Lombok
 

Western coast discovery (1/2) | Western coast discovery (2/2) | The Gili islands | Beaches and nature | The human environment | Around Lombok with Willy by motorcycle

The Gili islands

Unloading of coconuts transported by horse in front of the jetty of Gili Trawangan.





Willy on the beach of Gili Pasaran, close to our boat, with Mount Rinjani in the background.




Christian

Gili is the Sasak word for island, and quickly came to signifying a whole way of spending great holidays, since going to those small islands is such a pleasant change from being on the main land. In company of Christian, I started by discovering the 3 most famous Gili islands, located off the north-west coast of Lombok.

Going there was quite an adventure in itself, making us even more eager to arrive, as we commuted from a 40-seat airplane to crowded public transportation, before winding up on a small boat for tourists. Once arrived, we were surprised that the tourist infrastructures were so developed. So much for that, it enabled me to have the opportunity to dive off each of the islands in good conditions.

On the menu: strong currents, very good visibility, coral walls and forests, and an impressive animal diversity. Falling short of showing me as many fish as I had seen in other places, the Gilis however enabled me to come close to many species often hard to see. I gently touched a passing hawksbill turtle, played with a squid changing color (camouflaged, then dark, and suddenly white as it fled from fear), swam after a very shy shark, and saw a purple moray eel with very sharp teeth.

Back on land, it was like the cliché of paradise on earth: coconuts falling from the trees, hammocks, beach music (Bob Marley, of course), walk through the palm tree forests and along the beaches sprinkled with seashell and remains of corals, true and friendly relaxation playing cards, or in front of a nice meal.

Christian left on his own while I was finishing my diving program, and I came back by public transportation, which is always so lively and entertaining: I was told that the van (bemo) was already full, and yet we ended up fitting 3 more people after myself, reaching 24 passengers! So when we drove through the lush monkey forest, it was rather them who wanted to throw in some peanuts and to laugh at us.

Willy

With my uncle Willy, during our big tour of Lombok, I could not refrain from chartering a boat to go out for some snorkeling and lay foot on other Gilis, located to the north-east of Lombok, and almost completely uninhabited. We left accompanied by two fishermen to Gili Petangan, to the rhythm of the engine's coughing. Little by little, we came within sight of the beautiful beaches, not far from which the waves break up in white foam on the coral reefs which create lagoons of turquoise colors.

Quite impatient to go swimming after a somewhat slow trip, I discovered that the floor was completely covered by soft corals, in which swam a multitude of small tropical fish. As I swam until the edge of the reef, a group of fast tuna fish passed by, before I carried on to see a pearl farm.

Willy and I then went on one of the islands to enjoy the nice beach, and to relax in a water standing at some 28 degrees in the morning. That was his special moment of happiness, in a crystal clear water which was not too deep, before an Indonesian lunch on the way back. Just what we needed to carry on the rest of our discovery of Lombok.

Hence, the small islands off of Lombok are all one can wish for, from complete isolation, to the bungalows and holiday villages, beneath a nice warm sun, and always within sight of a magnificent volcano.


All of: Nusa Tenggara
Announcement of a wedding | Traditions | Pamulung village | Sumbawa Besar | Walk in the Komodo dragons park | The pink beach | Western coast discovery (1/2) | Western coast discovery (2/2) | The Gili islands | Beaches and nature | The human environment | Around Lombok with Willy by motorcycle | East Sumba | Waikabubak | The plains | Gallubakul | Lai Tarung | Life along the roads | The village | Beneath a Sumbanese roof | Ratenggaro | Tosi | Prairamei | The skull tree | Praijing | The unusual, in Sumba | Burial | Sacrifice of a pig | Flowers of Sumba | Fruits of Sumba | The market | Algadrie Art Shop | West Sumba seen from the sky | Arrival in Seba | The heat of Sabu | Agriculture | The sea | Namata | Children | The sunset | Kupang | Baun | Baun market | Lasiana beach | Sunset at Lasiana beach | Dili, East Timor

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