The Gili Islands
Moving East of Bali lies Indonesia's next up and coming tourist island, Lombok. Visible from Bali's eastern shores, Lombok's hazy coastline appears nothing more then a stone's throw away, which for some travelers, is exactly what it is. Private "fast boats" transport passengers across the strait in a little under 1 hour for the price of about 40 U.S. dollars. If, however, penny pinching is more your style, the public ferry, aka, the "Slow Boat", delivers passengers from coast to coast between 4 and 7 hours. I'm sure you already know which option I chose.
Cruising just over a snails pace, the dilapidated ferry chugged on. Filled past capacity, a spot on the second stories concrete floor was the best I could do. Other ferry passengers included a handful of lost tourists repeatedly rehashing the issue of how they landed on this boat and not the private charter, dozens of food vendors who found no shame in re-visiting each passenger every 15 minutes, slowly wearing down a purchase of either stale oreo's or warm coca-cola, and a slew of filthy, cross-island truck drivers whose trucks resided below in the ferry's carpark. Basically, if the ferry passengers were any inclination as to what was to come, then I was in store for a shock.
Cruising just over a snails pace, the dilapidated ferry chugged on. Filled past capacity, a spot on the second stories concrete floor was the best I could do. Other ferry passengers included a handful of lost tourists repeatedly rehashing the issue of how they landed on this boat and not the private charter, dozens of food vendors who found no shame in re-visiting each passenger every 15 minutes, slowly wearing down a purchase of either stale oreo's or warm coca-cola, and a slew of filthy, cross-island truck drivers whose trucks resided below in the ferry's carpark. Basically, if the ferry passengers were any inclination as to what was to come, then I was in store for a shock.
Horse drawn carts, hoards of eager farmers awaiting supplies, and easily 100+ goats, water buffalo and chickens grazing through piles of trash, greeted us at the ferry terminal. Let's just say, my first impressions of Lombok were definitely not as Indonesia's next tourist hot spot. That was until I arrived in the Gili Islands.
A collection of three small islands situated only a hop, skip and a slight swim apart, the Gili's Islands are like no others in the world. Located just off the northwest coast of Lombok, the closest islands to mainland, Gili Air and Gili Menos, are considered more traditional and less touristy, but the furthest island, Gili Tauranga, |
is quickly becoming world famous. Just think beautiful beach, fruity cocktails, all-hour night clubs and cheap beachside bungalow's. I know, I know, these traits don't necessarily set the Gili Islands apart from other popular island destinations, instead, it is what the island doesn't have, that makes it so special.
Motorized vehicles are vehemently prohibited, leaving either horse drawn carriages or bicycles for transport. Dogs are also strictly prohibited due to the majority Muslim population. Muslims believe dogs are dirty and unfit for human interaction and instead, fill the dog void with a plethora of felines. Finally, police are only allowed on the island a few times a year for routine employment check's (mainly checking for rich expats who conduct business illegally under the Indonesian governments radar). Otherwise, the local islanders are the government and what they say, or don't say, goes.
The island also lacks fresh water. All showers and tap water are dilluted forms of salt water. Power is also a limited resource on the Gilis. Hundreds of crude generators create power for each hotel, restaurant, and home, perpetually battling the each other for life and causing hundreds of power outages ever day. Instead of hearing the ocean lapping against the white sands, visitors hear the steady hum of the generators from day to night.
And a final Gillian trait falls under the definition of 'produce'. A magical produce actually. Mushrooms are a hot item on the Gili's and tourists come from far and wide to sample a blended mushroom fruit shake or a mushroom pizza. Every restaurant offers the magical delights with advertisements reading, "We have happy mushrooms, send you to the moon. Don't worry be happy. Take away or Delivery. Call 911."
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Clay and I were told to expect all of these unique island characteristics, but what we couldn't expect was what our next week would actually bring. Instead of staying around the Gili's, we followed a more enticing off. I know, hard to imagine what could be more enticing then the Gili's, but just think sailing, scuba diving and a mini-safari. An 8 day sailing and scuba diving trip to be exact!!
Complete with liveaboard pirate ship, 10 world-class scuba dives and a visit to the famous, Komodo National Park, for an up close and personal, well we hoped not too close, encounter with the giant Komodo Dragons. The price was hard to swallow but even for frugal backpackers like us, the trip was a necessary splurge!
If you want to read about this amazing adventure, please click on the next blog entitled, "Sail, Scuba & Safari".©
Complete with liveaboard pirate ship, 10 world-class scuba dives and a visit to the famous, Komodo National Park, for an up close and personal, well we hoped not too close, encounter with the giant Komodo Dragons. The price was hard to swallow but even for frugal backpackers like us, the trip was a necessary splurge!
If you want to read about this amazing adventure, please click on the next blog entitled, "Sail, Scuba & Safari".©