian predators. The Komodo is a stealth predator, which lies motionless and camoflouged alongside game trails for the unwary, which tend to be the very young, the old and the infirm. In an attack, the Komodo lunges at its victim with blinding speed and clasps it with the serrated teeth of the jaw. Prey are rarely downed in the initial attack unless the neck is broken or caratoid artery severed. The more likely outcome is escape, followed by death a few hours or days later from septicemia introduced by the virulent strains of bacteria found in the saliva of the Komodo dragon (the Komodo survive primarily on carrion and ingest the bacteria when feeding).

The Komodo has two highly developed sensory organs – the olefactory and the Jacobson’s - which allow the dragon to detect rotting carcasses from distances as great as 10 kilometers. The yellow forked tongue isconstantly being flicked in and out of the mouth, “tasting the air”, and inserted into the Jacobson’s organ located in the roof of the mouth. The individual tips are highly sensitive and are capable of discriminating odors in the magnitude of millionths of a part. Using the information garnered, the dragon wends in a seemingly random, winding path which becomes straighter the closer it approaches to the carrion. The Komodo is typically a communal feeder and any number of dragons might arrive at the site of the carcass.

Socialization occurs during feeding at carrion sites, as does mating. The abdomen is slashed first and the intestines and stomach contents scattered. Young juveniles roll in the fecal matter to mask their scent from aggressive adults, which attack and sometimes kill juveniles during feeding. The dominant male feeds until sated, followed by other dragons in order of size. While the dominant male is gulping down hindquarters and ribcages, the braver dragons chance foraging a few scraps. Virtually the entire carcass is consumed in the process– head, fur, hooves and bones. After feeding, the Komodos become quiescent and approachable while their digestive tracts are converting the food into fat energy stored in the tail.

Between the months of May and August, mating occurs at and around feeding sites. As males outnumber females in a ratio of nearly four to one, the dominant male must fend off other suitors before mating. Males will engage in slashing, biting and bipedular rearing onto the tail, until the dominant male is acknowledged by displays of subservience and the vanquished flees. The female is forced into a prone position while the male tongue flicks her body, and in particular, the fold between the torso and the rear leg close to the cloaca. With Komodos, the male hemipenes are located here as are the female genetalia. Once prone, the male mounts onto the back of the female and inserts one of the two hemipenes into her cloaca , depending on which side he is perched. The month of September is when a clutch of 15-30 eggs is buried in a nest dug with the powerful claws of the female dragon. A typical nesting site is in the composting vegetative mounds of the maleo birds which are indigenous to Komodo.

The gestation period for the eggs is eight to nine months. Hatchlings, which average 40 centimeters in length and weigh 100 grams, emerge from the nest in April and immediately scramble up the nearest tree to avoid being eaten by the adults. There are plenty of small lizards, insects and mammals in the canopy after the brief rainy season in January and February to sustain the juveniles until they descend to the forest floor roughly a year later. This period of change between an arboreal and a terrestial habitat, when the juveniles are a meter in length, is a time fraught with danger. The juvenile Komodo is just too bulky to safely ascend many trees, and not big enough to outrun a ravenous and determined adult. Cannibalism is a fact of life for this species, and perhaps is an evolutionary response to the harsh, arid climate of Komodo.

Prey species for the dragon on Komodo island include deer, boar, wild buffalo, the maleo bird, snakes, reptiles and small mammals. On Rinca, the monkeys and wild horses found there are also constitute prey, as do the goats raised by the local people. On the odd occasion people are also attacked by the Komodo dragon. There have been eight recorded instances of attacks on humans since Komodo has become a national park, almost all of which occurred on Rinca.

