Trawangan and Air

January 1 was crazy in Kuta. One of the public  holidays Indonesians get is January 1, and it seems they like to spend it at the beach. A line of cars and bikes started to stream past the hotel at 7 in the morning and was constant until past 7 at night when they were all returning.

It poured down with rain all day on the 2nd as we were driven by Eddie up to Bangsal Harbour to catch the public ferry to Trawangan.

The port at Trawangan was packed with tourists and their suitcases as they all prepared to leave the island and return to work (mostly Europeans).

We spent the night at Pondok Windy with 6 or 7 Dutch young things as heighbours. They partied well into the morning, finally petering out around 5:30 as the mosque call started up.

We decided to island hop to Gili Air the next morning but were somewhat tardy in heading out in the morning. The public ferry left at 9:30 (3,000 IDR per person, about $3). We got there at 9:45. The next public boat was at 4:00pm. We had no choice, CHARTERRRRR. 3,750,000 IDR (about $35) lighter and a short boat trip later we were on Air and settled into Pelangi Cottages.

The sun shined all day, so we had a few swims and a circumnavigation of the island (two islands in two days) before watching the sunset with a cocktail and then dinner.

We are up early for breakfast with a view at low tide of an exposed reef. Another day in paradise ahead.