WORLD CHAMPIONS DANCE IN
Saturday, August 23, 2008
HATTEN WINES MEET
G.E.C
RINJANI COUNTRY CLUB
GOLF COURSE & RESORT
Club-house with restaurant, pro shop, art shop, locker room
Three on-course rest-room and refreshment facilities
Well-trained English and Japanese-speaking women caddies
Tifdorf bermuda/ Himekorai grass greens
Club and shoe rental
Swimming pool, tennis court and rental villas
Air-conditioned transport provided on request
Drivers, easier swings. finer putts and more accurate chips when you play strees-free in the cool, fresh, mountain air of the RINJANI
Located 500 metres above see level in the Mt Rinjani foothills, golfers find that the natural surroundings of the 18-hole course, contribute towards enhanching the total golf experience. Why not? It's in sight of a spectacular mountain range and a mountain the same height as Mt Fuji.
Remember this Country Club. Rental villas are available with a swimming pool and tennis courts. A club house and restaurant serve up local and international cuisine.
Dusun Golong bear by
Jl. Sriwijaya #396 Mataram - Lombok -
Telp. +62(0) 370 637316, Fax: +62 (0) 370 627396
Golf Course:
Golong-Desa Peresak, Narmada - Lombok -
Telp. +62 (0) 370 633488, 6604170 Fax: +62 (0) 370 633839
E-mail: kaorilombok@yahoo.co.jp
Exotic Lombok A Truly Vacation “Visit Indonesia 2008”
Exotic lombok indulges you with accommodation in star rated hotels, visits to special tourism destinations, and an international standard 18 hole golf course with many facilities, set in the cool mountain range
Book now for this special package!
For further information please call
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Places To Visit
Pura Lingsar, ist sacred not only to
Built around 1714, Pura Lingsar was originally based on the prevailing animist beliefs of the time, and some of the original animist statues remain today. This temple has two holy shrines and is the only place on Lombok where all the religions-Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Orthodox Moslems-come together to pray for prosperity, fertility, rain, health and general success. The temple is traditionally associated with fertility, irrigation and rice. Perang Topat, is an annual festival held at Lingsar and features a ritualised war with rice cakes, which also serve as an offering to the Gods.
Pura Narmada (or Narmada Temple), around 10 km east of Cakranegara in Narmada, was created circa 1805 as a reflica of Gunung Rinjani and Segara Anak, the lake within Rinjani’s crater. The gardens at
Pura Suranadi, a complex of there temples located a few kilometers north of Narmada in Suranadi, is the oldest and holiest of the Balinese temples in
Masbagik, close to Pringgasela, is a small pottery village. Wander the streets and see the pottery being made in the small yards behind the simple homes here and purchase the wares of amazingly cheap prices.
Pringgasela in central
Tetebatu, on the southern slopes of Gunung Rinjani, is a cool mountain retreat with beautiful reice terraces, forests and bright green fileds of crops and tobacco on the surrounding slopes. It’s wet and misty during rainy season, cool and lush during the dry, and is a lovely place for walking or a day trip with lunch at one of the nearby restaurants or lesehan.
Weavers work outside many of the shops, using antiquated “back strap looms” to painstakingly produce works of art. Some of the larger pieces can take several months to weave, and collectors from around the world visit this village to purchase the blankets, sarongs and cloth produced here.
Kuta, on the south coast, is famous for its beaches and great surfing. There is a good variety of accommodation and restaurants in the area, including the architecturally spectacular and luxurious Novotel Coralia Resort located on one of the most picturesque beaches in the area. Kuta is popular with surfers and holiday-makers seeking sun and sea. Located about 45 km (28 miles) south of Cakranegara, or one and a half hour’s drive from Senggigi, Kuta has an expansively beautiful white sand beach and is a good base for exploring the stunningly beautiful southern coastline.
