Nusa Lembongan... Oh my days

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Current Mood: Overwhelmed

Well where did i leave off? Ahh yes sipping Bintang and eating some sort of Goerang. It was tasty but i had to move on. Last Wednesday which would have been the 10th or so we left Kuta in search of tranquility and oh my Buddha did we find it. Jumping on your typical hot, Asian, sweat fest Bus we made for Sanur where we were to catch our Ferry to my newest destination, Nusa Lembongan.

Nusa Lembongan is set just to the south west of Bali and is a lovely 1 hour boat ride across. the boat was a type of Catamaran but no Lumpraya that many of my friends know well. This is a wooden version with all of the features you expect in South Eastern Asian Travel (pigs, Chickens and crusty backpackers).

So we arrived at what you could call the port where the boats pull up just short of the shore so you can bathe your feet on the way to dry land. The bags were ferried across by porters who gently lay your worldly possessions on the concrete at the top of the steps keeping all of your nick knacks nice and dry. In the lonely planet guide to Bali and Lombok you are warned of the ever increasing touts that greet you on your arrival. Not far from wrong but they do expect a little tip if you use their Lembongan knowledge. The type that gets you to stay in their mates accommodation as apposed to the other options. With an idea however, of where we were going we set of on our five minute walk towards World Diving who we were sure would give us all we needed to know. Tout in tow, we patiently moved down the sea wall being advised that we can find easily rooms in our budget range. We were keeping to our 150.000 IND rupiah per night and he insisted he knew just the place. Letting the Dive school know we had arrived we decided to follow our new friend towards our new home for the next week. BINGO!

Made Inn not two minutes from where we departed the boat was the key to our experience here on Lembongan. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my stay here. but let me set you up!

The Accommodation comprises of four rooms. Two at the bottom floor and two up top. all with ocean views, a cold shower and a king size bed Made Inn Guesthouse is i would say the only place you would want to stay whilst here on the island. The family.. oh my what Host's they have become. They got speaking with us on the first day as we payed a fair bit of attention the the children of the family. especially my little friend Beema or as he now calls himself Mogely (Nickname we gave him). The Father, Kenya (who has a little side line in the house with Bike rentals and anythings else you need whilst staying with them) is the son of the owners Grandpa and Grandma, Kenya is Married but the name of his wife embarrassingly escapes me. I will find out again later. The Building is Made from Coconut wood apparently and is set about 15 ft from the waters edge... need i say more? Ok the sun sets over the water smack bang in front of the private porch. Sipping a Bintang is the only way to spend the evenings ahead.

Ok enough of my sales pitch for a job with Lonely Planet... time to move on to the fun stuff.

Day one was pretty much spent meeting the Neighbours (Nikie and Flure) drinking Bintang on our porch and setting up the next day for our first dives back to the water. I was going Scuba. World diving is a great little shop set (again) just off the beach and is run by a lovely couple John and Sue. They explained that the type of diving around Nusa Lembongan was quite Drifty so with the right conditions only could we select day to day dive sites. The first was to be Pura Ped and Mangroves. After arranging the next day we sat in front of the Sunset and made a massive dent in the fridge at Grandma's Kitchen door. Bintang Galore! good night for now.. see you in the morning. i have a King size bed to test out.

Waking to the sound of the ocean we got ready and down to the shop for the kit up. Today we would be wearing full 5mm wetsuits. Cant wait. Two amazing dives were to follow made by our own private speedboat. Both around an hour long with depths of 25m and 20m for the second we gently drifted along taking in the splendor of the Balinese waters. Trigger fish that don't attack, Turtles, Trumpet fish, Moray eels, Lion fish, Saddled Tobie's, amazing Butterfly fish and heaps more i was just ecstatic. we couldn't have asked for a better first day back in the water, Between the dives we got into the food which was a sticky rice plate with coconut, nuts and chili all mixed and served on Banana leaf all added to the buzz i was feeling. I am ready for the serious waters. Afternoon and Evening two... Bintangs on the porch with a cheeky sun bake thrown in shared with the Family of Made Inn! Lovely Jubbly.

