Lombok : The Tranquil Island

Lombok is a small island, with its size is just 80km from east to west also about the same distance from north to south. Parts of the island drip with water, while pockets are chronically dry and droughts can last for months, causing crop failure and famine.

Some interesting places to explore surrounding Lombok includes i.e,

Mataram. Mataram is the capital city of Lombok where we can find most banking, economical and education activities in Lombok. In Mataram you can visit some sightseeing;
- Museum Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat where exhibits on the geology, history and culture of lombok and Sumbawa.
- Mayura Water Palace, it was built in 1744 and was once part of the Balinese kingdom’s royal court in Lombok.
- Pura Meru, is the largest temple in Lombok, built in 1720. Its outer courtyard has a hall housing the wooden drums that are beaten to call believers to festivals and special ceremonies. Middle courtyard are two buildings with large raised platforms for offerings and the inner courtyard has one large and 33 small shrines as well as the three multi-roofed-shrines.

Senggigi. It is the most developed tourist area in Lombok, with a range of tourist facilities and accommodation options. It has fine beaches although it slopes steeply into the water. There are beautiful sunsets over the Selat Lombok (Lombok Strait) that can be enjoyed from the beach.
In Senggigi there is Pura Batu bolong, a temple in a rocky point that juts into the sea about 1km south of central senggigi. As a Balinese temple, it is oriented towards Gunung Agung, Bali’s holiest mountain. There is good view of Senggigi from the point and it is great place to watch the sun set. There is reasonable snorkelling off the point, in the sheltered bay around the headland, and a few kilometres north of Senggigi.

Gili Islands . Gili islands are located off the north west of Lombok and consists three small islands, they are Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili trawangan. They have superb, white sandy beaches, clear water, coral reefs, brilliantly coloured fish and the best snorkelling in Lombok. They become enormously popular with visitors who come for pleasures of the sun, snorkelling and socialising.

Central lombok. Central lombok areas tends to be well watered and lush and offers opportunity for scenic walks through the rice field and jungles. Towards the southern coast the country is drier, and dams have been built to provide irrigation during the dry season.
Some interesting areas to visit in Central Lombok;
Tete batu, is a lovely, cool mountain retreat. There are magnificent views over southern Lombok, east to the sea and north to Gunung Rinjani, and it’s the perfect place to relax for a few days or to go hiking to nearby waterfalls. Taman Wisata Tetebatu is only 4 km track that leads from the main road just north of the mosque heads into this pocket of forest with black monkeys and waterfalls.

Loyok & Rungkang. Loyok is famous with its fine handicrafts, particularly basketware and weaving with natural fibres like bamboo. Rungkang popular for pottery which is made from a local black clay.

Masbagik. Popular with their colourful morning market and a huge cattle market. Masbagik Timur (east) is the centre of pottery and ceramic production.

Lendang Nangka. Is surrounded by picturesque countryside with small road and friendly people. There are still some blacksmiths who make knives, hoes and other tools using traditional techniques.

Pringgasela. As a centre of weaving on simple looms and they produce sarongs, blankets and many kinds of weavers products.

Loang Gali. There is a public swimming pool fed by springs in the forest. As well plenty of hiking trails begging to be explored.

South lombok. Excellent with surfing spots and enjoy stunning coastal scenery.

Some destinations to visit surrounding South Lombok i.e,

Praya. As the main town in he south west. It is quite attractive with spacious gardens, tree-lined streets and a few old Dutch buildings.

Sukarara. A traditional weaving centre, though it doesn’t look very traditional.

Penujak. Welknown with its gerabah pottery made from local clay with simple technique, which is rich with terracota colour, unglazed but hand burnished to a lovely soft sheen.

Rembitan & Sade. As a centre of traditional Sasak culture. It’s slightly sanitised Sasak Village but nevertheless an authentic cluster of thatched housed and lumbung surrounded by a wooden fence. On the top of the hill is Masjid Kuno, an old thatched roof mosque.

Kuta. Popular with its magnificent strecth of white sand and turquoise sea with rugged hills rising around. People comes here for annual "Nyale fishing celebration". Kuta is best place to surfing as has plenty of good waves break on the reefs.

East lombok. Not much places as tourist destination in this area but you can see the port of ferries to Sumbawa where the road around the north east coast and east coast make a round the island trip quite feasible and enjoyable.

North lombok. The major attraction is the mighty Gunung Rinjani. Rinjani is the highest mountain in Lombok and the second highest in Indonesia with 3726m heights. Its huge crater contains a large crescent-shaped lake, Segara Anak which is about 6km across at its widest point. There are several natural hot springs known as Kokok Putih, on the north eastern side of this crater which are said to have healing powers particularly for skin deseases. Rinjani is an active volcao and erupted the last time in 1994.

Some top-ends places to stay recommended in Lombok are; Hotel Lombok Raya, Hotel Jayakarta, Lombok Intan Laguna, Bukit Senggigi Hotel, Sheraton Senggigi Hotel, Pacific Beach Cottages, Holiday Inn Resort, Alang-alang, Hotel Nusa Dua, etc. Eventhough some budgets and mid-range hotels are also have good standard accommodation.