LOMBOK

Ogoh Ogoh Parade

One day before the Hindu new year, the Hindu people in Lombok have a Tawur Kesanga ritual which mean to purify Bhuana Agung (macrocosmos) and Bhuana Alit (microcosmos) as well as naturalize negative power from Bhuta Kala. The Tawur Kesanga ritual is usually held in West Lombok and Mataram city during Tileming Sasih Kesanga. The Tawur Kesanga ritual usually begins with the Ogoh ogoh parade. An Ogoh ogoh is statue to visualize Bhuta Kala. This statue is to give more focus to people throughout the Tawur Kesanga ritual. During the Ogoh ogoh parade the statue is spun around before being faced in the right direction. after that the statue is cremated to ensure that the bad spirit won’t disturb the people again.

Male’an Sampi

Male’an Sampi is highly exciting Lombok tradition that always has the power to draw a crowed. The event is actually a series of cattle race held on a water logged race track 100 meters long. The local Sasak language the meaning of Male’an Sampi can be divided into two world, male’an meaning to chase and sampi meaning cow. Male’an Sampi is a favorite pastime for farmers and cattle breeders in West Lombok. This event is usually held at the planting season when the farm is empty and the farmers and cattle breeders get together to stage the race.

Gendang Beleq Festival

The Gendang Beleq Dance is one of Lombok’s famous local dances. it is so named because the musicians beat a huge (beleq) drum (gendang) that set the well – defined ‘Lombok’ rhythm to which the dancers perform. in the olden days this dances was performed to say goodbye to soldiers heading for the battlefield and again when they were welcomed home. this dance whit it’s distinct sound is now performed to welcome important guest.

Senggigi Festival

Senggigi festival is a week of cultural events to promote Lombok tourism, which will be held in the Senggigi Resort area and organized by the Department of Tourism, Art and Culture West lombok, artist and cultural observer and by tour agencies. During this event, all the color of Lombok’s arte and culture are brought together in one central location so as to be easily experience by all. Domestic and overseas guest are invited to join the event. Some important event that are going to be present include.

Painting Kite Competition

This event is oven for everyone, especially children. it’s designed to incurage children to explore they imagination and aspiration through they talent which is paint.


English Speech Competition

The competition is designed to encourage the younger generation to use more English. Especially since West Lombok relies on tourism. The more people who can speech English means more information can be given to tourist.

Stick Fighting Festival

Manhood and heroism is a total criteria are shown into a game called Perisean. The fighter called Pepadu use a stick as a tool to fight and perisae which made of Cow’s skin as a shade to protect themselves from getting hurt. Sportive is becoming the main requirement in this game with a referee called “Pekambar” will act as a judge. A simple traditional music will accompanied this game as a spirit lifter. it is usually held during the dry season. This game is also a performance to ask for the rain from the God.

Takbir Competition

Takbir is a praised to GOD, because Muslim people have completed one month fasting period, and was successful in suppressing they passion. Those happiness showed through a Takbir and Tahmid and play in a mosques. And after a while, Takbir and Tahmid are shown as a parade. Takbir is paraded at the end of the fasting month after the last breakfast.

Lebaran Topat

Lebaran Topat is a cultural event related to the Moslem religion in Lombok. Lebaran Topat as the tradition to celebrate Lebaran and recreation by bringing traditional food “Topat” with variety of side dishes including vegetables, it’s held in the 7 day after Idul Fitri. Lebaran Topat is Held particularly in the West Lombok, started to pray to happiness and prosperity in the mosque, musholla, family grave yard and followed by recreation along the coast line, the traditional food “topat” and variety of side dishes including vegetable dishes.

Mulang Pekelem – Mt. Rinjani

The Balinese Hindu are have been in Lombok since event though they live in Lombok over generation they are still maintain their culture and tradition. One of the tradition is Ngaturang Peklem at Lake Segara Anak, Mt. Rinjani. Pekelem means gives some offering to God like gold and buffalo heads as a expression of gratitude to god for his blessing everything in life. Thousand of pilgrimate will go up to Lake Segara Anak, some times pilgrimate as the far as Bali will come to this event. beautiful panorama of Mt. Rinjani will make them keep coming back next year.

Perang Topat

Perang Topat (Rice cake War) is a ritual ceremony which is performed as a expression og gratitude to God for his blessing of fertile soil plentiful agriculture produce. This event is performed in Lingsar Park by both Hindus and Sasaks, who throw rice cakes “topat” at each other. The show begins at 16.30 p.m after Pedande Mapuja, when the Waru flower 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 November or December. Topat is a plating if coconut leaves filled with rice and boiled.

