The boats follow Balis eastern shoreline and cross the Badung strait to head for Nusa Lembongan. It is a pleasant trip across fairly calm waters and the one and a half hours it takes pass quickly. From the boat I could see the white sands of the beach spread out in front of Jungut Batu village. The seaweed cultivated by the local people here was also easily visible because the seawater is so clear.

Nusa Lembongan is known as the biggest seaweed producing area in Bali. Along with West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Central and South Sulawesi, Bali is one of the most important seaweed producing areas in Indonesia. The landscape of Nusa Lembongan, which is largely made up of gently inclined white sand, and the transparent seawater with suitably strong currents, make it ideal for the cultivation of seaweed.

Since the 1990s the number of tourists visiting this island has increased rapidly and many facilities and infrastructure - including a varied choice of accommodation types - have been built. These range from bungalows and villas to guesthouses and hotels. On my way from the dock to my accommodation, I saw the houses of the local community alongside hotels and other tourist accommodation. Almost every bit of open space is used for drying seaweed. The farmers sometimes seem oblivious to the presence of tourists but they are very friendly if you get chatting to them.

For getting around the island I hired a motorbike. It cost IDR75,000 for 8 hours, including petrol. You can drive it yourself or use a guide for a small additional fee. For large groups or people on a package tour, there are pick up trucks modified for sightseeing expeditions.