Gilli Air

If Meno is still too touristy for you then Gilli Air should be just right. Although it’s the closest island to the mainland of Lombok it’s the most overlooked in terms of development for the holiday maker even though it was the first island to have a permanent population. It’s this grass roots atmosphere that attracts most of the people. With quiet beaches, enough shops/restaurants to be comfortable and super friendly locals it’s hard to imagine why more people don’t come here.

Good bye Gilli Islands

Arriving on the island hopping boat Gilli Air is very much like Gilli Meno its welcome mat being white sandy beaches, clear blue waters and lush green palm trees. Just another example of why these 3 islands are a must do thing when you go to Bali or Lombok.

Sun and the palms

Again it didn’t take too long to for us to head inland and find accommodation in our 100-150,000 price range with breakfast. It is maybe the worst of the 3 accommodations we have had but good enough for a few days. It didnt matter too much though because the free breakfast the next day was maybe the best pancake ive had in Indonesia. They are great here because they are the flat English style ones. Just what you need when the home sickness kicks in !

Last of the GillI accomodation

The food and drink is the same on Gilli Air as it is on the other 2, by the way of it offering something for every budget. When you are tight ass backpacker every penny (or rupee) counts, so we found a little cafe tucked away at the harbour front that served up the usual Indonesian delights for backpacker freindly prices. What I liked about it though was it was cooked in front of you, so you know what went in and had a free cooking class at the same time !

The only sauces you will ever need in Indonesia

After an afternoon walking down parts of the island, snorkling and catching some rays on the super hot beach we both agree that Gilli Air doesn’t really offer us anything different to the other islands and that one day and night is maybe enough for us.

Gilli Air snorkling

sarah snokerling

So we spent our last night on the Gilli Islands we finally got a ride on board a horse and cart and it took us to a place where we can do what we do best........ dinner, beer, beach and a killer sunset !

Horse and Cart ride to Sunset

Taking 5 mins to chill out.........

Lazing in paradise is, well…… paradise, but with soooo much left to see in Indonesia, ripping ourselves from the powdery white beaches is a sacrifice that you sometimes just have make. Its a hard life isnt it???????

last few rays of the day