islands Archives - Splinter's Paradise

Day 58: Last day on Gili Trawangan

February 22, 2014

Today signified my final day on this island, filled with nothing but relaxation and delectable food on Gili Trawangan. I rose early to text Eva. She responded, sharing the news that the booze cruise had been canceled due to insufficient sign-ups. Mixed emotions filled me upon reading her message—I had eagerly anticipated the cruise, yet the prospect of returning to bed for a few more hours of sleep was enticing. Succumbing to the latter, I dozed off again and enjoyed an additional two hours of rest. Later, Eva messaged me, suggesting we rendezvous at the beach around 1 pm…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 57: A day at the beach and a party with zee Germans

February 21, 2014

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…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 56: Back in paradise, Gili Trawangan

February 20, 2014

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…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 36: Things to do in Padang

January 31, 2014

As planned, Halmi and I set out from Hotel Aliga at 9 am. The day held the promise of exploring Padang together. There’s plenty of things to do in Padang. Our first task was picking up my laundry, swiftly returning it to the hotel. I requested Halmi to wait by the pool while I stowed my clothes in my room. In no time, I treated him to the most expensive Coca-Cola on the menu (35000 IDR) and headed upstairs. Once my clothes were safely stored in my hotel room, I rejoined Halmi by the swimming pool. After capturing some final…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 21: The Pria Laot waterfall

January 16, 2014

Originally, I intended to have a laid-back day, but somehow found myself exploring the Pria Laot waterfall. I slept in until 10 am and then prepared for the day. My initial plan was to work on my tan by lounging on the beach in front of Freddie’s. However, when I went downstairs, I discovered they were still serving breakfast. The staff offered me a meal, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ As I’ve mentioned in my recent blog posts, I can’t help but emphasize how delicious the food has been during these days, and once again, it didn’t disappoint! Freddie’s culinary…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 20: Visiting the Jaboi Volcano

January 15, 2014

Started my day around 8 am. The plan for today involved exploring Jaboi Volcano, or the Jaboi Geothermal Spot, and later in the afternoon, unwinding at Santai Sumurtiga. Breakfast at Freddies turned out to be amazing. While I’m not usually a big breakfast eater, Freddie’s creations were fantastic—fruit, toast, various bread types, cereals, and an array of spreads. One highlight was the croque-monsieur with a delightful cooked egg salad inside. Just recalling it makes my mouth water, haha. Following breakfast, Erwin and I headed to the Jaboi Geothermal Spot, also recognized as the Jaboi Volcano. The journey, undertaken on…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 19: The arrival at Freddies Santai Sumurtiga

January 14, 2014

Today promised a stay at Freddies Santai Sumurtiga’s, a hidden gem—a unique accommodation in an off-the-beaten-path setting. Danny rose with the sun, embracing the tranquility of his morning prayer. Meanwhile, I enjoyed a leisurely sleep until 7:30, eager for the day ahead. Breakfast awaited me at the reception, a delightful spread of diverse Indonesian dishes. Although unsure of the specifics, each bite proved surprisingly delicious. To my amazement, there was also familiar comfort in the form of Western bread and Dutch chocolate sprinkles. Following breakfast, I joined Danny, a local I befriended the day before, on a trip…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 18: Four days of paradise on Pulau Weh

January 13, 2014

Today’s plan was to explore a hidden paradise destination: Pulau Weh or Sabang Island. Woke up early, had breakfast at the hotel—a plate with cold rice mixed with unidentified meat. The breakfast was enjoyable but exceptionally spicy. The cab driver arrived at 8:30 am. In just 15 minutes, he took me to the Ulee Lheue port, where many people stared and smiled at me as I exited the car. I initially thought yesterday’s encounters of people smiling at me and wanting to shake my hand were isolated incidents, but today proved otherwise. As I approached the queue near…

by Maarten

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Malaysia

Day 16: On the road with Emma Watson and Liam Neeson

January 11, 2014

Today, accompanied by Alex and Liam, our destination was Gunung Raya. However, in the afternoon, I needed to return to Penang. After waking up, I swiftly showered, packed my backpack, and collected my freshly laundered clothes from the diligent laundrywoman across the street. The clothes were not only clean and fragrant but also neatly ironed and meticulously wrapped in plastic—an unparalleled service for a mere 2 euros. Meanwhile, Alex and Liam were busy picking up their mopeds from the supermarket. Our plan entailed heading north to explore a national park that sees minimal tourist traffic. Today, the pleasure of…

by Maarten

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