Taken From Lombok Villas

raziey

Lombok'ಸ Event

Ogoh Ogoh Parade

One day before the Hindu new year, the Hindu people in Lombok have a Tawur Kesanga ritual which mean to purify Bhuana Agung (macrocosmos) and Bhuana Alit (microcosmos) as well as naturalize negative power from Bhuta Kala. The Tawur Kesanga ritual is usually held in West Lombok and Mataram city during Tileming Sasih Kesanga. The Tawur Kesanga ritual usually begins with the Ogoh ogoh parade. An Ogoh ogoh is statue to visualize Bhuta Kala. This statue is to give more focus to people throughout the Tawur Kesanga ritual. During the Ogoh ogoh parade the statue is spun around before being faced in the right direction. after that the statue is cremated to ensure that the bad spirit won’t disturb the people again.

Male’an Sampi

Male’an Sampi is highly exciting Lombok tradition that always has the power to draw a crowed. The event is actually a series of cattle race held on a water logged race track 100 meters long. The local Sasak language the meaning of Male’an Sampi can be divided into two world, male’an meaning to chase and sampi meaning cow. Male’an Sampi is a favorite pastime for farmers and cattle breeders in West Lombok. This event is usually held at the planting season when the farm is empty and the farmers and cattle breeders get together to stage the race.

Gendang Beleq Festival

The Gendang Beleq Dance is one of Lombok’s famous local dances. it is so named because the musicians beat a huge (beleq) drum (gendang) that set the well – defined ‘Lombok’ rhythm to which the dancers perform. in the olden days this dances was performed to say goodbye to soldiers heading for the battlefield and again when they were welcomed home. this dance whit it’s distinct sound is now performed to welcome important guest.

Senggigi Festival

Senggigi festival is a week of cultural events to promote Lombok tourism, which will be held in the Senggigi Resort area and organized by the Department of Tourism, Art and Culture West lombok, artist and cultural observer and by tour agencies. During this event, all the color of Lombok’s arte and culture are brought together in one central location so as to be easily experience by all. Domestic and overseas guest are invited to join the event. Some important event that are going to be present include.

Painting Kite Competition

This event is oven for everyone, especially children. it’s designed to incurage children to explore they imagination and aspiration through they talent which is paint.


English Speech Competition

The competition is designed to encourage the younger generation to use more English. Especially since West Lombok relies on tourism. The more people who can speech English means more information can be given to tourist.

Stick Fighting Festival

Manhood and heroism is a total criteria are shown into a game called Perisean. The fighter called Pepadu use a stick as a tool to fight and perisae which made of Cow’s skin as a shade to protect themselves from getting hurt. Sportive is becoming the main requirement in this game with a referee called “Pekambar” will act as a judge. A simple traditional music will accompanied this game as a spirit lifter. it is usually held during the dry season. This game is also a performance to ask for the rain from the God.

Takbir Competition

Takbir is a praised to GOD, because Muslim people have completed one month fasting period, and was successful in suppressing they passion. Those happiness showed through a Takbir and Tahmid and play in a mosques. And after a while, Takbir and Tahmid are shown as a parade. Takbir is paraded at the end of the fasting month after the last breakfast.

Lebaran Topat

Lebaran Topat is a cultural event related to the Moslem religion in Lombok. Lebaran Topat as the tradition to celebrate Lebaran and recreation by bringing traditional food “Topat” with variety of side dishes including vegetables, it’s held in the 7 day after Idul Fitri. Lebaran Topat is Held particularly in the West Lombok, started to pray to happiness and prosperity in the mosque, musholla, family grave yard and followed by recreation along the coast line, the traditional food “topat” and variety of side dishes including vegetable dishes.

Mulang Pekelem – Mt. Rinjani

The Balinese Hindu are have been in Lombok since event though they live in Lombok over generation they are still maintain their culture and tradition. One of the tradition is Ngaturang Peklem at Lake Segara Anak, Mt. Rinjani. Pekelem means gives some offering to God like gold and buffalo heads as a expression of gratitude to god for his blessing everything in life. Thousand of pilgrimate will go up to Lake Segara Anak, some times pilgrimate as the far as Bali will come to this event. beautiful panorama of Mt. Rinjani will make them keep coming back next year.

