ROTE ISLAND

Rote Island is a part of Kupang Regency and is the southernmost island of Indonesia. It is located in the west coast of Kupang. This exotic island can be reached only in four hours. From Kupang by inter-island ferry to dive and tour this untouched beautifully rugged land. The hills, valleys, and escarpments are mirrored underwater by spectacular walls and caverns. The marine life is so varied and profuse that is is hard to believe from Fire-fish to Mantas. The architecture of Rote is unique, as is their exquisite ikat weaving. See the people is their traditional lifestyle which has remained unchanged for centuries. Rote has many historical relies including fine antique Chinese porcelains, as well as ancient arts and traditions. Many prominent Indonesia nationalist leaders were born here. A popular music instrument is the Sasando, which is made of palm leaves. According to legend, this island got it’s name accidentally when a lost Portuguese sailors arrived and asked a farmer where he was. The surprised farmer, not speaking Portuguese introduced himself, “Rote”. Rote just off the southern tip of Timor island, consists of rolling hills, terraced plantations, palm of acacia, savanna and some forests. The rotinese depend, like the Savunese, on the lontar palm for basic survival, but also. supplement their income with fishing and jewerly making. Before Indonesia’s Independence, Rote, boasted the highest density of kingdom in the East Indies. Even today the island, the Rotenese and their kingdoms are divided, following ancient tradition, into two domains. One known as Sunrise and one as Sunset. The domain is ruled by a “male” Lord a “female” Lord and several advisers, representing the clans within that domain. Each clan that possesses ceremonial rights performs it’s own rituals during the annual HUS celebration, a traditional New Year festival. At the HUS, Rotenese men wearing their unique hats make offerings to the clan ancestors and the women dance accompanied by sasando, The Rotenese guitar.

KOMODO ISLAND

A small island of 280 square km, Komodo is located between Sumbawa and Flores islands. It is famous for its giant lizards, considered the last of their kind remaining in the world today, the Komodo dragon. Called “ora” by the local people, Komodo “Dragon” (Varanus Komodoensis) is actually a giant monitor lizard. Growing up to 3 to 4 meters in length, its ancestors roamed the earth up to about half a million years ago. Komodo live on goats, deer, and even the carcasses of its own kind. The only human population on the island is at the fishing village called Komodo who supplement their income-breeding goats, which are used to feed the lizards. The Komodo had protected by the law and although they are considered harmless, it is advisable to keep them at a distance. Komodo Island is now a nature reserve, home to a number of rare bird species, deer, and wild pigs, which are prey to the lizards as well. To see the lizards in the daytime, baits have to be set in the hinterland where local guides are necessary. The sea surrounding the island offers vistas of sea life, crystal clear waters, and white sandy beaches. The only accommodation available is in simple guesthouses in the fishing village. It is advisable to carry food supplies. The best time to visit the island is between March and June, and between October and December. Komodo is accessible from the sea only. Fly to Labuan Bajo, from where it is about 3-4 hours by boat to the island.

KELIMUTU MOUNTAIN

East Nusa Tenggara’s most-visited natural wonder and one of Indonesia’s most mysterious and dramatic sights, is found on the top of Kelimutu Mountain, some 66 kms from Ende or around 83 kms from Maumere. The three colour lakes on Kelimutu Mountain not only a major tourist attraction, but the stuff of myth and legends. The colours of the lakes have continuously changed from its first discovered, and there is local belief that if young people die the soul will occupy one of the lakes, and the other lake is for the souls of elderly people, and the last one with most dark colour is for the souls of the thieves and murderers. Discover this interesting sight and find your understanding about the three colour lakes either mythological or scientifically.

RED BEACH

Red Beach or Pantai Merah is a main station and old dragon feeding are located. Pantai Merah extend from surface down to 20 plus meters and is richly adorned in all manner of colorful sea life. Pantai Merah represents a trantition between tropical and temperate water habitats, north and south, and with fabulous fish and corals is a good introduction to Komodo.Snorkelling here is excellent over a healthy shallow reef. Diving is at the sloping reef edge where the bottom drops down to 25 metres. Half way along the beach front is the best spot, where the reef slope gives way to a more abrupt wall with lots of green branching cup corals and stinging hydroids. Thousands of fish of every colour and shape are here including yellow damsels, regal angelfish, checkerboard wrasse, masked unicornfish and schooling reef fish such as striped fusiliers, against a beautiful backdrop of acripora corals, gorgonian fans and sponges. Frogfish also hang around the wall, blending in colourfully with their host sponge and surrounds. Mantis shrimps are always in attendance with their housekeeping as they remove rock from their burrows. Their darting bulbous eyes are thought to be the most complex in nature, and they can strike prey with a crustacean karate chop from its claw, hard enough to crack a pane of glass. Other common residents on the rubble and sand substrate are crocodilefish, shrimp gobies and burrowing jawfish, protecting their broods of eggs in their agape mouths.

