Moyo Island

Moyo Island, at the mouth of Saleh Bay, has a nature reserve with wild oxen, deer, wild boars and a great variety bird species. Visits are best made during the dry season from June through August. A few kilometers of the north coast of Sumbawa, the national park island of Moyo Island is probably the most rewarding destination in Sumbawa, surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and home to wild pig, monitor lizards, 21 species of bat, huge herds of native deer and hordes of crab-eating macaques. The best time to visit is in June and July, though the seas are clear and quiet from April. There are basic private rooms at the PHPA post at Tanjung Pasir on the south coast, where most boats from the mainland arrive. Renting a fishing boat from Tanjung Pasir and going fifteen minutes east to Stama reeft is very rewarding, with lots of sharks and turtles. There's nowhere on Moyo to rent masks and snorkels so bring our own; fins are advisable due to the strong currents.

To get to Moyo, take a bemo from beside Seketang Market in Sumbawa Besar to Air Bari , a small port settlement to the northeast. From Air Bari, we can charter a boat to Moyo. source by

MATARAM

Mataram is the capital of Lombok. The town actually consists of four different towns Ampenan, Mataram, Cakranegara (Cakra) and Sweta. Ampenan has most of city sights, including Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat museum, which gives a good overview of the culture of Lombok. Cakra is the best place for eating, sleeping and shopping. It also has the Water Palace, which is worth a visit and the largest temple of Lombok, Meru Purse. Mataram is the administrative centre and Sweta the transport connection of the whole island.

As a center of government administration, Mataram has many large, impressive public buildings and substantial houses. The city also has transportation and shopping facilities. The main square is used for art exhibitions, theater, dance, and wayang kulit (puppet theater) performances. In other parts of Mataram, there are a variety of old-style markets and neighborhoods featuring traditional craftwork like basketware and gold- and silver-threaded sarongs, or wraparound garments.

source by www.indonesia-tourism.com

EAST LOMBOK

East Lombok is lush and less developed than the western part of the island, allowing you to peek into a rural part of Indonesia. Inhabited by the indigenous Sasak people, who keep their culture very much in live.

Geographically
East Lombok is West Nusa Tenggara Province part that spread along north to the south and geographically stay at 116° - 117° East longitudes, 8° - 9° South Latitudes with its boundaries:
North Side: Java Sea
South Side: Indonesia Ocean
East Side: Alas Straight
West Side: West Lombok and Central Lombok


source by www.indonesia-tourism.com

CENTRAL LOMBOK

Central Lombok is the tourist heart of the Island. The area concludes the traditional villages which are visited in most daytrips - and which are not far from the 'big three' cities - and the southern coast: Kuta beach, where the festivities around the sea worms (nyale) takes place and Tanjung Aan, with beautiful beaches for surfing. Many travel agencies organize daytrips to these easy to reach destinations.source by


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WEST LOMBOK

West Lombok has both the lushness of Bali and the starkness of outback Australia. The 3,726m Rinjani volcano dominates the northwest of the island, while the southwest is arid and covered by savannas.
Famous for its basket ware, pottery and ikat hand woven textiles, Lombok has exceptional charm and is relatively undiscovered, except for Sengiggi and the Gili islands that have become popular tourism areas. We visit traditional villages and a local market in search for rare pieces of handicraft.

source by www.indonesia-tourism.com

BIMA REGENCY

The former palace in the town of Bima is about all that is left of the Bima sultanate. The building is now being turned into a museum. Dara, a village two kilometers from the town of Bima in eastern Sumbawa, is believed to have been the seat of the ancient Bima kingdom.

source by www.indonesia-tourism.com

DOMPU REGENCY

Dompu is the capital city of Central Sumbawa. It is situated on the main road between the district of Sumbawa and Bima district.

