Mataram - Ampenan - Cakranegara

Mataram - Ampenan - Cakranegara
make up Lombok's three - part capital, business centre and formar port town. Mataram is now a vibrant administrative capital of park and wide tree lined streets and goverment office in corporating aspects of traditional Sasak architecture.

See also large, colonial white washed, high - roofed housess that look as if they date back to the Duch colonial days. mataram is home to the Airport.

Selaparang and some say its best attraction is its small museum with beautiful cloths and ceramics, copper and wood carving and yes princeless artifacts discovered from around the area

Ampenan
The western end of the thresome and lining the bay that runs all the way to Senggigi, was once Lombok's main port and a vital link in the famous spice route.
Wander around its winding streests where Arab and Chinese merchants have set up homes and business.
Some of the buildings, now turned into cute resturants and cafe, may even aspire to have an art deco influence. Head down at sunset to the old colonial bank building.

Cakranegara.

The old royal capital until beginning of the century, is a bustling trade centre that is probably more famous for visitors becouses of its two Baliness structures, Mayura Water Palace and Pura Meru. It has many choice in the comportable budget class hotel range.

Cakranegara
Cakra ( for better or worse ) has ombok's first modern mall complete with Mcdonal's, KFC and swensens. Go there on Saturday night to see what has become Lombok' most popular entertainment vensus for the locals.