Blogs from Lombok, Indonesia, Asia - page 7

Sat here at Kuala Lumpur airport waiting for the plane to the next country, I reflect on the last week with a smile knowing that I had an amazing week doing things I never thought I'd do, meeting some wonderful people and seeing views that were out of this world. Leaving Gili Trawangan after 6 days was an easy decision for the hostel bed I survived on was littered with bed bugs and no matter how many times I told the management it was a daily occurrence to wake up to new bites, but I can't take away the fact that the time I spent there on the island was amazing, even my last blog gushed about the place after writing it with a couple of Bintang in my stomach. So where to next, and after ... read more

Lombok is breathtakingly beautiful. Rolling hills in vibrant shades of green bow down to serene beaches, aqua blue water and spectacular surf breaks. Mount Rinjani towers over it all, mocking those who scramble up volcanic scree for a glimpse of her view below. The Islamic call to prayer echoes out four times a day, declaring that 4.30am is high time to rise and give praise. Tourism in Lombok is Bali's younger sister. Still young but growing fast, she's found her feet, is learning every day and is impatient to catch up. She's bright and knows how to work with what she's got; as her natural assets draw the crowds she converts her traditions to attractions, Salak village tours and traditional weaving demonstrations entice visitors to try and buy wares, at a 'good price' of course.... read more

The Gili's; Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno - 3 photogenic small desert islands all frindged with white sandy beaches, lines of coconut trees and clear turquoise seas . All 3 have their own individual identity, attracting tourists in their millions each year. Highly recommended by most people we meet. Some people visit just one island, whilst others - such as ourselves - attempt to explore them all. A booking error costing us 2 days (stuck in Makassar) and a 90min delayed flight wasn't going to stop us either. Our grand plan to get to the popular Gili's was to fly from Makassar to Bali, catch a bus from Bali to the laid back village of Padangbai, explore, stay overnight and then head straight over to the Gili's in the morning. Landing a couple hours ... read more

Von Java bis zu den Gilis Sehr übermüdet von unserer Warterei und schlaflosen Nacht am Flughafen von Singapur nahmen wir uns vom Flughafen in Jakarta ein völlig überteuertes Taxi in das Stadtzentrum. Dazu muss man sogar, obwohl Jakarta mit über acht Millionen Einwohnern die Haupstadt Indonesiens ist, gibt es kein so wirkliches Stadtzentrum. Es gibt zwar das hochmoderne Bankenviertel jedoch auch Elendsviertel, üppig duftende Gassen in China Town bis hin zu dem alten Kolonialviertel "Kota", volle Straßen um den Platz der Freiheit aber keine wirklich pulsierende Gegend die man als Zentrum bezeichnen könnte. Wir ließen uns nahe dem Nationalmuseum für eine Nacht nieder, von dort aus hatte man gute Chancen, alles bestens mit den öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln zu erreichen. Bevor wir das Hostel ausgewählt haben, bestellen wir aber das typisch indonesische Gericht Nasi Goreng und einen sta ... read more

Ketut had organised for us to get to Gili Meno via fast boat from Padang Bai, twenty minutes south of Candi Dasa. We thought it best to pack light and took our hand luggage only to Meno (leaving our suitcases at Aquaria). We were booked on Semaya One’s morning boat and thought we were being collected from Aquaria at 8:30am. However there was a knock at the door at 7am – a taxi driver saying we had to check in at Semaya One by 8am. We literally inhaled our breakfast (so delicious at Aquaria!) and jumped in the car. Needless to say, having to wait two and a half hours in the sun left us far less than impressed at Semaya One. Then to be ferried from island to island, stopping last at Meno at 2:30pm ... read more