My trip to Gili didn't have the smoothest start. I was so excited to be traveling for ten days in a row but I had a bump in the road at the very beginning. My original plan was to head to Gili T with Michelle and her friend visiting from Canada. Unfortunately, her friend ended up getting really sick so they both decided not to go. That left with me with one decision: do I fly solo? Duh, Yes.
I ended up catching my flight that Thursday afternoon after talking it over with my parents. Luckily, Sophie and Abby were going to be in Gili the same time so I planned to meet them there. I flew into Bali and arrived in the evening not really knowing what/where I needed to go in order to get to Gili. With the help of my Lonely Planet I figured out that I needed to get to Pandangbai in order to catch the ferry to Gili T island. So, when I got off the plane, I bought my 25 dollar visa, went through customs and was on a search for a cab to take me there. To my surprise there were actually hundreds of taxi drivers as soon as I stepped out of the airport - overwhelming but relieving. I walked up and down the strip and found a man who was willing to take me on the 1.5 hour journey for around 30 bucks. I hopped into his van and we were off! I turned on my cell phone and texted my dad and told him I was in a cab in Indonesia. I did realize it may have been a little bit dodgy to get in the cab with an Indonesian man, but he was from an airport country and I didn't really have much of a choice. I arrived in Padangbai, got dropped off at the=e first hotel Lonely Planet suggested and then went down the strip to find some food. I found the place that had the most people in it, ordered, and ended up being invited to sit with 3 Dutch girls - soon to be my saviours. The 3 ladies have been traveling for months now, 1 was going home the next week and it was nice to enjoy a meal with others. They were just staying on the other side of the restaurant and had told me they found a great deal for the fast ferry to the island. Their deal ended up saving me more than thirty dollars, a definite plus.
My lonely room for the night! $10 including breakfast
The next morning I awoke bright and early to meet up with the Dutch girls. We met and then got picked up to get to the ferry. At the ferry pier there were a ton of street sellers selling water, fruit, water toys, and sarongs, and I eventually was persuaded into buying a sarong that said Bali for only three dollars. There are 2 ways to get to the island of Gili T: fast ferry, or slow boat. The slow boat takes about 5 hours but is much cheaper. I opted for the fast ferry because I couldn't wait for the sunshine. The ferry was only about 1.5 hours and Gili Trawangan was the last stop after Lombok, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. The other Gili's are more quiet, less touristy - Gili T is where the diving and partying is at. I also heard that Gili Meno is the honeymoon spot so future husband be warned.
Lombok ... What beautiful colours!
With no way of contacting Abby or Sophie I decided to just stay with the Dutch girls while they found a hotel. I chose not to get a room with them in hopes of finding my Canadian friends, but open to getting a room by myself if I couldn't. The Dutch girls were so kind to let me tag along with them, but I think that when one travels on their own it's really easy to meet people.
Getting off the ferry and being greeted by this sign!
Gili Trawangan
After finding the Dutch girls a hotel we headed right to Gili's beautiful beach. Gili truly has the bluest waters I have seen. The beach was white sand, a little busy, and had a ton of restaurants sitting on it. The whole island of Gili has one main strip with beach on one side and diving shops/restaurants/ hotels on the other. After being on the beach for about an hour I decided to walk up and down to see if I could see Abby and Sophie which was a success. Turns out they had gotten there the night before and had a 3 person room ready to go. Abby and Sophie ended up coming to join the Dutch ladies and I, we all got some food and some Bintang beer.
That evening I moved my bag into Abby's room and all of us girls went for dinner. We went to Rudy's that evening to enjoy some cheap drinks and socialize, a lot of fun that included some dances with the Gili locals.
Abby and I
The next morning Sophie and I decided to join Abby on a dive. Abby was getting her open water dive course which takes 3 days, so Sophie and I wanted to do one dive for only 60 bucks. In order to do a dive Sophie and I had to do the pool training first. After a mini verbal lecture we got in our scuba gear and headed into the pool. We practiced some exercises with breathing, clearing out masks underwater, and swimming, but I have to be honest I really hated it. I found being underwater SO bizzare and my breathing was definitely at a fast pace. Although I was only sitting in the shallow end I was making mistakes with my exercises and ended up coming up to the service. My instructor, Adam, reassured me when I told him I really didn't like it, told me what to do with my air, and then we went back underwater. After about an hour of being underwater working on some swimming in the pool we got out. I was so skeptical to do a real dive that afternoon, I honestly was too scared to do it.
Trawangan Dive .. stayed in the hotel over
Sophie and I on our first day of diving
At lunch post pool contemplating whether I wanted to actually dive or not
The Liana boat? Meant to be?
Gili T's only mode of transportation. Motor vehicle free.
I ended up choosing to go through with the dive. It turned out to be the coolest experience ever. Both Abby, Sophie and I went with the instructor James. We were underwater for 45 minutes but it felt like 10. Seeing the coral reef, tons of exotic fish, and being able to swim so freely was actually leaving me speechless. Oddly enough, as soon as I descended into the water my fears and nerves were gone. I felt so at peace being 12m underwater. For the rest of that afternoon I was on a complete high from the dive, I just felt so accomplished and happy. That evening I spur of the moment decided to actually get scuba certified. I am now a licensed scuba diver ladies and gentleman! Since I was leaving Monday morning I didn't have enough time to get the open water which allows one to dive 18m deep. I am more than okay being able to dive 12m, and I have this certificate for life, which will let me dive with an instructor anywhere for less money than having to redo the practice of a single dive. By Sunday evening I had done my second dive, completed the chapters and tests necessary for my certificate (work on recess week? really?) and went to sunset point and the irish pub on Gili to celebrate. The next morning I was gutted to head back to Bali.
About to do our last dive.. Scuba Abby and Lianne
Last night in Gili
Monday morning I caught the fast ferry back to Padangbai and a shuttle back to Kuta, Bali for the night. To catch my flight Tuesday morning back to Singapore, I stayed in Kuta for Monday afternoon and evening. Kuta, Bali was just alright. The beach was popular for surfing, but nothing compared to the sunshine and sand of Gili. I did a little shopping and stayed by my hotel pool for the evening. Walked to get some food and actually ended up watching the Oscar's in my room. I was sad to leave Gili, but excited to get back to Singapore for the next part of my recess week: Northern Vietnam with Michelle.
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