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Gili Gili Gili!!! 6am, we were the first to be picked up by the minibus, followed by a couple who were also from the UK, we were then stuck waiting for another group of people for absolutely ages.. They hadn't set an alarm so were clearly late. Turned out to be three lads from London who were still very drunk from the night before! It worked out well in the end. They were pretty energetic and soon got all of us talking, it was quite funny to listen to their stories of naughty antics, they kept us all entertained. We formed a little group on the top deck of the boat, ordered a Bintang, put some music on and enjoyed the views of passing islands. We even got to see a group of Dolphins jumping threw the waters, pretty amazing sights with Bali showcasing its two highest mountains in the background. I was really happy sitting there, it was so beautiful (despite being on a boat). Once we had arrived on Gili Trawangan, the group of us decided to stay near each other so each got a bungalow close by. We got the worst option of the bunch, cockroaches, dirty sheets and thick spiders webs hanging in the doorways. I got the shivers just being in there. Safe to say we got to the beach as quickly as possible to meet back up with everyone. The island reminded me of Koh Tao in Thailand because of its diving culture but it was just that little bit more scenic. Across the waters, among the scattered fishing boats, we could see Gili Meno in the distance, which is another island in the Gili group and to the left of Meno was the mountainous island of Lombok. Incredible views, I just laid in a huge beach bean bag and admired it all day. After many a varied beverage, not even managing to shower, we headed out to a bar and bundled on big cushions under our own straw bungalow type roof. Luckily making it before the storm started, it rained so hard for a constant hour, it was cool watching the lightening over the sea though, we had a good spot to see it all. When the downpour started to slow, we decided to move bars, by that time the street was a river and we had to take off our flip flops and wade through the shin deep trenches. Treading carefully not knowing what lied beneath the murky muck, except horse manueoire!!! We already knew that was definitely in there from the amount of horses on the island. Gili T's main mode of transport is horse and carriage, no cars or scooters. It took a while for me to get used to seeing them around, especially because they attach bells to them so it just makes me think of Santa Claus every time I hear them coming up behind me. After another visit to a bar, we were all shattered and couldn't handle anymore that day.
The next day after moving to a nice women's homestay, the day was a repeat really, sunning on the beach then bars in the evening, Monday night is Blue Marlin (bar) night so we met the crowd there. Bry and I were on the rampage, kept skipping of on little wonders around the area. Even had a late dinner in the night market half way through the night. We were first introduced to Joss shots that night, it's like red bull in a packet of sherbet, you pour it in your mouth and then do a shot of vodka/tequila. Apparently an Indonesian tradition, feels like a volcano in your mouth. Girls - I'll bring some home for you to try.
To be honest the next few days were a repeat, but I can now see why people love that island. Firstly the people, the locals were brilliantly up beat, they all said hello, came and sat with us, had stories to tell and taught me about their lives. They really made the place special. Hepi, the bracelet man that came to see me everyday on the beach - probably because he knew I loved him to bits and always ended up buying more bracelets from him each time he visited. One day resulting in him asking to marry me and move with him to Lombok, he said were a perfect match, he's coffee and I'm milk hahaha. Loved Addy too, my friend who would always pop up out of nowhere on his little bike - although he did have an odd side; he told me he watched me sleeping through my window once - weird!! The guys from Turtle beach sanctuary were babes, Jay, Ann and Dan Dan - not only do they rescue hurt turtles but they have big beanbags that lead onto the beach and looked after our big group everyday, they did us some good favours. Even Rodger the mad Indonesian barman, checking up on us every half an hour. We had such a good group of friends there, Bryony, Oren, Christian, Danny, Kate and Ed - even our token Canadian, John, that would just randomly pop up, was a brilliant laugh. Really lucky to met such a nice bunch of people. Blooming marvellous....!!!! Most of them live in London so there will definitely be a reunion on the cards.
Each night out started in the always social Gili hostel, it's cheap to drink and really good fun. Especially playing drinking games, Christians being my favourite one. While we were there we attended yet another Full Moon Party, this being my forth of the trip. Talking of trips, I incurred a new injury that night, learning a lesson; that one should not get on the back of a friends push bike when both members of the party are intoxicated. It will result in ending up on your bottom with a gashed knee. Yup and it's the same one I injured in Thailand so it's doubly scarred now. Apart from that it was a fun night but the music was bad and the bars were heaving with locals, who can get a little 'handsy' after a few drinks. After speaking to one of the local friends, I found out that Crystal Meth is a big problem on the island and in Lombok, apparently they all do it. I wouldn't even know what you do with it but I know it's bad - Bry and I were really disappointed with them all from then on because they would tell us horror stories about them being addicted etc but they were all such nice people. It's a really sad case of always living the island life I think - boredom and not knowing the dangers.
