Gili Islands Lombok

Sally and I have come down to the Gili Islands for a bit of beach R n R before returning to HCMC. The Gilis are 3 very small separate Islands  a 7 minute speed boat ride off the coast of Lombok. As we flew in the archipelago of islands looked so tranquil. We are staying on Gili Air, a quiet island although each island is very different geography wise. Gili Meno is quiet also and has the beautiful tropical fish around in the waters, just a walk out into the water with your mask and snorkel. Gili T is the party island. Sitting on a beach chair, swimming in the warm water and drying off in the sun is a very pleasant way to fill in the day, followed by a lovely sunset. 

Gili Air has a small harbour where local boats moor and off load supplies. Water is shipped in on a daily basis to each resort / hotel. The inner area of the island is inhabited by local people who quietly go about their daily lives. Women run small shops and the men work the boats, work in the tourist areas or on the new construction of resorts and beach villas that hug the coast line. A stroll around the island takes 90 minutes. The other side of the island is not as built up with accommodation. Padi diving has a big presence here. Yesterday we did the glass bottom boat / snorkelling experience. Words fail to describe the beautiful fish, each and every type displaying exotic and brilliant colours. At one  point I found myself swimming in a small school of tiny electric blue fish. Turtles are also found in these waters. We visited a small turtle hatchery which releases into the surrounding waters. Our guide was able to find and point out the turtles on the sea floor. The sea shelf drops away quite suddenly and on this cusp we saw huge turtles swimming. We managed to swim with a couple of turtles as thy headed out into much deeper water.

While the islands are tranquil, they are definitely a tourist destination on the rise. On the beach Sally talked with Peter who was here 14 and 10 years ago. He is not impressed with the changes nor the customer service. While one side of the coin can be called progress and an increasing tourist trade the other side of the coin could be termed an eye for the main chance or greedy. Our hotel wanted to charge 10,000 Rhp for a cup of tea, 5,000 for a cup of hot water. Prices for speed boat trips across the water rise like the sun. 

We had asked around about the glass bottom boats and snorkelling experience and finally settled with Cha Cha adventures. The boat holds 25 but they had 6 booked , maximum 14. Yesterday we boarded with 10 others, on the third pick up there were now 29, 10 of whom had huge packs and suitcases, about 3 visible life jackets and a very unbalanced boat. We got off and walked across the island to our hotel. While the waters are calm boat safety is questionable. We eventually took a private tour, helmsman, guide and  the two of us on a boat. Ironically life  jackets far out numbered the people on the boat.

Tomorrow we begin early with the speed boat ride across to Lombok, the 2 hr drive to the airport and the flight out to KL and onto Vietnam. Spring break, over and so too my visit to Indonesia. Yes I shall return, there is so much more of Java and the Javanese lifestyle I'd like to explore and experience.