We are working closely with SATGAS (local security on Gili Islands), KSDA (Sea and Forest protection in Lombok) and Mataram University (pak Arifin and his students in water supply and marine Biology) on different projects:

1. Biorock projects: study the recovery of the bleaching coral on natural conditions and on Biorock reefs.
2. We would like to set up juvenile grouper floating structure to put in Gili Air to give to the fishermen so we could work in the future on another fishermen agreement with less money and more fish!
3. we just bought a horse kart to clean gili trawangan of all the plastic and rubbish, we want to clean the island where the rubbish is not collected. We are also doing with some education programs about plastic, rubbish, burning plastic. Pak Acok from Sama-sama will be responsnible of the cleaning action. and there is so much work to do!
4. we are maintening the existing mooring buoys and also putting some more to stop anchoring which is damaging so much of our shallow reefs.
5. we are collecting more and more corals which are falling off because of the waves., currents, or divers fins. we are collecting corals atht would die without our help as they are not attached to anything. we call it “reef Gardening”.
6. The flyer for the eco-behavior is printed and i will get it to Gili next week!

OUR MAIN GOAL IS NOW THE RUBBISH:
We have come up with a new system of accounting to charge everybody to get their rubbish collected. We have tried to make the new system as fair as possible for everyone.  We think that we currently don’t have everyone’s name and location. We need you to take responsibility by registering your house or business at info@giliecotrust.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , so we can apply the new accounting system to everyone. We need to know the following, number of bungalows/rooms for rent, if it is a/c and the name of the business. Please include houses or villas that are rented out or occupied by your staff. The donation system is based on everyone contributing per room as this is equivalent to the amount of rubbish generated.

With this new system, there will be enough money to provide salaries to existing and new employees, to buy new horse carts, to buy new horses, to feed the horses and to make new projects.
One of the new projects is to build a pathway to reach the rubbish dump in any weather condition. It will be a 350m long, 3,5m wide concrete road which will be 60 cm above normal ground level. As we want to be as eco as possible, and not spending to much money in concrete and cement, we came up with a solution:
1. Every month the extra money, after feeding the horses and paying the salaries will be used to build a part of the road: bricks, cement, workers.

2. We have decided to collect plastic from all over the island, shred it, mix it with rubble and sand to raise this pathway before concreting the surface.

3. Every month, the island will get cleaner and the pathway will get longer to reach the rubbish dump location before the next rainy season.
So we need your contribution by accepting the increase on your rubbish collection fee, and by giving us your rubble, sand or rubbish that you are not using.

To have this new system working as soon as possible, please:
1. Register your house or business at info@giliecotrust.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or head of your zone RT, or help us to register every house or business on the island with a list of your neighbors and new businesses you know we haven’t got on the existing list.

2. Let us (FMPL, Pak Acok or Pak Malek) know if you have some rubble or sand that we can use to build the pathway. We will organize a pick up.
In the future the extra money FMPL will have every month will be used:
· To organize a clean up day
· To buy more bins
· To fix the horse carts and look after the horses
· To ban the plastic bags from the island
· To produce recycled Gili T bags
· To put in place a good compost system
· To repair the wall of the rubbish dump…..etc….

These issues are not only an FMPL problem; we are all concerned by the plastic and the rubbish on this little island. If we want to keep our customers happy, we need to be ready to take collective responsibility and help each other to succeed in having a clean Gili Trawangan.
Because the new payment system has not yet been established, the Gili Eco Trust and SATGAS will provide the initial monthly payment to enable this project to begin immediately.
Thank you for your help and cooperation.

If you have any questions, contact Pak Acok at Sama-Sama, Pak Malik at Blue Marlin Dive, FMPL at Creative bungalows, or Delphine at Big Bubble Dive.

Source: www.giliecotrust.com

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

The Gili Islands by Boat
There are now numerous direct boat services from Bali to the Gilis, all of which continue onto the main island of Lombok. Established daily services depart from Benoa and Serangan Island in South Bali and Padang Bai in East Bali. Benoa Harbour and Serangan are around 25 minutes by car, (dependent upon traffic) from the South Bali tourist hub. Padang Bai is further. If one was to depart by car fo the same point at the same time, the trip to Padang Bai would take around an additional 45 to 50 minutes in a vehicle on most days.

It’s more efficient to depart from Padang Bai if you are starting from central or east Bali, such as Ubud and Candidasa, or the east coast dive areas such Amed, and Tulamben or North Coast locations such as Lovina or Pemuteran.

No matter what port of departure you use, with the exception of those staying in Padang Bai, you will be required to use a vehcile transfer for one portion of your journey. The big consideration in choice of port of departure is time and distance at sea, coupled with weather.

