Nusa Penida: Bali’s Siberia

One part of Bali I have yet to visit is an island across the Badung Strait called Nusa Penida. Part of the kabupaten (district) of Klungkung. Nusa Penida is the largest island off of the south coast of Bali and most tourists never get there.

Nusa Penida is visible from the beach in Sanur and was once used as the ‘Siberia of Bali’. Unwanted criminals and other bad people from Klungkung were shipped off to the penal colony there. According to Balinese legend, Nusa Penida is home to the fanged giant Jero Gede Macaling and is the origin of all plagues, famines and invasions of rats.

According to geologists / anthropologists, the Badung Strait marks the transition zone between Asia and Australasia. Balinese people say “Here the tigers end.” The landscape is very different to mainland Bali and more more reminiscent of the arid Bukit peninsula.

A few patchy trees, scrub, bushes and dry bare patches persist. The sunsoil is limestone which drains water, not allowing much to grow. No chance of any sawah (rice fields) here. Many houses ar made from rocks brought from the shore and the locals grow corn and casava, a type of root vegetable that tastes like potato. Local people who live in coastal areas fish from the pristine, white sands beaches. One Fench guy who went to Nusa Pendia told the terrain was like Colombia, very steep hills. Many of the people in Nusa Penida, especially the mountain dwellers don’t speak Indonesian, only Balinese.

If you’d like to check out this big arid island, that is an anomaly, you can get there from Kusamba on a local ferry in the morning, when the boat is full. Prices are probably around 50,000rp (not totally sure as there will be room for negotiation). Journey 1-2 hours. You can take a luxury trip there from Benoa harbor on Sail Sensations. Quiksilver, Bali Hai and other will also get you out there for watersports for the day.