Gili Island, Lombok

THE GILI ISLANDS LOMBOK INDONESIA

Unique Tropical Escape! The perfect three coral islands - Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan, fringed with white sand beach and swaying plam trees, lay in the sparkling ocean located just on the north coast of Lombok island. Each of Gili islands has developed independently and at different paces, giving each a different personality or style, and catering to different type of holiday makers and travellers. This means that travellers have a good choice, depending on their individual tastes and what type of island escape they prefer.

Every year the Gilis attract tens thousands of visitors from around the world for their pristine waters, great diving and snorkelling opportunities, and laid back charm.

The word Gili means "small island" so these islands have come to be known as "The Gili's Tramena" by travellers. The Gili's are Lombok's most popular islands and are consistently related as top Sea island destinations by travellers and travel publications.

Although previously popular mainly with backpackers, the Gilis now attract a diverse range of visitors, serious divingenthusiasts, sun seekers looking for the perfect beach gate way, singles, families, and couples of all ages find something to attract them to the Gilis.

There is a good selection of accommodations, restaurants and bars on all three islands, with the bigest range on Gili T. While no body comes to Gilis for shopping, each islands has many small shop selling essentials such as sunscreen, mosquito repellent, toileteries, cold drinks, snacks and more. In addition, there are cheap clothing and t-shirts, sarongs and local handicrafts stalls.

Activities include walking, riding bikes, horse riding and kayaking on Gili T, Yoga, massage and beauty treatments, glass bottom boat trips and island hopping, liveaboards dive trips and cruises to near by islands, fishing, sailing, surfing and all kind of water based activities. The islands provide ample opportunities for visitors to swim, relax, sunbathe, ecplore, snorkel or scuba dive with many internationally accredited dive operators based in Lombok.

Snorkelling is easy in the calm waters directly off the beaches, with plenty of colourful fishes to see. At greater depth and at specific dive locations around the three islands, the pristine waters are home to an abundant variaty of corals, aquatic life and thousands of species of tropical fish.

An impressive array of sea life can be seem, including green and hawkbill turtles, morays, barracuda, reef sharks, occasionally leopard sharks and manta rays and much more. Visibility is very good and commonly in the 15-30 meters range and water temperatures average 23 C(73F) to 29C (84F). Currents around the islands can be quite strong and drift diving is the normal.

Many of the popular dive companies are owned and operated by westerners and PADI and SSI licensed dive operators, with profesional standards of safety and environmental awareness, exist on all three islands.

Surfing and Stand-Up-Paddle Boarding on the Gili Islands

Gili T is the most developed and popular of the three, with the greatest range of facilities and activities. while Gili Air has a relaxed laid back style and is popular with couples and families. Gili Meno is the quitest of the three, perfect for really getting away from it all.

Choose the island that suit you most, or it's easy to combine an island hopping holiday to sample the best of all three.

Source : http://www.lombok-tourism.com/

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Kuta beach, lombok

KUTA AND SOUTH COAST LOMBOK INDONESIA - THE MANDALIKA RESORT

Indonesia boasts some of the most magnificent scenery in the world and the south coast Lombok rates as being among the best. South Lombok has views that inspire artists and photographers and leaves visitors from around the world speechless at the sublime panoramic beauty that unfolds beach after beach, bay after bay, all along the coast.

The beaches of the south draw crowds to bake on the blindingly white sands, swim in the crystal clear oceans and challenge some of the best surf breaks in Indonesia.

Kuta is the main town and tourism center on the south coast of Lombok, and is the hub for exploring the fantastic southern beaches and the many point of interest in the region.

Located around 60 kilo meters south of Mataram and about one an half hour drive from Senggigi, Kuta makes for wonderful day trips from other points in Lombok, or an alternatively hohliday destination for travellers exploring Lombok.

Since Lombok international airport opened inlate 2011, many of the major roads have been upgraded and the main to Kuta is very good. The new airport is located in Tanak Awu only 25 minute drive north of Kuta and has made access to south very easy.

The proximity to the airport has already sparked an investment boom in the area and major depelopments are expected over the coming year. For now, the south is uncrowded, pristine and spectacular.

General Information

Police office located at Jl. Raya Kuta Mawun opposite of soccer court close by Kimen surf shop. Money changer available at Segara Anak Bungalows but the exchange rates are not very good.

Accommodation

There are plenty much option places to stay on Kuta region ranging from the Luxury of Novotel hotel to the basic home stay. Most of the hotels situated on the beach and provide surfing information.

Surfing

Most of Lombok's south coasts offer surf-seekers challenging waves of various grades. Particularly there are four surf-points, which are highly recommended for surf lovers. Within the Lombok's Kuta Beach there are two points, namely Gerupuk that provides neutral waves, and Aik Guling offering waves mostly for the left-handed. Several kilometers to the West of Kuta Beach there is Pengantap desert point that provides various grades of attractions, but it is ideal only during the periods of June, July, August, December and January. The next break is at Ekas Beach that reserves challenging waves and reef-break-points, reachable by boat or by land from Kuta Beach on an approximately one and half hour cruise.

Dinning and Entertainment

There are various of cafe's and restaurants in town of Kuta. you can eat pretty well and at reasonable price. Most Tourist and locals socialize and have fun together. In high season, they can all get crowded by tourist and locals.

Lombok People collecting sea worm

Nyale festival

Every February the Sasak people of Lombok have a very interesting ceremony, held on the beautiful Indian Ocean south coast of the island. Thousands of people go to the single beach near Kute (Kuta) where, for one day only, the Nyale sea worms appear. They seek to harvest the worms, which appear only between midday and about 3.30pm on the one day in February.

Special traditional art performances take place, including Betandak, a recitation by two or more performers singing quatrains, and Bejambik, the giving of gifts to lovers. The next day, people join in the ceremony of Belancaran, basically a recreational sea trip.

Bau Nyale celebrates the legend of a beautiful princess, Putri Mandalika, who many centuries ago lived in the royal house of the Tonjang Beru kingdom. She was so beautiful that many princes from all over Lombok were interested in her. On one particular day, and at the same time, six princes came to propose marriage.

This led to much confusion. Putri Mandalika's father, the king, did not know who to choose from among the six suitors, because whatever he did it would inevitably lead to jealousy and eventually warfare among the kingdoms.

Greatly perturbed, he decided to leave the decision to Putri Mandalika, but she too was confused and uncertain what to do because whatever her decision, her choice of a prince to marry would create a situation in which her people would be drawn into conflict and personal sacrifice. According to the legend, Putri Mandalika decided to resolve the situation by ending her life, and jumped into the Indian Ocean from what is now Mandalika Hill. It is said that the Nyale worms are actually the princess's hair, with her people for ever.

Source : http://www.lombok-tourism.com/

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Senggigi Beach Lombok

Senggigi is Lombok's oldest and most famous resort area.

A perfect place to relax, Senggigi boasts a series of white sandy beaches and safe swimming areas. The point at central Senggigi has good waves for surfers. This place has a colourful reef which provides shelter to a variety of marine life and exquisitely shapped coral and makes it a perfect place to snorkle.

In the dry season, there is an interesting variety of boats moored in the bay. The town of Senggigi spreads out along nearly 10 kilometers of coastal road. This road continues north to Bangsal, the port for the Gili Islands.

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