The Lembongan Diaries: The Motorbike

All travellers when they think of Southeast Asia, or Bali in particular, have the quintessential vision of riding around on these rugged roads amongst the villages and the tropical trees on a motorbike – helmet or not – but for some reason here it is safe and acceptable? No matter how much or little experience the traveller has on a bike previously, it seems like the “thing” to do and part of the tourist experience. We all get on the bike and are magically transported into knowing how to ride it with the paradise fantasy in
mind – “well, the kids going to school zipping up and down the roads and hills can do it, so surely I must be able to, right?” I’ll tell you now from experience, this is entirely not so! Let me gently remind you they are locals and this is what they have grown up doing regardless of their maturity, age, and how many they can squeeze onto those bikes! Look, I used to race go karts with the best of the boys, have jumped out of a plane with zero hesitation, extreme skiing and racing, scuba diving – you name it! Fear is not really an option for
this adventurer. But I promise, the over-confidence on the local motorbike got me. This is certainly not to deter any new traveller to Lembongan to not jump on a bike and sightsee, but I have been lucky enough to have the words of wisdom of expats who have lived here for almost two decades, and it is wise and prudent to pass it on to others to enjoy the islands as much as we do – safely! It is common local knowledge that the accidents are not caused by the locals – it is the over confident visitors who don’t know how to properly ride a bike and want to give it a go. Humbly I share, me being one of them… I will set the scene for you.

Lembongan is a safe place to jump on a bike, I have been here now three times and loved getting on the back as a passenger with my local friends.  But I wanted my own turn! Now a local expat myself, there is
no better way to get to know the islands and feel at home than exploring it yourself. Stubbornly, off on a bike I went, quick crash course in broken English from the local, “yeah yeah,” I thought to myself ,“I’ve got this.” So I took it slow and easy along the nice Lembongan roads – beep beeping my heart away around the corners, watching out for the gravel, and the confidence grew. Suddenly I felt an expert in a day! …until I crossed the old yellow hanging bridge to Ceningans. It is a whole other experience over there and the roads are a lot less forgiving. When I told my friends I had taken the road all the way around to the other side of the island up and down those hills, their eyes grew as large as the Bintang logo, and had that look of “not surprised” when I pointed down to my bloody leg.

What happened was, I was driving up a really unforgiving very rocky hill when two tourist bikes came screaming down the hill opposite me and veered me off the already-narrow road. I quickly put my left foot
down to stop myself and the bike from falling down the small cliff. Well it worked but I was then stuck, slightly scratched, and definitely could not lift the bike on my own and definitely could not
get up that steep, jagged hill mid way. Holding back fear tears, desperately and embarrassingly looking around for a sight of help, my lucky guardian angels sent by a lovely French man and his partner whom
luckily speaking French I could communicate with, and he kindly helped my what probably looked quite sorry-self up and a running push to get me going. As I wobbled up with my confidence stripped the lovely man shook his head probably thinking to himself “amateur!”. He was right.

As soon as I hit the Lembongan roads I could not get that bike returned fast enough to get my confidence back and share the lucky and funny story with my friends – lucky as it could have been so much
worse.

What’s the moral of this story? Just know your limitations, we don’t need to be heroes or show off to anyone! The closest large hospital is a ferry ride, then taxi on very busy traffic-filled streets on the mainland of Bali. So a few tips on riding a bike safely to enjoy your entire stay here without the lovely scratches and bruises I managed to get… Wear a helmet! I know most people won’t on these islands and it
is not legally enforced, but in good conscience I have to suggest it with everyone’s safety in mind. Use the rear brake when riding down the hills, and beep your heart away when coming around corners so people hear you as most corners are blind corners here! Never brake on the gravel, or accelerate for that matter. Use your night time lights,and for the love of your driver, as a passenger – sit still! And most of all – enjoy!!!!! You will see the most beautiful sights and have a little fun, and is a great excuse for couples to get romantic and cozy.

(Image Source: nicetourbali.com)