Lombok

Lombok is a quite island that is dominated by Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani). The spectacular volcano rises 3726 m above sea level and can be climbed. Most of Lombok's inhabitants are Muslims and belong to the Sasak tribe, although there are also several isolated groups of Balinese Hindus on the island. The Sasaks are known for their weaving, their beautiful, but dramatic dances and the ritualized pageantry and contests. Balinese culture also survives on Lombok. It is a remnant of the time when Balinese princes controlled the island. Nowadays, most of Lombok's tourist related businesses are mostly run by Balinese. Most tourists come to the island for its marvelous beaches and tranquil countryside.

If you want to visit Lombok's interior, or the island's more remote areas, or if you like trekking, you should visit Lombok during the dry season, from June to October. During the wet period, from October to May, most roads in the island's interior become un-navigatable and during that time temperatures are slightly hotter and the air is more humid than in the dry season. It is not too hot for traveling though and the landscape is much greener and more beautiful.

Most festival on Lombok, take place at the beginning of the rainy season, from October to December and in April and May, when it is harvest time. During these two periods, there are countless celebrations in villages all over the island. Each of Lombok's three religions organizes its own festivities, during which wooden horses and lions are often carried in processions through the streets and gamelan play everywhere.

Several, mostly Islamic, holidays are celebrated on Lombok throughout the year. The most important one is probably Ramadan, a month-long period, when every Muslim fasts between dawn and dusk to conform to the fourth pillar of Islam. Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, the date falls earlier every year. At the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr is celebrated. During that feast, everyone prays together and gives out presents to friends. Eid al-Fitr involves a lot of food too. The other important celebration is Eid al-Adah, during which Muslims should make the pilgrimage to Mecca. Every year in June, when it is full moon, the Bali Hindu ceremony of Pura Meru is held at the temple in Cakranegara. Another Bali Hindu celebration is Pujawali. It honors the god Batara who, according to believers, lives on Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani). Between October and December the rain festival of Perang Ketupat is held in Lingsar. During that event, celebrants pray and throw sticky rice at each other.

There are numerous interesting cities, towns and sights on Lombok. Some of the most important include the island's capital of Mataram, as well as the towns of Ampenan, Cakranegara, Kuta, Pengantap, Penujak, Selong Blanak, Senggigi, Sukarara, Sweta and Tanjung Luar. Other places that are worth a visit are the Gili Islands, off Lonbok's northwestern coast and Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani), Lombok's highest peak.

Lombok's capital of Mataram has daily air connections with Denpasar on Bali, Sumbawa Besar and Bima in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago and Surabaya on Java. Ferries run frequently from the Lombok town of Lembar to Padangbai in Bali, but the crossing takes at least 4 hours. It is also possible to go by boat from Labuhan on Lombok to Poto Sano on the island of Sumbawa. This is a much shorter distance and the trip usually takes less than 2 hours.

Transportation on Lombok is best done by bus, although public buses and bemos (minibuses) are generally restricted to main routes. Privately operated bemos run on routes all over the island. It is also possible to rent one for the day. If you don't want to do that, then you are stuck to the routes the regular bemos ply. To get away from these routes you will have to rent a cidomo (pony cart), walk, or be so lucky to get a lift on a motorcycle or so. The larger towns in the northeast and south of Lombok are interconnected by public transport, but the buses don't run very frequent and during the night you might as well forget it.

Lombok has an extensive road-network and the entire island, including most of the remote locations can easily be explored if you have your own transportation. Cars and motorbikes can be rented in most larger cities, although you'll need a vehicle with a good ground clearance in order to reach the remote places.

Mountain bikes are also a good way of getting around, especially, because you can take them on ferries, to explore the smaller islands off Lombok's coast. Small outrigger vessels, known as prahu are used to bring people to snorkeling spots or places where surfing is best, while larger boats called jukungs are used to travel between islands.

There are countless hotels, apartments and other forms of accommodation on Lombok, as well as numerous bars and restaurants. Especially in coastal resorts there is a wide variety of facilities. Lombok is one of Indonesia's smaller islands. It lies between Bali and Sumbawa, in the south of the archipelago.