As much as I liked the party nights on Gili, I liked the chilled ones too. We found a Shisha bar with big laid back cushions that showed movies each day so watched a couple of those. The movies in the hostel and the bars were especially appreciated on the rainy days, when we were stuck indoors. It was nice that there were different moods on the islands and that it wasn't just party party. They had a good system there, the big bars always had 'one night on, one night off', meaning a day off drinking in between. Which helped us to save money and meant we didn't struggle on the beach everyday!! I also had a good theory while I was there, the clothes are an icckle bit cheaper in the vintage boutiques that were dotted around... So! If I buy stuff here and pack it away for safe keeping then I'll have new stuff to wear when I arrive back home. Finally I can shop again!!! I am still thinking about my pennies though, I had my haircut while I was there because it was so much cheaper then home. It was on my list as one of the first things to do when I return but it would cost me at least £40, I got mine done for £7! To be fair, I still haven't seen the back of it because of the crap mirror situation but I think I'm happy with it!!
We ate at the night market most nights, it was a pound for a meal and tasted so so good, arguably the best food on the island. It goes on until 2am though, which was definitely dangerous, found ourselves in there a few times for a drunken second helpings. One night, we had just sat down with our food before we were going out and then all of a sudden, a bunch of people started running towards us, some jumping over the chairs, screaming. The locals were shouting in Balinese to each other but no one knew what was going on. People pushing past strangers to get out the small exit, Bryony and I were totally freaked out and followed the running crowd. I immediately thought it was a tsunami or a stampede of horses and didn't know where to run. After the locals deemed it save to return, turns out there was a gas leak next to the open stoves and there had been a small explosion so people started to run thinking it would catch on the other flames and gas canisters. We were down the other end of the market so wasn't near enough to know what was happening and luckily didn't hear of any injuries in the crowds. Once we ate, we were so shaken up and still couldn't get rid of the feeling that we were going to die, we couldn't even carry on the night. We just went home to try to calm our nerves. Really not a nice experience.
The home stay we had moved to earlier on in the week was gorgeous, clean, friendly staff and we had the place to ourselves. It goes back to my point of the nice locals. The lady who run the home stay was a darling, breakfast in bed everyday, she would check up on us and always find us hilariously funny. We were calling her mum by day 2 but that was partly due to us not remembering her name. We were both so comfortable there, it probably played a factor in us staying as long as we did, only meant to be a 6 days stay on Gili T, turned into a 13 day stay but I suppose that's the beauty of travelling and being able to mould your plans as you go. One night we were getting ready to go out and mum comes over waving, saying "baby, baby", pointing between her legs, she didn't have great English so it wasn't clear what was happening. She showed us outside to a cat who was giving birth, one kitten already laid in a blanket and one was, lets say, half out, a pretty grim sight!! Mum was crazy as much as lovely.
Near the end of our time there, the boys had already left so it was Bry, Kate, Ed and I. We really enjoyed each others company and still hung out every day and night. On our last day, we rented kayaks and went on a row over to Gili Meno. Nice to see what the island looked like up close after staring at it for the last two weeks. We wondered around, saw the lake in the middle of the island, looked in the shops and then had an afternoon beer in a treetop terrace bar. The island was extremely quite compared to Gili T, but it was very peaceful and nice to spent a few hours there. That night we treated ourselves to a really nice evening. Walked to the other end of the island to 'sunset point' and watched a really beautiful sunset, even through the clouds, the colours were streaking brightly. It was so nice seeing on the beach edge, having a cold Bintang and reminiscing over our time there. Once the night had come in, we decided on an expensive dinner at a restaurant called Scallywags, recommended by Nelen. Lovely BBQ food and the nicest salad buffet. Which was definitely made the most of but all of us. Sadly it was then time to say goodbye to our new friends, they went off for some late night shopping and Bry and I watched a film in a bar.
An early start the next day, waved goodbye to mumma, our new friends and Gili T. We had a ball. I'm currently writing this on the boat back to Bali and I'm very pleased to say that this is my last boat of my travelling trip. Reading back on this, I will always the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach. Pure fear as the choppy waters from this mornings storm, smash into the side of the boat. Lets hope I get the chance to post this blog because right now it's a blessing if I make it.
Bryony and I got on really well during our time on Gili and decided to travel together for an extra week so were now heading back to Ubud together.
- comments
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