Banyumulek is one of tourist villages that is currently being developed by the Lombok regional government. It is slowly becoming popular among domestic and foreign tourists as a producer of pottery on the island of Lombok.

Credit: Forever in Hunger

Banyumulek Village is located 14 kilometers from Mataram City, precisely in Kediri District, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. The majority of the eleven thousand people who live in this 4-hectare village are pottery craftsmen. Banyumulek Village is also chosen by the local government as a location for the development of a regional innovation system. Pottery from this village is able to penetrate international markets, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, America, and several countries in Europe.

Entering Banyumulek Village, visitors will be greeted by a gate that is the entrance to the village. The words “Banyumulek Pottery Craft Center” decorate the green gate. Starting from this gate, visitors can see the pottery on display in the yard of the house. Interestingly, when you step into the village area, you will find schools and government offices decorated with large pottery on the wall fence.

Visiting Banyumulek Village, visitors are not only treated with beautiful array of pottery. Coming to a pottery-producing village, visitors can also see firsthand how the clay is processed into pottery with unique designs with beautiful colors. The hands of craftsmen who are so skilled at wrestling with clay to produce artistic art objects are an interesting sight when visiting this village. In fact, visitors can also try making pottery.

Credit: Psttours

At first, the people of Banyumelek Village made pottery to fulfill their daily needs. Jugs, barrels and cooking utensils are types of pottery that are made. Over time, the pottery that was made became more and more diverse. Various ornaments and room decorators are preferred to design by them. The making of this type of pottery has a positive impact on the village economy. Many accommodations in Lombok use pottery produced by Banyumelek Village as decoration.

Pottery craft is ingrained in the people of Banyumulek Village of Lombok. The skill of making pottery was taught from an early age. Girls were taught how to turn clay into pottery, while boys were taught to find clay and do the finishing stages.

The advantages of pottery produced by the Banyumulek traditional village are not only in its various forms. The resulting color is very beautiful and has its own characteristics. These two things are tempting visitors to buy Banyumelek Village pottery as souvenirs. The price of a pottery is determined by the complexity of the design and the length of the producing process. Usually, pottery is sold from tens of thousands to millions of rupiah.

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This village is located in Jonggat District, Central Lombok Regency, Lombok. This location is also close to Kuta Beach, Tanjung Aan, Sade Village and Banyumulek Village. If you visit this village, you will find many women who are proficient in making Lombok weaving crafts.

Credit: Gerbang Lombok

The Uniqueness of Typical Weaving of Sukarara Village Lombok

Credit: Destinasi Lombok Tengah

Sukarara Lombok Village Tour is a village that produces songket weaving handicrafts typical of Lombok Island which is very famous.

Some of the uniqueness of Sukarara Village and its handicrafts make this place a must-visit when you are on the island of Lombok. Those uniqueness include:

1. Songket weaving is a woven cloth made by adding weft threads with synthetic thread as decoration, usually gold or silver in color. The decoration is inserted between the warp threads. Sometimes these decorations took the form of beads, shells or even coins.

2. The yarns used in weaving are selected yarns that the strength has been proved.

3. Moreover, the woven fabrics typical of Sukarara Village do not fade easily because the dyes used are made from natural ingredients taken from thr plants.

4. In the manufacturing process, this songket woven cloth requires considerable care, it takes one week to one month for the weaver to finish one songket cotton cloth.

5. The songket woven cloth typical of Sukarara Village has become part of Lombok commodity which is well known in foreign markets.

6. The songket motifs offered by Sukarara Village are very diverse. For example, the flower eight motif, the chicken motif, the gecko motif (a symbol of prosperous), the four flower motif, the horizontal pakerot motif, the violet trudak motif and many more. Each motif that is made has its own meaning.

7. In addition to producing songket woven cloth, the people of Sukarara Village also produce ikat weaving. The material of the ikat fabric is cotton, and the processing time is also not too long. For 3 meters of ikat weaving only takes one day.

8. The woven fabrics produced by the weavers in Sukarara Village are mainly made at home (home industries). Almost every house in this village has its own loom. The weaver profession is only cultivated by the women, while the men mostly work as farmers.

