 Lombok Island is only a short ferry ride from Bali around 3 hours. The island lies across the straits from Bali and quickly reached by ferry or plane. Many say that Lombok is like Bali long time ago. Lombok Island is a tropical paradise with magnificent view stretches from natural beach, excellent diving and snorkeling off the three coral ringed, great crater with High Mountain and traditional native village, ancient temples and palaces
Lombok is about three-quarter the size of Bali and is estimated to have
approximately 3 million inhabitants making it slightly more densely
populated than Bali.
Traveling in Lombok is much more relaxed than Bali but once you get out
the main of tourist sections, it is not as well maintained. In Lombok
you can found traditional vehicles that called Cidomo (horse drawn cart)
Mataram and the Dutch influenced Ampenan are bustling little town,
approximately 90% of the population is Sasak with the majority of the
remaining 10% claiming Balinese lineage. The Sasaks are Moslem there
are still evidence of Hindu and Wetu Telu an animistic faith that has
incorporated some aspects of Islam into its practice.
The Sasaks people are much more conservative by culture than and not as
open as their more famous Balinese neighbors and fare poorly in
comparison. This may be due in part to the lack of interaction with
visitors but whatever reason pay no mind the more you learn about
Lombok, the more you’ll appreciate the people and the friendlier the
seem to become. People in Lombok are not as inclusive by nature as the
Balinese and it takes more time to get to know them. Be respectful.
 The Geography of Lombok Island
Lombok is Indonesia's new in destination with more than 100,000 foreign
tourist annually. Lombok's area and population 4.740 square kilometers
and 2.3 million people- are both just slightly smaller than Bali's.
Some 85.000 Balinese live in west Lombok, decendants of 18th century
invaders. Lombok's Balinese maintain a network of temples and rituals.
But the native of Lombok's the Sasaks are muslims, and their art and
religius life are quite disticnt. One group hold to a mixture of
religion and culture calles Islam Watu Telu "Three Times Islam" The
island. about 80 kilometers north-south and 70 km east-west, is
dominated by Gunung Rinjani, Indonesia highest volcanoe and the second
highest point in the archipelago. Lombok is famous for its ikat cloth,
pottery and basket weaving. Most foreign visitor come to the west coast
beach resort of Senggigi, the "three Gilis" with some discovering Kuta
Beach and Ekas bay to the south. A well-maintained road connect
Lombok's three district: west Central and East. The rainy season is
October to March.
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