Park Facilities
The Komodo National Park administrative offices are located in Labuanbajo in west Flores. An information center and travel agents where transportation to and from the Park can be arranged are also found in Labuanbajo. The majority of tourists to the Park pass through the Loh Liang ranger station nestled in the sweeping arc of Slawi Bay on Komodo island. This is the largest facility in Komodo National Park with bungalows and rooms, a restaurant and a dormatory for the park rangers. The most popular tourist activity is a hike to the Banugulung viewing area, a two-hour roundtrip level walk that originates from Loh Liang. Hikes to other areas of Komodo are also possible, and vary from one to two days: Gunung Ara, Poreng, Loh Sebita, Gunung Sata libo, Soro Masangga. On longer walks overnight accommodation can be arranged at ranger posts at Loh Sebita and Loh Genggo. For certified divers there is a compressor and diving equipment available for hire at Loh Liang as well as masks and fins for snorkellers. Handicrafts made in the nearby village of Komodo are for sale at the arrival jetty.

The entrance ticket to Komodo National Park costs Rp 20,000 and is valid for three days. It is easily renewable, so a prolonged stay in the park is possible. There are two ranger stations which provide spartan accommodation for tourists: Loh Liang on Komodo and Loh Buaya on Rinca. The charges are minimal and start at Rp 30,000 per room. Be advised that everything is basic, including beds, communal toilets and food availability. Fortunately most travellers are not deterred by the limited facilities, accepting this as a part of the Komodo experience. Advance booking for accommodation are not accepted.

The hiking on Rinca is less strenuous than that on Komodo, and has the added attraction of viewing the wild horses and monkeys which are not found on Komodo. On Rinca wild buffalo are more common and easily seen as well. On the north side of the island, behind Rinca village, is a large cave with a resident bat colony. Rangers at both Loh Liang and Loh Buaya are readily available to lead walks, and are knowledgeable about the local fauna and birdlife.(more info)

Yes, Komodo Listed as New7Wonders!

2011-11-14T17:47:00.001+08:00

Komodo listed as finalist in new7wondersThe struggle of Indonesian people in the campaign to include Komodo as one of the seven wonders of the world seems not in vain. In the interim results released on www.new7wonders.com, Saturday (11/12/2011), Komodo is listed among the six other winners.

In its website, the New7Wonders mentioned, the results of this calculation can still be changed in line with the ongoing factual computation, including the calculation of voting via sms in each country that has not completed yet.

Previously, the voting officially closed on Friday (11/11/2011) at 11:11:11 GMT. The result is the first tally of voting via the website. Besides Komodo, there are six other wonders of the world, namely the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Puerto Princesa Underground River, and Table Mountain.

They also emphasized, the composition of the seven winners in the site today is not based on rankings, but in alphabetical order. Thus, the information obtained so far, which of the seven wonders of the world who obtained the highest score.

It was mentioned, the official announcement New 7 Wonders winners will be conducted in early 2012 in an official ceremony. Meanwhile, the current process of validation and verification of an independent party on the results of voting either through websites or sms are on going.

Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin.

Wash Away your Worries at Hidden Waterfall

2011-11-14T17:02:00.000+08:00

Mount Rinjani National Park, which surrounds the majestic and sacred 3726-metre high Rinjani volcano, offers a wealth of natural beauty including flora, fauna, forests and springs that produce an array of truly stunning waterfalls.

The park spans the three West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province regencies of East, Central and North Lombok. Each has a choice of picturesque and accessible falls to take you back to nature.

In the East, you’ll find the “Otak Kokoq Joben,” “Mayung Puteq” and “Jeruk Manis” cascades, while Central Lombok offers the “Benang Stokel” and “Benang Kelambu” falls. North Lombok boasts the “Tiu Pupus,” “Kerta Gangga,” “Sindang Gile” and “Tiu Kelep” falls.

Two of the most beautiful waterfalls around the foot of Mount Rinjani are Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu, both in Aik Berik village in the North Batukliang district of Central Lombok.

These cascades are about 30 kilometres from Mataram city and are accessible by motorbike or car in around an hour which takes you through Narmada and Keru to Pancor Dao village, to a left fork to the Teratak village market where a left turn will take you to Aik Berik village.

The journey presents calming views of expansive, green rice fields on which local farmers are always at work. The temperature drops with altitude as travellers near the two falls, refreshing the body and mind for the sights ahead.

