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Published: December 15th 2006
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Adel At Sunset...
Taken On Gilli Meno... Sums up the mood the pace of life and the tranquility just perfectly.... “With its white-sand beaches and clear turquoise waters the Gili islands are a favorite destination for the long-term traveler, but a planned few days can easily turn into a few weeks!!!” Lonely Planet 2004….
Never a truer word written!!!!! My scheduled 4 day break ended up 14 lovely days on the 3 Islands… The Gili’s are made up of 3 small islands Trawangan, Meno and Air, with Gilli T being the busier, Meno stunning and quiet and Air bigger but equally quiet...
With Hindu ceremonies in Ubud every thing was closed for 5 days (including local shuttle buses) so i had to fork out for a Perama busboat (very touristy, 220,000rp) which is a little more expensive but a lot less hassle and pretty much direct, plus it had 8 staff for the two of us!!! Me and some old Dutch guy… We did however get a meal and a T-shirt!!!, 5 hour boat ride from Pandang Bia to Gili Trawangan (Gili T) on which I saw the sunset and Dolphins which was a nice treat… Later found out the cheap way is a lot of messing about!! 10 hours and you save about 60,000…. Which is 3
Gili Meno Beach...
Wish You Were Here!!!!!!!!!!11 quid!!!??
Your first impression of Gilli T is a massive contrast from the quiet charming surrounds of Ubud… Your first 3 questions from the numerous touts are:- “You Want Mushrooms!!” “You Want Weed” and of course “You Need Room”…. The third option I got for 30,000 which was my lowest yet….. So pleased with myself I settled into my room and met my only neighbors, a couple of girls from Hudderfield (Helen & Elizabeth), “Woood Ya Lark A Flaaaake In Thatt Luv!!”, Never have I seen a happier fungus muncher than Elizabeth!!!! Classic!!!!!.... This island is the one all the tourists come to first and is a bit of a party place, several bars alternating the party nights with Monday and Wednesday strangely the Biggest nights?? But to be honest I rarely know what day it is anyway or time for that matter!!!!! It has one main street (sandy path!!) running along the beach with open air bars on both sides and restaurants on the beach front looking out over the see.. The first Bar you come across and the most popular is “Rudeys”, with its funny staff enticing the passers by in with free welcome drinks of Arak
Tony, Adel, Me, Cathy & Lex...
On of our many feasts (Veg Curry Adel???).... and orange and poor impressions of foreign language banter “You from England?? Lubbly Jubbly!!!”, good bunch of guys and you know in 5 years time they will still remember your name!!!!!... I settled into a bar stool and watched the premiership roundup on ESPN, chatted to fellow travelers, sank many beers and pottered home in the early hours….
Spent my first full day on the beach and swimming… got too much sun!!! but no harm done…. That evening was party night at the Irish Bar!!! But it was at Rudeys and other bars on the way I met my new gang of friends!!!! Lex the American stock guru, Tony & Adel and Weee Cathy from Southern Ireland(who is a spooky looky likey for Bee????)….. We danced (well Adel did!!) and partied the night away and cemented friendships that would last the next 12 days and beyond….. Lex is traveling for 3-5 years!!!!! On the strength of his shares in gold and Eco stuff and would give us daily reports on how much he hadn’t actually spent each day!!!! (See you in Nam dude!!!)…. Weeee Cathy has the most infectious laugh!!! Never met someone who can laugh and talk at
exactly the same time (how’s the swimming hun????...lol)… Spent a lot of time with Adel and Tony and I will defiantly stay in touch when back home, Adel is from London and Tony from Oz, both living and working in Devon on an open farm during the summer and traveling the winters (7 months on 5 off!!! Nice work if you can get it!!!)…… Adel running things Tony doing the lamb and shearing shows…
The next 10 days were pretty much a similar format just the timescales would vary between the differing events:- The Beach, The Pool, Game Of Cards, Snorkeling, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks, Sunset on the other side of the Island, massage, watch the footy, read a book….. but all done at a beautiful gliding through life pace……
We all stayed on Gili T for 5 nights then hopped on a boat across to Gilli Meno, which was much quieter and more beautiful… We adopted Ya Ya’s as our restaurant of choice, great local dishes for 6-10,000!!! (40-60p!!), and the best onion rings in Indonesia!!! Our home was “Casa Blanca” which had a fresh water pool!!! Something of a rarity as by now I was used to
Good Heart...
We would come here for the sun sets... Food was good but a little out our budget.. the taste of salt from both the water supply and the sea (salty showers suck!!!), the gardens were laden with pink flowering tree’s and lush green grass with our stilted wooden bungalows dotted around (cant believe I ain’t got a picture??)… This Island was a lot smaller and to the other side to “Gecko Bar” or “Good Heart” to drink a beer and watch sunset, a brisk 15 minute walk, which we did almost every night (hey Lex!!!!!!...lol)….. We happily followed this regime for 6 nights before we all said our sad goodbyes…. Booooo!!!!!
Best snorkeling moment was when i saw a family of Nemo's (five) all living in thier anenemi, only to call over Cathy too see.. Then have a strange conversation on the beach as Cathy & Tony thought Nemo in the film was Orange & Blue and i had it wrong!!!! "Thats Pirate DVD's For Ya"... Worst moment was at the same time, 15 minutes after getting out a pod of 8 Dolphins swam over where we just were!!!!!.....
I popped over to Gilli Air for one night just to say I’d done them all, Then Back to Gili T for a night before heading
Cheers Everyone!!!!!
Heres to good health, Friends and Family... Miss You All And Hope Your All Well....x back to Ubud to get me new camera which did finally arrive!!!!!!!
I am currently in Kuala Lumpu having taken a flight from Bali (70quid!!) and today went on a mission to sort out India Flights and my Visa... Booked to fly to Bombay on 21st then head straight down to Goa for Xmas and New Year, mainly just to be around people... AAAaaarrrhhhh... You find alot of travelers or even short break people are heading home now and you do kinda wish you were too for the festive period... Dont miss all the commercial bumf that comes with it!!! Ive only seen ONE christmas tree!!!!!! and that was today!!!!! But i will miss family and friends!!!.... In the meantime its the 16th right now and gonna pop to Singapore in the morning on the bus and be back here for Monday to queue (see dave!!) for my Visa...
The 10th was a memerable day as it was my half way point!!!!!!! Yes 6 months seems like alot longer at times, but that i think is to do with the vast amount of distance covered as the last month on the beaches has flown by!!!!!!! It was also
The Beach At Gilli T...
Lined With Island Hoppers and Fishing Boats the Beach Around the Port Can be Quite Beautiful... Adel's official turning old day!!!! Happy 30th!!!!....
3000 hits!!!!!! Yes i have had 3098 hits since i started this!!!! nice to know your loved......x
Well Folks Thats Me For Now...
Peace...
Ray...xx
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Jackie
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Enjoyed the blog looking at that blue blue sea, fab. I want to know what secret Lex has. I have a lot of bracelets and things but never been able to travel on the strength of them ! Stay well