Gili Air I

 After much deliberation and last-minute misses, my German friend Astrid and I set off for the Gili Islands, just off Lombok, early on Friday morning. People had said it wouldn't be worth just going for a weekend. Websites said the Gilis had been spoiled by tourism and overrated. Another volunteer told me he wouldn't trust the boat operators as they usually don't have any emergency devices. 

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We set off anyway, on a whim. Hoping to get the most out of our free weekend and away from Ubud for a while.

I'm so incredibly glad that we did. I've never been anywhere like it.

At the port at Gili Trawangan, after a fast-boat trip that was a bit of an ordeal (note: don't sit on the roof of the boat if you ever go, you get drenched to the bone) we arrived here and thought we had died and gone to heaven. 

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This little boy was fishing with a hand reel, with his dad's help. I couldn't believe the colours.

No cars on Gili Air. Only bikes and brightly coloured horse-carts.

 The view to Lombok. Breathtaking. When the clouds clear you can see the imposing sight of Mt Rinjani, the highest volcanic peak on Lombok.

Astrid writing a message to her grandparents, with coral. :)

Indonesian food is so good. And cheap. The two things I look for in food.

For such a tiny island (you can walk around the whole place in about an hour) Gili Air definitely has an abundance of amazing trees and birds.

 A good book, a simple dress and bits of coral to admire and draw. I love Gili Air.

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It was such a perfect weekend. More pictures soon.

*NB: the colours are true in all the photos. I haven't altered them at all. It's really that bright.