Perang Topat

Perang Topat (Rice cake War) is a ritual ceremony which is performed as a expression og gratitude to God for his blessing of fertile soil plentiful agriculture produce. This event is performed in Lingsar Park by both Hindus and Sasaks, who throw rice cakes “topat” at each other. The show begins at 16.30 p.m after Pedande Mapuja, when the Waru flower 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 November or December. Topat is a plating if coconut leaves filled with rice and boiled.

Taken From Lombok Villas

raziey

ACEH

ACEH

Aceh is a region on the northern tip of Sumatra. Aceh first rose to importance as a center of resistance to the Portuguese. Aceh went into decline when the Dutch established a presence in Malacca.

It was used as a counter to the Dutch by the British, and an Anglo-Dutch treaty guaranteed Aceh's independence in 1824. In 1871, the Treaty of Sumatra gave the Dutch a free hand in Aceh in return for recognition of British rights in the Horn of Africa. The Dutch invaded Aceh in 1873. While the Dutch gained control of the cities, they could not project their power into the countryside. Major war lead by strong Acehnese resistance leaders ended in 1912. Outside main cities, guerrilla war continued until 1942.

Overview

Chinese chronicles from as early as the sixth century speak of a Buddhist kingdom called Po-Li on the northern tip of what is now Sumatra. Arabic writings and Indian inscriptions from around the 9th century also mention this area and its obvious importance.

Of all the regions in Indonesia, Aceh, at the northwestern end of Sumatra, is the first to have contact and be influenced by the outside world. Ironically, it is still one of the least known regions of Indonesia, even among Indonesians themselves.

Aceh has a fascinating history which over the centuries has shaped and transformed the region into what it is today. In 1292, Marco Polo, on his epic voyage from China visited Sumatra on his way to Persia and reported that in the northern part of the island there were as many as six busy trading ports including Perlak, Samudera and Lamri. Islamic writings and Indian inscriptions from around the ninth century also name the area and its importance, primarily as a busy and highly strategic trading posts.

The first Islamic kingdom of Perlak was established in the year 804 about 100 years after Islam is first believed to have reached the archipelago. In 1511, the Portuguese seized the important strategic port of Malacca, pushing many Asian and Arabic traders to call instead on the developing port of Aceh, bringing with them wealth and prosperity. Aceh's dominance in trade and politics in northern parts of Sumatra and in the entire region had begun and would last until it reached its zenith between 1610 and 1640.

Aceh's decline began with the death of Sultan Iskandar Thani in 1641, and as a result the British and Dutch both began vying for domination of the area. Eventually the signing of the London Treaty in 1824 saw the Dutch gain control of all British possessions in Sumatra in return for their surrender of enterprises in India and withdrawal of all claims on Singapore.

The Dutch found gaining control of Aceh to be more difficult than they had anticipated. It was a long drawn out struggle for the Dutch in their attempts to subdue the recalcitrant Acehnese. The Aceh War, which lasted intermittently from 1873 to 1942, was the longest ever fought by Holland.

From Po-Li to Aceh Darussalam

"The city of Achin, if you could call it a city, is incredibly spread out, and is built in the forest itself in such a way that no even one home is visible until we find ourselves directly in front of it. And everywhere we went there were houses and people, so that I felt that the city covered the whole land," John Davis, a British observer on a Dutch ship which visited Aceh in 1600 AD wrote. The kingdom of Aceh he spoke of was ruled by Alaidin Riayat Syah.

The history of the Liang Dynasty of China (506-556) spoke of a kingdom called Po-Li to be found on the northern tip of Sumatra. This same kingdom was again mentioned in the history of Sui Dynasty (581-671). "The people in this land are masters at throwing a disk, about the size of a small mirror, whose edges are cerated and sharp, and in whose center a hole is cut. If they throw this weapon they never miss. The other weapons they use are much the same as those existing in China."

In the history of the T'ang Dynasty (618-906) the existence of this kingdom is listed in Book 222. "There is also found a bird called s'ari, which can understand the speech of man. It is black, with a read head, and claws like those of an eagle." The bird referred to was the minah (Gracula religoisa).

Several Arabic writings of the early 9th century also mention an area called Rami or Ramni, and sometimes Lambri. "On that island - I am referring to Lambri - there are many elephants. There is also sapang wood, bamboo and a tribe of cannibals," the Arab notes report. And most experts agree that the positioning of the area indicated is that of what is now known as Northern Sumatra.

