Flavors of Nusa Penida

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You can find an array of delicious dishes on the island, whether it be from a road side Warung where the locals eat or a more western friendly meal at a Hotel. Our favourite dishes were Nasi Goreng (pictured) a noodle and egg dish, and Gado Gado a dish with beansprouts, vegetables and a spicy peanut sauce. The traditional dish of Nusa Penida is Ledok Ledok which consists of corn, cassava , rice, beans and sambal (a spicy salsa). Dishes vary in price and spice, depending on where you purchase them. A great place to try is the traditional market with meals around 0.60AUD from one of the friendly vendors. We spent a lot of time at the Ring Sameton Inn Restaurant with the lovely staff always taking care of us, great for a big group. Other notable places were Wayans Warung, located in Ped serving both traditional Balinese cooking and western meals with a picturesque view. A new place that has just opened is the Gallery that Mike and his lovely wife Kadek run that serve delicious iced coffees and offer a break from rice and spicy food with toasted sandwiches and fish and chips. Community dinners where you can be involved in the cooking process are also available with the FNPF, which is a great way to learn the local flavours. Wherever you go, and whatever you try you will have fun, as all of the chefs and places to eat offer a warm and exciting experience.

 

The People of Nusa Penida

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The local people of Nusa Penida are the highlight of the island, we all loved travelling through the villages by motorbike waving to the kids and receiving big smiles everywhere we went. It wasn’t only the children that were happy to see us, the adults were eager to see what we were doing and some even took photos with us. Asking directions was easy and the language barrier wasn’t a problem as everyone was so friendly and tried to help us even if they didn’t speak English. We met an abundance of  Wayan’s and Ketut’s making long lasting friendships and sharing meals. If you travel to the island take the time to talk with the local people and get into the slow rhythm of life on the island.