Today promised a day of ultimate relaxation on the captivating beach island of Gili Trawangan. Rising as scheduled at 9 am, I kicked off the day with a leisurely breakfast. To my surprise, an impromptu beach party awaited me on the shores of Gili Trawangan. My plan was simple: bask in the sun and revive my neglected tan. Following a modest toast meal, I gathered my essentials – sunglasses, phone, earphones, and some money – and made my way to the beach. Opting for a beach bed in front of the charming Gili Cafe, I inquired about towels but learned they didn’t have any. No worries, though – I was content without one.
Island Drama and Seaside Shenanigans
On the beach, I reclined, alternating between sunbathing and refreshing swims. The water’s embrace captivated me, and I found pure joy in simply gazing at my surroundings. Directly in front of me lay Gili Meno, while Lombok graced the horizon on my right. The crystal-clear water enhanced the serenity of the scene. Since it was still early, the beach and sunbeds remained peacefully deserted. During my second venture into the water that morning, I spotted a lone girl nearby, armed with a camera.
She turned towards me and posed a question. Her voice, bearing the aftermath of a lively party the day before, sounded a bit strained: ‘Could you do me a favor and take a picture of me?’ I obliged, and she appeared satisfied with the result. Curious, she inquired about my origin, initiating our conversation in the water. Eva, a vivacious party-goer from Germany, was on the island with her friend Hanna. The previous night’s festivities had taken a sour turn, resulting in a disagreement between Eva and Hanna. Currently, Hanna was absent, nursing her annoyance. Reflecting on Eva’s explanation, I couldn’t help but think it was a typical disagreement between friends about nothing substantial.
I suggested to Eva that she extend an apology, allowing us all to enjoy lunch together, in good spirits. Eva, a confirmed party enthusiast, shared the intense details of her previous night, which explained her raspy voice. As our conversation unfolded, she gradually steered the topic towards tonight’s potential party plans, eventually convincing me to join her. Hanna, Eva’s friend, eventually joined us at the beach, though they maintained a noticeable distance from each other. Once again, I urged Eva to apologize, and she fortunately did, although not solely due to my encouragement. Later, Eva disclosed that they had to avoid each other until 7 pm, after which everything would supposedly be back to normal. I couldn’t help but be amused by their typical girly spat, haha.
A Walk Around Gili Trawangan
As the late afternoon rolled in, we decided to share dinner plans. We swapped numbers, opting to stay connected through WhatsApp. Parting ways with Eva, my eagerness to explore the island took over. Choosing a leisurely beach walk, I circled the island while Eva opted for a more laid-back approach. Bidding her farewell, I headed back to my room to secure my valuables.
The stroll turned out to be incredible, and I felt pleased with my choice to explore rather than stay put on the beach. Taking it slow, I aimed to catch the sunset, which could only be witnessed from the western side of Gili Trawangan. Although the area was devoid of many tourists, a few shared the same plan. There were moments of solitude, allowing me to fully relish this tranquil slice of paradise. The lack of tourists brought back memories of Pulau Weh. However, Gili Trawangan, even with its current absence of tourists on this side of the island, was a thousand times more developed in terms of tourism than Pulau Weh. Pulau Weh, being undiscovered, lacked the amenities like restaurants and bars found abundantly on Gili Trawangan.
After walking for about an hour to the other side of Gili Trawangan, I stumbled upon a gorgeous, lavish, yet deserted beach resort. Despite having already had lunch with Eva on the beach, I couldn’t resist the temptation. With 110,000 IDR still in my pocket, I decided to treat myself. The view of the sun from the resort was delightful, and the ambiance was perfectly serene. I ordered a chicken sandwich and a diet coke, relishing the moment as I gazed at the panoramic scene. From this vantage point, I could spot Bali, enveloped in clouds, leading to a playful, sarcastic thought: ‘It’s probably raining again in Amed.’ Thirty minutes later, I settled the bill and resumed my walk. Feeling a bit weary, I yearned to return to my room.
