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INTRODUCTION
The group of islands east of Bali, extending from Lombok to West Timor, are called Nusa Tenggara, meaning the "south-eastern islands", for geographers known as Lesser Sundas. Nusa Tenggara is divided into two provinces: West Nusa Tenggara ( comprising Lombok and Sumbawa ) and East Nusa Tenggara ( comprising of Sumba, Flores, West Timor and the neighbouring small islands ). Lesser Sundas stretch 1,300 km from east to west, there are around 600 islands, of which 42 are inhabited. The islands are blessed with pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs. There are three coloured crater lakes of Keli Mutu on Flores; Komodo, home of the largest monitor lizard; Pasola festival in Sumba; mighty Mount Rinjani and Segara Anak Lake in Lombok; there are a dozen other places worth of visit. In Nusa Tenggara, Lombok and Sumbawa in the west are predominantly Muslim. There is a Christian majority on the islands of Flores, Roti and Timor. Sumba and Savu are still strongholds of local ancestral beliefs.