Yet again I am going to start my blog with an apology for not writing in a very long time, (yet again and I know it is a poor excuse) I have been really busy with school, so thought I would write this blog as I am not procrastinating from making exams for the assessment period in a week.

Well where do I start with Gili Trawangan, it was AMAZING, it was the holiday I definitely need after working 6 months straight without more than 4 days off in a row, so I was really ready for this break. I was very excited, but also a little nervous, it was the first time I had been travelling on my own, but it was absolutely fine.

I stayed in Bali for a night, as the boat to the Gili's was early in the morning, so decided to stay in an area I knew. It was nice so nice to relax and enjoy a glass of wine and not have to think of school.

The next morning I was picked up and taken to where the boat would leave from, was not looking forward to the boat, as I get sea sick, but dosed myself up on travel sickness pills and focused on one point for the whole journey across. When we arrive I was greeted with white sand and crystal blue sea, I was in heaven, I was looking forward to enjoying the beach and topping up my tan. I got my bag and made my way to my hotel, it was so nice and everyone was very friendly, I was given my key and made myself at home.

After a bit of sorting, I went back out to meet Steph who was going to be my diving instructor, she was lovely and English. She gave me my homework for the first night and I got started with reading the book and answering the questions before starting my course in the morning. Later I decided to go find somewhere for dinner as it had been a long day of travelling, after dinner I went and watched the new Pirates of the Caribbean film that was showing in one of the open air cinemas that Gili T has, you just have to by a drink or food and you can watch the film being shown. Then it was time for bed, as in the morning I was starting my Open Water diving course.

Next morning I was up early and ready to begin, I met the two other people joining us on the course, Sandrine and Flip both from the Netherlands. First things first was to learn the skills in the pool in the morning, then in the afternoon we were let loose in the ocean, it was soooooo cool, saw a clown fish (Nemo) and so many other things, it was the best experience and I loved it. Over the next three days we learnt more skills and did more dives in the sea and after 4 days we were qualified Open Water Divers!!

I had already decided to continue to do my Advanced Open Water certificate, which would allow me to dive to 30m, and as I was in an amazing place doing it, it seemed rude not too. So I met my new diving buddy Chris, who was also a teacher and that night we started our course with a night dive, which was rather scary as could only see as far as the torch went, but at the same time rather cool too. Over the next 2 days we completed different dives, including navigation, fish ID, underwater photography to complete our course and then we were Advanced Open Water divers.

Gili T is rather well know for it's partying, so it would have been rude not to try it out, so as I had made several new friends at 'Big Bubble' (the hotel and dive centre) I was going out with them to enjoy the local vodka and there were definitely a few nights a drank a few too many, but that is what a holiday is for.

Well, the rest of my holiday was pretty much spent diving, sun bathing and partying, which was loads of fun, especially as Chrissy was in the Gili's at the same time, so we got to dive and party together.

While I was in the Gili's I completed 12 dives, but out of all of them my last was my favourite, as I had not seen any sharks in all my other dives and was really wanting the experience of diving with them, so Philippa (my dive guide) was given the instructions to find me sharks and she didn't fail, we didn't just see one but 3, it was such an amazing experience I will never forget.

All I can say to finish this blog of is thank you Gili T for and the most brilliant fun holiday and I will definitely be back again very soon!!!