Indonesia is beautiful, diverse and sometimes daunting,
At less than three km long and two km wide, Gili Trawangan is one of three small islands off the northeast coast of Indonesia’s Lombok Island; while ‘gili’, if you are interested, simply means ‘small island’ in Sasak, the language spoken by most people in Lombok.
Blessed with spectacular white beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs teeming with marine life, and picturesque silhouettes of Lombok’s Mount Rinjani mirrored on turquoise waters, Gili Trawangan is easily reached by speedboat from Lombok.
An exhilarating 15-minute ride gets your adrenalin pumping as you reach its shores and step back in time into an island that’s home to a mere 2,000 residents, with not a single car, bus or motorbike in sight.
In fact, all you will see are horses and carriages, bicycles and boats, which are the sole means of transport within and to the island.
Once there, you can dive into azure blue waters, snorkel, go canoeing or banana boating, play beach volleyball, ride a horse, go fishing or cycling: the “party island” as it is known locally is a paradise for those who love nature and water sports.
But even if you don’t dip a single toe into its alluring waters, Gili Trawangan offers an exquisite respite from the daily grind of the Gulf. Coming to the island in the midst of a hectic four-stop tour of Indonesia, I was more than content to do a Shirley Valentine and relax at the Hotel Vila Ombak, which was playing host to our group of journalists from the Gulf.
After a refreshing welcome drink accompanied by a cold towel to dab away the sweltering heat, we were escorted to our rooms or “hideways” which open out into a private backyard where one can bathe under the sun or stars! And though Gili Trawangan does not have much fresh water, the hotel thoughtfully provides “sweet” water in a pitcher to rinse the salt away once you’ve showered.
The hotel also has a spa which blends Indonesian and Western treatments while a diving academy and water sports hut are on hand for the more adventurous.
Eager to explore the island, I jumped onto a horse-drawn carriage called a cidomo for a bumpy tour which took all of 45 minutes, trundling though mostly virgin terrain before going on to look around the shops along the stretch near the hotel.
Gili Trawangan is also perfect for romance: the setting sun and a dappled sky streaked in pink and indigo created a magnificent backdrop for a wedding held under a canopy on the beach as fireworks lit up the night sky.
Indonesia is keen to attract more Middle East visitors to Lombok, which is predominantly Muslim. The island now has a new airport at Praya in the south and is seeking investors to develop the neighbouring region as a tourist destination.
Indonesia’s cultural diversity is proudly portrayed in its numerous museums in Jakarta, ranging from one that depicts Indonesia in miniature to a museum that displays the various gifts from foreign leaders to Suharto, who was the second president of Indonesia, to a martial arts museum and Bayt Al Quran, which houses a collection of old Korans.
Located to the southeast of the city, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park) lets you see the archipelago in one day, showcasing Indonesia’s 27 provinces and their outstanding characteristics, portrayed through the various architectural styles of each province.
The Cultural Museum is housed in an impressive replica of a temple in Bali and its highlights include a remarkable display of wedding outfits and an insight into the various traditional ceremonies.
No visit to Jakarta is complete without a trip to the National Monument, a gold-covered obelisk topped by a flame symbolising the nation’s independence, but be prepared for traffic snarls.
The highlight of my trip was undoubtedly Bali but a 90-minute delay on a 20-minute flight cruelly robbed me of the opportunity to see the island at an earthly hour. Nevertheless, I pampered myself at the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel, which lies bang opposite Kuta, one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches in Denpasar, the provincial capital and island’s largest city.
Located just 10 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, the Discovery Kartika Plaza also has the local market and entertainment within walking distance. As a guest of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MOTCE), I was allocated a beachfront villa which had two master bedrooms, a living room, kitchenette, private pool and 24-hour butler service.
With just three hours left after breakfast before we had to head for the airport, our ever-smiling guide Rihan let us indulge in acquiring tangible memories of Indonesia with a trip to a souvenir store before we settled down to an farewell meal of steamed rice in a banana leaf, roast chicken and fish served in the traditional basket.
Tourists to Indonesia should be prepared to take on the challenges of transportation, heat and humidity in their stride. Its airports are neither state of the art nor terribly efficient and if you intend to island-hop, leave plenty of leeway for delays. However, if you can overcome these hurdles, the country of emerald islands, turquoise beaches, clear skies and warm people is a diverse and exciting destination that will leave you enriched and wanting to return for more.
