We arranged pick up from our hotel and transfer to Lembongan with Scoot. I phoned them the day before and organized. Price was $40USD per person return including transfers.
We took the 9.30am Scoot boat to Lembongan, departing Sanur. This particular day the wind was up and the sea was pretty rough. We sat directly behind the skipper and he was unfazed, full throttle the whole way, a pretty bumpy trip and a few of the passengers were more than grateful to arrive in one piece!
The Manager of our accommodation met us on shore at Lembongan. We arranged for a motor at the time (75,000rp day for a fully auto bike, the manual bikes are 55,000rp/day). If you plan on seeing this island you will need a motor bike, unless you are a masochist and want to half kill yourself by riding a pushbike around the island. There are some seriously steep hills to climb and I didn't see anyone on a bike making it more than half way up most of them. They looked pretty bedraggled walking their bikes up as were cruised past them.
ACCOMODATION : We arranged accommodation at a privately owned villa close to Mushroom Bay. The villa is outstanding and contains; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large living area, self contained kitchen, plunge pool and deck. It is quite isolated being a 15 minute walk to Mushroom Bay. There is absolutely no neighbours and you have complete privacy. The villa is located on the ocean front being perched above a sheer cliff over the water.
The access roads to the villa are pretty poor, but negotiable by foot or motorbike. The night time trips to Mushroom Beach were an adventure, particularly after of few drinks.
The Manager - Komang is very discreet, and comes to clean the villa at your instruction. We used to send him a text and he come along with his cousin and give the place a thorough clean. He would also arrange drinks for the fridge, bread, butter, ice etc whenever you needed it.
The villa whilst having all of the modcons is built in Bali style and hence is largely open air. Lots of geckos, frogs, birds etc to keep you entertained during the night, and at the crack of dawn. The sounds of the waves crashing into the cliff at night time was amazing.
The view of the sunset each night was awesome, looking across to Bali and having a few late arvo drinks is a priceless memory.
EATING OUT : Given the remote location of the villa and poor quality of roads in the area, night time eating out was limited to the restaurants in Mushroom Bay. We ate at Café Bali - best spring rolls anyway in Bali this trip, Margaritas 5/10, Lumbung Bali, great curries, Margarita 4/10, Bali Hide, great red curry, Margarita 7/10.
Some lunchtimes we'd venture down to Jungutbatu Bay. This is where most of the accommodation is located, and is the drop off - pick up point for Scoot Fast Boats.
There are two main restaurants on the oceanfront here, one being the Lembongan Reef Resort restaurant (LRR) and a place next door (name escapes me). We ate at both places and the LRR was absolutely brilliant. When in Lembongan eat seafood, as this is one of the islands staple industries and they know what to do with it. Mahi Mahi done with Indonesian spices was great, mixed seafood kebabs, fish & chips!, everything we ate here was great. The view 11/10, Margarita 9/10 (extra marks given the location).
We also ate here on our last night, too many Margaritas and Bintangs = a long and slow (yet eventful) trip back to the villa.
Also had lunch at Sunset Beach Warung - food OK, view fantastic. Had the place to ourselves. A must do is a trip out to Dream Beach and a meal and drinks at the restaurant there. Had a great green curry, washed down with a ice cold Bintang and views to die for from the upstairs area of the restaurant. Margaritas - 5/10
Komang can also arrange to deliver meals to the Villa if you want to eat in.
THINGS TO DO : Must - hire a motorbike. Funny to meet some older travelers on the island on their first day walking around the place looking hot and bothered. Then to see them the next day on a motor bike having a ball. One couple in their 60's hadn't been on a motorbike for 45 years! I am hopeless on a motorbike and had only ridden one on a backpacking trip 10 years ago in Vietnam and Thailand, so it a piece of cake, particularly the automatic bikes.
Cruise around the island dropping into places like Jungutbata Bay, Mushroom Bay, Dream Beach, Sunset Beach, Suspension Bridge, local villages etc. I used to head out each morning for a couple of hours looking at different things each day, checking out other accommodation options etc.
Snorkling - Komang arranged a local fisherman to take us out one morning. We snorkled at the Mangrove area - spectacular and better than I expected. Komang bread with him and we fed the fish and took it into the water with us, being surrounded by hundreds of tropical fish was awesome - wish we had the underwater camera. We then headed to Gamat Bay and Crystal Bay, saw some Clown fish which was a highlight. It was amazing to see how close the fish would come to us. They were fascinated by my wifes rings and would nibble at them. We went around the entire island and to see our villa from the sea was nice - as you come to the island from Sanur and Benoa you can't miss it - it sits all by itself and has two red flags out front.
Surfing and Scuba diving - not our thing but plenty of people doing these activities.
Doing nothing - we were pretty good at that! Our villa was just a great place to sit around the pool, in the pool, read books etc. So quiet, so peaceful. Watching the local boats head past, the day tripper boats etc.
The villa had a good supply of DVD's and CD's so you can watch a movie or two, or just put some music on to relax.
Leaving Lembongan was tough, what a great 4 nights.
The boat trip back was smooth and good fun as the skipper took great delight in doing a couple of hairpin turns when we arrived at Sanur.
As we had a 12.30am flight back to Perth, and we had arrived at Sanur at 12pm, we decided to drop our luggage at the airport and head into Kuta/Legian for some last minute shopping and R&R. Storing luggage at the airport costs 20,000rp per suitcase for the day - good value.
Had a great feed at TJ's - the wife had to have their Margaritas again, and I had to have their Fajitas again. Both didn't disappoint and we left contented.
We bought a bunch of cushion covers from the shop next to Ketuts in Garlic Lane, picked up our stubbie holders and headed to Briella Spa to book in some luxury pampering. We settled an a 2.5 hour treatment each and agreed to come back at 5pm. We headed across the road to the Jayakarta and had an hour or so of downtime in the pool and relaxing.
Briella Spa - We had a new massages this trip, but this place leaves the other for dead. Aircon, nice music, attentive staff and good value. It is located about 50 metres to the left as you exit the Jayakarta main gates.
Once we finished at Briella we headed back to the Jayakarta for a quick swim to wash off the oils, and then headed to Goody's for our last meal (review completed in JBR Part 1.
We made our way to the airport and arrived at about 11pm, checked in and made it to the departure gate with 20 mins until flight time. Trip back uneventful, too full from Goody's to eat our prearranged meal. Had a kip and arrived back into Perth at 4.05am. Pulled in the driveway at home at 5.10am and woke about 10am to reality.
I trust that you enjoyed my JBR and any questions please let me know. Email open.
No 1. Margarita - Ultimos. At 60,000rp it should have been.