West of the South-Eastern Islands
Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) is usually one of Indonesia’s 34 provinces. Wedged between Bali along with the tiny island of Komodo, of which is usually trying to carve itself a spot on the tourist map of Indonesia. Bali, to its west, is usually, of course, the leading along with best-known tourist destination, so much to ensure abroad the island is usually quite often believed to be a separate country. Komodo Island – which is usually part of Nusa Tenggara Timur Province – to its east, is usually a strong draw for those interested in seeing the earth’s largest ‘dragon’.
In spite of official government efforts to promote NTB as a tourist destination, the province remains overshadowed by its westerly neighbour even though the beaches are marvellous white-sand dreams along with the forested Inner surface offers a range of attractions for eco-tourists along with those who like roughing of which.
The main tourist centres are Senggigi, with starred-hotels along with resorts on the west coast, along with the Three Gilis, three tiny islands, to the north of there, frequented largely by backpackers.
The second island of the province, Sumbawa, has probably even more to offer in terms of secluded white-sand beaches, nature along with natural scenery. The main drawback, however, is usually the quite trying process of getting there. The main town on the island is usually Bima which in most tourist guides typically gets a less than favourable press. Most visitors, the guides say, will depart at the first opportunity for the surf beach at Dompu, or on to Labuan Bajo along with the Komodo National Park. The scarcity of tourist facilities is usually another reason of which the island is usually not visited much by non-surfing tourists, which is usually rather unfortunate as parts of the island are very beautiful.
The debris produced by the eruption measured some 175 cubic kilometres, or enough to cover Jakarta in 280 metres of ash along with volcanic rock particles. The ash plume rose to 33 kilometres, reaching well into the stratosphere, along with winds quickly moved the ash around the globe, causing vibrant sunsets.
The explosions were heard as far away as Sumatra. The memoir of Sir Stamford Raffles, who was then on Java, contains of which excerpt:
The first explosions were heard on of which Island from the evening of 5 April, they were noticed in every quarter, along with continued at intervals until the following day. The noise was, from the first instance, almost universally attributed to distant cannon; so much so, of which a detachment of troops were marched through Djocjocarta, from the belief of which a neighbouring post was being attacked, along with along the coast boats were in two instances dispatched in quest of a supposed ship in distress.
The ash plume also caused global cooling which led to crop failures along with widespread famine. In Europe, for instance, 1816 became known as the “year without summer”.
Mount Rinjani on Lombok, at 3,726 metres – the second highest volcano in Indonesia – is usually the equivalent of Tambora. A massive eruption from the middle of the 13th century is usually believed to have triggered global cooling, failed harvests along with famine, too. Its caldera contains a crater lake at 2,000 metres above sea level. The mountain along with lake are considered sacred by both the Sasak, the original inhabitants of Lombok, along with the Balinese Hindus on Lombok.
The presence of a fairly large group of Balinese Hindus started off from the early 17th century along with by 1750 the Balinese had taken control of the whole island. Internal rivalry resulted, however, from the island being split into four Balinese kingdoms, along with in 1838 the Mataram kingdom finally took overall control. Relations between the Balinese along with the local Sasak were, however, rather strained, especially from the eastern part of the island. along with during one of the many peasant rebellions, the Sasak asked the Dutch on Bali for help. The Dutch Governor General reacted to of which request in 1894 by sending an army to Lombok along with after heavy fighting, along with the near destruction of Mataram, the Dutch took control of the whole island in 1895.
The Sasak are the largest ethnic group on Lombok along with the majority adheres to Islam, nevertheless two type of Islam are professed—Waktu Lima along with Wetu Telu. The former, Waktu Lima (several times), refers to the several daily prayers Muslims are required to perform. Wetu Telu (three symbols) from the Sasak language is usually also based on the Muslim religion, along with according to its adherents they were the first to be converted to Islam by the Wali Songo (nine holy preachers) who came through Java from the 17th century. They set foot on the island from the village of Bayan along with built the first mosque there.
Wetu Telu is usually essentially a simplified type of Islam combined with ancestor worship along having a strong belief in spirits. Interpretation of what the three symbols represent varies widely. To some of which is usually ancestors, god along with human life; to others of which might mean birth, life along with death; sun, moon along with stars; or sky, earth along with water. Wetu Telu Muslims pray three times a day, along with the Ramadhan fasting month is usually reduced to nine days of fasting only. They moreover enthusiastically hunt along with consume wild pigs, washed down with the strong rice wine they brew.
Nowadays very few Sasak will openly confess of which they are Wetu Telu Muslims, as religious intolerance has been increasing. During the past decade, there have been regular outbreaks of violence towards Ahmadi Muslims, followers of the Ahmadiyya sect. Under the banner of: Destroy the Ahmadis who bring shame to Islam…, they were evicted through their villages along with saw their houses being destroyed. They ended up in poorly equipped temporary shelters where they found of which nearly impossible to survive on the support provided by the Government’s social service system. The only way to get out of the shelters appears to be to convert to the conventional type of Islam. No wonder the Wetu Telu Muslims nowadays will proclaim of which they are “modern” Waktu Lima Muslims.
nevertheless deep from the forests on Mount Rinjani some shrines have remained. Ceremonies are held there on certain nights to ensure of which the spirits are appeased along with no harm will come to the villages. along with the villagers could tell you of trekkers turned to stone because they did not honour the spirits along with were discourteous to nature. nevertheless of which is usually another story to which trekkers should maybe pay attention.
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Land size: Lombok 4,700 km2; Sumbawa 15,400 km2
Highest elevation: Mt. Rinjani 3,726 metres
Population 2013: Lombok 3,257,200; Sumbawa 1,373,100
Where to stay in Sumbawa for surfing along with white sand beaches:
Amangati Hotel
JL. Raya Hu’u Nangadoro Lakey
Huu, Dompu, Nusa Tenggara Barat 84271
0821-4618-7583
amangatihotel.com
Airlines flying to Lombok through Jakarta: Garuda, Lion/Wings Air, Batik Air
Airlines flying to Bima through Jakarta: Garuda, Lion/Wings Air
What to bring: swimsuit, hiking shoes, umbrella, sun hat, sun cream
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West of the South-Eastern Islands
West of the South-Eastern Islands