Thursday: Lazy Lebongan Adventure

This morning was another slow start. Apparently those early mornings last week have caught up with me.

I awoke to hearing the kids from the nearby school running. This is their PE, to run the streets. The roof of the school can be seen in the background, it is very close to the hotel, providing that lovely sound of joyous playground excitement. 

From where I stood to see the kids...my cute little home in room 7!

This most beautiful cacoon hangs from my steps. I wish I could sit wand watch it hatch when the time comes.

Morning doodles under the bungalow

Headed to breaky with this view. It's SO warm!

Beautiful dove above the pool.

Offerings in front of the hotel entrance. These are pretty much bird or dog food.

Here they cover the main offerings to keep the birds out, yet they still manage to throw them over for access. 

Finally made it out for some scooter adventures! My plan was to see the island, driving all of the way around. Little did I know that would take less than an hour without stops, but stops are necessary.

Beautiful temples are everywhere, sometimes within feet of one another.

Panorama  Point with clouds blocking the top of Mt. Agung. The main road can be seen below. The charm of this island!

At the "antique store"

Old men cruise the streets on bicycles older than them.

Seaweed farmer homes on the north side of the island.

We made it to the Mangrove Forrest! 

Adventure time!

Totally safe

You can rent boats and paddle through the tangled forest.

I live for getting lost on adventures!

The roots of the mangroves.

We headed to see monkeys as I kept hearing you could see them here. I thought they were native to the forest. I was quickly saddened...

Three of them have a belt around their waist and are chained within feet of one another. This little guy is about 1 year.

I went to show him some love despite his situation and he jumped on me and instantly attempted to take my earring out with his mouth. For the record, I don't support this in any way and learned I should have stayed back so he could not even jump on me.

He's up to no good, look at that face!

He was friggin adorable! Although he had a little tude, as would I being chained up at all times. Within less than a minute after this picture he was on the ground and attacking my leg. I grew pretty scared and raised my voice a bit (unfortunately) for the guy to get him off. He was biting, although he didn't feel as though he could break the skin-but it was scary! I was so afraid of getting some monkey disease. I felt so bad that this was his life.

Quick! Back on the scooter! I wanted out of there after my heart filled with sadness.

Temple time!

None of these temples are the same two. 

Headed home from school!

Weathervane at its finest! And it totally works. Such simplicity.

There was a little Ganesh in the top center of the elaborate entrance.

Back to Ceningan for lunch! This bridge is so fun! Sounds like an old wooden roller coaster as the scooter crosses.

Mojito at the Palms, the restaurant viewable from Dafish where I had stayed previously. This place is such a hidden secret! Only 2 other people there all day! Met a darling Australian couple who were on their honeymoon and chatted health and yoga all afternoon over drinks, waves and sunshine.

Temple views from The Palms. In the distance is Dream Beach where I live. I just want to say it's across the street!

View of Secret Point and the giant crack in the cliff under the pool. Such safety standards!

Fire within

After spending nearly 5 hours poolside, a shower was needed. I began to feel a little weak in the stomach at this point, but didn't want to miss the sunset! 

Headed to the cliffs between Dream Beach and Sandy Bay for the view.

The cliffs had pool ledges that were gorgeous. And then....

This was probably my top favorite memory of the trip. I was freshly showered and en route to dinner, but left here soaked from the spray. 

No words can describe this magic!

 

 

 

Overwhelmed with gratitude once again!

We headed to dinner at Sandy Bay Club, which is right on the beach. I asked for soda water (bubbles for the tum tum) and received Schweps "air soda". 

Sandy Bay

We ventured out to find a local watering hole which proved to be impossible after stopping and 3-4 different places and asking around. This place is so sleepy! We ended up at Mola Mola at Mushroom Bay and had a bevie on lounge chairs listening to waves and watching Bali's nightly lighting show.

Returned "home" for a shower under the stars. I could get used to this!

Tuesday: What Day Is It?

I must have asked what the day or date was at least five times today or was corrected when I uttered the wrong day. It's official I'm suffering from vacation brain. I'm ok with this. I accept it. So long as I remember the right day for my return flight, all will be well.

I slept in today...until 6:30. Up with the doves!

Early morning calls for a run before the heat sets in.

Finally found an actual pet dog that isn't left to wander the streets. He was loving some attention. Although I don't know where a Bali dog's tongue has been. 

And then the puppy loves got better...

Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Nothing can top this. 

Nope. Nothing. 