Daily, the two waterfalls attract healthy crowds of local, domestic and international tourists, especially during holidays. Two added attractions of the area are the Karang Mas-Mas tourism village, which is famous for its friendly people and variety of craft products, and the Aik Bukaq tourism park which features a swimming pool fed from natural springs around Mount Rinjani.

According to Andra, a tour guide for the Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu falls and a member of the Batukliang branch of the Guides Association of Indonesia (HPI), a visit to the area transports you to a new and refreshing atmosphere which washes away the concerns of everyday life.

“The atmosphere of shady forest trees in the wild mountain terrain and the sound of songbirds interspersed with water thundering down the Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu falls presents an experience that transcends normal sightseeing,” he says.

For those with a hankering for moderate adventure, the region provides a gateway for a shorter climb to Mount Rinjani than the better known trekking routes from Senaru in North Lombok and Sembalun in East Lombok. “The route from Benang Stokel takes only about eight hours,” said Andra.

This route, according to many sources, is often used by people with supernatural powers making offerings or seeking the blessing of the sacred mountain. Locals habitually use the route for these purposes.

Central Lombok’s Culture and Tourism head, HL Putria, says North Batukliang Is one of three tourist areas in the regency that local government is addressing for intense development. “As well as the waterfall attractions, the area around Benang Stokel has potential for production of fruit and other crops,” said Putria.

“Our administration is planning to develop the area for agritourism and ecotourism by cultivating extensive coffee plantations. Actually, coffee plantations that were first cultivated during the Dutch rule of Lombok are now managed jointly by the Central Lombok government and a company from South Korea.”

Both coffee and cocoa plants are found in the dense, natural forests around the Benang Stokel falls.

A Rp5000 admission fee is charged to enter the site via steps down to the waterfalls on which you will find vendors offering regional food and drinks including satay beef, rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves and other small snacks.

Conveniently, the Benang Kelambu waterfall is only a few metres from Benang Stokel. The word “benang” means sewing thread or yarn, while “kelambu” translates as drapery or valance. Benang Kelambu was named because its wide cascade of a sheer tier of water falls elegantly like a curtain.

source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Komodo National park Dive sites

2011-11-14T16:59:00.001+08:00

Lohwenci
A good variety of hard and soft corals, plenty of fish life and other marine creatures can be found at this site. This site is a pleasant, relatively current-free dive just north of the ranger station where there is a small white sandy beach and a group of low, black rocks sitting on the reef. The entry point is just off the small white beach. The dive continues towards the ranger station with the reef at left.

The Alley
This area is marked with very large giant trevally, sharks, beautiful coral and a high diversity of other invertebrate life in relatively shallow water between 5-20m depth. Sometimes lots of manta rays may be seen feeding between September and January each year. The tiny rocky islands in this southern Komodo bay are great for snorkeling and diving, with even if there are no mantas. Only little damage has been done to the corals in this area and the damaged corals seem to be recovering rapidly. The best diving entry point ison the northeastern side of a rock located near a coral mound that is submerged 3-5m below the surface The temperature of the water can drop to the low 20°C range and this site tends to be current-prone.

German Flag
From September to January high densities of plankton attract many large manta rays that can normally be seen swimming on the surface along the shores and rocks along southern Komodo Island. The nearshore water is quite shallow (5 - 20m deep) and is composed of large rocks and boulders that shelter huge malabar grouper, potato cod, napoleon wrasse, schools of surgeon fishes and red snappers. Cooler water from the upwellings off the south coast provide a nutrient-rich environment in this area. There is usually current at this site and a drift dive is usually the best way to go .
depth.

Crinoid Canyon
Many kinds of small invertebrate life can be found here on very colorful walls carpeted in featherstars. This site is located in a small cove just outside the southern entrance of Loh Dasami on the island of Nusa Kode, almost directly opposite Yellow Wall. The diving entry point is just south of the cove then continues along the wall in a counter-clockwise direction. Best to start the dive at 25 m depth and then continue swimming back and forth up along the wall to the surface. This is a easy dive location with no current and is good in the early morning as it catches the morning sun.

