After a calm boat trip with a beautiful view of both islands, we arrived at Nusa Penida, the larger of the three islands. Inez was not inclined to pay the inflated taxi prices again. Two scooters offered us a reasonable price. It was about a 45-minute drive to our hotel. I was a little hesitant because I had never been on the back of a scooter before without a helmet and protective clothing. I didn’t have much choice. Inez was already on the back of her driver’s scooter and left. There I was. My backpack was already between my driver’s legs. With a fearful heart, I jumped on the back. In the end, everything went smoothly, we arrived safely, and I could ‘partly’ enjoy it. The hotel had a good swimming pool and a nice clean room. We were advised to book a tour to explore the island in a short time. These prices were very expensive, but we couldn’t find them cheaper anywhere. We had to think about it. We took a taxi to Penida Colada, the only somewhat cozy place to eat and drink. The island is far from developed, and everything is just starting to get going. Here you can hardly find a bank, no real taxis, and it is recommended to bring cash as paying with a card does not always work due to poor connections. Our taxi driver informed us that he could take us around the island. We negotiated and booked half a day for tomorrow. He would show us the best parts of the island. We were curious. Penida Colada was super cozy. We ate and drank something. Delicious fresh cocktails topped it off. The view over the ocean and the volcano on Bali was fantastic. A real place to relax. We did just that and ended the day by booking a snorkeling trip with the Manta Rays. This had long been high on Inez’s wishlist. It hadn’t happened in Australia. All distances are miles apart there. We were really looking forward to it!
Our driver picked us up the next day, and we drove over various beautiful roads. Some were easier to drive on than others. Sometimes it felt like a rally ride, and we could enjoy the different views other times. We first drove high through the mountainous landscape, where we got a full view of the volcano on Bali. One of the highlights of the island is Kelingking Beach. Here there is a famous rock that gives access to the beach via a steep stairway carved into the rock. We took some photos and finally decided not to go down. The view from above was already beautiful. On the way back, we got a better impression of life as a local on the island. Many people were working on their houses or as stone cutters. After the many kilometers by car and on foot, we took a refreshing dip in the pool and enjoyed the sun. A drink and dinner became a habit at Penida Colada. With regret, we booked our flights home. It was a difficult decision. But after considering everything, this seemed the best decision.
We were ready for it. After not doing it in Australia, we were snorkeling with the Manta Rays today. We were picked up by two scooters. My favorite mode of transport 😂. I was given prescription diving goggles, and we were with four people in the group. Us and another English couple our age. The day couldn’t have been better. We left by boat and snorkeled at different spots. The water was pleasant, and the coral was fantastic. I could see clearly and more clearly than ever with my prescription diving goggles. Turtles, big fish, Nemo, and so much more. It was incredible. Bali had a lot to offer underwater. On the way to the last spot, we sailed via Kelingking Beach. Upon arriving at Manta Point, we quickly got signals from other boats that the Manta Rays were present. We dove into the water and had to get used to the stings of the jellyfish, but once we saw the Manta Rays, we couldn’t believe how big and beautiful they were. Eight Manta Rays swam below us. They passed us several times. We dove down occasionally to look at them up close. Fantastic! We were hugely impressed. We knew they were big animals, but this big… It was phenomenal! We celebrated with a cocktail (or more than one, because they were so tasty) at Penida Colada!
At the bottom of the page, you’ll find videos of the snorkeling.
The next day we checked out and took the boat back to Nusa Lembongan. We spent one last time at the pool at Dayung and ate at The Deck. We enjoyed our last evening on the island to the fullest. Dayung Villas gave us the best night’s sleep before we went back to Bali for our final days.
X Ely & Inez
I'm convinced that you should do what you love and go for what you want in life. I go through life with a no-nonsense mentality and a passion for travel, blogging, and the digital world. In 2018, I embarked on the journey of my life with my girlfriend, and since then I want to continue traveling and discovering the world.
Weet niet of dit jullie laatste verslag is van dit avontuur maar ben zeker dat jullie mooie dingen hebben gezien die andere waaronder ikzelf nooit zullen zien.
Proficiat voor de durf om dit avontuur aan te vatten en mooi en veilig te eindigen.
Veel mensen dromen van zoiets maar gemout het toch maar doen
Padré