Welcome 2017 Entry + Backdated Vacation Post -: Gili Trawangan, Lombok - Indonesia :- Day 1

Aloha people!

I'm back to my blog after 7 months 2 days from the last entry.. hahaa.. 

Is already the 3rd mid months of  2 0 1 7 ! successfully wasted the 3 months? or you have painted your month with colors? hehee.. I guess mine was full with colors including those grey days -which is working dayssssss I mean over here.. Time really flies ~ Same line I'm repeating it over and over again in so many entries intro.. haha.. So many pending entries which I have no time to blog it out due to I'm always tired after work, I'm too lazy to edit the photos I'm having and etc etc.. But I decided to slowly blog it even though is back dated .. so that I can read it back when time pass by.. hehee.. My mind keep on thinking -can I stop working and go for holiday 24/7 but no kachingss kachings $$ how to go travel right.. Okay.. I shall skip all the mind talking in this entry .. 

Let's start strolling the mouse and bring back the vacay vacay mood !

If you would like to recall/ miss out the previous entry before the day we reach Lombok and would like to read it/glance through -- > click here (that entry also blogged so many months back in 2016) xD

-20th June 2016-

Early in the morning before the sun even rise, wash up and everything we are off to the KLIA2 to catch our flight at 8.40am.

Previously we were planning to park Anthony's car at sis house to save up the parking money at airport and also much safer however by comparing the price of taking Uber early in the morning go and back will cost more therefore Anthony decided to drive and park in the airport car park.. being the paranoid one worrying so much if there is anything bad will happen to his car when we are away to the vacay.. hahaa.. luckily we managed to get a spot near to the entrance and paying machine which really make us feel much better and not so worry =D double the win.. Capturing the parking number just in case we have too much fun during the vacay and forget where we park the car.

Okay, All set? Lets Go!

We reach KLIA2 about 7 plus; already so many people in the airport 

Everyone is busy pulling/pushing their luggage here and there. 

Four of us bring our own personal hand-carry, backpack and agreed to share one bigger luggage to check in therefore we dump everything which we can't put in our hand carry such as shampoo,sunblocks,aloe vera gel and more ~

and the longest queue goes to Air Asia ~

After checking in the luggage, we still have time before boarding.. was craving for roti bakar and eggs for breakfast, therefore, we headed to Old Town.. but seeing the price give me a mini heart attack.. so pricey lah.. and seeing our flight will be three hours flight and we did not order any onboard meal.. we straight order a heavy meal.. Heh... early in the morning. curry mee for me... haha.. and hong kong/Ipoh style noodles for L.Chen and Bf and Chicken/Char Siew Rice for Anthony. 

After our breakfast session.. walk around to digest a little and also search for slipper for bf as he forget to bring his flippers.. instead, he bring his Birkenstock.. apalah.. ended up at a sports shop in KLIA2 and manage to get a pair of slippers.. and off we go to the international departures hall. 

Lets movin movin to the scanning passport station.

See the excitement in our face =D hehe

*blogging this makes my brain/heart/soul travel back to the vacay-day*

1,2,3 give me a pose please people.

Hey Beautiful <3 ;

Need so cool ka guys?

Morning face saying hello to the camera.

hahaa.. okay it is obvious is not a candid.. but I still love it~ lalala~ 

Our flight for the day 

Kuala Lumpur ---> Lombok

AK 0308

*We managed to get the to-and-fro ticket for RM242.08 per person.

It is cheaper compared to normal time as we get the ticket when the free seating promotion is on..

Thanks to Anthony who managed to log in and get us the ticket...*

Wander not even ten minutes at the waiting hall P11,  we have to line up to let the air stewardess/steward to check our boarding pass already~

Walking down the walkway to onboard also so style aa boo .. 

