In Reply to: Nusa Lembongan-accom? posted by hilly on Sunday, 29. August 1999 at 08:57 Bali Time:
The best way to get there is the boat from Sanur. You can go via Nusa Penida from Padangbai but I wouldn't recommend that at all. Between Sanur and Nusa Lembongan is quite rough even early in the morning, I'd want everyone to be able to swim! I didn't really enjoy Nusa Lembongan, I was feeling unwell at the time so that might have contributed to it. It rained a lot (it was the wet season, but the rest of Bali wasn't too bad). The principle occupation there is seaweed farming and so the water is filled with nets on which seaweed grows or is trapped. The beach was very thin at low tide and had a lot of rubbish and concrete rubble on it. The water, however, is very clear. The surf break wasn't really going when we were there. Most of the accomodation is low-budget, ours was alright I suppose although the staff were very noisy until very late. Also the island must have more roosters than the rest of Bali put together, they started off at 4am and were still going at 8:30am. I think there is some okay snorkelling about, and a family who were staying there seemed to be having a good time (they were well prepared with rain coats etc). There is also some very good fishing and we saw these people who had caught an absolutely ENORMOUS fish. We also felt like we were being ripped off the whole time, because you are basically a captive there - you have to take their prices for everything. The food was quite cheap and good though. You might enjoy it, but I found the Gili islands off Lombok much more enjoyable (the same sort of isolated island type thing but more pleasant).