We headed from Balian (west coast) to Sanur (east coast) on the 16th of June - our new friends Chris and Nadine and their three boys were off for a surf trip to an island called Nusa Lembongan. After hearing about it from them and reading up on the surf breaks Gavin and I decided to go along.

{w:600;h:300} Sanur on the east coast of Bali

map of Sanur, east coast of Bali

We left a day before them for the drive over to Sanur – it was a relatively easy drive for Bali – we must be getting more accustomed to the mad driving skills and the traffic mayhem!!! Sanur was pretty and you seemed to get a lot let hassle than Kuta. Our first nights accommodation was at Ritas home stay, the rooms where large with clean bedding and friendly staff. We went out for some food and found an amazing little organic cafe (manik organik) that sold home made brown bread and free range eggs – that’s the first time we have eaten brown bread since leaving Cornwall – it was so delicious.

The New Zealand crew arrived the following day and we all moved into a small hotel complex 150.000Rp a night. It had a pretty garden and a nice pool for Tehya and Ben (Tehya’s new friend). Gavin went off the next day with Chris and the boys to check out waves around Uluwatu, they found a secret surf spot called (sorry its secret?) Point – now re named Lime Juice point as both Chris and Gavin got battered coming in from checking it out and ended up with nasty coral cuts on their backs - Gavin also ended up with them on the backs of both forearms from his wrists to his elbows. Which meant no more surfing for a week for Gavin and a week of nursing him better for me!!! (of course I didn’t start to enjoy poring lime juice and iodine on to his injuries – until the end of the week).

{w:600;h:300} Nusa Lembongan Island, Bali, indonesia

map of Nusa Lembongan Island

We followed Chris and Nadine to Nusa Lembongan a few days after they went over – we caught the slow boat which was 70.000 each for Gavin and I and 35.000 for Tehya. It took about one hour forty five mins and was great as that day the sea was flat calm and like a mill pond. Nusa Lembongan is a small island that lies of the south east coast of Bali – between Bali and Lombok. It is famous for its surf breaks – Ship wreaks, Lacerations and Play grounds. The water is clear blue and really warm, the beaches are sandy white and very pretty.

Until recently the only tourists to visit the island were surfers but it has also become a diving island and is also visited by tourist’s who just want to see the views and relax on the beach. Looking back to the coast of mainland Bali you can see why – the vista is dominated by a ridge of dark mountains and behind them grows Bali’s central mountain and volcano. The clouds sweep the top of the mountains and the volcanic peak – lifts out of the top of them. In the fore ground when you look down from the cliff path that follows the coast round the the next beach and small bay you can see the lines of the sea weed fields that are maintained by the women sea weed farmers of the island. It’s production is mainly as an additive for products and for export to Japan. We only stayed on Lembongan for two nights, Gavin did not surf as he felt his injuries just were not better enough to risk getting them wet and risking infection the surf was more or less flat so he wasn’t too bothered. The breaks on Lembongan are all coral – so I think he did not relish the idea of possibly getting battered again. We plan to visit the island again once he is properly healed up.

So we got the boat back to the mainland and drove straight back to the comfort and familiarity of Balian and Mr Obles place……Balian Segara!!!

To see our images of Sanur and Lembongan click here and here