Gili T

After a relaxing few day snorkelling, diving and catching the sun on Gili Air we decided to hop over to the busier Gili Trawangan, also known as Gili T. Gili T is considered to be the party Island although to be honest it didn’t really feel like that. Yes it was busier than Gili Air and had a night life but it’s also just a really nice island with a more lively vibe on the east side and a relaxing vibe on the west side. The first day we checked into our accommodation, grabbed some bikes and cycled around the island taking a little under an hour. Gili T is more developed than Gili Air so we were able to cycle almost the whole way around on a pavement amongst pedestrians, horse and carts and other cyclists.

Afterwards we enjoyed some relaxation on the beach before finally getting ready for a night out. After some happy hour cocktails we stubbled across a pub crawl so decided to join. We got chatting to a few people one of which was a young Irish guy and another a women from Denmark after some matching game during the pub crawl. Not thinking much of it, that was that and we had a good night. The following morning whilst eating breakfast in our hotel, out of nowhere the Irish guy we’d met literally walks up to us in nothing but boxer shorts asking us where he is and what the time was with no recollection of the night before, other that recognising we were there. He had nothing with him and woke up in a room near ours, so we helped him out before he left. Soon after we decided to change hotels so checked out and into another hotel next door. To our surprise, the women I matched with the night before was sitting by the pool with her friend. This morning was getting stranger and stranger. It turns out the Irish guy stayed out with the two women before going back to their hotel for a late night swim. He stubbled across the road to what was our hotel finding a room for the night, to then find us eating breakfast the following morning.

After sitting by the new hotel pool and speaking to the women, they explained his clothes, money and phone was behind the bar but they had no way of contacting him after he left. Luckily because he found us and used Jess’ phone, we could contact his friend (who had decided to get on a ferry to Bali leaving him on Gili T alone) explaining we’d found his belongings at our new hotel. Soon enough later on he wondered into our hotel, found us again and was able to get his clothes, phone and money from reception. Such a series of coincidences, all of which played in his favour, then again he is Irish. Of course he was very grateful and after booking another ferry to Bali after missing the first, decided to join us for the afternoon by our pool.

Later that afternoon we snorkelled some more this time just off the beach at Turtle Point and saw lots of turtles again. We left for west side once more for sunset and enjoyed BBQ fish to share for dinner. Afterwards we cycled back to the east side looking for a decent bar but chose to sit and listen to live music on beanbags on the sand instead. It was so nice to just sit back and relax for a couple of hours.

The next day we checked out and left by boat to Lombok, Senggigi. We don’t really have any plans other that to relax on the beaches and wind down as we’re unfortunately nearing the end of our trip… however… of course that was never going to happen. Jess being the Geographer that she is is all to familiar with Mount Rinjani on Lombok which happens to be Indonesia’s second highest volcano. It is possible to climb but unlike Mount Batur on Bali which took a few hours to walk up and down, this takes a few days to climb. The trek includes camping in a tent near the summit the day before and completing the summit the next day. We had talked about this but decided not to because 1) we’re trying to relax and 2) it’s expensive as it’s effectively three days of a guides time and includes a porter to carry food, tents and cooking equipment for us. Our transfer from Gili T to Lombok was with a company that also runs tours to Mount Rinjani. Long story short but after negotiating a price, we ended up actually booking a two day trek up this 3700m high volcano… what a way to relax! The first day of the trek starts at 9am and finishes at sunset before we camp for the night on the crater. We then start the second leg, a more difficult ascent, at 2am to reach the summit for sunrise at 6am. This completely goes against our plan to wind down and relax but should make for a very interesting experience 🤞Read more