The Peaceful Island : Gili Trawangan

The Peaceful Island : Gili Trawangan

No Rent motorbike here only BIKE :)

I didn’t really plan this trip. I was so spontaneously, when my Romanian friend, Simona visiting Bali. I went with Simona that time. Jacob didn’t join this trip.  Simona and I only bring the lonely planet guidebook and Lombok map. This is my 1^st time going to Lombok,, Simona also.  So we just googling someone travel journal and ask anybody who ever went there. It was 12 in midnight. We depart from Denpasar to Padangbai Harbor. The highway still under construction we passing damaged and long road. No one on the road that time but us.  The two brave girls :p . Honestly, I didn’t stop to pray that time. Because its really dangerous for girl to ride the scooter at mid night. And I have to ride for 2 hours to Padangbai Harbor. I’d never go to Padangbai before, so I cant figuring out how the harbor is, how padangbai is, etc, I just follow the green sign to get the Padangbai. Lucky us, we didn’t get lost at all. J

Padangbai 02.30 am

We don’t need to wait to get the boat. The boat is ready to leave Padangbai. We’re the last passengers! We parked the scooter and go to upstairs to get a seat. Honestly we didn’t get the best seat that time. We got the seat outside together with old lady who cough all night long, also a little rain joined to convoy us to the next harbor Lembar, West Lombok, NTB.The ferry cost is rp.86,000

Lembar 07.30 am

We saw the sunrise on the boat. It was so beautiful, even there was a little rain. J Our struggle has not ended yet. We still need to ride the scooter for 2 hours to get the Bangsal Harbor. That’s the only harbor to go over the Gili island. I ride my scooter exhaustedly; we’re passing Senggigi beach, the famous beach in Lombok. We’re passing hills, go vertically, on the side is valley which is full of coconut tree. It was amazing scenery, I forget my exhausted feeling. :)

Bangsal 11.00 am

We need to park our scooter here. Many parking service here,  the cost is rp,10,000 for a night. What to say about bangsal harbor? Its horrible J . People here are sometimes tricking on you. Do not take the ticket public boat from people that offer you outside the official counter. Just bought in the official counter.The "Ticket Office" on the main road is NOT official ticketing office. Buy or show your ticket only at the official office at the sea front.
If you come here by public bemo, you will be dropped at the main road from where you will be advised to take a horse cart. You may take one with rp,1000-rp.2,000. Or you may walk for 15 min to the port.

12.00 pm Gili Trawangan

The peaceful island. We arrived here with sunshine shining warmly. We’re really tired. So we decided to lie on the beach, waiting for my friends from Poland, Ewa and Aneeta. They came to the Gili before us, so they find us where to stay. I just sleeping that time, feel the breeze and the sun, lying on the shadow, with the sands around, sounds of wave, clear blue water..its heaven on earth! Aneeta came to me that time and wake me up, and then we’re heading to the cottage. The cottage is rp.40.000/person which is OK.  We got the fan also bathroom inside. For you info there is no fresh water in Gili Trawangan, so only salty water provided! Be ready to get ur skin sticky all the time :p . Another good thing is that there are no hawkers on the island, so you don't get hassled on the beach constantly. There's also no motor vehicles, only bikes and horse & carts. fine white sand, clear water and a reef just off the beach for snorkelling. A lot of the reef has been damaged because all the boats anchor on to it and chunks have been broken off. Despite that, there are still plenty of fishes to be seen. There’s a fun nighttime vibe on the island that’s a little bit countryside, a little bit island party, and a lot of good music. In the morning you can walk or bike around the island in an hour, and then the whole blissful cycle starts all over again. And this was only Gili Trawangan! There are still two others- Gili Meno and Gili Air- that I have to check out next time. The food in Gili Trawangan is a bit expensive than in Denpasar bali. It cost about rp.30.000.

We only spent one night in Gili, on the next day we get back to Denpasar with the same route but we get the better ferry from Lembar to Padangbai, like we are in the one star yacht. And I did, so a success it was. And really, I have to say that the discovery of the Gilis was probably worth any amount of trouble caused by getting there and back. It was absolute heaven there- no cars, no paved roads- just horses, palm trees, white sand, delicious food, good music, and the most INSANE is the clear blue water beach!Oh ya, it will be more perfect if there is free hammock and wifi internet by the beach. Hahahaa. My dream.

Cost Details :

1.    Gasoline 8 litters                     rp.40.000

2.    Snack                                         rp.25.000

3.    Ferryboat (returns)                rp.172.000

4.    Food            (8 times)              rp.150.000

5.    Public Boat (returns)              rp.20.000

6.    Cottage                                      rp.40.000

7.    Snorkeling gear rent               rp,25.000

Total                                           rp.472.000

Note : we can share for ferryboat, so I pay a half, and Simona pay the rest

The gasoline too, we pay it alternately. Above are the cost if you going to Gili alone

here's the route if you going to Gili by scooter/motorbike from Denpasar, Bali : Denpasar - Padangbai (takes 2 hours depends on the road condition, take the bypass Ida Bagus Mantra)

Padangbai - Lembar Harbor (6 hours -- it depends on wave condition)

Lembar - Bangsal Port (1,5 hours -- take the road which is passing Senggigi beach, the scenery was awesome )

Bangsal Port - Gili Trawangan (45 minutes -- use the public boat, remember, buy the ticket in the official counter ! )

for more photos (click gallery)

hug,

joanne