9. Another unique thing that this village has is a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. In this village, almost all women can do weaving and do not want to work outside their area. This is due to a tradition that requires the women of Sukarara Village to be skilled in weaving, if they have not mastered how to weave then they are not allowed to marry. So they will be allowed to get married if they are proficient and good at weaving. Moreover, women who get married in this village are required to use songket because songket is considered a symbol of the longevity of a relationship.

The Way to Sukarara Tourism Village of Lombok

Credit: RoadsUntravel

You can visit the Lombok Sukarara Village by using private vehicles or also using public transportation. If you are using a private vehicle, you can take the Mataram-Cakaranegara-Kediri-Sukarara route. Meanwhile, if you use public transportation, then take the Mataram-Bertais route, then the Bertais-Praya transport service and get off at the Renteg bus terminal. From the terminal, continue your journey to Sukarara Village by taking Cidomo.

Sukarara Village offers a traditional tour to know the Songket Weaving traditions. In this village, besides the original natural scenery that this village offers, you can also enjoy a variety of songket fabrics typical of Lombok Island. You can also watch the manufacturing process in the weavers’ houses. Almost all houses in this village have traditional weaving tools and almost all the women are skilled weavers.

The Sukarara Village offers a million charm which of course you should enjoy. If you have time while vacationing in Lombok Island, you must visit this place and your vacation in Lombok won’t be disappointed.

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However, it is not only the beaches that become the main attraction of Lombok. There are many other tourist sites and one of them is Sade Traditional Village which describes a beautiful panorama as well as the village situation which is still very traditional.

If you are looking for an area that is still beautiful, complete with panoramic views of ancient time, or far from modernization, then you can visit this traditional village of Lombok, located in Central Lombok, in Pujut region. Visiting Sade Traditional Village you will be taken to a place that does not seem to care about the flow of modernization. Here are some unique things that you will encounter when visiting this village.

1. The floor is covered with buffalo dung

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Unlike floors at houses in general, in Sade Village, the floor of the house is covered with buffalo dung every time. The goals are to make floors clean from dust, to strengthens the floor and it has a function to prevent insects, especially mosquitoes from entering the house.

2. The residence of Sasak Tribe

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Sade Village is the residence of the Sasak Tribe, which is the original tribe of Lombok. There are about 700 people in the village. Marriages in this village are still carried out in one clump, so that the authenticity of the residents is still very much maintained.

3. Houses with various functions

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The houses in Sade Village are made in various types, including the Bale Bonter, Bale Kodong and Bale Tani. These types of houses are based on their function. Bale Bonter serves as a home for village officials. In addition, Bale Bonter has a function for customary trials. There is also a Bale Kodong as a place to live for elderly people or for people who have just married but still do not have a place to live. Bale Tani, is a house for people who mostly work as farmers.

4. Earthquake resistant houses

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In Sade Village, there are around 150 houses. These houses are still very simple. The walls are from woven bamboo, the roofs are form dry reeds, and floors are made of a mixture of clay and rice husks. The buildings in Sade Village are earthquake-resistant houses. After a big earthquake that rocked Sade Village several years ago, the houses in Sade Village still look sturdy.

5. Unique traditions

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Sade Traditional Village has several unique traditions, one of them is the marriage tradition. When getting married, women must first be kidnapped by the men. Later, the place where the man and woman meet before the woman is kidnapped is in front of the Sade Love Tree.

6. Woven fabric

Credit: NayakaSurfSchool

Women in Lombok Sade Traditional Village are required to be able to weave. The women in this village mostly work as weavers. No wonder there are many sellers of woven fabrics along the road to Sade Village. When you come to Sade, don’t forget to buy woven fabrics that are sold by the local residents.

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Selong Belanak has a coastline that is curved like a crescent moon. Moreover, the coastline is also quite long, which is about one kilometer and faces the Indian Ocean. This beach is located in Selong Belanak Village, Penujak District, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province or about 49 kilometers from the center of Mataram City.

Selong Belanak Beach is one of the famous beaches in Lombok, mainly because of the beauty and cleanliness of the beach area. About a quarter of the coast, which is in the South side, is used as a residential area. Around 40 fisher families live in the area. Therefore, this area is not suitable for water activities because many fishing boats operate daily around the beach area.

