South Lombok

South Lombok is a region of Lombok, Indonesia. Map of Lombok Region Towns Kuta — a surfing mecca like its Bali namesake, but that's where the similarity ends Sekotong — Off the beaten path in southwest Lombok, this area is fast becoming a tourist destination. Other destinations Tanjung Aan — almost impossibly beautful isolated bay in the southeast which is earmarked for high end resort development. Banko Banko — on the south west tip of the island. Can be a bit challenging to get there. Allow plenty of time and travel with a friend. Gile Gede — a small island nestled in the picturesque bay off Perambag beach and west of Sekotong. It is orbited by several smaller island Scenic beaches and bays — the south coast is a maze of inlets and headlands with beautiful secluded white sand beaches. Some locations are quite difficult to access. Well worth your while is the short distance from the Lembar harbor west to the next bay at Labu. South coast — many surfing destinations some better known than others Understand The central inland part of South Lombok is generally low-lying with undulating hills and is commonly utilised for rice paddies and growing tobacco leaf. Toward the southern coast it is dryer and more denuded with some undulating hilly areas of between 100 to 355 meters above sea level. Segar beach, looking toward Kuta beach, South Lombok This part of the island remains essentially agrarian in activity. The central south is more fertile and productive and the southern coastal areas are less fertile due to lower rainfall, land clearing and soil degradation. Toward the south west coast it becomes a little less dry and a little more fertile than the south central coastal margins. Mount Rinjani supplies a rainfall catchment area to the north of the region and several rivers flow into central Lombok from the mountains southern slopes. Villages on the lower slopes of Rinjani support activities such as traditional weaving, pottery and handicraft production. The sea off Lombok's southern coastline supports a small local fishing industry, a fish market, a pearling industry and seaweed harvesting. The south of the island is not heavily populated and many areas are quite remote and can be quite difficult to get to. The southern areas of Lombok are becoming increasingly popular with international visitors and the surf beaches of the southern coastline are popular with more intrepid international surfers as well as a growing number of local people on Lombok. Talk The language of the south of Lombok is a dialect of the indigenous Bahasa Sasak language of the Sasak peoples of Lombok. Bahasa Indonesian is spoken by many people especially the younger generations. In the tourism areas some people may speak limited English. In the larger Kuta hotels and tourism establishments there is more likelihood of English speakers being available. Get in NOTE: Scheduled airline operations flying to and from Lombok have been moved from Selaparang International Airport (IATA: AMI) across to the new Lombok International Airport (BIL), (IATA: LOP, ICAO: WADL) in central southern Lombok near the city of Praya. Please see the main Lombok article for more details on the new international airport and connecting services to destinations across the island. Lombok International Airport (BIL) (IATA: LOP, ICAO: WADL) is south west of Praya in south central Lombok. This new international airport will provide facilities for wide bodied aircraft and more modern terminal facilities and cargo facilities. Please see the main Lombok article for more details on the new international airport and connecting services to South Lombok. Public buses and bemo run to and from the west coast and the city of Mataram. Similar services are available to connect through from the north of the island via Pusuk pass from Pemenang near the small Bangsal harbour that serves as the primary access point from Gili Islands. If arriving at Labuhan Lombok by ferry from Sumbawa only limited services are available on the east coast to connect to Praya in Central Lombok, south toward Kuta or west toward the city of Mataram and West Lombok. To use public buses and bemo serving the southern region a traveller would need to have a good understanding both of the area and the vagaries of the interconnections and services. It would be far easier and more expedient to either use a taxi, rent a car and driver or to use a service such as that provided by Perama tours to access the south of Lombok. Vehicle and passenger ferries: South Lombok is serviced from both the east and west coast of the island. From the east coast Labuhan Lombok has basic facilities to receive the ferries that ply the Alat Strait from Sumbawa. Alat Strait: Labuhan Lombok - from: Pototano, Sumbawa with 8 ferries providing 18 crossings per day. From the west coast Tanjung Lembar seaport provides facilities for the passenger ferries from Bali, passenger carrying ships visiting Lombok, small freighters and fishing boats. Lombok Strait: Lembar, Lombok - from: Padangbai, Bali, with 12 ferries providing 24 crossings per day. Metered taxis normally operate in the southern area of Lombok however they will be hard to find in the more remote areas. Bookings can be made in advance by calling their radio despatch service. Bluebird * Lombok Taksi, ☎ +62 370 627000, [1]. 24hr service.  edit Express * Express Taksi, ☎ +62 370 635968, [2]. 24hr service.  