An Enchanting Journey to West Sumbawa Indonesia
My journey to Sumbawa begins from Bali to the little port town of Poto Tano. Drive 2 AWD SUV with 9 crazy people from Denpasar taken time around 22 hours include ride 2 x ferry and small boat with along empty asphalt roads that shimmer under the heat of the late morning sun. A small fire by the roadside sent a black column of smoke up into the clear blue sky. It was fair to say that my first impression of Sumbawa was a mixed one and a world away from the lush green fields. The small strait between Lombok and Sumbawa appears is as much a physical barrier as it is an economic one. With little industry, poor agriculture and few job opportunities, there is very little happening across much of Sumbawa.
My first day after reach the land name West Sumbawa we straight ride the small boat to see the hidden paradise behind the forest of Moyo Island, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, sounds of splashing water can be hear in the silence of nature. Mata Jitu waterfalls, a stunning waterfall can amazed anyone who came to this region. Beautiful scenery complete with natural green trees made Air Mata Jitu waterfalls became one of excellent things at Moyo Island. Waterfall which has become part of Indonesian nature reserve, have been formed millions of years ago. The combination of green waterfall young and old seemed to hypnotize you to throw themselves and play in the water in this waterfall.Mata Jitu waterfalls has four railroad and seven pools. By the locals, “Mata Jitu” is defined as springs that fall right on the pond below. The beauty of Mata Jitu waterfalls is famous up to foreign countries. In fact, the late Princess Diana has been in this waterfall. People around the waterfall are also dubbed as the “Queen Waterfall”. The beauty of the waterfall staircase steps is not only the water coming down from above. The rocks that have formed thousands of years ago can also be seen here. Stalactite-stalagmite adorned wall surfaces Mata Jitu waterfalls as beautiful scenery presented. Form of stalactites and stalagmites that varied the main attraction for anyone
Second day; The journey with the small boat only takes 15 minutes. Kenawa island is really close to Poto Tano port, the port of Sumbawa Barat. Kenawa island is a part of Gili Balu’ district in Poto Tano Village – Sumbawa Barat, Indonesia. Besides Kenawa Island, there are seven other islands close to Poto Tano. Those islands are: Kalong, Nano, Mandiki, Paserang, Kambing, Belang and Ular.
The first thing I noticed arriving on Kenawa was just how quiet everything was. The only sound on the island was the whistling of the wind through the grass and the crash of the surf against the sandy beach. However, there was trouble in paradise covered by rubbish. The government department that should be partly responsible for conservation efforts on the island.
Third day: The next journey begin, we clamber onto a 4WD that heads out on a dusty road. Our ride is a bone-shaking one that takes us to a mountaintop village known as Mantar. As the rough track gets steeper, our car hugs the edge of the mountain in a series of hairpin bends. Situated around 17 kilometers from the city of Taliwang, the regency capital of West Sumbawa, Mantar is not easy to reach as the 5-kilometer road leading to the village is not yet sealed. But those who are lucky enough to hike to its peak can expect to marvel at the eight breathtaking islets of West Sumbawa, including Kenanga Island.
Mantar Village Its unique culture, especially in relation to the albino residents, also makes it a destination for curious travelers. "Believe it or not, Mantar always has seven residents with albino skin. If one dies, then one will be born with albinism; this continues to happen until now" - villagers says.
The traditional sport of buffalo racing is often played out on the muddy rice fields of Sumbawa. Mantar Village, perched 860m above sea level on Mount Mantar overlooking the Alas Strait, is a picture-perfect pastoral settlement of traditional stilt houses. Life here revolves around farming and breeding livestock. Villagers still use buffaloes attached to traditional wooden ploughs for farming and hold rice planting ceremonies – just as they did hundreds of years ago. Like many rural areas in Sumbawa, mysticism is ingrained in people’s beliefs; under lock and key inside the village mosque is an ancient ceramic urn holding water that is thought to have magical powers.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MY LOCAL FRIENDS BALI,BIMA,DOMPU,SUMBAWA,LABOAN BAJO