Island Hopping

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Just when we think the trip can't get any better, or more fun or more beautiful, it does... exponentially. We've pretty much been laying low in Bali since we were traveling around so much in Thailand and then having to deal with the whole stolen wallet debacle kinda cramped our finances a bit too. But good news and good times appeared in the form of our friends Jess, Trenton, Pete and Ryan. Bali has been so amazing and so fun that it was great to be able to share it with some good friends and also to have other people here to witness it so that we know it wasn't all just a dream.

After getting the gang back home to Nea's house (where ooohs and ahhhhs and "this is amazing!"s were thrown around like confetti at a Sunset Strip drag show) to eat and get settled, we rented more motor scooters and hit the town. First stop Legian Beach for some moonlight beers and hugs, then off to a popular warung (Balinese restaurant) for more beer and delicious food. We tried to go big that night, but jet lag and our lack of partying made for a pretty short evening, so we all headed back to the house and hit the hay, right before the sky let loose and the rain came down for the remainder of the evening.

Jess and the gang were pretty hell bent on going to the Gili Islands, and I have to say I sure am glad they were! So we spent one more day in Bali, shopping (Jessica is the best bargainer I have ever seen, I think she found her calling!) and sight-seeing all over the southern Bukit Peninsula (where everyone got a crash course in high stress/danger Bali scooter riding) before we head back to the house later that evening to prepare for an early morning and catch the high speed ferry over to Gili Trawangan at 8:30am.

The speed ferry to Gili Trawangan was a lot like what I would imagine the trip to heaven like. A quick 2 hours along crystal clear waters while sitting in the sunshine and watching giant cloud formations go by. Just to give everyone a quick description, the Gili Islands are 3 little islands between the coasts of Bali and Lombock that have been a popular tourist destination for the last 30 years. The beaches are white and pristine, they're surrounded by beautiful coral reefs (which makes for excellent diving), everyone there is fit, tan and beautiful, oh, and there's no cops, no dogs, no motorized vehicles of ANY kind and all the locals are trying to sell you magic mushrooms and marijuana at about every corner. Accommodations, are cheap (especially in the low season which we managed to hit square in the nose) food is even cheaper and if C and I somehow manage to go missing, I think you will know where to search first.

So, we've been here on Gili Trawangan for 4 days now. Not really much to complain about. Unfortunately Jessica, Pete, Trenton and Ryan had to leave back to Bali yesterday to catch their flights to Phuket, so now it's just my lovely queen and I. Before they left though we managed to make friends with our live-in guest house manager who has since become our personal Gili attendant (as if life wasn't already cake here), took over a local resort pool at sunset and made them open the bar for us after closing hours, danced the night away at the Blue Marlin, and had a lovely fresh fish BBQ at Scallywags, the Island's only all organic, all natural restaurant. Oh! I almost forgot, while snorkeling yesterday C and I were lucky enough to come across a giant sea turtle who swam in circles with us and let us pet his shell before he peaced out and dove for deeper waters. Yowzers!

I have more to post, but the weather is perfect and the reef is calling so I'll just let pictures take care of this conclusion. Tune in next week...love K & C.

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Photos

The Island Effect
Apparently when you get to Gili Trawangan you automatically turn into a N'avi native...or maybe a Smurf, you be the judge.

Kharma Kayak
Enjoyed a pitcher of sangria and some serene alone time at this quaint stop on the other side of the island.

Black Sands guesthouse
Got lucky again on the accommodations. The manager has taken it upon himself to be our personal attendant and has been at our beckon call since the moment we got here. Not used to this kind of service...but we could get used to it.

K & C
Pretty sure this is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. What do you think?

The Beach
Where the water gets dark is where the coral reef begins. C and I spent most of yesterday snorkeling and both of us fried our backs!!!

Turtle Conservatory
They hatch the turtles right here, raise them until they're a year or so old and then release them back into the wild. These little guys are about 2 inches long

The main drag
Welcome to downtown Gili Trawangan.

Gili's BMW
The local transport on the island. Makes things much more peaceful without the constant buzz of motor scooters 24/7.

Comments

[laura and erik]

wish we were there!
Wow this is amazing and for sure you should make this a book. We really feel like we are there with the pictures and awesome writing. Erik and I said hot damn if we did not have Max we would totally be with you on all these travels...an opportunity of a life time! We are jealous. I told Erik "I want some unicorn fuel" sure could use some now. Tell us what happen with the wallet story? Love, Laura, Erik and Max

[Amber]

nothing changes!!
wow! things haven't changed in 9 years!! i loved Bali and fer sure you had to hit the Gili's! have fun kids...see ya in Mexico!!