Local tradition of Bau Nyale which is usually holding annually takes place on upcoming February, 12. In this day local people are catching marine worms in the morning. It has been tradition of local fishermen in the southern Lombok as it has including to tourism calendar of this island. In East Lombok Regency, Bau Nyale takes place in Kaliantan Beach. Here it had prepared cultural festival and traditional sport of Sasak along the day until the dark. In Central Lombok regency, this tradition holds in Aan Cape and Selong Belanak beach.

In Aan Cape you can watch perisaian attraction that performing a fight using rattan sticks and goat skin shield. It has been set up as the central of the occasion while it began by Mandalika princess election in Central Lombok area. It also performed colossal dance of Mandalika Princess. Bau Nyale is existed in 16 beaches that stretching around 72 kilometers to the western side of southern Central Lombok. The main occasion holds in Seger beach and its surroundings. The potential tourism object takes place in West Nusa Tenggara. The beauty of this beach is attracting tourists to stay longer there.

The waters are stretching around Kuta beach and the beach of Aan Cape as it is fitted for swimming. This beach placed in the southern side of Lombok Island, about 54 kilometers to the south eastern side of Mataram city. Its tranquil atmosphere completed by pepper white sands with tens tourist destinations. It began by Ujung Kelor beach in the border of East Lombok until Pengantap Beach in the West Lombok. The Head of Cultural and Tourism Department West Nusa Tenggara Lalu Gita Ariyadi explained Bau Nyale tradition preparation on Wednesday noon (3/2). “This event is getting the support of Tourism Ministry due to it is core event,” said Gita.

Bau Nyale tradition holds on the date of 20th and tenth month in accord with Sasak calendar. Bau Nyale is coming from ‘Bau’ word in Sasak language that means ‘catching’ while ‘Nyale’ word means marine worms that living in the reef’s hole underwater. Local people believes Nyale bringing prosperity for ones who appreciated them but it is bringing bad luck for those who underestimated them.

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The Head of Social Bhakti Mulia group Mulia S. Widjanarko said there are three monasteries in Mataram area. The oldest one is Po Hwas Kong Monastery or Bodhi Dharma which built before 1800. It has ever renovated in 1908. It takes place around the former of Ampenan Harbor. Later New Year celebration also holds in Kwan Im Monastery in Sweta-Selag Alas, Kong Tek Monastery in Sweta and Ji Lai Hut Monastery in Rajawali Cakranegara Street.

According to tradition, Chinese people are celebrating New Year with their families in their home. “We are praying to God (Thien) and our ancestors,” said Widjanarko, a Chinese descent people from Guang Dong tribe but he was born in Banyuwangi. In Mataram there are around 10,000 Chinese descent people who also had other religions such as Catholic and Protestant.

Each family in this day is preparing any kinds of plantation, fruits and cakes for the celebration. The plantations are cane which is being peaceful sign, apple which is being safety wishes, orange which signed achieved wishes, peanut which means children (one peanut contains more than one seed), blooming cup cakes which signed development and ku cake colored red which means family united and a long life. It is added by fresh alive flowers that mean peaceful and scent. There is also rice in some packages that shared to bring home then it will mix with the rice stocks in home to signing blessing.

Praying ceremony in Bodhi Dharma monastery will hold at midnight. There is also paid vow (locally called ‘ujar ujar’). If the wishes succeeded, the prayer should contribute for charity next year. In this monastery each Buddhist believer will get Hu paper colored yellow with black writing that believed as bad luck repellent. There is also ang pao giving from parents to their children. “It taught us to serve parents and receiving some money as the balance in accord with our sincerity.”

There are 90 persons as the descent of Hakka tribe, 200 persons as the decent of Hok Kian tribe and 95 persons as the descent of Guang Dong tribe. Elders aged more than 70 years were getting angpao. In Mataram there are much Chinese descent tribes but some biggest tribes are Hakka, Hok Kian and Guang Dong.

Massive Imlek (Chinese New Year) celebration will hold with state officers and religion figures on Sunday, 29 January 2012. Imlek celebration then will closed by Cap Go Meh celebration on February 6, 2012. “This event will be centered in Ampenan,” said Widjanarko. Days ago Social Bhakti Mulia group had held free medical treatment and charity event in fishermen residence such as Bintaro Jaya complex, Pondok Perasi, Telaga Mas, Bugis Village, Denda Saleh and Melayu Bangsal. Each complex is getting 300 kilograms of rice and 20 packages of instant noodle for 100 persons.

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On Saturday (14 January 2012) noon, KLU Regent Johan Syamsu and Main Director of PT SAI Syauki signed memorandum in subdistrict of Gangga KLU. In the first three months, PT SAI will have a research to decide the water systems would use later. The water systems divide into sea water distillation or fresh water streaming from Lombok land through underwater pipe. All of the systems are depending on people need but it is more efficient if we are using underwater pipe. “We are using this method to avoid its waste but it will also manage hotel waste to reuse,” said Syauki.
By providing freshwater installation, Syauki explained it may need about Rp50 billion investment under osmosis technology. PT SAI had experiences in providing freshwater in Fantasy Island Batam that lies between Batam Island and Singapore.

