Gili Islands

After a torturous 10 hour journey in 30+ heat with no air con I arrived at the beautiful Gili Islands on an old wooden boat.

What a place these islands are. No concrete, cars, motorbikes a great place to relax. Surrounded by coral all there is warums(restaurants), losmens(guesthouses) a few bars and not many people.. Three full days of bliss on Gili Air where sunsets were viewed stories exchanged and the odd beer consumed. The food I might add was unreal, freshly caught smoky barbequed fish by the stack-load.

Gili Islands on the horizon

Not a bad place for sunset

1 dark spot is the odd fact that there is a crystal meth problem there which to a casual observer is limited to weed and magic mushies. The islands are not policed officially so it is up to the locals to self govern, allowing this awful turn of events. The Government actually raided the island a month before I arrived. Paranoid locals reckon there are police still there but in plainclothes.

My only interactions were with a dealer trying to sell me some and my landlord who was whacked off his head one evening. It was fun trying to settle the accommodation bill with him. I wonder where that money will go?? Very sad for the island and I hope it does not spiral out of control.

Bali

After 15 hours or so on a plane with a French couple comatose in the seats beside me I was beginning to feel fairly knarky to say the least. Clouds were obscuring the view until in the distance I spotted something. As i came close I realised it was a massive volcano crater serenely jutting out of the clouds. What a sight Gunung Bromo is!! Some quick calculations and I reckoned I'd be atop the crater 3 weeks later. Can't wait.

Bali... airport a mess, got a taximan down from 100,000 to 70,000 and proceeded into Kuta/Legian beaches. The madness on the roads was something else. What a shock to the senses once I started to wander around. Smells, sights and all sorts. Being jet-lagged I felt a bit disheartened as it was complete chaos all round. The next day was however a massive improvement. There's such a positive vibe in the lpace, the locals are all selling or trying to sell you some sort of tick or tack!!

So that evening I grabbed some food and found a smallish bar where I met a Belfast man who has lived in OZ for 35 years. Had a great ole chat with him and lots of banter with the bargirls who were amazingly friendly and helpful.As the bar was shutting I was invited to a [party in one of the girls blocks. I've recently read Yesman so it had to be a yes. Unfortunately ther locals are wearly risers and early sleepers. By 12 they were all in bed or close to it. So I had to settle for a couple of quiet beers and some smoked fish, mussels and rice. I love all the seafood they have hear and have decided against listening to how they prepare it..;)

Got dropped off about 3 in the morning and fell straight into a mild coma to awake with a deathly feeling about me. It was only then I remembered I had booked surfing lessons for high noon. But I did manage to catch a few waves and took immense satisfaction and slight bemusement that my tutor was unable to ride 2 waves when he tried "to show me how it was done" 1-0 Murphy.

But disaster almost struck when my right foot slid off the board and my left (recently repaired knee) stayed where it was. I was never meant to be a gymnast lets put it that way. So my tendons around the knee and hammies hurt like fuckers, maybe a massage may be in order!! What a place to start surfing though 30 degrees, hundreds of fellow surfers and nice big, long consistent waves. Surfing is MASSIVE in Kuta and no wonder.

Next stop Padangbai..