Lembongan Island

After Ubud, I returned to Kuta, but only to get out to another place nearby, Lembongan Island. I had been told about Lembongan Island by a man I met when I visited Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta. He told me it was a laid back island with a bunch of things to do, or where a person could just sit back and relax. It sounded good, so I booked through to the island once I returned to Kuta. Unfortunately, I had missed the last boat to Lembongan and had to go the next morning.

But once I got here, it is very nice indeed. At night there are not many lights, so the sky is visible (assuming there are not clouds in the way). The people are nice and helpful. And most of all, even though they are dependent in many ways on tourism, they don't push it on you. It's not, “I will take you somewhere tomorrow.” It's, “Do you have a plan tomorrow? Would you like to go snorkelling? If you want, I can help arrange it.” They don't put the hard sell on you. I like that best.

It is a small island though. And when you arrive, there are just guest houses and resorts all along the beach.

All over the bay is basically a seaweed farm. You can see the farming plots from some spots on shore. The farmers go out and get the seaweed from their plots and then bring it in to dry. I'm not sure about the bleaching of the seaweed. They don't do anything to it, but when it comes in it is various shades of green. When it is drying, it starts to become white. It may only be the sun, but I don't really know. I am going to ask someone and find out.

Later in the day a walk in town showed the same sorts of places. There were temples and homes and shops, but it was a slower sort of place than Kuta, or even Ubud. I did find out what happens to the offerings when they are done serving their purpose. It's kind of sad really. And I also observed someone putting out the offerings at one spot.

I also got to watch the unloading of cargo of some sort from a boat. I have seen that women do a lot of the heavy lifting here. And I envy them their posture. I wish I had spent more time and effort on my posture in my youth. Then maybe I wouldn't be dealing with an iffy back now. :)