THE BALI ISLAND

Bali, one of the thousands of island constructing the Indonesian Archipelago, has long been renowned as a leading tourist destination in South Pasific or even in the World for its ecotic and vibrant art culture, natural beauties and the hospitality of the people.
Many names have been given to this small island, such as Island of thousand temples, Morning of the World and many others.
It covers an extent of 5.632,86 square kilometers consisted of mountain ange streches from the West tip to the East with Mt. Agung as the highest peak. About 70% of the whole extent is agricultural ground while the other 22% consist and only about 8% is left uncultivated.
The people mainly live on agriculture with rice as staple crop, while the other are : coconut, coffe, clove, vanilla, maize, etc.
Bali is also known for its wide variety of tropical fruit like : mango, mandarin citroes, banana, salak, the thornyskined, grape and many others.
Along with the development of tourism small scale and home industry like handicrafts are also flourishing, offering more job opportunities to the people.
Hinduism is adhered by almost 95% of its population about 2,8 millions, specifically blend with Budhism and the Anchestor worship to make it inseparable from everyday life and opportunity is missed to worship God in an unending series of ceremonies stretches from birt up to after death.
Everiday life of the Balinese merges with social duties and religios obligation while the art reflect an unnoticed integration of, environment, religion and community in wich individual is aprat.
Bali has such a mild and agreeable climate the whole year-round, with average temperature of the day in coastal arears varies from about 28 C (82 F) during May-July to about 30 C (86 F) in March-October, while the most pleasant weather is between May to September.
English is widely understood, along with the rapid development of tourism , particularly in major tourist resort while French, Japanese and othr foreign languages are also spoken instead of English.
With reagred to the efforts in maintaining and preserving the local culture, the Government has decided to develop such a tourism based on the every aspect of local culture that harmonically woven together with ages-old tradion inspired bay Hinduism as major religion.










WEST LOMBOK
WEST NUSA TENGGARA

Three small island, surrounded by coral. The Gilis, off Lombok’s west coast, are fast becoming one of her main drawcards. Dive centre with all the high tech equipment and professional instruction ensure that visiting divers at all of experience and ability can dive in waters that have more varieties of fish than anywhere in the world-and that includes. The Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea.

Coral and diving

Gili Trawangan, now appears to head the list as the most popular island-it has long had a reputation as the party island mainly through acencentrated and central foreshore area of restaurant, dive oprations and hotels including some luxury boutique choises.

Gili Meno, still the quieters island is a place to escape to and althought it has a smaller list of accomomodation options those that it as are tending towards a more up-market clientele. Snorkeling off beaches of pure white sand the coral is superb.

Gili Air, has the largest local population and while it has more of a lived-nin feeling than the other two island for some that is quite possibly its attraction. On Gili Air it’s possible to likewisw enjoy the marine possibilities but also one can absorb some of the local culture missing on the other island.

Lembar
Lombok’s main sea port, in a bay surrounded by hill is a gateway to the island for passenger car ferries a jet foil from Bali. There is small tourist office, some phones and a few food stalls.

Sekotong and Bangko-Bangko
A scenically spectacular highway follows the inside coast of the foot-like south west peninsula of Lombok. This road skirts beches of the whitest sand. Bays of turquoise water and small island characterize the offshore panorama. Take the road to the Bangko-Bangko area that includes world famous. Desert Point surf location-considered by many to be the best left breaking wave in Indonesia. Also go for hikes on the headland and explone the caves and huge canons- a legacy of the Japanesee occupation.

Gili Gede & Gili Nangga
The two islands off the north coast of the peninsula are now becoming popular for those seeking a retreat from the more popular and luxurious holiday spots. Accommodation is comfortable, thought fairly basic, and entertainment and food is mostly left up to one’s own devices. Popular for those seeking a more alternate holiday life style with the freedom to do as one wishes without restrictions. Both island can be reached by small skiffs from Lembar or by other skiffs departing from near Tawun.

Cultural attraction

Tourism, Art and Culture Festival West Lombok

The tourism Art and Culture Festival West Lombok is a tourism event held by Distric Government of West Lombok and travel agencies for one week. In this event many kinds of attractive performances can be seen such as traditional culture and art shows, tourism industry display, seminar and symposium about tour and travel and an open dialogue among national and international tour agencies. It is held in Senggigi tourist resort so that participal and visitor can enjoy the beautiful scenery and accommodation available there.

Peresean
A fight performance bay two young man armed with rattan sticks and shield made of cowhide. The Pekembar or a judge determines if the fight should carry on, or the is a winner.

Cupak Gerantang
A dance performance based on the strory of Panji, the local legends adapted from the original stroty from Java. It is loaded with social and education message. It’s performed from 21.00 PM to 04.00AM.

