Our journey to the largest of the three islands – Gili Trawangan – began early at 08.50, with a 20 minute public boat ride just across the water. As with Gili Meno, we had to access the water either side, except I appeared to levitate off the boat:

Thankfully, we were just a 5 minute walk from the dock and just a few minutes away from the main strip, because we were SWEATY, carrying 42kg of luggage between us in 32 degree heat. Bleurgh.

We were lucky to find accommodation for just £7 a night, breakfast included. It comprised of 12 huts and rooms surrounding a decent sized pool with a bar and a family of cats – mum, dad and 3 kittens. Bale Sasak was Heaven and the guys that work there are just ace – heading out to fetch us food/beer at all times of the day and night! Another equally cool  aspect of this place is the fact that Daves lifelong friend Kyle, along with 3 of his work mates – Emily, Cesar and Pat – managed to find rooms here too!

As before, nothing much happens when we hunker down in one place for a week but I shall try fill you in:

I had the best pedicure Ive had for YEARS and all for just £5! Complete with a colour that matches the colour of the ocean.

Dave and Kyle ‘invented’ a new sport – Aqua Badminton and, unsurprisingly, ranked themselves as number 1 in the world. Here they are in action:

Emily and Cesar attempted it too, but weren’t so good due to height restrictions!

I lost A LOT of weight – I joke, the elastic broke on my shorts, so I treated myself to a new sarong. My love of everything tiedye continues:

Our new found friend Emily bit the bullet and started her dread journey with the lovely Odent, who we spent 4 hours sat on the beach with, whilst he fed us and bought us beer, peanuts and popcorn. God love him!

Ive met cute cats too:

Mine and Emilys favourite – he is a little deformed but so cuddly!

A week long love affair with H

(named H because I kept telling him how handsome he was).

 

The local shops cat, Ardunna – He is ENORMOUS compared to the street cats.

Our accommodation for the week was also home to plenty of frogs, all enjoying the waterfalls throughout the complex – they were SO loud at night!

We spent our Wednesday evening playing mini golf with a beer in hand – hilarious fun AND it came complete with mini golf course cats (from the cats protection society, just next door). They kept trying to chase the golf balls!

We have had to navigate muddy roads, complete with stone and cardboard bridges, to reach our hostel, after some hideous rain storms in recent days.

As well as enjoying the odd banana and chocolate crepe.. mmmmmm!

We were lucky enough to witnessing some beautiful sunsets from

Paradise Sunset Bar too:

Gili T has been a week of snorkelling, turtles, lush food, lazy pool days and laughing until our sides hurt! Meeting up with Kyle, Emily, Cesar and Pat was truly a stardust experience for us and we can’t wait to catch up again once we are all back in the UK – whenever that may be!

But now, we head just across the water to the last of the 3 islands – Gili Air, for a week of doing more of what we are reallllly good at – nothing! Cya!