LOOKING AROUND AT KARANG BAYAN VILLAGE

This week adventure I would like to introduce one of special village in West Lombok as your travel reference. It is named Karang Bayan. Have you ever heard about it? This village is not as popular as other tourism villages indeed. However, it offers beautiful nature and traditional life to see.

This downhill village located in the sub-district of Lingsar that can be reached in 10 minutes by motorbike from Cakranegara. This fertile area hosts some springs –Kayangan and Pancor Ancak. They are source of water for the villagers. To reach these two springs I had to walk about 30 minutes from the settlement. Along the path, I could feel the fresh atmosphere of tropical forest, I could hear some birds hum and cunt mingle with the sound of stream, I could see some tropical fruits clinging on their trunk and amazed by some friendly villagers that strongly walked while carrying dried wood on their head and or having harvested stuff on their shoulder. These two springs are hidden in the valley under some roots of plants. When I touched it, my fingers were tingling. It was very cool. I felt so good when I splashed it upon my face. Besides doing soft trekking around the hill, I also visited some historical buildings in this place.

Historically, Karang Bayan was one of area that’s colonized by Karang Asem Kingdom. It is also widely known as one of the area of Islam Waktu Telu believer. According to the elder in this village, they believe that their ancestors come from Bayan—one of the sub district in the northern part of Lombok which is the center of Islam Waktu Telu believers live. This assumption is strengthened by the same Sasak dialect used in Karang Bayan and Bayan, by the name of this village taken from and by historical buildings that still stand in the middle of the village.

There are 4 traditional buildings remain namely Bale Adat, Sekenem, Bangaran and Mosque. In the past time, Bale Adat was used as a gathering place where villagers discus their social activities. Now this place is inhabited by the 5^th generation of the village leader. Bale Adat only consists of one room and a terrace. In front of this house, there is a Sekenem. Sekenem is a living room. In sekenem, there is a berugaq where guest can take a rest. Behind the Bale Adat stands a Bangaran. Bangaran is a monument that symbolizes the first stone put when the first time Karang Bayan ancestors built this village. Bangaran is derived from word “bangar”. It means to deforest. Only a few steps to the south from Bale Adat, the deserted mosque stands still and is circled by its bamboo fence. The architecture of this most is similar with the Masjid Beleq in Bayan, North Lombok. In front of the mosque, there is remaining of a building. It was a kitchen that used as a preparation place before entering the mosque.

Karang Bayan, Lingsar, West Lombok

Islam Waktu Telu is greatly influenced by the Balinese culture. It is explicitly depicted in some tradition conducted by people in Karang Bayan i.e Kikiran. Kikiran is metatah in Balinese—a tradition that is aimed to pure human body by flatting their teeth.  Besides, the harmony relationship between Balinese and Sasak Islam Waktu Telu can be seen in the tradition that’s called Pijian. Pijian is a token of gratitude given to Hindust from Sasak Karang Bayan for attending particular occasion. Pijian consists of paddies, seasoning and coconuts. Commonly, it is given when Sasak Karang Bayan sending their invitation. Peace, nature and history has shaped this village become a must be visited place especially for soft trekking addict and historical tour lover. See you in the next adventure.