Lombok: Part two: Local customs & craftsmanship

I loved Lombok because it had a distinctly different environment and atmosphere to Bali which created a nice contrast on the trip.It is much less touristy than Bali  especially once you leave the popular coastal resort of Sengiggi where the ferries arrive. We didn't encounter many other tourists during this portion of our Indonesian adventure. During the days we spent here we were taken on a world wind adventure enabling us to experience traditional activities such as weaving and pottery making. We also saw traditional stick fighting, an activity which involves two men fighting bear-chested with sticks.These contests are very popular in Lombok and people gather in huge crowds on the streets to watch them. We also got to visit a tofu factory and watch the cultivation of rice paddies and a plethora of spices and herbs. It would seem they can grow practically everything in Indonesia from coffee to coconuts! Another different element to Lombok in comparison to Bali is the fact that the majority of the population is overwhelmingly Muslim.As we drove across the island we saw lots of mosques under construction and it was a very surreal experience to get woken up every morning at 5am by the powerful call to prayer. The calls continue throughout the day at intervals and act to bind the villages together in a sense of community,calling people to come help their neighbours in the building of the mosque.Initially I was a little apprehensive over how strict the Muslim culture would be concerning women and their dress code.However, Lombok in my experience seemed to occupy a more liberal stance whereby women could choose to wear a burka or a head scarf or if they so chose none at all. In fact the majority of women I saw left their heads uncovered.This was really refreshing to see especially in light of all the negative press that Islam receives on a daily basis about their restrictions and customs concerning women's clothing.