The distance by sea from Benoa/Serangan to Gili Trawangan/Lombok, is just under twice that of the distance from Padang Bai to the same ports of arrival. Passengers departing from Benoa/Serangan will spend about twice the time at sea as passengers departing Padang Bai. This difference in time at sea logically increases exponentially when weather conditions deteriorate, as vessels are unable to maintain top speeds.

Gili Cat official operating logs demonstrate an average time at sea, all conditions, all years, (since initiating the first daily scheduled departure service in June 2007,) of 80 mins. While the trip from Padang Bai can be faster, (55 minutes,) it can also be slower. Benoa/Serangan operators marketing suggests two hours by sea. In reality, the time is more like 150 – 160 minutes on a “perfect” day. When selecting a port of departure it is worth keeping in mind that any deterioration of weather conditions will affect passenger comfort and the amount of time spent at sea, no matter what the port of departure. The greater the distance to be traveled at sea, the greater the effect of weather conditions on “real time” at sea. While one operator has reported commencement of construction of a significantly larger vessel, the vessels currently servicing all routes are smaller high speed craft.

Anyone traveling with children or infants, prone to sea sickness, historically uncomfortable on boats, or with any health conditions, would be well advised to select the shortest possible sea crossing. Similarly in anything but perfect weather conditions, the shortest sea crossing would be the wisest route in order to avoid weather related delays or discomfort.

A daily speedboat service called Amed Sea Fast Boat started to ply the Amed to Gili Trawangan route in 2010. There is also a daily fast boat service to Gili Trawangan from Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the south east coast of Bali.

There are currently significant differences in prices between operators on all the Gili Fast Boat routes. There are also significant differences in the standard of the vessels, operating standards, operating experience and crew certfication. Passengers would be well advised to look at more than just price. As competition has increased, so has misinformation about availability of seats or operating schedules. Passengers would be well advised to check the veracity of information direct with their chosen operator if told by a tour desk a vessel is “full” or “bankrupt – not operating” or has “spontaneously combusted.” Passengers are also advised to ensure their ticket states the specific vessel they have requested.

If you have more time than money, you can use a tour service (160,000 from Kuta/Ubud) to take you from your hotel on Bail, drop you off at the ferry, then pick you up in Lombok and switch cars a few times, then drop you off at the dock to the Gili’s and then on to a small boat. The whole trip takes about 12 hours and you will be subjected to unnecessary hard sells on booking return tickets (not necessary). The last stop you may be befriended by those talking up stories of mosquito born illness, then try to be sold repellent and coils at extortionate prices. These products are reasonably priced on the Gili’s.

Source: gilicat.com

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@bali-gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

ABOUT THE GILI ECO TRUST
The Gili Eco Trust is the sole authorized association in the Gili Islands for the protection and conservation of the environment. Gili Eco Trust was formed in 2002 to help SATGAS (local security) fight against dynamite and cyanide fishing, which dramatically damaged the eco-systems of the Marine Protected Area Gili Matra.

SATGAS and Gili Eco Trust have worked together in partnership since that period to enhance and preserve the marine resources of the Gili islands. New eco-projects are launched continously to avoid further destruction and to encourage education through the respect of nature.

The Trust is funded by the 50,000rp “EcoTax” paid by guests, divers and snorkelers in the Gili Islands.

How the Trust spend your money?
* Ensuring an effective patrol and enforcement policy within the boundaries of the Marine Protected Area. The patrol boat is making sure the rules and regulations of the area are enforced with the collaboration of the DKP (Marine Conservation and Fisheries Department).

* Coordinating and managing agreements with the local fishermen to ensure the health and abundance of underwater eco-systems

* Installing mooring buoys and maintaining them; stopping boats dropping anchors which can destroy our precious marine life.

* Financing the Gili Biorock® Reef Restoration Project: creating, building and maintaining Biorock® structures that allows marine life to flourish.

* Preventing the islands beaches from disappearing by installing anti-erosion systems.

* Organizing a “Clean Up Day” on the first Friday of every month

* Collecting data and archiving the state of the eco-systems: reef survey and reef gardening

* Educating the next generations in the local schools about the importance of the natural resources, as well as which eco-behavior is appropriate in order to keep a clean and healthy environment.

* Setting up a recycling program together with FMPL (rubbish collection company), the program covers education, smart purchasing, re-use, compost, recycling plastic, etc…

* Organizing social improvements on the island such as medical clinic, kindergarden playground, renovation of the schools and the rubbish dump, planting trees.

* And much more…

Thank you for purchasing this log book. All profits from the sale goes to SATGAS-Gili Eco Trust.

Source: gilicat.com

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

The three Gili islands are located of the northwest coast of Lombok, a little over 37 miles (60km) from Padangbai harbour in Bali, and  20 miles from the most easterly cape of Bali.

