Sat 7th - Wed 11th June (Week 38)

Sat 7th - Checked out of My Gili Cottages and walked down to the harbour at 9:30am. Caught the Island Hopping boat across to Gili Air, and were pleasantly surprised by the ample room, and actual wooden seats on the boat - a very different experience from our inbound boat ! Were met at the harbour and walked the 10mins to our new place in the middle of the island. Beautiful room, lovely gardens, and we are the only ones here ! Headed out on the free bikes to explore the island and find supplies for breakfast etc. Found a good shop, and a cheap Warang (restaurant) next door so had a good lunch before setting off to cycle around the island. We'd been told there was a nice concrete path all around the edge of the island, so were disappointed when we ground to a halt in thick sand on the NE coast, which continued all the way to the SW ! Got rather hot and sweaty pushing our bikes through the sand, but overall still quicker than walking all the way around ! Some lovely restaurants, bars and beaches so I think we will enjoy our 5 days here. Had a few beers at sunset in a comfy little wooden hut and wobbled on our bikes to the warang for dinner !

Sun 8th - Cycled down to the SE corner where the best beaches are and spent a relaxing day sunbathing on the white sandy beach. Quite a few restaurants and tourists there, but it is the only easily reached beach to sunbath and swim. The SW corner is much quieter, but the water is ankle deep with lots of coral and rocks. Went to a lovely restaurant on the beach for dinner with cocktails, beers and a great acoustic live band with an amazing base guitar player. Such a fantastic setting - sand, waves lapping, the open sky with stars and moonlight, and a warm breeze - not going to get this sort of atmosphere back in England :(

Mon 9th - Another full day sunbathing on the SE from 10-4, with a break for lunch. Watched a lovely sunset over Gili Meno and Gili T, with Mt Agung on Bali in the distance. Its amazing how quickly the day goes when you don't do anything, and how tiring sunbathing and reading can be !

Tues 10th - Pretty much the same as yesterday ! I do enjoy being able to get around by bike though - a short cycle and we're on the beach, another quick trip for lunch and back to the beach, home, and out for sunset and dinner ! Much more civilised way of getting around rather than walking 20-30mins everywhere like on Meno.

Wed 11th - And again - same as last 2 days. Its pretty tough this island life. Worried we might have got too used to be lazy beach bums, and are going to find it hard to shift up a gear again ! The wind had really picked up today and we got sand-blasted on the beach, and the waves were really choppy. Doesn't bode well for our crossing back to Lombok tomorrow, and the 3 day cruise !! Oh dear, sea sickness pills on standby !

The Gili islands have been a lovely 10 days of snorkelling and relaxing. I think we preferred Meno for the turtles, quiet beaches and sunset bars, but Air for the convenience of getting around by bike. But both have been lovely, great rooms, food and sun.