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THE BEST IN LOMBOK
- With Valentine's day coming up, now is the time to show that special person in your life how much you care. And for the men who always forget Valentine's Day, now there's no excuse! In this edition of What's Hot! We bring you easy gift ideas close to Senggigi to surprise your special lady!
- Ladies love clothes and both Ciokolata (next to Senggigi Jaya Supermarket) Jo je Boutique (next to Lian Senggigi in Batu Bolong) have a great range of fashions that are popular with Lombok ladies. Surprise your sweetheart by taking her shopping at either boutique and let her chosee whatever she likes. The low prices wont break your budget! Or take the sales staff about a gift voucher, so she can choose her own gift later. Ciokolata also has a lovely selection of precious Autore pearls if you want to surprise her with something very special.
- If your budget doesn't run to Autore pearls, you can still find a beautiful and lasting gift she'll treasure at House of Pearls in Senggigi Plaza (in the far corner, next to Rumah Bunga Spa). Classic pearl necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings are available featuring a wonderful range of fresh water and salt-water pearls. For the modern women, there's fabulous selection of designs using combinations of pearls and gemstones in stylish setting made from gold, chrome and silver. The friendly sales staff will help you with your choice.
- Karyana Gallery, on the main street near Happy Café, has a good selection of gift ideas that she'll be sure to love. Apart from featuring the great artwork of local painter, Karyana, the gallery sells lovely candle-holders, an interesting selection of fashion jewellery, cushions, embroidered sarongs, wall hangings and other unique collectibles from around the island.
- Lastly, the Korean gift Shop, downstairs from Ye Jeon Korean Restaurant in Senggigi Plaza, has a huge range of gifts and home-wares. Everything from photo frames to scented oils, wooden boxes and mirrors and much, much more. They also sell the best range of scented and decorative candles in Lombok…to help you set the romantic mood!
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BAU NYALE 14 FEBRUARY 2009
One of Lombok's most famous and unique festivals, Bau Nyale, occurs every year when the weather, marine and seasonal conditions combine with local legend and thousands of people gather on the southern beaches to celebrate the event.
Nyale are a rare type of sea worm that spawn in yhe warm waters around Indonesia at particular times every year, when the tides and weather conditions are right. According to local tradition, the worst of the monsoon rains cease after the Bau Nyale festival and conditions are right for rice growing and agricultural activities on the island.
Bau Nyale, or the Nyale festival, takes place every year in the tenth month of the Sasak calendar, and will be celebrated this year from 11 to 15 February on the south coast. Perhaps the most famous site for celebrating Bau Nyale is at beautiful Seger Beach in Kuta; an area called Putri Nyale (Princess Nyale) by the people of Lombok. Celebrations are also held at other beaches around Kuta,including Selong Belanak and Kaliantan Beach the eastern side of Awang Bay.
In the lead-up to Bau Nyale, this year's events will commence on 11 February in Kuta with Peresean performances every day. Peresean, or stick fighting, is a traditional sport in which two muscled competitors pit their strength and wits against each other, using heavy sticks to strike at each other's bodies and shields made from toughened cow hide to prevent the other from striking a blow. Contestants train for years to hone their skills, often returning from fights with bruised bodies covered in red welts. It's a genuine fight, accompanied by much enthusiastic encouragement fro the crowd. A referee is on hand to make sure things are kept fair and don't get out of hand.
The main Bau Nyale festival will take place on Saturday, 14 February - an have unusual way to spend Valentine's Day, if you are so inclined! On Saturday evening huge crowds will gather on the beach to watch the celebrations, which traditional include a parade with this year's Princess Mandalika – a legendary Lombok Princess who is believed to have thrown her body into the sea near Putri Nyale, and thus was transformed into Nyale traditional dance and theatre performances, local music, and fun activities.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, when the first nyale appear, a dukun (local priest) will wade into the ocean and foretell the conditions for the coming year, and whether to expect good or bad harvests. Thousands of spectators will then splash into the sea to catch the Nyale worms. Which are considered a delicacy by the local people.
Bau Nyale is a unique event, interwoven with fascinating traditions and legends, which attracts visitors from afar every year. If you are planning a trip to Lombok, head to Kuta for the weekend and join in the celebrations. Everyone is welcome!
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