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Lombok Indonesia
Lombok The Hidden Paradise!!
By Barbara
Higgs
Lombok
an island many people call "Indonesia's Best
kept Secret". Lying just to the east of Bali
and accessed by a short 25 minute flight
from that famous Island. Lombok is a pearl
in the sparkling blue ocean and a haven for
those seeking the unspoilt beauty of the
Bali of old. Indeed many people refer to
Lombok as Bali, 20 years ago, how ever this
incorrect, when you consider the landscapes
and cultures which are uniquely Lombok. As
the old saying goes...You can see Bali
in Lombok but you can not see Lombok in
Bali!! Although tourism Boomed in
the 1990's,
 the Asian economic crisis
towards the end of that decade slowed
development to a crawl and today Lombok is
still a relatively undeveloped and unspoiled
island. The beaches are exceptionally clean,
with unpopulated waters bordered by large
stretches of sand, usually fringed with
coconut palms. Drive almost
anywhere and you can be assured of your own
personal deserted beach.
Large parts of the island are still heavily
forested and retain their natural beauty.
Rainforests and jungles are not marred by
extensive logging, and the unique flora and
fauna of this region is intact.
The southern slopes of the
Rinjani mountain range, as well as the
Rinjani National Park to the north, are
heavily forested in old stands of Mahagony
and hardwoods, interspersed
with natural jungle
vegetation.
Dominating the northern quadrant of the
island is the magnificent volcano, Gunung
Rinjani. Rated a world class tourism
destination, this towering volcano attracts
trekkers and serious mountain climbers from
arround the world. The peak soar 3726 meters
above sea level and is the second highest
volcano in Indonesia. Set amongst the
mountains, the crater lake "Segara Anak"
glistens like jewel and from its depths
rises the newly created volcanic cone, "
Baru Jari".
To the south, farming and argiculture is
evocative of prior centuries. Many fields
are are still tilled using water buffalo and
antique equipment, and the villages there
are timeless.
The southern coastline is stunning. Long
streches of deserted beaches, cliffs and
bays, bounding the vast ocean, provide some
of the best surfing in Indonesia, at both of
Kuta and Gerupuk. Bangko - Bangko, on the
island's furthest south west point, is
regularly cited as one of the top five
surfing destinations in South East Asia.
For those looking authentic cultural
experience, Lombok is anthropologist's
delight with the ancient traditions of the
local Sasak people largely undisturbed by
outside influences, even today.
Many of the small villages carry on life as
they have for centuries - simple life styles
centered around farming, communal living and
traditional handycrafts. The Sasak people
who inhabit the island are simple, friendly
people, welcoming visitors to their
environment with a unique mixture of natural
shyness and curious escitement. Driving
through the small village (Kampungs)
revellers are greeted with enthusiastic
shouts of "Hello Mister" and friendly waves.
Lombok Pottery, manufactured
by hand and fired in simple wood kilns, is
already famous, beeing exported all over the
world; while tradional technique of weaving,
thatching, and wood working are still handed
down through generations in each village.
In contrast to this rural setting, off the
north west coast lie the three small islands
known as GILI ISLAND ( Gili's mean small
island). Already popular with european
travellers for many years, this coral
fringed oases continue to delight all who
visit and are becoming an increasingly
famous Lombok landmark internationally.
All the three island easily accessed from
the mainland for either day trips or longer
stays. Diving shops and five star PADI
certified dive instructors operate on all
three Gili's, catering for the novice,
through to experience divers, demanding
drift dives and deep water diving. The clean
turquoise waters are home to thousands of
varieties of colorful tropical fish and
provide endless opportunities for
snorkelling and diving.
Here the beaches are clean, the sand
sparkling white and the sun always seems to
shine. All three islands have a good variety
of accommodation and restaurants for those
seeking the true tropical island get-away.
It would be impossible to list all the
attractions that Lombok has to offer here.
Indeed , some parts of the island itself
remain largely unexplored by westerners.
There in lies the beauty of this tropical
paradise - no matter what your interest, nor
how much time you spend here, there is
always something new and special to be
discoveres, Come... Discover this hidden
paradise for your self!!!
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