A Portrait Of Bali And Lombok

The islands of Bali and Lombok are to see so close to each other in clear weather. Both are of volcanic origin, are of similar size and have much more in common. However, they offer visitors very different experiences. Bali – very colorful, crowded and glamorous – is one of the most famous of the world, peaceful Lombok has long been a mystery passenger.

Geographically, Bali and Lombok in the center of the Indonesian archipelago. This is a great chain of islands stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. It is the opposite of the old trade routes between Europe, the Middle East, India and China and has absorbed influences from all these cultures.

Bali is a province within the Republic of Indonesia with its provincial capital of Denpasar. Lombok is part of the province of West Nusa Tenggara, Mataram, the provincial capital, is located on the island. Both are predominantly rural societies, despite the urbanization of the south of Bali in 1980 and 1990.

Facilities such as electricity and television came to most places in the last quarter of the 20th century (despite that, the Internet is already widely used).

In the daily lives of Hindu Bali and Lombok Muslim majority, is a great value on community affairs, including social harmony. With Indonesia are moving in the late 1990′s, from dictatorship to democracy is the awareness of the importance of religious tolerance, while each company is proud of its identity. Bali hand forward to his extravagant religious culture, the people of Lombok, however, are cautious in general.