In search of some good spots to dive (this time with Manta Rays), I chose to spend few days in Nusa Lembogan. Kate, a Kiwi working in a diving shop in Koh Tao told me about this island and seeing the sparkles in her eyes and the words she used to describe Nusa Lembogan, a “quiet” virgin island, I didn’t need any more influence to visit this little paradise.

It was more complicated than I thought to actually step foot on the island. Stubborn as I am, I didn’t want to pay for the normal tourist boat from Bali to Nusa. I needed then to take the local boat from the beach. I have time so why pay the tourist rate when you can pay the local price and experience something more authentic?

  

The few words I learned in Bahasa helped me secure the best price I could imagine on the ticket, but not on the bottle of water… No one wanted to sell that for a fair price… But when you ask, in Indonesian, at five different stalls and they all give you the same answer, it’s time to resign yourself. Stubborn yes, stupid no. Maybe making money on tourists is what’s fair in the end…

Let’s talk about money. I’ve heard that Nusa Lembogan is an island with no ATM. Since the beginning of my trip in Indonesia, finding money has been a problem. Most of the ATM’s delivered little money per visit and some of them none at all. I still don’t understand why my card was rejected most of the time. I remember walking for one hour, during a big monsoon in Canggu, to check if one of the three ATM’s in town might finally give me a bit of cash… But I ended up coming back home, with nothing more than my very empty, wet pockets.

I was short on money in Bali and didn’t know how much time I would stay on Nusa once I arrived. I NEEDED MONEY. So I ran everywhere but couldn’t find anything. No cash it is then. I left Bali upset and anxious about my financial situation but I kept repeating that, “I would find a solution before I starved to death on Nusa Lembogan”. I was seeing things from the bright side: I’m going on an adventure again… With a very expensive bottle of water in my bag. I won’t be thirsty.

  

On my journey from to Nusa I will learn a few things. You hop on a boat from the shore. Better to have a light backpack. Better to wear shorts and flip flops too.

The captain of the boat was probably overexcited that day and as painful it is to say for me (because it has never happened before), this guy’s way of sailing drove me sick. Me. Margot. The Ocean Child. Sea sick my friend! The thirty five Chinese tourists sitting in the speedboat were screaming and flying everywhere. I was just focusing on keeping in my stomach the only thing that I ingested that morning: water. However the lady next to me obviously had a stronger stomach and wanted to chat. 

  

Jiao Lian was 27 years old, traveling with her entire family and she promised to check my website and Facebook before traveling back to China “because I don’t know if you know, but we don’t have Facebook in China.”

Ok, Jiao Lian was not her name but Google translate told me it means Beautiful Lotus soooo let’s call this young lady that if you don’t mind.

Jiao Lian – Hi. ARE YOU ALONE?

Margot – Hi… Hum… Right now, I guess so… (Inhale, exhale slowly…)

Jiao Lian – But it’s really dangerous you know, you should not travel by yourself.

Margot – No, it’s fine, I’m still alive and it’s actually super cool! (Keep that bloody water in your stomach Margot)

Jiao Lian – But you are pretty, you have no boyfriend?

Margot – Hmmm… Why this question? (One more word and I will need a bag to puke for sure)

Jiao Lian – I don’t have a boyfriend so I travel with my family and my friends. It’s too dangerous to travel alone! Don’t you know?

Margot – Euh… Ok? (I’m going to push the captain out of the boat if he continues laughing and enjoying making this bloody boat jump everywhere like a…)

Jiao Lian – But no worries, I am sure one day, you’ll find a lover and you will be able to travel with him. You are not ugly. You can’t travel by yourself. You need a boyfriend. I wish I find a lover to travel with him soon…

Wait… What? Me? I need a lover to travel? Oh… I guess we were in front of a clash of ideas maybe because of our cultures. The concept that I was single and couldn’t travel because of it was so weird; and so far from my views about travel. But it was definitely a real problem for Jiao Lian. Without being an expert on the Chinese culture, I’ve listened to many stories of young ladies, around thirty years old, and still single, being rejected by their family. As if being a woman and putting your career in front of everything else was shameful. Or if you couldn’t find a husband before your forties for any reason, (like maybe you didn’t wanted a husband?!) was like signing your social death certificate.

  

I’m glad she reassured me about the fact that one day, I’ll find my prince and I won’t have to travel by myself anymore. Because why would it be a choice?

So, I was really angry at the Captain, but I decided to have a laugh on this boat too, so I started to tell all sort of things to Jiao

“I actually have boyfriendsssss. Not a lot, just two… If they are ok about that? Oh Dude, they are so ok about that. They are so ok that I have a girlfriend too. We are all travelling together soon! It’s going to be awesome.”

  

Jiao Lian stayed quiet the rest of the trip. 

I arrived on Nusa Lembogan, my stomach at the border of my lips, I picked up my stuff and began walking away from the group of locals welcoming the Chinese group and asking money for taking care of their luggage.

I got lost behind a temple and found the best hotel of the island: The Secret Garden Bungalows.

Swimming pool, round bed, quiet, peaceful, open air shower, little terrace with hammock… I left Canggu to explore some island, but all I could do was count my money to know how many days I could stay in this oasis.  

    
    
    
    
    
   
Secret Garden Bungalows : http://www.bigfishdiving.com/accommodation