Gili Trawangan - Day 166-172
Trip Start
Jan 31, 2008
1
115
251
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Pondok Bungalows
Gili Trawangan,
Indonesia
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Day 166 - 06/08/08
A mammoth 14 hour mission from Bali to the Gili islands today. I was told the journey should only take 8 hours, but the day turned into an epic. I could have taken the expensive 2 hour speedboat and saved myself 12 hours, but I was being a cheapskate. With hindsight the wrong decision, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
A minibus picked me up from my guesthouse at 6am, we arrived at the docks in Padang Bai on the east coast of Bali at 7.30am. I was told the ferry to Lombok departed at 9am, so I thought great, I can grab some breakfast and we'll set sail, but for some unknown reason the boat didn't depart until 11.30am. Anyway, found a space on the floor of the top deck and sat on my rucksack for the next five hours just gazing out to sea and the surrounding islands
My Bungalow
. Quite nice to sit outside with the cool sea breeze, I actually felt cold, the first time I've had a chill at sea level for months. We finally arrived on Lombok and docked at Lembar. Another minibus picked us from the docks which must of been designed for children or midgets, around four inches of leg-room, I'm not exaggerating, seriously. 19 people in a minibus the size of a ford transit van! Apart from the bus I really enjoyed the drive through the fertile lands of volcanic Lombok. It's a very beautiful island, green, lush and still appears to be very traditional unlike my short experience on Bali. Then we stopped for 20 minutes for the locals to try and sell us tour packages, great! By this point I just wanted to get to the Gili's quickly, feeling completely knackered. Squeezed on the midget bus again for another 45 minutes drive to Bangsal on a twisty mountain road along the coast. The sun was setting as we approached the dock at Bangsal, so the boat crossing to Gili Trawangan will be under moonlight. Took my shoes off and waded through the surf to board the small boat. Half way through the 40 minute crossing the sea became extremely choppy, the boat was rocking and water was pouring over the sides. After a few minutes of tension, the sea calmed down and the boat finally stuck sand Gili Trawangan!
I was warned about the lack of affordable accommodation on the island, the warning turned out to be completely true
Views on ferry to Lombok 1
. Walked around for a while, couldn't find anything in my price range. Then I walked past a reggae bar looking pretty sweaty and dishevelled when some Spanish girls shouted "Can't find anywhere to stay", "Yeap!!". I sat down with the girls and had a beer and a rest. They offered to take me to few places inland where some rooms might be available. I dropped my bags off at the girls bungalow so I wouldn't have to lug them around the island. We walked around and enquired to try and find a place but with no success. They was a bungalow available for tomorrow, which I reserved, but this doesn't help me for tonight. Thought I'd have to sleep on the beach when the girls said I could sleep on the floor of their bungalow.An interesting day of travel, all character building stuff though. You have to try and reflect on travel experiences like today's in a positive way. At least I got to the island in one piece!
Day 167 - 07/08/08
Woke up this morning and moved my stuff to the bungalow the Spanish girls found for me last night, it's a really nice friendly place ran by a local family. The 5 bungalows were only build one month ago, so there're clean and fresh, lucky to find this place really. The bungalow is situated 300 metres inland where all the locals live
Views on ferry to Lombok 2
. Chickens, geese and goats running around the garden, prefer to stay in a place like this than with the hoards of tourists in the expensive accommodation near the beach. Had a much needed shower and headed out to explore the small 3km long island. Gili Trawangan is the biggest of the three Gili islands. This place is almost like paradise. Turquoise ocean, white sandy beach, and amazing views of the volcanic peaks of Lombok. Only downer is, it's high season, it's quite busy and accommodation prices are triple at this time of the year, as I discovered last night. The islands are surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and apparently some great diving and snorkelling. I arrived in the dark last night, so didn't get a chance to see my beautiful surroundings until this morning, Wow!
Day 169 - 08/08/08
Nothing to report, just enjoying doing nothing and relaxing. Today I Walked around the island for a while, went on internet and in the evening out once again for a few drinks. It was party night tonight on the island. Every other night there's a big party at various bars along the beach. Tonight, the party was at Rudy's. A ten minute walk from my little home.
Day 170 - 09/08/08
It's my 29th birthday today
Views on ferry to Lombok 3
. The Gili's are certainly a good place to celebrate and relax for an old man like myself. Big party at Rudy's last night, I think everyone from the island was there, including all the locals (obviously not in celebration of my birthday). Got back to my Bungalow at 5.30am feeling rather jaded, really good night though.Woke up late morning not surprisingly, and as always a cup of tea and a banana pancake was brought to the porch of my bungalow. I sat outside eating my breakfast watching the chickens terrorising each other around the garden.
Went down to the beach today for a couple of hours with someone I met last night. Sat on some cushions under a tree and did nothing except listen to the waves hitting the beach. I'm trying to make you jealous now, sorry :o)
Watched an amazing band tonight at "Sama Sama", a reggae themed bar on the beach. Probably the best band I've seen in Asia so far. They were completely amazing! So well rehearsed and the lead guitarist was a real talent. He did a ten minute solo which was mind blowing, I think I sat there with my mouth open and jaw on the ground for most of the ten minutes. A great way to enter my 29th year!
Day 171 - 10/08/08
Another late night and of course woke up late once again
Views on ferry to Lombok 4
. It was my birthday though, and a Saturday night, so I have a valid excuse.There was a Party at the bungalows for a young Dutch girl this afternoon whose family are staying in two of the bungalows next door. All the children in the village turned up and surprised her with balloons and a cake. No kids under the age of 10 stay on the island due to the secondary school being on Lombok across the water, the kids stay on Lombok most of the time. So the bungalows today were full of little kids running around causing havoc and mischief.
Day 172 - 11/08/08
No ATM's on the Gili's and I have no more currencies to change in my wallet. Wish I'd withdrawn more cash from the ATM in Lombok, but I didn't realise it would be such a big problem obtaining cash. I've been putting money away everyday for my accommodation costs, I don't want to get the bill at the end of my stay and not have enough cash to pay.
I've made the difficult decision to leave the island tomorrow and head for Lombok. I've booked a 3 day, 2 night trek to the summit of the volcanically active Gunung Rinjani. Feeling the need to do something strenuous as I've been lazing around for last 5 days.
