Bali Tourism News

Diving in the Gili Islands overview

The Gili Islands are never going to win any prizes for the quality of marine life, ask anyone in the diving business. If you are looking for spectacular diving, go to Manado in Sulawesi, Komodo, Ambon, or West Papua (Irian Jaya).

Still, there are dive operators on all 3 Gili Islands, and there is a developed industry there, with well known dive spots and plenty of supporting infrastructure as far as transport, hotels and food places.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment November 1st, 2006

Dangers and annoyances in the Gili Islands / Lombok

Exploring the Gili Islands and Lombok myself, first solo on a motorbike, and secondly, with friends in Gili Trawangan, I experienced no dangerous or annoyoying situations. I found the people in the Gili’s / Lombok, to be reserved, respectful and the place in general to be quiet and laid back. Bali is way more in your face, and 10 times times as busy, with people hanging out,
watching what you are doing etc.

There are dangers in the Gili’s / Lombok, however and they are worth pointing out.

•Sexual harrassment - some solo female travelers have reported harrassment in the Gili’s, which on occassion can get nasty. No one approched me, but then I’m an ugly old white guy, some hopes!

•Strong currents - although there is no big surf hitting the Gili Islands, there are strong currents. It makes sense to get a group of people together and hire a boat for snorkeling, instead of heading out from the beach by yourself. There are no lifeguards in the Gili’s. Some people have tried to swim from one island to another and have drowned in the process. Don’t try this, the Lombok Strait is 1300 meters deep and has enormously strong current.

•Theft - I stayed in cheap guest houses in Senggigi, Kuta Lombok and on Gili Trawangan, and never had any problems.

Occassionally travelers report a theft. If this happens to yoy, contact the local community representative, as there are no police in the Gili’s. On the rest of Lombok the police telephone number is 110.

•Robbery - Some surfers in the Ekas area of south Lombok and trekkers, in the Rinjani area, have in the past reported getting robbed. Staying in a group helps prevent this.

•Malaria - I hear stories all the time of westerners getting malaria in Lombok, particularly surfers down at Desert Point. The reasons for this i’m not entirley sure of, but one guy said to me that maybe the geography contributes. When you have steep cliffs dropping towards the coast, water pours down them and collects at the bottom, rather than forming rivers, like in Bali. Maybe that is part of the problem. I know in Lombok very steep cliffs often occur, close to the coast. Consult your doctor before going to Lombok.

•Medical emergencies - there is no ambulance service outside of Senggigi and Mataram. You will have to arrange your own transport. For major medical emergencies, there are hospitals in Selong and Praya, and a better one in Mataram. There are also direct flights to Singapore (flight time 2 hours 40 minutes).

Generally speaking, Lombok and the Gili’s are safe as long as you use your head and don’t do stupid things.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment November 1st, 2006

Boats in Lombok & the Gili Islands

Herre is a quick glance at boat transport in Lombok & the Gili Islands.

Bangsal to :-
•Gili Islands (multiple times daily, 20-45, depending on which island)

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment November 1st, 2006

Travel times in the Gili islands- Perama bus

Here are the Perama bus times in Lombok.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment November 1st, 2006

Running into AJ Hackett in Seminyak Bali

This afternoon after I finished working out at Seaside gym, I dragged my sorry ass over to Blue Ocean restaurant, 2 doors down, for a cool down drink. I got a beetroot, carrot ginger, to cleanse the blood.

While there I saw a couple of familiar faces, bungy jumping creator, AJ Hackett and his local manager Adam. A couple of years ago AJ accompanied me up to the top of his tower for my 1st bungy jump. He took a photo of me with my camera, heading off of the platform.

AJ told me he had been in Bali for just 3 hours (jetsetter) and was setting up a place in KL. Adam asked me how Jevon was, and I asked what the age requirement was for kids bungy jumping. Adam grinned and said “Well you know, its Indonesia, he can jump with you.” Who knows, that might be fun for the little bugger.

AJ and Adam are great guys, and if you are in Bali, consider having the thrill of your life at AJ Hackett’s, at the end of Jl. Double Six.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment November 1st, 2006