Nusa Penida Festival to be held early June

Unveiling the wonders of the small islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida, off the eastern coast of Bali, the Nusa Penida Festival will be held on 2nd to 5th June 2014. Presented by the Regency of Klungkung through its Tourism and Culture Office, the festival will be centered at the Nusa Lembongan Island and will involve all the villages of the district.

Scheduled to be held for four consecutive days, the festival will feature all the distinct cultural attractions and handicrafts of the islands which are rarely presented to public. Among these are the art of Sanghyang Gerodog which is an authentic performance of Nusa Lembongan. The art of Sanghyang Gerodog was thought to have been lost for over 32 years before it was revived about two years ago.  Sanghyang Gerodog was originally performed for a full month period featuring 100 types of Sanghyang including Sanghyang dedari, Sanghyang Penyalin, and more. There will also be a performance of Rejang Renteng,  a traditional dance from Nusa Penida.

The festival will also feature the traditional hand-woven fabric of Nusa Penida called Cepuk and the traditional culinary delight of Ledok which can only be found on the island. Other highlights of the festival are the ‘Jukung’ traditional boat competition, tours to various villages of the islands, and more.

Separated by the Badung Strait some 15Km off the southeastern coast of Sanur on Bali, the enchanting trio islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida are where one will find  pristine beauty of unspoilt white sandy beaches, exhilarating waves, crystal clear waters, stunning natural rugged beauty, and picturesque sceneries away from the vibrant sounds and vivacious atmosphere of Bali’s southern coast. 

Fusing the three islands into one fascination is the splendor that lies beyond the crystal clear blue waters that surround them. The seas here  are known to be  among  the world's best diving destinations, with its prima donna the rare giant ocean sunfish: the Mola Mola.

But beware, these waters have strong undercurrents that can suddenly  pull divers out to the open Indian Ocean.  Even experienced divers should, therefore, best be accompanied by local divemasters who are familiar with these dive sites.  

The only way to reach the islands from Bali is by boat with approximate crossing time between 30 to 40 minutes from Sanur. There are several options according to budget and speed. It is straightforward to reach Nusa Lembongan, and visitors to Nusa Penida usually come via Nusa Lembongan, although direct services from Bali are available. Other services run from Benoa Harbour, and there are local public boat services to and from Padang Bai and Kusamba in East Bali. (Indonesia Travel)