Nusa Kode
The south western tip of Kode island is characterized by large, coral-encrusted boulders and huge groupers. Amongst the boulders are some of the largest reef fishes residing in the Park such as gigantic potato cod and malabar grouper. Schools of large red snapper are normally prevalent. Diving entry is west of a small island at this site. Swim down to a depth of about 10 m and follow the ridge, which juts out in a southerly direction. Swim along the crest of the ridge and down to a max of 50 m depth.

Pantai Merah/ Pink Beach
There as a great variety of fishes here and also a good selection of critters such as leaf scorpionfish, blue ribbon eels, crocodile fish, nudibranchs, and more. Visibility varies but is best during falling tide. This is the most frequently visited site in the Park for snorkeling and diving. Snorkeling is excellent from the beach and there is a very good dive around a small area of reef around a steep rocky wall which is visible from the surface of the water at low tide. This site is also a very good night dive and offers excellent macro-photography opportunities. Several mooring buoys are stationed at this site.

Batu Tiga
An excellent “big fish” dive. Large boulders in deeper water to the west offer excellent habitat for grouper and other creatures. Mantas, giant trevally and other pelagic fishes are frequently seen here. Most of the coral growth is stunted as a result of the strong prevailing currents. Batu Tiga is without a doubt one of the most current-effected sites in Komodo and is tricky to dive. A rocky reef is situated southeast of Tanjung Kuning in Linta Strait and extends below the surface up towards Komodo Island. The best diving entry is at the northeastern side of the three rocks. Swim counter-clockwise until reaching some big boulders at 33 m depth. After exploring the area around these boulders turn around and swim back, keeping the reef to your right.

Karang Makasar
This site is for snorkling only, please don’t dive here as it will disturb the manta rays. The reef does not have much in the way of coral or fish life however this location is manta ray aggregation site. The best way to find the mantas is to cruise along the eastern face of the reef until you see them on the surface. The best time is during rising tide. Sometimes there can be between 40 to 50 mantas.

Batu Bolong
The top of the reef is covered in colorful corals, invertebrate life and thousands of brilliant reef fish. Along the steep walls in deeper water many large fishes including sharks, napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, and large schools of rainbow runners can be observed on almost every occasion. Batu Bolong is a tiny rocky outcropping in the strait between Tatawa Kecil and Komodo Island. The reef is undamaged due to strong currents and steep dropoffs, which are difficult conditions for local fishermen to use dynamite or cyanide fishing techniques. This site is one of the top diving locations in the Park but it can only be dived around slack tide when the current is not too strong.

Tatawa Kecil
Rocks, caves and beautiful coral gardens grace the reef on the western side of the islet. Many coral reef fishes including large groupers, snappers, sweetlips, trevally and sharks can be seen. Amazing numbers of anthias swim amongst colorful fields of branching corals. Dugongs have been spotted here and manta rays are often seen on the southern side of the island. This small rocky islet southwest of Tatawa Besar Island is an egret nesting site and a fantastic snorkel and dive site when the current is not too fast. Large or inexperienced groups should only attempt this site around slack tide.

Tatawa Besar
Good reef fish life and an endless field of orange soft corals. Mantas are often seen in this area. A good drift dive starts at the northwest tip of the island and runs along the western side in about 15- 20 m of water. A similar drift dive is also possible along the north coast of the Tatawa Besar from the same entry point. This site is a good dive option if the current is too strong at Tatawa Kecil or Batu Bolong.

Sabolan Kecil
This is another good site within easy reach of Labuanbajo. On the west side of the island there is a small white sandy beach. At the northern most point of the beach where the sand meets the rocks is the best point to enter. The reef slopes down to sand and there is a patch reef isolated from the islands fringing reef . The Water clarity is usually good and so is the dive. Once you have seen the patch reef you can return to the fringing reef slope to finish your dive.

Sebayor Kecil
Large boulders shelter groups of giant trevally, whitetip reef sharks, coral trout, snappers and emperors. The northwestern corner of Sebayor Kecil is one of the better dive sites near Labuanbajo. A small reef extends northwest from the island where it drops off to greater depths along the northern coast of the island. A few hundred meters from the shore there are some large boulders with notable fish life. Currents can be quite strong at this site.

