Exploring the Pengambengan Harbor

I have not been on my motor cycle adventure since Covid, this was my first. I went to explore the Pengambengan Harbor, to the area I have not traveled before.

The harbor is located in western part of Bali island. It's about a hundred kilometers from the capital and Bali International airpot. Since now I am in west Bali, it does not make sense if I don't make a good use of my time visiting the harbor.

Entering Pengambengan town, it was much easier to travel by motor cycle. The streets were narrow, and there were quite a number of intersections. The houses were small and all seemed to be packed together making it more crowded. No wonder, this town once was a small fishing village.

Pengambengan village has developed because of its harbor. Majority of the population work in fishing industry. Many fishing boats from other island, such as Java island also unload their catch in this harbor. The fish then transported to the fish canning factory located nearby the port. (It's the only canning factory in the island) Some other catch were traded at the fish market located next to the factory.

Before going on this trip, I have consulted the map to find a road only accessible by motorbike. This road will allow me to gain access to outer side of the port.

I found the access to the port. It was a dirt road. I preferred this road instead of the main road because I wanted to go to the furthest point to the sea. My plan was to get to the furthest point at the outer harbor area, then return to the main road to the center of the harbor.

The harbor, if you see from above, looks like the letter "C". The little boats and the fishing ships would enter and park inside the letter C. The water is calmer inside. You can hardly see waves on the water inside the C-shaped harbor.

I parked my motorcycle at the end of the road since I could not ride further. Beyond the road was an area covered with large stones. Possibly to stop the waves was the reason the land was covered by large stones.

People could walk on the stones toward to end of the path. I continued walking along the land covered with stones. Boats of different size and color were parked along the edge of stony path. Some people casting fishing rods could be also seen sitting on the stones.

It's was a different view in the center of the harbor. More boats were parked in the center. There were more people hustling and bustling along the road on the harbor.

I saw a group men walking into the harbor. They seemed to walk to a certain point. A boat was waiting for them at the harbor. One by one boarded the boat. When the boat was full, it went away toward the bigger boats located at the other part of the harbor.

I wonder where they went. Soon, I got the answer. Those people are the workers of the fishing boat. They were transported to their fishing boats. The fishing boats would then start their voyage from the harbor to the sea to catch fish. They will return in six months with tons of fish when the fortune goddess sides with them.

Interesting. I could not imagine myself leaving my family for six months for work. At least at this point. But when I have no choice, I would probably do it, if that would help supporting my family financially.

The men seemed happy as they go on the small boat. I could see their faces smiling, and laughing. They have got used to the work of leaving for six months. I am sure their family also used to their leave.

Some of the boats have sailed leaving the harbor with the men. What a busy busy traffic with all the small boats transporting the men to the fishing boats located in different part of the harbor. Some of the fishing boats did not sail anywhere, but remained parked.

I resumed my exploration around the harbor. What particularly interesting were how they decorate their boats. The boats were painted in bright color and added with various accessories. It is fun to watch those beautiful boats.

As the sun got lower and lower in the west, I knew it was time to head back. I hoped on my motor cycle and waved good bye to the happy men and their beautiful boats.