Day 5: Lembongan by Bike - Follow Me

The next day we decided over breakfast that we would wander up the road to check out a local school.  Interested to make comparisons with the school system in Korea  we met the principal and he showed us around. 

Hiring a scooter gives you the opportunity to explore so we took off, driving down little dirt tracks surrounded by lush green tropical jungle.  Cows graze amongst coconut palms and there are flowers of every colour.

Every now and then, we would come to small settlements, groups of shacks, simple dwellings and collections of people who were going about their daily lives.  Life on this island is slowed to a snails pace. Dogs sulk, a chicken struts, some boys are on their bikes and little girls dance barefooted in the dirt.

We continue our journey, ambling through more communities and small forests.  Turning a corner, we spot a narrow bridge which we have heard connects to a smaller island to the east.  As we drive over what is fundamentally a selection of wooden planks resting on a steel frame, we bump and shake our way vigorously to the other side.  

  As we ponder our next move at a fork in the road, a voice calls out from up ahead "follow me".  We follow a young boy who takes off on his scooter every now and then he shouts out random phrases and words - "Beautiful scenery"......"blue lagoon"........."this way"........."nearly there".

We follow him along a road which passes right by the sea and then we start climbing up a steep hill.  After several minutes he pulls in and introduces himself as Made.

At the top of the hill he proudly introduces us to the 'Blue Lagoon'.

  

Next we ate at a nearby restaurant             

He was then kind enough to show us around his home, which was fascinating.

The family have their own temple which is as important as the house itself.

Believe it or not, nearly all the families cooking is done here.

Made and his family (like the majority of locals on the island) are seaweed farmers.

The seaweed is shipped to Japan where it is used for creams and lotions.

Afterwards, we stopped at his cousins store.

Then we headed to 'The Bridge' so we could make our way home.



The bridge just fits a scooter/motorbike so no cars can cross.

 It is hard to sum up the day in words so I will put forward his notion.

The warmth of the welcome in Lembongan, speaks volumes about what the developed world has lost en-route to prosperity.