Gili Trawangan is a small island off the coast of Lombok, an island the size of Bali just to it's east. There are many small islands (gili's as they're called) around Lombok, however Gili Trawangan is the most popular one. It is 8 km in circumference, and there are no motorbikes or cars, just carts drawn by small horses, bicycles, and foot power. There are no police on the island, and drugs are widely available (especially, magic mushrooms and marijuana). It reminded me of Caye Caulker, Belize. The small community seems to police itself, as a local told me the punishment for theft is a potential beat-down, followed by banishment from the island.
Most of the development is on the east side of the island, including all the dive shops which include attached restaurants and pools for those learning to SCUBA dive. I was keen to stay at Beachwind Bungalows as it was right across the “street” from the water. Linus joined me and we continued to share a double room.
It's not quick or easy to go from Kuta on Bali to the Gili Islands off Lombok. The regular (cheap) way takes a full day of travel leaving at 6am from Kuta, minus any unforeseen delays. As a result, it is much less visited then Kuta, and it felt as though we had the island to ourselves (this was especially the case as it was the rainy season). There were just enough people to keep my week-long stay fun and interesting.
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Kango Suz says
February 24, 2008 at 7:56 pmHow awesome! A bike paradise, I’m totally in. If only the absence of motorcars and motorbikes was a frequent experience in the rest of the world….
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Kango Suz says
February 25, 2008 at 12:56 amHow awesome! A bike paradise, I’m totally in. If only the absence of motorcars and motorbikes was a frequent experience in the rest of the world….
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jazz beard says
December 9, 2008 at 3:03 pmhey i got back from gili trawangan two days ago so fab to see those pictures!i was soo pleased it was suggetsed to me as i found legian and kuta too crazy for me!too mnay motorbikes hahaah!trawangan wasa cool place!jazz
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Dave says
December 10, 2008 at 9:40 amvery nice! one of my favorite spots of my year abroad.
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jazz beard says
December 9, 2008 at 10:03 amhey i got back from gili trawangan two days ago so fab to see those pictures!i was soo pleased it was suggetsed to me as i found legian and kuta too crazy for me!too mnay motorbikes hahaah!trawangan wasa cool place!jazz
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Dave says
December 10, 2008 at 4:40 amvery nice! one of my favorite spots of my year abroad.
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Japhy4 says
November 30, 2010 at 9:25 amdude i love the gilis i am a expat im bali and i go there for vacations all the time. my favotire one is gili air its alot more chill that trawagan. lol i know all those spots in the pics. although me and my friend also love the abundince of marijuana there becuse it is the one place in idonesia where you wont go 20 years in jail for it.