Lembongan
AUSTRALIA | Thursday, 14 March 2013 | Views [469]
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Lembongan today. Picked up from hotel and off to beach to board the "fast boat ". Boat trip was a good one and only took half an hour and we were there. Lembongan Reef Bungalows is lovely with big rooms and great views. We are in room One and it is very comfortable and has a lovely outlook over the ocean and not too many steps. Down for a swim in the pool as storm clouds gather then dump rain for a while cooling everthing down a bit. Lunch and the clouds clear. A walk along the beach was delightful with many boats and activity on the shore line as goods are unloaded and reloaded for return trips. In this area seaweed is farmed and the activity picked up as the tide went out uncovering the sea bed with stakes, lines and seaweed in huge neat squares that hours before were underwater. Young children scour the waters edge looking for worms and catching them with lightening speed rhen flipping them into a bucket. It looked backbreaking hunched over as they went about this task. Day turned into evening and as the sun retreated we watched the mountains in the distance uncover their height and tower into the skyline. My first impression of Lembongan is of "Old Bali' from our first visit in the 70s .
A good nights sleep in a bed big enough for 4. A resident Gecko outside provided a noise loud enough to rival any guard dog. Morning is a bit overcast but warm. We are glad it wasn't cold as no hot water ( call the mechanic ) After breakfast we all headed to the beach for a tour around a few snorkeling areas. Our ride is an outrigger that had all 6 of us comfortable and looking forward to the journey. As we went over the reef break the swell intensified to about 1.5 mtrs but our boat took it in its stride. It looked majestic as we watched the waves crash and spray high into the air as they struck the cliffs and shoreline. After about 30 minutes we came to our first stop Manta Ray Bay. In we jumped and instantly marvelled at the clarity and depth of the water. Fish and coral abound then HUGE Manta Rays leisurely swim towards us, under us and around. WOW what a buzz seeing these creatures in their home turf. Celeste nearly tried to walk on water but settled down and we swam with the rays for quite a while. Next stop around the island was a beautiful bay with crystal clear turquoise water and loads of fish and coral. By now the sun was beating down and it was no mean feat to get back into our boat and move along. I had succumbed to the rigours of snorkeling and kept Captain Wayan company at the next two stops which saw the others snorkel in beautiful fish filled waters. We cut back across the reef and made our way back to home after a great trip that took us around the island of Lembongan in about four hours and cost about $90.00
Awoke to rain beating down on the thatched roof and rolled over until it stopped. I got hungry first and it was still raining so decided to jump in the shower. BUGGER! water is cold. Oh well could be worse, like no water. Breakfast at Baru Karung down the road where we had a beautiful dinner last night. Great idea as the food was good and the coffee excellent. A few hours later and the rain stopped so we ventured down and hired some wheels for the afternoon to sightsee. The girls hired a buggy and the boys hired a stepthrough motorbike each and off we went. The island is fairly easy to navigate with a map and soon enough we were gliding through the lush country and past little houses and villages. Mushroom bay, Dream beach and the Mangroves were a few of the areas we visited. The roads are pretty potholed so speed is not an option but the buggy seemed to cope well and sped up some very steep hills without a problem. Luch at a little Warung cost a few dollars and was just what was needed to fill our tanks and escape the beating sun for a little while. The afternoon turned to dusk and we returned our chariots after a fun afternoon that we thought may not have happened after the rain during the morning seemed like it would never end. Weary but content bodies sat on Katrina and Alains deck and watched the final rays of daylight slip away and the boats bobbing in the bay below turn on their navigation lights to signal the coming of darkness. Dinner then a well earned rest. Tomorrow. we leave Lembongan to return to the mainland.
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