Gililawa Laut
Always a great dive site to see fish but does not have much to show in terms of hard corals. Behind a very large rock on the corner of the reef is a drop-off covered in boulders and many holes in between with hidden animals. Excellent grouper sightings, especially in October and November during spawning aggregations. There are usually many golden trevallies, snappers and sometimes huge napoleon wrasses. The site is located on the northeastern tip of Gililawa Laut. The best time to dive this site is when there is a slight current just before or after slack-tide.

Castle Rock
Curious batfish as well as schooling barracuda, trevally and mackerels swim at 30- 40m depth. At approximately 20m depth there is excellent soft coral growth and numerous seafans that host pygmy seahorses. The top of the rock is a good, calm place to explore during safety stops. This site usually has excellent visibility but is prone to strong currents. The current usually flows eastwards and is much stronger at the surface than in the deeper water. However, the top of the rock, which is approximately 3 to 4m deep, also offers shelter from the current; hence the name “Castle Rock”.Recommended dive entry point is in blue water approximately 50m up-current from the shallowest point of the reef.

Crystal Rock
A very colorful dive with excellent soft coral coverage. Clouds of anthias and schools of yellow-ribbon sweetlips are always encountered while frogfish, moray eels and scorpionfish are commonly seen. There is a small mound northwest of the rock where different species of fish school seasonally, including tuna and mackerel. An excellent dive usually worth doing twice. This name of this site is from the very clear water surrounding it. The top of the site is exposed at low tide. This site is prone to currents, which usually flow eastwards. Best time to dive is during slacktide. Darat Passage North,

Back to Basics at Beautiful Bangko Bangko

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000+08:00

BANGKO is a beautiful, unspoiled coastal environment in which nearby islanders from Bali’s Nusa Penida, 18 nautical miles away across the Lombok Strait, trade in friendly harmony with their Lombok neighbours.

In the south of Lombok, the Bangko Bankgo coast offers magic views to Bali and the rugged landscape of Nusa Penida.

We entered the charming and friendly tourist precinct of Bangko Bangko at Batu Putih village, in the Sekotong region of West Lombok, along a path surrounded by hundreds of teak trees in a conservation area established by the national government.

The delightful white sand surf beach is a favourite with international tourists

who are catered for with simple food prepared on the beach by local people. “Now and again the beach is deserted, but in the high season hundreds of tourists can come here every day,” said café owner Zul, 34.

Visitors usually arrive independently at Bangko Bangko which rarely features in the programs of major Lombok travel agents. A route through West Lombok’s isolated and traditional Pemalikan Agung community takes travellers through steep mountains of sharp, craggy rocks.

Many tourists make the morning crossing from Nusa Penida, which takes around three hours in normal conditions. They generally return in the evening.

“I like coming to this place,” said Paul, a European who has lived for a year on Bali and who with five friends was savouring local food specialities on the beach at Bangko Bangko. “It is natural here and there are no crowds to interfere with your peace and enjoyment.”
We walked on to a fishing village, not far from a non-operational ice factory, which in the right season is a major centre for catching tuna. Around 120 families live in modest homes that line the coast along with hundreds of fishing boats.

Resident Wayan Pande, 45, said during the tuna season which runs for about two months during July and August, a fisherman can catch up to 1000 tuna a day. Each live tuna sells for between Rp20,000 and Rp25,000.

The tuna are taken for sale to major markets in Mataram and other Lombok centres, but according to tuna contractor Jenah, 50, a lot of purchases are made at sea even before the boats get home with their hauls.

“Many tuna transactions are made at sea,” said Jenah. “If the catch is very abundant, then transactions reach the shore where the beach becomes an impromptu and very hectic market.”

Jenah believes most fishing boats lining the Bangko Bangko coast belong to Balinese, rather than locals, and have been beached for repairs to nets and the boats themselves. Other people have said many sales at sea are to traders from Bali who take the fish directly to Bali, bypassing the Lombok markets.

