Lombok…

sound familiar, right ? Lombok is one of the most beautiful and wonderful island in Indonesia. Lombok is in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia.

It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east.

It is roughly circular, with a "tail" to the southwest, about 70 km across and a total area of about 4,725 km² (1,825 sq mi). The administrative capital and largest city on the island is Mataram

There are many beaches here, such as Senggigi, Sire beach, etc.

Senggigi is the most popular beach in Lombok, but not larger than Kuta beach, Bali. Senggigi is a really nature beach. Scenery under the sea is very wonderful. Do you love snorkling ? then you can do that in Senggigi whenever you want! Cool right ?

Sire Beach, If you drive north of just outside Mataram (about 35 or 36 km north of Mataram), you will reach Sire Beach, this is another great beach with white sands similar to the white sands of Kuta Beach (no, not the one in Bali, but the one in Lombok!).

This is another haven for those who like snorkeling as there are coral reefs on this beach. From this beach you can see the Gili Islands and also part of Mount Rinjani; if I remember it well, not too far is located a famous golf club called Kosaido (or something sounds similar to Kosaido) and also the famous chain-hotel, Oberoi.

• more picture of Lombok
  

• more info about Lombok

The Republic of Indonesia (pronounced /ˌɪndoʊˈniːziə/, /ˌɪndəˈniːʒə/) (Indonesian: Republik Indonesia), is a country in Southeast Asia. Comprising 17,508 islands, it is the world's largest archipelagic state. With a population of 222 million people in 2006, it is the world's fourth most populous country and the most populous Muslim-majority nation; however, no reference is made to Islam in the Indonesian constitution. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the seventh century, when the Srivijaya Kingdom traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually adopted Indian cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders brought Islam, and European powers fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. Indonesia's history has since been turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.

Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. The Javanese are the largest and most politically dominant ethnic group. As a unitary state and a nation, Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population, and a history of colonialism and rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka tunggal ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. However, sectarian tensions and separatism have led to violent confrontations that have undermined political and economic stability. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty is a defining feature of contemporary Indonesia.