After ten minutes, the beach walk concluded, and I found myself back on a clear, steady pathway. The sight of Lombok in the distance confirmed I was in the southeastern part of the island. Another kilometer ahead, and I would return to the central area of Gili Trawangan. The leisurely walk around the island, including a slow pace, lunchtime, and numerous picture stops, spanned a total of two hours. Once back in my room, I took a rest and worked on some blog reports. The laptop purchase continued to be a bit of a hassle, prompting yet another round of communication with Kadek. What a journey, haha.
Barbecue Restaurant
At 9 pm, I rendezvoused with Eva outside her accommodation. We enjoyed a beer while waiting for her friend Hanna, who was engrossed in a Skype call with her boyfriend back in Germany. Eva shared that Hanna missed him a lot. I inquired about the current state of their friendship, and fortunately, they had reconciled after their earlier fight. Eva was excited about the upcoming party and mentioned meeting two guys on the beach who would be joining us. They turned out to be lifeguards, confirming my mental image of them as beach boys with impressive physiques and stylish attire. Moments later, my stereotyping humorously proved to be accurate, haha.
After fifteen minutes, Hanna emerged, and I extended my introduction. Hanna shared that she would be heading back to Germany next Monday due to missing her boyfriend. In contrast, Eva, being accustomed to solo travel, planned to continue her adventures and partying in Bali. They suggested taking me to a delightful barbecue restaurant they had dined at the previous night. Recommending the snapper, they spoke highly of its flavors. Initially considering lobster, I opted for the more budget-friendly snapper at around 70,000 IDR, which included a variety of salads and small potatoes. Although the salads were fantastic, the snapper turned out a bit overcooked, lacking its initial juiciness. Eva mentioned it had been much better the day before.
An Island Party
Following the barbecue, the night evolved into a lively party. Indeed, Gili Trawangan is renowned as a party island, offering a diverse array of experiences, from booze cruises and Full Moon parties to enchanting mushroom sessions. Our initial stop was the Irish pub, where we rendezvoused with the beach boys—a group hailing from the UK and working across the globe, with stints in Australia and the UK. They frequently reunited in Gili or Bali to share their adventures. These guys were friendly, and two of them showed particular interest in Hanna, engaging in constant conversation with her. Hanna, relishing the attention, seemed to enjoy the company, and I presume she didn’t bring up her boyfriend as the two beach boys stuck close to her throughout the night.
I had a fantastic time with Chris, one of the beach boys, who introduced me to a plethora of delicious cocktails. In just an hour, I found myself a bit tipsy, capturing numerous pictures of the lively party. The ambiance was electric—blaring music, disco lights, fire dancing, and a crowd of friendly faces.
Eva excitedly informed me about a booze cruise scheduled for tomorrow and successfully persuaded me to join. The party would unfold on a massive boat accommodating 300 people, featuring drinking games that promised everyone a tipsy time. According to Eva, the boat only set sail on Saturdays, making this my exclusive opportunity. The fixed price for the boat was 350,000 IDR, and Eva explained it was operated by an Australian company. Despite my initial reservations, she managed to break down my objections, and eventually, I gave in. I then took it upon myself to convince Chris, and in the end, I succeeded.
At around 2 am, Eva expressed the desire to head back to her bungalow, emphasizing the need to be in good shape for the following day. Hanna planned to purchase tickets around 10 am, assessing the weather conditions before deciding on their boat trip. I handed over my money to the girls, allowing them to buy a ticket for me as I intended to sleep in. The boat was scheduled to depart at 1 pm and return around 8 or 9 pm, contingent on the party atmosphere.
I purchased a large bottle of water and bid farewell to the girls. They promised to contact me via WhatsApp tomorrow regarding the tickets. With the world seemingly spinning around me, I collapsed into bed and, thanks to the influence of the night’s indulgence, swiftly drifted into a deep sleep.