Our next stop was at the traditional settlement of Pemalikan Agung, in steep and rocky hills about four kilometres from the coast. The village is one of the most isolated in Sekotong and its people adhere to their ancestral traditions.

The name Pemalikan is said to mean restrictions, or things that must be either adhered to or avoided in order to circumvent curses and misfortune. The village administration system involves traditional leaders, religious scholars and other customary officials and structures.

Source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Lombok’s Rocky Road to a Bright Future

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000+08:00

BEFORE the 17th Century, Lombok consisted of numerous competing and feuding petty states, each presided over by a “prince” from the island’s indigenous Sasak population.

The island’s disunity was exploited by the neighbouring Balinese who took control of western Lombok in the early 17th Century. The Makassarese meanwhile invaded eastern Lombok from their colonies in neighbouring Sumbawa.

The Dutch had first visited Lombok in 1674 and the Dutch East India Company concluded its first treaty with the Sasak Princess of Lombok.

By 1750, Balinese invader-settlers had managed to take over the whole island, but Balinese infighting resulted in the island being split into four feuding Balinese kingdoms. In 1838, the Mataram kingdom brought its rivals under control.

Relations between the Sasak and Balinese in western Lombok were largely harmonious and intermarriage was common. In the island’s east, however, relations were strained and the Balinese maintained control from garrisoned forts.

While customary Sasak village government remained in place, the village head became little more than a tax collector for the Balinese. Villagers became serfs and Sasak aristocracy lost much of its power and land holdings.

History records that during one of the many Sasak rebellions against the Balinese, Sasak chiefs sent envoys to the Dutch in Bali (they had ports at Kusamba and Kuta in Bali by that time) and invited them to rule Lombok. In June, 1894, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Van der Wijck, signed a treaty with Sasak rebels in eastern Lombok.

He sent a large army to Lombok and the Balinese Kingdom eventually capitulated to Dutch demands. The younger princes, however, overruled the King and attacked the Dutch whose counterattack overran Mataram and gained a Balinese surrender.

The entire island was annexed to the Netherlands East Indies in 1895. The Dutch ruled over Lombok’s 500,000 people with a force of only 250 by cultivating the support of the Balinese and Sasak aristocracy. While the period was one of deprivation for the Sasaks, the Dutch are remembered as liberators from Balinese domination.

During World War II a Japanese invasion force comprising elements of the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet invaded and occupied the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Lombok.

The fleet sailed from Surabaya harbour at 9am on 8 March, 1942, and entered the port of Ampenan at 5pm on 9 May, rapidly overcoming the Dutch defenders and occupying the island.

After the Japanese surrender in 1945 Lombok returned temporarily to Dutch control. Following Dutch acceptance of Indonesian independence – unilaterally declared on August 17, 1945 – the Balinese and Sasak aristocracy continued to dominate Lombok.

In 1958, the island was incorporated into the province of West Nusa Tenggara with Mataram becoming the provincial capital.

Mass killings of communists occurred across the island following the1965 abortive coup attempt in Jakarta and Central Java. Then, during President Suharto‘s New Order administration, Lombok experienced a degree of stability and development but not to the extent of the boom and new wealth on Java and Bali.

Crop failures led to famine in 1966 and food shortages in 1973. The national government’s transmigration program moved many people out of Lombok.

The 1980s saw external developers and speculators create the beginnings of a tourism boom, although the local share of earnings was limited. Indonesia’s political and economic crises of the late 1990s hit Lombok hard.

In January 2000, riots said to have been orchestrated by provocateurs from outside Lombok broke out across Mataram, targeting Christians and ethnic Chinese. Tourism slumped, but in recent years has seen a renewed growth and a concerted government effort to develop the province’s economy and infrastructure by realising its vast tourism potential through attracting investment.

Snapshot of an Island

THE ISLAND of Lombok, in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The Lombok Strait separates it from Bali to the west – the strait also forms part of the Wallace Line delineating the boundary between Eurasian flora and fauna to the east and Australasian flora and fauna to the west. The Alas Straitseparates it from Sumbawa Island to the east.