*Am I the good photographer or you are a good model, hahaha, I guess is me having the good skill haha..*

I thought our flight will be not so packed.. see see the flight is like almost 95% full with passengers.

and here comes the nightmare .. since it is a free seating flight, we only managed to sit by pairs and we don't get to sit four altogether side by side or behind to each other row but to skip a row in between.. we are pack in between of mostly Indonesian who are travelling back to their hometown.. Not to say I stereotype/racist or whatsoever but the way they look at you is like one kind.. even you look at them back in order for them to turn their eyes or head away, however, they did not even bother to turn to other place but continue staring at you .Not only that, at one point the stewardess are distributing the declaration form for us to fill up .. since I can't fall asleep, I decided to take my pen out and fill up the card.. keep back the pen and literally cover my whole face with my cardigan and try to sleep.. suddenly one of the Indonesian guy tap on my hand and ask me for pen.. I was shocked who is tapping my hand and when I take down my cardigan.. the rows next to where I'm sitting (front and back rows) all the Indonesian guys are looking at me.. want to say no also cannot.. with the damp shirts odour and mixture of the plane smell make me so so so sick throughout the flight.. luckily I did not throw up.. imagine that you barely can breathe throughout the 3 hours journey in the sky.. some more forget to bring any oilment or sweets along to ease the uneasiness feeling throughout the journey .. really ruin my mood a little *Facts about me: when traveling by plane, I have to bring some mints or oilment with me like an old lady seriously hahaa, if not I will feel so uncomfortable, could be probably due to anxiety and the plane got one kind of smell which I hate* 

After the 3 hours of uneasiness, we finally touched down safely in 

Lombok International Airport, Indonesia.

Out from the plane feels so good seriously.. get to breathe in the fresh air and the blue blue sky 

with all the white cotton puffs in the sky.. Really a good weather welcoming us. 

My mood immediately changed!

see how nice is the weather- no edit okay!

After collecting our luggage, line up for customs checking.. really no rules one there.. everyone keep cutting our line or the guard is allowing them to cut Q..  some higher post guard saw that and ask them to queue back in line..after done with the customs checking.. we want to get a sim card as soon as possible in order for us to contact our driver which were recommend by boyfie's sister as she went to Lombok, Gili Trawangan a few months earlier before us.. *Is always good to ask people who went to the place before so that they can recommend us some good spot/things that we have to try or be aware off*

The airport is not really big though.. Once you walk out from the customs area, there is a few mobile phone service provider booth selling sim card package and we decided to get one for sharing and buy again if we manage to finish the data.. if I'm not wrong, we go with this 
IM3 ooredoo for RP49,000 for 6Gb data 

(1 MYR = RP3250)

After changing the sim card, immediately boyfiee WhatsApp and call our driver to ask where shall we meet him. He ask us to walk out from the airport gate then we can see him already. Walk out from the entrance of the airport only saw a big group of people keeps shouting already. *Don't be shock as there will be a lot of drivers showing you the way to their car..and some is holding the paper with written name..* hahaa.. four of us trying hard to spot for the driver and we don't even know how he looks like as we only see his photo at WhatsApp profile picture.. then till L.Chen spotted him holding boyf name in the paper and shouted "There! Our transporter".. the driver also laughs out when we spotted him as he just shows the paper with the written name awhile and put down already... 

Meet our driver - Taufik

Very friendly, pleasant and trust worthy driver

While walking to the car, in my mind was thinking please don't take an old van and fetch us as a few years back travel to Hatyai with friends, the driver fetches us in an old van, the seat is torn here and there and the air condition is not functioning that well . Luckily Mr Taufik fetch us with a good condition MPV car instead of sedan car and most importantly the seat is good and air condition is working fine as well =D

There are several ways to Gili Trawangan Island from Lombok: 

which is Shuttle boats, fast boat, public ferry or private speed boat

We have done our research as a lot of people say is better to book a trust worthy transporter rather than go till there and find. This allows you to save a lot of time and will prevent you from falling into traps of people trying to con your money. Luckily Taufik will also be the one arranging our speedboat ride from Lombok harbour to Gili Trawangan island. 

Loading our luggage into the car and heading to the harbour!

Thought from airport to the harbour is like within half an hour.

but we are wrong! absolutely wrong assumption!

is a 2 hours car ride! luckily Anthony books us the earliest flight from KL to Lombok.. if not we only will reach there by evening then wasted the whole day already.. 

Enjoy the beautiful view of Lombok, Indonesia~
Since is a two hours car ride journey to the harbour. Taufik did share to us there are a few places we should explore if we have extra time such as the
 Pink Beach or another name Tangsi Beach ; the waterfalls ; the Mount Rinjani and a few more places
Make us so hyped up. 

