Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 253

INDONESIA BALI
NUSA LEMBONGAN
Southeast across the Badung Strait,
encircled by a mixture of white-sand
beaches and mangrove, the tiny island of
NUSA LEMBONGAN (4km by 3km) is an
ideal escape from the bustle of the south.
Seaweed farming is the major occupation
here, supplemented by tourist income
from surfers, snorkellers, divers and
anyone seeking attractive beaches, a bit
of gentle exploring and an addictive
somnolent atmosphere.

diving, although the sea can be cold with
treacherous currents so it is important to
dive with operators familiar with the area.
Manta Point off the south coast of Nusa
Penida is renowned for mola mola
- although sadly during high season this
generally means you can't see any that do
turn up, due to the huge crowds of divers
surrounding them.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By boat Several companies operate fast boats between
Sanur/Padang Bai and Nusa Lembongan, including Scoot
( T 0361 285522, W scootcruises.com; Rp350,000 one-
way including pick-up; connections to the Gili Islands
and mainland Lombok available too) and Rocky ( T 0361
801 2324, W rockyfastboat.com; $28 one-way including
pick-up); the crossing takes around 45min. Perama
( T 0361 750808, W peramatour.com; Rp100,000 one-
way) is cheaper but takes around an hour and a half. The
lowest-priced options are the public ferries from Sanur,
though they take about two hours and can be unnervingly
crowded. Note that drop-off points for the boats to
Jungutbatu and Mushroom Bay depend on the tide -
you'll wade ashore wherever you land.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Ranged along the west coast for over
1km, the low-key beachside village of
Jungutbatu has plenty of losmen and
restaurants. Coconut Beach , Chelegimbai
and Mushroom Bay (Tanjung Sanghyang)
to the southwest and Dream Beach on
the south coast offer more upmarket
accommodation, and Mushroom Bay is
the destination for day-trippers from the
mainland. his can disturb the peace in
the middle of the day but does little to
detract from the idyllic white sand and
turquoise waters.
You can walk around the island in three
to four hours. Motorbikes and bicycles
are widely available for rent in
Jungutbatu, though you will have to
dismount and push the latter up some of
the very steep hills.
hree surf breaks , aptly named
Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playground,
are all reached from Jungutbatu. You can
paddle out to Shipwrecks from the
northern end of the beach, and to the
other two from Coconut Beach around
the cliffs to the south of Jungutbatu, but
if you are staying further away you can
charter a boat (around Rp50,000
including waiting time). here are several
sites for snorkelling accessible by rented
boat around the island. Further away,
the Penida Wall and Crystal Bay, close to
the neighbouring island of Nusa Penida,
are also popular (around Rp200,000-
250,000 for two hours for two people
including equipment). World Diving
(see below) also take snorkellers, if there's
room on the boat and the site is suitable
($25, including equipment; about 4hr).
he area around the islands is popular for

4

DIVING
World Diving Lembongan ( T 0812 390 0686, W world
-diving.com). The most established company on the
island, this is a PADI five-star international operator, based
at Pondok Baruna resort in Jungutbatu. Single dives cost
$48; a one-day & two-dive package is $85.

ACCOMMODATION
JUNGUTBATU
Bunga Bungalo T 0828 9760 8691, W bleucitron.net
/bunga. Little place full of eccentric touches, with chairs
made of giant clam shells and a cute little garden. The
restaur ant overlook ing the beach does great wood-fired
pizzas. Rp285,000
Bungalo No. 7 T 0366 559 6363, W bungalo-no7.com.
Family-run place, set up 30 years ago, with good-value
rooms at the far southern end of the beach; all have
balconies or verandas, though the cheapest only have
cold water. There's also a pool overlooking the beach.
Rp250,000
Linda Bungalows T 0812 360 0867, E bcwcchoppers
@yahoo.com. Aussie-run, spotlessly clean place right next
to the beach. Rooms are in well -built two-s torey buildings
with good-quality furnishings. Rp200,000
★

Mandara Beach Bungalows T 0812 460 9291,
E [e-mail]. Excellent-value concrete
cottages with private terraces surrounding a pretty tropical
garden. The traditional thatched bungalows with a/c