The Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are three small islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, located off the northwest coast of Lombok.

Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three islands and known as a party destination among travelers. Gili Air is popular for honeymooners, and Gili Meno is the smallest island situated between the other two islands and is famous for its sea turtle spots.

On 21st September 2018, we took a boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan, which took one hour and 45 minutes. We spent four hours on Gili Trawangan until we took the public boat to Gili Meno at 4:00 PM. However, the boat ride turned out to be very unpleasant due to high waves at that time, which were quite noticeable on a small boat.

We decided to spend three days on Gili Meno because we wanted to go snorkeling and desired some nature and tranquility after visiting Thailand and Bali. Our three days on Gili Meno were beautiful and unique. Firstly, we stayed in an eco-hostel that had compost toilets and saltwater showers. However, we slept in a bamboo treehouse and were woken up by the sun in the morning. Secondly, we rented snorkeling gear and went snorkeling during sunset and sunrise. During sunset, we were alone in the water and had an incredible experience observing a sea turtle in its natural habitat. This moment was truly magical, and our visit to the Gilis was worth it.

Unfortunately, our time on Gili Meno was not only filled with pleasant experiences, but also negative ones. Gili Meno is actually a beautiful island with a breathtaking view of Lombok and some stunning sandy beaches with coral reefs. However, this impression is tarnished by the amount of litter and plastic found on the beach and promenade. The amount of plastic shocked us, especially because it was just a few meters away from many animals, such as fish and sea turtles. Despite this proximity, many people on the island are not aware of the consequences of their actions. Lack of waste bins in Indonesia often leads to litter being thrown on the streets, and the garbage is not properly collected. Additionally, a significant amount of plastic is washed up on the islands.

The second reason our impression of Gili Meno was tarnished is due to the lack of organization in terms of tourism. We visited during the low season, and the island appeared deserted. Even during the high season, not many tourists visit Gili Meno because it is the smallest and least known of the three islands. However, people on the island keep building new accommodations for tourists. The problem is that they do not promote these accommodations to attract tourists, resulting in neglect and decay of the buildings. This also contributes to a negative impression.

My opinion of Gili Meno is mixed, and I cannot definitively say whether a trip there is recommendable. However, it is crucial to witness the consequences of uncontrolled plastic consumption.