City
Created by Yongki RS
YONGKI and IAN - Lombok and Bali 10 days Trip
10 days amazing and comprehensive trip to Lombok and Bali
Sat 07/19/08 (day 1)
Day 0 - Preparation
Hi, my name is Yongki RS. We meet again in my trip journal to Lombok and Bali.
This year, I want my son, Ian Thomas, 14 years old to go to Lombok and Bali. I want him to
I have been to Maui, Hawaii few years ago. It is very beautiful and it is definitely a must place to go. But I can assure you that Bali is not less beauty compare to Hawaii. Of
As usual, I make a preparation before I go including contact my tour agent in Lombok and Bali, buy hotel voucher, plane tickets, car rental, tour guide and preparing a journal itinerary. I create all my journal trips both in Lombok and Bali all by myself, but then I ask my tour guide to verify it to have the best route.
I also do a lot of research about Lombok and Bali from Internet (as usual..). And I want to share it with all of you so you can save your time if you want to go to Lombok and Bali. And I can guarantee you and there is NO tour package either in Lombok or Bali as comprehensive as mine. I plan to be in Lombok for 3.5 days and in Bali for 6.5 days. I believe my trip plan covers around 60-70% of Lombok interesting tourist areas and 80-90% of Bali interesting tourist areas.
I also bring my Camera. This time I bring Nikon instead of Canon. I also bring 8GB memory CF card as well as the external hard disk to back up the data in my camera.
In this trip journal, I do not only share my trip itinerary but also the legend, history, and story about the place that I will visit. Lombok and Bali has tons of legends and stories.
Hope you enjoy this journal trip and have a benefit from it.
History of LOMBOK
The earliest recorded society on Lombok was the relatively small kingdom of the Sasak. The Sasak people were agriculturalists and animists who practiced ancestor and spirit worship. The original Sasak are believed to have come overland from northwestern India or Myanmar (Burma) in waves of migration that predated most Indonesian ethnic groups. Only a few archaeological relics remain from the old animist kingdoms, but animism has left its mark on the culture, although the majority of Sasak people today are Muslim.
Not much is known about Lombok before the 17th century, at which time it was split into numerous, frequently squabbling states, each presided over by a Sasak 'prince' - a disunity exploited by the neighboring Balinese. Balinese princes ruled Lombok from the mid-18th century until the 1890s, when the Dutch sided with the Sasaks and defeated the Balinese in bloody battles. Under Dutch rule, the eastern islands of Indonesia were grouped together as the lesser Sunda Islands, administered from Singaraja, Bali.
When Soekarno proclaimed Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945, the Lesser Sunda Islands were formed into the single province of Nusa Tenggara, which means 'Islands of the Southeast'. This proved far too unwieldy to govern and in 1958 the province was divided into three separate regions - Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara) and Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara). In the wake of the attempted coup and Soekarno's downfall in 1965, Lombok experienced mass killings of communists, sympathizers and ethnic Chinese, as did Bali and other parts of Indonesia.
Under President Soeharto's 'New Order', Lombok enjoyed stability and some growth, until crop failures led to famine in 1966 and to severe food shortages in 1973. Many moved away from Lombok under the transmigration program. Tourist development started around 1980, when Lombok attracted attention as an 'un-spoilt' alternative to Bali. While low budget bungalows proliferated at places like the Gili islands and Lombok's south coast, big businesses from outside Lombok became interested and speculation on beachfront land became epidemic. Lombok's tourism planning was dominated by the national government in Jakarta, and many traditional landholders were displaced as outside business interests moved in.
The political turmoil, economic crisis and civil unrest that beset Indonesia in the late 1990s did not spare Lombok. Students in Mataram and Praya staged protests over the general economic situation as early as 1997, and the local economy was hit hard by the general downturn in Indonesian tourism.
LOMBOK Nowadays
A lot of people misinterpret Lombok name. In Bahasa Indonesia, Lombok means chili pepper. But Lombok word comes from Sasak language. In local language (Sasak Language), Lombok means straight, honest or sincere and not chili pepper. This is the right meaning of Lombok word.
It is indeed surprising that the beautiful world of Lombok was hidden from the people for such a long time when it is just 45 km from another popular destination in Far-East, Bali. The island of Lombok is located east of Bali. Tourism is not quite as developed yet as Bali and it is that reason which makes Lombok the perfect getaway. Escape to picturesque mountainside landscapes to white sand beaches of the Gili Islands. This is a place to relax and unwind from the daily life back home.
Bali for long with endless beaches and unique local culture has attracted millions from all over the world through the decades, but till recently Lombok was shrouded in a veil, the island being home to some fishermen and boatmen. But with the gradual opening up of Lombok as a tourist destination, the multitude of attractions in the island make one spell bound.
