Vast rice fields surround the village of Banyumulek,
which is about 10 kilometers to the South of Lombok's
capital city of Mataram. Here, the potters' produce an
incredible variety of earthenware traditionally used for
many purposes, including the preparation and serving of
food and ceremonies connected with village life.
In this village, some materials such as coins, grass
and rattan can be used to decorate the pots as
requested. The same applies to Masbagik, Banyumulek pots
are embellished by burnished decoration, in which the
contrast between burnished and un-burnished areas can be
exploited to create patterns. Lombok is famous for is
primitive style of pots and accessories.
BESIDES
offering wonderful Indian Ocean coast views, Kaliantan
and Surga Beach play an important role in the annual Bau
Nyale ceremony, held in February or March each year when
Nyale sea worms are found inshore. The ceremony,
nowadays a popular festival, comes from Sasak mythology.
It commemorates the sacrifice of Princess Mandalika, a
king's daughter who legend says killed herself by
jumping from a cliff into the ocean rather than be
forced to choose one of several princely suitors said to
have been attracted by her great beauty. The princess
feared that if she chose one suitor she would spark war
between her kingdom and kingdoms of those she had
rejected. The Nyale sea worms are said to be Princess
Mandalika's famously luxuriant and long hair. The
ocean-swept sandy beach is great for walking along and
is backed by a hill that offers great coastal views and
fabulous sunsets. Snorkelers, divers and surfers say
this is a hidden heaven.
Rambitan and Sade Village are the most interesting
Sasak traditional villages where most of the inhabitants
practice and maintain their traditional and cultural
values. The Sasak villages exist mostly on sloping
hills, with the people living on farm produce and
raising cattle. Rice and corn, their annual crops, can
be cultivated only during the rainy season, with most
families keeping animals such as chicken, goats, cows
and buffaloes as food during the summer season.
Sasak villages are distinctively marked by
grass-roofed-houses symmetrically constructed on wooden
frames and most with bamboo-walls. Bale is the
construction for a living house, built with a single
room functioning both as a sleeping room and kitchen.
Lumbung is a curve-like construction functioning as a
rice store. Most Sasak houses are built with a lumbung,
with some also incorporating sekepat or sekenem, a
construction which functions as a guest reception or
meeting place.
Pujut, Rambitan and Sade Villages are located in the
southern part of Lombok, some sixty kilometres from
Mataram.
Some
might wonder at the fact that Indonesia's weaving art
form is so varied and distinctive from island to island,
and even from village to village. The Lombok traditional
weaving at Sukarara Village will impress you with its
beautiful motifs and designs. You will be privy to young
women cleverly playing the threads and wooden looms,
creating patterns using figures of the moon, flowers,
dragons, and more.
The tradition amongst the local Sasaks is that weaving
is considered an essential talent that a woman should
possess as much as the ability to grow and process rice,
however, the local Sasak men are as much weavers as the
women.
The
traditional village of Segenter can be hard to find, but
is worth a visit. It is located about 2 km south of the
main road, a bad track turns off 1 km west of Sukadana
at the northernmost point of the island. The Bayan
village is probably the place of origin for the local
Wektu Telu religion, but also home to orthodox Muslims.
The mosque here is the oldest on Lombok, more than 300
years old, and ordinary Muslims are not happy about
their holiest mosque being located in an area dominated
by Wektu Telu followers.
BESIDES
offering wonderful Indian Ocean coast views, Kaliantan
and Surga Beach play an important role in the annual Bau
Nyale ceremony, held in February or March each year when
Nyale sea worms are found inshore. The ceremony,
nowadays a popular festival, comes from Sasak mythology.
It commemorates the sacrifice of Princess Mandalika, a
king's daughter who legend says killed herself by
jumping from a cliff into the ocean rather than be
forced to choose one of several princely suitors said to
have been attracted by her great beauty. The princess
feared that if she chose one suitor she would spark war
between her kingdom and kingdoms of those she had
rejected. The Nyale sea worms are said to be Princess
Mandalika's famously luxuriant and long hair. The
ocean-swept sandy beach is great for walking along and
is backed by a hill that offers great coastal views and
fabulous sunsets. Snorkelers, divers and surfers say
this is a hidden heaven.
Some
might wonder at the fact that Indonesia's weaving art
form is so varied and distinctive from island to island,
and even from village to village. The Lombok traditional
weaving at Sukarara Village will impress you with its
beautiful motifs and designs. You will be privy to young
women cleverly playing the threads and wooden looms,
creating patterns using figures of the moon, flowers,
dragons, and more.
The
traditional village of Segenter can be hard to find, but
is worth a visit. It is located about 2 km south of the
main road, a bad track turns off 1 km west of Sukadana
at the northernmost point of the island. The Bayan
village is probably the place of origin for the local
Wektu Telu religion, but also home to orthodox Muslims.
The mosque here is the oldest on Lombok, more than 300
years old, and ordinary Muslims are not happy about
their holiest mosque being located in an area dominated
by Wektu Telu followers.