They were first discovered by back-packers in the 1970’s, and soon became a popular if not well-kept secret among an adventurous crowd seeking to escape to an island paradise, and as far from the madding crowds of Kuta and Bali as possible. Here the waters are crystal clear and teeming with marine life, and the beaches pure white sand where you can snorkel straight off the beach. Til this day, many would say that the Gilis are the best place in Indonesia to enjoy an island lifestyle.

Although the first to develop homestays was Gili Air (the nearest island to Lombok), it is Gili Trawangan that subsequently became known as the ‘party island’ where a young, adventurous European crowd had way too much fun far away from home. Simple bungalows with generator supplied electricity soon proliferated catering to a crowd eager to get off the beaten track.

In recent years the scene has changed rapidly on Gili Trawangan, whereas Gili Meno and Gili Air are developing at a far slower pace. Trawangan still maintains its timeless tropical paradise charm, but now has a wider range of facilities and caters to a broader spectrum of travellers. There’s still plenty of back-packer rooms priced around US$10 / night, but there are also some very chic bungalows, villas and hotels complete with private swimming pools and all mod cons. All have been constructed in harmony with the islands’ local charms – natural materials and simple elegance being the dominant theme of most developments. There are no high rise hotels, and definitely no tour buses or McDonald’s, but rather plenty of Dive Centres to help you explore the islands’ famous coral reefs.

The Gili Islands are today the site of a fascinating experiment in sea scaping, one perhaps unique in the world. Gili Trawanan has become the defacto world center of the coral reef regeneration known as Biorock, the name patented by its discoverers, Dr Wolf Hilbertz and Dr Tom Goreau. Biorock first came to the Gilis in 2003 via Pemuteran in N Bali under the sponsorship of Vila Ombak Dive Academy. These first “electric reefs’ inspired many local dive centers to follow suit and with the support of PADI, hotels and local business, resulted in a series of Biorock Workshops in 2006 and 2008 which were also the focus of two international documentary movies.

Biorock technology is tantalizingly simple – a giant saltwater electrolytic cell is created by passing a 10 watt current thru an anode coated with exotic elements, and a steel frame cathode. The resultant electrical field “accretes” calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide – the building materials of coral – onto the steel cathode. Viola !! Instant reef!! Tom Goreau understood the exciting possibilities offered, and further experiments showed that the “free metabolic energy” from the electrical field allowed coral to grow up to six times faster than normal expectation.

While aid organizations and scientists may be sceptical, divers see the incredible results and   embrace Biorock enthusiastically, sometimes to the point of messianic zeal. Delphine Robbe, the current head of the Gili EcoTrust is one such believer. In 1998 the reefs of the Gilis and North Bali suffered the fate of all coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans – widespread coral bleaching due to El Nino. Delphine’s life-long mission is to restore the Gili reefs back to their former glory. She has attended four Biorock Workshops, the last of which she organized entirely by herself.

What makes the Gilis so special as regards Biorock is this on-going enthusiasm. Biorock has prospered here and is collaborative like a Linux operating system, with a different Gili dive center stepping in to expand it: VODA for developing a PADI Speciality course; Manta for funding and logistic support; Big Bubble for training and organization; Karma Kayak for shore erosion control. All seven Gili dive centers collect a “reef tax” from divers which is paid to the Gili EcoTrust and used for marine conservation. Biorock has been adopted by the local community as well – Pak Taufik, the current “mayor” of the Gilis, is a keen diver and attached broken coral onto the first structures at Hotel Vila Ombak!!

To date the Gili Ecotrust has overseen the installation of 1.5 kilometers of coral reef in the Gilis. Reef engineering is a lifetime’s work and the progress on the Gilis will intrigue  both new and returning visitors for many years to come.

Source: gilicat.com

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

History of Gili Matra Marine Natural Recreation Park

Gili Matra Marine Natural Recreation Park has a total area of approximately 2,954 hectares, consists of 3 islands namely Gili Meno (± 150 hectares), Gili Air (± 175 hectares), Gili Trawangan (± 340 hectares), and ± 2,289 hectares of marine area. In 1993, Gili was designated a recreation park under the Minister of Forestry Decree Number 85/Kpts-II/1993, dated 16 February 1993, based on the proposal of the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Province.

Management Objectives
The management of Gili is based on Act Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Resources and Their Ecosystems. Therefore, the aim of the management of this Park is to protect the Park and its ecosystems, and also to utilize in sustainable way, the parks resources. The resources should be used for research, science, education, recreation and tourism purposes. The main objectives of the management of Gili are outlined as follows:

The main objectives of the management of Gili are outlined as follows:
1. To promote sustainable use of the Park’s resources.
2. To encourage and integrate local participation in park management to protect biological values of the park and to eliminate further disturbances or alteration of natural habitats, to protect endangered and threatened wild animal species and their habitats, to maintain the locations designated for recreation and tourism development, to maintain sustainable use of commercial fish habitats, and to achieve compatible use and careful management of species’ and their habitats.

