After the remote wilderness of Raja Ampat, a few days on Gili Trawangan provided the perfect change of pace. Known as Lombok’s lively party island, Gili T was pleasantly subdued during the off-season in early February, offering a relaxed atmosphere while still delivering plenty of fun. The island boasts an impressive selection of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, ensuring we were never short of excellent food, cold drinks, or a good cup of coffee. We squeezed in several dives with Mango Divers and were pleasantly surprised by the vibrant underwater world surrounding the island. From reef sharks and sea turtles to pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, octopuses, and cuttlefish, the marine life offered something for every diver. When we weren’t exploring beneath the surface, we happily lounged on beachside sun chairs, soaking up the tropical sunshine and watching the turquoise waters drift by. Add in a traditional Balinese massage, and Gili T proved to be the ideal place to unwind, recharge, and savor island life at a slower pace.
Traditional Balinese painting at the Airport in Bali
Meeting some friendly children in Padang Bai (gateway to the Gili Islands and Lombok)
An elderly woman balancing a bag on her head in Padang Bai
A vendor selling snacks and drinks at Padangbai Beach
Chaotic scene at Gili T waiting for our bags to be offloaded
A traditional horse-drawn carriage known as a "cidomo", which serves as the primary mode of transportation on Gili Trawangan
Our private swimming pool at La Bella Hotel & Spa
Amazing breakfast at Carpe Diem - strawberry smoothie bowl with dragon fruit, hot chocolate, watermelon juice and banana bread
Dive master Adhet checking out the current conditions before our first dive
Phyllidia ocellata nudibranch
A man driving a horse cart on Gili T
Black-blotched porcupinefish
Miamira sinuata nudibranch
Bus stop chromodoris nudibranch
Halgerda batangas nudibranch
Goniobranchus albonares nudibranch
Taringa halgerda nudibranch
Lobster mural on Gili Trawangan
Enjoying our meal at The Shack
Swimming pool at The Shack (great food and cocktails here)
Beachfront restaurant decor
Juvenile oriental sweetlips
Glossodoris cincta nudibranch
Habibi Come to Gili - mural at Carpe Diem coffee shop on Gili Trawangan
Slender sapsucker (Thuridilla gracilis)
Whitemargin nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata)
Girdled nudibranch (Glossodoris cincta)
Black-margined nudibranch (doriprismatica atromarginata)
Bunny rabbit at Mango Divers
A cluster of cheesecake nudibranchs (doriprismatica atromarginata)
Pharaoh cuttlefish (sepia pharaonis)
View of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano located on the nearby island of Lombok
Which cocktail to drink? Happy hour at Manna Restaurant
Thanking Adhet after a couple days of fun diving!
Becky with her masseuse at Kristina Spa
Workers transferring boxes of Bintang beer onto the island of Gili T
Local elder artwork on a building in Gili T
Horse drawn cart transporting agricultural goods on Gili T
Beach restaurants with sandy floors are the norm at Gili T
Mural at Manta Dive Center on Gili T
Interior decor at Lolita Mexican restaurant on Gili T
Vibrant beach restaurant scene in Gili T
Pearl Beach Lounge on Gili Trawangan
Hotel Vila Ombak on Gili T
Gili Trawangan has completely banned all cars and motorized vehicles, relying on bicycles and horses
Rough seas prevented our ferry from pulling into Gili Air so passengers had to get shuttled via this boat tender