GETTING TO
BALI TO
It's easy to get to Lombok from
Merpati Airlines flies direct between Bali and
Indonesia Air flies direct between Bali and
Trigana Air operates two flights between Bali and
Trans Nusa Air flies between Bali and
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Silk Air (a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) flies direct between Lombok and
Merpati Airlines has flights every day between Lombok and
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
European connections are easy via
Garuda Indonesia has direct flights between Lombok and
Lion Air has daily flights between lombok,
Merpati Airlines has flights available between Lombok, Bali,
Trans Nusa Air flies between Lombok and
Batavia Air has flights between Lombok,
BALI TO
Public Ferries depart every two hours for the sea voyage between
Perama Tours offer a complete transfer package, which includes pick up from destinations throughout Bali and
FAST BOATS
Gili Cat, an Australian-built small fast ferry, depart from Padangbai Harbour on Bali at 9.00 am every day and travels to Gili Trawangan and lombok, before making the return trip to Bali, departing Gili Trawangan at 11.30 am.
Bounty Cruises is a large fast catamaran, carrying up to 500 passengers between Bali and
Mahi Mahi Fast Boat Service is a motor yacht providing fast transfer between bali and Gili Trawangan every day. Mahi Mahi departs daily from the beach at
Blue Water Express is operated by Blue Water Safaris, providing transfers between bali and the three Gilis-Trawangan, Meno and air. The sleek speedboat departs from
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The owner of OzJet, an Australian budget airline service, visited Lombok recently to discuss the possibility of
commencing the first-ever direct flights between Perth in Western Australia and Lombok.
Mr Pathma johnson met with members of the Lombok Hotels Association and other interested parties in Senggigi on
Monday, 30 June 2008 to discuess the viability of the flights and how the hotels could work in cooperation with
the airlines to provide packages to the potentially lucrative Australian market.
The airline operates several flights a week within Australia under the OzJet banner between Perth, Broome, Port
Hedland and Karratha on the west coast. In Indonesia, the company operates under the banner of Indo Jet, which
cirrently provides three flights per week between Perth and Denpasar, Bali. The company plan to increase this to four flights per week in September this year. In Australia, OzJet operates a fleet of Boeing 737-200 aircraft and provides both charters and Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) services.
The Boeing 737-200 Advanced aircraft, with a body length of 30.53m, is capable of landing at Lombok's existing
Selaparang Airport, which means that the company could conceivably start direct international flights immediately,
rather than wait for the completion of the new Lombok International Airport, schedule for 2010.
However, in order for the long-awaited dream of Lombok's hoteliers to become a reality, OzJet need some concessions and commitments from the Lombok government and airport authorities. Mr johnson said at the meeting that the airline
would need a minimum of 70 passengers per flight to break even. He plans to propose to the government that they
subsidie any deficit in minimum passenger numbers for the first six months of operations, until the Perth-Lombok
route is estabilished.
In addition, the company requires around three months of "lead time" for marketing the new service, and Lombok as a
destination, and would require financial help from the government for the costs of marketing and promotion.
should the government agree to sponsor the new international direct flights, Mr Johnson said that the service could
start operating as soon as January 2009. Mr. Johnson said that OzJet planned to start inially with one flight per
week to and from Perth, and add extra flights as demand grew. The Perth-Bali market is colosal, with Garuda Indonesia
flying between the two destinations ten times per week. Last month the airline reported that all flights between Perth
and Bali are already fully booked untill the end of the year and that Garuda plan to increase the flight frequency
to 17 flights per week in December 2008.
"The Perth market is huge and lucrative, but it's also price-conscious and Lombokwill need to compete with Bali,
"Mr Johnson told the meeting. "However, Lombok has huge potential for the Australians. Everything you can get in Bali,
you can have in Lombok...but the beaches and the environment here is much better".
Senggigi, namedd after a princess in local legend, is the main tourist center on Lombok.
The resort area is about 10km north of Ampenan, and about 20 minutes drive from the island's
Selaparang Airport. Nowhere near as large or as busy as its Bali counterparts, Senggigi is
a great base for exploring the rest of the island. The pace is very laid-back, with activities
centered around the beaches and day trips to places of interest, which are all within a few
hours drive from the town. At night, dine in the many restaurants catering to all tastes and
budgets, listen to live music at the bars, or dance the night away at the nightclubs.
Senggigi Beach is the large bay that forms the centre of Senggigi, with the main road running
parallel to the beach, and large resorts accupying the space between. The beach provides
picturesque views at Bali's Gunung Agung to the west and stunning sunsets with the volcano
silhouetted on the horizon. Senggigi Reef, off the point coral for snorkelling and, in the
right conditions, some decent surf breaks. Canoes can be hired from the beach on the weekends
and during peak tourism times. Local outrigger boats (perahu) can be chartered from the
beachfront for trips along the coast or out the Gilis.