Management Authority
The responsible institution to manage Gili is the Natural Resources Conservation Office of West Nusa Tenggara (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Nusa Tenggara Barat) under the Directorate of Forest Protection And Nature Conservation (DG of PHPA), Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia.

Problems
The actual problems in Gili are those faced directly such as fishing using bomb blasting and poisoning. Anticipating the problems, sources of problems are first identified and then addressed. To do so, coordination among related institutions and parties is required since the problems cannot be managed by only a single agency such as West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office.

Based on continual identification, the problem sources can be grouped into management intensity, social-economic conditions of the local communities, and the awareness of communities. However, the Park’s management ability is still limited. This is due to lack of facilities, lack of expertise in marine ecology, limited human resources both in quality and quantity, and lack of technical guidance.

Many related institutions and parties are not really aware of the designation of Gili as a Park. Therefore, some conflicts between biodiversity conservation efforts and other development activities still exist. Thus, the benefits from Park management are not easily observed.

Other problems in Gili include muro-ami fishing. This method is very destructive to coral reefs, therefore West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office in collaboration with Taskforce Gili Patrols, must patrol and inform users not to engage in this sort of fishing, especially in the conservation area.

In July 2002, Taskforce Gili Patrols and West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office caught a group of muro-ami users. This case was solved using awiq-awiq, a law based on local customs. Fortunately, blasting and poisoning of fish and other marine species has not been observed stopped since August 2000.

Figure 1. Transplanting corals at Gili Islands.
Successful Management

1. Established designated management plan year 1998 – 2008.
2. Zoning for protection zone and exploitation zone.
3. Education of Youth Conservation Group. This group then forms a Youth Front Foundation of Taskforce Gili Patrols.
4. Joint protection operation between West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office, Police, and Community (Taskforce Gili Patrols) in 2000 has succeeded to catch fish bombers that were sentenced to 9 months in jail.
5. Implementation of the agreement with coastal community in Northern West Lombok, which was signed by Head Of the Village and Head of Tanjung District, Gangga District, and Head of Pemenang District for:

* The establishment of the Foundation of Fisherman Community Organization in Northern West Lombok to help the implementation of coastal security activities by Taskforce Gili Patrols.

* Building and implementing a traditional rules, “awiq-awiq,” which was implemented since 19 March 2000.

The maximum penalty is a fine of Rp. 10,000,000. There have been 6 cases recorded: bombing, 2 poisoning, and use of muro-ami. The sum of the collected fines was Rp. 25,500,000.

The sea and coastal security activities is done by the community, funded by NGO’s, with awiq-awiq penalties. Activities include:

+ Conducting daily patrols.

+ Installing Park border signs.

+ Supporting infrastructure for coastal security activities.

+ Helping on community awareness and sustainable use of marine resources

+ When patrols arrest someone, the system of penalties is as follows: Firstly, awiq-awiq system. The sanction will be a penalty or a property seizure and signing a statement not to repeat the offence. Secondly, processing by law to conduct a further investigation by the police, and then bringing the case to court.
6. Installing mooring buoy in Gili Meno, Gili Air, and Gili Trawangan, 10 units each.
7. Sea turtle conservation programme.
8. Coral reefs inventory was conducted by West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office, in cooperation with Mataram University and NGO’s.
9. Making audiovisual documentation in Gili, in cooperation with Diponegoro University, Mataram University, and West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office.
10. Establish environmental conservation groups in Gili to clean organic and inorganic pollutannts.
11. The development of buffer zone area and coastal community building was done through coral rehabilitation using transplantation system, conducted in cooperation with Taskforce Gili Patrols and West Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Office.

Current Legislation and Further Needs
There are many laws in Indonesia pertaining to conservation. Listed below are some that could apply to management of Gili Islands.

1. Act Number 9 of 1985 concerning Fisheries.
2. Act Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Resources and Their Ecosystems.
3. Government Regulation Number 68 of 1998 concerning Sanctuary Reserve and Nature Conservation Area.
4. Sea and coastal management strategic plan 1998, Provincial Development Board (Bappeda) of West Nusa Tenggara Province.
5. Policy and strategy on coral reefs management in Indonesia, 2000.
6. Decree Head of Provincial Development Board of West Nusa Tenggara Province Number 5 of 1998 concerning Provincial Task Force Building in the Implementation of Coral Reefs Management and Rehabilitation Activity in West Nusa Tenggara Province.
7. Governor instruction Number 2 of 1998 concerning Prohibition of Coral Reefs Mining.
8. Governor Decree Number 141 of 2000 concerning Local Communication Forum Building in West Nusa Tenggara.
9. The “Awiq-Awiq” (traditional rules) of fisherman community of Northern West Lombok in March 2000, is a coastal community agreement in Northern West Lombok on sanction toward people who destroy marine resources, signed by Village and Sub District Officers.

