Getting ready to leave for the Gili Islands in Lombok

Its early Wednesday evening here in Kuta and I am getting things ready for tommorow’s trip to the Gili Islands.

Donovan and Carrie arrived back at my house midday today after doing a mini tour of the eastern part of Bali. I will be relaying more of this after I interview them.

Next week after I get back from the Gili’s I will have the pleasure of helping a journalist from USA Today explore Kuta a bit and learn about how the tourism industry is rebounding after the bombing, almost 2 years ago. I pointed her to Mr. Jack Daniel who writes the Bali Update and I have some other contacts who will be able to help too.

Speaking of tourism rebounding I visited a popular hotel in Kuta yesterday, Hotel Bounty on Poppies II. Their occupancy was at 100% and the manager told me it never drops below 75%. That’s a great position to be in and the place feels like ’spring break’ with the music and pool parties going on 24/7. If you like a lively atmosphere Bounty is the place. I personally prefer a tranquil atmosphere with the party scene as an option.

My schedule for tonight is too chuck a few essentials into my day pack. Ika, Donovan and Carrie are all staying at my house tonight so we can pile into a taxi early tommorow morning. Or flight leaves at 7am and gets to Mataram in Lombok at 7.30am. Amazing that to travel there by bike and boat would take a good portion of the day.

The Gili Islands are small and are located off the NW corner of Lombok. We will get a taxi to Bangsal then a small ferry to which ever island we choose. The busiest of the 3 is Gili Trawangan, the next is Gili Air and the quietest is Gili Meno. I think Trawangan will be our first stop and we’ll see how it goes. Ika can’t swim but I told her to bring a bathing suit anyway. I plan to hire a boat and driver so we can snorkel in safety off shore.

Donovan aked me today what we were going to do in the Gili’s and I told him I was going to relax. Everyone else can do what they want. When we get back to Bali Donovan and Carrie will take off on another 3 day road trip to the west coast.