MORNING: SUKARARA VILLAGE
Lombok is an island located east of Bali. The island is known for its beaches and surfing spots, and hence, it's popularly referred to as the alternative of Bali. Tourism is the main income of the population of Lombok and the island offers so many interesting attractions which are not lesser interesting than Bali. Start your day by a cultural visit to Sukarara Village, where you can learn how to weave. Weaved cloth is one of the traditional arts of Lombok island which has been kept for generations. The weaving is done by traditional weaving tool, not a machine. Only women work as a weaver in Sukarara Village and there used to be a myth that a man will get infertile if he weave.
Lombok is an island located east of Bali. The island is known for its beaches and surfing spots, and hence, it's popularly referred to as the alternative of Bali. Tourism is the main income of the population of Lombok and the island offers so many interesting attractions which are not lesser interesting than Bali. Start your day by a cultural visit to Sukarara Village, where you can learn how to weave. Weaved cloth is one of the traditional arts of Lombok island which has been kept for generations. The weaving is done by traditional weaving tool, not a machine. Only women work as a weaver in Sukarara Village and there used to be a myth that a man will get infertile if he weave.
The village is already well known as traditional weaved cloth producer in Lombok. They produce various kinds of clothing from tenun ikat (string weave), tenun songket (blanket), table cover, dress, and scarf with high quality and pretty patterns. The material that they use to weave (such as cotton fabric, nylon, silk, silver and gold threads) are usually imported from outside Lombok. For the colors, materials such as seed of tamarind, turmeric, mahogany bark and betel vine leaf are used.
MID-MORNING: BANYUMULEK VILLAGE
Besides the hand-woven clothes, Lombok is also well known for its pottery products. In Banyumulek Village, you will see the sight of a woman caressing a future pot skillfully with her muddy hand. This village is one of pottery centres in Lombok island. This skill of making pottery has also been passed down from generation to generation in the Sasak Tribe.
You will also see many pottery galleries in the same complex of the pottery making spot. There are so many choices to make amongst the various kinds of Lombok pottery which have various shapes, size, color, functions and uniqueness. Some of them are egg-shaped earthen pot, sand flower vase, sand flat vase, chicken-shaped bank, jar, lampshade and various of wall decorations in many size. Banyumulek pottery products have even been exported to international market such as New Zealand and Europe. The price for the products ranges from IDR 15,000 to IDR 500,000 per piece depending on the size, motif, and how complex the process required to make the product.
AFTERNOON: PURA LINGSAR
Pura Lingsar is the symbol of religion harmony between Hindu and Islam. Built since the year 1741 by King Anak Agung Ketut Karangasem and regarded as the holiest pura (re: temple) in Lombok, Pura Lingsar has combined the religious values of both the religion of Hindu and Islam Wetu Telu. At the north side of the site, you will see Hindu pura named Gaduh while at the south stands Wetu Telu pura named Kemali. As a symbol to respect the holiness of Pura Lingsar, every visitor to the holy site must wear the yellow shawl which is provided by the staff.
Other than Gaduh and Kemali, there is a pool which is built in the middle of Pura Lingsar to respect god Wisnu. The pool which is named "Telaga Ageng" houses a fish which will not show itself to the outside if not summoned. Visitors have to boil eggs to make the fishes coming out. Telaga Ageng has 9 showers by which water come into the pool. You will see many coins at the bottom of the pool. These coins have been thrown by visitors who wish to have good fortunes from god.
SUNSET: SENGGIGI BEACH
Senggigi Beach is a famous beach in Lombok. The less strong waves in this side of the island makes Senggigi Beach one of the popular snorkeling spots in Lombok. You can say that Senggigi Beach is the serene version of Kuta Beach in Bali. The long stretch of the beach gives the shore a gradation of color from black to white.
The best time to visit Senggigi Beach is upon the sunset around 5 - 6PM ish. If you come too early like me (we came around 4PM-ish), you can wait at the side of the beach while munching the yummy butter grilled corn sold by the nearby food stalls. The wait is so worth it because the sunset view offered by Senggigi Beach is one of the best sunset I have ever seen in my life so far.
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