Posted by: Jenn
Quick side note: In our last post I put together a sweet manta ray video but apparently it was marked as private so you couldn't view it. I fixed that! It took me awhile to put the video together so you better check it out:
Quick side note: In our last post I put together a sweet manta ray video but apparently it was marked as private so you couldn't view it. I fixed that! It took me awhile to put the video together so you better check it out:
So on to Gili Air:
Our last stop on the tropical triangle with mom and dad was Gili Air, one of three small islands off the coast of Lombok where cars and motorbikes are not allowed. Jonathan and I had heard multiple travellers rave about the Gili Islands so we were excited about that being mom and dad's trip finale. We weren't convinced that the Gili's would beat our adventures on Nusa Lembongan but we were going to give them a shot. As the boat approached we got our first glimpse of these little nuggets stuck out in the sea.
Our last stop on the tropical triangle with mom and dad was Gili Air, one of three small islands off the coast of Lombok where cars and motorbikes are not allowed. Jonathan and I had heard multiple travellers rave about the Gili Islands so we were excited about that being mom and dad's trip finale. We weren't convinced that the Gili's would beat our adventures on Nusa Lembongan but we were going to give them a shot. As the boat approached we got our first glimpse of these little nuggets stuck out in the sea.
We were dropped off on Gili Air, the island closest to Lombok with apparently better beaches and snorkeling than the other two Gili's. Jonathan and I searched out a place to stay while mom and dad were on bag watch with their new best friend Bintang. We found two cute little bungalows on the beach with A/C, private bath, beach view and breakfast for about $47 a night each.
It slipped mine and Jonathan's mind to ask one critical question about the bungalows because we have become accustomed to this. But later that night through the wall we hear these God awful screeches and whines coming from mom and dad's bathroom. Turns out mom wanted to take a shower and she found out the hard way that there was no hot water. She appreciated the way I've been traveling the past year more than she had already. :-)
Our four days on the Gili Islands are pretty easy to recap. We woke up whenever we wanted, had a breakfast of banana pancakes and fruit brought to us in little bamboo huts on the sand, snorkeled, found a beach side cafe for lunch, napped, waited for the sun set, found a beach side cafe for happy hour and dinner, slept, then did it all over again.
Let me go into a little more detail for you. The bungalows we stayed in were set back from the beach a little, so each morning we would stroll down to the sand where our own private, open air huts fully equipped with pillows and a table awaited us. These are where most of our time was spent.
Our four days on the Gili Islands are pretty easy to recap. We woke up whenever we wanted, had a breakfast of banana pancakes and fruit brought to us in little bamboo huts on the sand, snorkeled, found a beach side cafe for lunch, napped, waited for the sun set, found a beach side cafe for happy hour and dinner, slept, then did it all over again.
Let me go into a little more detail for you. The bungalows we stayed in were set back from the beach a little, so each morning we would stroll down to the sand where our own private, open air huts fully equipped with pillows and a table awaited us. These are where most of our time was spent.
Once we sat down, coffee and tea was served to us as we waited for our banana pancakes or omelette's to be cooked. Dessert was a plate full of some of the best bananas, watermelon and pineapple.
Because our bungalows were set apart from the main hustle and bustle of the island, our beach in front was basically empty all day. This made for very relaxing post breakfast swimming, reading and napping sessions.
Around midday we would scout out a restaurant for lunch. All the restaurants were really cute because they were beach side, and instead of tables and chairs, you sit in bamboo huts on pillows. Sometimes the service was not so quick but hey, we were on island time and really there's no rush when all you have to do is wait for the sun set.
One of the days, instead of reading and napping, we chartered a boat to take us to some snorkeling spots in between the three islands. We had heard that the Gili's boasted some amazing snorkeling. We boarded a glass bottom boat and set off for our first spot.
Our boat driver told us that the first stop we would hit up was off the coast of Gili Trawangan and was a place where we would definitely see some turtles. We hopped out of the boat and not only did we not see turtles, but we were also very disappointed with the quality of the reef. I'm not sure if he took us to the wrong spot or if the turtles were just not in that area at that time but it was a very bad stop. We climbed back in the boat and told him to take us somewhere good! He said that the second stop we would for sure see some turtles and that the reef would be better. Once again, we swam around and yielded the same results as the stop before. Boo! The third stop on the trip was to Gili Meno where we were supposed to grab lunch and check out some of the beaches on this island. As we were looking for a place to drop anchor I hear another guide leading a group of tourists to certain spot in the water. I assumed he spotted a turtle and decided that if our guide wasn't taking us to the right spots then I would just follow the other guide. Without permission I hopped out of the boat and saw a turtle swimming by. Not wanting mom to miss her opportunity to see a turtle, I told her to throw on her gear and hop in.
Dad opted to stay in the boat but he saw the turtle through the glass bottom. Mom and I swam with the turtle for a while until it disappeared into the deep blue. We made our way to shore to scout out a place for lunch. Gili Meno is even more chill and less developed than Gili Air so we enjoyed eating there and wandering around to check out some of the beaches.
The last stop on the tour, which happened to have better snorkeling than the first stops, was on Gili Air right in front of our bungalows. Go figure. We saw some more turtles, lots of fishies and some colorful reef.