The future efforts to increase the quality of marine resources in the context of community welfare through tourism are:

1. Capacity building by training and education.
2. Supply of supporting infrastructure for officers in Gili.
3. Publicizing the zoning scheme in Gili in order to conserve marine resources.
4. Strengthen coordination amongst stakeholders.
5. Technical and non-technical cooperation with domestic and international NGO’s.

In order to implement those efforts, it is necessary to obtain:

1. More support from local government, other agencies, and local community.
2. Support from central government to strengthen relationships with international NGO’s.

Strategy and Program
A conservation strategy for Gili was developed by considering groups of problem sources, the Park’s potential values, regulations, as well as environmental and socio-economic conditions of the surrounding communities. The strategies developed are:

* Promoting management activities for the Park and its resources.
* Assisting local communities to find other sources of income.
* Increasing the awareness of local community.
* Strengthening coordination among related institution and parties.

Each strategy is being detailed in action programs as the basis of management activities to be implemented. A five-year action plan was established in the form of a Five Year Plan that was described and detailed an annual plan. The annual plan is used to propose to the government to obtain budget for technical cooperation with other institutions.

Action programs formulated may vary from year to year. However, the basic program remains the same. The action programs implemented are shown as follows:

* Conservation planning:
o Annual plan preparation
o Proposed program activities plan preparation

* Monitoring and inventory:
o Coral reefs monitoring and inventory
o Database development and management

* Biodiversity management and safeguarding:
o Hawksbill turtle semi-natural hatching development
o Artificial reefs establishment
o Integrated operation
o Regular patrolling

* Data and information:
o Providing data on visitors, disturbances, and Park biodiversity

* Manpower management by training

* Facilities provision and maintenance:
o Provision of facilities and equipment
o Maintenance of facilities and equipment

* Assisting local community development:
o Providing demonstration plots of marine flora and fauna, managed by local community

* Promoting community awareness:
o Coordination meetings on planning and sustainable utilization
o Conservation education and extension
o Conservation exhibitions
o Information dissemination

Conclusion
The paper provides a brief overview of the present management status of Gili. Inputs based on experience from other marine parks will be adopted and integrated for better management at Gili. It is hoped that the experience of management from Gili may one day be useful for other marine protected areas.

Edi Djuharsa
Natural Resources Conservation Office
Mataram – West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Source: gilicat.com

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

Pondok Senaru is the only hotel in this area with Hot water facilities, Pondok Senaru located in the best view for Senaru Valley with overview of the Sendang Gile waterfall.

It setting on beautiful part of Senaru just next to the Gate when you walk down to the Sendang Gile Waterfalls, It has beautiful view of Mount Rinjani in the morning, nice garden, comfortable bungalows and good breakfast

Pondok Senaru is the best choice and a excellent base camp before or after trekking to Mount Rinjani Lombok, As they have hot water, the only excellent food serve in their restaurant while other dont serve

Pondok Senaru is the only hotel in this area with Hot water facilities.

Pondok Senaru located in the best view for Senaru Valley with overview of the Sendang Gile waterfall. Its just next to the gate of Sendang gile waterfall, from their restaurant, you can see the waterfall and mount Rinjani.

With only a short walk to the most and well known Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall with great panorama walk of Senaru

Room Overview:
Standard Cottages:
Standard Cottages is located just next to the restaurant, it has Single or Double bed room, basic shower and rice paddies view and non hot water
10 Cottages in total

Superior Cottages:
Superior Cottages is located just next to Deluxe Cottages and it has hot water and shower with also rice paddies view
It has 05 rooms only

Deluxe Cottages:
Deluxe Cottages is the luxury room type in the Senaru Cottages, It located by the cliff of Senaru, Rice terraces view from your room and the perfect cottages for couple and honeymooner.
It has hot water, bathtub and larger room

Room Rates

High season surcharge is Rp. 150.000/night apply from July 01 till September 15 and December 01 till January 15

Rate included breakfast and taxes, It;s for Single or Double bed occupancy.

Payment via Paypal, Please use this email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Some people wonder about Kuta, Is it Kuta Bali ? It’s Kuta Lombok (Sometime spelt Kute Beach), South Lombok Island, Especially in Kuta, tanjung A’an and Mawun has magnificent stretch of white sand and blue sea with rugged hills rising around it. Some part in south lombok known for it’s best surfing spot but Diving in south lombok especially in Sepi Bay is one of the best dive spots in Indonesia.