Credit: PagiTrans

If you want to do various water activities, you can switch to the north side of Selong Belanak Beach. This area is free from local activities. Other than the soft white beach sand, the contour of the beach is also gentle that makes the waters are quite calm and clear. The stretch of the sand beach is white and quite smooth. The sea water is clear blue and refreshing. Moreover, there are green hills around the beach. The waves are also not too big, so it is often used as a training ground for beginner surfers. In fact Selong Belanak is popular as one of the best beaches to do surfing lesson in Lombok.

With such conditions, you can do various activities in the beach area, such as relaxing, walking around while enjoying the atmosphere, sunbathing, swimming and many more. You can also rent a boat for fishing. Or you can witness the simple life of the local residents, such as children who help their parents by transporting fresh water for their daily needs, fishermen repairing their nets and boats, or wives who are cooking their husband’s catch.

To get a relaxed and calm atmosphere, Selong Belanak Beach in Lombok is a very suitable place. It is indeed less crowded compare to other beaches in Lombok Island. But you don’t have to worry about the facilities. You can find several warungs (small restaurant or cafe) on the beach. The menu that is often served is Fish Satay. If you intend to spend the night, you can rent a villa in the area around the beach.

Credit: Pinterest

To go to the location of Selong Belanak Beach, you can use a private vehicle. The distance is about 49 kilometers from Mataram City. The travel time is about one and a half hours drive from the center of Mataram or about 30 minutes from Kuta, South Lombok. From Mataram you can go directly to Pujut. From Pujut, you can go directly to Sengkol, then proceed to Rembitan. From Rembitan, the journey continues towards Kuta, South Lombok. After passing Mawun Beach, you will immediately arrive at Selong Belanak Beach. If you depart from Lombok International Airport, it only takes about 40 minutes to travel.

The post Eat, Surf and Fun at Selong Belanak Beach appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.

Mandalika which is located in Pujut Subdistrict, Central Lombok Regency is now in the spotlight, especially since the construction of this region as a Special Economic Zone established by President Jokowi in 2017.

For your information, Mandalika has been designated as Tourism Special Economic Zone (TSEZ). With an area of TSEZ reaching 1,035.67 hectares (but now this area has grown to 1,215.70 hectares), it is hoped that tourism potential on the coast of Central Lombok can be exposed, or at least be able to match the success of the Gili Islands.

With a distance of approximately 50 km from West Nusa Tenggara Province’s Government Center, the distance traveled by land is only about one hour from Mataram City. The location of Mandalika is also not too far from Lombok International Airport. From the airport to Mandalika Special Economic Zone takes around 30 minutes.

It means, with easy access and qualified supporting facilities, the Mandalika region clearly has an advantage as a tourist destination for natural beauty seekers.

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Moreover, the geographical position of Mandalika on the island of Lombok is close to the island of Bali in the west. From Bali Island by road crossing the Lombok Strait, the distance between Bali to Mandalika is only 150 km. A relatively close distance for foreign or local tourists who want to travel as backpackers.

Lombok Island itself is part of two large islands in the province of West Nusa Tenggara. Both of these large islands (Lombok and Sumbawa) are surrounded by 280 small islands. The total area of the province reaches 49,312.19 square kilometers. The land area is 20,153.15 square kilometers or 40.8 percent. The waters area is 29,159.04 square kilometers or 59.13 percent.

Issues that needs to be maintained are certainly a lot because the name Mandalika itself is still unheard of, especially for millennial who are actively expressing themselves with their surroundings which present something unique and beautiful.

For example the Gili Trawangan tourism, many of its facilities directly lead to young people. Realizing this enormous potential, several alternative tourist attractions were built, ranging from beautiful photo spots, lodging, surfing and diving training facilities to open trip nomadic tours down dozens of Gilis which are scattered around the island of Lombok.

Moreover, Mandalika has also something that cannot be found anywhere else. This place is home to the Sasak Tribe, a native of Lombok that tourists can find in two Lombok traditional villages, which are the Desa Adat Sade and Desa Adat Ende. In those villages, local and foreign tourists can interact directly with the Sasak people.

The name Mandalika is indeed unique. This name comes from the name of the legendary figure of the Sasak ethnic community, Princess Mandalika. That said, the princess has very beautiful face. Because of her beautifulness, many young men and princes were fought to become her husband. Putri Mandalika then decided to meditate and ask for advice from the God.

