“For decades travellers have come for a dip in the turquoise tinted, bathtub warm waters of the tiny Gili islands and stayed longer than they anticipated” or so sayeth the holy book (the Lonely Planet).
Off the north coast on Lombok lie 3 tiny islands you could circumnavgate, swim to the next repeat times two and make it back to the first for a beautiful sunset, a cold Bintang, and a mouth watering hunk of grilled barracuda, mahi mahi, or red snapper -that you probably passed swimming earlier that day. ( Can you tell I have been reading too many guide books? ) This is where we chose to stop, regroup and plan our assault into more remote Indonesia.
The gilis have no motorized transport. Other than your own feet, fin, or pedal the only option is an ojeck. These horse draw carts careen recklessly throught the "streets"
The days would consist of a predictable cycle: wake, swim, eat, snorkel, eat, snorkel, swim, eat, sleep. The snorkeling was great. A strong current would take you effortlessly drifting over colorful corals reefs containing moray eels, a daily turtle or two, innumerable colorful fish, Giant sea cucumbers, huge florescent blue starfish, sea stars, feather stars, Nemo, …
Sea mammals are tube shaped to help them glide through water easily. The inflatable ring keeps them buoyant- an amazing adaptation.
I feel like a sucker paying for those dead bloated frogs in Mexico, they just wash up on the beach here.
Contemplated a haircut, but opted for a homemade chop cut with a pair of nail scissors- the hat is now an essential item on the journey.
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