In an inscription found in Tanjore, India which was carved in around 1030-31, the name Ilamuridesam is used to refer to a place near Manakkavaram (Greater Nickobar island). Texts from 13th century China also refer to a country called Lan-Wuli or Lan-Li. All these names are very similar to Lamuri, which was mentioned in earlier reports.

At the end of the 13th century, Marco Polo, the adventurer from Venice reported that in the northern part of Sumatra there were to be found as many as 6 trading ports. These were Ferlec, Basman, Smudra, Dagroian, Fansur and Lambri. The name Lamuri was also refered to by Arab explorers like Ibn Sa'id (end of the 13th century), Rasyid ad-Din (1310), and Abulfide (1273-1331). And in 1323 the Christian Father Odoric de Pordenone angrily wrote of the habits of the people of Lamuri, whom he described as savages because they practiced poligamy and cannibalism.

Cheng-Ho, and admiral serving the emperor of China of the Ming Dynasty, in the first part of Sumatra: A-lu (Aru), Su-men-ta-la, or Hsiu-wen-ta-la (Samudra) and Lanwul-li, or Lan-po-li (Lamuri). Concerning Samudra he reported that the region exported precious stones, other kinds of stone, indigo, rhinoceros, pumice stone, gaharu, kalambak, and pucuk wood, cloves, incense, daggers, arches, tin, pepper, sapan wood, belereng and other things. According to the same notes, after a struggle for the throne the name of the region referred to was change to A-tsi (Aceh).

The influence of Hinduism and Buddhism was also felt in this region, but it is not clear when this first occurred. The are is close to India so it is assumed that this influence existed there long before it did in other parts of Sumatra or Java. In the 54th book of the Ling Dynasty history there are several indications that the religion embraced by the king of Po-Li was Buddhism. Several other histories report the presence of Hinduism in Aceh. However it is all but impossible to find any physical sign of this presence, so it is difficult to reconstruct what type of influence India actually had in Aceh. This is probably because of the influence of the Islamic religion in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D.

"All aspects of the culture which were in direct opposition to Islamic law and teachings were wiped out completely" according to A. Hasjmy. Almost all structures and objects related to Indian influence were destroyed and almost no trace at all is left.

According to A. Hajmy the mosque in Indrapuri (Aceh Besar) was built on the foundation of a huge temple. "Its form was similar to that of the Borobudur temple."

The first Islamic kingdoms in Aceh were Perlak, Lamuri and Pasai. The kingdom of Pasai was the first to embrace Islam in Southeast Asia. Two other Islamic kingdoms of Aceh, Samudra Pasai (14th and 15ths centuries) and Aceh Darussalam (16th and 17th centuries), had major impact on the development and expansion of Islam in Indonesia. The religious, philosophic and literary works of the ulemas of Aceh opened up new horizons all over Indonesia.

The name Aceh itself began to be used more definitely around 1520 when Tome Pires of Portugal wrote, "Aceh is the first nation along the coast of Sumatra and is bordered by Lamri, which extends into the interior." Concerning the king of the region Tome Pires refers to him as being a Moslem king with power great enough to bring all of his enemies under control.

Denys Lombard, and expert on the history of Aceh, in his book, "The Kingdoms of Aceh" (1986) speculates that the king referred to was probably Ali Mughayat Syah, who is believed to have been the establisher of Islamic power. This king won the first sea war against the Portuguese in May 1521. Under his rule, and those of his successors, Aceh continued to expand its borders into the whole of Sumatra island and into Semenanjung, Malaysia.

The golden age of Aceh came during the period of kingdom of Aceh Darussalam (Land of Peace) under the rule of Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636). According to Ausgustin de Beaulieu, a French admiral, the Aceh kingdom was the strongest of all the neighboring nations in terms of its sea power. In its three main harbors as many as 100 war ships were on the alert and ready to sail at a moment's notice. "A third of them were larger than any war ship ever seen in Christiandom," Beaulieu wrote. He also recorded the information that each ship carried three cannons and 40 tons of shells, and were manned by between 600 and 800 men.


Peter Mundy, a Briton, in 1673 reported that Aceh had an armada of 200 large ships, besides numerous large and small boats with sails made of woven matting or rattan. The Portuguese, the foe of Aceh, called these large Acehnese ships Espanto del Mundo or the "bogey men of the world". These ships were about 100 meters long, with three sails and equipped with 100 guns. "Even though our eyes were accustomed to seeing things of great beauty, we all amazed to see this (the ships)," Faria y Sousa, a Spaniard, who worked for the Portuguese, reported.


