Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thrylos]

Has anyone been there recently? They look really nice and laid back from what info I can find. From the pictures, they remind me of Ko Lipe/Turatao in Thailand. Any similarities?

Thinking about 15 days or so on the 3 islands with a week or so in Bali in December or January. Is it worth it? Any recommendations/places to avoid? Looking primarily for laid back beach bumming, that's why they look ideal. Thanks.

[Kurtz]

Here's a blog I found

http://tezzasthaiinfo.blogspot.com/2007/07/some-info-on-gili-islands.html

Hope to go to Lombok and maybe Gili Islands next year.

[winaniw]

I was there last year.
Meno and Air are lovely and quiet.

Gili Trawangan was way too crazy and crowded for my tastes, but if I'd gone with friends I'm sure I would have had more fun. A day on Gili T looks a bit like this:
12pm wake up.
1pm lie on the beach talking to young-dumb-but-pretty tourists.
4pm snorkel.
6pm eat dinner while lounging in cushioned gazebo on the beach. plenty of western food to be had.
9pm drink yourself giddy.
12am dance in the bar. dance on the bar.
3am build a bonfire on the beach.
4am find a restaurant, order fettucine alfredo
5am go swimming in one of the resort pools.
5:30am *beep* a young-dumb-but-pretty tourist on one of the red futons that litter the beach.
6am fall asleep together on a beach chair, watching the sunrise.

So it wasn't all bad.

If you head to Bali, you'll want to avoid Kuta. It's a carnival of consumption. I was stuck in Kuta for three weeks and even though I had a lot of fun, I felt like it was a waste of my time. There are plenty of other places on Bali that are quite lovely, although they're all fairly well-touristed.

Lombok has the least friendly and most predatory locals in Indonesia, but it is a surfer's paradise.

If I were you, I'd relax at the Gilis for a few days and then fly to Flores. You can charter cheap boats to take you to deserted islands a few minutes from Labuan Bajo or Riung. These islands are way prettier than the Gilis, and the travelers you'll meet in Flores are fantastic (more world travelers and fewer spring-breakers). The natives are also much friendlier, extremely hospitable, and disinclined to rip you off. The month I spent on Flores was one of the best months of my life.
Riung, Flores:
http://i46.tinypic.com/2s8fz9k.jpg
More Riung:
http://i49.tinypic.com/euodvb.jpg
Labuan Bajo, Flores:
http://i49.tinypic.com/15d9vg8.jpg
More Labuan Bajo:
http://i48.tinypic.com/2l3sw4.jpg
Ruteng, Flores:
http://i46.tinypic.com/1z2j3ag.jpg
Why you should make friends with Bali expats:
http://i48.tinypic.com/28suj3b.jpg

[northway]

Gorgeous beaches, no-risk mushroom shakes on the beach. Got the worst food poisoning in my life from the Irish joint there, I was sick for a week (and had to fly to Singapore during that time). Awesome if you're into diving (or drugs, it would seem, as there are no police there). I was there alone and I didn't have the greatest time, but it was the nicest island I've ever been to, Southeast Asian or otherwise.