NUSA PENIDA
VISITED JUNE 2017 Near cliff bottom, MATA AIR GUYANGAN It's taken me over 20 BALI visits since 1975 to check PENIDA out. Should have gone earlier - it is terrific with some outstanding coastal and other scenery, top diving and snorkeling and despite being way more laid back and sparsely settled than mainland BALI and close neighbours NUSAS CENINGAN and LEMBONGAN, there is a good range of places to stay and general tourist facilities. Check the popular booking sites like AGODA, TIPADVISOR reports and general tourist info via GOOGLE - you will be surprised. PENIDA is a high limestone-plateau based island a short distance to the south east of NUSAS CENINGAN and LEMBONGAN. Compared to them it is much bigger at 200sqkm abut way smaller than MAINLAND BALI - the closest point of which is near the east coast town of PADANGBAI about 15km to the north east. The limestone plateau takes up most of the island and rises to a maximum height of 521m (1700ft) at PUNCAK MUNDI mid island below. Ther