Credit: GoodNewsFromIndonesia

After meditating, Princess Mandalika invited all men and princes that want to marry her to come to Seger Beach at dawn on day 20th, month 10th of the Sasak calendar. Then all the princes, young men and even the people of the kingdom gathered together. Princess Mandalika along with the King, Queen and her bodyguards came to meet them. Princess Mandalika and her bodyguards climbed the hill of Seger and said a few messages.

From her message Princess Mandalika only wants to see peace on Lombok Island. Princess Mandalika would have realized that if she accepted a man to become her husband, there would definitely be conflicts between people. Therefore, Putri Mandalika plans to accept all the marriage proposals.

Everyone was very confused by the decision. But suddenly Princess Mandalika just dropped herself into the sea and immediately swept away by the big waves. Everyone immediately threw themselves into the sea to save the princess. But Princess Mandalika has disappeared without the slightest trace.

Hunt for Nyale Sea Worms; Credit: SuaraNTB

Not long after, suddenly appeared a lot of worms come from the sea. The worms was given a name “nyale” and is believed by the Sasak ethnic community as the incarnation of Princess Mandalika. Since then a traditional Bau Nyale Ceremony was rolled out, a ritual looking for sea worms that are believed to be the incarnations of Princess Mandalika. This tradition is commonly held in February-March.

Not only about the Princess Mandalika legend, Seger Beach also keeps its attractive natural charm. The hills are unique with various shapes and the beach has white sand. Furthermore, the waves are also good for surfers.

West of Seger Beach, around 2-3 kilometers, there is a beach which is quite well known in Lombok. It is the Kuta Mandalika Beach. It has a 7.2 kilometer coastline and is known for having clean white sand. The clear sea water allows the panorama of coral reef’s clusters under the sea to be seen.

Mandalika Tourism Special Economic Zone doesn’t only offers maritime tourism with stunning beaches and underwater charm, but also offers attractive mountain tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism, the local government and the local tourism office are making various efforts to generate Mandalika tourism. After being designated as one of the 10 New Bali and established Special Economic Zone two years ago by President Joko Widodo, various tourism potentials of the region began to be explored and one of the latest is the development of the Mandalika MotoGp circuit to introduce the world of tourism potential owned by Mandalika.

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The hard work in promoting Mandalika Special Economic Zone is paid off because Indonesia is pointed to be one of the hosts for prestigious motor racing event in the world, the MotoGP 2021. Therefore, the work on the Mandalika Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara continues to be accelerated.

The circuit which is close to the beach is scheduled for completion at the end of this year and is claimed to be the first highway circuit in the world for the MotoGP event.

The Mandalika Circuit will have a 4.31 kilometer track with 16 turns and stand in the middle of a tourist complex which is a Special Economic Zone surrounded by the natural beauty of Lombok.

According to the Managing Director of the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Abdulbar M Mansoer, the construction of the Mandalika Circuit is likely to be completed by the end of 2020. The 2021 MotoGP season schedule is expected to be determined around August 2020.

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The Bau Nyale Festival is a tradition of capturing sea worms, which are believed to be the incarnation of Princess Mandalika who jumped into the sea – to avoid the capture of her by many princes that want to marry her.

Different from the previous year, which was carried out on Seger Beach, the Bau Nyale event will be held at Tanjung Aan Beach. It is because the Seger Beach is currently building a highway circuit for MotoGP 2021.

Tanjung Aan is one of best beaches in Lombok that have white sand with grains like pepper. Near the beach there is a Merese Hill, which is popular as a selfie location with Mandalika tourist area as the background.

The festival committees emphasize that the Bau Nyale Festival this year is still guided by traditional standards, but only the location that translocated.

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To be able to accommodate tourists who come to witness the Bau Nyale Festival, the government in cooperation with local tourism agencies have confirmed the readiness of 12,000 starred hotel rooms and 200 homestay accommodation rooms.

Regarding to the location movement from Seger Beach to Tanjung Aan Beach, this is not the first time it has been done. Previously, in 2016 the festival’s location had also been transferred to a public area on Kuta Mandalika Beach, not in Seger Beach.