Tourism Objects in Dompu

* Mada Prama
It is located about 4 km from Dompu. Natural spring water for swimming and bathing set in lush tropical forest surrounding.
* Dermaga Kempo Beach
It is located in Saleh Bay. It is a port that connects Dompu to Nisa Pudu and Nisa Rate Islands.
* Nisa Pudu and Nisa Rate Islands
Nisa Pudu and Nisa Rate Islands have beautiful panorama. People can enjoy the sun from either island. They are located 45 km from Dompu and they can be reached by public transportation.
* Hodo Beach
Hodo Beach is about 45 km from Dompu. Located on Salch beach, the beach is an excellent stop over before ascending Mount Rinjani. Fresh water is available.
* Calabay
It is about 100 km from Dompu. It has a port called "Tiga Bangun", a port through which timber are exported.
* Mount Tambora
Mount Tambora is about 100 km from Dompu. It is the highest mountain in Sumbawa. Its eruption in 1815 was one of the most destructive and powerful volcanic explosions in human history, caused a huge catastrophic all over the island. The explosion could be heard as far as Ternate (1400 km), and tremors were felt in Surabaya (800 km). The volcanic dust, ejected into stratosphere acted as a giant filter, creating a spectacular orange sunsets around the world, the eject which circled the world caused temperature to drop almost 2 F degrees below normal for the whole year, resulting in the famous 'year without summer' of 1816._Nowadays, the vicinity of this mountain has become a game and conversation area. Mount Tambora has a dense forest and various kinds of wood. There is a vast meadow, which extends on the slope of the mountain. The hunting area that faces the sea makes the panorama more beautiful. The port here connects to Kempo district.

source by /www.indonesia-tourism.com

SUMBAWA BESAR REGENCY

Sumbawa is a large island to the east of Bali and Lombok. It is part of West Nusa Tenggara province along with Lombok. There are hundreds of small islands in this area in addition to the two major islands. Sumbawa really belongs more to Eastern Indonesia than to the western part of the archipelago. The effects of Hindu and Buddhist cultures are minimal in Sumbawa (although there is a Balinese presence along the northern coastal area), and although the island is predominantly Muslim, the role of traditional culture is still very strong.

The slogan of Sumbawa Regency is: "B E S A R" which stands for BERSIH, ELOK, SEHAT, AMAN DAN, RAPI, (Clean, Beautiful, Healthy, Safe, and Proper). The regional government's official website notes that Sumbawa still lacks sufficient medical facilities to support public health, in particular a lack of doctors and other health professionals. A public health center was recently opened in Sekongkang, but adequate treatment for a serious illness or accident requires a trip to Sumbawa Besar or Mataram, both of which require a journey of at least four hours minimum.

source by /www.indonesia-tourism.com

NUSATENGGARA

The Wallace Line, named after 19th century naturalist, Alfred Russell Wallace, marks a point of transition between the flora and fauna of Western and Eastern Indonesia and acts as the Western boundary of West Nusa Tenggara, which includes Lombok Island and Sumbawa. Lombok is noticeably different to its close neighbor, Bali. The northern part of the island is mountainous and lush with tall trees and shrubs. The South on the other hand is arid and covered by savannas. Large Asian mammals are absents and replaced instead by large numbers of marsupials, lizards, cockatoos and parrots. The difference becomes more pronounced as one moves further east where dry seasons are more prolonged and the land is dry and bush-like, and so in many areas corn and sago are the staple food, instead of rice. At first Islam time come to these islands in the 16th century, four Hindu Kingdoms co-existed in apparent peace what is now called West Nusa Tenggara and is still the religion embraced by those in the west of Lombok, which are primarily Balinese. Lombok experienced strong Balinese influences in the past, but has still retained a unique identifies. The indigenous people of Lombok, the Sasaks, are predominantly Moslem and have a strong, distinguished tradition, as do the people of neighboring Sumbawa. Soft white sand, virgin beaches are typical in Lombok, where the motto is 'You can see Bali in Lombok, but not Lombok in Bali'. Famous for its 'tenun ikat' hand-woven textiles, the island has exceptional charm and its relatively undiscovered, except for Senggigi City, which becoming a major resort area. Regulars shuttle flights from Bali and Surabaya as well as ferries provide excellent transportation links within the islands of the province as well as with the rest of the country.

source by www.indonesia-tourism.com

East Bali

Dominated by the towering presence of Mt Agung, the island’s highest and most sacred volcano, which last erupted to terrible effect in 1963, this area of contrasts has much lower population density than southern Bali.

Here is some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery in Bali, from lush green rice terraces to rugged escarpments rising almost vertically for hundreds of meters.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Bedugul

The mountain village of Bedugul by Lake Bratan is on the main road connecting north and south Bali and is an interesting place to stay for a night or two, especially if you are a golfer as the renowned 18-hole Handara Golf Course is located here.