NARMADA PARK

Narmada Park, Lombok or Taman Narmada as it is also known as in Indonesia, is one of the most famous tourists’ attractions of Lombok. The miniature replica of the summit of Gunung Rinjani and its Crater Lake, Narmada Park, Lombok, derives its name from the Indian River Narmada. There is a temple inside the park known as Pura Kalasa, which is still used for the annual celebration of Balinese Pujawali. 11 kilometers east of Mataram, Narmada Park, Lombok, was built by King Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Karang Asem in 1727. Besides spending a few hours in this beautiful garden in peace one can also worship the divine Hindu god, Lord Shiva here. There is a big pool representing the Crater Lake on the volcano Rinjani. Due to its height of 3,726 m, it became difficult for the king to make the pilgrimage. So he made Segara Anakan at Narmada to represent the mountains and the lake. Near the pool there is a spring whose water is believed to give eternal youth to all the dedicated pilgrims. There is also a fountain in this park known as Youth Fountain. Whose water is believed to give long life to those who drink this water will full faith and dedication towards lord Shiva.

BATU BOLONG BEACH

Located 9 km from downtown Mataram, this beach has a huge rock with a hole in it. It is an ideal place which to see the majestic sunset from Lombok Strait. After sunbathing, relaxing and frolicking on this beautiful beach-front, try to stay till the end of the day to watch one of the most stunning sunsets you have ever seen when the sun slowly begins to disappear behind Mount Agung with incredibly flaming colors. A Hindu temple lies on top facing the Lombok Strait and beyond is the contour of majestic Mount Agung of Bali. Colorful and musical religious ceremonies are often held in this beautiful temple. At the tip is an empty chair representing Brahma, the god of creation. Free entry, but you’ll have to loan a sash (Rp.5,000 a throw) from one of the urchins if you dont have one already. Sunsets seen from here can be very impressive.

SENGGIGI BEACH

South from The Oberoi, the road winds over steep hills and through traditional seaside villages before arriving at Senggigi, a long, curved beach, with a panoramic view, splendid coconut groves and colourful catamarans. Developed for tourism, the area is always a little busy. Handicraft shops, traditional, and non-traditional restaurants.Senggigi is the large bay that forms the center of Senggigi, with the main road running parrarel to the beach, and large resorts occupying the space between. The beach provides picturesque views of Bali’s Agung Mountain to the west and stunning sunsets with the volacano silhouetted on the horizon. The resort area about 10 Kilometers north of Ampenan, and about 20 minutes drive from the Lombok international Airport. Nowhere near as large or as busy as its Bali conterparts, Senggigi is a great base for exploring the rest of the island. The pace is very laid back, with activities centered around the beaches and day trips to places of interest, which are all with in ferw hours drive from the town. At night dine in the many restaurants catering to all tastest and budgets, listen the live music at the cafes or Bars or dance the night away at the night clubs.

MOUNT RINJANI

Mount Rinjani or Gunung Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia on the island of Lombok. It rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making it the third highest volcano in Indonesia, and similar in height to Mount Fuji. The first historical eruption occurred in September 1847. The most recent eruption of Mount Rinjani was on 10 May 2009. The volcano had started erupting again on 27 April 2009, and the mountain was closed as the eruptions intensified with plumes of smoke and ash as high as 8,000 m.The 6 km by 8.5 km oval-shaped caldera is filled partially by a crater lake known as Segara Anak (’Child of the Sea’) and is approximately 2000m above sea level and estimated at being around 200m deep)he 6 kthe caldera also contains hot springs. The eruptions of 1994, 1995, and 1996 have formed a small cone, Gunung Baru (or ‘New Mountain’ – approximately 2300m above sea level) in the center of the caldera and lava flows from these eruptions have entered the lake. This cone has since been renamed Mount Barujari (or ‘New Finger’). The highlands are forest clad and mostly underdeveloped. The lowlands are highly cultivated. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, and vanilla are the major crops grown in the fertile soils of the island. The volcano and the caldera are protected by a national park established in 1997. Tourism is increasingly popular
with trekkers able to visit the rim, make their way into the caldera or even to make the more arduous climb to the highest point; fatalities, however, are not uncommon. As of July 2009 the summit route was closed due to volcanic activity.

SENARU / SENDANG GILE WATERFALL

On the lower slopes of Gunung Rinjani, Senaru village is braced by cool refreshing air. From here you will rewarded with views of Mt. Rinjani to the south and views of the ocean to the west. Once a secluded mountain settlement sheltered from the outside world, this village with its traditional style homes is fast becoming a tourist’s escape from the heat of the coastal regions. Sendang gile is the place where the water comes straight off one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia. It is considered to provide some of the purest and freshest water in Indonesia. A soft trek for approximately 30-40 minutes, you will find Tiu Kelep waterfall. Here you can rest and swim in the cool waters of the pool formed by the waterfall.