Natural Wonder of Lembongan Island

Mon, 6 Jun 2011

Awesome natural wonders of Lembongan Islands

Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali. It is separated by Badung Strait from the main land of Bali. Exactly, there three small neighboring islands in this site, those islands are Nusa Penida Island as the biggest, Nusa Lembongan and the smallest one is Nusa Ceningan. Amazingly, Nusa Ceningan and Lembongan Island are very close and only connected by the swinging bridge. The island is approximately 8 square km in size, and is one of three neighboring islands. Nusa Lembongan grow up to be one of Bali's most popular attractions, this island paradise is a world away from the crowded situation of South Bali.

Crossing Transport Service

There are several options for the transport depend on the speed and of course the budget. First option is by using public boat or Jukung but of course it moves so slowly. It departs daily from Sanur beach around 08.00 and 10.00 near the Grand Inna Bali Beach Hotel (depending on tide). These boats can be a bit sketchy at times, and are usually very crowded. It is the cheapest way to reach Lembongan Island, the price is only Rp. 25.000. Keep in mind, there is no return schedule on the same day. The trip to across the strait is approximately 90 minutes or even more depend on the tide and wave.

 

 

The second option is crossing the strait by speed boat, some of the speed boats leave from Sanur beach, Serangan Island and Benoa harbor. This option provides several trips for go and back start from 08.00 in the morning until 15.00 in the afternoon. They also serve hotel transfers from Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Legian, Ubud and Uluwatu with extra charges. The time needed only 30 minutes for crossing. For this transport service, the passengers pay Rp. 75.000 per person one way.

 

 

The last alternative is joining the cruise that departs from Benoa harbor around 09.00 o’clock in the morning. This trip is also integrated with a package tour by some of professional companies that will bring you to the island. These kinds of companies provide you with number of sea and land daily activities, so you can choose at once for example snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, undersea explorer, banana boat riding, glass bottom boat and island trip. As the choice mentioned, this is the most of expensive one but completed with many itineraries.

 

 

Accommodation

All hotels or bungalows Nusa Lembongan will have a cafe or restaurant attached to it. There are a few good local warungs to choose from. Fish menu is naturally a great option. Small shops are easy to be found and they offer for basic visitor requirements, stocking sun-block, cheap knock-off board shorts and hats, as well as the usual range of snacks, beer, soft drinks and cigarettes. Some of the places have wireless internet capability for guests, and some offer public internet cafe facilities for non-guests. The service is sometimes very slow and most of the internet cafes also have a download limit. One thing that should be remembered is there is no ATMs center on this island. The visitors should bring enough cash money with them. Money changing facilities are available at hotels, but the rate given is always unfavorable. Some hotels and shops will accept credit cards, although many of them charge a fee of 3 to 5% for charges to your credit card.

Points on interest

When the visitors arrive here, they will not see large amount of traffic that normally mars the beautiful views offered in different parts of Bali. This island has some amazing things and also some phenomenal activities that bring you close to nature, all of them will be offered to the tourists who come for a visit. This is a good place for spending your vacation in Bali, you will get relax and enjoy some of the incredible beauty of the Indian Ocean. Presently, it is rapidly becoming a popular tourist attraction. There are some awesome natural wonders to be found on Nusa Lembongan.

Devil Tears Site

Devil's Tear can be said as a rocky outcrop. In this place, you can see and check out the powerful waves of the ocean slamming and crashing against rocks. There are also several blow holes on the rocks which create a very dramatic and awe inspiring scene when large swells of water crashes onto the cliff and a gush of water comes out from these holes.

Mangrove Forest Exploring

The local’s people also care and responsible with their environment, they develop an extensive forest of mature mangrove forest into an attractive ecotourism site in Jungut Batu village. The visitors can explore and experience an extreme quietness of mangrove forest by sailing with small boat for Rp. 60.000 for one boat. One boat can be accommodated by 4 persons. The trip covers time around 30 minutes. The visitors could see colorful and unique mud crabs, some of the marine life, various sound of birds and many wild life in this area.

Seaweed Farms

The visitors may find the seaweed farming industry which takes place in many parts of the island, but the most accessible farms are on the southern side of Lembongan Village. Most of the seaweed grown here is intended for export items for the cosmetics industry mainly in Asia.   

 

 

 

 

 

Underground House or Gala-gala

Sometimes, some of us unbelief with incredible thing but sometimes we have to prove and trust it.  One of most unique house ever found under the earth is Gala-gala or Underground house in Nusa Lembongan. The House was built by a priest for 15 years, namely Mr. Made Biasa. The digging process only used light equipments, such as hammer, mattock, spade, chisel and spiritual intuition as guidance. The house completed with of bedroom, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and sacred room for meditation.