Lombok’s history is not very happy, as her decades as a Dutch colony all but destroyed her, but much earlier when it was the Balinese domination on Lombok, several Hindu temples and other marvelous structures were built. The ruins of such structures make posterity decipher what was Lombok then and what is now. One interesting place that gives insight in the history of the Island is Taman Mayura Palace, Lombok.
Lombok is noticeably different than its close neighbor, Bali. The northern part of the island is mountainous a
At around the time Islam first came to these islands in the 16th century; four Hindu Kingdoms co-existed in apparent peace in what is now West Nusa Tenggara. Lombok experienced strong Balinese influences, but has retained a unique identity. The indigenous people of Lombok, the Sasaks, are predominantly Moslem and have a strong, distinguished tradition, as do the people of neighboring Sumbawa.
Soft, white sand, virgin beaches are typical in Lombok, where the motto is 'You can see Bali from Lombok, but not Lombok from Bali'. People often say that L
Regular shuttle flights from Bali and Sumbawa as well as ferries, provide excellent transportation link between the island of the province as well as the rest of the country.
Balinese conquest of Lombok resulted in bringing strong Hindu influences on the lives of the indigenous people of Lombok. Temples were built dedicated to Hindu pantheons and some of them till this day are revered and visited. Lombok can be described as paradise in miniature, the calm sea, diverse flora and fauna and a tranquil way of life made this paradise favorite of Balinese kings too. They built palaces where much of fun, frolic and work was done, the ruins of such palaces still allow one to get a glimpse of royal life.
Before Lombok was colonized by the Dutch the island was part of Karangasem Kingdom of Ea
Lombok has much in common with nearby Bali, but less well-known and less-visited by foreigners. It has been working to increase its visibility to tourists in recent years, promoting itself as an "unspoiled Bali". The most-developed center of tourism is Senggigi, spread in a 10-kilometer strip along the coastal road north of Mataram, while backpackers congregate in the Gili Islands off the west coast. Other popular tourist destinations include Kuta (distinctly different from Kuta, Bali) where surfing is considered some of the best in the world by leading surfing magazines. The Kuta area is also famous for its beautiful, untouched beaches.
Mount Rinjani
Lombok also has the third largest volcano in all of Indonesia, Mount Rinjani, which extends 3726 meters (12,224 ft) high making it the third-highest in Indonesia. The most recent eruption of Rinjani was in June-July, 1994. The volcano, and its sacred crater lake, 'Segara Anak' (child of the sea), are protected by a National Park established in 1997.
Mount Rinjani in Lombok is an active volcano situated on Lombok Island. Mount Rinjani, Lombok is Indonesia's second highest volcanic peak. Mount Rinjani is a part of the famous Ring of Fire. It soars to a height of 3,726 meters. The volcano erupted for the first time in 1847. The volcano houses a mystifying crater lake. Presently, the lake and the volcano belong to a national park which was set up in 1997. The volcanic crater is ova
The 1994, 1995 and 1996 eruptions have led to the formation of a small cone in the heart of the crater. During these eruptions the lava from the volcano flowed towards the lake. The surrounding highlands are canopied with lush green forests while the lowlands consist of cultivated rice, cotton, tobacco, coffee fields. Mount Rinjani, Lombok and the Crater Lake are revered as holy places. It is visited by many pilgrims every year. They make their offerings in the lake waters and take a dip in the hot springs. The spring water comprises mineral salts which help to heal chronic diseases.
Season and inhabitants
The main season here are wet season which starts from November to May and dry season start from May-October. The best time to come is in the month of May when the weather is just perfect with bright daylight and green scenery.
The island's inhabitants are 85% Sasak (a people, related to the Balinese), 10-15% Balinese, with the small remainder being Chinese, Arab, Javanese, and Sumbawanese.
Things To Take Back Home as Souvenirs from Lombok
Wanting to take back something from Lombok? Lombok has great woven textiles like songkets and ikats that can be used as a sarong, wall hanging, table cloth and more. The design woven is special to each weaver and it is passed down through the generations before. There is a traditional hand weaving village in Puyung, central Lombok. You can even try on a traditional Sasak costume.
Banyumulek (West Lombok), Penujak (Central Lombok) and Masbagik (East Lombok) are famous villages in Lombok for making pottery. Lombok pottery has gained popularity and is shipped throughout the world. There is a wide range of selections and it can custom made to your liking. We hope to develop the economy of the area by directly meet them with serious buyer from all over the world.
There are many traditional handicrafts you could take back as a souvenir i.e. wooden masks, baskets made out of rattan, wooden boxes designed with bits of shells, or other things made from bamboo or rattan.
