Johan Hensen Column Johan Hensen is a freelance writer and hospitality consultant. He can be reached at imsbali2006@yahoo.com or HP 081558582853

Bali Sensations Part One
Love is in the air and Romance all around you

In Bali, we so often forget to tell you about our sisters and brothers that are living on the 3 islands east of Bali, while it just takes an1 till 1 ½ hrs boat-ride to go there. The islands are called: Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. Nusa means “Island” and Penida is the biggest one of them, while Lembongan Island is the closest one. There are some cruise companies that offer you a daytrip to mostly Lembongan Isalnd.

This means that you leave Benoa harbour in the morning and after a reasonably calm boat ride by a huge motorized catamaran, they drop you off on their premises on the coast or on their platform just in front of the island. Lots of activities are on offer, like snorkeling, diving, banana boat rides, glass bottom boat, kayaking, swimming or just sunbathing. It all includes a BBQ lunch. Around 3.30 pm, you’ll go back to Bali and around 5.00 p.m. you will arrive at the marina again. This is a very relaxed day out, for sure and I will not argue about that.
But my dear readers know by now, that I am looking for something more than just that, it is too commercial for me, joining a group of 100 – 300 other people. Beside of that, I have been there, I have done that. It is just not interesting for me, for you and for my column. End of story!
However, when I was attending The THK Tourism Awards ceremony last December, I talked with Mr. Gareth Warne, the General Manager of the “Nusa Lembongan Resort” that won the Gold Award 2006. And that, my dear friends, was the beginning of a unique and memorable experience of Love, Romance, Beauty and Adventure. It turned out that this lovely resort is part of a bigger company, including their “Sail Sensations” cruise boat. “You don’t have to go back the same day. You should try out staying overnight as well and enjoy the beauty and romance of this island”, Gareth told me, while extending an invitation to experience it together with my companion. Well, that’s a challenge, not to turn down, isn’t it? So let me share with you my “Sensation of Love” at first sight.

One big Sensation
I told you all in my previous articles that I am a true sea lover. I can sit for hours on its shore and just listen to the sound of the waves. I also love being on the wide ocean, however I don’t like to sit inside a big air-conditioned room with hundreds of people. I want to be in touch with the elements of Nature. So when we arrived at the Marina in Benoa Harbor, we were welcomed by 2 lovely Balinese girls, dressed in traditional outfit, to make a photo with us. When stepping on board and welcomed by the friendly crew, we enjoyed the welcome drink and refreshing cold towel. Directly I felt relieved, as this smaller sail catamaran had an open indoor sitting area, so no AC. When we took off and left the harbor, the sea breeze could be felt even inside, but I enjoyed the view and feelings while strolling around the deck. My companion took hold of a sun-chair on the front deck, where we were welcomed by our fabulous, charming host, Mr. Gareth. Although still a young man (and very handsome according to my companion) he knows what hospitality is all about. He invited us to the captain’s deck, where we were offered fresh young coconut drinks. He introduced us to the captain and the main shareholder / owner, Mr. Ronald Shaw and his lovely wife. What a treat, friendliness and personal service. After a while, my companion decided to lie down in the sun, so she positioned herself on the sundeck, while I took a stroll around the boat. Wow, how great to be one with the elements of the ocean. All the stress drained away, refreshing my body and mind. How relaxing. Coffee, tea and soft drinks were offered constantly and after 1 ½ hours (it just seemed like 15 minutes) we arrived at Lembongan Island. A white sand beach was awaiting us. The catamaran lowered its sail and dropped anchor just a few hundred meters outside the coast. A smaller glass bottom boat was picking us up and brought us on shore. All around us was crystal clear, blue and green water with beautiful sights of tropical fish and corals. We were then guided to the Resort that is directly located on the beach and from there up to the cliff overseeing the wide ocean. Again welcomed by the resort’s friendly and beautiful staff, we were shown to our villa. Set in a lush garden on top of the cliff are spread 12 villas, build in a natural style with grass thatched roofs with a lovely, rustic interior. All luxury available, but no TV in the villa, which we didn’t miss at all, as it turned out. We can easily do without it, can’t we?
We quickly unpacked, took a shower and changed into swimming gear, as the crystal clear ocean was too tempting to wait to go snorkeling. However, while I was waiting on the pleasantly shaded terrace in front of our villa and overlooking the spectacular ocean view, our host Mr. Gareth came up and invited us for lunch. We enjoyed the great variety of this lunch buffet with choices of Indonesian, European food and tropical fruits. Finally we were heading for the glass bottom boat and fitting the snorkeling gear. I couldn’t wait to show my companion the underwater wonders. The boat took us about a mile out of the coast and finally I was able to drop in the water. And did we see an absolutely striking world of thousand of different colored fish, plantations and beautiful corals. Both my companion and I couldn’t believe our eyes. I was so absorbed by this all that I hardly looked at my companion and checked how she was doing. Lucky for me, also a guide from the resort followed us, as I completely forgot where I was and about the currents. We even did have to swim, just floating around in the Luke-warm waters of the Badung Strait. But the guides guarded us well and after more than 1 hour, we were lifted in the boat again, exhausted but fulfilled with all that impressions. Back at the resort, we took a quick shower and another surprise was awaiting us: a relaxing massage. What a delight as the tender touches of the therapists made the fatigue leaves our bodies and while facing each other on the huge bed, we both felt the feelings of romance & love around us. It was too bad that this came to an end after 1 ½ hours. We finished this by taking a flower bath together, surrounded by candlelight. I am sure that you already guess that we were so overwhelmed by romance and love feelings, that we only felt liking making…., indeed and around 6.30 pm we woke up and dressed. After all this body exercises, we were in the perfect mood to enjoy dinner together. While I was wondering to have dinner in the restaurant or on the terrace of our villa, again we were surprised by this resort and especially by young Mr. Gareth. He had arranged a romantic candle light dinner at the wooden terrace on the edge of the cliff. Overlooking the calm ocean and taking in the spectacular sunset, we took a sip of our cocktails. My companion had a “Sanghiang Bay Blue Ocean” and I had a “Nusa Magic” cocktail. As my faithful readers know, I have been enjoying quite some romantic locations in Bali, such as the Ma Joly in Tuban – Kuta, but this place easily beats it all. When the dark of the night was setting in, all candles were lit, creating another atmosphere. So what better then having a romantic candlelight dinner then in such a setting?
Would you like to know how this dinner, the rest of the evening went and our discovery of the island the next day? Well simply read part two of my “Bali Sensations” column next month, as my Editor in Chief is already fully stressed by my column, which is in his eyes, too elaborate and using too much space. But, how can I explain my feelings of Love & Romance in just two words? Anyway, if you can’t wait for the continuing story, I can recommend you to make the trip by yourself and your loved one, who-ever that is and you will have the time of your life, including a superb culinary night.
“Oh what a night” is a love song that could have been composed right on this island. For sure I’ll go back again and if possible I would dedicate it “To all the girls I’ve loved before”, as Julio Iglesias would do. But I promise one person in particular, - a beautiful, and lovely young lady from Holland named Margreet -, that I will try to bring her to this romantic hideaway with the laid back charm of Bali.
Go visit their websites: www.nusa-lembongan.com and www.sailsensations.com or contact the perfect host, young Mr. Gareth by E-mail: gareth@nusalembonganresort.com or gm@nusalembonganresort.com or call his mobile: +62.81338216386 or 081338530515 and you’ll get the same superb treatment as we got. Of course you can contact their office as well, just see their information on this page. “Go for the Sensations of Love & Romance, while in Bali”