I returned to Blue Lagoon for one last time. Post run stretch and meditation. So much easier when your brain is rendered useless!

Secret Point, where I viewed the sunset, viewed from the Secret Point beach. Thankfully I hadn't known about the state of that withering cave when I walked over it or I may have questioned my life decisions. 

Spot the crab eyes

Secret views at Secret Point

Gargantuan palm trees overshadowing the teeny Eco systems left in low tide. Tide pools take me back to poking sea anemones as a child. I didn't dare poke. Promise.

Losing track of time with these treasures. An ADD child's dream.

I had breaky with Sarah this morning before packing up. My new hotel on Nusa Lemongan picked me up at 10am. Another scooter ride! I enjoyed the rickety suspension bridge again, this time on the back of a scooter. In less than 10 minutes I was at my new hotel (if you want to call it that), Dream Beach Kubu...

Welcome drink upon arrival. 

View from the balcony. This is the same bay I had taken pictures of yesterday between the two islands.

Well ain't that dreamy? A romantic bungalow for one! I'll take it! Fresh flowers adorned the room.

The bathroom. I showered while it lightly sprinkled today. Dreamy for sure! I also thought I had a bad case if the after affects of a sunburn on my scalp. Nope. It was chunks of salt from the pool and shower at Dafish. 

A western toilet! And spare toilet paper! Moving on up here at Dream Beach Kubu. Note the plumeria at the sink and on the toilet paper.

Details 

I live here for the next 4 days. I had thought perhaps 2 days originally as I have commitment issues when it comes to hotels. And then I fell in love and got over those issues.

The roads are SO much better here so I rented a scooter for the day, ready to explore and get a lay of the land. 

First stop, mani/pedi accompanied by fresh coconut water. 

The girl doing my nails, Wayan (like Ketut for males, means first born), offered to take me to the ATM and to find a dive shop. After I finished my coconut water she closed up shop and drove me on my scooter. Such a sweetheart!

Cruising down Bali backroads

Scooter view of Panorama point, overlooking the main harbor of Nusa Lebongan.

After I scheduled my dive for tomorrow, we drove back to the salon where I dropped Wayan off. I headed to lunch as I was about to get hangry.

Mushroom Bay is less than 5 minutes from my hotel. This was the first glimpse of the beaches I saw from the boat.

My lunch view

Seaweed salad. I was shocked I hadn't yet seen this offered since that is the main market, but I guess they make more money selling it to Japan. Looks like squid! This was one of my favorite dishes so far. Seaweed, tomato, cucumber, fish, toasted nuts (they use a lot of, but I have no idea what they are!), tossed in a light curry dressing accompanied by a fresh watermelon juice.

This may be TMI for some, but I love being by the ocean for so many reasons! Whoever was using the restroom after lunch was taking too long for my bladder's liking. So I walked into the ocean right from lunch. Better than using the bushes! 😉 

Hopped back on my scooter to see a little more, still dripping from the ocean...

To the left is mushroom bay

The other side of panorama point

Main harbor area. I was walking along the sidewalk until it abruptly ended here. Bali sidewalks always fail me! There are crabs scurrying all over the steps!

These homemade decorations are everywhere (I even saw one in the ocean tied to a buoy), made out of palm leaves.

Hey Mima...I'm right here!

Other side of the island looking at mainland Bali. This was a boat used to collect seaweed. They use styrofoam and empty gas cans to provide buoyancy.

I ventured back in the direction of my hotel to find Dream Beach. I couldn't take my eyes off of the water's dramatic reaction to hitting the cliffs. Constant sprays surrounded me in yet another lagoon.

The island across the bay on the left is Nusa Ceningan and the buildings that can be seen is that of Secret Point-the building I watched the sunset  at last just and viewed from below this morning. I had no idea I would was looking straight across to today's destination!

If I happen to be reincarnated, please let me be a cow here. This was the field behind me when taking the last few shots.

There is a theme today. Pink rice cakes (totally plain) bought from a local warung.

I headed back to my room for a little rest as I had a wee headache this afternoon. Missed the sunset, but made it out to dinner down the road, around the corner. I was joined by another traveler, an American named Jason who has been living in Taiwan for the last 7 years. The stories of living abroad were quite comical. Not sure I care to visit Tawain at this point. 😉

I returned to my room to find the bed turned down after I had left it a rumpled mess. I swear they watch you like a hawk without you knowing and sneak in after you. The clothes I had left on the bed were neatly folded on the nearby dresser. 

Off to slumber like a queen listening to crickets and far off waves. 

Loves!