At this place, We are about 20 minutes away from the harbour and our driver, Taufik decided to drop by to let us capture some nice scenery photos. =) 

Please see the plants/water/sky colour.. is so so so so so so so NICE !!! 

So pumped up! Can't resist and we must have a selfie with this blue background! 

the sky starts to get a little cloudy already. awww...

but it still did not ruin our holiday mood. Hee...

so this baby says he took better picture compared to the one I take

okay la.. wider scenery view and I look smaller in size xDD

-Man in black-  

Continue our car journey to the harbour.

Once we reach the harbour, immediately we change our sports shoe to slippers! 
and hop onto the speed boat.

 the middle speedboat is the one which sends us to the opposite island --> Gili Trawangan

Using speed boat from the harbour to the island take up about approximately 10-20 minutes to reach

Indeed it is a speed boat.. very bumpy and fast... It could be probably due to the weather.. start drizzling already, therefore the one who driving the speed boat drive so so so fast!.. it seems like you gonna fall off from the boat. haha.. with the turning and the boat banging the wave so hard

I want to record the journey also cannot.. too bumpy and fast ; I'm worried about me dropping my phone into the sea then gone case la.. so better sit diam diam and enjoy the bumpy ride.. hahaaa..

Finally, we reach the island!
Our transport including 
the car ride from Lombok international airport to the harbour and 
including the private speedboat to Gili Trawangan Island.

RP195,000 per person = RM60 per person

After paying the total of RP780,000 RP800,000 for four of us
 and we say our goodbye ~ *a little tip for the good service provided =D he is so humble and want to give back the balance.. but we insist want him to keep it*
we have no idea where we are and where is our hotel located at.. so we ask around the people there and start to carry our own luggage and walk to find our hotel.. *Yes.. you did not read wrongly.. we walk with our luggage to find our hotel.. there are only two types  or maybe can say three types of transportation mode on the island, which is cycling, using the horse cart or electric bike* 
We thought "Aiya nevermind la.. walk la.. should be nearby only.." but walk and walk tak sampai sampai our hotel.. but the mood is really pumping in more when seeing Everyone there is already in beach attire, most of them are without any short or extra tops but only bikinis and for male is like only bottom and shade.. hahaa..  After walking for minutes and minutes, we finally manage to find our hotel located further inside a lorong rather than facing the happening street areas

For four days three nights at Gili Trawangan, Lombok we are staying at 
Gili Ocean Club 
Jl. Gili Trawangan, Gili Trawangan, West Nusa Tenggara 83352, Indonesia

Before that we did compare a few hotel and luckily boyfie sis advice that the hotel we want to book which is Oceano Jambuluk Resort is very far from the happening area and advise us to change .. luckily we change our mind and go for this Gili Ocean Club which is nearer to the happening street compare to the Ocean Jambuluk Resort.. We managed to get the two bedroom suite with one king size bed and two single bed for RP 5,673,750 = RM 1,745.77 through Booking.com 
I would say is really a good deal as we love the hotel so much.. the room and the bathroom is so so spacious !  


Unpacked ; get changed; Beach Mode on!

-the main entrance to our hotel -

once enter is our hotel room already.. we get the Room1 and Room2 which have interconnecting door between the two rooms : this is also what we requested in the additional comment during our booking..

Locking our room door

-Walk way from the main entrance to the small cafeteria and a small pool in our hotel-

This hotel only have 13 rooms so I guess if you would want to stay at this hotel during the peak season you might want to book it earlier ..besides, do you see the bicycles in the below picture? it is free for travelers who stay with them.. however the bicycle are limited if other travelers have took it, you will either have to wait till your turn to use it or rent it outside on the streets.. since is our first day of arrival we do not want to use it and we decided to walk around slowly explore.. 

After some snap snap around our hotel area.. we start to explore the island!

the view is perfect!

without wasting time everyone must have a sexy back photo xD

walk along the street and suddenly you can see pool by the street hahaa.. 

we stop by at Flush Bar to chill a little and have some local food after hours of travelling

the beautiful shades of umbrellas and beanbags

we decided to order two mains and drinks to share bcoz we want to try others later on

and while waiting for our food to be served, camera mode on!

