Now I am very aware that I am behind on posts, so I’ve decided to kick myself up the bum and well here I am!
The next 30 days of this adventure saw a lot less airport time than the first 30, so this post will not include vast amounts of airport security, baggage weights or airport transfers which is always a bonus to be honest isn’t it? This thirty days wraps up the end of the Thailand leg of the journey and the whole of the time spent between Bali and Gili Trawangan (or Gili T). So let’s get into it...
The Grand Adventure: 11th March - 9th April: A Summary
Countries Visited: 3 (Thailand, Bali and Lombok)
KM travelled: 2930
Steps walked (when wearing my Fitbit, I’m not the best at remembering to charge it once it’s died if I’m honest): 329032
Photographs taken: 1390
Incredible Meals Consumed: At least 25
Close encounters with Monkeys: One too many!
Patong, Thailand: A Summary
The party side of the island of Phuket was our next destination, think bright lights, big hotels, very touristy beach, and abundance of seven elevens and questionable sex shows of an evening and you’re pretty much there! The heat here was absolutely next level, but Patong was the starting point for our day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, which was by far one of the most memorable days of the trip so far!
Patong,Thailand: The Highlights
- Spending the day with elephants at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary was incredible, getting to feed them and play with them was amazing and the whole experience really put me at a loss for words. It was crazy to not only get that close to an elephant but to hear their stories and have the staff talk about them was just something else. If you get the chance to visit one of the ethical sanctuaries in Thailand then please do. It’s worth every penny.
- Eating the most random things in seven eleven because we knew we weren’t going to see them again. Random sealed tuna sandwiches? Cheese toasties? Slurpees? Ice creams? Yeah all of that was consumed. And more, god seven eleven is brilliant!
- Staying in a hotel was also a treat for this leg of the trip. It actually worked out cheaper than a hostel and it was very nice to have a tv and room to myself, even if I did only just sleep on the same little bit of the bed for the entire time!
Bali, Indonesia:A Summary
A plane ride through Singapore Changi Airport (which is a full destination itself) got us to Bali airport later that evening. Our first stop in Bali was the holiday resort of Kuta, before moving to Seminyak and then Ubud before ferrying over to Gili T (but more on that part in its own section). Before returning to Ubud and doing the whole journey in reverse. Bali was utterly incredible, bright colours, a million instagram shot opportunities, rice terraces, traditional foods, insane weather and of course in true Brit style I have to comment on the rain storms, and man alive did we see some of those! Think thunder so loud it set off car alarms! Yes that violent! From half way through our four weeks in Bali we were told on a daily basis that “dry season is any day now”. I can’t really say that any day appeared while we were there!
Bali, Indonesia: The Highlights
Gili Trawangan, Lombok: A Summary
A 90 minute bus transfer followed by a 60 minute ferry and we were docking on Gili T. Docking is putting it quite mildly though as the boat just pulls up onto the sand, you climb out into the water and then walk the 5m to the beach before you take your bag off a guy carrying them off the boat. There’s a lot of building work and rubble on Gili T, there was a pretty devastating earthquake there in August 2018 and they’re slowly recovering. Gili T was surreal, white beaches, turquoise waters, wooden bungalows, great food and plenty of marine life too!
Gili Trawangan, Lombok: The Highlights
Bali, Indonesia: The Highlights
- Spending St Patrick’s day in Bali’s oldest Irish pub dancing the night away to a live band while eating free mini Irish themed desserts.
- Watching a spectacular sunset on Seminyak beach from La Plancha. The restaurant with the rainbow bean bags and umbrellas.
- Visiting Mrs Sippy beach club for the day, having never been to a beach club before it was such a relaxing day out, this was the night of the storm so ferocious it set off car alarms too. But luckily we were inside before that kicked off!
- Seeing all the instagram hot spots in real life and getting the most over the top ice cream going
- Spending over a week in Ubud. The markets, the food, the atmosphere, the rice terraces...just everything. I can’t quite put my finger on what it actually was but there is something very special about Ubud.
- Staying in a private villa for a few nights, enjoying a huge bed, an outdoor shower and a pool.
- Finding a full roast dinner, think chicken, roasters, Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese, carrots; oh it was good! I left that restaurant very very full indeed!
Gili Trawangan, Lombok: A Summary
A 90 minute bus transfer followed by a 60 minute ferry and we were docking on Gili T. Docking is putting it quite mildly though as the boat just pulls up onto the sand, you climb out into the water and then walk the 5m to the beach before you take your bag off a guy carrying them off the boat. There’s a lot of building work and rubble on Gili T, there was a pretty devastating earthquake there in August 2018 and they’re slowly recovering. Gili T was surreal, white beaches, turquoise waters, wooden bungalows, great food and plenty of marine life too!
Gili Trawangan, Lombok: The Highlights
- Snorkelling with turtles at Turtle Point was something I will never forget. To be stood in water that in some points isn’t even waist deep to look down and see a turtle swimming along is one of the most amazing things ever. We picked a spot on the beach with a good chair, got a cold can of sprite and hired a full snorkel and flipper set for about £3 a day. One of my favourite memories from this trip.
- Watching the sunset from the other side of the island. The colours of the sky were incredible!
- For an island recovering from an earthquake they had some top notch food joints. Kayu Cafe had great sandwiches and wraps but their chips were the thing that made the meal really stand out and the main one, the number one was Reginas. I don’t think I’ve ever had pasta that good.
- Taking a small, rocky boat over to Gili Air for the day. Air is stunning, even more so than Trawangan. If you want total bliss then this is the island to visit.
- Snorkelling the bio-rocks with the Gili Eco Trust. For a donation the trusts volunteers will take you out for a 35-40 minute snorkel over many of their bio rocks. While on this you’re taught about the structures themselves and the animals are pointed out. I got to see a moray eel, clownfish, pufferfish, a turtle and even a cool blue lobster!
That’s a very quick summary of my next 30 days, in the next summary it’s going to be Australia and no more south East Asia! I have loved every second of my time in South East Asia. Especially Bali. The people, the experiences, the food and the culture have made this Adventure next level, and I have a feeling I’ll be back at some point!
1 comments
Think I might follow in your footsteps......
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