NEWS
ISSUE 45
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CELEBRATE RAMADHAN IN LOMBOK!
 Welcome to The Lombok Guide – Lombok's complete tourism paper and your guide to the best that the island has to offer. The Lombok Guide is published on Lombok every two weeks and contains valuable information for all visitors to our magical island.
As we go to print this issue, the whole of Indonesia is celebrating Hari Merdeka – Indonesian Independence Day. For the past month, school children have been practicing drumming and marching for the street parades that take place to celebrate 64 years of independence as a nation. See our special photo essay of Independence Day celebrations in Lombok on page 20.
By the time issue 45 hits the streets, the nation will have started Ramadhan or Bulan Puasa (the month of fasting). For the next month Muslim Indonesians across the archipelago will be abstaining from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset each day. The dates for the start of Ramadhan, which follows a lunar calendar, move backward by eleven days each year and this is the first time in 31 years that the holy fasting month begins in August, the middle of Lombok's high season.
While this may slow down activities during the day, visitors will still be met with the same friendly smiles of the locals and all the usual facilities and services in tourist areas will be operating as normal. Restaurants, bars and clubs are open for business, taxis are still running and the hotels are full, as Lombok enjoys one of its best tourism seasons in history.
Take advantage of the next month, as many locals will invite you to buka puasa (break the fast) with them at sunset… this is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal and the happiness of the season in local homes. To all our Muslim readers we wish you Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa!
To find out more, pick up a copy of The Lombok Guide from the locations listed on page 40 or visit www.thelombokguide.com and discover the magic of Lombok for yourself… like thousands of others, you'll be enchanted!
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GOLD MINING CONTROVERSY IN SOUTHWEST
The Jakara Post reports that West Lombok Regency administration is set to open gold mines in Seketong district that will have a community focus. The new policy is intended to curb illegal gold mining activities in the area and help to append the Regency's income in the future.
“We have requested a fixed mining zone from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. A team from the ministry is currently conducting a field survey in Sekotong district,” West Lombok Regent, Zaini Arony, told The Jakarta Post.
Based on analysis by the provincial mining, energy and mineral resource office, there is an estimated 1,395 tons of gold spread over a 20 hectare area in Sekotong. The amount is much bigger than the gold potential in West Sumbawa Regency, which is estimated to be around 390 tons, a part of which is currently being exploited by PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara on Sumbawa Island.
Zaini said his administration had drafted a local ordinance on mining regulating the zone division system to develop the potential. If the plan goes ahead, part of the mines will be managed by the public sector. The first zone, the community mining zone will involve the local community in mining management, while the second zone, the public mining zone will be managed between the private sector and Regency-owned companies.
To preserve the tourism potential of Sekotong, the Regency administration has also designed a third zone, also known as the tourism zone.
“The draft ordinance is being deliberated. Besides developing gold mining potential there, we will also preserve tourism resources, such as protecting a 1 km radius of the coast from mining activities, despite the presence of gold reserves,” said Zaini.
According to Zaini, the size of the mining zones would be based on analysis by the team from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry currently conducting the survey. Results from the survey will form the basis of the central government's plans to divide the mining zones.
The West Lombok Regency administration has been prompted to open the zoning system due to widespread illegal gold mining in Sekotong. Apart from not contributing anything to the regional income, the practice has damaged the environment and put the lives of illegal miners at risk. Illegal miners have been operating in Sekotong since the middle of last year. The regency administration recorded at least 4,000 illegal miners were operating there as of March this year.
They also use dangerous substances, such as mercury, which is harmful to the environment.
The local administration banned any type of mining activity through a Regency decree in April this year. However, there are still people openly engaged in the activity all along the southwest coast.
Zaini said the opening of gold mining coupled with a zoning system would contribute to the Regency's income as well as preserve the environment. He said the ministry had promised to provide training, such as mining techniques, to traditional miners in Sekotong.
“For the public mining zone, we will select private investors who intend to do business here,” Zaini said. He also said that so far three investors had expressed their interests in developing gold mining in Sekotong.
The original Jakarta Post article stated that people were still involved in mining “in a clandestine manner”.
However, as reported in issue 44 of The Lombok Guide, gold mining in the southwest has reached fever pitch with most village communities south of Lembar Harbour openly involved in mining and processing the gold. The people openly admit they are using mercury and other poisonous chemicals in processing. During our visits we have observed run off and contaminated water sitting in pools in villages and filling roadside drains. Concerned and interested parties should contact the West Lombok Regency (Bupati, Lombok Barat), ph: 681311 or 681677 – Ed.