On land Aceh's army featured the use of elephants, which were greatly feared. Beaulieu reported that the elephants forces numbered as many as 900. These forces were supported by a cavalry mounted on 200 horses. The Aceh kingdom also had a force of at least 40,000 foot soldiers. With this type of military strength Aceh expanded its territory and successfully fought off the Portuguese in areas as far away as Malacca and Semanjung, Malaysia. Because these forces inspired such confidence the people of Aceh did not bother to build high, thick walls to protect Aceh city. Explorers from Europe who are used to seeing such fortresses in Europe and India were amazed that Aceh had none.

As time passed the Dutch became the threat instead of the Portuguese and Aceh was the only part of Indonesia that had yet to fall under the influence of the colonial forces at the first of 20th century.

The Aceh war (1873-1942) was the most major war ever fought by the Dutch and it claimed over 100,000 lives, including that of the Dutch Major General J.H.R. Kohler.

On Aceh's side many heros and heroines surfaced, many of them dying, during this prolonged struggle, among them being: Teungku Chik di Tiro, Teuku Umar, Cut Nyak Dien, Panglima Polem, Cut Meutia, and many, many more. Aceh was the last region in Indonesia to fall to the Dutch colonial forces, and the first to break away.

JAWA TENGAH

Jawa Tengah adalah sebuah provinsi Indonesia yang terletak di bagian tengah Pulau Jawa. Provinsi ini berbatasan dengan Provinsi Jawa Barat di sebelah barat, Samudra Hindia dan Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta di sebelah selatan, Jawa Timur di sebelah timur, dan Laut Jawa di sebelah utara. Luas wilayahnya 32.548 km², atau sekitar 25,04% dari luas pulau Jawa. Provinsi Jawa Tengah juga meliputi Pulau Nusakambangan di sebelah selatan (dekat dengan perbatasan Jawa Barat), serta Kepulauan Karimun Jawa di Laut Jawa.

Pengertian Jawa Tengah secara geografis dan budaya kadang juga mencakup wilayah Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Jawa Tengah dikenal sebagai "jantung" budaya Jawa. Meskipun demikian di provinsi ini ada pula suku bangsa lain yang memiliki budaya yang berbeda dengan suku Jawa seperti suku Sunda di daerah perbatasan dengan Jawa Barat. Selain ada pula warga Tionghoa-Indonesia, Arab-Indonesia dan India-Indonesia yang tersebar di seluruh provinsi ini.

Transportasi

Jawa Tengah dilalui beberapa ruas jalan nasional, yang meliputi jalur pantura (menghubungkan Jakarta-Semarang-Surabaya-Banyuwangi), jalur Tegal-Purwokerto, jalur lintas selatan (menghubungkan Bandung-Yogyakarta-Surakarta-Madiun-Surabaya), serta jalur Semarang-Solo. Losari, pintu gerbang Jawa Tengah sebelah barat dapat ditempuh 3,5 - 4 jam perjalanan dari Jakarta. Saat ini telah dibangun ruas jalan tol yang menghubungkan Semarang dan Solo, sehingga mempersingkat waktu tempuh dan memperlancar kegiatan perekonomian.

Jawa Tengah merupakan provinsi yang pertama kali mengoperasikan jalur kereta api, yakni pada tahun 1862 dengan rute Semarang-Yogyakarta, namun jalur ini sekarang tidak lagi dipakai. Saat ini jalur kereta api yang melintasi Jawa Tengah adalah lintas utara (Jakarta-Semarang-Surabaya), lintas selatan (Bandung-Yogyakarta-Surabaya), jalur Kroya-Cirebon, dan jalur Solo-Gundih-Semarang. Jalur kereta Solo-Wonogiri yang telah lama mati dihidupkan kembali pada tahun 2005.

Untuk transportasi udara, Bandara Ahmad Yani di Semarang dan Bandara Adi Sumarmo di Surakarta merupakan bandara komersial yang paling penting di Jawa Tengah. Selain itu juga terdapat Bandara Tunggulwulung di Cilacap dan Bandara Wirasaba di Purbalingga. Penerbangan Jakarta-Semarang atau Jakarta-Surakarta dapat ditempuh dalam waktu 45-50 menit.

Pariwisata

Jawa Tengah banyak terdapat obyek wisata yang sangat menarik. Kota Semarang memiliki sejumlah bangunan kuno. Obyek wisata lain di kota ini termasuk Puri Maerokoco (Taman Mini Jawa Tengah) dan Museum Rekor Indonesia (MURI).

