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Lombok is an island in the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east.
Lombok is an island in the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east.
Located just east of Bali, Lombok in many ways lives up to or exceeds the promotional term, "an unspoiled Bali". With beautiful beaches, enchanting waterfalls, the large, looming volcano of Mount Rinjani combined with relatively few tourists, Lombok is indeed the paradisaical tropical island that many people still mistakenly imagine Bali to be now.
Lombok and Bali are separated by the Lombok Strait. It is also part of the bio-geographical boundary between the fauna of Indo-Malaysia and the distinctly different fauna of Australasia. The boundary is known as the Wallacean Line, after Alfred Russell Wallace who first remarked upon the striking difference between animals of Indo-Malaysia and those of Australasia and how abrupt the boundary was between the two biomes.
Calling Lombok paradise does not mean it is all things for all people. With a few exceptions, the natural landscape and the traditional way of life have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Virtually all small to medium size businesses are run by local families. Many of these businesses sell a wide variety of merchandise, where villagers can find food, hardware, and toys all in a single small store. While it is possible to find five-star hotels run by global corporations this is the exception, not the rule. The ubiquitous global fast-food franchises are restricted to two outlets in the precincts of Mataram Mall in the main City of Lombok and are well sign-posted.
In the Indigenous language of the Sasak people of Lombok the word lombok ""(luum-book) which literally translates into Bahasa Indonesian as lurus (Enstraight ahead).
A common misunderstanding is that the name of the island Lombok is derived from the Bahasa Indonesian meaning of lombok which is chilli or (cabe in Bahasa Indonesian) as is thought by many visitors and some Indonesians from other parts of the archipelago.
Bemos (converted passenger-carrying minivans) are the main means of short and medium distance transport on Lombok. They can be hailed down on all larger streets and will happily take you even short hops down the road. Fares are inexpensive. Sometimes tourists get charged extra and drivers of empty bemos may try to get you to charter them for a higher price, often more than an equivalent taxi ride over the same distance. If you are chartering be careful that the price and expectations are clear if unresolved just seek a different Bemo.
Prices for set distances vary at times and if the price of fuel has risen or it is in short supply causing roadside price fluctuations then the Bemo prices will often follow. Try and watch what local customers are paying for a similar distance to your own and if really in doubt just include Rp 1,000-2,000 extra. It is prudent to have enough small notes to be able to pay the correct fare without needing change.
If you are carrying large bags of shopping or other items more than a day pack or small hand items then expect to pay a little more. For a large amount of shopping or a really large single item such as a bicycle, luggage or similar maybe double the charge for a single person or a bit more if the driver is missing out on business from other people because you have taken a lot of space in the vehicle or if the driver needs to assist with the loading and unloading.
Senggigi to Mataram will require a change at the Pasar Ampenan from the more utilitarian Suzuki Carry 'box back' style of bemo popular used in the rural areas across to a yellow and red Suzuki bemo of the enclosed van body style that runs about in the city areas, unless of course you have chartered the vehicle to your required destination.
Bemo are often used to carry produce either on charter or with passengers on board and occasionally a small cow, or some goats might be moved in one, normally not when there are people in there but nothing is out of the question with a bemo in the rural areas, even if it does not fit inside.
Bemos have normally stopped running by dusk on the west coast of Lombok and most other rural locations unless under the charter. A taxi or other means of transport may need to be called to your location to pick you up if you leave your return to a time approaching dusk.
Travel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Senggigi, the airport, and the harbors of Lembar for Bali and Bangsal for the Gilis.
Metered taxis are common in Mataram, Cakranegara, and Ampenan and readily operate to the Bangsal, Sira and Medana area and along the west coast tourism strip including Senggigi as well as to Lembar.
Both the more prolific Bluebird Taksi and also the white colored Express Taksi have a radio dispatch system and both companies cars are equipped with meters (argo) which should be used by their drivers at all times. Taxis may be hailed down on the roadside with the exception of the dark blue Airport Taksi, the use of which is limited to arriving airport passengers only. Taxis can be booked in advance either by calling them yourself or by booking through your hotel.
Lombok has recently gained some new taxi operators. With this development, there is now a small number of light blue colored Toyota Vios taxis that look very much like a Bluebird taxi unless viewed with some scrutiny.
The other new operators are:
By car
Renting a car is also an option and there are several places in Senggigi, Mangsit, and Mataram to rent from. Age and condition of the car will effect price as will high rental demand in the peak tourism period around the June-August and local holidays.