There is only a few development with far fewer tourist than in famous Kuta Beach on Bali, But when the New International Airport project finish in few more years, a  big plans to develop a whole stretch of the superb south coast with luxury hotels.

After many years of speculation there are signs something is happening, with the road from Praya completely remade and big new road running to as yet undeveloped beaches.
Travelers are reported  some hassles here,  People flock to Kuta for the annual Nyale fishing celebration. The main tourist season is August and for the rest of year it’s very quite

THE fabulous south coast of Lombok, with sweeping bays and craggy headlands protected from the full force of the Indian Ocean swells by colourful coral reefs, finds its most ‘urban’ expression in the little community of Kuta (or Kute: this side of the Wallace Line the spelling is optional), around 30 kilometres south of Praya in the Central Lombok lowlands.
It is the major centre of tourism development on the south coast, but still a sleepy place of only a few permanent residents. It’s a great place for Lombok-made clothing and artefacts. And it is also the base for exploring Lombok’s southern beaches and the many points of interest in the region.

An easy 90-minute drive from Senggigi, Kuta makes for a wonderful day trip from other points in Lombok, or indeed an alternative holiday destination for sun lovers. The four-star Novotel Lombok is there to provide a definitive range of creature comforts.
Kuta and the surrounding region also has an international reputation for some of the best surfing destinations in South-East Asia and it is here that the Indian Ocean’s regular big swells form great surf breaks and offer fantastic vistas of cliffs, headlands and beaches carved out of the southern coastline.

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

Located on the western coast of Lombok is the small village and resort area of Senggigi. Tall coconut trees shadow two stunning bays and the white sand beach of Senggigi. The bays are ideal for swimming snorkeling and other popular water activities and its impressive hillsides provide a dramatic backdrop and breathtaking scenic road trips along the coast to the north.
Senggigi over the years has become the most popular tourist area of Lombok, presenting a diverse range of hotel accommodations, from deluxe four-star resort properties to simple home-stays. As well, restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues can all be found along the main Senggigi road and on certain areas along the beach.

Senggigi is the main tourist strip of Lombok, stretched out along nearly 10 kilometers of beachfront just to the north of the capital Mataram.
Senggigi can be broadly divided into three parts: northern Mangsit Beach, central Senggigi and the southern stretch near Batu Bolong, with headlands separating the three. Mangsit has quiet resorts and very little other development, while nightlife and other restaurants are concentrated in Senggigi and the Batu Bolong area.

That said, Lombok’s post-2000 misfortunes hit Senggigi hardest of all, with many developments halted and a few closed and barred up. Especially during the day the area resembles a ghost town, with many if not most shops closed, restaurants empty and hawkers and touts pestering the (few) passersby. Things are slowly starting to improve again, with a few new villas going up, but for time being the overall feeling is a little depressing and most visitors either stay in the manicured grounds of their resorts, or head directly onward to the Gili Islands.

Additional Information:
Get in
Senggigi is about 15-20 minutes north of Mataram and its airport. Taxis charge around Rp 30,000 for the trip, while bemos will cover the distance for under Rp 5,000.

Get around
Taxis are common and even the ones waiting around for customers are usually happy to use the meter. Bemos also zip through Senggigi on their way north and south and are happy to pick up passengers; pricing is a little random, but a couple of thousand rupiah will suffice for most trips.

See
Pura Batu Bolong, 2 km south of Senggigi. Small Hindu temple located in a scenic spot at a cape overlooking Senggigi beach, named after a rock (batu) with a hole (bolong). At the tip is an empty chair representing Brahma, the god of creation. Free entry, but you’ll have to loan a sash (Rp5,000 a throw) from one of the urchins if you don’t have one already. Sunsets seen from here can be very impressive.

Senggigi Beach. A spit of sand stretching out from central Senggigi, this is Senggigi’s raison d’etre but, by Indonesian standards, it’s all that spectacular. The beach is clean and pleasant to swim,  Some local surfers brave the smallish waves at Senggigi Reefs..

Buy
Senggigi Abadi Supermarket.
Senggigi Jaya Supermarket
Blue Market at Senggigi Plaza

Eat
There are plenty of eating options in Senggigi.
Bale Tajuk, Jl. Senggigi Raya. Small but popular eatery offering a range of local and Western dishes, including a fairly decent Lombok-style ayam taliwang (Rp20,000).

Other Restaurants we should recommend you is:
Taman Restaurant
Bumbu Restaurant
Matahari Restaurant
Yessy Restaurant
Asmara Restaurant
De Quake Restaurant at Art Market
The Office Restaurant at Art Market
Sea Star Restaurant at Art Market
Gara Gara Restaurant at Senggigi Plaza
Cak Nur Warung
Mario Restaurant

Ye Jeon, Senggigi Square 2F. Surprisingly authentic Korean restaurant, especially given that it’s probably the only one in all Lombok. Single dishes are reasonable (try the bibimbap, Rp35,000) but sets with a full spread of banchan appetizers are pricier at Rp80,000 and up, with 21% service/tax slapped on top.

