In the first day of visited Gili Islands, we decided to Gili Meno island. I actually have no idea about Gili Meno, but some locals said that island is really calm, quiet, not so many people there, no party there. Such a calming island.
That island is located between of Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. We was boarding a private ship from Gili Trawangan to visited there. Actually not really far from Trawangan, just about 30 minutes. We went there at 4:00 p.m, after did snorkeling.
After arrived, and yes, we got surprised, because so calm there! Have a different ambiance with Trawangan. Not so many people, and what we can heard are just waves and horse’s footsteps sounds. As an introvert, I love this place more. The sand also so white and pretty, really different with Bali’s sand, because most of sand in Bali has light brown color.
And, we walked to our villa. Actually, we can ride dokar (horse-drawn carriage) but we choose just walking and enjoy the island. This island is so small, we just need 1-2 hours to surround this island by bicycle. Crazy. The town also so unique, and different. Most of local have no motorbike, they just driving bicycle, or walking.
Most of locals there are moeslim. When we walked around, we saw so many kids joined Pengajian. Pengajian is moeslim’s religion class for kids, and they are learn about Quran. It’s kinda unique for me also, even in Bali so many moeslim also, but I never seen Pengajian before. And locals there also so friendly to tourists. They are smiling, talkative, and helpful also. If locals try to talk to you, don’t worry, they don’t mean to bother you, or selling something to you. They just want to making friend. And if you need help, they will help you!
We arrived Gili Meno Getaway Villa. That villa is so good! The architecture is fusion between modern and Lombok traditional architecture, with their unique curved rooftop. The interior also so fun, and most of material that they use is wood.
The staffs also so kind. They are welcoming us so warm, with sweet welcome drink. Gili Meno Getaway is really recommended to you, because we can rent bicycle and snorkeling equipment for free! So kind! The staff also explained us about that island, what place that we can visit, they also recommended us about local food shop, turtle spot if want to do snorkeling, and salt lake.
In the afternoon, we went around that island by bicycle. Oh, little bit difficult and scary because no street lamp right there. Maybe we should bring flashlight. Actually we used flashlight from smartphone, but it can runs battery.
We visited a small restaurant with so friendly owner, and had dinner right there. The owner is really talkative, and told us about this island. Yeah, he said this island is so calm and quiet. So many married couples come there for honeymoon also.
At that beach, Yuka and I had lunch and talk so many things. So fun right there. It’s like, I forgot about everything behind me. I forgot about anxiety. I didn’t remember about how crowded my work, my education, family problem, about my weakness, everything that bothers me. It’s like, I ran away for a while from those.
The next day, we explored this island more, before we went back to Trawangan. We visited the salt lake, and so pretty!
We also did snorkeling again! Yes we rented the snorkeling equipment, and did it in shallow sea. Aaaand, here the problem begin!
So I have no GoPro, and decided to use my phone to recorded under the sea, with plastic protector. It was really okay for couples minutes. I already recorded so many fishes and corals, also when we met with turtle, I my phone still worked.
But, when we went to the shore, and checked my phone, and yes. my phone can’t worked. It turned off. Yuka panicked, I also panicked but tried to calm down. We asked help to owner the restaurant that we visited before.
They already tried, but still can’t. Yeah, it’s broken… So sad actually because I didn’t bring second phone. I was regretting why I didn’t bring second phone or camera.
But glad some photos and videos already uploded to my google photos, so I still can recovered them. Still feel so glad!
And then, about 3 p.m we went back to Gili Trawangan. We boarded by private ship again. And, on the sea, we saw the owner of restaurant, and we waved our hand to him. So grateful can met that kind man. I hope, one day I can visit that island again!
Land By Me 