By K&P 
A narrow street lined with numerous souvenir shops and restaurants, stairs as high as if made for mutants, and tame monkeys – familiar with tourists’ habits, watching for any opportunity to snatch food. They sit on the railing separating the walkway from the cliff. The iconic spot on Penida, unmistakable in shape and known from postcards or the internet, comes into view. It’s impressive and dramatic – a rocky, over 100-meter-high peninsula, topped with vegetation, forming a towering cliff.
The unusual shape, great height, and sense of open space below, coupled with a beautiful white beach, blend perfectly with the sea-green ocean and white waves. It’s a picture-perfect location, ideal for photos – a fact others also recognize. The area right at the entrance to the peninsula is crowded as it’s the prime spot for snapshots. Photoshoots don’t surprise the monkeys, and they don’t surprise me either.
After a while, a path leading down becomes visible. It looks scenic but not very safe, with wooden and bamboo railings and uneven steps. Most people are content with taking photos from above, while the beach below reveals tiny figures – just a handful of people who decided to venture down. From this distance, the waves appear small and harmless.
The descent takes about 30 minutes and is neither comfortable nor safe. This year, they’ve started constructing an elevator, but there’s still much work to do. Once completed, the character of this place will change – gates and ticket booths will likely appear, along with a glass elevator. Such is the way of things.
Swimming is more symbolic than practical – those waves that seemed small from above are anything but. From the top, the view is stunning, and from below, it’s also incredible – here, you can feel and hear the ocean. But the view is partially blocked by the cliff, a stark contrast to the panorama from above. The beach has retained its wild character, free of lounge chairs, umbrellas, and vendors, remaining natural. From below, the crowds taking photos on the cliff are invisible.
Kelingking is one of the two most famous beaches and landmarks on Nusa Penida, making it crowded. It looks spectacular and leaves an impression – it’s a must-visit spot on Penida. It’s phenomenal but somewhat trampled by the sheer number of visitors. The monkeys occasionally stir up commotion among tourists by stealing snacks whenever they spot them, clearly mastering this art. Screams from startled girls don’t faze them at all. They’re an added attraction, strolling along the railing and chasing each other.
Getting there takes at least an hour, with the final stretch of the road full of potholes like a sieve – likely due to the ongoing elevator construction and heavy equipment deliveries. Once the elevator is done, road repairs will likely follow. It’s less crowded in the morning or evening, with the latter being an excellent time to admire the sunset over the ocean.