Lombok: Little Gili, Non-stop Party Island

Hello loyal readers of backpacker story wherever you are. So, you see something different with this blog post? As you've seen, now story comes with English. Why? Because I want this blog can also be referenced by people all over the world. Yes, although blogger themselves provide translation services facility into various languages​​. Another reason I finally decided to write story in English is as a tool for learning. Learning to use English as the language of everyday for better communication. Okay, let's see the story about Gili Island. 

Welcome to Party Island

 
I heard about this small island on the northwestern trip of Lombok. Gili Trawangan has its own popularity as a "Party Island". Being the biggest island of three Gili Island (the others are Gili Meno and Gili Air). Gili Trawangan offers a place to party hard and gateway from all the chaotic senses of tourist destination.
 

After passing through the Bangsal Harbour for about 45 minutes, we finally arrived at Gili Trawangan. The first thing we did when it was searching for homestay. Based on the reference from my friend, a good and cheap homestay is Emalia Homestay. After a few hours down the road in Gili Trawangan, finally we found Dua Nina Homestay the much better and cheaper homestay than Emalia Homestay. (for more info and details please click on the link). Dua Nina Homestay

View after we arrived at Gili Trawangan

 
One thing that surprised us was when we were looking for food. The place we're going is a kind of a night market that sells various types of food. Start a standard food such as rice, noodles, vegetables until seafood menu is available here. While around to see the food, we tried to look for and find the Indonesian people except of course the local people. But the result is nil, aka empty. The average we have encountered here are foreign tourists. In fact, standard food applied here is an international standard alias expensive for me that just brings mediocre money. I don't bring a lot of money, please. 
 
Finally, I just bought mix rice for 15,000 IDR. And that's just the 3 variants of the menu and very little portion given. If you want a complete mix rice and many variants menu given, you only need to pay for 60,000 IDR. Even my friend bought only rice for 10,000 IDR, buy a soft drink10,000 IDR, or mineral water for 1.5 Liter 6,000 IDR. Interested?

 

Just 3 variants of the menu and very little portion given

 
Another interesting thing in Gili Island of course landscapes view and underwater view. With such a reason, we finally renting snorkel package. But it is unfortunate we can not rent an underwater camera. If you rent an underwater camera, you will pay other additional costs very expensive in our opinion. By contrast, when we were in Karimun Jawa, costs we already pay already included with the underwater camera.

Amazing landscapes view of Bangsal Harbour

 
Completing your going around and watch the underwater world, start from Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, finally we all rest a while and had lunch on Gili Air. I find unique things about the food again. I order seafood fried rice from the bonus snorkel package and I surprised to see my order seafood fried rice at the table. It was not more than the ordinary fried rice. Even for the taste, it is still far less than the fried rice was at a crossroads in my town, far less than my Mother-made. Guess what, how much is the fried rice? 40,000 IDR. The price is very unreasonable.
 

The unique thing you will see on this island is there are no car at all. Take a bike and you can get around this Island in less than 2 hours. But if you don't like pedalling then there are move relaxing way to get from one place to another place, which is cidomo.

No car at all

Scallywags Resort

Around Gili Trawangan with bike

Cidomo

 
Besides feeling like you are between the middle age with horsedrawn carriage everywhere but bars and pubs are easily found and party calling every day. Even some bars and pubs providing happy hours, which means only half the price of some items. Fortunately at that time, I could feel the Vodka, Wine, Rum, etc. only half the price only IDR 21,000 IDR. How lucky I am.
 

Yes! Happy hours

 
Sad to leave Gili Trawangan to return Lombok, but that I had to do. Just a few days here have been very nice though very costly. But this experience probably will never be forgotten. For those of you, especially who've been to Gili Island, what an interesting story Gili Island do you think? Write the comment at the comment box below. Because sharing is caring. See you next time.