Again the accommodation runs from basic to first class. At 1500m above sea level it can be chilly at night.

source bywww.directorybali.com

Bali, singaraja

The old Dutch capital of Bali during the colonial era, Singaraja is a quiet town with some quaint old Dutch warehouses on the waterfront. It's easily reached from the south via Bedugul or Kintamani or from Candidasa in the east. There is some accommodation here but you would be better to stay at the nearby Lovina Beach only a few kilometers to the west. Lovina has had a recent spruce up and the gravel beach is now pristine clean. The town has plenty of accommodation from basic to good quality and some adequate restaurants.

There’s little nightlife to speak of so rise early and hire a fisherman to take you out to see dolphins and a beautiful sunrise at the same time. The fishermen will also take you to the reef for snorkeling or diving. It’s a pleasant rural area with mountains and foothills coming down to the sea.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali,Tulamben

To the north east of Amed lies Tulamben whose claim to fame is the wreck of the USS Liberty, torpedoed off Lombok in WWII and towed to its present site for salvage. Unfortunately the 1963 Mt Agung eruption broke and scattered the hulk but it’s a great snorkeling and diving spot just 30m from the beach and is home to literally hundreds of species of fish.

Try to get there early in the high season or you could be sharing the wreck with up to 200 others. Reasonable accommodation and food.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Tritagangga

Between Amlapura and Amed are the run-down spring-fed Royal pools where you can swim, enjoy basic accommodation, relax and hike.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali Candidasa

North of Padangbai lies Candidasa. It's a quiet resort area with a beautiful outlook but unfortunately the beach has eroded.

Accommodation is varied and reasonable with plenty of restaurants, a couple of which are outstanding. Everything is to the left or right of the main road with most hotels being beach side.

A pleasant place to stay and explore the area, including the exclusive community of Tenganan.



source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Padangbai

A deep-water cove and the departure point for ferries to Lombok and points East, Padangbai is home to some mainly cheap accommodation and restaurants that are located just off the sandy beach.

The area also boasts some good dive spots that can be reached by boat.


source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Jimbaran

On the east side of the airport is the delightful crescent-shaped Jimbaran Bay. Home to some really first class hotels, Jimbaran is known as the seafood capital of Indonesia with literally hundreds of seafood restaurants located right on the beach. As there are more restaurants than diners you should inspect the fish for freshness and the prices before ordering. The dishes are cooked over coconut husks and are both tasty and reasonable if you stay away from lobster. A wonderful place to watch the sunset and the procession of planes bringing a new influx of pink-faced visitors or returning tanned ones to their home countries.

At the airport end are hundreds of fishing boats and an interesting fish market and it is all only 25 minutes from the bright lights of Kuta

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Tanah Lot

Site of Bali’s most photographed temple. Best viewed at high tide or sunset, the temple is reached after passing scores of the inevitable shops.

Tanah Lot also features new upmarket accommodation and a beautiful seaside golf course.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, canggu

An undulating rural area between Kuta and Tanah Lot with housing, villas and boutique hotels. The beach has some great surf breaks but is dangerous for swimming.

Canggu is around 20 minutes from Legian/Seminyak and it really helps to have your own transport.


source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Amed

Time to turn your watches back and enjoy the Bali that was. An hour from Candidasa is Bali’s best-kept secret - the enchanting bays that make up the Amed area. Held back until recently by bad roads and lack of power and communications, this is Bali’s newest developing area with accommodation increasing six-fold in the last few years.

Every bay is different, some shingle, some rocky and some sandy, with Bali’s best diving right off the beach. In one bay there’s a Japanese WWII patrol boat just 10m off the shore. Accommodation is reasonably priced and ranges from basic to good quality, with new places opening every couple of months. Food is adequate and cheap but don’t expect nightlife, as there isn’t any. Every bay is lined with double-outrigger fishing boats and the horizon is filled with literally hundreds of triangular sails as they head off to the fishing grounds morning and afternoon. Amed is a perfect destination for families and the more mature travelers. Younger people like it too but often overdose on peace and tranquility after a few days.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali ,Tuban

Protected by Kuta reef, this narrow strip offers upmarket beachfront hotels with some excellent restaurants, and is close to Kuta Square for a spot of retail therapy.

