The islands are a popular destination for tourists looking for a remote island experience. Each island has several small resorts, usually consisting of a collection of huts for tourists, a small pool and restaurant. Most local inhabitants live on Trawangan in a township stretching along its east side just inland (which is also where most recent development is taking place). Automobiles and motorised traffic is prohibited on the islands by local ordinance, so the preferred method of transportation is by foot and bicycle or the horse-drawn carriage called a cidomo. Diving in and around the Gilis is also popular due to the abundance of marine life and attractive coral formations
This is what Lonely Planet says about Gili Trawangan, where we were based for one week...
Gili Trawangan is a paradise of global repute, ranking alongside Bali and Borobudur as one of Indonesia's top destinations. Trawangan's heaving main drag, busy with bikes, horse carts and mobs of scantily clad visitors can surprise those expecting some languid tropical retreat. Instead, a wall-to-wall roster of lounge bars, hip guesthouses, ambitious restaurants, mini-marts and dive schools clamour for attention.
And yet behind this glitzy facade, a bohemian character endures, with rickety warungs (food stalls) and reggae joints surviving between the cocktail tables, and quiet retreats dotting the much-less-busy north coast. Even as massive 200+ room hotels begin to colonise the still mostly wild and ragged west coast, you can head just inland to a village laced with sandy lanes roamed by free-range roosters, kibbitzing ibu (mothers) and wild-haired kids playing hopscotch. Here the call of the muezzin, not happy hour, defines the time of day.
Settled just over 50 years ago (by Bugis fishermen from Sulawesi), travellers discovered Gili T in the 1980s, seduced by the white-sand beaches, and coral reefs. By the 1990s Trawangan had mutated into a kind of tropical Ibiza, a stoney idyll where you could rave away from the eyes of the Indonesian police. And then the island began to grow up – resident Western hedonists morphed into entrepreneurs, diving rivalled partying in the economy, and outside money poured in to build resorts.
Our experience/time in Gili Trawangan was a welcomed week on the beach, after the hectic two months we had already had, and some more diving for David and snorkelling for me. Unfortunately, it being the rainy season meant that most of the week was overcast. This was not a problem for us, as we try to avoid the sun at all costs, but from a photographic point of view, having the sun is much better. However, the following photos should give you a general idea of the island, its beaches, flora, horse...and goats, sunsets and storms. Enjoy.
The arrival dock from Lombok...a work in progress!
The road outside our hotel, that goes all around the island.
A hotel renovation... in the making
A beach bar in the making...
A typical hotel
Some beach photos...
Some boat pictures...including one that was sinking...
Dave and a friend to the rescue...
James Bond impression...his work is done on the boat rescue.
The horses and goats on the island, traffic jams happen here also!
Some of the beautiful flowers found within walking distance of the pool.
And finally some sunsets overlooking Bali.
The weather cleared at the end of the week, giving a final clear dive and snorkel, where we saw more of the infamous turtles (not another turtle you hear people say on the islands). We leave the idyll of Gili Trawangan readying ourselves for what Singapore has to hold - and we only have two days to see that City.
Until next time.
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