Ramadan In Lombok - Dispelling The Myths
it's almost time for the start of Ramadan, the fasting
month, across Indonesia, so now is good time to dispel
some of the myths that get aired at this time of the
year.
Naughty tour guides and taxi drivers in Bali will tell
visitors no to go to Lombok during Ramadan because all
the restaurants are closed, there's nothing to eat and
non of the taxis are operating, etc.
Whether this is genuine ignorance about the nature of
Ramadan, or a bid to keep the tourists in their own
backyard is debatable, but the facts remain the same in
Lombok, it's business as ussual all year round.
It would be silly to sugest that, in tourist hubs such
as Senggigi, Kuta, and Gili's, hotels and restaurants
would close for the entire month and the whole island
would just grind to a halt. nonsense - we'd all be
boored!
hotels are open for business as always, restaurants
serve meals all day day, bar are open with live music
and alcohol, and taxis run at their ussual erratic pace.
Many of locals are fasting, but non Muslim locals and
tourist are catered for with ussual Lombok hospitality.
You can even have a cold Bintang with you bacon and
eggs, if that you wish!
Ramadan stars with the first sighting of new moon in the
ninth month of the islamic calender, which occurs
arround 1st of September this year, last for one lunar
month (until the next new moon).
As islam is the majority religion of Indonesia, much of
the archipelago will be abstaining from food, drink,
smoking, and sex between sunrise and sunset each day for
the next month.
Muslim regard Ramadan as a month for exercising self
control over base desire, and for fasting, meditation
and reflection. Muslims belive that, by following the
fast, they cleanse both their bodies and souls and thus
become cloeser to God. Similar to fasts and retreats
practised by all the world's major religions, the act of
fasting is seen as a sacred sacrifice to bring the
person closer to Godliness.
fasting Muslims will wake early in the morning , to
prepare and eat their first meal for the day and to say
morning prayers. after sunrise, no food, dring, or
smoking is allowed for the rest of the day until sunset.
During Ramadan you will often see the local people out
walking jsut before the sunset, to take their minds off
their hunger and passing the time until they can Buka
Puasa ( Break fasting ) is a happy occasion, with
families gathering together to pray and share their
evening meal after a day of abstinence.
Lombok has a mixed community of Muslims, Hindus,
christians, Budhists, and other religions, so local
Muslim accept that not everyone is fasting. For employed
in the service and tourism industries, it's normal for
guests to be eating, drinking and enjoying their
holidays. Staff are happy to do their jobs as ussual.
Most Muslims seem to agree that it's only first week or
so that's difficult after that the fasting becomes
normal and their bodies adapt to new routine.
If you're travelling in some of the outer areas and
smell villages which are not geared for tourism, it may
be more difficult to find warungs open during the day.
It's worth to buy snacks and meals to take with you, or
to eat in your hotel later. As an aware traveller, you
can show courtesy by not eating and drink in front of
fasting people, but generally people will make
allowences for that fact that you are a guest and not
fasting.
Most Lombok business respect the different belifes of
their community and make flexible arrangements to
support their practices. Staff may be a bit tired, as
they're waking up so early in the mornings and losing
energy during the day. It's particullarly difficult when
the weather is hot and peaople would love to have a
drink, but this is the part of the fast. At the end of
the day, there is a sense of pleasure at beeing able to
overcome temptations and complete the fast. Please be
patient if most of the staff seems to dissapear at
sunset, They've just gone to break fasting and will be
back at work soon, Smiling after a good meal and
something to drink!
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