Travelling with Ishtar : Being an Islander for The Weekend

A holiday spent in an island, with sandy beach and a scorching bright sun above my head is never my choice in the first place. I thought I really love to be in a ruined city, with ancient temples or intricated palaces to be explored.

Until one day my friends came up with the idea of spending the weekend together with all of our family, bringing our husband and children along. And suddenly, we had the tickets in hand bound us to Lombok. Yet in another day, I booked myself in a 5 stars hotel that would cater my 2 night stays in Gili Trawangan, an island within 30 minutes on boat from Bangsal harbour in Lombok. Seems like there's no turning back from this plan. In the end, all my friends couldn't make the journey unfortunatelly, but I managed to do the trip at last. With a little modification, my trip was still pleasant and full of joy as it should be. Except for losing a Bobo Choses cap from SS15, thanks to my husband.

A week before the planned trip, with the help of my husband I made an itinerary for our short escapade. Nothing to be prepared except some beachwears, cozy sandals and sunscreen. No need for map he said, as Gili - T is a tiny speck of an island you can't be lost literally.

Gili Trawangan from the jetty

Unlike what is stated in most travel website, the shores along Gili Trawangan is divided into two types, the sandy beach in the eastern part of the island and the corally one, mostly in the western part. But you should not be too worried about this as you can easily go to the other part of the island with cidomo (a horse carriage), bicycle or on foot.


We spent our first night on a budget hostel with a sandy beach right in front and it was perfect as my daughter spent the whole morning chasing the waves, making sand castle and watching colorful boats come and go from nearby jetty. I found that all the boats harbouring in the sandy beach areas, so it's a bit exposed.

The view from your shade

Making sand castle with Pa

The next day we moved in to Ombak Sunset Resort, a 5 stars hotel in the western part of the Gili. We spent the whole day playing in the pool, literally IN THE POOL. It took her dad to get Ishtar out of the pool with her crying in tantrum all the way to our room. In the afternoon we did what we never did before, watching the sunset sitting and enjoying our drink, just like normal people do (yeah, if you know my husband, it will be weird seeing him in such environment, watching sunset with the house music playing out loud. Most often he spent the afternoon with his camera and gears hunting photos somewhere during the "golden hour" -,- )

Lush grenery at Ombak Sunset Resort

Sunset in panoramic view

Sunset watching from Ombak Sunset Resort

My big girl

The next morning we decided to bike along the coast and find a quite sandy beach for Ishtar to play again, as she protested at her dad the afternoon before, saying it was just water in front of us the time we watch the sunset not a beach. (Yes, the beach in front of Ombak Sunset is a coral beach. You definitely cannot swim or play on it, as it harsh on your feet). We got ourself back on the beach in front our first night hotel.
 

Me and Ishtar

Found a lot of Y-shaped coral reefs

After playing on the beach, we tempted to rent a canoe and boating ourselves to the sea. It was a rewarding experience. The water was crystal clear with numerous fishes and  coral reefs vary in shape, size and color. Ishtar was nervous at first, just like me and my husband as none of us is a capable swimmer. But it was a memorable one hour.


We're back from the beach feeling tired and exhausted from the sun, but Ishtar insisted on playing in the pool AGAIN. One thing I thank myself for booking us in this resort is the facility. Yes, their beach is not swimable, but they have 4 pools suit every age, the biggest in a deep pool, the second is the kid's pool and two other are jacuzzis. So you can do sun bathing, napping or whathever you please while your kid playing safely in the pool.

So our three days of escapades well spent in the Gili. Beach, poolsides, napping and repeat were our main agendas. Good for me and my husband to refresh ourself from the office, and good for Ishtar too as she learns alot about the island life, exercizing and tanned her skin a bit :)
Spending a holiday being an islander is never that bad, I'm so looking forward for another beach escapade ;)