Lombok is roughly circular, with a “tail” – Sekotong Peninsula in the southwest – and is about 70km across with an area of about 4725 square kilometres. The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.

Lombok is similar in size and population density to neighbouring Bali with which it shares some cultural heritage, but along with sparsely populated Sumbawa forms the separate province of NTB. It is surrounded by many smaller islands, locally named gili.

The island is home to about 3.2 million people living in four regencies and in Mataram city. The island’s highest point is Mount Rinjani (3276 metres), Indonesia’s second highest volcano.

Meet the People

LOMBOK’S people are 85 percent Sasak, who are thought to have migrated from Java in the first millennium BC.

At least 10 percent of Lombok’s people are Balinese Hindu, many of them people who resettled on Lombok after the disastrous eruption of Bali’s Mount Agung in 1963, with small minorities of Tionghoa-peranakan, Javanese, Sumbawanese and Arab Indonesians.

The Sasak people are culturally and linguistically closely related to the Balinese, but the majority are Muslim rather than Hindu and their island landscape is punctuated with mosques and minarets. Lombok is known as the Island of a Thousand Mosques and Islamic traditions influence the community’s daily life.

About 3.2 million people live on Lombok – about 71 percent of NTB’s population of 4.5 million.

Source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com

Lingsar: A Complex Place of Unification

2011-09-25T08:00:00.000+08:00

THE WEST Lombok village of Lingsar takes its name from the words “Ling” which means “revelation” and “Sar” which means “clear.” It means “clear revelation.”

Only nine kilometres from Mataram city, Lingsar village houses a complex of religious buildings which are significant and sacred to both the Hindu society and to Lombok’s Moslem community of indigenous Sasak people, especially those who follow the rites of Wetu Telu (Three Prayers) Islam.

Near the Hindu temple at Lingsar is a kemalik – a place that is sacred to the Sasaks. Lingsar may be one of the world’s few – if not our only – religious complex at which both Hindus and Moslems worship together.

The complex was built in the year 1759 by King Anak Agung Ngurah of the Balinese kingdom of Karangasem, which ruled part of West Lombok. Hence, the kemalik and other buildings show traditional Balinese architecture.

Apart from the temple and kemalik, the king created a park with a lake and springs.

The entire area is a dynamic example of how different ethnic groups with different cultures and religions can live in harmony and be mutually supportive. Both Moslems and Hindus believe God has gifted the area with spring water which is the source of life.

When the entourage of about 80 people from the Kingdom of Karangasem came ashore on Lombok near Mount Pengsong, they were led by the king, a senior Hindu priest and a specialist in farming and construction. The group journeyed from Mount Pengsong through Perampuan, Pagutan and Pagesangan.

Arriving in the region of Punikan, the travellers heard the roar of a new spring erupting and flowing profusely. They understood this to be a revelation that they should build a temple on this site.

Thus, Lingsar temple was established in the year 1759 – the year in which the Cakrenagara-based rule of Mataram terminated. The temple was intentionally built to co-exist with the sacred Sasak kemalik in order to unify the Sasak community with the people from Bali.

The importance of the place to the Sasak people stems from their conviction that the source of the pure and holy spring water is linked to Wetu Telu beliefs and Prince Sumilir from the Medayin Kingdom.

For the Wetu Telu Sasaks, the kemalik can be used by anyone at any time. But every year, they gather together with Lombok’s Hindus for the colourful Perang Topat ceremony, known as the Rice Cake War.

The large Lingsar Park complex consists of the temple, the kemalik and the springs. It features linking buildings, bales, shrines and places for prayer and art. There are numerous spring fountains separated for men and women to bathe. The southern part of the Lingsar complex houses a 40 x 40-metre pool, made of stone and cement, which provides irrigation for the surrounding communities.

Lingsar is a multi-functional, historic location which transcends differences in religion, culture and ethnic heritage. Its Hindu temple is the holiest on Lombok.

Source:enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com