Friday 1st July - Sunday 3rd July
Off to Nusa Lembongan. A good thing about Bali Ayu is that the restaurant faces onto the street, so we could enjoy a leisurely breakfast while waiting for our transfer to the fast boat that would take us to Lembongan.
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Lucky for us to see a procession of people and vehicles
pass the Bali Ayu heading to a ceremony |
The fast boat leaves from Benoa Harbour. Haven't been there for almost 35 years. Never been to Nusa Lembongan. Looking forward to it :-)
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The starting point for our
Lembongan escape |
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And we wondered why the traffic in and out of Tanjung Benoa
was so crazy - look at the water activity.
Bit dangerous if you ask me!! |
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Coming into Nusa Lembongan right next to this surf break -
I think it's Playgrounds??? |
Into a runabout with our gear to transfer to the beach. So, Michele and I are dumped at our little cove - I wouldn't say unceremoniously - but I would say dumped, after being told to be waiting at 8.30am in 2 days time. They did wave and smile as they took off, leaving us standing on the beach looking at the hill we have to walk up with our luggage! Our little cove is nestled between Mushroom Bay and Coconuts resort.
We start up the hill to Lembongan Cliff Villas - thankfully 2 kind souls happen along and offer to take our bags. Well worth a thank you tip!
Lembongan Cliff Villas
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| Looking from the restaurant to the pool area. |
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Some of the natural beauty around the villas
Taken while waiting for our room |
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| Lucky we didn't have to carry our bags up to our room! |
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The steps leading up to our room
Definitely not for anyone with a physical disability! |
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| View from our room |
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| Our lovely room |
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| Bathroom |
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| Welcome flowers on our bed |
The rest of the day spent relaxing by the pool, the only pressing matter being to remember to wander down to the beach in time for sunset! Bliss, not having to go anywhere or do anything :-). And a bonus, great internet connection both in our room and the restaurant areas. Lunch and dinner at the villas, not startling but not having to actually go anywhere was the important thing. Small and very friendly and helpful staff. How good is this.
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| Magical view of Mt Agung |
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| Sunset |
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| View of Mt Agung from the Cliff Villas |
Remembering that the main object of being on Lembongan was to do not too much, we didn't want to rush around trying to see the whole island. So, after a leisurely breakfast, it was off to explore. Walk down to the beach & decide - do we go left or right? Ok, map in hand, we decided to turn right. The path wound round past coconuts and some fairly classy looking places before leading us to Lembongan village. Wandered along the beachfront, watching all the goings before checking out the 'main drag'.
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| The 'busy' main drag!!! |
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| The comings and goings from the boats |
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| Lembongan village looking back towards Coconuts |
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| Cute baby |
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Drying seaweed
Ok, there are supposed to be some great views from Mangrove Point, so that's where we headed.
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| The view heading to Mangrove Point |
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| The nets need repair |
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| Fishing village |
Keeping the kids occupied
Making offerings
The mangrove 'tour' was not terribly interesting
but peaceful and relaxing
so fitted well with the theme of the day
Well worth coming to Mangrove Point, the view is spectacular!
Right on the sand
Nothing between us and
Mt Agung!!
Ok, enough activity for one day, time to head back to relax by the pool. Enough walking, how to get back? Our 'mangrove guide' offered a lift back on. I stipulate there are 2 of us, so 2 bikes. He nods in agreement. All good - but only one bike. Oh well, it's not exactly busy on Lembongan, so on we hopped. Funny, the locals mustn't spend much time outside their own little area. Lembongan is not exactly big but this guy had no idea where the Lembongan Cliff Villas were. No worries, just drop us of near Coconuts, we can walk from there.
Ah, time to relax by the pool! Book, got it. Drink, yes please. Massage, yes please. Seafood bbq dinner by the pool, yes please.
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| Another Lembongan sunset |
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| Preparing for the poolside dinner |
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Not 5* but a lovely relaxed setting and
fresh seafood!! |
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| Cooking up a storm! |
An early rise this morning. Time to take in the beautiful views of Lembongan for the last time. This trip anyway. I will return!!
Sadly we had to be back down on the beach by 8.30am to be taken to the fast boat and back to the craziness of Bali.
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| It's off to the fast boat |
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| For Sandy - your villas |
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| The fast boat 'Captain' |
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| Farewell magical views |
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Back at Benoa
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Relaxed and refreshed (but it could have been better if we'd had a few more days there!!) we were ready for our next stop - Ubud.............................