Driving yourself around Lombok is not for the uninitiated. The chances of having an accident are probably much higher than when driving in your home country. Street signs are infrequent and ambiguous in the more remote areas of the island. If you are not familiar with the road system you may spend more time looking for an attraction than actually spending time enjoying it.
Great care must be exercised at all times when driving a car anywhere in Lombok as the roads are sometimes in very bad repair and large potholes and other road damage can cause serious accidents and injury. The greater majority of drivers in Lombok have either no knowledge or no regard for common road rules. Road users are normally seriously undisciplined and engage in highly dangerous and erratic behavior on the road.
If renting a car or motor bike always check thoroughly for previous damage and ensure that you discuss and document any such damage to the vehicle, with the renter, prior to taking delivery. Also check the working order of the brakes and tire condition (including tire inflation) prior to accepting the vehicle. It is best to try driving the car on the road before finalizing the agreement, especially if renting an older model Suzuki Jimmy, Kijang (Toyota) car. Ensure the current STNK – (Surat Tanda Nomor Kendaraan) (Certificate of car registration) is with the vehicle and that it is a current and original copy.
A good alternative to renting a car is to rent a car with a local driver. This type of service is normally offered as an all-inclusive package of rental car, driver, and fuel. The driver can take you effortlessly to all the local attractions, plus some places that are never shown in the guidebooks. A suitable driver will take responsibility for whatever happens during the trip and will be happy to accommodate your traveling schedule.
arfatourindo serves daily tours, tour packages, car rental, transfer-pick-up transports to Bangsal,Lembar, Mataram, Tanjung, Senggigi, Mount Rinjani, Senaru, Praya, Labuhan Lombok, Selong, Tetebatu, Sumbawa, Kuta, Sekotong, Tanjung Aan, harbors of Gili Islands, e.g.Gili Air, Gili Meno, Gili Trawangan. You could message arfatourindo@gmail.com
Renting a motorbike is also an option and there are many places in Senggigi, Mangsit, Mataram, Cakranegara and elsewhere to rent from.
Great care must be exercised at all times when riding a motorbike anywhere in Lombok as the roads are sometimes in very bad repair. Loose sand, rocks, and gravel may be found upon the road. Large potholes and other road damage can cause serious accidents and injury to motorbike riders. Riding after the onset of dusk should be avoided in the southern or remote areas of Lombok and undertaken with great caution elsewhere.
It must be understood that the greater majority of drivers in Lombok have either no knowledge or no regard for common road rules. Road users are normally seriously undisciplined and engage in highly dangerous and erratic behavior on the road and will frequently cross onto, or travel on the wrong side of the road without warning. Overtaking maneuvers and turns are also often executed in a highly dangerous manner.
Always thoroughly check the motorbike you are renting for any previous damage. Check especially for correct brake function and tire condition (including tire inflation). It is normally best to try the motorbike before finalizing the agreement. Ensure the current STNK – (Surat Tanda Nomor Kendaraan) (Certificate of Registration) is current and the original copy and is with the motorbike. Care should be exercised to always lock a motorbike and to secure your possessions.
An ojek is a motorbike taxi service. If considerable distances are involved the hirer should offer to buy some fuel. Traditionally an ojek rider will wait for the hirer to complete their business at their destination/s and take them back home again. If you are out for the day you should consider providing modest food and refreshments. Make sure you have your own helmet or that one is supplied. If you forget to do this you may find that a local policeman needs to reminds you of this and payment of a 'fine' to him may be required to continue on your way.
Horse-pulled carts, known as cidomo, are very common on Lombok. They are a good method of transportation for short distances. Make sure to agree on the price before the journey. In the Gilis there are no cars, so horse carts or a bicycle are the best way to get around.
Traditional fishing boats known as perahu ply the waters around Lombok and are instantly recognizable due to their outriggers, two lengths of extra large bamboo sealed at either end and attached by timber outrigger bars on both sides creating a configuration similar to a catamaran and affording greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian or Bahasa Sasak will come in handy) or via any travel agent, who will, of course, take an often generous commission. English speaking guides on the beaches will be eager to assist with this if you wish. You will most likely be expected to pay for this service if the negotiation is successful either by 'hiring' the guide or by a commission paid to him by the boat operator.
Fishing charters and speedboat trips can be arranged in Lombok and professional operators will be able to supply suitable services including onboard safety equipment.
