Venture into life's new experiences and revel in the luxury of unaccustomed pleasures.
I woke this morning thinking, 'I wanna go home now'! Then, on second thought, I told myself...
"Hey woman, you're in Bali, in the heat, despite the heavy downpours, walking around in a light, chiffon dress at most, the generosity of Lora's hospitality, feeling the great vibe this island has to offer and... Wanting to go home?!? How bloody spoilt is that?'
So, putting on a new, fresh-thinking cap, I feel blessed and grateful.
On Sunday, when the whole house of guests was to leave, Lora and I went even earlier, at 7am, to venture out to a new island... Gili Trawangan.
We woke up at the crack of dawn, 5.45am, to be picked up at 6.15am by the minibus organised through the travel agent to drive us to the other side of Bali for a speed boat journey to Gili. Of course, the driver arrived 45 minutes late, but we still made it to the crossing.
Lora fell asleep during the 1-hour 50-minute journey while I watched the boat driver skilfully manoeuvre us through the very high waves, almost as tall as our boat of 40 seats and only ten fellow travellers. The only thing I could do was be positive and keep praying for our safe arrival.
We made it to the Gili Trawangan island, and I am here telling the tale!
There were no cars but bicycles and horse carriages on the island, which we took to our hotel, Vila Ombak.
I woke this morning thinking, 'I wanna go home now'! Then, on second thought, I told myself...
"Hey woman, you're in Bali, in the heat, despite the heavy downpours, walking around in a light, chiffon dress at most, the generosity of Lora's hospitality, feeling the great vibe this island has to offer and... Wanting to go home?!? How bloody spoilt is that?'
So, putting on a new, fresh-thinking cap, I feel blessed and grateful.
On Sunday, when the whole house of guests was to leave, Lora and I went even earlier, at 7am, to venture out to a new island... Gili Trawangan.
We woke up at the crack of dawn, 5.45am, to be picked up at 6.15am by the minibus organised through the travel agent to drive us to the other side of Bali for a speed boat journey to Gili. Of course, the driver arrived 45 minutes late, but we still made it to the crossing.
Lora fell asleep during the 1-hour 50-minute journey while I watched the boat driver skilfully manoeuvre us through the very high waves, almost as tall as our boat of 40 seats and only ten fellow travellers. The only thing I could do was be positive and keep praying for our safe arrival.
We made it to the Gili Trawangan island, and I am here telling the tale!
There were no cars but bicycles and horse carriages on the island, which we took to our hotel, Vila Ombak.
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| Drinks upon arrival |
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| The route to our room at Vila Ombak |
We checked into our room, left the one carry-on luggage behind and began our hike around the island as there was no sun in view. Shortly after, we noticed the modern Trawangan hotel. At the same time, the clouds opened their pores, and the rain gave us no choice but to take refuge in the restaurant situated at the back of the inn, watching the serenity of the scenery while sipping on our fresh pineapple juice mixed with mint, a taste I had acquired visiting Rio. We sat there watching the downpour onto the green fields of palm trees, standing across where we were seated. The landscape was a postcard.
As soon as the rain stopped, we passed by a tree house built on the beach belonging to the hotel and continued our walk. Not long after, another storm hit us, and we again had to hide under another straw hut, which happened to be a bar with great music called... What else but 'The Exile'! Here, we ordered a couple of Caipirinhas, on the island mode, sipping on our cocktails, watching the heavy downpour (yet again) and listening to 'Oh Lord! Please don't let me be misunderstood. How appropriate, yet I wondered why give a nickel as to how others perceive me? When there are always those who get me.
Another downpour over, we continued on. This time, we passed by white, sandy beaches with no one in sight. Except for the man carrying his goods the old-fashioned way until... What? More rain? I thought the weather was terrible in England with all the heavenly waters pouring upon us!
It was not long again before... Yep, you guessed it.
More wet? There were no open bars this time, but a derelict one appeared, and we hid under the elongated roof of the empty space. From the other side came two guys to do as we did. I started talking to them as there was nothing else to be done. Two Italians who had moved to Perth and were now on holiday in Gili.
The painter and the waiter!
The only dry space was a bench-like area on the floor, where we all sat in tranquillity, observing the rain with the view of the light blue sea ahead.
They left before the dry patch while Lora and I waited a little longer for the right moment before we made our way to another spot under only a cloudy sky.
For the umph time, we were not saved from yet another soaking moment, and this time round, we made a pit-stop at the hotel Villa Julius, where hunger struck, and we devoured the noodles with seafood.
There were no signs of the rain stopping, so we asked the hotel to call us a carriage to take us back to our residence. In fact, our estimated two-and-a-half-hour walk around the island took us four and a half hours halfway through!
The one availability I was promised on the island was mushroom! Shiba had texted me from London to make sure I visited Gili on the same day we went to book our trip to the island!
As Lora put it: "Everyone on Gili is 'shroominating! Or getting high."
Well, the poster sale signs of mushrooms were clearly in view. Not long ago, they were sold in Camden coffee shops in London! It is organic, after all.
Now, my experience of the above 'organics' plus the delay of our journey back due to the 10m high waves in the sea from the Indonesian earthquake that we had no idea about...
To follow!
Another downpour over, we continued on. This time, we passed by white, sandy beaches with no one in sight. Except for the man carrying his goods the old-fashioned way until... What? More rain? I thought the weather was terrible in England with all the heavenly waters pouring upon us!
It was not long again before... Yep, you guessed it.
More wet? There were no open bars this time, but a derelict one appeared, and we hid under the elongated roof of the empty space. From the other side came two guys to do as we did. I started talking to them as there was nothing else to be done. Two Italians who had moved to Perth and were now on holiday in Gili.
The painter and the waiter!
The only dry space was a bench-like area on the floor, where we all sat in tranquillity, observing the rain with the view of the light blue sea ahead.
They left before the dry patch while Lora and I waited a little longer for the right moment before we made our way to another spot under only a cloudy sky.
For the umph time, we were not saved from yet another soaking moment, and this time round, we made a pit-stop at the hotel Villa Julius, where hunger struck, and we devoured the noodles with seafood.
There were no signs of the rain stopping, so we asked the hotel to call us a carriage to take us back to our residence. In fact, our estimated two-and-a-half-hour walk around the island took us four and a half hours halfway through!
The one availability I was promised on the island was mushroom! Shiba had texted me from London to make sure I visited Gili on the same day we went to book our trip to the island!
As Lora put it: "Everyone on Gili is 'shroominating! Or getting high."
Well, the poster sale signs of mushrooms were clearly in view. Not long ago, they were sold in Camden coffee shops in London! It is organic, after all.
Now, my experience of the above 'organics' plus the delay of our journey back due to the 10m high waves in the sea from the Indonesian earthquake that we had no idea about...
To follow!
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