North Lombok Regent Johan Syamsu explained freshwater provision urged to fulfill tourist need. Annually Lombok visited by around 300,000 people while each person needs 100-200 liters water per day (0,1-0,2 cubic meter). Here there are 5,000 rooms in which 60% of them owned by local people. Vice Regent KLU Najmul Ahyar mentioned daily there are 1,300 tourists who were coming to the three Gili islands. The original regional income that coming from tourism sector of North Lombok is receiving 70% from the total income of Rp25 billion gained by North Lombok.

Three Gili Islands are offering Gili Matra that has 25 diving spots including Sunset Point and Shark Point in the western side of Trawangan and Haliks. Here there are a lot of reef fishes. If you are diving at Shark Point, there are sharks, squids and turtles as its height reaching 75 meters.

Gili Matra Village headman Haji Moh. Taufik explained the total of local people in this tourism area reaches 1,544 persons in Gili Trawangan, 546 persons in Gili Meno and 1,538 persons in Gili Air. Gili Trawangan which is being superior choice of the tourists now had filled by residences and hotels for 60% while the rest of 40% is an empty land for park.

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This conservation effort initiated by Environment Department of a mining company that mining green stone in Jereweh Subdistrict since July 2000. MTCC is the additional tourism object after Maluk Beach destination built by costing 250 million rupiah. There are 10 resting places in the edge of the beach and six stalls. There are also volley beach field and play ground priced Rp45 million. It is including toilet, bathroom and water spout.

According to Herman Taha, turtle conservation relied on the turtle eggs supply from local fishermen who getting them on any locations such as Balas Beach in front of Maluk and Talonang Beach in Residential 3 Transmigration in Talonang. “We are exchanging the turtle eggs with instant noodle and rice,” said Herman Taha last Thursday. A turtle egg priced Rp4,000.

The turtle egg rescue also has been said for balancing its selling in the market. Without mentioning its amount, Herman said each day there is a ten percent of turtle egg discovery in the beach that sold in the market. Now half of them can save through this conservation. Costing this rescue process, YPB is getting the subsidy from the mining company. This year the maintenance costing Rp175 million as it is using for hiring the three staffs of YPB and keeping the young turtles. The turtle’s food is six kilograms of little fishes twice a day.

During this time, the hatching process of the turtle eggs leaded by Coordinator of Turtle Supervision from Environment Department of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara Muhammad Salamuddin Yusuf. “The development of turtle tourism is the sequel of our caring towards local turtle,” said Muhammad Salamuddin Yusuf.

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“I’ve received news via phone call that starting 2012 there will be physical realization for Marina port or cruise port and marine aircraft,” said Middle Lombok Regent, Suhaili FT in the middle of delivering Checklist of Budget Implementation 2012 from NTB Governor to Budget Sovereignty User and Crew in Mataram.

Suhaili said that Marina Club delegation as investor partnership of Global Land Development co. still stayed in Mandalika tourism area in relation with surveying the location for this Marina Port development. They had stayed starting from Wednesday, December 21.

Marina Club is in charge with the development of the port itself, suitable for cruises and marine aircrafts in Mandalika then the remaining supporting development will be continued by MNC Group.

“It is definite now, not an MoU anymore. Starting from 2012 there will be real action toward the development of integrated park that will be initiated by Marina Port construction,” he said.

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There are 24 medical teams and expert doctor from Fawcett Foundation who will help this cataract surgery. Surgery will hold in four villages. It starts today in Maluk then it continues in Sekongkang on Friday (16/12). Surgery also will hold in Tongo Village on Monday (19/12) and Jereweh village will get its turn on Wednesday (21/12). This free surgery held by Doctor Children Fund (DCF) Batu Hijau cooperated with PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), The John Fawcett Foundation, Humanity Indonesia Foundation and West Sumbawa Government (KSB).

Manager Senior of External Relationship Division from PT NNT, Arif Perdanakusumah through his press release explained if this free cataract surgery is the first event to hold. Some years ago ACF Batu Hijau focused on harelip surgery. This cataract surgeon holds freely including its treatment. So it is not only about the surgery but also an examination for other eye illness. “It is also including to the aid of patient’s sun glasses,” said him. This event is the part of caring and social responsibility from PT NNT and labors for supporting government program in medical sector.

Chairman DCF John Noldi Dajoh said this cataract surgery is one form of DCF caring for helping people especially ones one has eye illness. He thanked to the government of West Sumbawa especially Medical Division and PT NNT. “They are the facilitators of this charity event,” said him. DCF that formed in 1999 is composed by the labor of PT NNT, labor’s family and contractor. One of the purpose of DCF is helping poor people to get medical service especially medical aid for kids. Besides cataract surgery, DCF also held free harelip surgery last year in Sumbawa Besar.

PT NNT supported fully this activity and other health increasing activities in accord with the philosophy of PT NNT by shaping leadership in social responsibility sector. PT NNT operates bronze and gold mines that owned by Batu Hijau in West Sumbawa since 2000. PT NNT also empowered about 4,000 labors who more than 63% are coming from West Nusa Tenggara Province. PT NNT holds the program of people development in medical subject, education, economy and infrastructure.

