VISIT LOMBOK - INDONESIA
By Cahaya Asia -
The island is home to some 3.16 million Indonesians [1][2][3] as recorded in the decennial 2010 census, and in 4 regencies along with the provincial capital Mataram. (wikipedia)
LOMBOK ISLAND
- GENERAL INFORMATION
Geography & Climate
Lombok island is located east of Bali. Lombok geographically is almost the same size as Bali and, just as there are popular tourist areas on Bali, so Lombok offers a variety of destinations to suit different holidaymakers' tastes.
Tropical
climate with warm and humid weather all year
round. Temperature range from 21 Celsius to 32
Celsius. Wet season starts from November to May
and dry season start from May-October.
Lombok island is located east of Bali. Lombok geographically is almost the same size as Bali and, just as there are popular tourist areas on Bali, so Lombok offers a variety of destinations to suit different holidaymakers' tastes.
Tropical
climate with warm and humid weather all year
round. Temperature range from 21 Celsius to 32
Celsius. Wet season starts from November to May
and dry season start from May-October.
The best time to come is in the month of May
when the weather is just perfect with bright
daylight and green scenery.
People
& Religion
Population is about 2,5 million. The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks who make up 70% of the population are the predominant group with Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese and other ethnics groups making up the rest. Bahasa Indonesia is the National Language, but English is widely spoken.
Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok.
People
& Religion Population is about 2,5 million. The local inhabitants of Lombok are called Sasaks who make up 70% of the population are the predominant group with Balinese, Chinese, Arabian, and Javanese and other ethnics groups making up the rest. Bahasa Indonesia is the National Language, but English is widely spoken.
Lombok has three main districts with three capital cities: Mataram in the west, Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The majority of commerce is in the capital city of Mataram in west Lombok.
Islam is the majority religion, but all other
religions are practiced freely. Every Friday
around 12.30 noon, Muslims go to the mosques
just like Christians go to church on Sunday.
If
you are planning on traveling around the island
and visiting small villages it is more
respectable to wear slacks or knee length
shorts, a shirt with sleeves or a sarong. If you
happened to be here during Ramadan, which is the
Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sunset,
please do not to eat, drink or smoke out in the
open public during this month long fast. Even
though the people don’t seem bothered in the
common tourist areas like, Senggigi and the Gili
islands, it is better to respect the people and
not eat or smoke openly.
Wetu Telu
Wetu telu is an unique religion that that blends Islam - Animism and is only found in north Lombok.
It roots stem from the village of Bayan in the north. The people who practice this still consider themselves Muslims but they have their own rituals in addition to the normal Muslim ones. One such ceremony is Nyiu, that takes place 1000 days after someone dies. The relatives of the deceased offer material things like clothing, toothbrushes, food, dishes, mattresses, etc. so the deceased will be pleased in heaven.
Money & Local Currencies
When
changing money there are many money changers in
Lombok. The best rates are usually in Senggigi.
Money changers prefer new, clean large bills and
will accept smaller denominations at a lower
rate.
If
you are planning on traveling around the island
and visiting small villages it is more
respectable to wear slacks or knee length
shorts, a shirt with sleeves or a sarong. If you
happened to be here during Ramadan, which is the
Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sunset,
please do not to eat, drink or smoke out in the
open public during this month long fast. Even
though the people don’t seem bothered in the
common tourist areas like, Senggigi and the Gili
islands, it is better to respect the people and
not eat or smoke openly.Wetu Telu
Wetu telu is an unique religion that that blends Islam - Animism and is only found in north Lombok.
It roots stem from the village of Bayan in the north. The people who practice this still consider themselves Muslims but they have their own rituals in addition to the normal Muslim ones. One such ceremony is Nyiu, that takes place 1000 days after someone dies. The relatives of the deceased offer material things like clothing, toothbrushes, food, dishes, mattresses, etc. so the deceased will be pleased in heaven.
Money & Local Currencies
When
changing money there are many money changers in
Lombok. The best rates are usually in Senggigi.
Money changers prefer new, clean large bills and
will accept smaller denominations at a lower
rate.
If you have traveler’s checks the rate will be
less than bank notes.
Be
sure to count your money before you leave money
changers.
Be
sure to count your money before you leave money
changers.
You can also check local banks but the rate is
slightly lower than outside. Re-count the money
in front of the money changer reception is a
must, as usually there's a quick tricky way how
they can steal your money. A suggestion when
changing money. If you plan on making small
purchases be sure to carry small denominations
with you because many sellers do not have
change. The Rupiah come in denominations of
100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, and 500,
100 in coin.
Vehicle Rentals:
Don't miss Lombok's beautiful scenery. If you choose to rent a car or motorcycles and drive yourself, you must have an International Driving License.
Renting
a car is a good alternative to get around
Lombok, either self driving or with driver so
you can relax and enjoy the view. (Tip driver
pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or
dinner). If you are pleased with service, tip (
Rp. 20,000 minimum). If you collide with
anything, or it collides with you, you are
responsible for all cost.
