Lombok Tourism Place and the Sasak Tribe

Lombok Island Tourism Map

Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The northern part of the island is mountainous and lush with tall trees or  shrubs. The south, on the other hand is arid and covered by savannas. The difference becomes more pronounced as one moves further east, where dry seasons are more prolonged.

Situated on the western side of Lombok Island, the city of Mataram is the capital and largest city in the West Nusa Tenggara Province. Mataram is the center of the provincial government, education, commerce, industry and services. Public buildings, banks, post office, general hospitals, shopping malls, and hotels are found here, making it a perfect staging point before travelers explore the undiscovered splendors of Lombok Island.

Sasak Tribe

No many people know about this general area in the past. During 17th century, Dutch began to colonize this place. Sasak kingdom dominated this area until Balinese and Makasarrese attacked it. In the middle of 18th century, Balinese kingdom reigned this place. Dutch occupied this place in 19th century.

After Indonesian independence, Sasak people and Balinese dominate Lombok, but Javanese also can be found in West Nusa Tenggara. Arab, Bugis and Chinese also live in this area. Most of Sasak people are Muslim. They value modesty, meaning visitors should respect their belief. You should cover yourself appropriately, meaning going nude or topless is deemed inappropriate. Public display of affection should be limited and consumption of alcohol must be done moderately.

Nowadays, Sasak People still live like their ancestors, fishing or farming. Corn and sago are staple food, instead of rice. Sasak people enjoy spicy food such as Ayam Taliwang, Plecing Kangkung, Nasi Balap Puyung or Sayur Kelor. Ayam Taliwang is roasted chicken served with peanut, tomato chili and lime dip. Plecing Kangkung is stir-fry water spinach that made with chili, shrimp paste and tomato. Nasi Balap Puyung is rice with side dishes of spicy chicken and fried soy bean. And the last, sayur kelor is hot soup with kelor leaves.

Some of Sasak People is a weaver too. Sukerare and Sade village is the producent of woven fabric which is called Tenun Sasak or Songket Sasak. It is one of the uniqes traditional crafts from Lombok. Women in these village was indeed obliged to learn weaving. More uniquely, one of the conditions of the weavers in the village must be a girl or still virgin or unmarried women. So you could say, before getting married, the girl must be clever in weaving.

 

Tenun Sasak

Regulation for marriage in Sasak is called Merarik. So, if both of them like each other, don ' t have to wait long to get married. The boy must steal the girl, wait for one day and the girl’s parents will looking for her. After that they should be married. Filch the girl was more accepted their family.

And the last, the most popular in Lombok is the tourism places. Senggigi and Kuta Beach in Lombok is also famous for its beautiful, largely deserted, white sand beaches. Sekotong, in southwest Lombok, is popular for its numerous and diverse scuba diving locations. South Lombok surfing is considered some of the best in the world and includes Desert Point at Banko Banko in the southwest of the island. And the nothern, you can go to Gili Islands. They are Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. But, if you like adventurer activity, you must try to climb and hike the Rinjani Mountain. Rinjani Mountain is the third highest Mountain in Indonesia with the top 3.726 meters above sea level. You can see a most beautiful landscape like a paradise. Trekking up Rinjani Mountain is a test of endurance but you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of volcanic landscapes, sulfur lakes and waterfalls and other magnificent scenery along the way. Once you’ve climbed the mountain, there are still many wonders left to explore in the Rinjani Mountain National Park.

Kuta Beach, Lombok

Rinjani Mountain

 

*all photos are from google.co.id :)
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What is the Point?

Everywhere you look these days, you can see people that have got rings-hanging from ears and pushed through noses, lips and eyebrows. And they are in lots of other places that you can’t see, too!

Mick Shannon, who is a qualified body piercer, took me to his salon. 

I was looking at the walls covered with photos of clients showing off their rings and jewelry and Mick pointed out his certificate, which was on the wall. “Some people give our profession a bad name”, he said. 

“They don’t clean their equipment, which shows they don’t what they’re doing. I’ve known people who have got diseases like hepatitis from cheap ear-piercing guns. I only pierce young people whose parent or guardian is with them. And they have to be over eighteen for their tongue”.

Is it an expensive fashion? “That depends. Ears, costing $8, are cheap, eyebrows are about $35, and tongue over $100. Anything else I have to negotiate!”

I watched Mick pierce a girl’s navel. First he marked the area where he had disinfected the skin, then he pushed a needle through. He finished by giving the girl advice on how to help the skin get better, which was a nice professional touch.