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KOMODO DRAGONS TO STAY HOME, FOR NOW…
As reported on balidiscovery.com and in issue 44 of The Lombok Guide, plans by the Department of Forestry to move a sub-population of ten Komodos from West Flores to Bali has encountered strong resistance from Flores residents concerned that creating a large expatriate population of the world-famous largest monitor lizards would reduce the attractiveness of West Flores and Komodo as a tourist destination.
The Jakarta Globe has reported that the Forestry Ministry has reportedly put plans to move the dragons to Bali on hold, at least temporarily. The agreement to cancel the plan was revealed by East Nusa Tenggara's Governor, Lebu Raya, who told the National News Agency Antara that the Minister of Forestry had told him of a decision to axe the plan.
Rebutting Governor Raya's reporting on his conversation with the Minister, the Ministry later denied that any decision to permanently cancel the transfer of dragon had been made, saying they were only postponing the move until a later time to allow discussions with local stakeholders.
The Forestry Ministry denied plans to place the dragons on public display at a Bali animal park, insisting they were merely trying to establish a Bali breeding population of dragons for eventual replenishment of dwindling Komodo populations in the wild.
Bali's Governor, Made Mangku Pastika, also chimed in on the subject, telling beritabali.com that he would reject any plans to ship the 10 Komodos to Bali. Pastika said plans to diversity the genetic base of the lizards in Bali were not realistic, insisting that the wildlife icons were best left in Komodo and West Flores.
The Governor also confirmed to the press that he had yet to receive a formal request for the relocation of the Komodo for him to refuse.
Forestry officials responded to Pastika's threat to bar the shipment of Komodos to Bali by stating that the authority to approve or reject any decision to move Komodos to Bali did not rest with Bali's Governor.
Quoted in Kompas.com, the Director General of Forestry Preservation and Conservation from the Department of Forestry, Darori, said, “They have no right to refuse (the transfer) because this is not within their authority.” Daori said the right of his department to move populations of endangered animals to new habitats was granted under Law Number 5 of 1999 on conserving nature.
Darori insists the relocation of the reptiles is needed to widen the genetic diversity of the species, threatened with inbreeding in West Flores and eventual extinction.
A survey carried out by the Department of Forestry in 1991 counted 66 Komodos living outside the Komodo National Park in the Wae Wuul region. Another survey in 2008 counted only 17 Komodos in that region. Officials blame the decreased population on declining food sources, territorial conflicts with human populations, deforestation and illegal hunting.
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 The Holiday Resort in Mangsit has just finished upgrading its meeting and banquet room and is ready for bookings! The Berugaq Banquet Room offers a total area of 192 sqm and can accommodate up to 80 people. It is the perfect venue for meetings and conferences, or for private functions, with a beautiful location overlooking the swimming pool and beach, and down to the hotel's main Lobby entrance.
The room is fitted with audiovisual equipment, computer with email and hot spot internet services, and photocopies and printing facilities are available. Flexible room configurations enable organisers to adjust the size and shape of the meeting room according their needs. In addition, the Internet Lounge Corner is available 24 hours for in-house guests. Enjoy breaks in the small garden admiring the views or the stunning Mangsit sunsets in the late afternoon. www.holidayresort-lombok.com or ph: 0370 693444
Ever wondered what real Korean food tastes like? Ye Jeon Korean Restaurant, upstairs in the Senggigi Plaza (behind Happy Café), is Lombok's only Korean restaurant and serves delicious and authentic Korean food. They even import essential ingredients from Korea to maintain authenticity! Try the Bulgogi Bakban, Korean-style beef BBQ in tasty sauce, or Bibim Bab, a delicious steamed rice dish topped with assorted vegetables and beef, with fried egg on the top, served in a cast iron pot at the table. The menu also features Blue Crab cooked with prawns and cockles in a tasty vegetable soup, or fresh fish cooked at the table, and Gim Bab: a Korean-style sushi with different fillings. The restaurant is comfortable and airy, with a balcony for viewing the street scene and catching the cool breezes in the evenings. Try Ye Jeon for a delicious and unique dining experience! Ph: 0370 693059
Looking for the perfect gift or a lovely memento of your visit to Lombok? Look no further than House of Pearls, located in Senggigi Plaza next to Rumah Bunga Spa and Achi Acha Boutique. House of Pearls sells pearls, of course, but not the usual designs and types of pearls seen on the streets or in city shops. This jewellery boutique specialises in unique designs, often featuring coloured pearls or semi-precious stones such as amethyst, garnet, topaz and zircons. Choose from precious South Sea Pearls and local pearls from Lombok and Sumbawa, as well as freshwater pearls, in all colours and sizes. Both traditional and modern designs are available, in gold, silver and platinum settings. There's a wonderful range of earrings, bracelets, bangles and necklaces to tempt and dazzle… all at very reasonable prices! Ph: 0370 693124
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YACHTS RALLY FOR SAIL BUNAKEN
 More than 150 yachts and visiting warships, tall ships and other boats have gathered in Bunaken, North Sulawesi for the 2009 Sail Bunaken Rally.