The main road in Senggigi is lined with small shops, tour agencies, restaurants, banrs and
nightclubs. There are a couple of supermarkets, numerous ATM's and moneychangers, a post office
and all the normal tourist facilities. Senggigi is a relaxing and attractive place to stay, with
a good range of luxury hotels and resort, as well as mid-range and budget accommodations.
Pasar Seni (Art Market)
The Pasar Seni (Art Market) is on the beach between the Sentosa and Sheraton resort. There are
numerous small stalls selling handicrafts and souvenirs from around Lombok, as well as tshirt,
sarongs and clothing similar to Balis market. On the beach, local sellers ply their wares-watches,
pearls and jewellery, as well as massages and manicures. Small restaurants line the beachfront
and are a nice place to catch the ocean breezes during the day, or to dine at night watching the
lights of the fishing boats across the ocean.
Batu Layar, ont the hill a couple of kilometres before Senggigi, has an important ancestral
grave (makam) where Muslims come to picnic and to pray for healts and success. Nearby Pura Batu
Balong (meaning "rock with a hole"), is an intreseting Hindu temple facing Bali across the
Lombok Strait. Built on a large rocky outcrop with a natural hole near the base, it is said that
virgins wehe once sacrificed to the sea from the seat-like rock at the outermost point. Colouful
Hindo Ceremonies are held here every month at the dark and the full moons, and at Hindu festival
times. Admission and loan of a compulsory temple sash are by donation. This is a great place to
watch the sunset, with fantastic vistas across to Gunung Agung on Bali.
Tourism development runs north along the coastal road for about 10 km, with many hotels and
restaurants positioned along the beautiful beaches that line the entire west coast. About 2 km
north is Kerandangan Valley, with a popular beach nearby and some nice hotels slightly out of town
in an pretty valeey. Futher north, Mangsit has developed as an accommodation alternative to senggigi,
with boutique style hotels positioned along the breathtaking bays of this section of coast.
Furthest north is Lendang Luar, with two hotels perched on the long stretcg of pristine beach fere.
Mainly desert white sand beaches, flanked by coconut groves and untouched by hotel development,
continue all the way north along the main coastal road.
Malimbu and Nipah are two picturesque bays less than half an hour from Senggigi, which are good for
snorkelling and getting away from it all. Teluk Nara and Teluk Kodek are on a large bay about 25 kms
north of Senggigi. All the main dive operators have boats here, as an alternative to nearby Bangsal
Harbour. The harbour itself is reached at the crossroads in Pemenang and from here it is easy to catch
the public ferries (actually large outrigger boats) out to the Gilis, or to charter boats for island
hopping.
Lombok's complete tourism paper and your guide to the best that the island has to offer.
The Lombok Guide is published on Every fortnight and contains valuable information for
all visitors to our magical island. Use the Guide to explore Lombok and check out the
best hotels, restaurants and sight seeing options, to make your Lombok holiday special.
Once a year, Lombok holds a very special festival to showcase the island's diverse and
fascinating cultural traditions. The Sengigi Festival start on 19 July and is a week long
event filled with exiting exhibitions by talented musicians, dancers and traditional
performers from around Lombok and Sumbawa. Join the crowd in the Sengigi Square and enjoy
free performances every day. As we start the high season in Lombok, the weather is perfect
with warm sunny days, fresh sea breezes and cool nights. If you are in Bali, escape the
crowds and the heat with the gateway to Lombok. Spend the days dreaming by the pool or
stak out a patch on your own private beach. If you're looking for a challenge, now is the
best time to climb lombok's famous volcano, Mt Rinjani, or maybe learn to scuba dive on
one of the idyllic Gilis. Action and adventure, culture and tradition, rest and relaxation...
Lombok has at all!
With issue 16 of The Lombok Guide, our paper has grown to a massive 52 pages! To coincide
with our growth, we have also increased our print run from 1000 copies to 1500 copies every
two weeks...so many people are reading our paper, we couldn't keep up with supplies! Now
you can ppick up a copy of your favourite tourism guide at all important locations throughout
Lombok, as well as at Merpati check in counters in Bali, Dili and Kuala Lumpur, or on board
Gili Cat, or at selected locations around Bali.
Visit us on the web soon In Here!
and discover the magic of Lombok for yourself...like thousands of others, you'll be enhanted!
