Gili Air :)

The penultimate day, the last actual holiday. The day we explore one of the Gilis, the golden center: Gili Air.

Between the party island Gili T. and the relatively lonely Gili Meno, Gili Air offers a combination of both- although it is already too touristy for us.

Traveling to Bengsal: 30 minutes with a Blue Bird for around 80000 IDR, meeting Ann Kathrin and Allen, whom we pick up at the Diva Resort. For 19000 IDR, we ride a local transport boat with about 50 other people for 15 minutes to Gili Air- we leave the stupid speedboat, which is hardly faster over this distance, behind. The parking maneuver itself is worth the trip and reveals: it's not so lonely here. Boat next to boat, and somewhere in between ours. Caro almost loses her hand, which she casually dangles over the railing, when we collide quite intensely with another boat. Apparently normal: the locals don't flinch.

Here, Ann Kathrin, Allen, and our paths diverge; but we will happen to see them again later- the island is small.

Caro and I walk along the beach- beautiful beaches, small shops, restaurants, and hotels alternate with garbage dumps- everywhere construction is underway. You can see: they are trying to meet the growing tourist flow, but waste disposal and wastewater facilities are not yet organized.

In a small jewelry store, we stock up on souvenirs, we strolled and lingered in small shops, where we always had to take off our shoes. If we forgot, we were reminded and our "dirt" was immediately removed.

In a small restaurant/bar at Sandy Beach, Caro ate bruschetta and drank pineapple and mango juice, I stayed with two alcoholic cocktails. Sitting in the shade with a wonderful view, we let the day sink in.

On the way back to the harbor, the search for the ticket booth turned out to be complicated; it almost seemed as if the locals no longer knew the departure point of their boats! It cost 12000 IDR to return; as calm as the sea was on the outward journey, it was rough on the way back. But as long as the locals remain relatively relaxed, so does Caro :)

Worse- much worse- was the taxi ride from Bangsal to our hotel. Did the driver want to kill us? One thing is certain, since this ride I feel sick, and now it's 8 o'clock in the morning on the following day. Rice for breakfast.. yay.

At 6 p.m., we went with Dania to Linda's restaurant (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1592993-d3431224-Reviews-Papa_Besar_Cafe-Senggigi_Lombok_West_Nusa_Tenggara.html$) in Senggigi- you remember, the cook from our cooking class? She brought us palm sugar as a farewell gift, gave us (unfortunately, too late) tips on how not to get ripped off and provided us with our last dinner of the vacation: shrimp with rice, Gado Gado, tofu curry, and banana wrapped in pancake with liquid palm sugar. Caro comes home without teeth.

Dania accompanied us back to the hotel, we almost gave her used-up cosmetics that she didn't have to buy. After that, we let her continue her journey. We hope she has an eventful year in Copenhagen, Prague, 5 weeks hiking on the Camino de Santiago, and maybe other countries in Asia. Keep us updated, send us some pictures, and give us tips; maybe you'll start a blog too, so we can accompany you- even if only digitally.

The suitcases are packed, Caro enjoys the last breakfast, I eat dry rice and can't even swallow it. Last day, fantastic. We have to check out in an hour and a half; Caro is at the water again, I'm writing. Our taxi is already ordered, which will take us and our stuff (please let the luggage only weigh 20 kilos) to Mataram. No speedboat, but the domestic flight will take us to Denpasar. We won't make the same mistake twice! We'll stay near the Domestic Airports in Harris Hotel Tuban Bali (31 Euro) and reminisce until we board the flight to Doha at half past midnight.

We will remember the people who accompanied us (Lisa, Dania, Ann Kathrin and Allen; Liz and Bob, Linda, our awesome drivers who took care of us like fathers); the memorable moments (Mount Batur, Caro's nausea after the first ride, the turquoise sea, the great food (especially Nasi Goreng), Caro's earring devoured in the monkey forest of Ubud, the risky bike tour, the yoga classes in Ubud and Gypsea Yoga, the jungle and its waterfalls, etc., etc.

Bali and Lombok are beautiful countries, although I'm afraid that in the coming years, the paradise-like state will continue to be destroyed; more tourists from the Gilis will travel to the larger islands and the solitude of some beaches and villages will be lost, capitalism will move in and the friendly, helpful, and selfless nature of the Indonesians will suffer as a result.