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Later, the Bau Nyale Festival will begin with “Peresean”, the ancient dance ceremony of the Sasak people. Held February 9-13, this dance is packaged in the form of a battle scenario and will be performed by two men, using some weapons which are sticks and buffalo skin shields.

Peresean is a representation of a fight among the princes in Lombok who fought for Princess Mandalika. Being an interesting mythology, the beautiful Mandalika Princess was fought over by the Lombok princes.

To avoid bloodshed, Mandalika Princess then willingly sacrificed by throw herself into the sea. Then, she turns into “nyale” and appears every 20th of the 10th month of the Sasak calendar.

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Another attractions that enliven the festival are photo contests, creative dialogue and fashion, as well as the final selection of the Princess Mandalika contest which is open to participants from all over West Nusa Tenggara districts or cities.

The event will also enlivened by the Mandalika mountain bikes competition, local culinaries, Mandalika Fashion Carnaval and the peak night of the Bau Nyale Festival which shall be held all night until morning when catching the Bau Nyale (sea worms). The organizer also conducts basic training in Tourism Human Resource and Goes To School.

Bau Nyale (catching colorful sea worms) is the Lombok society culture that has been descended from generation to generation. This culture is closely related to the Princess Mandalika legend. Local people believe that “nyale” is the incarnation of Princess Mandalika who is willing to sacrifice herself for the peace of her people.

Credit: Wikipedia

The Bau Nyale Enchantment Festival is a hereditary tradition of agrarian communities, living in the southern central part of Lombok Island to the eastern part of Lombok Island.

This tradition is motivated by a legend that is inherent in the hearts of Lombok people; which is about the story of a sacrifice from a beautiful princess named Mandalika. She really loves peace for all groups of people. She did not want to let down young nobles who put their hearts on her. The Princess Mandalika consciously chose to throw herself into the sea, which then due to natural magic turned into the “nyale”.

Nyale itself is a type of sea worm, which is contested by all princes who could not marry Princess Mandalika.

Furthermore, this event is routinely repeated every year. Nyale is fought over by the community as a culture and the hauls are either consumed or stocked in the fields. They believe the nyale can bring fertility to rice plants in the fields.

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Among some remote islands in Sekotong area, Gili Nanggu is the most popular one because it is the first destination to be introduced and is one of the most attractive tourist attractions in Lombok and a paradise for marine tourism.

However, there are also several tourist activities and other islands around Nanggu that tourists can be visited with their own charm.

Here are some reasons why you should visit Gili Nanggu Lombok:

1. Gili Layar – The expanse of blue coral that will spoil the eyes

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Gili Layar is located at the very end of other 10 dyke. The island is filled with various types of coral reefs and one of the famous one is the “blue coral” which can only be found in 2 places in the world which are in the Caribbean and Lombok seas.

There is nothing you can find on the land area besides the lush expanse of trees. But only a few meters from the shoreline you will surely be amazed by the underwater life that is so pretty and still natural. This island is only visited by tourists for snorkeling and diving.

2. Gili Sudak – Nice place to enjoy lunch

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Gili Sudak is in the northern part of the islands and is usually visited after tourists are satisfied to snorkel on Gili Nanggu. In this place there is only one restaurant and also a lodge and several small stalls, so for lunch it’s better having in this island.

You can enjoy the food on the edge of the beach which has calm waves while enjoying the view of the green hills.

3. Gili Kedis – An island shaped love symbol

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Gili Kedis is usually visited on the way home after the tour in Gilis. This small island is unique in terms of shape similar to the symbol of love. At the edge of the beach there are rocks in the form of a whirlpool so that the sea water that enters the rocks looks like a river flow.

4. Camping

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Staying at a hotel is a common thing but the sensation of overnight will be different if carried out on a small island. Camping on a remote island can be very fun activity to do. Usually camping is conducted in a group by tourists. Tourists can do this activity on Gili Nanggu and Sudak.

5. Kayaking

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Kayaking activity is also usually carried out on Gili Sudak. It is because the waves are so calm and shallow so that anyone can try it. You can rent a kayak equipped with a live jacket in front of the Gili Sudak inn.

6. Fishing

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Actually, fishing should not be carried out around Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis because these three places are designated as coral and sea turtle conservation areas. Usually fishing is carried out around other islands which is not to far from those islands. The marine life that is still well preserved makes the number of fishes around Sekotong area are abundant.