Perang Topat (see Lingsar)
Perang Topat (Topat War) is a ritual ceremony which is performed as an espression of gratitude to God for his blessing of fertile soil plentiful agricultural produce. This event is performed in Lingsar Temple bay both Hindus and Sasaks., who throw rice cakes topat at each other. The show begins at 5.30 PM after Pedande Mapuja, when flowers fall (Rorok Kembang Waru). The ceremony is usually held every year at the time of sixth full moon (according to the sasak calendar) some time in Novemberor December. Topat is a platting of coconut leaves filled with rice, or rice wrapped in a platting coconut leaves.

Lebaran Topat
Lebaran Topat is a cultural event related to the Moslem religion in Lombok. Lebaran Topat is the traditional to celebrate Lebaran and recreation by bringing traditional food Topat with variery of side dishes including vegetable, it’s held in the 7 day after Idul Fitri. Lebaran Topat is held particularly in the West Lombok, started to pray for happiness and prosperity in the mosque, mushola, family grave yard and followed by recreation along the coast line, and eat the traditional food (topat) and variey of side dishes including vegetable dishes.

Male’an Sampi
Male’an Sampi is a traditional event in Lombok. It is a race between cattle held on flat ground about 100 meters long which is waterlogged. In Sasak language the meaning of Male’an Sampi can be divided into two word, Male’an meaning to chase and sampi means cow Generally. Male’an Sampi is a favourite pastime for farmers and cattle breeders in West Lombok. This event is usually held at the planting season when the farm is empty. The farmers and cattle breeders usually serve on the organizing committees of such events.

Batek Baris Dance
In this marching dance , the Dutch military marching style is imitated.Most of the orders are gives in Dutch, but pronounced in the Sasal dialect. The Batek Baris is usually performed as part of the traditional Pujawali ceremony procession, especially in Pura Lingsar temple in West Lombok during the Perang Topat celebration.

Gendang Beleq Dance
The Gendang Beleq Dance is one of the indigeneous dance of Lombok. It is so named because the musicians use a big (beleq) drum (gendang). In olden days this dance was performed to say goodbye to soldiers heading for the battlefield and again when they were welcome home. This dance with its distinct sound is now performed to welcome important guests.

Historical and religions monuments

Lingsar
Lombok’s most important temple, Pura Lingsar wa built in 1714. The sprawling Lingsar temple complex, with ins pond of sacred albino cels, has shrines that are able to accommodation both Balines Hindus as well Sasak devotces of the Islam Watu Telu religion. Go to Lingsar at festival time to see the Hindus in all their splendor.

Narmada
Just 15 minutes by car from Mataram, Narmada was once the old king’s summer palace and designed as a miniature replica of Mr. Rinjani with its creater lake. When no longer able to climb his beloved mountain he could at least pretend.

Batu Bolong
Visit the very evocative temple shrine that sits a black outcrop of rock that teaches out intothe sea at Batu Bolong, three kilometer from central Senggigi. It can be particularly enchanting when Hindu devotes make their offering at dusk and Senggigi present one of her crimson sunsets with the silhouette of Bali’s Mt. Agung faintly visible in the distance. Restaurants and small cafes line the colourful main beach road.

Suranadi
Situated to the of Narmada, Suranadi has one of the most holy Hindu temple in Lombok. The temple’s relaxin surroundings include several springs and a pond full of fish. Suranadi itself boats a natural park/forest area, which is home to a variety of birds whose tuneful melodies can heard by visitors.



The hill-station retreat

Pusuk
This high and coll mountain pas along the main mad to the north famous for its views and tropical monkeys that wait by the side of the road waiting for snacks from passer by. There is a restaurant for light snack and to enjoy the fantastic natural panorama. It is 10 kms from Mataram and can even be reached by taxi.

Senaru (North Lombok)
Two towering waterfalls, Sindang Gile and Tiu Kelep, steam off the mountain into Senaru’s valley. The mosque built by Lombok’s ancient first sttle and one of the few Watu Telu villages with its thatched huts and megalithic appearance provide short excursions. Otherwise Senaru in used as the popular take-off point for Rinjani treks.

Mount Rinjani & Segara Anak Lake
Mount Rinjani (3.726 m) located in the northern part of Lombok, is the second highest mountain in Indonesia. For the Hindu people, Rinjani is a holy place wich they believe is the home of the gods. A large creater lake Segara Anak located at 2.000 meters above sea level, is the destination of many pilgrima who make the annual trek up the steep slopen in order to place offering for the gods in the lake itself. Wthin this breathtaking crater lake a new and active volcano called Mt. barujati has appeared. Nearly is a hot spring which is said to cure disease.
To climb such an impression mountain is an unforgettable experience. Starting points for treks begin at Senaru in the north. These two or three day treks attack Rinjani from the west and mean a descent to the awesome creater lake before climbing again up and out for a push to the summit. Alternatively, a more direct route to the summit (which misses out Segara Anak lake) can be reached from Sembalun, effectively attacling Rinjani from its castern slopes. Although this route excludes a trip to the lake, it does offer breathtaking scenery.