ABOUT SEMBALUN | lombokrinjanitrek

Traditional houses

These are the traditional houses of Sembalun, where the first seven families of the village were said to have lived. They are all made of mud-brick and have been extremely well preserved, and are considered of very high historical importance to Sembalun. Locals still live in them to this day.

Fields surrounding the village

As the village lies at the base of the Rinjani volcano, the soil is rich and fertile, allowing for a booming agricultural industry which forms the economic backbone of the village. On either side of the village lie huge expanses of fields growing rice, chilli, carrots, cabbage and onions amongst a range of other foods, and almost all of the men in Sembalun are farmers.

Traditional music

Traditional music is a significant part of Sasak culture – the instruments usually consist of traditional Indonesian instruments like the Gamelan, flute and percussive instruments shown in this picture, and often hold great historical value. The Gamelan instrument featured in this photo is over one hundred years old. The skills of the instruments are passed down from the older members of the village to the younger men.

Traditional dancing is also another important aspect of village life and holds great historical importance. Sometimes professional dancers will visit the village, and masks are sometimes also worn when acting out stories through dance. You can see me here after being peer-pressured by an entire village into trying traditional dancing for myself, it was so much fun!

sembalun village

Sembalun is located on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. Nestled in the heart of a mountainous valley, it sits at the base of a volcano, Rinjani, and is surrounded by a magnificent panorama of rice fields and gardens.The island of Lombok is rooted in the culture and traditions of the Sasak people, entailing a range of fascinating foods, customs and traditions, and over 8 different dialects of the Sasak language across the island. Experiencing the foods, festivals, and highlights of village life has been an incredible adventure, like stepping into another world altogether. I’ve learnt so much, and have been exposed to such a totally different way of life than what I’m used to.