There is no place that I love more than the Gili Islands. They stole my heart from the moment that I stepped off the boat and onto the warm white sand. Spend any good amount of time traveling through Southeast Asia and you will eventually hear about Indonesia’s Gili Islands. As travelers tell tales of these islands you almost feel as if they are describing something from the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio – only you don’t have to swim to get there. Fast boats from different villages along the eastern coast of Bali will bring you to the wonderous Gili Islands in just a few hours. Located off the northwest tip of Lombok, the three islands that make up the Gilis are each unique in their own way yet equally stunning.
The smallest of the three islands is the peaceful and underdeveloped Gili Meno, which is sandwiched in the middle of the other two – Gili Trawangan to the west and Gili Air to the east. Only two kilometres long and one wide, it’s possible to walk around Meno in under two hours. Gili Air is the second largest and slightly more developed yet still offering peace and seclusion. Gili Trawangan, or “Gili T” for short, is the most popular and developed of the three. But the word “developed” is an exaggeration. In fact, the entire west side of Gili T is completely empty with maybe one or two open hotels. Moreover, there is no running fresh water on the islands. Fresh water has to be brought in by boat daily from the mainland of Lombok.
On an island whose only mode of transportation is horse-drawn carriage, I was surprised to find that Gili T has a wild nightlife. When I first arrived on Gili T, it seemed as if I had found Neverland. Young adults from all over the world have congregated here and spend their days aimlessly wandering up and down the streets barefoot with cocktail in hand. The laid-back vibe of the Gilis is evident from the moment you set foot on the island. You come here to relax, to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and to appreciate the beauty by which you are surrounded – of course all while having a raging good time at night.
It’s Christmas here and the Gili islands are celebrating in their own island way. Christmas trees made out of seashells grace the beach. Even though I’m on a remote island in Indonesia, I can feel Christmas in the air. I can’t help but think of past Christmases spent bundled up in the snow. As much as I love a white snowy winter, here I was having a white sandy winter and couldn’t have been happier.
Days are spent below the surface exploring the underwater world and the hundreds of dive sites scattered around the islands. I return from a morning dive and rent a paddle board. Gil Meno is so close that I paddle across to it. Returning to Gili T, I spend the next several hours walking around the perimeter of the island. Even though Gili T is the largest of the three islands, I can explore the entire island and different beaches all in one afternoon.
Be sure to stop into my favorite boutique shop tucked off the main road. Casa Vintage is located just off the main road. For every fashionista visiting Gili T, it cannot be missed. The white brick building houses little treasures like chunky earrings, flowy dresses, boho bags and every classic vintage ensemble you can imagine.
After soaking up hours on the white sandy beaches, its time for cocktail hour and watching the sun sink behind the horizon. With the sun finally set, evening has arrived and it’s time for oceanfront dining under the stars. The classic dining experience in the Gilis is fresh fish BBQ. Along the main road, restaurants put their best catch on display. Whether you want an actual restaurant experience or prefer to head to the Gili T Night Market, rest assured that amazing found is not hard to find.
After dinner it’s time to head to the party of the night where DJs spin the latest beats. Different bars host the party each night so only one party a night can stay open until 4am with the other bars closing at 2am. Regardless of where the part of the night is, you are bound to have a good time. The entire atmosphere in the Gilis is happy. People come here to enjoy themselves and have a good time. It’s Neverland.
Morning arrives and as the sun rises over the water you realize that you are in what I can only describe as “Neverland” and there isn’t a chance that anyone can get you on the boat to return to the mainland. You’ve found paradise and it is impossible to leave.
I tend to like Gili Lombok than Bali, probably because the place has the feel of a more peaceful and quiet. but I do not know how the accompanying tourist accommodation. see your posts, really interesting. and you seem to enjoy it. fun. thanks. one of the references that I know about the tourist accommodation in Gili Lombok is http://marinasrikandi.com/services/ … thanks for share.