Morning two we were down the shop for an early start of 7.30 am with the use of the big boat and four people diving. we were loving the space. These dives were to be as warm as the first two had been so i decided to leave the 5mm and go with my old trusty... boardies and Wetty top. The dive site's planned for us were to be Blue Corner and Cennigan wall however the conditions turned out not to be good for the wall so they opted for Toya Pakeh. Sila the dive Master was amazing. Blue Corner a challenge... we would drop into the water in a strong drift. Getting our masks on and regs in the call for the descent was made. Down we went head first towards the reef which starts at 30 meters. At 20m the current really grabs you so we were now really shifting along. We were warned of up to four knot currents and i was shitting myself. Ducking into a sheltered piece of the reef we we stopped and signaled to hold on. At 32m i was Narced, holding onto the reef watching fish surf the current and others that just shot past us upside down and rolling along. My mask was nearly being pulled from my face and my deco limit was fast approaching... lets say my bum hole was dancing the samba. Sila looking around and checking the water movement decided it was time to let go and ride this current to the safety stop area... and what a ride. At a pace you would race along the reef in an almost controlled fashion skimming the coral and overtaking the oceans bravest... there was not a fish that looked cool in these conditions but the rush was amazing. Typical Bali species were to follow and the dive was truly knackering. Time for nutty rice and dive two. Toya Pakeh. At 25m the sloping reef is teaming with aquatic life... so much to see you just have to dive it to believe it. The current however on this day was a little gnarly. All i have to say is lets an afternoon siesta in before doing anything else. Best sleep ever. Afternoon and evening three... Yeah Bintangs on the porch with the family and neighbours.

Our final Morning Diving was to be the last day. Manta Point and Crystal Bay. We had a videographer out with the boat as the Manta dive really pulls the customers in. diving in groups of four though which was actually cool we all got around to the point to see at least 7 manta from the surface. Kit on and in we went. Now i have never seen a Manta Ray before so the 7 in my mask lense view were really a sight. it was a real pain in the arse having to turn my head 45 degree to see the other 9 or 10 though. so this dive could have been better. There was a little surge and the dive was shallow. all i have to say is... 12 Mantas easy!!

Dive two on Crystal bay was the coolest dive though. somewhat of a current to play in originally turned to a few knots of mid water surfing. Head down... feet upright we simply drifted side ways whilst the current pushed us to the surface. not for the wimps of the water this dive was a real craic. one of the Manta's also joined us so the day was a real worthwhile expense. All of this for a small 35US dollar a dive.

After the dives we collected our gear and decided to spend the last few days eating, Drinking and cruising around the island taking in all of the secret Bays and culture of the island. On the evening of the 16th we were kindly asked along to a full moon ceremony beginning early in the morning the next day. The Family at Made Inn asked us to come along to their family temple to see how they spent their private time near each of the homes they lived in. This was a real pleasure and as you can see from the pics you will see me done up like a goodn. but with the sunnies rocked i still managed to look cool.

I will not bore you guys any more with more of my tails from Lembongan. I am off for a snorkel in front of my house where there seems to be a natural nursery for young fish of all kinds. i saw a titan trigger yesterday around an inch long... and three lion fish around 3 inches long. For now, love to you all... i will have a bintang with the new family members in all of your names. Salamat Jalan.... I am definately staying longer

Brummy Niki Maguire

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Comments

[Penny]

Lembongan Made Inn
Brummy, I loved your story re the Lembongan Made Inn. Kenya and his wife Wita are good friends of mine and I did give them a small amount of money to help them make the finishing touches to the bungalows. I must have just missed you because the French Men were still there when I arrived for a short stay last week. Thank you for the great publicity for the Bungalows.

[Penny]

Lembongan Made Inn
Brummy, I loved your story re the Lembongan Made Inn. Kenya and his wife Wita are good friends of mine. I must have just missed you because the French Men were still there when I arrived for a short stay last week. Thank you for the great publicity for the Bungalows.