Puncak Sari Temple

All of the people here are Hindus, their culture are almost the same as you can find in the main land of Bali. This is the biggest temple in this island; it is situated on the main route back to Jungut Batu from Lembongan. If you move your step up, wide view will appear over the straits back to Bali. Most of the island area also could be observed on this temple.

Sunsets

Sunset will be one of the best moment to see spectacular view and it available to be seen from any west facing part of the island, but the beach at Jungut Batu is especially popular. Another good place to enjoy sunset is just go over the bridge to Nusa Ceningan and view the sunset from one of the west-facing high ridges. In enjoying the view the visitors must be here approximately 17.30 until and 18.00 in the afternoon. 

 

 

 

 

Swinging Bridge

This is small bridge which connecting Lembongan Island and Nusa Ceningan Island. The length of the bridge is around 75 meters and 1.5 meters width. The bridge only can be passed by motorcycle or bike. This swinging bridge should not be missed by any visitor. You can walk or bike across the bridge to neighboring Nusa Ceningan. The noise it makes can be quite scary and move your heart beat fast. If you see someone crossing the bridge while you do so, you have to wait at another edge of the bridge, just let them pass and then you can take your turn after. The estuarine channel between Lembongan and Ceningan under the bridge is home to many seaweed farms.

Mushroom Bay.

This beach offers natural attraction with other coastal landscapes are obviously a key draw, as are the sunsets. There are quite number of man-made attractions, most notably temples and the rickety swinging bridge.

Dream Beach.

Dream beach is a wonderful beach with powdery, white sand, located on the south coast. From the main accommodation areas on the west coast, lead to southeast towards Lembongan Village where you should turn west, and then look for the sign posted small track leading south to Dream Beach. Dream Beach is a great place to spend the whole day doing nothing. Occasionally, the wave and tide is so strong then try to avoid the eastern part of the beach for your safety.

 

 

 

Sandy Bay

It is nice place to see sunset and very close to devil tear site. The beach is small but spectacular beach with white sand and crashing waves, located just to the north of Dream Beach. It has low tide a dramatic cave is exposed in the low limestone cliff at the eastern side of the bay.

 

 

 

 

Diving and Snorkeling

Some areas around the island are good spots for diving and snorkeling, with tons marine life and healthy coral. The dive spots have excellent quality in the crystal clear waters around the island. A number of reputable dive shops are present, and this is a notable teaching destination. The diving activities get many challenges and dive operators will visit certain sites only when the sea conditions are possible. Marine highlights include large manta rays all year round, spectacular, massive oceanic sunfish (mola-mola) in season (July to October), white-tipped reef sharks, nurse sharks and the odd hammerhead. Mola-mola or sun fish is the mascot of the island and only be able found in this island all around the Indonesia archipelago or even in Asia.

For non divers visitors should not feel worry about, as good snorkeling is available close inshore at various sites around the island. Two of the spots areas are Mushroom Bay on the west coast, and the mangroves on the northern part area. Snorkeling equipment can be rented from your hotel or on the beach with competitive price depend on the quality of the gear, a mask, snorkel and set of fins. The visitors do not need to dive because a plenty of tropical sea life - a countless variety of colorful fish, giant clams, starfish, shells, turtles, sponges, sea urchins, and lots more fantastic marine creatures easy to be found.

Surfing

Surfing can get a bit crowded, but the waves are good. There are several white sand beaches away from the main centers which are virtually never crowded. There are three main breaks and some of the spots are well known just to the southwest off Nusa Ceningan. Playgrounds, Lacerations and Shipwrecks are all close offshore and reached via an energetic paddle from the beach, or in a more leisurely fashion use local boat. The breaks usually suit intermediate to experienced surfers given they all break over coral reefs, the aptly named Playgrounds is a little more forgiving and can be enjoyed by beginners and experts one.

Water sport Activities

The visitors who like water sports activities will not be short of options. The numbers of water sports are available, including jet-skis, para-sailing, wake-boarding and banana boats. Those who care a little about the environment may try to patronize the sea kayaking option. It is easy to join the activities because some hotels will be able to assist with booking any of these activities. Alternatively, just head down to the beach at either Mushroom Bay or Jungut Batu, and figure it out for yourself.

Walking around

Lembongan island is nice place to walk, it has coastal paths linking nearly all the guest houses, hotels and restaurants. Walking activities will take less than two hours all around the island. If the visitors enter the village center, you will find homes of traditional island families. The less developed southwestern area of the island has some spectacular coast paths which provide easy walking, great views back to Bali, and spectacular sunsets. You can cross by foot to the small neighboring island of Nusa Ceningan via a scenic swinging bridge. Exploring activities also can be done by bicycles. The bicycles can be rented at most hotels and guest-houses in low price. Some of the roads are not quite well surfaced and be prepared for some of degraded surfaces in places.