Gili islands

Ambled down the beach to a couple of motorized outrigger canoes. No sign of Harris - guess the day wasn't operating to a strict timetable…Harris and the pilot arrived and I helped push our craft in to knee-deep water. All aboard, the 15hp outboard roared into life and off we pottered….A hot hour later we beached the boat on the Eastern short of Gili Trawangan - seemed a cool place with lots of folks hanging out on loungers and in bars with no seats. Went for a snorkel - saw lots of coral and small fish. Highlight was and a large turtle - spotted by Annelise - which we followed for a few minutes. Water was crystal clear and almost too warm.

Back on land we walked down the main strip, checked out some of the accommodation and decided we'd come over and stay for a couple of nights. There was a good variety of food options, although many specialized in mushroom based dishes - "Happy Mushrooms" obviously some kind of local specialty.

There were no cars and public transport was by donkey and cart. All the donkeys had an elaborate nappy system which by lunchtime looked and smelt like the needed a change.

Back on the boat we landed on the next door island of Gili Meno for lunch. This was altogether a more sedate spot, although still infested with hawkers. Annelise assured me we didn't need another ethnic hammock and we tucked into our seafood noodles.

Snorkelled round the corner and drifted along the coral beds for an hour -great coral but not so many fish- apparently local fisherman were dynamite fishing until recently and the dive companies pay them not to fish there now.

The journey back was a bit more eventful - the afternoon breeze and swell had got up which made for a wet and bumpy ride. Annelise sang to herself to keep her spirits up, safe in the knowledge that she had the only lifejacket….

Relieved to be back on shore, we freshened up and headed off for sundowners and happy hour. Sat on the lounger and watched another red sky sunset. The sun went down, then the star about the volcano went, followed by all trace of the volcano silhouetted against the sky. Out to see was a white object- was it a piece of flotsam picked up by the spotlight, a fishing boat or perhaps a light right on the horizon. Maybe something more sinister….After half an hour of speculating we concluded it was approaching the shore and finally a piece of Styrofoam surfed in to the sand. Ah - the joys of having time on your hands….