Nusa Lembongan (18-20 Apr 14)

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Being already at Sanur, it made perfect sense to take the quick 1h boat ride eastwards to the island of Nusa Lembongan, the smallest of a cluster of three that lies just offshore. This was where LP promised lay "the Bali that people imagine, but never really find".

Before that though was a matter a boarding the slowboat. Because of an absence of proper piers at Sanur beach, the slowboat berthes slightly offshore in waist-high waters. So getting on is a matter of timing your approach in between the approaching and receding waves. Despite the crew's best intentions of assistance, I failed miserably at this test and boarded with soaking wet shorts.

That wouldn't ruin my stay at Lembongan though. It's not nearly as quiet or remote as an old edition of LP might have led one to believe, but it does still retain a certain charm, notwithstanding the clearly rapidly increasing numbers of semi-luxurious accomodation. Fussy tourists tired of the Kuta and Seminyak crowds have also started to make their way here, where the single narrow road that skirts the small island is in stark contrast to the perpetual traffic jams on the mainland. And despite tourism being an obvious boon to the locals, they've also preserved their seaweed farming industry, giving the visitor yet another peak at what was in a not too distant past, and perhaps snippets of the early days of the island paradise itself.

Stayed at Agung Bungalows.

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Photos

Lembongan Seaweed Farms
Apparently a major produce of the island, and destined for the Asian cosmetics industry, according to LP.

Slowboat to Lembongan
It berthed slightly offshore in over waist-deep water, so getting onboard was a delicate timing exercise in between the waves, which I of course failed miserably at, getting my khaki shorts all wet.

Lembongan Beach
Not particularly wide during the high tide, and when it recedes it reveals the vast expanse of seaweed farms.

Lembongan Seaweed Farms
See what I mean.

Lembongan Villages
Apart from tourism, the locals are clearly centered mostly around the green (and sometimes yellow or purple) stuff.

BBQ Night @ Lembongan Beach Club
With the obligatory cultural night and Balinese demon dance.

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Hello Jeremy
We enjoyed our time in Sanur. Lot of memories. Thanks.