Motorcycles are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the Island, but Tourists are frequently injured in motorbike accident. If you rent a bike, drive slowly and very defensively. Helmets are required by law but those provided by rental agencies offer little protection.
Business Hours
Indonesian work in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. If you need to visit a government office, arrive between 08 AM and 11:30 AM. This also apply to banks and private businesses. Government offices close early on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally offices are open 07:30AM - 3 PM Monday - Thursday, 07:00AM - noon on Friday. Banks and Government Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Cell
Phone
Cellular phone in Indonesia is GSM. If you have brought your cellular hand phone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.
Health and Medical Info
Most
hotels have on call doctors. For what it is
known by Australian as "Bali Belly", Iomotil and
Imodium eliminate Symptoms, but not infections.
A fever along with the symptoms requires doctor
prescribed antibiotics. Drink as much as liquid
as possible. For discomfort, diarrhea, and
cramping, drink strong, hot tea; avoid fruits
and spicy food. Drink only bottled water or
boiled water (air putih).
Peel the fruit before eating; avoid raw vegetables except at reputable restaurants. Ice in restaurants is safe. Protect yourself from the intense equatorial sun. Use sun block and hat. Sexually transmitted diseases are increasing in Indonesia. Local sex workers have multiple partners from all over the world. Act responsibly and use condoms, available over the counter at pharmacies.
Things To Take Back Home
Wanting to take back something from Lombok? Lombok has great woven textiles like songkets and ikats that can be used as a sarong, wall hanging, table cloth and more. The design woven is special to each weaver and it is passed down through the generations before. There is a traditional hand weaving village in Puyung, central Lombok. You can even try on a traditional Sasak costume.
Banyumulek
(West Lombok), Penujak (Central Lombok) and
Masbagik (East Lombok) are famous villages in
Lombok for making pottery. Lombok pottery has
gained popularity and is shipped throughout the
world. There is a wide range of selections and
it can custom made to your liking. We hope to
develop the economy of the area by directly meet
them with serious buyer from all over the world.
There are many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e. wooden masks, baskets made out of ketak grass, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.
Vehicle Rentals:
Don't miss Lombok's beautiful scenery. If you choose to rent a car or motorcycles and drive yourself, you must have an International Driving License.
Renting
a car is a good alternative to get around
Lombok, either self driving or with driver so
you can relax and enjoy the view. (Tip driver
pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or
dinner). If you are pleased with service, tip (
Rp. 20,000 minimum). If you collide with
anything, or it collides with you, you are
responsible for all cost.Motorcycles are a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the Island, but Tourists are frequently injured in motorbike accident. If you rent a bike, drive slowly and very defensively. Helmets are required by law but those provided by rental agencies offer little protection.
Business Hours
Indonesian work in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. If you need to visit a government office, arrive between 08 AM and 11:30 AM. This also apply to banks and private businesses. Government offices close early on Fridays and Saturdays. Generally offices are open 07:30AM - 3 PM Monday - Thursday, 07:00AM - noon on Friday. Banks and Government Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Cell
PhoneCellular phone in Indonesia is GSM. If you have brought your cellular hand phone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.
Health and Medical Info
Most
hotels have on call doctors. For what it is
known by Australian as "Bali Belly", Iomotil and
Imodium eliminate Symptoms, but not infections.
A fever along with the symptoms requires doctor
prescribed antibiotics. Drink as much as liquid
as possible. For discomfort, diarrhea, and
cramping, drink strong, hot tea; avoid fruits
and spicy food. Drink only bottled water or
boiled water (air putih). Peel the fruit before eating; avoid raw vegetables except at reputable restaurants. Ice in restaurants is safe. Protect yourself from the intense equatorial sun. Use sun block and hat. Sexually transmitted diseases are increasing in Indonesia. Local sex workers have multiple partners from all over the world. Act responsibly and use condoms, available over the counter at pharmacies.
Things To Take Back Home
Wanting to take back something from Lombok? Lombok has great woven textiles like songkets and ikats that can be used as a sarong, wall hanging, table cloth and more. The design woven is special to each weaver and it is passed down through the generations before. There is a traditional hand weaving village in Puyung, central Lombok. You can even try on a traditional Sasak costume.
Banyumulek
(West Lombok), Penujak (Central Lombok) and
Masbagik (East Lombok) are famous villages in
Lombok for making pottery. Lombok pottery has
gained popularity and is shipped throughout the
world. There is a wide range of selections and
it can custom made to your liking. We hope to
develop the economy of the area by directly meet
them with serious buyer from all over the world.
There are many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e. wooden masks, baskets made out of ketak grass, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.
PT. BPW LOMBOK NETWORK HOLIDAYS
Jl. Intermilan 85 - 87 Puri Meninting Lombok NTB INDONESIA
Tel: +62 (0) 370 662 8139, Fax: +62 (0) 370 634 162, Mobile/SMS: +62 81 8369619
Tel: +62 (0) 370 662 8139, Fax: +62 (0) 370 634 162, Mobile/SMS: +62 81 8369619
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