Today marked my departure from Amed as I planned to take a ferry from Amed to Gili Trawangan, a paradise island near Bali. At 7 am, my alarm went off, and I woke up feeling refreshed. The bed was incredibly comfortable. I smoothly pulled down the mosquito net and expertly wrapped it up, reminiscing about the initial struggle on my first day in Sumatra. Back then, it took me a good 15 minutes to figure out how to fold the darn thing. Oh, how far I’ve come since those early days!
After packing up, I headed outside for breakfast and shared my plan with Kadek to catch the ferry. Kadek, my newfound local connection, assured me he could secure a better price for the ferry from Amed to Gili Trawangan, and I decided to test his claim at the boat. Intriguingly, Kadek later proved to be the most hospitable person I encountered in Indonesia that week, assisting me with various challenges. Trusting my intuition about people paid off. Kadek arranged a seat for me on the ferry, with a scheduled departure at 9:30 am. Having enjoyed my stay at Manis Homestay, I promptly booked another homestay, Gili Life Homestay, based on positive TripAdvisor reviews, for my time on Gili.
The Ferry from Amed to Gili
At 9:30 am, a car whisked me away. I expressed my gratitude to Kadek and his wonderful family, promising to leave a glowing review on TripAdvisor for them to discover later. Amusingly, the car journey covered a mere 20 meters to the beach—easily a walkable distance, but a quirky instance of Indonesian logic. To safeguard my backpack from any unexpected splashes, I ingeniously secured my flight bag around it.
Settling into the ferry from Amed to Gili Trawangan, I happily found two seats all to myself, though the boat was almost at full capacity with only a handful of empty seats. Prior to boarding, I had to jot down my passport number, name, and nationality—just in case, as a precaution for sea travel. The delightful weather prompted reflection on the contrasting past days; Amed had been marred by constant rainfall, with a solid four hours of rain both yesterday and the day before.
The high-speed ferry journey from Amed to Gili Trawangan was, unsurprisingly, swift and comfortable. In just one hour, we enjoyed a splendid view of Gili Trawangan, and I seized the opportunity to capture images of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and the distant silhouette of Lombok.
From Negotiations to Strolls
Upon reaching the destination, I patiently waited for a few fellow passengers to disembark before making my exit. As soon as my feet touched the sandy shore, I found myself immediately approached by individuals offering transport services, all quoting a fixed rate of 50,000 IDR to take me to my accommodation. Despite attempting to negotiate with three different people, I conceded when they insisted prices were non-negotiable. Opting for a stroll instead, I discovered that the place was just a 10 or 15-minute walk from the point of arrival, confirming my intuition moments later.
Despite needing to ask for directions multiple times, I reached my destination in 15 minutes. In hindsight, had I known the way, it likely would have taken me just 5 minutes. I was relieved not to have spent 50,000 IDR on transportation. My homestay was conveniently located 100 meters from the main road and beach. Nestled in a neighborhood bustling with locals, chickens roamed freely, residents enjoyed the outdoors, and children played in the lively surroundings. Life felt vibrant and good.
Arrival at the Homestay
Gili Life Homestay provided a generously spacious room with a cozy bed, impeccably clean surroundings, and highly efficient air conditioning. Around 1 pm, I headed to the beach for lunch, only to find that all the menus were considerably pricier than those in Bali, which I had already considered expensive compared to Sumatra and Java. Opting to shed my thrifty Dutch mindset, I made a personal commitment to refrain from complaining about prices. The next country on my itinerary would be one of austerity and cutbacks.
Heading back to the main road, I revisited the harbor and captured some snapshots of the picturesque surroundings. The main road, a broad dirt path, showcased the unique charm of Gili Trawangan—devoid of any motorized traffic. Here, the sole modes of transport were bicycles and horse-drawn taxis, creating a nostalgic ambiance reminiscent of the 16th century, albeit with a much more relaxed atmosphere.
Lunch Time
Ultimately, I settled on a charming beach-bar conveniently situated near my homestay. Seated there, I placed an order for some food and a refreshing coke. The serene atmosphere and crystal-clear water, akin to a swimming pool, brought back fond memories of Ibioh, Sabang/Pulau Weh—an island I cherished for its untouched beauty. In contrast, Gili was teeming with restaurants, sizable villas, hotels, and bungalows. Initially, I was a bit resistant to this bustling scene, but over time, I warmed up to Gili. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as overrun by tourists as I had initially anticipated, making my stay more enjoyable.
Arranging Travel Plans
Post-lunch, I strolled along the main street and explored the beaches, capturing more picturesque moments. After an hour, I headed back to my homestay and took care of some tasks online. I noticed an email from Kadek, who provided details about transportation from Amed to Jimbaran. Situated in southern Bali, near Kuta and Denpasar, Jimbaran was my next destination.
My plan was to visit Jimbaran before delving into Kuta and Ubud. Originally, I intended to journey from Gili Trawangan to Denpasar by boat, but a prior commitment to purchase a laptop in a local village an hour away from Amed altered my course. Consequently, I had to backtrack to Amed on the east coast of Bali and then embark on a 3-hour drive to Jimbaran. Kadek informed me that a shuttle bus wasn’t available in the afternoon, and he had arranged private transport, which came with a price tag of around 600,000. Although I wasn’t thrilled about the expense, it was a necessary step in my travel plans.
An hour later, Kadek sent me another email expressing gratitude for my TripAdvisor review. He mentioned that it meant a lot to his family. To show appreciation, he proposed gathering other tourists to share a taxi, reducing the cost for me to 250,000 IDR. Excitedly, I thanked him and accepted the offer. I also expressed gratitude for his call to the Smile Computers girl, as he had arranged for her to come to Amed around 1 pm, coinciding with my expected return. Kadek’s confirmation in the subsequent email left me feeling euphoric, reassured that everything was aligning perfectly as planned.
Snorkeling Trials and Upcoming Leisure Delights
Later in the afternoon, I ventured out from the homestay and opted to rent a snorkel set from the beach. Eager to explore the clear waters, I observed beautiful coral and fish for about 30 minutes. However, the ill-fitting snorkel set led to water leakage, causing some discomfort. I returned the set and decided to call it a day. In the evening, I unwound in my room, catching up on blog reports, enjoying music, and chatting with friends. I finalized plans to hang out with Helmi in Jimbaran in a few days, eagerly anticipating our meeting scheduled for the 23rd of February.
That evening, I retired to bed quite late, around 11:30 pm, but the timing was inconsequential. I had made a firm decision to spend the next day lounging on the beach and indulging in pure relaxation—sunbathing, napping, and perhaps a bit of swimming. The only agenda was to explore one of the numerous snorkel and diving trips offered on the island. Setting my alarm for 9 am, I eagerly anticipated a day of leisure ahead.