I asked the girl why she had wanted her navel pierced. ‘I don’t know. I just like the idea. It’ll be a little secret that I won’t share with anyone!”. Did she think it was a way of rebelling? “No”, She laughed, “but I don’t suppose my mother will like it…if she ever finds out!”.

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The Influence of Media

The forth kind do we used to be can sure about is the increase in advertising. You see the media is not only interested in providing information or entertainment but also selling space or time to advertiser. You used to be able to enjoy at tv show relax and read a magazine and then watching to much advertising. Now however it seems that advertising is the main goal. A containt of the TV Program or magazine is just in excuse or kind of wrapping for the advertising. There is an essential marketing relationship between the media, the advertiser and the user. An they add guesses whatever the media.

Even print media, which is one of the list taken a lot of the form clean location has a high presentate offense. On tv of course, where used to being bombardied  by english commersials every eight minutes. Many of user remote control to up all the advertising with the mute button. Or simply channel serve to find same place we can escape from the adds. But the advertisers have found many ways to get there message accross to you, anyway. They use, what is called ‘prorate replacement’ which is mean that they put prorate to write in the middle of the show. For example, the hero of the show maybe drinking uptake all softdrink, like coca-cola, product the paper. Or he maybe wearing a pare of shoes with the name nike or adidas. You can escape from the form this advertising and nice you just turn off your set.

The problem is not just that we are being bombardied by the advertising. But that the media is invading are privacy. Advertisers are more and more interested in getting private information about individuals. Everytime you use your credit card, you are giving away the information about of yourself. Advertisers have the ability together, to test about people like you, potential consumers. Think about this for a moment, have you ever got a junk mail from a company you never heard off? Where did they get your address? Have you ever got a phone call during dinner for some company try to sell you something? Where do they get your telephone number? Well, information about you can be compiled and so to other companies. And the advertisiers can study what you buy. Where are you buy it? And how much of it you buy? And figure out the best way to make you buy more.

On the internet, many websites are working extra hard to collect information about you. You can be tracked if you make a few visit to any website. And then they can be used to learn more about your habbits, interests, and other your behavior. We also around it everywhere by a message that tell us about we can be better, more successful, more popular, and the all together happier if we just have more. I believe, we need to step act once in a while and ask yourself if this message is true. Is it true? Are we what we buy? What if we couldn’t by anything? Ever, who what we be?

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Why Earth Hour is Important?

Even though Earth Hour has been happening for a few years, many people are still unaware of this environmental campaign and may not understand why it is so important. Each year, millions of people all over the world take part in Earth Hour by doing something that will help combat global warming. It can be as simple as shutting off lights for an hour or as major as launching petitions and other campaigns to help save the environment. No matter why people are getting involved, Earth Hour is a very important event that has already made some major changes in the world.

Unfortunately, many people still believe that Earth Hour is not important and may not understand how just one hour can make any changes at all. After reading some information on the past successes of Earth Hour, these people will begin to see its importance and will see just how much energy was conserved in the one hour time period. These changes reduced emissions and cut the use of energy significantly. The event is a way to raise awareness and show people that it is possible to survive without all the electronic gizmos and energy consuming products that we have grown so accustomed to. By cutting back, people can make a huge difference and can take part in the battle against global warming.

Thousands of people have the desire to make a change but think they alone cannot battle this huge problem. Earth Hour has become so important because this is the chance for those people, and millions of others to take a stand and actually make a difference. Since it is so simple to be involved, the event has become a worldwide cause that has attracted the attention of many large corporations, celebrities and famous political leaders, all trying to band together to better the world and save the Earth.

Earth Hour remains an important annual event for all environmentalists and many individual residents all over the world have made the choice to extend the hour and try to save as much energy as possible on this day. It is hopeful that these same people will be able to make lifestyle changes that will help reduce carbon emissions and save energy, creating a great effect that could drastically change how global warming has been affecting us all.

With Earth Hour nearing, many people who have never participated in the event will be wondering how they can begin to show their support. There are many things that can be done to support this campaign. The basic way is to honour the traditional hour of darkness, where lights and electronic devices are shut off for a one hour period of time. While this is how many people will continue to show support, there are many other ways to get involved and make a difference and begin to battle the effects of global warming. Earth Hour is just the beginning and many followers have decided t extend that hour, trying t make even more changes for the environment.

Other ways people are showing support is by helping to raise awareness by passing out information on global warming. Unfortunately, there are still millions of people worldwide that have not become involved in saving the planet, and supported are constantly trying to get others involved. Some people will also connect with their employers to see if the company as a whole can take part in the event as well.

