Tuesday, 24 July 2012

"Sasak Tribe"


Hello, everyone!
Did you know that Lombok actually means "spices"?

This is a phrase I always use to describe the island to my foreign friends:
"Lombok means spicy!
In this "spicy" island, the weather are "spicy", the foods are "spicy" and above all: the peoples are "spicy"!"
That's the phrase I always use.
Well, if you ask what "the peoples are "spicy"" means, I'll answer "hot-headed" but... if you want to ask whether we're "hot" or not, I'll say, yes, we're. (whaaattt??)
Hahahaha :)
Anyway, this post is about "Sasak Tribe" a.k.a my tribe.
Sasak Tribe is the main habitant in Lombok Island.
About 85% of Lombok Island's residents are Sasak.
We're well-known for as-I-said before "hotheaded". "Hotheaded" or "Pagah" in Sasak's language are the main word uses to describe Sasak tribe and mostly it links to peoples from Praya town (that's where I live).
No one in Lombok Island would not know the phrase "Pagah Praya" or literally means "Hot-headed Praya".

I wouldn't deny that aspect though. (whaaattt?!!)
Even in the Tribe itself, there're classifications.
The common noble class are peoples with "Lalu" and "Baiq" includes in their names.
There're other noble class who are believed the direct descend of old-Sasak.
I believe it has "Raden" (similar to Lord or Lady from Europe) in their name.
But nowadays, nobody is still using their noble-name, except for the one with "Lalu" and "Baiq".
"Lalu" is used for men while "Baiq" is for women.
The system used to inherit the title is Patrilineal where all comes down to Father's family.
Even now, there're special exceptions for "Lalu & Baiq"s.
They had to use honorific words (as Keigo in Japanese) and their marriage are exceptionally interesting rather than normal peoples. And on top of it, they're usually rich :)

"Lalu & Baiq"s from Central Lombok Regency (Penujak, Batujai, and southern part of Central Lombok) are believed to be the one who holds old-cultures the most and are respected among "Lalu & Baiq" from other places.

Well, that's all I can say about Sasak Tribe,
next up is Sasak Language!
Please leave a comment below and stay tune!!! (?!!!)

"Lombok Island"


Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat or NTB) province, Indonesia. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" (Sekotong Peninsula) to the southwest, about 70 km across and a total area of about 4,725 km² (1,825 sq mi). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram. It is surrounded by a number of smaller islands locally called Gili. The island is home to some 3.16 million Indonesians in 4 regencies along with the provincial capital Mataram. The highest mountain in Lombok Island is Mount Rinjani, which rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making the second highest volcano in Indonesia and the nation's third-highest mountain. The island's inhabitants are 85%, 15% Balinese, with the small remainder being Tionghoa-peranakan, Javanese, Sumbawanese and Arab Indonesians.

Tourism is an important source of income on Lombok. The most developed tourism area of the island is on the west coast of the island and is centered about the township of Senggigi. The immediate surrounds of the township contain the most developed tourism facilities. The west coast coastal tourism strip is spread along a 30 km strip following the coastal road north from Mataram and the nearby current airport at Ampenan. The principal tourism area extends to Tanjung in the northwest at the foot of Mount Rinjani and includes the Sire and Medana Peninsulas and the highly popular Gili Islands lying immediately offshore. These three small islands are most commonly accessed by boat from Bangsal near Pemenang, Teluk Nare a little to the south, or from further south at Senggigi and Mangsit beach. A large number of hotels and resorts offer accommodations ranging from budget to luxurious. Recently direct fast boat services have been running from Bali making a direct connection to the Gili islands. Although rapidly changing in character, the Gili islands still provide both a lay-back backpacker's retreat and a high class resort destination.
Other tourist destinations include Mount Rinjani, Gili Bidara, Gili Lawang, Narmada Park and Mayura Park and Kuta (distinctly different from Kuta, Bali). The Kuta area is also famous for its beautiful, largely deserted, white sand beaches. Sekotong, in southwest Lombok, is popular for its numerous and diverse scuba diving locations. South Lombok surfing is considered some of the best in the world and includes Desert Point at Banko Banko in the southwest of the island. The northern west coast near Tanjung has many new upmarket hotel and villa developments centreed about the Sire and Medana peninsular nearby to the Gili islands and a new boating marina at Medana bay. These new developments complement the already existing 5 star resorts and a large golf course already established there.