Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan & Penida
admin January 11th, 2010
In between the islands of Bali and Lombok just 45 minutes by boat, lies 3 smaller islands called Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida.Now renowned as a world famous destination for experienced divers as the strong currents bring the rare sunfish (Mola Mola) in the months between August and December, and then until February Manta rays also.
Also extremely popular with experienced surfers with 3 world class surf breaks, Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds, all easily accessible from the bay at Jungutbatu.
The villagers still live very traditionally, the vast majority being Hindu, their lives are centred around their religion and sea weed farming. Offerings are made to appease the spirits and bring good health and prosperity to the family. Every day small offerings are placed on shrines, temples and outside doorways and shops. If you are lucky enough to be at the island when there is a festival or ceremony the beautifully dressed villagers will be seen making their way to the temples. Women carry colourful displays of food, fruit and flowers on their heads. The men still take part in cock fighting as a blood sacrifice on Nusa Lembongan.
These islands were used as a jail during the Balinese Kingdom before. Black magic was practised by the islanders for many years and the island is still known for its mystical practices. Ancient navigation charts of the islands were marked with a skull and crossbones as a warning to mariners not to land.
Two main beach areas have traditionally attracted visitors. Jungut Batu in the northwest is the bigger of the two, and has myriad hotels and cheap eateries. This is the area which traditionally attracted backpackers and surfers to the island. The white sand beach here is pleasant enough but nothing to get too excited about, and it is a little narrow in places. In more recent times, the hillside to the south of Jungut Batu known as the Bukit (the hill) has been developed and has attracted higher level hotels. The views from the Bukit are perhaps second to none on Nusa Lembongan. Sunsets are best viewed along the main Jungut Batu beachfront.
Mushroom Bay to the southwest of Jungut Batu is a quaint, attractive and sheltered bay. It is an especially nice spot after 3PM when the day trippers have returned to Bali, and it has a great white sandy beach, along with some cozy little water-side restaurants.
Further south, the lesser known beaches either side of the Devil’s Tear outcrop, known as Dream Beach and Sunset Beach, are increasingly drawing more visitors. The coastal landscape in this part of the island is mostly low-lying limestone cliffs, and there are some dramatic cave formations.
The north end of the island is fringed by a mangrove forest, and the eastern side of the island is separated from neighbouring Nusa Ceningan by a shallow estuarine channel.
The main population centre of the island is Lembongan Village in the southern interior, and it is here that you will find the homes of most traditional island families.
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