It's 6am on Gili T as I lie on a sun lounge on our villa pool deck at The Beach House Resort. The morning has started at about 4.30am when the neighbours rolled back into their villa and then 5am when the island was called to prayer. After that a complete avery of bird life has chirped in to support the myriad of roosters around the traps. Might need a nanna nap this afternoon. Ah, such is life.
Transferred over yesterday on the Scoot Boat out of Sanur. Was a packed boat on a very light sea. I chose to sit right at the back outside. This was nice to gain some fresh air but the constant spray where I sat meant I was standing half the time to dry off. The crusty old sea dog that I am. Was fun to watch those who turned green dart in and out of the loo as they held scented face towels to their mouth.
Again the weather has been fantastic and touch wood there has been no precipitation to date. The morning sky above is already a nice blue.
Check-in was done island style. Hasty phone calls to get a guy to open our villa door, no credit card details taken, no ID needed. Bags dumped and the guy fled. We worked out where all the switches and things were so tipped ourselves with a late room service lunch. Shared a tasty burger, wraps and fries just like all the locals must eat. We have a 2 bedroom villa at the back of the resort called, Villa Jepun. It has a nice deep warm pool, spacious outdoor living area and king air-conditioned bedrooms with outside loo and hot showers. All the creature comforts are here.
After lunch we headed for a dip in the resort pool and then my daughter and I headed to the beach for a snorkel.
Very foolishly I thought that you could just jump in off the beach. It was half tide as we started to wade out with our flippers on. After about 10 minuted of picking our way through jagged (broken glass style) sharp coral we made it. I only fell over once and cut my hand and bruised my battered ego. The water was clear and fish life abundant. We snorkelled North against the current and came back into the sandy part where the boats are beached. Perhaps I should have asked 'where is best pace to snorkel', which apparently is up the North Eastern end of this little island.
Anyway next we hired some pushbikes as this is the preferred method of transport. Now being six foot six does not avail itself to the cycling lifestyle. The poor fellow adjusted the seat and bars to, 'maximum mister' but I still looked like a clown in a circus ring. Needless to say after an hour of riding my knees, thighs and bum all felt rather sore. Think I will stick to walking.
Dinner was at the resort beach front restaurant. Prices OK. I had a Peking Duck Stack with Asian vegetables. Strangest meal I've had in a while. Served cold layered in large taco style shells with a sweet coleslaw like vegies and duck. Bugger being adventurous again, I don't think you can OD on Nasi Goreng. The wife ate a huge seafood kebab with a roast spud in foil and salad. Kids dined on fish and calamari chips .
After dinner we wandered up to the night market next to the wharf. There were well over a hundred backpackers and others dining on large communal tables. The smells and food looked inviting and cheap. We grabbed a scrumptious takeaway Banana & Chocolate Pancake for RP15000 which easily fed four for dessert. Then we booked a public three islands snorkelling trip for 10am today at RP 80 000 pp. (as we have our own snorkel gear), ambled back to the villa for a night dip and turned in early after a few bevvies on the couch.
Feels a bit like parts of Koh Samui here.
Ah, have been offered mushrooms about a dozen times, even signs up advertising shrooms. Psychedelic is not the type of trip I am after.