Gianyar, Regency

Lebih Beach ”Alive” Round the Clock

Called Lebih Beach because it is situated at Lebih Village, Gianyar sub district, Gianyar Regency. As soon as entering this beach, you will see 142 jukung outriggers parked in a line from east to the west. This indicates most inhabitants of Lebih Village have professions as fishermen. They habitually set forth to sail from 04.00 to 06.00 and return home at 09.00.

Ketut Warda, a local fisherman, says that not all fishermen that return home bring along a catch. Earnings as fishermen are unpredictable, greatly depending on fate. If they are lucky they will obtain abundant catches. “However, if happen to undergo misfortune, we cannot even get enough earnings for purchasing premium, in other words, suffering losses,” he says.
Nyoman Darin who is also a fisherman then confirms what Warda has said. “Being a traditional fisherman is unhappy. We are at all times subdued by fish bombers that operate in the evening. Today, I just caught a single fish,” he says while pointing out his catch on that day.
Their catch is usually sold to traders existing on the surrounding beach. Wayan Seram is a villager of Lebih who, by and large, purchases the catches of local fishermen. Those fish are further resold to some restaurants in Ubud area and Denpasar (Sanur).
According to Seram, since the fish bombers operate there, his earnings drop drastically. Many fishermen turn to other professions. “Before they enter the area, we used to be capable of catching 200 kg of fish a day. Currently, we can only obtain up to 30 kg,” he says.
Another fisherman, I Dewa Made Sucipta, gets down to steal a glance at other business. Since the last three years, he has initiated bag handicrafts made of pandanus leaf. In fact, he never lacks orders. He also employs other fishermen that find it hard to catch fish. For those that have enough capital, they set up warung lesehan (seafood grill stall) at the beachside.
Meanwhile, Nyoman Wana, a member of lifeguard team at this beach says that there are 27 stalls of this kind at Lebih Beach. These stalls are usually open from 10.00 in the morning. Its food price is not so costly. Just IDR 5,000 visitors can have various kinds of seafood specialties like satay, roasted seafood in banana leaf, meatballs, vegetables and drink. The consumers vary, starting from office workers; domestic guests and even many foreigners also like to eat there.
Still, according to Wana, Lebih Beach is never quiet. At 04.00 to 06.00, the beach is overcrowded by fishermen that will set forth to sail. They help one another to hold the jukung outrigger into the sea. Around 09.00, they already have reach the shore followed by foreign tourists that like surfing. These guests usually prefer to do surfing on the western part of the beach starting from 10.00 to 14.00, as during this period of time the waves are higher. Afterwards, they look for warung lesehan at lunchtime.
Afternoon is another story. From 14.00, local inhabitants seemingly get down to flock the beach. They have a bath and swim on the beachside. Then, around 19.00 onwards, young couples that are falling in love fill up the beach. It comes to be quiet after midnight. “This ambience is progressively full to bursting on holidays like Galungan,” Wana adds. (BTN/Made Suambara)