A Hidden Paradise in Southeast Asia

Lombok is an exquisite island which is described as "a beautiful princess who was still asleep" because of its beauty and serenity. Lombok lies between two world famous tourist attraction is the island of Bali and Komodo Island. Lombok in addition to beautiful, safe and convenient for vacationers also store a variety of unique cultures and traditions is a mix of various other cultures such as Bali, Java, Bugis, Arabs etc. Tourism objects are very beautiful and unspoiled. Starting from the ornamental fish and coral on the sea floor Gili Trawangan to flora and fauna and the natural charm of the wondrous at the top of Rinjani. Therefore, Lombok has gained a place in the hearts of tourists both domestic and foreign. Access Lombok can be accessed directly through Jakarta, Surabaya, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by plane and Bali by plane and ferry. Flight schedule is available every day with a few regular flights mainly from Bali. Sementra regular ferry available every hour and 1 times daily fast ferry to and from Lombok. In addition to its beauty, the easy access also makes Lombok increasingly visited by many tourists. 

Geography

Geographically, Lombok is located at coordinates 116 351 ° E and 8565 ° S. Lombok is part of a cluster of islands in Nusa Tenggara or formerly known as Small Sunda or Kleine Sunda. Lombok island area is approximately 5,435 km² The highest place on the island of Lombok is the peak of Rinjani Volcano [the second highest in Indonesia] towering at a height of 3726 m above sea level.

Demography

Total population of Lombok Island is approximately 2,722,123 inhabitants according to data from the year ... The original inhabitants of the island of Lombok is Sasak which is believed to be descended from Javanese. Sasak scattered around the island of Lombok and dominate the overall population to 85%. In addition to the indigenous Sasak, Lombok Island is also inhabited by ethnic Balinese, Javanese, Bugis, Banjar, Malay, Chinese and Arabic.

Topography

Topographically, Lombok is dominated by the slopes of Rinjani Volcano. This makes the most of the area in Lombok into fertile agricultural land. The slopes north and east, for example, planted garlic, onion tobacco and other horticulture crops with high quality. While rice is also a major crop in most parts of the island of Lombok. Although Lombok area south tends to be drier than other areas but still productive. Other commodities produced Lombok is corn, chili, cotton, nuts etc.

Religion

The oldest ancestors religion or religious Lombok Sasak tribe called Boda, then after the kingdoms of Java expansion to Lombok, Sasak Shiva-Buddhist religion. Furthermore, after the Majapahit expedition led by Gajah Mada go to Lombok, Sasak embraced Hindu-Buddhist gamma. Islam entered Lombok around the XV century AD Islam that originally comes from Java is growing rapidly in Lombok and be a religion embraced by almost all Sasak until today. Therefore, Islam is the majority religion in Lombok Island [± 85%]. Second largest religion practiced in Lombok is Hindu, embraced by the residents of Bali descent. In addition, Christians, Buddhists and other religions can also be found in Lombok. Adherents are migrants from various parts that go to Lombok tens or even hundreds of years ago. Bayan, Sembalun, Senaru, Pesugulan North Lombok, Pujut, puyung, Sengkol, Rambitan, Sade South Lombok, Tetebatu and Loyok East Lombok and Bumbung and Narmada Lombok Barat and some places tepencil others are adherents of Islam Sasak or better known as Islam Wetu telu, a local Islamic sect that is "contaminated" teachings animist, Hindu and ancestral traditions.

Climate

Unlike the usual other areas in Indonesisa, Lombok is also particularly two seasons: the rainy season and dry season. The rainy season is generally from October to March and the dry season lasts from April to September. The average temperature throughout the year on the island of Lombok range between 21º and 33 º Celsius.

Flora and fauna

Although Lombok is geographically very close to Bali, animals and plants in the Lombok is slightly different from the one in Bali. Lombok is the point of the "border" between animals and plants in Indonesaia the west and east. Therefore, Alfred Russel Wallace, a biologist from the ninth century as the British call Lombok The Wallace Line, In the north, the island of Lombok is dominated by valleys and hills covered by edeluis, ferns, tall trees and shrubs. While in the south, Lombok tend to be barren. Animals that can be found in Lombok, lizards, biwak, cockatoos and parrots, coax caw, crows, hawks, crows, old kaka, punglor and others.

 Government Lombok is part of the West Nusa Tenggara Province [NTB] with an area of

19708.79 km ² which was part of the province of Nusa Tenggara [NUSRA]. On August 14, 1958, the Province NUSRA divided into three provinces, namely Bali, NTB, and NTT [East Nusa Tenggara] brdasarkan Act No. 64 1958. Lombok is divided into four districts: West Lombok, North Lombok, Central Lombok and East Lombok and 1 city: Municipality of Mataram, while the NTB provincial capital. 

