Lombok, Indonesia 11/15/2025

 

My sister and I went on different excursions.  I was on the Highlights of Mataram (5.5 hrs) while she did the Traditional Sasak Village (4 hrs).  We were both back on board the ship before 2 pm. 

Wikipedia has some very interesting information on Indonesia.  "Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Comprising over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea, Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and the 14th-largest country by area, at 1,904,569 square kilometres (735,358 square miles). With over 285 million people, Indonesia is the world's fourth-most-populous country and the most populous Muslim-majority country. Java, the world's most populous island, is home to more than half of the country's population."  The country stretches over 3,600 miles from west to east.

We visited just a small part of Indonesia east of Jakarta.  The island of Bali, the island of Lombok and Rinca Island, part of Komodo National Park. 

When we got onboard, our excursion tickets were already in our room.  This is what they looked like. We just had to make sure we took our ticket with us when we went ashore for our excursions. 

I was awake before we arrived on Lombok at the port of Lembar, located near the ferry service dock.  Our guide said the word Lombok actually means chili.  Don't know in what language.  Most citizens speak Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), the official language, and at least one indigenous language. Almost 4 million people call the island of Lombok home.  Our cruise ship was the first to arrive in six months. Interesting as November is the start of the wet season.  Maybe the dry season is just too hot for tourists.  I know November is too hot for me there.  

The Sasak people make up 85% of Lombok's population.  These are the descendants of the native island population.  They are primarily Muslim due to a late 16th century military expedition to Lombok and Sumbawa in order to convert the population and spread the new religion. Some still practice the Sasak people's original religion, Bodha.   

Indonesia is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 700 living languages spoken across the archipelago. This diversity represents approximately 10% of the world's total languages, making Indonesia the second most linguistically diverse nation after Papua New Guinea.  The Indonesian language, known as Bahasa Indonesia, became the official language of Indonesia on August 18, 1945, when it was enshrined in the Constitution of the new nation. 

Indonesia was formed after World War II when the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Indies ended Dutch rule and encouraged Indonesia's independence movement.  

Masjid Baital Muslimin Teluk Waru Temple.  I don't know if this is one of them, but the oldest temples on the island are used by both Hindu and Muslims.

As the ship turns to the side, the cruise terminal comes into view. 

Getting ready to shoot the lead line over.

The Makam Keramat Lamun shrine can only be accessed by boat. 

Docking has commenced.  The dock workers caught the lead line and are ready to start pulling. 

The lead line is attached to two heavier lines. 

Now it takes two to haul in the mooring lines.  

Now three when the heavy lifting starts. 

Mooring lines secured

The ship personnel taking the slack out of the line. 

The cruise terminal

Looks like they have some entertainment for us.

It's a band and dancer.

We, I and one of our friends, had just gotten on the bus when it started pouring rain.  We hadn't brought our umbrellas, so the tour company handed out rain jackets like the green one.  The rain quit and we didn't end up using them. 

Map of Lombok Island with our stops highlighted - Sade Traditional Village, Lingsar Temple and the State Museum of West Nusa Tenggara.  As you might be able to tell from the map, the northern part of the island is mountainous.  Mount Rinjani, the 2nd highest volcano in Indonesia, makes Lombok the 8th highest island in the country.  There are 160 active volcanos in Indonesia.  The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia is considered the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. The ash cloud released into the atmosphere led to a significant drop in global temperatures, resulting in the year 1816 being referred to as the "Year Without a Summer." This caused widespread crop failures and food shortages across the Northern Hemisphere, leading to famine and social unrest. 

Our guide, Muksin, is a senior high school English teacher so his English is much better than some guides I have had.  I took a lot of notes during this tour because he told us many facts about the island and answered people's questions.

The lowlands are highly cultivated by 60,000 farmers. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, cacao, cloves, cassava, corn, coconuts, copra, bananas and vanilla are the major crops.   The southern part of the island is fertile but drier, especially toward the southern coastline.  

Just a view of what the roads looked like.  

Not so great in places. 

I saw several carts, made out of the back ends of pickups, being towed by horses. 

We passed by many temples, and I was rarely able to get a decent photo. The island is known as "The Island of a Thousand Mosques," featuring over 8,000 mosques, which reflect the island's strong Islamic identity and cultural heritage.

Construction area. 

Major artery with a planted median.

Looks like a fun way to get to work, not!

Lombok is like Bali, most people don't have cars, so they have to get creative on stacking stuff on their scooters. 

Now this looks dangerous

Hurrying to cover the drying rice now that the rain is starting. 

A boy's school had just released classes, so we saw several kids on scooters.  Our guide said a person had to be 18 to get a motorcycle license so I was surprised to see these youngsters operating motorcycles.  A resident has to be 25 to get a license to operate a car.  Boys and girls do not go to the same schools. 

Most Sasaks today are adherents of the Lima Waktu (literally the 'Five Times') version of Islam, signifying the five daily prayers which Muslims are required to perform.  Other Sasaks practice Wetu Telu (lit. 'Three Times') Islam, who only pray three times a day. Orthodox Islamic teachers generally instruct adherents to pray five times a day. There's no Sharia Law and burkas are not worn. I did not hear any calls to prayer while on the island. There would have been one around noon. 

