Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, the furthest out, has been tagged as the ‘party island’. And with three weekly parties and a groovy collection of beach bars, you can get loose here. But Trawangan is growing up, with stylish accommodation (including a number of inland vacation villas), a fun expat community and outstanding dining.

All-natural yet sprinkled with a collection of restaurants and bars that would meet the needs of any passionate cosmopolitan, Gili Trawangan is the road-weary rambler’s lucid fantasy. The biggest and more popular from the carless Gilis, Gili Trawangan earliest blipped on the tourism radar during the ’90s, when Bali rose to worldwide popularity and backpackers descended in search of white sand, warm water, rich reefs and a good party.

Expectations were exceeded across the board. Trawangan’s Indonesian community has benefited from the increase in tourism here, as well. Some of the best new bars and bungalows are locally owned. The water is the aqua blue colour you dream about and the snorkelling is great. Nest here and you’re still just a 20-minute beach walk away from that scrum of dive shops, sushi bars, lounges, reggae joints and beach front dining rooms that are difficult to resist

Boats dock on the island’s eastern shore, which is also home to most of Trawangan’s accommodation, restaurants and facilities. The best stretch of beach is on the stunning northwest corner. Stay here, and you’ll have a longer trek to the action.


Getting There
Travel via Senggigi; via the public boats that leave from Bangsal (the cheapest route), you can charter your own boat from Bangsal (195,000Rp) or book passage on a private speedboat. Blue Marlin and Manta Dive on Gili Trawangan can arrange transfers (600,000Rp for up to three people). Speedboats use the Teluk Nare harbour south of Bangsal.

Coming by public transport, catch a bus or bemo to Pemenang, from where it’s 1km by cidomo (3000Rp) to Bangsal Harbour. Bangsal is beyond annoying (see boxed text, opposite ). The touts raise blood pressure for a living, and you should sooner ignore than trust them. Boat tickets are sold at the Koperasi harbour office on the beach. Public boats run roughly from 8am to 5pm, but don’t leave until full (about 18 people). One-way fares at the time of research were 8000Rp to Gili Air, 9000Rp to Gili Meno and 10,000Rp to Gili Trawangan. Special charters can also be organised in Bangsal. Boats pull up on the beach when they get to the Gilis. You’ll have to wade ashore with your luggage.

View

image:gilibookings.com

Diving
Trawangan is made for divers, with six established scuba schools, including one of the best tech-diving schools in the world, and one newcomer (Diving Buddha).

Big Bubble (Phone 625 020; www.bigbubblediving.com)
Blue Marlin Dive Centre (Phone 632 424, 0813 39930190; www.bluemarlindive.com)
Diving Buddha (Phone 644 179)
Dream Divers (Phone 634 496; www.dreamdivers.com)
Manta Dive (Phone 643 649; www.manta-dive.com)
Trawangan Diving (Phone 649 220, 0813 3770 2332;www.trawangandive.com)
Villa Ombak Diving Academy (Phone 638 531)

www.buddhadivegili.com

Snorkelling
There’s exciting snorkelling off the beach north of the jetty. The coral isn’t in the best shape here, but there are tons of fish. The reef is healthier off the northwestern coast, but you may have to scramble over coral to access it at low tide. If the current is quick, you’ll have fun flying above the reef, but will have to walk back to your starting point. Snorkelling gear can be hired for around 25,000Rp per day from shops near the jetty.

image:baligilifastboat.com

Surfing & Kayaking
Trawangan offers a fast right break that can be surfed year-round and can swell overhead. It’s just south of Villa Ombak. Gili Surf Shop (Phone 0812 372 7615) in the pasar seni rents boards.
Karma Kayak (Phone 0818 0559 3710; tours 300,000Rp), a hotel, tapas bar and kayaking school, is set on the northern end of Gili Trawangan, where Astrid, a former champion stunt kayaker (she took silver at the 1991 world championship leads half-day kayaking trips around the Gilis when currents allow.

