Gili Trawangan.
It’s the wet season in Bali, which means the sea can be rough. I have a funny relationship with boat trips—they occasionally make me seasick. I think I need to start collecting my own statistics to figure out what my seasickness depends on. Is it the condition of the sea? The size of the boat? The season? Or maybe even my cycle? I can’t say for sure, because every time feels like a game of Russian roulette. This time, luck wasn’t on my side.
Gili Trawangan greeted us with its usual charm: no cars, no scooters, just bicycles and the clatter of horse carts echoing along sandy paths. It’s a place that somehow feels stuck in time, in the best way possible. It reminded me my home village so much that I almost felt nostalgic.
The island is small enough to cycle around in under an hour but packed with just enough quirks to make every corner feel like a discovery. I deeply regret that we only went for 2 nights and didn’t have time to explore it fully. (Already on my to do list for the next year.)
The vibe here is a mix of barefoot luxury and laid-back chaos. You can start your day sipping coconut water on a quiet beach, and by sunset, you’ll be in the middle of a reggae jam session, wondering if you accidentally joined a band. It’s not polished, but that’s what makes it perfect.
The scene that made my heart skip a beat. I stopped there, forgot how to breathe and took a million pictures. That same evening, I fully understood the quote: beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
On the way back to our villa, a random passerby warned us that the road ahead is really bad. I couldn’t figure out what he’s up to. I mean, an hour ago it was the most beautiful road I’ve ever cycled! I asked him: what happened? Has it got flooded after rain? He said: no, but there’s a swamp and it’s not nice for the eyes.
Well. a random passerby, beauty compatibility test failed. Bye.
Gili Trawangan, aka Gili T, is famous not only for it’s cystal-clear waters, marine life and surf spots, but also for so-called “magic shakes” that are made with psychedelic mushrooms, often mixed into fruit juices or smoothies. While they’re not exactly legal, they’ve become something of an underground staple for those looking to have a trippy island experience.
I have to say, I had a notion to try it when we booked our stay in Gili T. But I didn’t. I felt so good there without any mushrooms, that I decided it to leave this experience for the next time. My son, though, gave it try, hoping that it’ll save him from sunburn agony (it felt sooo nice chilling on the boat roof after coming to Bali from freezing Ireland! Fuck sunscreen). He wasn’t impressed.
Gili T, I loved you very much and I’ll definitely be back soon.