Salah satu kebanggaan provinsi ini adalah Candi Borobudur, yakni monumen Budha terbesar di dunia yang dibangun pada abad ke-9, terdapat di Kabupaten Magelang. Candi Mendut dan Pawon juga terletak satu kompleks dengan Borobudur.

Candi Prambanan di perbatasan Kabupaten Klaten dan Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta merupakan kompleks candi Hindu terbesar di Indonesia. Di kawasan Dieng terdapat kelompok candi-candi Hindu, yang diduga dibangun sebelum era Mataram Kuno. Kompleks candi Gedong Songo terletak di lereng Gunung Ungaran, Kabupaten Semarang.

Surakarta dipandang sebagai salah satu pusat kebudayaan Jawa, dimana di kota ini terdapat Keraton Kasunanan dan Pura Mangkunegaran. Obyek wisata menarik di luar kota ini adalah Air Terjun Grojogan Sewu dan candi-candi peninggalan Majapahit di Kabupaten Karanganyar; serta Museum Fosil Sangiran yang terletak di jalur Solo-Purwodadi.

Bagian selatan Jawa Tengah juga menyimpan sejumlah obyek wisata alam menarik, diantaranya Goa Jatijajar dan Pantai Karangbolong di Kabupaten Kebumen, serta Baturraden di Kabupaten Banyumas. Di bagian utara terdapat Obyek Wisata Guci di lereng Gunung Slamet, Kabupaten Tegal; serta Kota Pekalongan yang dikenal dengan julukan 'kota batik'.

Kawasan pantura barat banyak menyimpan wisata religius. Masjid Agung Demak yang didirikan pada abad ke-16 merupakan bangunan artistik dengan paduan arsitektur Islam dan Hindu. Demak adalah kerajaan Islam pertama di Pulau Jawa. Kawasan pantura barat terdapat 3 makam wali sanga, yakni Sunan Kalijaga di Demak, Sunan Kudus di kota Kudus, dan Sunan Muria di Kabupaten Kudus. Kudus juga dikenal sebagai 'kota kretek', dan kota ini juga terdapat museum kretek.

culture of lombok

Cultural Lombok

Lombok

Nyale Fishing Festival

On the 19th day of the 10th month in Sasak Calendar-generally February or march-hundreds of Sasak gather on the beach. When night falls, fires a built and the young people sit around competing with each other in rhyming couplets called Pantun. At dawn the next day, the first Nyale a caught, after which it is time for the Sasak teenagers to have fun. In colorful procession boys and girls sail out to sea – in different boats - chase one another with lots of noise and laughter. The worm-like nyale fish are eaten raw or grilled, and are believed to have aphrodisiac properties. A good catch is a sign that the rice harvest will also be good.

SURFING

Plenty of good waves break on the reefs around here – many supposedly “Secret”. There are lefts and rights in the bay in front of Kuta, and some more on reefs east of Tanjung Aan. Local boatman will take you out for a few thousands rupiah. Go about seven km east of the Kuta to the fishing village of Gerupuk, where there are several potential breaks on the reefs at the entrance of Gerupuk Bay. Again access is by local fishing boat. There’s more breaks further east and west, from Blongas to Serewi, but nearly all require a boat: the charter rate is about 150.000 to 250.000 rp per day. Bigger yacht from Bali do surf charters along the whole of LOMBOK south coast.

There aren’t many secrets.

INFORMATION

You can change money at Segara Anak Bungalows, but the rates are not very good. Wisma Segara Anak is a the postal agent and has a booking desk for Perama Shuttle Bus.

KUTA BEACH & SOUTH LOMBOK

The best-known place on the south coast is Lombok's Kuta Beach (Sometime spelt Kute Beach), a magnificent stretch of white sand and blue sea with rugged hills rising around it, but not much else.

It very small development with far fewer tourist than in famous Kuta Beach on Bali, but there are big plans to develop a whole stretch of the superb south coast with luxury hotels.

After many years of speculation there are signs something is happening, with the road from Praya completely remade and big new road running to as yet undeveloped beaches.

Meanwhile, the low budget Losmen at Kuta are all on limited leases, and seem to trying to get maximum income from minimum investment-some of theme are looking decidedly squalid.

Travelers are reporting some hassles here too. People flock to Kuta for the annual Nyale fishing celebration. Usually falling in February or March each year, with thousands sleeping on the beach. The main tourist season is August and for the rest of year it’s very quite.