Our first stop is Sade, a traditional Sasak village, which derives its name from the Sasak word meaning “medicine” or “consciousness". It has been inhabited for over 15 generations.  

Sade Village square. The village features iconic traditional Sasak houses built with bamboo walls and alang-alang grass roofs, elevated on stilts, and finished with clay floors polished with cow dung to naturally deter mosquitoes.

Sade holds 700 people in 150 houses; none have utilities of any kind. Village women play a central role, mastering weaving and pottery, while men handle farming and rituals.  Sade is a center for Sasak weaving traditions, particularly the creation of ikat and songket woven fabrics.

Village kitchen

Traditional Sasak houses, known as Bale Tani, feature bamboo walls, woven bamboo exteriors, and clay floors polished with cow dung or buffalo dung for natural pest control and durability.

I didn't see it, but the guide says the residents chew betel nut leaves to suppress hunger.  This is not recommended as the practice is associated with various health risks, including oral cancer and cardiovascular disease.

It was very dark in the next story of the home, so I was unable to take photos.  The village was connected with steps everywhere.  Their height varied and there were no handrails of any kind. 

Hen and chicks roaming the alleyways. 

The Sasak people maintain traditions such as merariq, a consensual “bride kidnapping” where a groom ritually seeks family approval.  80% marry within the same village.  Marriage outside of village requires a dowry of 3 to 5 cows or buffaloes.  Each cow is worth 25 million IDR or US$1500.  Marriage is allowed at the age of 13.  Each man has only one wife and second marriages are not allowed.   

30% of births are fatal because the births are done in the village without doctors although 80% of villages have a medicine man.  Villagers do not have medical insurance.   People in villages typically do not have motorcycles. 

Regular rice and saffron rice.

Jack fruit are the largest fruit to grow on a tree. 

The inside of one is interlaced with slimy fibers, making it difficult to break down the fruit. Jackfruit is described as smelling like bubble gum, pineapple, banana, and rotten onions. And because of that last odor, it is sometimes banned in public places. Jackfruit averages about 2 feet long and can weigh up to 40 pounds.  It is similar in looks to durian which also grows on the island. 

The frangipani flower, known as "jepun" in Indonesia, is a symbol of beauty and spirituality, deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Bali and other regions.

There is a farmers market every day at this location.  Bargaining is required. 

Indonesian has no past verb.  Example: no "ate" only "eat".  no "went" only "go".  

Lombok traffic jam.  Just look at the bamboo? strapped to the scooters. I was a lot of women passengers riding the motorcycles side-saddle.

Schools are divided by gender.  Primary (6 years) and secondary (three years) school attendance is free and mandatory.  It is a crime to keep children home from school.  There is a fee for high school.  Children go to school six days a week and all wear uniforms.  Preschool, kindergarten and vocational schools are all available.  

Selling bananas in the median.

Hmmm... sure hope the trees are cleared high enough for this load. 

Our next stop was Lingsar Temple, also known as Pura Lingsar, a unique temple complex that symbolizes the harmonious coexistence of Hinduism, and Islam. Built in 1714, it serves as a spiritual nexus for the Balinese Hindu community and the indigenous Sasak Muslim community who practice Wetu Telu Islam (3x Islam). The temple's architecture and rituals reflect a blend of cultural influences, making it a remarkable testament to the power of tolerance and shared spirituality. The temple is particularly famous for its annual Perang Topat festival, where followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam come together in a spirit of unity and mutual respect. This festival, also known as the "sticky rice war," symbolizes fertility and abundance and is a unique experience that draws thousands of visitors each year.

The temple's architectural layout features a Hindu temple on the hillside and a Balinese-style temple within a large pond, symbolizing the harmony between the two religions and the spiritual connection to water.

Fountain at pool.

This pool is claimed to contain fish that are believed to appear only when a person's wish is going to be granted.  We didn't see any fish even when the man at the end spread food for them.  

This load is baskets full of durian, also known as stink fruit. It is banned in most public places because of its pungent smell, which can be described as smelly socks or sewer water.  It is only found in markets once a year. It has a thorny rind that can cut your hands open if picked up quickly. Durian is about a foot long and can weigh up to 7 pounds. The inside is divided into 2 or 4 sections, is yellow and sweet.  The guide mentioned that it is unwise to drink alcohol and eat durian at same time as the durian slows down the metabolism of the alcohol and increases its intoxicating effects.   

Pickup full of propane tanks. 

Our last stop was the State Museum of West Nusa Tenggara where we were given a snack consisting of rice cake made from a mix of glutinous rice, and grated coconut; a banana; tea or coffee; and a palm frond wrapped gelatinous snack.  I ate it all but none of it appealed to me. By the way, there are 26 different kinds of bananas on Lombok.  

It was hot even sitting in the shade.  At least the restroom here had toilet paper, but there wasn't any soap or paper towels, and you had to dip water out of a bucket in order to flush.  This might have been due to the water shortage. 

