Singapore to Nusa Lembongan

This morning we arranged a cab pick up through a local taxi app at 5:15 am.  It's like Uber or Lyft, but in Singapore only.  Thanks to Michael for figuring it all out.  We left our "unofficial" Airbnb and got picked up right outside.  Our bags were big and heavy due to the dive gear, so a little van was perfect.  Getting around Singapore was super fast and easy this time of day.

Luggage carts were plentiful and free to use!

Michael squaring up with the driver and off to the International terminal.  Well, Singapore is such a small country, I don't think there are any domestic flights.  Everything is out of the country.  Ha!

Please, leave those NINJA STARS at home people, or ship them ahead of time!

I was impressed at the number of ships waiting outside the port of Singapore.  This was viewable for miles. 

As we approached Indonesia, volcanoes were popping up everywhere.  

Our flight path from Singapore to Denpasar, Bali.  The flight was only 2 hours and got a little bumpy at times.  For some reason we were upgraded to business class and had a relaxing flight.  Very nice!

Once we arrived in Denpasar, we were amazed at the number of signs.  Each sign had the name of a guest and we did not see ours.  So, we headed out into the arrivals hall, dodging the taxi drivers that insisted that they could take you wherever you needed to go.  Our problem was we were looking for the ferry service taxi driver that was prearranged, and which was nowhere to be found.  Katherine went to the info counter which found him.  Then, we waited at the coffee shop and finally headed out to the place in Sanur where we would get on a boat to go to the small island of Nusa Lembongan.  People watching was extremely entertaining at this point, with all the different tourists in the airport.  There were honeymooners, people obviously about to get married, surfers, divers, and tourists many different countries.  It was very active!

On our way to the port, we noticed many bamboo offerings hanging.  We would later see that Bali has these EVERYWHERE!  The island definitely has it's own cultural customs and visual flavor.

Jeep?  Why not?  (We noticed the re-badging of vehicles as Jeeps everywhere)

Our mission was to get to the 2 Fish Dive Resort on the neighboring Nusa Lembongan island.  We heard that the island has some amazing diving and surfing which is a little off the beaten path.  Staying away from the capital of Denpasar is a good idea for sure.  To get to Lembongan, you have to take a ferry.  We were booked with the "fast boat" ferry across the strait.  There are no docks and the boats do a shore stop to get everyone onboard.  It's an interesting operation, but it works.  The crew loads your bags and then the passengers wade through the water and climb up a ladder to hop on.  It was hot, but with the sea breeze, it was manageable.  Being out in the open ocean was spectacular.  The water in a super deep blue hue and the swells were huge with lots of space between them.  I was just wondering how the diving would be tomorrow and later, the surfing.

The fast boat.

Our bags being loaded onto the ferry to Nusa Lembongan.  Please don't drop them into the drink!

Arriving on Nusa Lembongan was a shift of gears.  The roads were only dirt and very narrow.  We had no issues getting off the boat, but then had to get on our little taxi-tuk tuk to the resort.  Tommy flew a different flight to Denpasar and would be on his own to get to the resort.  I have faith in him, but he will most definitely have a story to tell.  We met with Haney, a resort manager from Sulawesi, who took care of us.  He told our group all the ins and outs of the resort and what to expect with our diving tomorrow.  Now, it was just chill and wait for Tommy to get there.  Chilling.... we're good at that.

K by the pool.  Gentle breezes, sun, and a place to cool off = perfect!

Our room was a gem.  It was clean and the AC was perfect when we needed it. 

Tommy made it to the resort in the evening without a problem.  We were all hungry and headed to the local Warung (restaurant) just down the dirt path.  All 4 of us ate for $11 munching down some Nasi Goreng.  That's how we do it in Indonesia!  Tomorrow, we head out for our first dives.  I can't wait.