image:travellinginindonesia.com

image:www.idc-gili.com

Walking and Cycling
Trawangan is exciting to explore by walking or with bicycle. You can walk round the entire island in a several of hours - if you finish at the hill on the southwestern part (which has the remains of the old Japanese World war 2 gun placement), you’ll have terrific sunset views of Bali’s Gunung Agung.
Bikes will be the preferred mode of transport and are also easily hired from 25,000Rp per day. Your hotel can arrange rental otherwise you can approach the bicycle stores on the main drag directly.

image:www.nusatenggaraindonesia.com

Sleeping
over a hundred places to stay in Gili Trawangan. They range from simple village huts to mod Zen beach bungalows with outdoor baths to sprawling air-conditioned villas with private pools.

image:www.lombokgilihotels.com

Sirwa Homestay (s/d 40,000/45,000Rp)
Aldi Homestay (Phone 0813 3954 1102; s/d 60,000/100,000Rp)
Lisa Homestay (Phone 0813 3952 3364; r 75,000Rp)
Sandy Beach Cottage (Phone 625 020; d from 100,000Rp)
Edy Homestay (d from 120,000Rp)
Warna Homestay (Phone 623 859; d from 150,000Rp)
Puri Hondje (r 150,000Rp)
Balenta (Phone 0818 0520 3464; d from 180,000Rp)
Pondok Sederhana (Phone 0813 3860 9964; r 200,000Rp)
Trawangan Cottages (Phone 639 282; s/d 200,000/250,000Rp)
Quiet Water (Phone 0819 1753 1652; d from 250,000Rp)


Midrange
Black Sand Homestay (Phone 0812 372 0353; r from 300,000Rp)
Tir na Nog ( Phone 639 463; tirnanog@mataram.wasantara.net.id; r from 300,000Rp)
Rumah Saga ( Phone 648 604, 0818 0571 4315; www.rumahsaga.com; cottages 350,000-500,000Rp)
Pesona (Phone 660 7233; www.pesonaresort.com; r 400,000600,000Rp)
Sama Sama Bungalows ( Phone 0812 376 3650; r with aircon 400,000, deluxe lumbung 650,000Rp)
Beautiful Life Bungalows ( Phone 0818 0376 4102; bungalows 450,000Rp)
Tanah Qita ( Phone 639 159; bungalows 500,000Rp)
Balé Sampan ( Phone 0813 3988 2153, 0813 3774 8469; www.balesampanbungalows.com; bungalows with garden/sea view 500,000/800,000Rp)
Manta (Phone 643 649, 0812 376 4780; www.manta-dive .com; bungalows 550,000Rp)
Karma Kayak (Phone 0818 0559 3710; bungalows550,000Rp)
Trawangan Dive (Phone 649 220, 0813 3770 2332; www.trawangadive.com; bungalows US$60-80)
Kelapa Kecil (Phone 0812 376 6496; bungalows US$70-90)
H Rooms (Phone 639 248; villas from 800,000Rp)


Top End
Desa Dunia Beda (Phone 641 575; www.desaduniabeda.com; bungalows US$110-140 plus 21Phone tax)
Gili Exotic (Phone 692 113, 0818 360 019; www.giliexotic .com; villas 1,500,000Rp)
Kelapa Villas (Phone 632 424, 0812 375 6003; www.kelapa villas.com; villas US$150-550 plus 21Phone tax)
Gili Villas (Phone 0812 376 4780; www.gilivillasindonesia .com; villas US$250)

Tips for Holidays in Lombok

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Tourist island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is now increasingly compete with next-door neighbor, Bali. Lombok is arguably one of the most complete tourist destination because it has lots of stunning natural potentials ranging from Mount Rinjani to the exotic beaches are still "virgin" such as Kuta, Tanjung Aan, until the small islands (dyke) is not less captivating.

For a vacation on the island of Lombok, there are seven ways you can do so that your vacation unforgettable. This method can be done for travelers who are accustomed to backpackers or not.

Itinerary Spontaneity does sometimes make the holiday more exciting. However, if you only have limited time for vacation, it is advisable to prepare a travel plan (itinerary). Try to find as much information as possible from the virtual world from a place to stay, transportation equipment, up to a distance and travel time to places you would want to go. Thus, the time you will not be wasted with discussions about the place that will be addressed. Moreover, if you are on vacation as a group, a mature travel plans and agreed in advance to avoid conflicts that could disrupt the holidays.