The Sail Bunaken event is part of Sail Indonesia, a major annual yachting event with boats sailing in the Darwin to Kupang Rally, and then spending three months sailing through the Indonesian archipelago before heading onto sailing events in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
A wide range of yachts of all sizes and all types including monohulls, catamarans, and trimarans flying flags from many countries take part in Sail Indonesia, which left Darwin on 18 July. Participants are often sailing around the world.
Sail Bunaken took place between 12 – 20 August in Bitung and Manado, in North Sulawesi. The week-long event, which attracted not just the Sail Indonesia yachts but also boats from around the world, featured diving and fishing competitions, a huge trade and product expo, and cultural performances from around Sulawesi. Activities included the “Indonesian Fleet Review 2009”, consisting of a sailing pass parade by warships, traditional ships, state ships, tall ships and yachts. Six warships from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Britain, and another 19 Indonesian warships, anchored at Bitung port and took part.
The 6th International Big Game Fishing Competition, a team fishing competition with participants from national and international fishing teams, saw participants competing for the Kasal Cup and total prize money of 380 million rupiah.
Bunaken Island, just offshore from Manado, is world famous as a diving destination and the underwater world was featured in the PB POSSI 2009 National Diving Competition and also in the Underwater Photography Contest. On 17 August, approximately 1250 divers from diving clubs, POSSI and the Indonesian Navy took place in an Underwater National Flag Hoisting event to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day and attempted to break the world diving record.
Ministry official, Firmansyah, said that all incoming flights and hotels in Manado were fully booked, as domestic and international tourists flooded into the city for what was billed as the world's largest maritime event of the 21st century.
Sail Bunaken, funded by the government to the tune of Rp 30 billion (US $3 million), is part of local attempts to establish Manado as an international tourist destination to rival the resort island of Bali.
Yachts participating in the Sail Indonesia Rally left Bitung on 20 August, sailing to Flores and ports to the east. The fleet will arrive in Lombok between 24 – 28 September.
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LOCAL FLAVOUR… COCO BEACH WAROENG
Picture shady berugaks (bales) on the beachfront, palm trees overhead and the sound of the waves just metres away… imagine laying back on the cushions, sipping a fresh fruit cocktail and nibbling on tasty savoury fritters dipped in a tangy sauce… this is Coco Beach Waroeng.
Located right on the beachfront at Kerandangan, just two minutes north of Senggigi, Coco Beach offers an alternative dining experience in a relaxed natural setting. Part owner and cook, Ibu Vivira, is a student of traditional herbal medicine (jamu) and brings the herbal philosophy to the kitchen. To the rear of the property are large gardens filled with herbs and vegetables – tomatoes, broccoli, eggplants, carrots and radish alongside clumps of lemongrass, parsley, oregano, mint and thyme fill the neat rows. All vegetables and herbs are grown organically, using compost from the kitchen and natural pesticides made from the local Neem trees. The result is super fresh salads and vegetables, and herbal teas and fresh juices bursting with nutritious flavour.
In the kitchen, there are no bottles of sauces or packets of spices; all sauces, curries and seasonings are created from fresh herbs and spices, mixing and blending by hand in the traditional manner. Sample delicious Kare Ayam (rich chicken curry made with a blend of Indian and Indonesian spices), fresh fish barbecued with bumbu kuning (blended yellow spices), or choose squid or prawns prepared in a variety of tasty styles.
Vegetarians are well catered for with a large selection of entrees and mains featuring fresh vegetables and tofu, blended with herbs and seasonings to create different dishes. The popular local dish of kare daun singkong uses the young leaves of the tapioca plant, cooked in coconut cream and spices; the flavour is mouthwatering. Snacks such as bakwan sayur are tasty fritters made from finely sliced vegetables and spices, deep fried until crispy and served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. Tangy bruschetta is made with tomatoes and fresh basil from the garden, olives and rucolla… delicious with a glass of beer or wine.
