There are three Gili islands off Lombok in Indonesia. Gili Trawangan is luxurious and elite, Gili Air offers adventure sports and Gili Meno is for ‘ the mature traveler’. That’s the one we went to. Not because we are particularly old and certainly not mature. But because it seemed to promise the best swimming for children.
Getting there was a mixture of fun, games and bad coffee.
We took a two hour car, and a five hour slow ferry, another two hour beamo ( hot, small car ) then we overnighted with a Dutch Homestay owner. We then took another two hour drive which was windy and slow but we called it ‘the scenic route’ as we waved at all the monkeys and tried not to be sick.
By the time the temperature in the back was about 45 degrees, we made it to the boat spot. We had freaked ourselves out by reading Wikipedia about the boat scams, and had been quoted one million rupiah, which was laughable. We ended up riding to Gili Meno for free, and we are still not quite sure how it happened.
I’ve noticed when things go badly I have so much more to write about. But when we have a lovely week, full of friends and food and fun, well, there’s not so much to say. But I feel I could share some lovely photos at least.
Chris scuba dived twice, his new favourite tropical dive site!
We stayed alongside our lovely friends we had met at bottle beach, in Thailand.
We had a little hut with doors and windows that didn’t quite shut, and mozzie nets.
The children played and swam and played and swam.
Our horse mad Meena loved the little ponies that pulled carts around the island, though she felt they were not treated very well, working up a sweat and then being made to stand still.
There was so much sword fighting.
We ate yummy sate and gado gado.
We got salty and sandy and then realized the shower was salt water!
And in reverse order, we got the boat, ferry, car back and arrived in Ubud for the next chapter.
For future reference, would you like us to have more disastrous weeks so the stories are better, or are you happy with beautiful pictures of happy people by the sea?
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Love the photos of happy, healthy, thriving family by the sea!
thanks Lindy!
Oh Jill – reading this and seeing your lovely pics brings back many memories for me. I stayed on Gili Air for a few days 15 years ago. Your passage to getting there sounds very smooth compared to mine though! (Mine came complete with a near-kidnapping incident that has haunted me for years!). The Gilis are wonderful though – such a different pace of life. Good memories of roasting fish on the beach at night and singing songs with local people. What gorgeous memories your children will have of Gili Meno – no matter how hard it was to get there! I am looking forward to hearing about your Ubud adventures. That is my favourite spot of all. xx
Hi Deb, oh its lovely isn’t it. I had a lovely fire-on-the-beach photo I nearly put in.
Was it you that was nearly kidnapped? Scary
Hi Jill – yes, me and 2 of my girlfriends. Our ‘taxi’ from the ferry to a hotel turned into a hellish ride. If it wasn’t for my Bahasa speaking skills I wonder what would have happened to us. About 7 men jumped into the minibus too and I overheard their plans. Finally we got out by making up a story that we needed to go to the toilet, and we grabbed our bags and ran for our lives to a local market. Scary.
Deb @ Bright and Precious recently posted..Dominos
Been reading your blog for awhile and loving it. Honestly I don’t mind either kind of entry, as your children are just adorable.
Thanks Yvette, I’ve been reading your adventures too!
WOW that place looks amazing. We are more than happy to hear of family fun by the seaside but I do know what you mean about the bad crazy weeks are easier to write about.
Definitely prefer photos and smiling faces but everything you write is fascinating. I love reading it ‘as it is’, especially as I will never get to see any of the places you visit. So glad I get to share your adventures – thank you
Tez recently posted..Memories – like the corners of my mind
whatever you like to share from your travels is great! I love hearing the good and the bad
the beach looked like so much fun. Our kids love the surf and the sand ~ its good for active kids.
Gee it took a long time travelling there, how amazing the boat ride was free.
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Love ALL your adventures! I mostly love your photos and i love Meenas manner as she shows BB how to build a sandcastle xxxx
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