In preparing the itinerary, do not forget to check the agenda of the festival in Lombok when you visit. To find out, look in Lombok tourism agenda www.visitlomboksumbawa.net site. For example, in July 2011, Lombok has a pity if the tourism agenda is passed as Malean Cattle (cow racing) in the West and Lombok Senggigi Festival at Stone Village Display, Lobar District, West Lombok.


Rental cars
Renting a car does require travel expenses to be slightly more expensive than using public transportation in Lombok Bemo (public transportation) or Cidomo (sort of gig). However, if you're vacationing in groups then the cost of transportation may be cheaper. To rent a car in Lombok with type Avanza charge to reach Rp 300,000 for eight hours already, including the driver. Cars can also reach the more remote areas than public transport. Because, if you stay in Mataram, bemo and cidomo more rare. Two flagship Lombok's public transport more often found outside the city of Mataram.

Another advantage to renting a car is to get a free bonus tour guides from the driver. Typically, a driver who is a native citizen there already memorized places frequented tourist turuis and other places rarely visited but kept the potential of incredible natural wealth. Do not forget, when renting a car you already have an agreement with the driver about the fare perdebatahn saay penyewaannya to avoid the payment later.

Extra Cash
Almost all tourist attractions in Lombok area is free of charge typical of pottery Banyumulek Village, a traditional Sasak village, the village of Sade, and Pura Lingsar. However, when you enter those places, there is usually a charity box and a large journal book to write down the value of the contribution that you provide. It's good that you contribute can seikhlasnya Rp 5,000 to Rp 10,000. The donation will be used to promote the village.

In addition, to bring you the complete story and history surrounding attractions, you can use a local tour guide native village. Cost of tour guides is also not specified, all seikhlas your heart. Therefore, prepare a small money-money bernominal Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000, - to give the donations it.


Do not waste time and Stop in Unexpected Places When you visit the island of Lombok, is actually a lot of places you can explore attractions in addition to the official who frequently visited by tourists. Therefore, start your day exploring the island since the morning began at 7 am for example. At that hour, along the road in the region and Stone Sukarara Jayi, West Lombok, Sasak tribal farmers grow rice still appear active in the middle of the morning dew began to rise. Sunlight dawn also increased the green expanse of landscape beauty farm.
If you are a lover of photography, do not waste this opportunity to capture the moment. Stop and start to capture the activities of women farmers who were growing rice, farmers are men who were plowing, and akvitas the middlemen who were buying grain from farmers. Begin socializing with the locals, say hello and introduce myself. Gradually, they will begin to tell you about the activities and life as a farmer Sasak. If you're lucky and they feel comfortable, could be a call-eat breakfast together at the edge of the field will glide from these farmers.
You can also make stops at traditional open markets that exist on the roadside. In Lombok, there is market day in which all traders from around the region gathered in Lombok as a single point in the market Sengkol, Central Lombok. Market Day usually falls on a Monday and Thursday.
So do not ever waste your time inside the hotel quiet, beraktivitaslah since morning, socializing with the local community and stop where when you see an interesting activity.

Polite dress
The majority of the population is Sasak Lombok are Muslims. They still uphold religious and social norms in society. Although already a tourist destination, but tourists can not be arbitrary in clothes. Clothes that are open only to invite local residents cynical gaze. This indicates that you do not respect the people there. Other applicable rules that prohibited drunkenness in the open. Unwritten rule is more restrictive occurred during Ramadan, when Muslims start fasting.


Get ready to party Gili and Senggigi! Evening entertainment on the island of Lombok fairly minimal, unlike Bali's tourism alive for 24 hours. In downtown Mataram, the activities of people began to quiet start at 20.00 pm. However, if you still want to explore the beauty of Lombok in the evening, you can simply slide into the Senggigi Beach. There, dozens of open cafe, karaoke, to flood and sea food restaurants open until the early hours.

If you're staying in Gili Trawangan, sempatkanlah feel the beauty of the night in this small island. Usually, every midnight Gili Trawangan held a party and musical entertainment for the tourists who come. Here, tourists can vent his excitement and danced as they pleased until the morning dawn.

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