7. Snorkeling

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The snorkeling spot on Gili Nanggu is on the eastern part of the island where most of the boats are anchored. One thing that certainly makes you amazed when snorkeling in this section is the “storm” fishes which is a group of thousands of baronang fishes circling under the water so it looks like a storm.

But not only in Nanggu, on all islands around Sekotong you can snorkel and it’s a good idea to bring bread to feed the fishes where you can put the food inside used drinking water bottles and the lid is perforated so you can more easily interact with various types of fishes on this island.

8. Diving

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Snorkeling and diving are the main attraction on the islands of Gili. The waters around is very calm and almost choppy and even feels like a lake. You can enjoy this condition by riding a small boat, snorkeling as well as do the Gili diving.

Location

Gili nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis are located in Medang Village, Sekotong District, in the southern coast of West Lombok. Getting to this place is quite easy because transportation across the island is sufficient.

How to Get to Gili Nanggu

There are two ways to cross the islands:

1. Through the Port of Lembar

Lembar is the ferry port of Bali – Lombok, the distance from this place is quite close around 20 – 30 minutes. This route is more traveled by those who will stay at Gili Nanggu Cottage because here there are special boats available provided by the hotel. But that does not mean that those who don’t stay at that hotel cannot take this path. There are also many public boats managed by the surrounding community.

To get to the Lembar Port you can use public transportation services. If from Mataram or Senggigi take an “angkot” that goes to Mandalika Terminal, from this terminal then continue to Lembar.

But, if you come from the airport you can use Damri transport services and stop at the Gerung Cow Statue, from here take an “angkot” to the port. This path is traveled by many backpackers because it is cheaper.

2. Through the Port of Tanjung Kelor

Tanjung Kelor Harbour is located in West Sekotong area. This place is a little further from the Lembar Harbor but most visitors take this route because the scenery along the way to Sekotong is very beautiful.

To reach Sekotong, it is better to use travel services, by renting a car, because there is no public transportation to this place. Another reason visitors prefer to depart from this place is because it is more private in using the boat because of the charter system.

The post 8 Reasons You Should Visit Gili Nanggu Lombok appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.

Each location has many tourist areas that provide beautiful scenery such as mountains, hills and beaches. Almost all tourist attractions in Lombok present a beautiful view of the sunrise or the sunset.

Do you like taking sunrise or sunset pictures? Then you have to go to these places. Here are 8 best spots to enjoy sunrise in Lombok.

1. Mount Rinjani

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Mount Rinjani is the highest volcano in West Nusa Tenggara and the second highest volcano in Indonesia. Rinjani has a height of about 3,726 above sea level and is perfect for climbers who like challenges.

It is not easy for everyone to reach the highest peak. Various types of obstacles must be passed by tourists such as savanna and extensive tropical forests. Tourists must prepare well their physical condition before climbing the summit of Mount Rinjani. There are many steep and dangerous routes await.

During the trip tourists will be able to witness the view of Mount Rinjani such as sunset and sunrise as well as the vast expanses of natural scenery. The view of the clouds visible from the top adds the exoticism of the place.

2. Gili Trawangan

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Gili Trawangan is a tourist attraction with a small island which is popular among foreign and local tourists in Lombok. Gili Trawangan is located north of the island of Lombok. The air and atmosphere on the island is very natural because of regulations that prohibit motorized vehicles from operating.

The beautiful white sand beach are the additional attractions in Gili Trawangan. The most amazing moment of this place is at sunrise and sunset which can be seen from one place. This is due to the location of the island which has beaches facing east and west. When the sun rises visitors will see a very beautiful view Mount Rinjani.

3. Malimbu Hill

Credit: FactsOfIndonesia

Malimbu Hill is located at the edge of Senggigi Beach. This hill is also a best spot to enjoy the sunrise and sunset views. There is a special moment when the sunrise session can not be missed because it only happens briefly.

This hill also offers views of the expanse of blue ocean and white sand from the top of the hill. Going to Malimbu Hills requires a little effort because the path taken is very steep. After arriving at the location, you will be presented with a beautiful view and also a swarm of monkeys roaming the hill.

