Day Trip To Gili Trawangan
We booked this day trip through Airbnb Experiences.
The day started with a 5:00am wake up call and shuttle to the Padangbai Harbor. Sleepy and trying to prep for the possibility of motion/sea sickness, we ate some protein bars, drank some water, and took some dramamine.
Waiting a bit for the departure time, we took in the sights and sounds of tourists and locals alike, waiting for the same fast boat that we were.
The boat we took made a few stops at the surrounding Islands. Gili Meno, Gili Air.
We arrived at Gili T close to 11am. As we pulled up to disembark, there were folks around us dragging luggage off the boat as they were staying on the island for longer than a day. Within the first 5 minutes of being here, it was clear why.
Firstly, what a contrast from the hustle and bustle of Bali! Gili T was tranquil, so quiet and just felt easy. It was truly as if we had stepped into my dream paradise. The water was light blue, iridescent, and calm. The sand was white, and warm, and soft, and most excitingly, the beach was not in one bit crowded.
Why was this just a day trip again!?!
We met up with our guide who gave us our itinerary! We would snorkel, rent bicycles, and spend the rest of our time at Pondok Santi Estate, where we would have lunch and some beach time. The cost of the activities, food, and bicycle rentals, were all included in the Airbnb Experience price!
We boarded another, albeit a lot smaller, boat to head out for a snorkel. The boat had a clear bottom to see through to that unclouded, and absolutely gorgeous water!
We could see the fish through the boat! But we got out and swam around a bit. The sun was shining and the water felt great! We were taken to an area of the snorkel with underwater statues! What?! There were a good number of people out there with their GoPros getting some good footage around the statues. I feel like everyone did a great job taking turns so that we all got a chance to get some cool pictures!
Hurray for being polite AF!
Bicycle time!! Ha.. it had been awhile, but it was just like…. Riding a bike…. Not going to lie though, anytime a horse buggy came by I was a bit afraid that I would steer my bike right into one… not a great driver :)... but I did alright! We made it to the Pondok Santi Estate for lunch and I was ready to move in.
Talk about stunning! The atmosphere and vibes were on point! We got to enjoy some tasty food in a daybed by the pool. I felt like a serious VIP.
Feeling all fat and sassy, it was time to do what I do best… go lay down somewhere. Get in that hammock and reflect. What a day, what an island, what amazing people, and food, and that beach… I mean…
It is in those times where I truly like to be present. Tap into my senses, smell and taste the salty air, hear the sounds of the waves and the horse buggies, take actual, as well as mental, pictures, feel the sand under my feet, and just be. These moments are ideal for expressing gratitude, obviously for being able to visit such a magical place, but also for going deeper than that. It is a sort of meditation, sometimes we talk about it, and sometimes it is processed in silence.
When we are reminded that we are on a schedule and need to catch our boat back to Bali, we hop back on the bikes to get to the boat. It is in the time on the transport back where I will typically go to the notes app on my phone and write down anything that I do not want to forget about these experiences, and then I usually fall asleep until we get back to the hotel… a girl’s gotta get a nap in!