Property Development
Emaar, Emirati Property Company planned to build a new town sprawled in 1,200 hectares in Central Lombok. It costs estimated at US$600 million. It will have a 7 km natural waterfront, which will support a marina, apart from luxury residences and five-star resorts by Ritz-Carlton. The Ritz-Carlton will also have a world class golf course and retail amenities. The homes will employ tropical designs and low-rise architecture in tune with the surroundings.
Emaar also expressed their hopes to make a new city in Jakarta, Cikarang area. Emaar Properties also plans to build a landmark tower in Jakarta, which would be the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia. Emaar is ready to build the tower, but currently they are finding the best place.
History of BALI
Bali is an island of a thousand temples, this is very true. It is charming, beautiful, captivating and alluring. Images of lush, green paddy fields, ancient temples, exotic beauties performing traditional dances, friendly people, peaceful beaches and intricate carvings arise when
It is certain that Bali has been inhabited since early prehistoric times. Fossilized human remains have been discovered from neighboring Java, which are dated to be as old as 250,000 years. Sto
Bali and West Java then underwent several episodes of conquering that includes conquering each other until the Dutch arrived and established themselves partially in Bali in 1850. Dutch troops landed in Sanur Beach in 1900 and Bali was then completely occupied by them. Many prominent families committed suicide due to this defeat.
After the Japanese occupation in the Second World War from 1939 to 1945, Bali became an Indonesian province but was able to maintain its own unique culture.
If you want to know more about the history of Bali, I found a very useful links: http://www.balivision.com/Article_Resources/History%20of%20bali.asp or in this link http://indonesia.sawadee.com/history.htm
BALI Nowadays
Bali is just one of the many small islands of Indonesia, but without a doubt, it is one of the most famous islands of Indonesia. Bali is frequently referred to as "The Paradise Island" because of its reputation in the world as a tropical paradise of untold beaut
Bali occupies an area of only about 6,000 square kilometers. The longest distance is about 140 kilometers. Bali is located just off the eastern tip of Java, from which it is separated by the narrow Bali Straits. Immediately to its east is the island of Lombok, across the Lombok straits. On the south and north side of the island is flanked by the Indian Ocean and Java Sea, respectively. The island lies eight degrees south of the equator.
Hills and mountains fill the central parts of the island, running along an east-west axis which is naturally adorned by beautiful lakes and rivers winding slowly to the clean sea water. The highest mountain in Bali is Mount Agung (3,14
The island of Bali is a province of Indonesia, and is administered by a governor. With a population of approximately three million people and most of them are Hindu, Bali is one of the most densely populated territories of Indonesia. The province of Bali consists of eight regencies and a municipality of Denpasar which is also the capital city of Bali.
The Balinese warm hospitality comes naturally which is believed will be not encountered elsewhere. Bali has become very famous for tourist and artists from all over the world since the 1920's. They have been coming to Bali since that time, when air travel was in its infancy and sea travel was considered extravagant.
Bali nowadays has become one of the most popular and interesting tourist destinations in central Indonesia and has been appointed by the government to be the center and pilot project of tourism development. Current statistics show over a million international visitors come to Bali annually and most of them disembark at Ngurah Rai International Airport and some at Benoa and Padangbai ports on cruise ships. Those arriving by overland from Java disembark at Gilimanuk port in west Bali.
Bali has a great range of accommodation from very basic home stays up to international five star/diamond class hotels spread out on the beach resorts of Nusa Dua, Sanur, Jimbaran, Kuta, Candidasa, Lovina and the mountain resorts of Bedugul, Kintamani, and also the wonderful rice field area of Ubud (art village). A wide range of day tours are available to the main temples and other sightseeing locations. Besides the local Bemo transport system, extensive tourist coaches operate throughout the island.
For the sport lovers a wide selection of marine sports (e.g. surfing, diving, fishing, cruising, etc.), adventure tours (e.g. white water rafting, cycling, trekking, etc.) and international standard golf courses are available.
Bali is also an ideal venue for shoppers, offering an amazing wide range of quality items at reasonable prices including leather goods, clothing using traditional fabrics, wood carvings and antiques as well as gold and silver works. The Balinese have always been famous for their superb craftsmanship in a variety of materials: stone, wood, silver and even bone. They are also famous for their paintings and textiles. Craft skills are applied in a multitude styles from the purely traditional to avant-garde and those can be easily found at the art & souvenir shops throughout the island. Duty free goods can also be found at selected duty free shops.
Planned Activities
Sat 07/19/08 (day 1) - Lombok
Tue 07/22/08 (day 4)
State
Thanks for the great trip plan and all the detail information.
We (2 adults + 2 children) are planning a visit to Bali in August 2009 for 7 days.
What does it cost hire a driver + his car to drive us around the island for 5 full days?
The island does not seem to be that big. Does it make sense to stay at one central point (say near the center of the island) and drive from the central point to places everyday?
Where are the area where we can find Batik factories/wholesalers?
Thanks a lot.
Ken