Lombok Island in Short Description

Lombok is name of an island in the Province of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. As part of the lesser Sunda Islands, with Lombok Bali strait divide it from the west and in the east part the Alas Strait, between it and Sumbawa.

Its shape is almost circular, with a "tail" in the southwest, about 70 kilometers and a total land area of about 4725 km ² (1.825 sq. miles). Its largest city, Mataram, is also administrative and government official office. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word Lombok has meanings as ‘chilly’, while in local Lombok language (Sasak), “Lombok” means straight.


Short Description

Lombok has many similarities in common (e.g. culture, language, and origins) with the near Bali Island, but less known and less frequently visited by foreigners. Efforts has been don’t to increase the visibility of tourists in many years before , and promoting itself as a "virgin Bali”. Most important tourism spot is Senggigi, spread in a strip of 10 kilometers along the coast road north of Mataram, while backpackers come together, off the west coast, in the Gili islands .

Other popular destinations include Kuta (obviously different from Bali's famous Kuta beach), where surfing is said to be one of the best in the world by leading surfing magazines. Kuta area is also well-recognized for its untouched, natural and beautiful beaches.


Culture

85% people living in Lombok is Sasak, culturally and linguistically closely related to the Balinese, but unlike the Bali’s Hindu, they are Muslim. A leading non-orthodox Islamic groups that exist only in Lombok is Wektu Telu ( "Three Prayers"), which as the name suggests pray only three times a day, rather than the required five times in the Quran.

Language

Sasak, a local language, is used by people in Lombok, as well as Bahasa Indonesia. English is widely used common in tourist areas.


Weather and Time

While Lombok has tropical weather, with characteristic of hot and humid, Lombok is more drier comparing to Bali, so that it’s very attractive option for the period October-December. Besides that, it also has rainy season, although it’s not come too often. Domestic and International tourists come to Lombok mostly from May to August.

Lombok Time Zone is GMT+08, similar with Bali and Makasar, described as WITA (Waktu Indonesia Tengah, or Indonesia Central Zone).

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