“Where are you going?”
“…don’t know, I’ll figure it out on the island”
“Talk captain, he homestay cheap”
Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali, is quickly becoming one of Bali’s most popular attractions, this island paradise is a world away from the hassle and hectic pace of South Bali. This is a fine place to just put your feet up and relax. Main activities (if any) include surfing, diving and snorkelling. The water is some of the clearest you will find anywhere, and a vivid aqua blue in colour.
Just my kind of place – and finally, I’m getting back into the water to make those bubbles. The boat zooms across the flat Indian ocean to bring a boat full of excited divers to Manta Point. It lives up to its name because as we descend, 5 majestic reef mantas salute us, gliding by peacefully. Sweet! The water is 27⁰ C and I’m diving with 3 instructors from Regensburg, Bavaria, ‘griass Eana!’ During the dive we spot a total of 12 manta rays, cruising across the cleaning station where we hover on the side – totally loved it!
In the evening, I join an impressive presentation on weird marine wonders by Marine Mega Fauna and get all excited about marine biology. It’s so impressive what’s happening down there and how much we don’t know yet and unfortunately won’t know as we’re headed for complete fish extinction in 45 years. Don’t believe me? Check this amazing documentary ‘End of the line’ and judge again.
Then a day of doing absolutely nothing – chilling under a tree on the beach, I end up with heat exhaustion (silly me…) Spend the next 36 hours with fever, chills and nausea. I manage to get back to the mainland and sleep it off in 24 hours with breaks for lots of soup, water and crackers.
Between training days in Sanur I have time to spare and go to Bukit with its famous surfing beaches like Ulu Watu. These beaches consist of slippery reefs and wood shacks on poles built into the cliff just for board rental, eating and sleeping. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and time passes by as I stare at the surfers, look for reef critters and play in the ocean.
For more beginner-friendly-surfing, I head to the North-West, to a town called Canggu. It somehow has the same lovely vibe as Ubud. In the morning I join the guys to a beach named Old Man, where I rent a board and paddle out, joining the many others waiting to catch that perfect wave.
I’m simply happy, remembering how much I love being on the water and excited to get back on the board. In 2 hours I manage to catch 2 waves, before being washed up onto the beach.
We chill on a patch of grass with beanbags, swings and play cards while we drink from freshly opened coconuts – life in all its simplicity is beautiful.
Planet Bubbles 