New Year Trip Around Lombok Part II

GILI MENO & GILI TRAWANGAN

After exploring south beaches, cave and waterfall I continue my trip to Mataram, stayed there for couple of days meeting friends, making plans about New Year Eve and actually was planning on going to Tiu Teja Waterfall but my friend missed our appointment so it was canceled, it was sad cause I’ve been wanting to go there for couple years now, always missed my chances.

But it doesn’t matter because this time the trip was more than just going places, I just wanted to meet some friends I have known for awhile,,did some meet ups then we decided to spend our new year trip in Gili Trawangan. But before going to Gili T we went to Gili Meno and stayed for a night. 

Gili Meno Harbor

Gili Meno Lake

From Mataram to Bangsal (Public Port to Gilis) we took Grab which was Rp. 108.000 for 4 people and it took only an hour to get there, we passed through Pusuk, the monkey forest and those amigos are all along the street. Anyway,,so the ticket to Gili Meno is Rp. 18,000/one way include all those entrance and stuff. But because Gili Meno is the least quiet one, the boats are not going there as often as going to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air. As I read it was only 3 times a day, at 9 am, 1 pm and 5 pm. We tried to get the 9 am one and we got it on time. It took only 25 minutes boat ride to get there.

But because it was cloudy the water was not as nice as I saw before but it was still better than south beaches. Among 3 Gilis, actually Meno is my most favorite, it’s so quiet. We booked a family room for 3 people and it only costs Rp. 255.000 include breakfast, the hostel called Dinoyin Bungalow. But we had to walk like 600 meters from the port which was fineeee. 1 of our friends will cross to Gili Trawangan in the afternoon so before she left, we took a walk to the lake. Only 2 of us because the other 2 guys had something else to do. It was very quiet at the lake. There were few other people but they left few minutes after we got there. The lake was just about 700 meters from our hostel.

Gili Meno Lake

Gili Meno

From the lake, we walked to the beach and since I can’t swim, I just sat on the sands while Franzi went snorkeling. I hate that I can’t swim. I was jus sitting there watching those people who could swim, and when I didn’t look at them, all I saw was many romantic couples around holding hand, hugging and kissing -,-. But we didn’t have much time for snorkeling cause soon Franzi had to go to Gili Trawangan. For hopping boat among the islands they do it twice a day at 8.50 am and 3.20 pm. Hopping boat is cheap, it was Rp. 35,000. There is another option like speed boat which is more often but also more expensive, it was Rp. 85,000.

The weather was pretty bad, it was cloudy and raining most of the time, so we actually spent more time in our room than outside. We didn’t do much in Meno, went to eat dinner at beach restaurant and met a friend then going back to our room again and sleep -,-. We wanted to take the morning boat to go to Trawangan and it was pretty messed u morning, it took so long to woke the guys up, it took even longer to get the breakfast. The breakfast was included in the room price, it was simple but pretty good, pancake, fresh fruits and tea/coffee. Then we ran to the harbor and when I got to Gili Trawangan I just realized I left my head towel in Dinoyin. It was annoying cause before that I lost my comb and earphone too during the trip.

 

Boat to Gilis

Food in Trawangan Night Market

I’ve been to Gili Trawangan few times before but that day was more crowded than ever. Well it was my 1^st time going there for new year eve. Honestly once I got there I was thinking to just go back to Gili Meno but my friends already booked a hotel room that they can’t cancel. I stayed in Gili T at a friend’s place who works there. But that day she went to Mataram hospital cause she was sick so I would stay at her place alone. Still,,,not so many things to do, when we arrived, we went to the hotel then to my friend’s place. We agreed to meet again later for sunset and just wanted to sleep 1^st. But it was still so cloudy that we would not be able to enjoy sunset. I rent a bicycle for 2 days with Rp. 80,000 and I didn’t even really use it. So in all those 3 gilis there are no other vehicles besides bicycle and horse cart, which is good for the environment.

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan

We spent that day sleeping and playing cards, which was actually gambling. We played the cards till the guests next door knocked our room telling us to shut up,I felt bad so I decided to just go back to my friend’s place where I stayed. Where we stayed was in the alleys and it was so much more quiet than on beach front…of course…….But it was raining anyway so I guess people just stayed at their hotel room praying so the next day would be sunny on new year eve -,-.

But yay it was pretty sunny on December 31^st, so I walked to the beach and had brunch by myself cause I’m pretty sure the guys were still sleeping but then Franzi came and joined me. Then she wanted to walk around but I had to wait for my friend so she left and I was sitting at the beach alone again till the guys came, and all we did was just gambling again -,-. Gambling at the beach…….it was fun tho.

After gambling we went back to our room to get ready for the night, in Gili T there were parties everywhere and it was super crowded that night, I walked from one place to another to meet different friends. Walked too much that I already felt tired and decided to walk back to my room at 11 pm,,I couldn’t even wait for the countdown. Seriously I’m so boring, you guys better not spending new year eve with me. For the past few years I always went to sleep early on new year eve. I just wanted to be somewhere else when I decided to do this new year trip, it wasn’t really about going place, just wanted to be somewhere and meeting friends. And I did meet many friends during the trip and it was something I’m always excited about,,meeting old friends,,making new friends.

Not so many things to tell about the trip but I did really enjoy that and that even tho I’ve been to Lombok a lot, I always got new stories and new friends and even tho it was not always perfect, even tho I still missed my chance to go to Tiu Teja and even tho I lost some stuff, I’m happy that I did that trip.  I prolly will do another trip to Lombok,,there are still some places I really wanna go to :)

Oh and guys….

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 \\(^O^)//

With friends