[PART 2] Doing Charity While Travelling in Lombok, Indonesia

July 12, 2020 by p-halim

Continued from https://people.utm.my/halim/part-1-doing-charity-while-travelling-in-lombok-indonesia/

We then went on with our journey to Kuta Beach Lombok. When we heard about this place, we were instantly reminded of the famous beach in Bali that shares the same name. Kuta Beach in Lombok is just as beautiful as its counterpart in Bali that is famous for its clean, white sandy beaches. In Kuta Beach Lombok, we were treated with beautiful coral reef and an amazing view of the ocean. This beach is situated in the southern part of Lombok where the Bau Nyale Festival is held. The word “Bau” comes from the Sasak language, which means “to catch”, while the word “Nyale” means “sea worm” that lives in rock holes under the sea surface. Hence, the Bau Nyale ceremony is a sea worm hunting festival at the beach that is usually held once a year, around February or March. We spent about half an hour taking photos and enjoying the view at the beach. Some locals selling various souvenirs approached us as well. Since some of them were earthquake victims, we felt sympathy for them and bought some souvenirs in the hope that it would lessen their burden.

Our final destination on the second day was the Sasak village. The Sasak clan represents 80% of the whole Lombok population, which is 3.35 million people based on the 2014 Census. As we stepped foot in this village, we noticed that their lifestyle was very basic. We could see that every house was built with wood and bamboo, with roofs being made of straw. Interestingly, the floor was built by mixing clay and cow dung. When we entered one of the houses, it was surprisingly cooling despite the scorching heat outside. There was no unpleasant odour either. Before we left, we bought some handicraft made by the Sasak women in the village.

To be continued…