Gili Islands were everything I expected and more. I was planning to spend 5 days there, or maybe week, but I loved it so much, ended up spending almost 2 weeks there, before I finally had to leave to catch my flight to Vietnam.

On my way to Gilis, while boarding the boat I met Christina. We both had similar stories, coming to Bali to meet someone, but ending up going our separate ways only after a few days. So needless to say, we immediatley hit it off. Christina had met two Irish girls earlier on, so we decided to go and stay at the same bungalows as them. And as soon as I met Jenny and Sophie, I knew we'd have a great time!

So there we were, chilling in Gili Trawangan at Coral Beach Bungalows. Days rolled by pretty much the same pattern everyday and some evenings we planned the following day, but the plan was always pretty much the same. Although we tried to add one new thing each day to keep things interesting, but they were easy things, like have coffee at this other cafe and such.. no reason to be too hard on yourself:). In the mornings we'd get up, enjoy breakfast and the view, then read for a bit, before descending from our "terrace" (a kind of seating area, built almost on top of the sea) to the beach. There we'd sunbathe and float in the sea, read for a while and then float a while longer. Everyday, while floating in the sea, all I could think was just that how happy one can be. It was pure bliss. The water is so warm and some times you get all excited when you find a refreshing cold spot, a bit different than looking for the warm spots back home.. I think I'll need serious practise to get used to the freezing waters of Finland. Although the swimming pools tend to get too hot, even in our fancy hotel in Nusa Dua the water in the swimming pool was as hot as in a hot tub, so not very refreshing.

Occasionally when we had the need to be active, we cycled around the island, and cycling in the sand is not piece of cake I tell you. I thought that I was experienced, cycling in the snow and all that, but it was a whole lot harder. I also went for a yoga class and some days we went snorkeling. Even though I wasn't able to do the planned Padi-diving course, because of my ear infection (and very low funds) I still managed to enjoy the underwater world. Snorkelling is the next best thing and we saw a turtle, plenty of colorful fish and beautiful coral.

In the evenings we cycled to the sunset point and aftterwards had dinner. Some nights we went to the "cinema", these little wooden booths, where you could choose a film and order food and drinks or some yummy popcorn. Or then we went to the Irish bar, where we danced the night away (surprise, surprise, it was in my opinion the best bar on the island ;) although, as there were only 3-4 bars there, the competition wasn't so tough..) . All the bars and restaurants are by the beach, so it was super handy if you got hot after dancing, you could just pop for a quick dip in the sea and be back on the "dancefloor" in two minutes. Some nights we tried to stay up until the sunrise and the one time I managed to stay awake, it certainly was worth it.

I had a great time with the girls, always a good craic with the Irish ;) and we made plenty of new friends as well. Our neighbours were these friendly Swedish lads and we also met people from Norway, Jakarta, England.. On our second week we met this group of Kiwi guys and had a blast. Towards the end of my stay, must be because the Easter holidays, the island started to fill in an alarming speed with groups of Swedish teens. Not that I have anything agains the Swedes per se, but they were always in massive groups and well, they were just so young.. The hotel staff were great fun as well, and they often came out with us after work, Baby and Man (nicknames, just in case you're wondering) were really nice guys and nothing like creepy Wayan from Ubud. (Although Sophie might have a thing or two to say about that..)

So I loved every minute on the island. It was so small and peaceful at our end of the island and the town (or city as the locals call the one road) was still big enough to have all the basic things, like books shop, internet, restaurants etc. No touts harrasing you, except for people offering magic mushrooms every where you went. "Super duper amazing mushrooms" "your ticket to the moon" and so on, I wasn't really botherd with the mushrooms, just happy with my Bintang beer, the Indonesian pilsner. I think it's the only local beer, since that's what they have everywhere and whenever you spot a group of tourists at least a few of them are wearing Bintang t-hisirts and tops. And then one day in Coral Beach I overheard this boy, about 7 years old, saying to his parents over lunch, that "as soon as I'm 19, I'll have a Bintang!" Obviously the advertisment has worked.

We did a two day trip to Gili Air. Gili Air is even smaller than Trawangan and I think about 800 people live there (if I remember correctly). We had an very wonderful night there with the Gili Gigolos (a name for the guys that we later found out). The made a big bonfire on the beach and brought out their guitars. They called their band "Better than nothing" and they were actually really good. Everyone played well, even the 13 year old one. Some remembered the lyrics better than others, we tried to help out when we could and they also made their own funny songs about the Gili Islands. Bonfires and guitars always work for me.

Eventually the time came to leave the Gilis and as sad I was to go, it's always exciting to go somewhere new and I probably would've got restless at somepoint. I took the boat back to Bali and spent my last evening in Kuta. Kuta was just as crowded as everyone had warned, but no one had told me about the good shopping. As we were driving in and I saw all the shops, they were so tempting, endless rows off them and it was like bringing a child to a candy shop and not giving them any money. I was just looking at them longigly, knowing that I can't go in, because my backpack was already bursting. So I decide to get a massage to reward myself, for dodging another shopping spree.

Here I am at Jakarta airport now, getting ready for the final leg of my trip, Vietanm with mum! :) I've got 4 hours to kill, but luckily I found this lovely lounge (entrance 4 euros), with free internet, masssage chairs, all you can eat buffet and complimentary Bintangs. Maybe I'll have just one for the road...