This area is currently undergoing a makeover and a program to replace the eroded beach is due to begin soon. Kuta, South and Central Legian encompass the one-way system that extends from The Kuta Beach Hotel to The Legian Beach Hotel on Melasti Street. A broad expanse of beachfronts, this busy tourist area is separated from the beach by Jalan Pantai (Beach Rd) and boasts excellent body surfing, boogie boarding and surfing. There are plenty of noisy bars and backpacker accommodation at the Kuta end with the area getting quieter as it gets towards Melasti Street.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali Seminyak

Seminyak runs from the daytime trendy Blue Ocean Boulevard across Double Six Road to the restaurants and bars of Dhyana Pura Street. Tourist accommodation is scarcer than in the previous areas but you'll find good standard hotels, interesting food and sophisticated nightlife, as well as the mega-noisy Club 66.

Like Legian North, the area attracts a cosmopolitan mix and is home to hundreds of expats involved in commerce of one sort or another.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, Ubud

The town of Ubud in the central foothills is set among rice paddies and ravines and still retains a relaxed pace and rural charm. Apart from its own attractions it is a good base for exploring some of the most historic sites (the “elephant cave” and 12th century reliefs at Gunung Kawi), trekking, bicycle riding and white water rafting. Ubud is also a town of painters.

Accommodation and dining ranges from basic to world class (Princess Diana stayed here). Good food to suit all pockets.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali, nusadua

Around 10 km south of the airport lies the international tourist enclave of Nusa Dua (meaning "two islands"). This purpose-built area is well planned and the site of beautiful top class hotels, with private beaches geared to the well-heeled and international conferences.

The enclave is safe and manicured, with international restaurants at international prices. Though a tad sterile for many, Nusa Dua has its adherents and is a perfect place for those unhappy with the hustle and bustle associated with other areas.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali,Sanur

On the southeast Coast around 25 minutes from the airport is the site of Bali’s first luxury hotel, the multi-storied Grand Bali Beach.

Thankfully a later law prohibiting buildings higher than palm tree level has kept the Bali skyline much as it was before the tourist boom. A white sand beach sheltered by the reef, Sanur probably has the safest swimming on the island and is also good for windsurfing and sailing. You'll also find a wide variety of restaurants in the hotels, good outside eating and several interesting pubs.

Sanur has retained its village atmosphere and tends to attract a more mature clientele and families, with most younger people preferring to stay in Kuta. Oddly enough though, Sanur also hosts the island’s red-light district, hidden in alleyways away from the hotel area!

Sanur can be divided into 4 sub-districts:

1) The Grand Bali Beach Area

2) SINAHU - A classy area with good hotels on the beach, a boardwalk, an art market and good eating.

3) BATUJIMBA - Mainly villas belonging to the Indonesian elite and expatriates.

4) SENAWANG - South from the Bali Hyatt. Home to some pricey restaurants and the seedy red-light district.

source by www.directorybali.com

Bali Legian

Legian extends from The Legian Beach Hotel to Hotel Jayakarta on what is still known as Rum Jungle Road. All types of accommodation including villas are available, along with some good eating and a few interesting bars, most of which close by midnight. Legian is a quieter area with less traffic than either Kuta Central or Seminyak as it has its own one-way system leading in and out. The Beach hotels are separated from the actual beach by the new village-owned road, which is closed to traffic.

Because of rocketing property values most expatriates have left this area for cheaper rents but you will still see untouristy things like westerners walking dogs and even one with a dog on his motorbike!

Bali

Bali is renowned for having maintained its traditional culture against the sweeping tides of the Bali calendar event modern world.In many parts of the Island, Life goes on as it has for centuries, with rhythms of ritual, creativity and culture still serving as a community compass, here the arts are woven into everyday, making Bali a World Center of music, dance and visual arts.The Bali Arts Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of Bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty. On display are trances from remote mountain slopes, forgotten or recently revived village dances, food and offering contests, classical palace dances, stars of Balinese stage, odd musical performances, "kreasi baru" (new creations) from the dance schools of Denpasar, as well as contemporary choreography and dance companies from other islands and from abroad.

source by www.bali-tourism-board