I always forget to post my JBR (mainly because i have post holiday traumatic stress!!
OMG my trip so far..Left Sydney 17/12
I can never again fly economy. - jestar starclass is worth every single cent. flight was awesome - landed and went straight to our hotel in Bali for one nights sleep.
I have been a mega fan of MBR in Legian for years and was upset I couldn't stay longer at this hotel for my post GIli T stay - but - i have to say after one nights accom at MBR on the 17/12 i won't stay there again.
Family Suite - room 124 - don't do it...
Aircon - about as affective as pair tweezers moving a pile of sand.and SUPER NOISY too. The blankets on the kids beds had dirty stains on them - and the tap in the bathroom broke. The hot water dare i say tepid was a slow trickle and took nearly forever to come through.
MBR Sorry - after 5 years of regularly staying there - I was mega disappointed. So looking forward to Mandira upon my return from Gili T.
Got up mega early the 18th (my bday) and we caught a bus then a fast boat to Gili Trawangan. OMG this place is the bomb. it so rocks. Loving it fully sick. Drank my duty free moet in a hammock under a huge tree listening to call to prayer at the mosque. then had 1.5 hour massage - then off to dinner - had a great beef rendang curry and hubby got a huge steak. Day 2 - got up early and did huffy puffy around the island (8km) then we did a full hard day cocktailing by the pool. went to sleep at 4pm then got up at 9pm for dinner - very very very sunburnt - but loving it all. Got up again super early the next morning (5.30) and did the island loop. We then went out for a snorkling trip ( we found this local fisherman dude and we rented masks etc). my youngest child (5) has a floaty vest so we got to see awesome stuff. It was so FINDING NEMO - including sea turtles and all the pretty fish and giant clams - all up the boat with a guide and no other tourists cost us $40 for 4 hours and we got to snorkle in 5 different locations and had a ball.
then we had a quiet lunch and after lunch we did a walk up the hill (there is only one hill on Gili T) but there is historical landmark up there. During WW2 there was a Japanese outpost in a cave and we climbed up this big hill - dodging goats!!! but eventually found it. Amazing view over to Mt Rinjani in Lombok across the other 2 Gili Islands (Meno and Air) and then the other side of the Hill we could see to Bali and its giant volancos trapped in the clouds (no doubt why it was called the islands of the gods up in the clouds).
Currently getting some wireless access in a restaurant on the beach having coronas and the best chorizo sausage in garlic aoli in a mega comfy chair and loving this place lots!
Tomorrow we are hiring pushbikes and cycling around to the top of the island to go swimming in the super clean ocean with a picnic.
Have always wanted to see the Gilis since my first trip to Bali in 96 and have not been disappointed. Seriously if you have always wanted to go - its super easy to do - and even if you just pop over for one night on your next Bali trip - you wont be disappointed.
We have another 3 nights in Gili T before returning back to Bali will keep you posted on my travels!