Festival of Colour and Sound
Every year the island of Lombok hosts an amazing cultural event known as the "Sengigi Festival",
although it could be named the "Lombok Festival", as rge Festival showcases the best of arts
and culture to be found on this fascinating island. This year the Festival will start at 3pm
on Saturday, 19 July, and will run for a full week with an art market daily and special cultural
performances held every evening. This is the one week in the year when you don't need to travel
to the various villages to see the best of the island's cuture; the culture come to you!
The event starts off with a formal opening ceremony held in the heart of Lombok's tourism center
of Senggigi, attended by government dignitaies and special guestt from around Indonesia. The
opening ceremony is perhaps the most exciting part of the Festival, with thousands of spectators
lining the main street of Indonesian melodies to the roucous Arabian-inspired tones of Kecimol,
the Festival has it all.
Historical re-enactments and dance theatre play a large part in the cultural reportoire of Lombok.
The parade of the legendary Princess Mandalika always draws admiring gasps from the crowd as the
beautiful maiden is carried on her chariot by elegantly dressed "princes". There will also be
solemn rituals drawing in the mystical traditions of ancient times. Intricate ceremony, ritual
tools and clouds of perfumed incense give a sense of the spiritual mysteries that from part of
the foundation of Lombok and the unique Wektu Telu religion.
The historical memory of Dutch colonisation is also re-enacted in various forms, particularly with
the amusing Rudat preformances. The soldiers in their army greens preform a hilarious pantomime,
deceptive in style, as their military precision in obviously the result of years of hard training.
The Festival this year will also feature preformances by special gueasts from East Java and Aceh
Province. Evening preformances in Senggigi Square will be presented by groups from Sumbawa and Bima,
as well as different provinces around Lombok.
The performances of the local tradition of "Peresean" (Stick figthing) provide exciting entertainment,
both during the parade and at their regular performances every afternoon at Senggigi Square during
Festival Week. In this unique competition, two muscled competitors pit their strength and wits againts
each other, using heavy sticks to strike at each other's bodies, using sheilds made from thoughened
cow hide to prevent the other from striking a blow. Contestants train for years to hone their skills,
often returning from fights with bruised bodies covered in red welts. It's genuine fight, accompanied
by much anthusiastic encouragement from the crowd. A referee is on hand to make sure things are kept
fair and don't get out of hand.
In addition to Peresean fights every afternoon, the Festival features different cultural preformances
each night, to be held in the Senggigi square between 8pm and 10pm. These performances are free to
the public. The performances will feature displays of traditional dance, music and theatre.
If you are interested in authentic cultural events, unlike any held in the other parts of Indonesia,
plan to in Senggigi from 19 July. The Senggigi festival is a wonderful display of the rich cultural
diversity of Lombok, with the unique blending of Balinese Hindu and local Lombok Sasak traditions
that make this island so fascinating.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
PLACES OF INTEREST LOMBOK ISLAND
Kute Beach
On the ruggedly beautiful south coast, lies the impressive white sandy expanse of Kuta beach. The beach is perpect place to wonder, at low tide, among a plethora of shell, coral and other marine life. Accommodation within the mind range bracket to luxuarious is found here, many of witch line the main beach.
Lembar/ Gerung
Lembar, Lombok' Main Port, links the island to neighbouring Bali. This port also used as a departure point for those wishing to visit the smaller islet of Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Tangkong.
Gili Nanggu
On the southeast coast of Lombok. Gili Nanggu is a beautiful islet sandwhices between Gili Sudak and Gili Tangkong. Is a great place to canoe and sail and can be reached by boat from Lembartaking about twenty minutes from Tawun.
Senggigi
Situated ten kilometers north of Mataram, Senggigi is Lomboks' oldest and most famous Resort area. A Perpect place to relax, Sengigi boats a series of while sandy beaches and a safe swimming area, which also provides some good wayes ffor surfers as well being home to a colourful reef which provides shelter to a variety old marine file and exquisitely shaped coral a perfect place to snorkel. Sengigi caters for all wallets. Expansive restaurant and small cafe, line the main street accommodation ranging from 5-start luxury hotel small, comfortable bungalows is available.
Gili Poh
This small island is home to a traditional Sasak Village and is and island on which traditional fishing technique are still employed
