Bali to Gili T

Left Bedbunkers Hostel in Bali at 7:00am, overall a friendly clean and cheap place with very cheap room rates.

 

After leaving the traffic and chaos of the Kuta end of Bali we enjoyed scenic views of rice terraces, volcano's, and lush greenery on the way to Padang Bai, roughly a 2 hour journey.

 

After breakfast and some waiting around we board the fast boat and are treated to volcano's more lush greenery and rice terraces before getting soaked on the roof if the ferry and retreating below deck.

 

Gunung Agung rimmed by cloud

 

 

Arriving in Lombok we pick up a few more passengers and 10 minutes later arrive in paradise (Gilli Trawangan).

 

The remainder of the day is spent lounging on beanbags on the beach, at the amazing café below:

 

 

Fast boat one way $22 (some people were paying triple this by ordering online)

Breakfast omelette and coffee $3
Room on Gilli T basic with 2 fans Queen bed, western toilet and shower $25

 

I stayed at No Name Homestay and highly recommend it, its just off the main road if you turn at the Yoga and Freediving place. Agus the manager is awesome on the guitar and can also source cheap mushrooms for you and makes an incredible shroom tea.

Dinner at market BBQ squid, chicken wing, stay chicken skewer, fried noodles, small Bintang (beer), small water $6.5
2 x large water $1

$57.5 for the day

Sydney to Bali

When somewhere has as many tourists as locals you know that your not going to take much away from the experience.

It has flashing lights, drinking, scams, sex trade, all the usual suspects are here. I fail to see the attraction for more than 3 nights. Prices are high, tourists are obnoxious and a lot of locals just want your money. I wish I was here 15 years ago. My advice head out of the Kuta, Legion, and Seminyak area ASAP.

Today's spend:
$35 on VIP airport clearance run by of duty airport guards. Definitely beat lining up for 1 hour.

$10 on a taxi that usually costs $5 but avoided a huge queue.

Lunch $1.90 chicken curry with rice and not enough chicken, free tea and salad.

5 Bintang beers $10

12 5 shot Roman candle fireworks $18 and 25 minutes of haggling.

$25 boat from Bali to Gilli Trawangan

Dinner $15 (ate in Kuta) BBQ shrimp and nasi goreng.

Considering breakfast and the taxi too the airport in Sydney cost $47 I did $150? For the day but have transport to Gilli T, breakfast in Sydney and NYE fireworks sorted I think I did OK.

Regards,
Ben
Sorry for the short message this was sent from my mobile.

Tools of the trade

This is an old post that has been updated on www.nomadsblogs.com

1 month till I leave, and here is a list of items that I will be taking:


New Trent IMP120D Portable battery

For charging phones/tablets/etc can charge my phone 5 times, or tablet once with this.

$100

Canon 60D SLR Camera, with a 18-135mm lens.
The lens has a wide range so sould handle everything and not require lens changing.
 $1600

 Samsung Galaxy S3.
For music and emergencies.
$600

CamelBack Rim Runner 25 Day Pack

Enough space for some food, wet weather gear, camera, and has a 3L hydration bladder built in.

$125

One Planet MacMillan Backpack

These are huge, waterproof, and built to last. 

$500

Jawbone Jambox portable speaker

This is tiny, has 14 hour battery life, and is loud enough to relax listen to when travelling around

 $250

Hennessy Hammock

This is more than a hammock can be set up in minutes, is waterproof, has a built in mosquito net, and weights 1.5kg 

 $200

Asus Transformer TF300

This has a 14 hour battery, is for updating this blog, and listening to music.

$550

Go Pro HD Hero 3

Awesome camera, waterproof, and shoots amazing video.

$550

Other items:

• Sunglasses (the ones you can buy cheap in Asia do not protect your eyes)
• Travel adapter and a 4 plug power board (easier than buying 4 adapters) $30
• Skins compression clothes for hiking or keeping warm $300
• Gortex japara for wet weather (free ex army issue)
• Compression stuff sacks for keeping things dry (if my bag leaks) and keeping dirty/clean clothes separate $120