Drink
Senggigi’s nightlife suffers from far more supply than demand, with punters thinly spread and bars desperate for custom.

List of Bar and Night Clubs in Senggigi Area
Happy Cafe
Papaya Cafe
Tropicana Cafe
Out Back Cafe
Marina Cafe
The Square Cafe
Sahara Cafe
Berry’s Cafe

Internet Cafes:
Millinium Internet Cafe
Super Star Internet Cafe
Planet Senggigi Internet Cafe

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com

LOMBOK ISLAND INFORMATION
The Island of Lombok, Indonesia. It is one of the Lesser Sundas Islands separated from Bali by the Lombok Strait and from Sumbawa by the Alas Strait. It is 70 mi (115 km) long and 50 mi (80 km) wide and occupies an area of 2,098 sq mi (5,435 sq km). It is divided by two mountain chains; its northern range includes Mount Rinjani (12,224 ft [3,726 m]), Indonesia’s tallest mountain. It was ruled by the sultan of Makasar in 1640. The Balinese later seized control and established four kingdoms there; the Dutch ruled the kingdom of Mataram from 1843 and gained control of the entire island by the late 19th century. Following World War II, it became part of Indonesia.

The island, which has an area of 2,098 square miles (5,435 square km), is divided for nearly its entire length by two mountain chains. The southern chain, a range of limestone hills, reaches an elevation of 2,350 feet (716 metres), but the northern chain rises to Mount Rinjani (12,224 feet [3,726 metres]). None of the small rivers is navigable. Cliffs often rise precipitously from the sea, but there are good anchorages in bays on the western and eastern coasts.

Lombok Strait, which has depths exceeding 3,600 feet (1,100 metres), has been called the edge of the Asian continental shelf, a contention supported by the marked differences between the plant and animal life of Bali and Lombok. Some intermingling of species has taken place, and Lombok has become the beginning of a transitional area in which Asian forms of life are being supplanted gradually by Australian forms. Vegetation includes a great palm, and typical mammals are monkeys, deer, and wild pigs. The island’s diverse birdlife includes large green pigeons, eight kinds of kingfishers, ground thrushes, grass-green doves, little crimson and black flower-peckers, large black cuckoos, king crows, golden orioles, and fine jungle cocks.

The population of Lombok is composed largely of Sasaks of Malay origin, although there are Chinese in the urban area around Mataram, some Balinese in the west, and some Sumbawanese in the east. The Sasak are Muslim, though there is a strong animist element to their religion. Agriculture is by far the dominant occupation, with paddy rice, soybeans, tubers, peanuts (groundnuts), tobacco, coconuts, and vegetables the chief crops. The central lowland strip of the island, between the two elevated coastal areas, is the centre of settlement and rice cultivation. Mataram, the provincial capital, is the largest city. The chief port is Lembar, on the western coast.
As early as 1640 Lombok was under the sultan of Makasar (Macassar). Eventually, the Balinese seized control and established four kingdoms on the island; one of them, Mataram, entered into a contract with the Dutch that lasted from 1843 to 1872, when Mataram’s oppression of the Sasaks and interference in politics on Bali caused the Dutch to step in and, in 1894, eliminate Balinese rule in Lombok and impose direct rule themselves.

Lombok lies 8 degrees south of the equator and stretches some 80km east to west and about the same distance north to south. It is dominated by the second highest mountain in Indonesia, GUNUNG RINJANI, which soars to 3726m. It has a large caldera with a crater lake, Segara Anak, 600m below the rim, and a new volcanic cone which has formed in the center. Rinjani last erupted in 1994, and evidence of this can be seen in the fresh lava and yellow sulphur around the inner cone.
Central Lombok, to the south of Rinjani is similar to Bali, with rich alluvial plains and fields irrigated by water flowing from the mountains. In the far south and east it is drier, with scrubby, barren hills. This area gets little rain and often has droughts which can last for months. In recent years, several dams have been built, so the abundant rain-fall of the wet season can be retained for irrigation throughout the year.
In Lombok’s dry season – from June to September – the heat can be scorching. At night, particularly at higher elevations, the temperature can drop so much a sweater and light jacket are necessary. The wet season extends from October and January the wettest months.

Tipping :
Tipping is relatively new in Lombok. Most large hotels and restaurants will automatically add a service charge of between 5 & 10 percent to your bill which is quite sufficient. Smaller restaurants generally don’t add anything extra but considering that the waiter’s wage may well be less than $1.00 a day – a tip of 5 – 10 percent is very much appreciated.