4. Labuhan Haji Beach

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Labuhan Haji is one of the famous and legendary regional names in East Lombok. From the name we can guess that this city is rich with the history of Islamic development. Apparently, this old city in Lombok has several attractive tourist destinations.

In Labuhan Haji we can find a variety of unique beach attractions, nature and interesting historical relics. The best view in this place is when the sun rises. There is a small dock that can be used as a place to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. This place is always crowded with local and international visitors because it is close to Selong City, the capital of East Lombok Regency.

5. Sire Medana Beach

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This place has calm waves because it is located in the north part of Lombok Island. It is suitable for families or other visitors who want to enjoy their vacation by playing water on the beach safely. The view from Mount Rinjani can also be seen from this location.

When the sun rises, the sun will emerge from behind Mount Rinjani. Of course this further adds to the exoticism of this beach. Visitors must arrive early to be able to enjoy the view of the sunrise because it only lasts a short time.

6. Tanjung Ringgit

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Tanjung Ringgit is located at the eastern end of the island of Lombok. The path chosen to reach the location is not too good but can still be reached by car or motorcycle. This is due to its location which is very far from the city area.

However, damaged road constraints will be replaced by the beauty of the surrounding hills and cliffs. The beauty of the sunrise in this place is also an attraction for visitors. Tanjung Ringgit location on the cliff makes the beauty of the sunrise more visible. From the top of the cliff, visitors can also see Mount Rinjani and exotic Sumbawa Island.

7. Tanjung Aan

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Tanjung Aan is a beautiful beach located in the Central Lombok region, about 75 km from the city of Mataram. Tanjung Aan has a stretch of beach about 2 kilometers in length and has a very white sand color.

Sunrise and sunset panoramas can be seen clearly from the hills around the coast. Beautiful views of the hill and sunlight into a beautiful combination coupled with a vast expanse of sea.

8. Bukit Batu Idung

Credit: IqbalAzhary

Batu Idung is a hill with enchanting panoramas that spoil the eyes. To arrive at this tourist spot, visitors need about 40 minutes drive from the city of Mataram using a vehicle. This hill has a height of 250 meters above sea level and presents a natural charm that spoil the eyes. Do not worry because the climbing route to the top of the hill is not too difficult and can be passed by novice climbers.

From the peak, visitors can see the scenery around the district of West Lombok to the city of Mataram. There are rice fields, homes, factories, mosques soaring up to the temple also looks beautiful from a height. The natural scenery offered by this hill is more perfect when the sun starts to rise or set. Batu Idung has spots for sunset in the western horizon and sunrise in the eastern horizon.

There are still many good places to see the sunrise or sunset in Lombok. Each place has different characteristics and experiences. Visitors must prepare camera equipment to be able to capture the beautiful scenery of the eight best places to enjoy the sunrise or sunset in Lombok.

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Even though it has been reopened, there are some conditions that must be fulfilled by climbers. The following are the summary of some new rules that you should know if you plan to Mount Rinjani hiking.

Credit: AceAdventure

1. You must register online. The first step that must be taken by climbers is to register online. Online booking for Mount Rinjani hiking can be done through the website https://www.erinjani.id/ or through the eRinjani application which can be downloaded at Playstore.

After opening the website then fill in the data, as well as the date of departure. Afterwards, prospective climbers are required to show ePrint booking code, identity cards, life insurance tickets and health certificates for climber verification to the clerk at the entrance spot.

2. Local officials only open four tracks with limited quota to climb to Mount Rinjani. The four tracks are Sembalun, Timbanuh, Senaru and Aikberik. Each track has a quota of climbers. Through Sembalun (East Lombok) as many as 150 people, Timbanuh (North Lombok) 100 people, Senaru line (North Lombok) 150 people and Aikberik (Central Lombok) as many as 100 people. If it is calculated per day only 500 climbers are allowed to climb to Mount Rinjani, that includes porters and guides.

Credit: LimaKaki

3. Climber can only reach the Pelawangan area when hiking. The climbers are not allowed to go to Rinjani Summit and Segara Anak Lake, and their final stop only at Pelawangan. Pelawangan is considered quite feasible as the end point of the climb for a while until PVMBG assesses the entire areas are safe. But even so, the climbers don’t have to be disappointed because the panorama of Pelawangan Sembalun or Senaru is quite beautiful.

