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Geography
The island of Lombok is located
east of Bali. Tourism is not quite as developed
yet as in 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. A place to relax and unwind
from the daily life back home. Lombok also has
the third largest volcano in all of Indonesia,
Mount Rinjani, which extends 3726 meters high
with a crater lake called Segara Anak. 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.
People & Religion
The local inhabitants of Lombok
are called Sasaks. They speak Indonesian as well
as their local Sasak language. The other main
ethnicity’s include Balinese, Chinese, Arabian,
and Javanese. Lombok has three main districts
with three capital cities: Mataram in the west,
Praya in central and Selong in east Lombok. The
majority of commerce is in the capital city of
Mataram in west Lombok.
The majority of the population
on Lombok are Muslims. Every Friday around 12.30
noon, Muslims go to the mosques just like Christians
go to church on Sunday. Therefore, on that day
most businesses and government offices are closed
half day and then re-open again after praying
(not including Senggigi). If you are planning
on traveling around the island and visiting small
villages it is more respectable to wear slacks
or knee length shorts, a shirt with sleeves or
a sarong. If you happened to be here during Ramadhan,
which is the Muslim month of fasting from sunrise
to sunset, please do not to eat, drink or smoke
out in the open public during this month long
fast. Even though the people don’t seem
bothered in the common tourist areas like, Senggigi
and the Gili islands, it is better to respect
the people and not eat or smoke openly.
DO'S &
DONT'S
It is always nice to learn a
few customs of the area when visiting a different
country. Here are some do’s and don’ts
for an enjoyable trip:
DO's
- Use
right hand when eating, accepting or giving anything
- If offering anything to someone do it more than
once if they refuse-Indonesians are shy and may
say no even if they mean yes.
- Try eating traditionally and sit on the floor
- Try wearing a sarong (both men and women)
DONT's
Touch someone’s head even
if you are trying to be friendly or joking.
Point feet at things, use your hands instead.
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