‘The Gili Islands, NO cars ! NO motorbikes ! NO worries. . . . !

Arcing away from the northwest corner of Lombok, are three idyllic atolls, where the sand is still powdery white, the water a clear sparkling turquoise, and the sunsets over Bali’s volcano Mt. Agung in the west simply spectacular.’

http://www.gili-paradise.com/

We loved the feel of Gili Air the moment we arrived. It was so nice to be somewhere peaceful without touts and car horns. The views were pretty spectacular as well.

With no motorised transport, horse drawn carriages called cidomos were very popular with locals and unsuspecting tourists!

We spent our first four nights at Biba Beach Resort run by two cat loving Italians.

“Would you like to check in?”

“No, I’ll just sleep here thanks!”

The weather got a little wild and we had to sit right at the back of their amazing wood fire pizza restaurant.

A friend joined us for breakfast!

We found a great spot for a cappuccino. They were a lot cheaper than the cat-poo-cinno (local slang for a coffee made from Kopi Lewak beans) Nick tried in Ubud.

The view from Scallywags, our coffee spot.

One of the days we were there the Mandi Sapar bathing ritual was performed where the whole village came down to the beach to cast away bad luck from the island. This is not an Islamic festival or even Sewak but was bought to the island by Sulawesi’s Bugis people, believed to be the first inhabitants on the islands.

We hired bikes and enjoyed exploring the island.

Do you want to buy a bracelet?

We started our 8 day True Nature Yoga and Meditation Retreat at H2O Yoga. We loved every minute of it and would recommend the centre to all.

The gorgeous yoga circle

Have you ever watched kids on a merry go round?

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into fading night?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast.

Time is short the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask “how are you?,” do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed?

With the next 100 chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast.

Time is short the music won’t last.

Ever told a child, we’ll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste, not seen his/her sorrow?

Ever lost touch and let a friendship die?

Because you never had time to call and say hi.

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast.

Time is short the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life is not a race

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

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