By Air

Airport tax is Rp800. Often during the months Dec., Jan., and Feb. all flights out of Denpasar are booked solid. Merpati, JI. Veteran, has flights to: Bima (Sumbawa), Rp17,500; Yogya (Java), Rp11,300; Kupang (Timor), Rp27,300; Waingapu (Sumba), Rp15,600; Ende (Flores), Rp17,600. If you're under 26 and have a student card get a 25% discount on these flights. For example, to Ujung Pandang (South Celebes(, instead of paying Rp16,000 pay only Rp12,000. They have to give it to you because the discount is on their price-list. Merpati has now monopolized the lucrative Aus$228 route from Bali to Darwin, Australia, but they offer a much better value albeit irregular charter from Denpasar to Manila, Philippines, for US$150.00. Zamrud Airlines, which flies mostly within Nusa Tenggara, is based in Denpasar on JI. Dr. Wahidin 1, at the very start of JI. Gadjah Mada. Zamrud flights to: Ampenan, 3 times week, Rp4200; Bima, twice weekly, Rp16,000; Sumbawa, 3 times a week, Rp10,500; Ruteng (Flores), once a week on Thurs., Rp26,200; Maumere (Flores), every Mon., Rp25,250; Sumba (Waingapu) every Sat. and back again on Sun., Rp16,250; Kupang, every Sat., Rp25,100; Surabaya (if enough passengers), Rpl1,000. For chartered flights you must book one week before; per hour cost is US$350, including catering and meals.

Nusa Lembongan is situated 12 miles south east of Bali. It is one hour traveling time by boat from Benoa Harbour. This pear shaped island is around 4km long and 2km wide. It is surrounded by a beautiful fringing reef, which hosts a myriad of marine life, The waters are renowned for their abundance of life and great surf breaks. The reef has been declared a marine park by the Indonesian authorities. Not only does the reef support its own Eco-system, but it supports most of the villagers on the island as well. The local people farm seaweed. This seaweed is cultivated, harvested then exported all over the world for use in cosmetics, food stabilizers and medicines. Other sources of income include traditional wooden boat building, farming peanuts, sweet potato, and fishing.Village life is very slow and enchanting. Very few cars and motorbikes are seen on the roads. The people are steeped in tradition, and one could imagine Bali being like this island, thirty years ago.Although the island is small there are many things to do. Fishing, diving, surfing, mangrove exploring, discovering natural fresh water springs, underground cave house exploring, cycling around the island. A visit to the bat caves on a nearby island, or a picnic at dream beach. Try catching mud cabs in the mangrove area at the back of the island. There is something for every one at Nusa Lembongan.