We absolutely loved our time on Gili Air. It was filled with snorkelling, swimming, eating, relaxing and a few cocktails. Turns out a gin and tonic can actually be too strong. Who knew?
Our villa is the perfect spot to rest and get respite from the heat, either in the pool, the air conditioned bedrooms or on the big blue couches under the fans in the living area. Just what we all needed. We started our days with a yummy freshly prepared breakfast, fresh fruit juice and lashings of Lombok coffee - strong gritty local coffee - for the adults.
We noticed a few signs of the earthquake. The big hotel Ombok has no roof anymore, but its restaurant is still open and it has some downstairs rooms available. Not sure we’d want to stay there without an engineers report however. The local school had a big hole in its wall and rubble in the corridors. We also saw a note on a menu that a restaurant’s full range of food wasn’t available because many of their staff had returned to their home islands and not come back. So, the impact of the earthquake is everywhere when you look, but the locals have done a good job of making things less obviously broken.
Almost every day someone in our group wasn’t been 100% so we kept kids out of the pool at times and sometimes some of the group stayed home while others went out. On our first full day we had a quiet morning then the Lewis family, Adrian and Eleanor made their way to the other side of the island for lunch and some snorkelling off the beach. Adrian took a short cut that left him and Eleanor on the wrong side of the island. Eleanor in particular was thrilled to get a bonus and unexpected walk around half the island. Leo and I hung out under the fan at the villa - Leo slept off his rumbly tummy while I read.
The next morning Jeremy went for a dive and Fiona and Ginny hung out at the villa while Adrian and I took the rest of the kids on a snorkelling expedition. The coral didn’t always seem to be in amazing condition, but snorkelling around sunken statues and with turtles were incredible experiences. It was also cool to see a tiny bit of Gili Meno when we stopped in for lunch. All four kids were amazing in the water, interested, confident and comfortable diving under for a closer look.
That evening for dinner we wandered a couple of kilometres along the coast to “Boogil’s”, a resort that Eleanor and Adrian had inadvertently stumbled across the previous day. It was interesting to see another part of the island and such a lovely spot on the beach.The kids played sand versus sea on the beach and had a good boogie to the quite talented reggae band after dinner. It wasn’t lost on the band that their greatest supporters were all under 10! But at least they were really getting into it. You can’t be too choosy.
We’d decided to do a snorkelling trip together on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve. We went with a different provider but did a very similar trip. This time we saw some brilliant blue coral and enjoyed the statues at a quieter time of day. Unfortunately it was too murky to see turtles at the first site by Gili Trawangan but we managed to find a couple near Gili Meno, after a quick drink and play in the sea. The turtles are huge, slow and somehow incredibly graceful as they glide through the water.
The sun was setting as we returned in the boat and treated us to beautiful views as we walked home along the sand. Another tick on the list of things we’d wanted to see on Gili Air.
A combination of snorkelling tiredness and the return of the lurgy meant the kids were all in bed by about 9pm. The grown ups sat about listening to mixed melodies from our own speaker and the bars on the beach. Adrian made yummy cocktails (look out for his new blog, “Convenience Store Cocktails”) and we had a great evening laughing and sharing stories. Eleanor managed to wake up just before midnight so saw 2019 in with us while The Final Countdown belted out in the background.
On New Year’s Day we slept in and had a very lazy morning in and around the pool. Periodic power cuts meant intermittent air conditioning in some rooms so those who were okay to get in the pool used it to cool down. The little shop at the end of our pathway had sold out of bintang and chippies, so it was obviously a busy night for them! (It wasn’t all us either).
Fiona and I had long been planning a massage during the trip so that afternoon we sneaked away for some relaxation within our relaxation. We had a blissful Balinese massage on a side-street then wandered to a beach-front spa for a pedicure. A great start to the new year! And I certainly slept well that night.
We’ve loved Gili Air and could all happily stay a few more days. But in the morning we’re packing up and heading back to Lombok, while the Lewis’s head to the airport. Jeremy has work tomorrow.
The past nine days have been absolutely magic. The kids have had an amazing time together and watching them interact has been just wonderful. Adrian and I have thoroughly enjoyed the great conversation, company and cementing a great friendship with Fiona and Jeremy.
The basis for this holiday was a BBQ conversation two years ago - we’re so thrilled we had that meal and that this trip is what came of it. We’re already secretly hoping for another jaunt somewhere together before too long.
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