Moyo beach - Sumbawa
Sumbawanese usually call Sumbawa as “Samawa” or “Tana Samawa”, so Tana Samawa means Sumbawa Island. In this article I try to give you the information about Sumbawa, who knows that someday you might like to visit Sumbawa Island.
Straight to the point, I will start from the condition of Sumbawa area.
As a tropic island, Sumbawa has two seasons that change every six months. During the dry season, dust is everywhere blow by the wind. Strong winds blow in off the ocean, and the lush green hills, mountains and valley turns to a dusty brown. It usually happen during April to September. In these months the weather is so hot in the noon, but like magic, it is cool in the night even very and really cool in the early morning. This condition will change during the rainy season, the weather become warm in the night. In rainy season, Sumbawa will look beautiful, because you will find Sumbawa as a green island with a beautiful views everywhere. As most of the island is still under development, so you would feel the rural atmosphere from west to east of the island.
Tau Samawa (Sumbawa People) are very kind and familiar. Most of Sumbawa People use Sumbawa language. Indonesian language is also widely use in Sumbawa. Sumbawa has many interesting traditions and cultures such as bakatoan, gentao, nyorong, barapan kebo, balawas, sakeco, barempok etc.
Barapan Kebo (Bufallo Racing), traditional game of sumbawa
To go to Sumbawa there are some alternative ways. First, from Bali International Airport you can take flight to Sumbawa Besar. The plane will stop by for a moment at Lombok International Airport and then continue to Brang Biji Airport in Sumbawa Besar.
Second, you can ride on the bus on Ubung bus terminal. Just ask question to the people there, which buses that are going to Sumbawa Island. From Ubung bus terminal, the bus will travel overland to Padang Bai seaport and then ride on the ferry boat to Lembar seaport in West Lombok. From Lembar seaport the bus will continue the journey overland to Kayangan seaport in East Lombok and ride on ferry boat to Sumbawa Island, ending up in Poto Tano seaport.
If you are going to Sumbawa Besar, Dompu, Bima, Sape, or even Komodo Island you can take the same bus. But if you are going to West Sumbawa Regency, you should take another bus on Poto Tano seaport. Because West Sumbawa Regency is on different direction.