Bellmen generally get Rp. 500 – Rp.1,000 for a small to medium sized luggage and up to Rp.2,000 for those house trailers some people carry around. For taxi drivers, rounding up to the nearest Rp. 500 or Rp. 1,000 depending on the length of trip is the norm. And with tour guides and the like tipping is up to you – just remember that chances are your driver has already received a commission from anything you purchased during the day.

Climate:
Lombok has basically two seasons – wet and dry. The wet season generally occurs from November through to February, with heavy monsoon rainfall and cloud. During this time it can be quite humid but still hot. The dry season from March to October can still experience rain but is generally fine, clear and hot with average temperatures around 28″C. Around August and September it can also be quite breezy. The best months for good surf are June , July and August.

Passport Requirements:
No visas are required for Australian passport holders to enter Indonesia, however your passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity from the date of entrance into Indonesia. For passengers of other nationalities its best to check your visa requirements with the nearest Indonesian consulate.

Departure Taxes:
The current International departure tax from Indonesia is Rp75.000 (approx $15 Australian dollars). Domestic Departure tax is currently Rp11.000 (approx $3 Australian dollars)

Currency:
The unit of currency throughout Indonesia is the Rupiah (Rp). Currently the exchange rate is approximately Rp10.000 for $1 American and Rp 5.000 for $1 Australian dollar on the island of Lombok . Higher rates are available in Bali. However as the Rupiah has still not stabilized and rates may vary greatly.

Credit Cards:
Most larger hotels and some restaurants in Lombok accept credit cards, however smaller hotels and losmens, particularly on the islands will accept cash only.

Changing Money:
Money can be changed at larger hotels and banks or money changers that can be found in the Senggigi area. If traveling to areas outside of Senggigi or particularly onto other islands east of Lombok it can be very difficult to get money converted and enough Rupiah needs to be carried in cash. It is wise to have a money belt worn under your shirt to protect your cash. As the exchange rates are generally higher in Bali , it may be an idea to change your money prior to traveling to Lombok.

Language:
The national language is Bahasa Indonesia and various dialects are also spoken throughout Indonesia. English is taught as a second language in all schools. English is widely spoken in most tourist areas and generally wherever you travel no matter how remote, someone can be found who speaks English. There is usually no shortage of locals wanting to try out their English skills.

Religions:
the main religion of Lombok is Muslim although there is also a Hindu population particularly in the tourist areas.

Transportation
Public Transport:
Public buses operate between main towns throughout Lombok. They are not air-conditioned and can be quite run down and crowded though they are a very cheap and good means of traveling between towns for those on a budget. Prices are fixed and beware!! Indonesians do not travel well on buses.

Bemos or Taxis:
Metered taxis operate in the Senggigi area and are quite cheap. Bemos, or small vans can be found in most towns and will take you anywhere at a price to be negotiated. Make sure you set a price before getting in.

Cidomos:
The cheapest and the most fun way to travel short distances in Lombok is by cidomo , a locally designed horse-drawn cart. These can be found everywhere , even on the small Gili Islands

Car and Motor Bike Hire:
The roads in Lombok are generally quite good and traffic is fairly easy to drive in, even in the cities of Lombok. On the country roads the main traffic is often cidomos or motorbikes. To hire a car in Lombok a valid international drivers license is required.

Electricity:
The power supply throughout Indonesia is 220 volts. Some large hotels have adaptors, but adaptors can be purchased from most Duty Free stores before traveling.

Food and Water:
Food in Lombok can be one of the highlights of your stay. There are many excellent restaurants, and some have quite a good range of meals for vegetarians. As well as delicious local dishes, western style meals are available almost everywhere in Lombok. Water from the taps is not healthy to drink. Water can be purchased in sealed bottles and is available everywhere, larger hotels usually have drinking water in flasks in the room. Water served in restaurants with your meal is also fit to drink.

Health:
Malaria is found in some parts of Lombok, though it is considered safe around the Senggigi region. Please check with your doctor or Traveller Medical Vaccination Centre in your state for advise.

Backpacking:
Lombok is a great place to backpack around quite easily. Most budget hotels or losmens around the countryside have very basic facilities and bathrooms. The ones recommended by E.R Tours are chosen as clean, reliable and friendly, but are still quite basic. Often they do not have soap or toilet paper so it is wise to always travel with these items yourself.
Mosquitoes can be a nuisance in some areas and malaria is present, so a light mosquito net and repellent is also good to carry, plus you should also speak to your local doctor or medical centre for details.

Bali Gili Fast Boats

Gili Trawangan Island
North Lombok
NTB-Indonesia
Phone : +62 817 395 631 / Call us for direct booking
Email : tanaemelva@hotmail.com

Contact by Email:
booking@gilifastboats.com

Website : www.gilifastboats.com