Beautiful Gili Islands in Lombok

Lombok is an island next to Bali, you could reach it from Bali by boat. A new international airport just launched in Nov 2011, it's further from city area. It takes around 1.5-2 hours driving to Senggigi, the most popular place to relax and stay in Lombok.



There are 3 islands that you should see if you visit Lombok, they're called Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Many boats are available to rent or just pay around IDR 20.000/person if you want to use the public boat and share with other people. The capacity of the boat is various between 10-40 persons depend on the boat size.


You have to go early if you would visit the 3 islands. The nearest one called Gili Air, which has the most population of people who live and stay in the island. Snorkeling and diving are the most popular activities here, so many seafood restaurants are available. A few hotel and villas with free breakfast are available too for staying overnight and enjoy the peaceful paradise.


The second is Gili Meno, there is only few people living here, the island size is not too big, just take less than 2 hours to walk around the island. It's quiet, the scenery and beach are beautiful with its white sand beach and pines, you could relax here without many interruption without any noise, just enjoy the sun and wind breeze. It's suitable for honeymooners, there are some small hotel or bungalows, simple shops and internet cafes which are used generators as the power supply.


The last one, is the biggest island called Gili Trawangan. You could depart directly from Bali by speed boat from Padang Bai or Serangan harbour, it takes around 2 hours depend on the sea condition. It cost IDR 690.000,- one way while IDR 1.300.000,- return. There are many hostels with competitive price for tourists. You don't need to worry to bring your own food, there are some restaurants available provided various food such as western, seafood with beautiful scenery of the blue beach. So many chairs/benchs of the restaurant on the seaside, so you could taste the food while enjoying the beach scenery.


In Gili Trawangan you would find many people selling magic mushroom. Why is it called magic? Because when you eat it, you will feel happier and more relax. My friend said that if the person is in sad mood, he/she could cry a lot, if the person is happy, he/she would often laugh, they could not control their emotion anymore, even they don't realize what happened to them. The mushroom actually grows on the cow's dung then people will shower it everyday. It will cook with egg such as omelet, it's tasteless. It won't make people addicted. Do you dare to try it?


Beside the food, you also could do water sport such as snorkling, kayaking, and diving. The underwater scenery is quite beautiful with colorful coral and fish, some turtles also available to see. To go around the island you could just walk around 2 hours, rent a bike or riding Cidomo (traditional cart with car tyre pulled by a horse) costs around IDR 50.000,-. There is also a hill that you could climb to see better scenery of the sea with Mount Rinjani as the beautiful background at the West side while Mt. Agung at the East side. No motorcycle or car are allowed to operate in the island, so the weather is very fresh and clean. It's pretty crowded during peak season (Jul-Aug, Dec-Jan), so better you order the accomodation in advance.

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