Though I did enjoy looking at the plants. 

What a beautiful plant!  Kaempferia elegans is a ginger plant found in southern & southeastern Asia. Most are low growing plants with colorfully marked foliage.  They go dormant for part of each year.

Double click on photo to enlarge for reading. 

There are lots of things I would have liked to see in the museum, but it was stifling hot inside since there was no air conditioning, not even fans. 

Our guide said there was no crime on Lombok.  It is true that Lombok Island has a low crime rate.  Violent crime is extremely rare and petty theft infrequent.  He also said guns are not allowed on the island and not all police have guns. Only Indonesian citizens are allowed to own firearms, and they must obtain a license from the police. There are also strict rules regarding the types of guns that can be owned and the reasons for which they can be used.  One other thing he said is that there are no illegal drugs and, if found with drugs, a resident would be incarcerated for five years.  It is true that most islanders never encounter drug users, drug activities, or drug-related crimes but they do exist.

Schools celebrate a Teacher's Day when the kids bring flowers for the teachers.  The kids clean the classroom at the end of the day.  There is also a No Waste Day when kids walk and pick up recycle items.  There are no school buses. 

These are rice paddies. Sixty percent of the farmers grow rice and produce two crops per year.  That means the country doesn't have to import rice.  Women work the rice fields from 7:30 am to 5 pm during rice harvest.  When the rice plant turns yellow, it's time to harvest. One kg of rice needs 3,000 liters of water so an irrigation system has been implemented using the water that flows down from the mountains.  I read later that there is a sever water shortage throughout the island.  A dry rice technique from Japan is becoming common in south part of island.  Long rice needs 6 months to grow whereas short corn rice only needs 3 months.  Lombok residents mainly eat short corn rice.    

The Monumen Tugu Mataram is a monument located in Mataram.  It was originally built to commemorate the establishment of the Ngayogyakarta Sultanate in 1755 but it has undergone several changes over the years. It was scheduled to be completed in 2019/2020 but is still unfinished due to the Covid pandemic and a shortage of funds. The exterior of the building is complete and makes a grand entry statement to the city. Elevators are still required internally so that people can access the viewing platform. Work has commenced on a fountain and there are plans for an underpass to allow pedestrian access as the monument is located in a large roundabout surrounded by streets with high traffic density. The exterior is lit at night.

 

Our guide said this was government housing.

The Giri Menang Square Monumen.  More later on this. 

Monumen Koperasi, the Cooperative Monument that consists of the statues of four people—three men and one woman—representing their various roles in society.

The road needs a little work.

My sister did the Traditional Sasak Village excursion.  Looks like the buses were ready to get started. 

One of the many mosques on Lombok

Looks like the corn is ready for harvest. 

Sukarara, a traditional Sasak village is known for its exquisite handwoven textiles. 

The Giri Menang Square Monument sits in a roundabout that serves as the main entry point for both sea and air travel to Lombok Island. Built in 2013, the monument stands 65 foot tall and has three floors. It is surrounded by a pool and water fountain, which are complemented by a lighting system at night. The monument's architecture resembles the Taj Mahal, with a dome that incorporates the religious symbol of the majority Muslim population in Lombok.

Looks like a lot of construction is done in bamboo. 

The Mayura Water Palace dates back to the 18th century and is a reminder of the Balinese kingdom's rule over Lombok. It served as a court of law and meeting hall for Bali princes and was the site of bloody battles against Dutch colonizers in 1894. Today, it is a public park and a pilgrimage site for Lombok's Hindus on December 24th. 

I read that the water is really polluted. 

Interesting statues adorn the island. 

Quite the colorful ceiling. 

Looks like my sister had the same snack I had on my excursion. 

Her excursion included some traditional music...

and a dancer. 

You might have to double click on the photo to read about the old mosque pictured below.

Last stop on my sister's excursion was the Masjid Hubbul Wathan Islamic Center NTB. The Musjid is open to the public, welcoming both worshippers and visitors interested in exploring its architectural beauty and cultural significance. It stands as a symbol of the rich Islamic heritage of Indonesia and is an important landmark in Mataram.

You have to get far away from the Islamic Center to get some idea of the scale of the building. It has four floors, five domes, and five towers, with one of them reaching 325 ft high.

Once back on board and well fed, I attended the Facts about Australia lecture. 

At 6:15 I went to the History of Indonesia lecture. 

Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara, a new city currently under construction in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. This relocation aims to address issues such as Jakarta's pollution and sinking problems. The new capital is envisioned as a sustainable forest city, focusing on environmental considerations and aiming for carbon neutrality by 2045. 

After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of the city began in 2022, starting with land clearing and creating access roads. The project is estimated to be worth Rp 523 trillion (US$35 billion) and will be built in five phases lasting until 2045, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Indonesia. Construction of Phase 1, known as the "Main Governmental Area" zone, started in August 2022 and by September of 2024, the outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo had moved into the new presidential palace, and the first cabinet meeting session was held in Nusantara.

Red sunset. 

Watermelon carvings at World Cafe.