Lombok is known as halal destination in Indonesia. Moslem will feel convenient here as there are more than thousand of mosques here. The biggest mosque is Islamic Center. 

Islamic Center can be visited also by non Moslem, they can visit the 99 meters high tower and get a look at the surrounding area. From the peak of the tower, 99 meters high, you can see Mount Rinjani, the houses, and the sea. And for sure you can just see many mosques from here. 

For moslem, this Mosque is best place to be visited to Dzhuhur or Ashar or Magrib for prayer and also for panorama view.

Islamic Center was built in 2013, its minaret height, 99 m, was adopten from 99 names of Allah. Islamic center is the icon of Mataram City, and also the center of culture, religious activity, and art market. 

Batu Bolong Temple is located nearby the main road, you can stop by here enroute from Mataram to Senggigi. The Temple is located on the cliff, above rock with a hole or locally known as Batu Bolong.

The temple area can be visited for sunset area, though it is not as mesmerized as Tanah Lot Temple in Bali. Visitors can enter the temple area, yet must wear sash which is prepared already at the temple gate by paying IDR 20,000. Entering the temple or the worship area is prohibited. 

If you arrive at Tanjung Aan for a visit, do not miss to hike to Merese Hill. The hike will take about 30 menutes, but do not worry to be tired as you can stop by some nice panoramas on the way to the end of the hill.

From up the hill you can see the beauty of Tanjung Aan and Batu Payung. Some locals kids will follow you and offer taking picture for some tips. There are no trees on the hill, except one  tree which locals call it as Galau Tree. 

Narmada Park was built in the 1723 by Anak Agung Ngurah Karangasem who reigned Lombok Island in the past. Narmada name derives from the branch of Gangga river in India. This was built to worship and also as resting place for the king in dry season. 

Local hindu people in the past initially climb Mount Rinjani (3700 m)  to hold Pujawali ritual by giving offerings to gods. As the king got old, and could not again climb Mount Rinjani for Pujawali ritual, he then established this miniature of Mount Rinjani for him to pray. The core of the park is the pond , the symbol of Segare Anak lake the crater of Mount Rinjani.  Now the pond is used as public swimming pool.

Pura Lingsar is the biggest and the oldest temple in Lombok Island, built in the mid 18th Century by King Ketut Karangasem. In the temple complex there are 2 areas, temple for Hindu , Balinese beliefand praying area for Weku Telu Islam, the Sasak Tribe belief

The temple has Balinese Hindu architecture style, as it is built by Balinese king. There is a pond dedicated to Visnu where visitors can make a wish. by throwing coin to the pond. There is a sacred fish lives in the pond which shows itself when is called.

At the Weku Telu area, we can find bathing place which can be used for wudhu or cleaning one self before praying in Islam. 

This temple main event is perang topat  between Hindu and Weku Telu Islam. This ritual is held to show gratefulness to God. In this ritual both sides throwing ketupat (rice in coconut leaf) to each other. This is held rainy season. 

The name of the temple, Lingsar, derives from Ling, which means sound and Sar which means sound of water. This is related how the spring in the area found by an ulema. Until today the date when the spring found is commemorated annually by locals, every the seventh month of Sasak calendar. 

Both waterfalls, Benang Setokel and Benang Kelambu located nearby, administratively located in Lombok Tengah.

It takes about 1 hour walk from the village road to Benang Setokel Waterfall, passing rice field and forest. The waterfall’s height is about 30 meters. Benang Setokel has two waterfalls, and it has pool where you can swim. 

From Benang Setokel to Benang Kelambu you will need to walk about 1 KM, some route is very steep, especially when we almost reach the waterfall. There are some waterfalls her. The waterfall got its name  because of the shape of the fall which looks like kelambu or curtain. 

I saw a man making a beautiful crown out of fern which abundantly grow here. We could wear them and give some tips to him.

Waterfalls are nice to visit if you visit Lombok for quiet long time and you have visited some other destinations in Lombok. You can prepare one day trip for this waterfall tour. 

This beach is located about 2 hours from Senggigi beach area.  Actually there are 2 route to get to the beach, one via land which takes a little bit difficult drive through hilly route and the other one is driving from Mataram about 1,5 hours to Tanjung Luar pier or  2 hours from Senggigi area then proceed by 30 minutes sailing to the beach. 

It was not pink as what i saw on the internet though, the sand is kinda white to me. And it is beautiful and we can do various water activity there from snorkeling to just relaxing on the beach. If you are hungry, you can have lunch at some stalls at the beach selling various menus from the yummy plecing kangkung to noodles and seafood. 

You can even get a better view by walking to the hills. It is just about 20 minutes walk for a mesmerizing view of the beach and some atolls in the vicinity. And some cows owned by locals are grassing on the hill’s peak. 