Even the cocktails at Coco Beach are healthy, with mojitos made using fresh mint from the garden or try the Magic Nenas with rum and fresh pineapple juice. There is a wide selection of fresh juices and other drinks available, but it is the specialty herbal teas and drinks that set this warung apart from the norm.
Jamu, or herbal medicine, has a long tradition in Indonesia with leaves, bark, roots and whole plants being used to create effective remedies for all kinds of ailments. The “Health Drinks” menu features no less than eight healthy and healing drinks, which are amazingly delicious and taste nothing like medicine! For a boost, try the Bandrek made from ginger, lemongrass, cinnamon and other spices. The blend is traditionally used to improve blood circulation and to stave off colds and flu. There are also special drinks specifically for men or women, teas to stimulate the liver and digestion, to boost the immune system, and to cure fevers and heartburn. Naturally, none of these come from packages!
Coco Beach Waroeng is open every day from noon until 10pm. Great for lunch under the shady palms or a peaceful dinner under the stars… perfect in the late afternoon for cocktails and healthy snacks while watching the sublime Lombok sunsets from the beachfront berugaks.
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LOCAL SCENE
The Sheraton Senggigi Resort and Santosa Villas & Resort celebrated
Independence Day with games and competitions for staff & guests
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WELCOME TO MY PARADISE!
 Steven and Coconut Trees are one of Indonesia's most popular bands and are probably best known for their hit song, “Welcome to My Paradise!”
We caught up with Steven and the guys recently when they played a special gig at Rumah Makan Nusantara. The impromptu concert on Friday, 7 August was performed for friends and fans during the band's one week visit to Lombok and was sponsored by Sama Sama Restaurant and Bar on Gili Trawangan.
Also performing at the gig was popular Lombok singer/songwriter, Richard D'Gilis, who sang his local hit, “Gili Trawangan” which starts with the amusing lines of “Gili Trawangan tidak ada polusi dan tidak ada polisi… (Gili Trawangan doesn't have pollution and doesn't have police…)”
We sat with Steven and the guys at RM Nusantara, who were happy to take part in the impromptu interview below:
TLG: It's good to see you back on Lombok again so quickly, guys. You played out on Gili Trawangan only a couple of weeks ago for the Sama Sama birthday celebration, didn't you?
STEVEN: Yes, we love Lombok and love playing here. We had the opportunity to play at the Sama Sama Birthday Party with Richard D'Gilis and S2B… it's always a lot of fun playing with them!
TLG: So what brings you back to Lombok so soon?
SCT: We went back to Jakarta after the Sama Sama gig and now we are here for a week to do concerts in Sumbawa and Lombok. The Sumbawa show on 1 August was great, with about 1000 fans at the concert! It's so hot in Sumbawa, though, we call it the island of 17 suns! But the fans there all know our songs and it's exciting to see so many people coming to hear us play! We're really looking forward to our Mataram concert tomorrow night at Lapangan Bola Selagalas… we have lots of fans in Lombok and Richard is well-known here too!
TLG: You all seem to really enjoy playing together. How long has the band been together?
STEVEN: We've been playing together as Steven and Coconut Trees since 2004, but we all knew each other from playing in different bands on the music scene in Jakarta, so we just got together and started playing… “No – Steven kidnapped us!” (the rest of the band shouted).
TLG: Your biggest hit so far has been “Welcome to My Paradise”. We often use the song when we're promoting Lombok…
STEVEN: That's okay – the song is about Lombok! I started writing it in 2004 when we were staying out on Gili Trawangan, so the song really is about Gili T but it applies to Lombok as well.
TLG: It's a great song! So, do you really think Lombok is paradise?
SCT: Yes, we all love Lombok! We really love Gili T for parties and it's fun to hang out and play at Sama Sama. We also really like Gili Meno to chill out, lay back and enjoy the peace. It's good for writing…
TLG: Does that mean Lombok is your favourite place?
SCT: We tour all around Indonesia, including Bali, but Lombok is the best! It has so many beautiful views and beaches, it makes a good inspiration for our songs and it's good for renewing our spirits when we've been touring for a long time.
TLG: Thanks guys, you've been great and good luck with your concert tomorrow night!
SCT: Thanks for talking to us and make sure you send us a copy of your story! And thanks to Demo and RM Nusantara for having us here. Time to get on stage!
