With the Euro making a European holiday quite expensive these days and with flights around the world still being quite cheap, especially if you keep a good look out for the deals, my partner and i decided to travel to Lombok, in particular, three little islands off it's north-east coast. The Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan to be precise.
This started off with a flight to Singapore and then a conecting flight to Bali. Once there, the best and quickest way to get to the Gili islands is by fast boat, which takes a couple of hours door to door. Now this may sound like alot of traveling, and it is, so bear that in mind if you have young children. But each stage of the journey can be broken up, depending on how much time you have at your disposal.
We had two weeks in all, and we split up the journey by staying two nights in Bali on the way there and a night in Bali on the return journey.
You arrive to the welcoming view of white beaches and clear turquoise sea. Gili Trawangan has no motor vehicles so the only way to get your bags to your chosen resort is by horse and cart!
The island has many dwellings and many tarrifs to choose from. Most comprising of bungalows of differing quality. Some with fresh water swimming pools and running water, which is pumped over from Lombok, some with procesed salt water. There is no natural fresh water available on the island.
Gili Trawangan is the more lively island of the three, and as such there is more to keep you entertained. The south-east of the island has the most restaurants and bars and is therefore the most lively area. The east coast is profilerated with restaurants and bungalows, too many to choose from, so you will never have to eat at the same place twice if that's what you fancy. The restaurants and bungalows get ever thinner on the ground the further you head up the east coast of the island but don't let this discourage you, as you will then turn on to the northern stretch of the island which is a beautiful chilled place, perfect to watch the sun setting over Bali's volcanos, with the odd beer or cocktail, complementing the Tapas, Pizza or the various Indonesian cullenary delights that abound.....for vegetairian or meat eater!
By far the best snorkelling to be had is on the east coast. The're a few resident turtles here with plenty of reef fish which get bigger nearer the drop off. Alot of the reefs here have been damaged either by dinamite fishing, which is now a complete no-no, or by a mini Tsunami that occured in the past. The comunity are making efforts to restore the reefs by encouraging new reef growth with the aid of metal framework structures, which the coral is nicely taking to i might add.
Diving is quite good with a good number of official dive sights to visit where the coral has stood up a little better than the shore reefs as it is a little deeper. On one dive i saw a group of 15 bump-head parrotfish 6 white tip reef sharks, octopus, trevelley, sweet lips, all the usual suspects to be honest. So not bad all in all, but i must say that the red sea is still better in my opinion.
Living on the islands as far as food and drink goes is very cheap. So much so, that two weeks in Indonesia will work out cheaper than one week in, say, Greece.
For example, a 1.5 litre bottle of water will cost you £0.50, a beer £1 and a dish off the menu can cost as little as £2. Cigarettes are £0.70 a branded packet! Definately cheaper than Europe! As far as shopping goes for your arts and crafts, it's better to do that on the mainland as you won't have to travel with it, but there are various shops should you feel the need to purchace anything.
All in all the people are very friendly and always have a smile, which is no wonder, as they live in one of the most beautiful places in the world!
I have traveled all over the world on holiday from as little as one week to as much as one year at a time and i can quite honestly say that this has been one of the more memorable and enjoyable times that i have had away. Thouroughly recomended.