Pelawangan has also a fairly wide terrain for camping. From that location, climbers can see the Mount Rinjani summit without having to climb it while enjoying the beauty of Segara Anak Lake and Mount Baru Jari which is still active.

Credit: BelalangTua

4. There are three signs that must be obeyed. The first sign, for example in a danger or vulnerable area will be installed a red sign. The second stake or sign is yellow, means that it can last for a while while taking a photo, but it should not be too long. The third sign is blue which means that the location is safe and can be used for camping.

Ticket prices for entering the Mount Rinjani area are local visitors are charged a rate of IDR5,000 per person per day on weekdays. Holidays IDR7,500 per person per day. For foreign tourists are IDR150.000 per person per day if normal days and IDR250.000 per person per day if holidays.

The post Mount Rinjani Hiking Terms for 2019 appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.

Visiting Gili Gede should be on all travelers’ agendas while having vacation on the island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB). Gili Gede is one of the secret Gili among the Asahan, Ringgit and Layan and considered the most famous one.

Gili Gede has better accommodation options for tourists to enjoy. This largest island among several other islands in Sekotong District, has five small villages which are the Gede (Pegametan), Gedang Siang, Tanjungan, Labuan Cenik and the Orong Bukal Village.

Although the location is in remote area and small (but it is the biggest among the Gili Islands in Sekotong), tourists are pleased to visit Gili Gede because of the nature and facilities provided there.

With the support of good and adequate facilities, tourists can enjoy nature for a while either for a family vacation or as honeymoon destination. This explains why Gili Gede has more visitors than the surrounding islands, especially on long weekends.

Some locals are often seen on location, especially at sea, to catch fish. Most are Sasak Tribes and still practice old traditions. However, some of them are proficient in English and often help foreign tourists to get around the island effectively. In addition, they are quite friendly with everyone.

Activities on Gili Gede

Credit: TravelingYuk

Some tourists may have been aware of the fact that most of the Gili Islands in Sekotong is considered as a party place. Unlike them, Gili Gede has a simpler feel but has rich natural resources. Local residents make use of abundant fishes and pearls resources as their major income.

The presence of 5 villages on Gili Gede makes it reliable for tourists too. That means visitors can easily find food and drinks during their adventure. Not to mention good accommodations they have all around the island.

After visiting the local settlement, other things tourists can do is sunbathing. The calm beach creates a peaceful atmosphere in the location where tourists often do activities.

The north coast of Gili Gede is famous for its coral and white sand beaches, while the west coast has mud and mangroves. All of them are worth visiting. IN fact, exploring all the beaches in Gede does not take much time.

The Gili Gede Lombok has clear waters with fairly calm currents, so you can snorkel or dive here. Other than beautiful scenery, this island also has a stunning underwater panorama.

If you don’t want to get wet all the time, this 260 hectare island is also the right location for fishing. Yes, the waters in the Sekotong region are a paradise for sea fishes herds.

Another charm of Gili Gede is the locals daily activities. Despite the calm atmosphere, the villagers work hard to earn money by processing pearls and fishes in the sea. For tourists, it is a good thing because they can observe and make some pictures of them.

Later, in the afternoon, they can visit some great places to enjoy the amazing sunset while eating typical local dishes like Ayam Taliwang (Taliwang Chicken).

Route to Gili Gede

Credit: MyGuideBali

Access to Gili Gede is relatively easy. It can be reached via road trip from Mataram in about one and a half hours. Estimated travel time will not be much different even if departing from Lombok International Airport, which is located in Central Lombok.

Once in the port near Sekotong, you will easily find fishermen who offer crossing services to Gili Gede. Usually tourists will leave through the Tawun Port. From here you can also go to Gili Layar and Rengit.

The location of Gili Gede is not far from Lembar Harbor, about 45 minutes away with a distance of approximately 36km. The road conditions are quite smooth, both for two and four-wheeled vehicles.

If you choose to leave from Lembar Harbor which is the Lombok’s entrance gate from the west, as far as the eye can see, you will see a group of small islands in the Sekotong region. They are very beautiful and awesome.

The post Gili Gede Lombok, The Secret Gili Islands Near Bali appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.