Finally Food is served!

we ordered their local food :

Ayam Taliwang served with rice (RP 55,000 = RM16.90+)

Pad Thai served with prawn cracker (RP 45,000 = RM13.85+)

After the nom nom and chilling at Flush Bar we continue walking along the street.. mostly you can see AngMohs in the island.. haha I guess their currency change to Rupiahs they can literally spend like a king! in a small street like that there will a lot of people walk here and there, also cycling and horse cart ringing and you have to walk to side for them .. along the street you will find all kinds of shops like restaurant, pubs, bikini shops, hotel, motel, resort, cafe, mini mart, massage, spa shop and more .. can say is really like an entertainment island .. 

there are also few happening pubs down the happening street nearby the night market

some have live band, some have DJs and some they organize games like beer pong and etc

however all those we didnt go in because seems so crowded 

we end up at a pub/cafe with outdoor seating .. 

still remember at this place that we ordered with the waiter 3 small bintang radler and 1 big bintang 

but ended up he served us 1 small bintang radler, 2 small bintang beer and 1 big bintang beer

ask him to change but he insist he already open the cap and no refund can be make.. so nevermind lo..

(forget the price)

drinking while strolling the street. hehee

We reach the night market area.. most of the stalls are selling grill seafood and also their local food like bakso, nasi campur, fried rice/noodle.. the dining table all are occupied.. so we have no choice and cant eat.. L.Chen and I are attracted to this stall which sells nasi campur and also grill food..

we go for the nasi campur without rice.. and only take the dishes.. if not mistaken we take 3 dishes forget to capture the food photo and also forget about the price already haha.. but taste not bad

(roughly like RP35,000+ = RM10+)

continue strolling and spotted this signage .. 

Lick me till ICECREAM~ hahaaa.. damn creative huh?

a place for shisha lovers

among us majority don't shisha so we decided to go other place to chill 

walk pass this corn stall and decided to buy one and share..

One bite and the taste is unforgettable.

is so yummylicious! yes ! they don't know apply what kind of sauce and BBQ it.. 

so yummy.. miss this so much hehee

(if not mistaken around RP10,000+ or RP20,000+ = roughly RM3/4+ or even more.. forget already hahaa) if you got the chance to go there.. do try this out.. no joke.. is really NICE!

while enjoying the corn and strolling the night street.. one group of AngMohs - maybe can say owner of one of the pub/restaurant there is organizing a short clip night at the restaurant.. the organizer and crews of the pub/restaurant walking around the street and promoting their short clip and ask visitors to join them.. so since we haven't decide where to go.. we follow the crowd and watch the short clip at the restaurant.. hahaa.. the short clip is film by the crew and all is taken in Gili Trawangan.. can see that they really enjoy their life here ..  

see the crowds full the whole restaurant.. 

After done with the short movie clip, we proceed to find another spot to chill.

we ended up at a pub/cafe that serve Japanese/western and all sort of drinks either alcohol or non-alcohol.. again I forget the name of the shop hahaa... we choose to sit by the beach side..

Hello darling~

Enjoy the sea breeze , good music,  companion with a glass of drink thus a nice view of the moon..

Everything is so Perfect! 

*Please bring me back there again*

While walking back to our hotel which is far away from the happening night street, along the pub area.. you can see guys trying to court the girls which they just met there .. haha.. and walking nearer to our hotel which is more quiet area compared to the pub area, there will be local people try to sell you some "things".. a little scary though if you were travelling with girls only.. luckily we got two guys with us ..anyhow we just ignore them and they don't care about us as well.. haha.. 

We ended our first vacay night with two crepes 

Forget what flavor we actually ordered .. it should be either sugar cinnamon/honey/chocolate .. either these three flavors only hahaa

(Roughly about RP 30,000 or RP 35,000 = RM9+ or RM10+ for two)

Back to our beautiful room, clean up and jump straight to our bed.

Oh ya, before sleeping L.Chen and I actually walk to our hotel mini cafe area to ask the receptionist where is the best place to see sunrise tomorrow morning. Have a great short chat with the receptionist.. he even draw a simple map for us to let us have a clearer picture of the place he is referring to.. so nice of him.. 

I think that's all for this entry..

-To be continue-