edit Airport pick-up, the established hotels and resorts of the Kuta area may offer pick up's and transfers to and from the airport or other locations in Lombok. You will need to enquire at the hotels for this service and ensure you book ahead. Get around Take a guided tour of a village or a section of the forest with a local guide Walk on your own and explore the westenr coastline Rent a bike in Senggigi or some of the hotels supply them Rent a car Rent a motor bike Please see the main Lombok article article for more detailed information on driving in Lombok and ensure you obtain and use a helmet when riding a motor bike. See Batu Bolong Namarda Tangung A'an Sekotong area South coast beaches Do In 2010 the Kuta area had 16 hotels catering to domestic and International tourists. There are many places to see and visit and many people like to stay in the region either to relax or to explore the beaches of the southern coastline. The south of Lombok features white sandy beaches, some of them quite isolated, remote and with limited access. Mawun beach, South Lombok Notable beaches are: Pantai Gerupuk, Pantai Awang, Tanjung A'nn, Pantai Seger, Kuta Beach, Selong Belanak, Mawi Beach, Pantai Tomang, Are Guling Beach, Pantai Pengatap, Rowok, Torok Aik Belek, Pantai Mawun. Surfing is very popular with local and international visitors and the south coast has some popular destinations for international surfers and travellers. Fishing villages, grouper fish cultivation, pearl cultivation, the traditional fish market and coral reefs also attract visitors to this part of Lombok. Other attractions lie in the hills of central lombok rising toward Mount Rinjani. South Lombok supports an industry of traditional weaving and handicraft production. Individual tourists or tour guides often arrange small personalised tours or private visits to see traditional weaving and other handicraft production or to see religious and cultural ceremonies. Mount Rinjani is at the northern flank of nearby Central Lombok. The foothills of Mount Rinjani are a popular tourist attraction and activities include trekking, study of rare tropical flora and local fauna. Objects of cultural heritage in this part of the island include Sade Hamlet, Hamlet NDE, a location of a traditional housing, traditional villages, local arts and traditional ceremonies. Mosque Mount Pujut is a historic local mosque. Other historic attractions are the tomb of King Pejanggik, the tomb of Nyatok, and Clack Tomb and Mausoleum, the tomb of Serewe Islamic religious figures. Eat The south has quite a few restaurants, some catering to tourists, more so in the Kuta area. The region has many small warungs and local eating houses selling local food at very reasonable prices. Be cautious with hygiene and ensure you are clear about what you are ordering. Drink Licensed premises such as hotels and some restaurants may serve alcohol. Do not expect a bar service or alcoholic drinks to be served in other than the larger hotels and please respect local sensibilities by avoiding drinking openly in public whilst in Lombok. Local coffee, tea, fruit juices, coconut juice and softdrinks (sodas) are normally readily available. Stay safe Try to keep off the roads at night and avoid travelling in the more remote areas on your own. Lock up your possessions and never leave your luggage or personal items unattended. Please see the main Lombok article for more details on health and safety. Contact South Lombok has varying terrain from urban townships to remote valleys beaches and coastal bays. Accordingly mobile telephonary varies from reasonable to patchy to non-existent. The towns and built up areas normally have reasonable to good coverage from the two main operators. Telkonsel is operated by Indonesia's Telkom. They provide GSM 2G and in some areas 3G reception and broadband wireless connections may be possible. XL comm also provides a wide coverage of 2G and in some areas 3G coverage. Telkom also provide a 2.5G CDMA service branded as "Flexi" throughout much of Lombok. Post office services are available in Mataram at the central post office. It may be prudent to use the the main office in Mataram at Jalan Sriwijarya, Mataram, ☎ +62 370 632645 if required. Post offices are described as Kantor Pos in Indonesia. Get out Mataram, including Sweta, Cacranegara, Historic Ampenan, Selaparang Airport West Lombok, including Batu Bolong, Lembar, Senggigi] beach, Mangsit beach, Klui beach and further to the north Tanjung Gili Islands North Lombok including Senaru, Mount Rinjani, Bayan Central and East Lombok including Tetebatu, Praya and Labuhan Lombok Sumbawa Bali Java Komodo Flores Singapore Malaysia Cope Hospitals Please see the Lombok main article for a more comprehensive list of medical facilities available in Mataram. Mataram Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umun), Jl. Pejanggik 6, Mataram, ☎ +62 370 638464. 24 hours UGD-Emergency room and admissions. The islands main public hospital with UGD (Unit Gawat Darurat)-Emergency treatment room, ICU and OR facilities, laboratorium, Specialist consulting rooms.  edit Medical clinics Klinik Risa (Risa Centra Medika Hospital), Jl. Pejanggik No.115, Cakranegara (just east of Mataram mall on the right hand side of the road), ☎ +62 370 625560. 24 hours Emergency room. Full hospital facilities available on site, specialist consulting rooms, Dentist.  edit Emergency service Ambulance In emergency dial - 118 The reality is that unless within the confines of the main city of Mataram/Ampenan/Cakranegara an ambulance is normally too far away to provide prompt transport in the case of a true emergency. Most often a taxi, police vehicle or a private car is used to get someone requiring urgent medical attention to a hospital. The ambulances in Lombok are more often used in the role of assisted patient transport rather than for first responder/paramedic supported emergency assistance and transport. This is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!