Traffic is relatively light throughout the island so cycling is quite possible and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport. You may wish to bring your own touring bike, as most local bikes are of a very basic quality. There is one biking tour operator (Lombok Biking) that has decent bikes and guides. Bicycles of reasonable quality may be purchased in Indonesia and may offer an alternative to the costs and complexities of shipping your own bike in from overseas. The Polygon brand bicycle is manufactured in Indonesia and is of export quality. Lightweight alloy and carbon fiber frames are available. Stocks of more expensive models may not be readily available in Lombok without ordering ahead and resale at a reasonable price may be difficult Bicycle sales outlets are situated in Cakranegara with several shops on Jalan Jl. Umarmaya near the rear of the Cakranegara markets and at the Tiara Department Store in Mataram Mall.
The Lombok International Triathlon was launched in 2007 and uses this road for part of its race.
Great care must be exercised at all times when riding a bike anywhere in Lombok as the roads are sometimes in very bad repair and large potholes, loose sand, gravelб and other road damage can cause serious accidents and injury. The greater majority of drivers in Lombok have either no knowledge or no regard for common road rules, are normally seriously undisciplined and engage in highly dangerous and erratic road behavior.
In 2015, Lombok was voted "World's Best Honeymoon Destination Halal" and "Halal World's Best Tourism Destination" by a panel representing most Muslim countries. 90 percent of the population is Muslim, so halal food can be found almost everywhere in Lombok, except in the western part of Lombok such as in Gilis and Senggigi, where the population is more heterogeneous. Non-halal food (including alcohol drinks) can be found also at hotels with 4 or more stars.
The word lombok means "chili pepper" (cabe) in Bahasa Indonesia and although the local cuisine is quite spicy, it might not always be as hot as the island's name suggests. The local word describing chili is sebie in Bahasa Sasak, and the name of the island of Lombok is actually derived from the word lomboq, meaning straight in the local Sasak language and not from any connection at all with the local chili as many people believe.
Probably the best known local dish is ayam taliwang, although nobody seems to be able to agree on the exact recipe: most interpretations involve chicken coated with a rich red sauce flavored with galangal, turmeric, and tomato, which can be either mild or searingly hot. Pelecing is a spicy sauce used in many dishes made with chili, shrimp paste, and tomato. A local shrimp paste called lengkare is used on the island of Lombok. Sares is made from chili, coconut juice, and banana palm pith and is sometimes mixed with meat. Non-meat dishes include kelor (hot soup with vegetables), serebuk (vegetables mixed with coconut), and timun urap (cucumber with coconut, onion, and garlic).
Generally, the least expensive and most popular item on the menu is nasi campur or mixed rice. This dish is a complete meal served on a single plate, usually consisting of rice and vegetable ingredients often incorporating either tofu (tahu), tempeh (tempe), chicken (ayam), beef (sapi), fish (ikan), peanuts (kacang), together with a wide variation of cooked vegetables. As the name suggests, the meal can be a mixture of many different items, at times some may be a little difficult to accurately identify and the style and ingredients will vary from place to place. A dab of spicy red paste called sambal (basically stone ground red chili peppers) is placed somewhere near the side of the plate. Sambal is the universal condiment served on Lombok and is extremely hot to the palate of most tourists, so use with care.
The price of food varies dramatically depending on the location on Lombok. The restaurants in the popular tourist destinations of Senggigi and the Gili Islands command the highest prices but also offer the largest variety of international foods including banana pancakes, pizza, beef steak and other travelers favorites. In most other areas of the island numerous small restaurants, called warung, cater primarily to the local population. The savvy traveler will discover these small restaurants serve a variety of delicious local food at a very low price.
Alcoholic drinks are generally available throughout the island including all tourist destinations. However, since Lombok is predominantly Muslim, some areas (notably Praya) prohibit the service of alcohol at bars and restaurants. Local supermarkets offer a variety of local as well as international beers. Note that alcohol is heavily taxed in all of Indonesia: a small bottle may be the most expensive item you can order when served a full meal in a "local" eatery.
The island's most touristic township, Senggigi, has numerous bars and clubs with the usual international favorites including the ubiquitous Indonesian seksi dancers often found in nightclubs. A favorite local drink, is tuak, a red or white fermented palm wine with 2-5% alc. volume. Please see the Stay safe section for caution on methyl alcohol adulteration.
The main local language is Bahasa Sasak, the language of the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok. Bahasa Sasak is normally spoken throughout Lombok and has dialectal variations across the island. Indonesian is also spoken or at least understood by most local people and will normally be used in government offices, larger shops and businesses. In the more remote and undeveloped areas of Lombok however, Indonesian is not frequently used and often cannot be understood by the local people, especially the elderly and those who have missed out on formal schooling.
English is reasonably common in the resort areas and occasionally some other European languages are spoken by people involved in the tourism sector.
LOCAL TIME
4:05 pm
January 23, 2021
Asia/Makassar
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