On the way back to the pier we stop by at Gili Petelu, another islet with many fishes. You can do snorkeling here. 

Lombok is known for its beautiful beaches, diving sites, island hopping and Mount Rinjani hiking. Another good place to visit when you are visiting Lombok Island is its traditional village, Ende Village. 

Ende village is located about 2 hours from Senggigi beach area. Villagers here still preserve their tradition, from their daily activities of making the weavings, farming, and even its indigenous house. 

The house which is called as Bale Tani is usually small, about 10-15 sqm, made of wood, bamboo and grass roof. What is really interesting the the smell of cattle dung in the village. It turns out that they use to dung for flooring, as a glue of the soil. Usually after some months, the soil floor will crack and that is when the dung must be applied on the floor to make it smooth. The philosophy of this practice is to remain that as human which is embodied on the soil floor, they will return to mother Earth and as farmer they work hard which is embodied in the dung use. Usually man or husband sleeps outside, while inside the house is from woman and children. 

When the house is damages, it will be repaired by the community, and they work together hand in hand. One thing i find very interesting is the way the man of the village court a girl, not by proposing to the parents like most of the custom in Indonesia but by kidnapping the girl first. 

Sasak tribe are mostly farmer, they grow rice, corn and other vegetables. Currently only few villages still maintain the traditional house. Even though Sasak tribe are moslem, they still also practice their indigenous belief and tradition.

Often i pass this neighborhood and i notice that this kampung is special by the sign in front of the passageway. It says “Kampung Lawas Maspati” or can be translated as “Classical Kampong”. And only few weeks ago i get the opportunity to visit this kampong.

It is located nearby Heroes Monument (Tugu Pahlawan), and yes, it is located in the middle of metropolitan city of Surabaya. According to Mr. Sabar, the kampong headman and initiator of tourism activity here, says that the idea to name it with Kampong Lawas was due to the existence of the kampung since centuries ago. Roving along the passageway of the kampong we will find  some old houses and graves of Mbak Buyut Suruh and  Raden Karyo Sentono and wife. Mbah Buyut Suruh is the founder of  the kampong. The old age of the kampung can also be recognized from some old buildings fused among other new buildings, some of the old houses are abandoned and some still inhabited.

One of the old house here was a Tweede Inlandsce School, or elementary  school during Dutch colonial period, this school was established in villages to eradicate illiteracy. Some other old buildings here are: house of Raden Sumomiharjo and Asri Inn.

Kampong Maspati passageway is not only clean, yet it is also green of potted herb plants and some other plants. They plant: jelly plant, chilly, mahkota dewa, aloe vera  and many more. We approached a plant that we did not know, and the house owner came out and explain to us voluntarily. The locals are very friendly.

The kampong implements waste water management, the water from the process is used to water the plants.

And like other kampongs in Surabaya, you can enjoy sitting , we call it cangkruk, at Warkop (cafeteria) in the passageway. And if you want to try the jelly drink made from their garden produce is also available. It is convenient and feeling laid back sitting at the warkop there as passerby may not ride on their scooter ,  therefore must be pushed when entering the passage way of the kampong.

This day tour is not an adventure type. It is a one day rejuvenating odyssey and mingle in the local tradition like bathing at one of the oldest bathing place in Indonesia and as well relish the natural beauty of slope of Mount Penanggungan. And also roam at some historical sites (temple) among more than hundred found scattered on its slope.

Jolotundo Bathing Place

Itinerary:
Pick up at your hotel in Surabaya in the morning (08.00 AM) and then drive about 2  hours, to  slope of Mount Penanggungan to visit:  Jedong Temple,a temple which was built in the 14th Century, made of andesite , functioned as gate to free-tax area (Javanese: Sima or Perdikan) which has already existed since Old Mataram Kingdom in the 9th Century. Afterwards drive further to Candi Belahan, a bathing place built for King Airlangga of Kahuripan Kingdom with statue of Sri and Laksmi who cup her breast where the water sprout out.
Walk to a rice field located nearby the temple and then drive to PPLH Seloliman for lunch. Proceed Jolotundo Bathing Place, which was built in the 11th Century and its water believed to have virtue and scientifically the water has very high quality. Visit rice field nearby Jolotundo and stop by where you can see Mount Penanggungan and Mount Arjuna-Welirang line up. Return to Surabaya. ETA Surabaya: 17.00.

Include:
– Private Vehicle, Driver, Gasoline
– English Speaking Guide
– Entrance tickets and donation
– Lunch
– Mineral Water
– Parking/Toll
– Batik cloth (if you want to bath at the bathing place)

Exclude:
– Tipping
– Travel Insurance

What to bring:
– Towel

Find flights in Surabaya for your stay. 

Rice Terrace

Belahan Bathing Place