The Rattan Village of Beleke
Lombok Island is an island located in West Nusa Tenggara, which is well known by international tourism as one of the tourist destination in Indonesia. As a tourist destination, Lombok island has various kinds of crafts which are very popular with tourists as souvenirs. One type of craft which cultivated and became the tradition of the Sasak ( Lombok Indigenous peoples) is a Rattan craft that is art crafts in Beleke village.
Beleke village is a village located about 15 km to the east towards the town of Praya, East Praya District, Central Lombok. This village is one of the handicraft centers, especially rattan and clack. In addition to rattan, another craft that is manufactured wood crafts, dagger and ceramics. This village is a supplier of rattan sold back in Bali, One of the unique sights that you will encounter in this village is the view of the women who worked twisted rattan, you can also try it. With the mats in front of the house, they assume the rattan on his lap while his hands move swiftly process the rattan, so that it becomes a work of art and the unique crafts able to attract the attention of the tourists who come to visit the island of Lombok.
The price of rattan is tailored to the level of difficulty of manufacture, including the most simple by women artisans sell for Rp.5000,00 to Rp.6000,00 per piece, with a capital purchase of raw rattan and clack around Rp.3000,00 for each fruit crafts. Usually the craft was purchased by collectors to be sold again to the art shops in NTB, Sukawati market in Denpasar, even to foreign countries like Malaysia, Singapore, China, New Zealand , Japan, United States, Australia, the Netherlands, England, France, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland. The process of making rattan was very quite difficult and time consuming. Skinfold rod and cane crushed, then plaited or twisted according to the model that will be created, last painted with varnish. 2-3 can be completed in a day as a simple pieces of rattan craft. If you visit the island of Lombok, do not forget to visit Beleke village, here you can buy the various types of unique rattan with a much cheaper price than the other places.
