Bali Travel, 28th March 2015- Gili T Vibes and Bittersweet Departures.

The last 2 days have been spent enjoying the wonderful Gili Trawangan, part of an archipelago of 3 islands off the coast of Lombok. We left our digs in Ubud, picked up by a driver that made sure we left fast enough to be practically airborne. There was a small window in which we had to reach the port at Padangbai, as our boat was leaving at 11:00am, but of course we weren’t going to be that prompt were we?

We made a pit stop to pick up two fellow temporary islanders, failing miserably to cope with the rising humidity inside our 4 wheeled hunk of metal. They took FOREVER! A shower when three of your future road buddies are waiting is a borderline sin. Yet a good thirty five minutes later they sheepishly boarded our convoy, mostly being greeted by a wall of resentment. I joked to Bella that as the driving in Bali is at best a big fat free-for-all, we shouldn’t overlook the prospect of speeding.

Regretfully the driver was telepathic. We were moving at speeds of 110mph and reaching for the seat belt I realised didn’t exist, I tried not to envisage myself as soon to be processed minced meat. Which was so very nearly a reality, when a pick-up truck swerved in front of us prompting the best example of solidarity. In unison drivers across the busy motorway honked their horns in indignation, disbelief flavoring the air. It was amusement on another level, I wish there was more collective road rage. We arrived a few crucial minutes before were due to depart, but after unloading and walking to the ticket office we accepted it was more than likely gone. Although maybe not for the reasons we thought. It turned out that the driver had delivered us prematurely and that we weren’t due to leave until 1pm.

 Stepping forward, the male half of our late arriving couple burst into a diatribe held fluently in Balinese! I nearly swallowed my tongue as me and the girls looked at each other bemused. He explained to us that he was convinced we’d been dropped off early in order to purchase the various badly cooked foods at his brothers cafe. I wanted to explain to him, that he was a sly bugger and pretend that I had pepper spray at my disposal. Time passed at a snail’s pace, allowing us to feel truly uncomfortable and sticky, but we did eventually reach our time to go.

 Boarding a beautifully air conned boat we sat in comfort for the next couple of hours, before reaching Gili Trawangan. Stepping down onto the beach, being loaded up like a pack mule and ready to find our accommodation, it was hard not to look back at the tropical waters. A destination we would truly enjoy. Horse and cart ride to the rescue, within 10 minutes we were at Jati Village, small and idyllic stone style huts, thatched roofing and a collection of stray cats. It was wonderful.

 Spending the next couple of days relaxing in the sun we indulged in the hit and miss cuisine, casual cycles around the island (on bikes that were ready to be scrapped), losing our minds over a baby turtle enclosure and snorkeling. The snorkeling was by far the best thing we did. I have never experienced such beautiful sea life swimming over to greet me, as I intrude without repent into their watery homeland. It even partially subdued my fear of being devoured by a massive set of muscle driven teeth! This also included seeing an eel, pale as alabaster, slither stealthily between the coral. It was quite other worldly and a memory I won’t soon forget.

 The nightlife was wicked! Beer, cocktails and more apple Smirnoffs than I care to admit. Barmen dropping corny jokes and puns, like they were at risk of becoming critically endangered and shots being poured into drinks with reckless abandon. There was games of beer pong being played, with an almost Olympian determination and boundless flirting (none of which was subtle). Seeing so many people have a good time was enough to keep anybody in high spirits, even when a blackout cloaked the island in an ebony choke-hold. It is also needless to say that our nights of drinking saw us wrecked. Pizza turned out to be one of the best cures for preventing an early morning hangover, that and ibuprofen with as much water as is possible to consume.

 It’s always a shame when you reach a destination that you can’t get enough of. It all felt too short lived. So we shared our final island breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast, with a rather suspect looking tomato ketchup and ginger stray we named Ginjeesha. I had the delicate little feline right in the palm of me hand, she was mine! Until the woman next to us was served her breakfast first and the easy going minx trotted off to beg for scraps…

 After making sure we had our essentials we did our mandatory wait at the beach, the boat arrived, we got on and Gili T disappeared from view.

 From there the rest of our time together unfolded far too quickly. We headed back to Kuta ready for Annie’s departure the next day, spending the evening winding down and then enjoying a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. Live music, good banter and good food made it a great last night.

 Rolling into the last day, we took a leisurely stroll around Kuta center, where even THERE I couldn’t get away from the carved wooden penises! We shopped and scoffed down the most horrific version of a KFC that has ever dared pass my lips, immediately followed by a McDonalds to make up for what we didn’t eat…I’m still undecided as to how it ranks as better, steer clear I shall! Then made our way back to the hotel to pack up the first of our trio, ready for her to head home.

 Annie was an absolute laugh a minute, friendly, kind and someone I am glad to have had the opportunity to meet. And now, this left just two of us.

 Feeling the obvious void an Aussie body should have been occupying, me and Bellbags carried on with our day. I booked back into the Kayun Downtown Hostel, full to the brim with newly discovered cockroaches. They were blasting the place with some form of mosquito repellent, one that had us believe the place was on fire it was so smokey. After sucking it up and storing our stuff, we got clean and left for our last dinner. We laughed about all that had passed and joked about the many moments that were unapologetically ridiculous. However, our time sitting at the Kopi Pot delightfully scoffing our Lumpia (a kind of southern Asian spring roll), drew to a close and the second of our trio was to make her exit.

 Getting her various belongings together and saying our final farewells I saw Belladonna off and then returned to the Kayun.

 Simply put, she will remain one of the best friends I have and it’s a wrench to have to go my own way, knowing she won’t be there to laugh at my ridiculous behavior. It has been possibly one of the best holiday experiences with two people I’d travel with again in a heartbeat.

Now it is just me, myself and the street vendors trying to ambush me for a massage.

Wish me luck!

#nowthereisnousyoucansitwithme