LOMBOK'S ART AND HANDICRAFTS

NTRODUCTION TO LOMBOK CRAFTS

On Lombok there is more crafts than art. The main crafts of Lombok are practical items made for everyday use, but showing great skills and finish, traditional techniques and natural, locals materials.

Villages specialize in certain crafts, and it's interesting to travel to a number of them, seeing hand weaving in one village, basket ware in another and pottery in third.

TRADITIONAL HAND WEAVING

Two main villages on Lombok that known for it's traditional weaving factory are; Sukarara (Central Lombok) and Pringgasela (East Lombok). Typical of sarongs and tenun ikat are produced here. The sarong is not only a comfortable article of clothing but can serve as a sheet, towel and multitude of other uses. Songket, is one of the most complicated hand weaving that usually done by women from generation to generation. The process can take over a month to reach one piece of songket.

Some expensive songket combines silver or gold strings to give a touch of natural, shiny motif. Other kind of hand weaving is called Ikat Weaving, usually done by men.


LOMBOK POTTERY

Lombok pots have become widely known. Three major villages that are famous with their pottery production are: Banyumulek, Masbagik and Penujak.

These villages had their own style and methods which were further developed and improved under the aid plan from new Zealand Government on 1991. Most of Lombok pottery are handmade and using very simple tools and methods - no machinery used but very creative. Check out the newest article related to the long process of making the pottery on our special page: Lombok's Unique Pottery.

From there, you can browse through our online catalogues, contains fine selections of Lombok Earthenware Pottery - collected from three major villages on Lombok.

From there, you can browse through our online catalogues, contains fine selections of Lombok Earthenware Pottery - collected from three major villages on Lombok.



LOMBOK LIMESTONE

This product can be categorized newcomers compare to other Lombok's art and crafts. Not widely known, but has becoming very popular nowadays. Many big hotels design their lobby wall or give some touch of arts with this product. Unlike lombok pottery, white stone carving does not using any coloring technique, or complicated steps of work.

The basic materials is the natural solid rocks/sands stone, which further developed into basic shapes and then carved into final shapes with sands paper and finished by special liquid to protect the natural color from moistures and weather.

LOMBOK WOODEN MASK, BOXES AND PRIMITIVE CARVINGS

Many of this product can be found in some art galleries in Bali's Legian St, or Ubud. They are well marketed in Bali, and often claim as original Bali's art. Two main villages in Lombok where they mainly produce those items are; Labuapi and Rungkang Jangkuk.

LOMBOK PEARLS

Lombok and Sumbawa's seashore are potential and pollution-free for Oyster Farm. Many Japanese investors are involved in developing sea pearls and black pearls. Sekotong, East Lombok, and North West of Lombok are the places where most sea pearls comes from.

Going Native - The Lombok Way

Greetings and Civilities
Sasak does not have greetings such as "Good Morning". A Sasak approaching a friend might ask, in the local language, " How are you?, How's your family?" simply as a form of greeting. Locals will frequently ask foreigners like this in English (it may be their only English!) as a greeting. Don't get annoyed - they are just trying to be polite. A smile and a "hello", or greeting in Indonesian, is a polite and adequate response.

Castes
Unlike the Muslims in general, the Sasak in Northern and west Lombok have a caste system. There are four caste castes, the highest being Datu for men and Denek Bini for women, the second Raden for men, and Denda for women, the third Buling and the fourth Jajar Karang. In Central and East Lombok, Lalu for men and Lale for women.

Traditional Culture
Traditional law (adat) is still fundamental to the way of life on Lombok today, particularly customs relating to courting and marriage rituals and circumcision ceremonies. In western Lombok you can see Balinese ceremonies and temples with colorful procession and decorative offerings. Sasak ceremonies are often less visible, though you may see colorful procession as well. Ask around and you can probably find when and where festivals and celebrations are being held.

Circumcision
The laws of Islam require that all boys be circumcised (Nyunatang), and in Indonesia this usually done somewhere between ages of 6 to 11 years old. Much pomp and circumstance mark this occasion on Lombok. The boys are carried through the village streets on painted wooden horses or lions with tails of palm fronds.

Marriage Rituals
Young couple in Lombok have a choice of three rituals; the first is an arranged marriage, the second a union between cousins, and the third elopement. The first two are uncomplicated: the parents of the prospective bridal couple meet to discuss the bride's dowry and sort out any religious differences. Having handled the business arrangements, the ceremony called "sorong serah" is performed.

The third method is far more complicated and dramatic. Theoretically a young girl is forbidden to marry a man of a lower caste, but this rule can be broken through kidnapping and eloping. As a result, eloping is still a widespread practice on Lombok, despite the fact that in most instances the parents of the couple know what's afoot.

Originally it was used as a means of eluding other competitors for the girl's hand or in order to avoid family friction, but it also minimized the heavy expenses of a wedding ceremony. The rules of this ritual are laid down and must be followed step by step. After the girl is spirited away by the boy, he required to report to the Kepala Desa (Chief of the Village). The Kepala Desa then notifies the girl's family through the head of their village. A delegation from the boy's family visits the girl's parent, and between them they settle on a price for the bride, a fine (uang adat) which is distributed among members of the bride's family in recompense for losing her.