Even though we were slightly disappointed with the first two stops, we still got to swim with turtles and see some of Gili Meno. So overall I think the snorkel trip was a success.
Around 6:30 each night we made sure that we were in our little huts so that we could watch the sunset. The location of our bungalows was prime for catching the sunset and people from surrounding hotels would flock to our section of the beach for a half hour every night.
Around 6:30 each night we made sure that we were in our little huts so that we could watch the sunset. The location of our bungalows was prime for catching the sunset and people from surrounding hotels would flock to our section of the beach for a half hour every night.
After sunset we would find a good happy hour deal and hunker down for some drinks and dinner. Dinners during our stay on Gili Air were always spectacular. One night we ate at a really nice hotel and dad splurged for a bottle of red wine, which of course was a special treat. The last time Jonathan and I had wine was in South America where wine was cheaper than water. Dad and I ordered lasagna and it turned out to be amazing. It was a heaping portion and was oh so good, especially with our tasty red wine.
Our last night on Gili Air was soooo much fun. Mom and I found this one bar that served banana cows and we had no idea what they were but we wanted to try them.
They turned out to be banana smoothies with some kind of liquor and a hint of mint. Pretty much amazing. We ordered a few more before our first ones were finished just to make sure we got the happy hour deal. Dad stuck with long island iced teas and Jonathan had caprihinas.
After happy hour ended we had worked up an appetite so we pretty much ordered the whole menu.
Mom had grilled jack fish, dad had grilled tuna, Jonathan ordered fried noodle with egg, I had vegetable curry and we threw in a pizza for good measure. It was so much fun trying all the different drinks and food. I had such a good time just getting to hang out with mom and dad without a care in the world, especially since we had already caught the sunset.
The next morning we hired two horse and buggies to carry us and our luggage to the boat dock so we could head back to Kuta Beach in time for mom and dad to catch their flight out.
The next morning we hired two horse and buggies to carry us and our luggage to the boat dock so we could head back to Kuta Beach in time for mom and dad to catch their flight out.
In case you're planning a trip to the Gili's:
Overall our visit was very relaxing and a good way to end mom and dad's trip. We really enjoyed not having any agenda except waiting for the sun to set. However, Jonathan and I were slightly disappointed with the snorkeling and beach quality. I think we expected much more because we had heard so many good things about the Gili's. Yes, the water was beautiful, but not very swimable due to the shallow reef and rocks and the sand is covered in dead washed up coral, which kills the feet. And the snorkeling was ok, but not something I would rave about to other travelers - I would mention Nusa Lembongan way before I said anything about the Gili's. Anyways, it's interesting to hear opinions on places but then it not be something you yourself would recommend in the same way.
We arrived back in Kuta beach that evening and mom and dad finished up some last minute shopping. We wrapped up the night with some Bintangs at dad's favorite steetside bar that he discovered the first time we were in Kuta when they flew in. It being his favorite bar mainly because they brought you peanuts when you ordered beer.
Overall our visit was very relaxing and a good way to end mom and dad's trip. We really enjoyed not having any agenda except waiting for the sun to set. However, Jonathan and I were slightly disappointed with the snorkeling and beach quality. I think we expected much more because we had heard so many good things about the Gili's. Yes, the water was beautiful, but not very swimable due to the shallow reef and rocks and the sand is covered in dead washed up coral, which kills the feet. And the snorkeling was ok, but not something I would rave about to other travelers - I would mention Nusa Lembongan way before I said anything about the Gili's. Anyways, it's interesting to hear opinions on places but then it not be something you yourself would recommend in the same way.
We arrived back in Kuta beach that evening and mom and dad finished up some last minute shopping. We wrapped up the night with some Bintangs at dad's favorite steetside bar that he discovered the first time we were in Kuta when they flew in. It being his favorite bar mainly because they brought you peanuts when you ordered beer.
After parting ways with Bintang, which was difficult for mom and dad, we headed back to the hotel so they could pack and be ready for their flight the next morning.
Jonathan and I accompanied them to the airport and it was sooooooooooooo hard to say goodbye.
Jonathan and I accompanied them to the airport and it was sooooooooooooo hard to say goodbye.
I don't think that you guys (our readers) really get this from our posts, but eleven months away from family and friends is h-a-r-d. You guys only see the awesome photos and hear the amazing stories. And traveling is awesome but it's not all fun and games; it's a very exhausting lifestyle. With that said, having mom and dad come to visit us was a Godsend. I was so ready to see them that it seemed surreal when they walked out of the airport upon arrival. The two weeks they were here was so amazing and a much needed break from our budget backpacking life. The hotels we had were some of the nicest rooms we've stayed in thus far and the meals were so posh compared to the local street stalls serving day old cold noodles. It really was a fantastic two weeks.
Thank you so much mom and dad for everything! I am beyond ecstatic that you came to visit and we got to show you around Bali, non-resort style. It really meant the world to me that you guys came and I got to share some of our adventures with you. I love youuuuuu!
Thank you so much mom and dad for everything! I am beyond ecstatic that you came to visit and we got to show you around Bali, non-resort style. It really meant the world to me that you guys came and I got to share some of our adventures with you. I love youuuuuu!