At less than three km long and two km wide, Gili Trawangan is one of three small islands off the northeast coast of Indonesia’s Lombok Island; while ‘gili’, if you are interested, simply means ‘small island’ in Sasak, the language spoken by most people in Lombok. Blessed with spectacular white beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs teeming with marine life, and picturesque silhouettes of Lombok’s Mount Rinjani mirrored on turquoise waters, Gili Trawangan is easily reached by speedboat from Lombok.
An exhilarating 15-minute ride gets your adrenalin pumping as you reach its shores and step back in time into an island that’s home to a mere 2,000 residents, with not a single car, bus or motorbike in sight.
In fact, all you will see are horses and carriages, bicycles and boats, which are the sole means of transport within and to the island.
Once there, you can dive into azure blue waters, snorkel, go canoeing or banana boating, play beach volleyball, ride a horse, go fishing or cycling: the “party island” as it is known locally is a paradise for those who love nature and water sports.
But even if you don’t dip a single toe into its alluring waters, Gili Trawangan offers an exquisite respite from the daily grind of the Gulf. Coming to the island in the midst of a hectic four-stop tour of Indonesia, I was more than content to do a Shirley Valentine and relax at the Hotel Vila Ombak, which was playing host to our group of journalists from the Gulf.
After a refreshing welcome drink accompanied by a cold towel to dab away the sweltering heat, we were escorted to our rooms or “hideways” which open out into a private backyard where one can bathe under the sun or stars! And though Gili Trawangan does not have much fresh water, the hotel thoughtfully provides “sweet” water in a pitcher to rinse the salt away once you’ve showered.
The hotel also has a spa which blends Indonesian and Western treatments while a diving academy and water sports hut are on hand for the more adventurous.
Eager to explore the island, I jumped onto a horse-drawn carriage called a cidomo for a bumpy tour which took all of 45 minutes, trundling though mostly virgin terrain before going on to look around the shops along the stretch near the hotel.
Gili Trawangan is also perfect for romance: the setting sun and a dappled sky streaked in pink and indigo created a magnificent backdrop for a wedding held under a canopy on the beach as fireworks lit up the night sky.
Indonesia is keen to attract more Middle East visitors to Lombok, which is predominantly Muslim. The island now has a new airport at Praya in the south and is seeking investors to develop the neighbouring region as a tourist destination.
Indonesia’s cultural diversity is proudly portrayed in its numerous museums in Jakarta, ranging from one that depicts Indonesia in miniature to a museum that displays the various gifts from foreign leaders to Suharto, who was the second president of Indonesia, to a martial arts museum and Bayt Al Quran, which houses a collection of old Korans.
Located to the southeast of the city, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park) lets you see the archipelago in one day, showcasing Indonesia’s 27 provinces and their outstanding characteristics, portrayed through the various architectural styles of each province.
The Cultural Museum is housed in an impressive replica of a temple in Bali and its highlights include a remarkable display of wedding outfits and an insight into the various traditional ceremonies.
No visit to Jakarta is complete without a trip to the National Monument, a gold-covered obelisk topped by a flame symbolising the nation’s independence, but be prepared for traffic snarls.
The highlight of my trip was undoubtedly Bali but a 90-minute delay on a 20-minute flight cruelly robbed me of the opportunity to see the island at an earthly hour. Nevertheless, I pampered myself at the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel, which lies bang opposite Kuta, one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches in Denpasar, the provincial capital and island’s largest city.
Located just 10 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, the Discovery Kartika Plaza also has the local market and entertainment within walking distance. As a guest of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MOTCE), I was allocated a beachfront villa which had two master bedrooms, a living room, kitchenette, private pool and 24-hour butler service.
With just three hours left after breakfast before we had to head for the airport, our ever-smiling guide Rihan let us indulge in acquiring tangible memories of Indonesia with a trip to a souvenir store before we settled down to an farewell meal of steamed rice in a banana leaf, roast chicken and fish served in the traditional basket.
Tourists to Indonesia should be prepared to take on the challenges of transportation, heat and humidity in their stride. Its airports are neither state of the art nor terribly efficient and if you intend to island-hop, leave plenty of leeway for delays. However, if you can overcome these hurdles, the country of emerald islands, turquoise beaches, clear skies and warm people is a diverse and exciting destination that will leave you enriched and wanting to return for more.
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