The Wallace line named after 19th century naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace marks point of transition between the flora and fauna of western and Eastern Indonesia and acts as the western boundary of west Nusa Tenggara, which includes the island Lombok and Sumbawa.

Lombok is noticeably different than its close neighbour, Bali. The northern part of the island is mountainous and lush with tall trees and scrubs, the south on the other hand. Is arid and covered by Savannas. Large Asian mammals are absent and replaced instead by marsupials, lizard, cockatoos and parrots. The difference becomes more pronounced as one moves further east, where dry season are more prolonged, and corn and sago are the staple food, instead of rice.

At around the time Islam first come to this island in the 16th century, four Hindu kingdoms co- existed in apparent peace in what is now West Nusa Tenggara; Lombok experienced strong Balinese influences, but has retained a unique identity. The indigenous people of Lombok, the Sasak, are predominantly Moslem and have a strong, distinguished tradition, as do the people of neighbouring Sumbawa.

Soft, white sand, virgin beaches are typical in Lombok, where the motto is: 'YOU CAN SEE BALI IN LOMBOK, BUT NOT LOMBOK IN BALI'. Famous for its ikat hand woven textiles, the island has exceptional charm and is becoming a major resort area.

Regular shuttle flights from Bali, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Jakarta and other destination as well as ferries, provide excellent transportation links between the island of the province as well as the rest of the country. Selaparang Airport has already become an international terminal, which only helps to make the region more accessible and therefore attractive as an option for tourist. Selaparang Airport has afford direct flight from Singapore as often as seven times a week with silk Airlines and once a week by the Australian National Jet System, although in 1998 the Australian flight had to stop altogether. For sea travel to the area, there are three main harbours in West Nusa Tenggara; Lembar Harbour in Lombok, badas Harbour in Sumbawa Besar and Bima Harbour in Bima eastern of Subway Island.

Mataram is the capital of the province, which has in the past decades joined with old town Alpena, and cakranegara to become the province's biggest urban complex. At the beginning of the 18th century, Mataram was the residence of the crown princes of Karin Same, a kingdom in southern Bali. The ruler had his seat in Cakranegara. The royal palace no longer exists, but many of the old temple and pleasure gardens are still there.

The three islands of Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are clustered together just of the northwest coast of Lombok. Coral gardens abound in clear waters around the islands. Gili Air, the nearest island, can be reached in 30 minutes by outrigger boat from bangsal Quay or 45 minutes from Senggigi beach resort. Mount Rinjani, Lompoc's 3,726 meters active volcano, is one of the tallest mountains of Indonesia. In the basin of the volcano's huge caldera's lies the sickle-shaped Crater lake, Segara Anakan, surrounded by steep walls. On the slopes of Rinjani, Sembalun Lawang and Sembalun Bumbung are traditional Sasak villages popular with hikers. LOMBOK, THE JOURNEY TO PARADISE, treasures to be appreciated and enjoyed. LETS GO TO LOMBOK.

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