The Nusa Islands -Lembongan, Penida and Ceningan- are a trio of tropical paradises on the east side of Bali. Just a short boat ride away, they are the closest and most accessible islands from Bali. Each island has its unique vibe, some has a vibrant life similar to Bali, while others offer a more serene escape.
During long-term traveling, one can miss the routine and familiar aspects of a settled life. When you are not on the road, it is quite the opposite, you miss the movement and long for wandering in the unknown. I have a life that goes back and forth between settling down and setting out. Moving between retreating in and opening up, between silence and polyphony. This is the song of my soul. And now it was obviously the time to explore the blessings of life on this part of our beautiful planet. My aspiration was to travel around the islands where the Indian and the Pacific Ocean meet.
It was the perfect decision to escape to these neighboring islands as the hustle and bustle of Ubud was just enough even after a week. I was more than happy from the moment I set my foot on Nusa Lembongan. It welcomed with its soft breeze and beautiful nature. I don’t know you but laid-back vibes and humble ambiances are my favourite which Lembongan offered during my whole stay here.
The whole shore of this little island is worth to see. You can enjoy the scenery from different directions while sitting at the wide variety of cute little restaurants and cafes at the beachfront. You can easily see groups of dolphins playing in the open sea. The waves are strong especially at the south part of the island and the tidal range is remarkable. And don’t miss to catch the stunning sunsets at the little bay called Devil’s Tears while massive waves crash the rocks and join the scenery.
The color of the crystal-clear waters and the brightness of white sand were charming that I wasn’t able to take my eyes from them. Beaches, filled with so many different types of seashells and dead corals, are indicating the rich diversity of the submarine. These islands are perfect spots for diving and snorkeling. You can join daily boat tours and experience snorkeling at different bays. You can also see some advanced surfers surfing on the south tip of Ceningan island.
West side of the island has the harbor and white sand beaches, while the lush green side, the north is covered with mangrove forest. East is the connection side to the other 2 islands Ceningan and Penida. Whereas boat ride is the way to go to Penida, Yellow Bridge is the pass to Ceningan island.
Nusa Lembongan has a very charming and humble local village vibe. Tourism and local culture is closely intertwined. Seeing the locals in their authentic lives interests me much. That’s why I loved to walk through the neighborhoods and watch the children flying kites and the villagers farming seaweed. Lembongan holds a rich cultural heritage of seaweed farming. As this tradition is widely carried out, we can see so many seaweed farms at the southeast shallow waters of the island.
Before passing onto the next island let me tell a little about the Indonesian cousine. To me, it is best experienced at the Warungs that are the small traditional restaurants, tiny shops, or kiosks selling all sorts of local food. Giving you a cheaper alternative, they make you feel more at home in Indonesia. But I have to warn you to be careful, because of lack of freshwater and having no fridge to store meat, hygiene is sometimes an issue at warungs.
Indonesian cuisine often has rich flavors, most often described as savory, hot and spicy. It varies by region and has many different influences from Middle East, India, China or Polinesia. Some examples for the best vegetarian dishes are; Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Mie Goreng (fried noodle), Gado-gado (boiled veggies with peanut sauce), vegetable curries, Cap Cay (mixed vegetable dish) and tempeh and tofu.
Nusa Penida is the other neighboring island of Bali and the biggest in 3 of the Nusa islands. Because of its hilly landscape, the island is more rugged. There are less people, less settlements and less tourism and it is filled with jungles so it feels wilder. Infrastructure of the roads are poor therefore car or motorbike ride feels so bumpy and it takes so much longer time to get from one place to another. By a whole day trip, I barely explored the west and southwest of the island. It was worth it because I saw some of the most fascinating and unforgettable landscapes in my entire life!
Island is outlined by breathtaking towering limestone cliffs. I sometimes couldn’t believe my eyes when looking down from the top of the majestic rocks walls. The scenery was astonishing. Union of the immense ocean and the monumental cliffs create a mystical aura. Above you can see the vast cliffs of Kelingking beach overlooking the deep blue ocean.
Apart from Kelingking beach, some other spots worth to visit on the island are; Broken beach and Crystal Bay beach (both seen above). This island is the place where you can be mesmerized by the underwater world. Surrounded by azure waters, Nusa Penida covers a wide area of diving locations that are home also for the manta rays.