Individuals that are unable to participate in the hour of darkness can do other things to show their support. They can join local campaigns to fight carbon emissions and can get involved with environmental programs that are in action all year long. The best thing for supporters to do is to think of every hour as Earth Hour. Instead of showing support for just a single hour a year, people can take action every day and try to reduce energy consumption, pollution and emissions that are killing our planet.

Showing the support for celebrities that endorse Earth Day is another way to get involved. Many people will form groups to show their support, all gathering in one location to reduce energy consumption for the evening of Earth Hour. Others will go out on their own and try to start petitions in their community to eliminate actions that may be causing more environmental damages. There are many ways for people to show their support even if they cannot take part in the darkness for an hour a year. With many groups being formed to save the environment, there are hundreds of ways that each individual can make a difference and show their support.

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Why We Should Travel?

We all know the financial value of travel. Plane tickets cost a lot of money, as do hotels and meals. But there is emotional value when you invest in travel, too. I’m talking about the stuff that strengthens the bonds of friendship and family, and continues to grow years after a trip has been taken.

After a lot of thinking and reading about this subject….here are some of the reasons I think that traveling is a lot more important that we think it is (or at least than *I* thought it was in the past.)

1.      Traveling can Reduces Our Stressed

Travel gives you an opportunity to relax and de-stress. It gives us a break from our fast-paced lives. Of course, traveling can be stressful in it’s own way, but travel stress is positive stress, not the kind of anxiety caused by work or tension related to home life.

2.      A Necessary Escape

It sucks to be stuck in a daily activity. Everyone knows what that’s like. Travel can be the perfect solution. A trip of any kind provides you with a break from the norm, and that alone can inject you with energy. It’s therapeutic to make a change from your daily routine — doing so prevents your mind and body from stagnating.

3.      Memory-Making

If I were to ask you about your past year – what stories would spring to mind? I doubt you would tell me about the hours you spent at the office or at the gym. It would most likely be the traveling you did. The people you met. The extraordinary experiences you had that you didn’t expect. When we travel with our friends and family, we create memories that last a lifetime. Sharing a special trip with those we love the most is truly a joyful thing! Giving them a wonderful traveling experience far outweighs the benefit of buying presents for them. Goods have a limited life span, memories last forever.

4.      Get Outside Your Comfort Zone

Traveling helps you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. It provides us with a whole new perspective, whether that means no longer sweating the small stuff or promising to get out there and meet new people upon returning home.

Completing a long-awaited trip also gives you the satisfaction that you were able to accomplish what you set out to do, and gives you the confidence to do it again!

5.      Learning & Education

Seeing the world provides a source of education impossible get in school, teaching you things like economy, politics, history, geography and sociology. While not an accredited institution, the school of travel is always taking applications.

6.      Meet New People

People you meet while on the road usually become some of the most valued ones in your address book, giving you points on the map to visit later on.You’ll meet far more friendly people on the road than you will under ordinary circumstances at home. Other travelers are always looking to share experiences, give tips on places to go, and meet people from all over. Striking up a conversation with other travelers is extraordinarily easy. A polite “so where are you from?” breaks the ice quite easily and may lead to lasting friendships.

7.      Regain Your Enthusiasm For Work Life

Traveling is refreshing and revitalizing. Relaxing at home during the weekends isn’t always enough to truly unwind. Taking periodic trips help to recharge your batteries and better handle the stress at work. After a break, you’ll feel more energized to return to work. Without these breaks, you may suffer work burn out.

8.      Adventure

No one looks back fondly on a trip to the dry-cleaner. But after ziplining in Costa Rica you get a feel for what being an active human being is like (again). The need for adventure is hardwired; travel lets you tap into it.

9.      Sharpens Your Mind

Being placed into a new environment engages a dormant part of your mind. On vacation you might be required to navigate unfamiliar places, read foreign languages, try new things, make quick decisions, and choose your new eating and sleeping schedule. Unlike at home, all the new sights, sounds, and places will require mental processing and filing. Your brain will welcome the workout!

10.  Discover Yourself

One of the great benefits of traveling is having time to think and to discover more about yourself, and figure out where you want your life to be going.

As Robert Fuller says, “Travel provides us with the distance required to see what it is we are habitually doing and the anonymity to risk new ways of being in the world.”

11.  Appreciating Home

Getting away for awhile, even though it requires effort, will greatly enhance your attitude and productivity once you return home. Breaking up the monotony for a while is a great way to give your life an injection of excitement.

I always love to go, but I equally enjoy returning home. Just as distance allows me to grasp new possibilities, it also helps me to greatly appreciate what I have.

“You don't need a doctor when you are stressed,

all you need is a JOURNEY!"

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