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Riah, one of the Selong citizens to Lombok Post uttered the same comment. When she need to go to Lombok International Airport to go to other region but she met traffic jam at Masbagik District due to people there held Nyongkolan. “There was traffic jam and it reached up to 500 meter long,” she confessed.

What more stressful were men from nyongkolan party who dare to manage traffic. It cause the traffic jam worsened. “This is not the first time we met this kind of situation. We have no problem with this tradition but please do make somebody manage the right traffic flow,” she said.

The same thing was come from Andi, also Selong citizen as he confessed that the same situation usually takes place on Saturday or Sunday. Especially from Mataram to Lombok Airport and it not only happened in East Lombok but also in Middle and West Lombok. “Sometime there are officers but it rarely happen,” he added.

When confirmed by Deputy Chariman of East Lombok Police, Darsono SA stated that nyongkolan is Sasak tradition that no one can stop.

However, his party had made special program in relation with nyongkolan. Every time this tradition takes place, East Lombok Police had asked head village or the family whose wedding held to send us a notification. “We hope we can help them in managing the traffic,” he stated.

The same thing also confessed by head of East Lombok Cultural and Tourism Division, H. Gufranuddin. When confirmed via telephone, his party justified received lots of protest from people regarding this tradition. “We wouldn’t deny that Nyongkolan had cause traffic jam,” he said.

Still, Nyongkolan is part of Sasak Wedding custom that we cannot separate it from their life. Therefore, we will make some anticipation so that the activity can keep running but without further damaging the traffic. His party is also planning to invite certain social and cultural figures to think and solve the issue together.

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“Recently, we had anticipated it with cut off the old ones and replaces it with new seed,” Subhan said.
Despite the government quick act, he keeps urging people not to put down their awareness. There is possibility there is tree luput dari perhatian Dinas Pertamanan. “It is better safe than sorry,” he added.

Aside from cutting off the trees, the government also cleaned prone branches potentially causing danger. Subhan did not want the experience the same fallen free accident. “We cut down branches so it will lighten their load,” he explained.

This formerly Tourism Service officer mentioned that from several trees in Mataram, there some points showed tress vulnerable collapsed. Some are those at Panca Usaha Street, Panca Warga St. Langko and Palanggik St. “We had anticipated it,” he said.

He also asked public more cooperatively participating in surveying their surroundings. They can reported it directly to Landscaping Service. “If there is report, we will check it directly,” he promised.

In that occasion Subhan also confessed his disappointment toward one of shop owner in Mataram who cut down a tree without any coordination with his bureau. It happened at Seruni Street. “Perhaps because he thought the tree hampering his shop,” he said.

According to Subhan, all tress live along the highways or public street become the responsibility of Landscaping Service therefore, no one has right to cut down a tree without any coordination with his department. “We do greening in Mataram with planting trees as much as possible but there are still people with no responsibility and freely cut down the tress. It will cause big impact for our environment,” Subhan explained further.

Meanwhile, head of Landscaping Service, Makmun, promised that he would keep observing the trees condition in Mataram in this rainy season. Do not let any collapsing tree fall and cause victim. “That’s why we keep going around the city and checking all trees,” he said.

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“We need a research system concerning naval power resource so that the beauty and richness of our natural resource can be passed down to our future generation,” said Regent KLU H Djohan Sjamsu in a socialization event, piloting utilization of ocean conservation.

In this event, there are several SKPD attended, in which the even discussed about several environment issue and their impact. One of the main issues was the coastal area preservation, North Lombok was chosen because this regency has three islands with good management and preservation effort.

Head Division Use of Area and Fishery from Ministry of Marine Affair, Syamsul Bahri Lubis confessed that in Indonesia there are 48 areas ocean conservation, 10 of them are among national conservation area and 33 of them are local conservation territories. Among those national conservation area is Gili Tramena itself. “From geo economic perspective hoped that the area determination could in some points supported local economic achievement,” he said.

Moreover, Gili Tramena as a national ocean conservation area is one of the developed tourism site in Indonesia makes it become the pilot for other ocean’s conservation development project. The beauty of this island not only acknowledge by local people only but also by international community.

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Head of Mataram Immigration Office, M. Yanis said that tens of foreigner deported are mostly illegal immigrants. “We had deported them many times already and they were in quite a large number,” he said to Lombok Post.

They are usually come from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Cambodia, America and Malaysia. “They were entering Lombok with no clear documents so the immigration officer took immediate action,” he continued.
It was said that the tourists come to Lombok should carry complete documents. They receive Visa that they can use for varied things starting from tourism, recreation or even cultural activities. The immigration would carefully watch over this visa therefore no abuse could occur.

“If for tourists, we didn’t make any hasty steps. We will be more careful manage them. We only act if there is any abuse appears. Even the experts who abuse the rule also will be deported. Several days ago we deported some experts back to their homeland,” he informed. “Those who are come ashore or penetrate the area illegally are called illegal immigrant,” he added.

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