10 Unique Things That You Need to Understand When You Are in
Lombok
Lombok
As a good traveler, you are not
only required to be adventurous. Your cultural knowledge and your understanding
to the diverse are also definitely crucial. You need to be aware of some tradition
and culture that might be unique or even odd for you. When you are in Lombok
and get in touch a lot with the community especially Sasaks—the indigenous of
Lombok, there are ten listed things that you need to take a note as a
respectful and cautious traveler.
1.
Always use your right hand
Sasaks believe
that right hand is better that left hand. Pointing things, places and etc by
using right hand is one of Sasaks’ ways to show their respect to the others.
2. Be more earlier if you want to go to the Airport
On the road, especially on
Saturday and Sunday you could find a parade which is called Nyongkolan—one of
traditional marriage processions in Sasak culture. This interesting parade can
make you get stuck on the way. Therefore, it would be better if you go to the
airport earlier otherwise you will miss your flight.
3.
“Tomorrow” does not mean tomorrow
When you talk to your Sasak
friends about rendezvous, you need to make sure the day. If he says tomorrow it
does not really mean tomorrow. For Sasak people tomorrow can be equally mean
near future, tomorrow or next time.
4.
Come late when you are invited to a party
In Lombok, party is always huge.
The guess could be all people in the village. If you are invited to the party
it would be better if you come about 15-30 minutes late. Most Sasaks are
flexible about time.
5.
Stay calm when someone ask you how old you are
There are some
common questions among Sasaks even if they have just met such as “how old are
you, are you married, where are you going, do you have boy friend”. These
questions are often used to open a conversation or to make strangers feel
welcomed.
6.
No alcohol
For Sasak
alcohol is not social. They regard having alcohol is a bad drink since it can
make people uncontrollable. Furthermore almost 90% of Sasaks are Muslim.
7.
Do not pull your hand away when a younger Sasaks
shake and kiss it
Elder people
are very important. If you come to school or closely observe Sasak family life,
you will notice easily that shake and kiss someone hand is the way to greet
elder people. It would be offended the younger if you pull your hand out when
they kiss it.
8.
Be good bargainer at traditional market
This is quiet
challenging for some traveler. When you go to traditional market you need to
have bargaining skill. Start from the half of the price!
9.
Offer your food
Being polite in Sasak culture is
expressed through sharing some food. When you are spotted having meal by your
Sasaks friends, it would be good if you offer them for being polite.
10.
Be ready for thousands offerings.
Some travelers
are very surprised when they go out from Airport or harbor. They will get a lot
of offerings from people that especially work for transportation service and
food and drink walking sellers. To deal with it, you need to firmly say no.
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