Tranquil Bay - Padangbai, Bali

Padangbai is in between Ubud and Candi Dasa in Bali, the island of God.  That is based on my personal calculation considering my limited geographical knowledge through Google map.  

It is only 10-12 kilometers to Candi Dasa but it is around 90 minute drive from Ubud. I couldn’t bother to find out how many kilometers as I fell asleep in the car. 

When I browsed information about Padangbai, I noticed that it is a place for transit. Visitors go there to take ferry to Lombok - an island in West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat) province, Indonesia. 

Bali beaches that I am familiar with are Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Benoa, Jimbaran, Sanur,… They sound familiar to many visitors to Bali… Choosing Padangbai as the first time was a good experience. It is time to explore other areas in this exotic island! 

Great view from the hill!

 

Let the pic tells everything… Above is the view from Bloo Lagoon where we stayed 

Thanks to Toni and Marita, we joined other group of guests enjoying the Chinese New Year set menu dinner. We sat in the long table together with around twelve people, a mix of guests from Bristol, San Francisco, etc., and us: one is originally from Jakarta and one is from Hong Kong…

 

Nasi Campur Bali - Balinese mixed rice - common dish in Bali

 

All wanted to stay in Padangbai for the atmosphere, weather, scenery, tranquility - far from the busy beaches…

 

Bloo Lagoon, Padangbai, Bali, Indonesia

 

Pssttt…. It was quite sunny days during our stay, sunblock and sunglasses are definitely required if you visit any Bali beaches. Also, drink lots of water. Some may not like the humidity, but personally it is nothing compared to Hong Kong humidity.
 

Sunset from top of the hill at Bloo Lagoon, Padangbai

Snorkeling

Other than a transit place, Padangbai is actually known as a place for diving and snorkeling. This small port town has a few diving operators to cater such need.

 

Hello sunrise! Padangbai, Bali

The hotel driver dropped us to the pier and we sailed to Tanjung Jepun for snorkeling. It was quite an activity in the pier. A group of Japanese tourists was about to board the boat too. Across the pier, a group of other tourists were having breakfast at the cafe along the road.

The guy who’s responsible for the simple wooden boat started the engine and we were sailing… "Ada dua tempat untuk snorkeling dan diving, Tanjung Jepun dan Blue Lagoon. Kita ke Tanjung Jepun dulu".  There are two snorkeling/diving points in Padangbai: Tanjung Jepun and Blue Lagoon. Normally, tourists are taken to Tanjung Jepun first, then Blue Lagoon.

 

Somewhere in between Tanjung Jepung & Blue Lagoon

 

It took us only 15 minute to reach Tanjung Jepun.  Some boats have arrived earlier. As I can see in the ocean during my ‘short’ snorkeling, there are many Nemo in this area. They seem happy swimming with snorkelers and divers from different nationalities. I could also see the Pertamina jetty from not very far… 

On our way back to the pier, we stopped at Blue Lagoon. Fishes are bigger comparing to Tanjung Jepun… We were told that Bola-bola (fish) is normally can be seen while snorkeling in Bali, especially in Blue Lagoon. Mmm… it was not our good day then, no Bola-bola fish appeared… 

It was a short one night stay in Padangbai, but good memory remains…

 

View from Padangbai main road (right: ferry terminal)

 

Next: Another beach nearby… Bali trip continues...