In Reply to: Lombok/Gilis Questions posted by Cracker and Rae on Tuesday, 31. July 2001 at 21:25 Bali Time:
Hey guys
Just back from Gili Trawangan (again) and your post had slipped so far down the list it would surely drop off soon. Therefore, I have replied with a fresh thread and I hope this helps your backpacker friends.
On transport, the slow ferry departs Padang Bai every 1 1/2 hours. The fare is Rp10,000 and it takes approx five hours (can be as much as nine but that is really unusual). It docks at Lembar in Lombok which is a most inconvenient place. From Lembar, take a bus or taxi to Bangsal (approx 2 hours) to pick up a public boat to Gili's. The Gili public boats leave when they are full. Alternative to waiting is to charter one for yourself which costs about RP 50,000 – 70,000.
One thing to understand at the moment is that Gilis are VERY busy. It really is peak season now with lots of young Europeans around. Inevitably prices go up at this time of the year. Yesterday for example, rooms on Gili-T which normally go for RP50,000 were being let at RP100,000 – simple case of supply and demand which changes almost daily. Impossible to make a booking in advance at anything but the swankiest places.
If staying on Gili Trawangan and looking for the very cheapest accomodation then forget the beachfront places. The cheaper places are up the small lanes which run perpendicular to the main beach road. Try going up the lane which house Trawangan Cottages and explore widely. You can find RP 20,000 – 30,000 places there.
On partying on Gili Trawangan – there is lots of misleading stuff published about this. The only real ‘House/Trance' party is on Mondays at Blue Marlin. Other places have parties on other nights but they are pretty subdued and certainly do not involve real sound systems. As far Rock N Roll goes.. nah not really but lots of the little cafes play the predictable Rock music.
Hope that helps a bit
PEACE:)