Traditional dowries are worked out according to the caste differences; the lower his caste and the higher hers, the more he has to pay. Once this has been settled the wedding begins. Generally the bride and the groom dressed in ceremonial clothes, carried through the village's street, accompanied with sounds of traditional music (gamelan) mingle with the shouts and laughter of the guests as the couple are swooped up and down and around on their way to the wedding place. Throughout the whole ceremony, the bride must look downcast and unhappy at the prospect of leaving her family.

Travelers without a grasp of Bahasa can get by, but some knowledge of it enhances an understanding of the island and could also be valuable an an emergency. Check out the Learning Bahasa Indonesia page to understand most common used phrases.

Food
In the main Tourist area; Senggigi, Gili Islands and Kuta Beach Lombok, numbers of Tourist's Restaurant available serving Western food, Indonesian and Chinese food. In Mataram and in some remote area on Lombok, Indonesian food, Padang food and Chinese food are dominating. Rumah Makan (eating place) can be found easily in Mataram, Ampenan and in most main street. Sasak Food uses white rice as staple, served with vegetable curries or soup, chicken, beef, fishes, hot chilli and no pork. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word Lombok means Chilli paper and it used liberally in local cooking. The famous sasak food are:

Ayam Taliwang, fried or grilled wild young chicken with chilli sauce is originally from Taliwang Sumbawa, but it has become a Lombok speciality.

Sate Ikan Tanjung, one of the tastiest food on Lombok, originally coming from a village called Tanjung - Northern Lombok. Pieces of fresh snapper or tuna mixed with coconut milk, lemongrass, garlic, chilli paper, spices, wrapped onto sate stick and grilled. Try them on your way back from a day tour from waterfall or gili Islands.

Hotel in Lombok

BALI TO LOMBOK & GILI ISLANDS BY FAST BOAT

Public Ferry From Bali To Lombok

Getting to lombok by boat

SENGGIGI BEACH, LOMBOK INDONESIA

Senggigi is the most developed area for tourists on Lombok. You can find a variety of restaurants, bars, discotheques, travel agents, photo processors, money changers, souvenir shop and a range of accommodations starting from budget guest house to 5 star hotels. Restaurants and small cafes line the colorful main beach road. Swimming off the beach is safe.

The town of Senggigi spreads out along nearly 10 kilometers of coastal road. This road continues north to Bangsal, port for the Gili Islands. Along the way, a fantastic scenery of the north west coast of Lombok awaits. Most travelers start or end their stay at Senggigi because of the easy access to Mataram Airport and accommodations options are available to all budgets. If you are frugal or intrepid and take the slow ferry from Bali, it's best to arrange transport in advance from the ferry dock to Senggigi, since the dock on the Lombok side is in a remote spot several kilometers south of Mataram.



There are plenty of activities you can do to complete your holiday. Sightseeing or touring organized by reputable local tour operators is the best option to discover what Lombok has to offer. Renting a car or motor cycle is also good alternative to get around, either self-driving, or with a driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. Car rental in Lombok is more expensive than Bali. Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or diner. If you are pleased with service, tip the driver or local guide at the end. If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all costs.

INFORMATION

Senggigi Post Office located on the main street of Senggigi, opposite from Pamour Art & Antique shop. Health Centre or Puskesmas located near Hotel Puri Saron. Drugstore or Apotik available next to the gate of Intan Lombok Hotel. Dentist available at Meninting Puskesmas 10 minutes drive from Senggigi towards direction to the airport.

Bank BNI available during office hours 5 days a week located near the Post Office. ATM's (Automatic Teller Machine) are easy to find. ATM BCA, ATM BNI, ATM Mandiri are available, you can swift your credit card and withdraw local currency IDR (Rupiah).


Police office located in Senggigi Art Market, near The Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort. Telephone Service (Wartel) available near Melati Dua Hotel. Internet Cafes are: Millenium Internet (opposite Papaya Restaurant) and Star Internet Service located in Senggigi Plaza with dedicated broadband speed at reasonable rates. Cellular phone in Indonesia is GSM and CDMA. If you have brought your cellular handphone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.

Money changers are available almost in every corner of Senggigi. Double count your money before leaving the money changers to get the accurate amount. Hotel reception also change foreign money with lower rates.

Mini markets are located next to Bank BNI and near the Papaya Cafe.

Local Indonesian Foods sells nasi campur and warung Padang can be found right opposite from Taman Restaurant. At night, you can find the famous Nasi Goreng at Warung Cak Poer.

Tipping

Most larger hotels and restaurants automatically add Government Tax and Service charge up to 21% to the bill. Tipping is expected in main tourist area, but you're not compelled to tip at restaurants. If you like your driver or local tour guide, a tip of 10-15% is appreciated.

Carry small changes with you as taxi drivers often have none.

Airport or hotel porters expect Rp. 2000 - 10,000 per bag depending on the size and weights.