 Government

Lombok is part of the West Nusa Tenggara Province [NTB] with an area of

19708.79 km ² which was part of the province of Nusa Tenggara [NUSRA]. On August 14, 1958, the Province NUSRA divided into three provinces, namely Bali, NTB, and NTT [East Nusa Tenggara] based on Law Number 64 of 1958 Lombok is divided into four districts: West Lombok, North Lombok, Central Lombok and East Lombok and 1 city: Municipality of Mataram, while the NTB provincial capital. 

History

Origin The word "Lombok"

According to the Chronicle content of Lombok, the oldest kingdom that once ruled the island kingdom called Laeq, but other sources which Suwung Chronicle, states that the oldest kingdom in Lombok is the kingdom Suwung built and leading by King Betara senses. Suwung kingdom then suffered a setback and came kingdom Lombok. Some of the other kingdoms that once stood on the island of Lombok, among others Pejanggik, Langko, Bayan, chock Samarkaton, Selaparang etc.

Among these kingdoms, the most advanced of the era and the most famous is the Kingdom of Lombok based in Labuhan Lombok right now; a very beautiful bay and have a source of fresh water that much. This situation makes many traders from Palembang, Banten, Coarse sand, and Sulawesi layover. Then in the days of King Rangkesari, moved to the center of the kingdom Lombok Selaparang village on the proposal Patih Banda Yuda and Patih Lion of Judah. The transfer is done because the village lies Selaparang more strategic and not easily attacked by the enemy than the previous position. Thus, we can conclude that word "Lombok" is taken from the name of the kingdom. In the Sasak language, lexical word "Lombok" means "straight" or "honest". In everyday life or contextually

word "Lombok" can mean sincerity and honesty in all behavior and refrain from actions that harm others.

Origin of the word "Sasak"

According Rulof Goris, in the fifth century until the sixth century there was a wave of migration from Java to Bali and Lombok following the collapse of the kingdom of Daha and Kalinga. Marine transportation used by migrants crossing to Lombok called sak-sak [bamboo raft]. Based on the word "sak-sak" it is, according to Goris, perhaps the word "Sasak" originated.

However, a Teeuw, Dutch Indonesian man suspected sasak word emerges from people's habits Lombok that time wearing a headband made of tembasak [white cloth]. It could be sasak was taken from the last syllable tembasak that "sak" are undergoing a process of repetition and so "Sasak".

"Sak-sak" in Sasak language lexical meaning "whatever" and contextually can be defined as everything that is involved and grow together into one identity is common property. Therefore, Lombok Sasak culture born of multi-ethnic cultures that inhabit this island like Java, Banjar, Bugis, Malay, etc.

Culture

The proximity of Bali and Lombok culture is inseparable from the history of the two island neighbors. Beginning with the influence of understanding Shiva-Buddha of Java brought migrants from the kingdoms of Java around the century V and VI M to infiltrate the kingdom of Hindu Majapahit who introduced the teachings of Hindu-Buddhist to all corners of the east of the archipelago in the seventh century AD, including to Bali and Lombok.

In addition to the influence of western culture [Bali and Java / majapahit] Lombok culture also influenced by the culture of the east, namely culture Goa Kingdom. However, the influence of western culture is the one that is more prominent in everyday life today. Traditional clothing such as a headband, for example, the so-called indigenous Sasak sapuk [man] equals udeng menswear in Bali and is similar to Java blangkon in menswear.

Habits nebon [abstinence cutting hair for a husband whose wife is pregnant] contained in Bali, known also in the tradition of Sasak Lombok. During nebon, household activities handled husband. This habit is maintained with the aim for the sake of the next generation of qualified physical and spiritual.

The tradition of cutting teeth, puppet shows lelendong [leather], the same gamelan instruments, traditions elope and others are also some of the many cultural similarities between Bali and Lombok. In addition, the acculturation between Bali and Lombok were also seen in the rituals of Islam faiths Sasak or Islam Wetu telu

Language

Local languages

are spoken on the island of Lombok by native Sasak tribe called the Sasak language. Sasak language can be grouped into the same kind of language with the language Java and Bali. There are so many ways of vocabulary pronunciation, usage and meaning is the same with the vocabulary in the language of Bali and Java. This is largely attributable to geographic and historical proximity between them. Sasak Bali and Java are both derived from the Javanese Kawi language Ancient, hanacaraka. Script hanacaraka Bali and Sasak equally numbered 18, while the Java hanacaraka numbered 20.