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GILI BYTES
Continuing their tradition of continuously upgrading to bigger and better, The Beach House has just finished building a new bakery within their premises on Gili T. The bakery employs local bakers, pastry cooks and a talented lady named Lia, who formerly worked for Singapore Hotels and who specialises in creating out-of-this-world desserts. The bakery operates 18 hours a day and freshly baked breads, dinner rolls, baguettes, croissants, buns and scones are available at The Beach House and ko – ko – mo restaurants. For truly lip-smacking desserts, try the White Chocolate Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse, Crème Brulee, or the totally decadent Chocolate Fallen Cake… heavenly! www.beachhousegilit.com
Pesona Resort, best known for fabulous and authentic Indian cuisine, is currently adding another six rooms to its resort… more than doubling its accommodation options on Gili T. In addition to the six new rooms, Pesona is building a new 3 bedroom villa which can either be rented in entirety or as three separate rooms… taking the total number of new rooms to nine. Good news for those who want to stay at this peaceful resort, lounging on the cushions with sheesha on the beachfront. Ph: 0370 6607233 / pesonaresort@hotmail.com
The recently opened Gili T Resort, opposite The Terminal Restaurant and Bar at the Jetty on Gili T, is doing great business during high season and pushing forward with plans to build more rooms to meet demand. Unlike other beachfront hotels and resorts, Gili T Resort has positioned its large swimming pool and smaller children's pool at the rear of its property, providing a peaceful and private spot for guests to swim and sunbathe in comfort, away from the throngs of Sentral. The new rooms will also be built at the rear, with each either fronting onto or overlooking the swimming pool and surrounding sundeck. The old Borobudur Restaurant has undergone a fabulous transformation! Ph: 0370 638513 / www.gilitresort.com
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REAL LOCAL FOOD ON GILI T!
 It's a strange fact that it is sometimes so hard to find authentic Indonesian food in Indonesia! Restaurants too often “water down” local dishes, thinking it will suit the palates of tourists, when in fact many western visitors are keen to try local foods. I can't count the number of times I've been served tasteless fried rice parading as nasi goreng in Lombok's restaurants!
Warung Indonesia, newly opened in the village on Gili T, has changed the rules and instead offers really tasty and authentic local foods and, judging from the number of guests eating there when we visited, is on a winner!
The warung is located slightly inland from the main strip – obviously the beachfront rents are too high for a warung selling delicious, top-value meals for around Rp 20 000. To get there, follow the road inland alongside Buddha Dive for about 500 metres until you reach the sign for Eky Losman. Turn right at the sign and Warung Indonesia is just on the right hand side of the road, almost opposite Rumah Hantu Homestay.
and there's a small garden area at the rear with couches for relaxing nearby. But it's the food that makes Warung Indonesia special and there is plenty to choose from!
A serving area on the right displays foods that are usually found in most local warungs – crispy Fried Chicken, tasty Beef Rendang, Tempe Goreng (crunchy tofu strips fried with sweet soy and a touch of chilli), Sambal Goreng Telur (boiled eggs in mild tangy sauce) and more. Choose per piece or order the popular Nasi Campur (mixed rice) which contains a portion of everything… delicious and filling for just Rp 20 000.
Also available are Soto Ayam (a tasty chicken soup filled with shredded chicken, noodles, boiled egg, spices and chives), Soup Buntut (traditional chunky oxtail soup, the meat falling from the bones and full of flavour, served with rice), Ikan or Ayam Goreng Lalapan (fried fish or chicken, served with rice and a fresh salad of crunchy cabbage, snake beans, cucumber and eggplant with spicy sambal sauce) and more. All meals range between Rp 15 000 and Rp 20 000.
Cold drinks and fresh juices (Rp 7000) are available or try some of the traditional Indonesian drinks, such as Es Campur, Es Kacang Ijo or Es Teler (shaved ice with a variety of sweet flavourings, fresh fruits, pieces of fermented tapioca or red beans and more) all priced at Rp 6000 each. A small table on the right of the warung displays large glass jars filled with all the brightly coloured ingredients… sample a traditional blend or choose your own! Falling somewhere between a drink and a dessert, these “ices” are wonderfully refreshing on a hot day!
Unlike many local warungs, Warung Indonesia is spotlessly clean and hygienic. All drinks and ice are made from bottled water, all foods are freshly prepared on the premises and – best of all – no MSG is used in cooking!
Local foods don't necessarily have to be fiery hot; at Warung Indonesia herbs and spices are blended to create tasty dishes and sambals (spicy chilli sauces or pastes) are served on the side for those who like it hot! On an island that offers cuisines ranging from authentic Indian and Japanese, to Asian Fusion and Italian, it's good to see that someone is finally offering authentic and delicious Indonesian food!
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