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We landed late in Indonesia then took a taxi to a hostel that we had quickly booked only a few hours prior to our arrival. The hostel, let's say was a little different. This was my first experience of 'dorm' rooms and when we rocked up, being confronted with a mixed dorm of 15, 3 storey high bunk beds, obviously as late comers we were up in the heavens. Our beds were about 4 meters high, made to measure with the ceiling height. It was kind of 'ah I need the toilet but am not in a million years climbing down that ladder again' height. But we had to spend 2 nights there so we soon got used to it. My first day spent in Indonesia was in Kuta we got taken on motorbikes to Kuta beach for some surfing. This was amazing! Apart from being abused by my board and ending up with a lot of grazes on my belly I was taught well by Sierra and I think I picked it up quite well…I even stood up! That evening Sushi was craved so we rocked up to this uba posh (we didn't realise), but not too expensive sushi restaurant which had been recommended to us, still dressed for the beach and feeling quite out of place. The food however was stunning and we soon forgot that we probably looked like sunburnt tramps.
To get to Gili T we caught a bus to the port and then a speedboat. I've never had the experience of feeling like I was going to die, but this was my first. It was the fastest boat there was to take us to the island (one hour) and with the seas being the 'roughest they had ever seen' it was not a smooth ride. It was like sitting on a trampoline whilst someone's jumping on it, only with about ten people behind you being sick continuously and water leaking through the windows. The boat felt like it was going to tip with every tummy turning wave bounce we made. Our first Bintang on the beach was definitely needed when we got to the island! It was lovely to have a change in 'going out' surroundings and our first night out on the island was spent with live reggae music, some kiwi's and crazy locals. The days were mainly spent by the beach, except one day when we went on a day trip to Gili Air (another island). This was stunning, hardly anybody there and crystal clear waters. Being fatties that day we missed our boat back to Gili T and had to hire a private one, which made the huge vegetable kebab we ate, an unforgettable one ha! We were not however just being beach bums for 6 days; two of them were spent gaining our advanced open water PADI license with a great crew of dive instructors (some more professional than others). We did 5 dives and the best by far was the night one! Walking into the sea, with the full moon lighting the way (it was actually the eclipse when we were under the water) with nothing but a touch light and our scuba equipment. It was definitely an experience. It was a strange sensation only being able to see what was in the spot light; and when we all turned them off the sight of the glowing plankton that surrounded us was truly beautiful. The only trouble we had during that dive was that Sierra and I finished up in the wrong area. We had somehow, with another dive master, lost the path of the dive master we were meant to be following due to being surrounded by sea anemones. Not wanting to be stung we headed for shore. Now when I mentioned that some instructors were more professional than others it was because one of them decided to remove our BCD/air monitors 12 meters under and tried to make out with us. Something which had to be mentioned but something I would quite like to forget. Nonetheless we completed the course and they said if I stayed there for 2 months with them I would be able to get my dive master qualification….I was soo tempted but I'll have to save that for another time. We NEVER had a quiet night in on the island, even when we said we would during our diving, we didn't. One of our lasts nights out was celebrated by a 'full moon party' on the beach. It was crazy! I also somehow, on my somewhat drunken walk to the party, spotted Ross and Alice which was fab but certainly weird seeing people from home. So what was Gili T like? We generally got up to the smell of weed smoked by the guys who ran the bungalows and the waft of smoke which seemed to be standard on the island. The beaches were stunning with crystal clear waters and the dirt track roads consisted of bikes and horse and carts. The sunset in the evening vanished under the waters, watched whilst on the sandy beach with a drink in hand. Mushrooms were legal here with 'shrooms sold here' signs on shop front windows but it wasn't the crazy druggy place I had imagined from what I had been told. You could get away from the party scene is you wished, and you could love life, just as we did, without the rubbish which they offer you. It's a very small island so you quickly get to know and recognise people, definitely not one for the players out there! It was a very relaxing time and it's an island I would definitely want to go back to.
Mad, completely mad! Fake Nikes and my 'warm clothing' consisting of a sweatshirt and ginis; I think all this travelling must have had a crazy effect on me! So the three day Rinjani Trekking Package lead us to climb up the Summit of Mount Rinjani which was 3.726 M. This was our main goal (phaaa actually mine was to make the first hour ha). The first day was a shock to the system. I swear I was sweating out bingtang from the amount I drank on the Gilis! But with the motif of 'that fat ass aint gonna get you anywhere' it was onwards and upwards! I chucked the fake Nikes away owing to them being soooo uncomfortable. I was worried that I would end up getting hugggeee blisters which would have made the other days hell, and opted for flip-flops, also a very crazy moment! I got some looks but then the porters (local guys carrying food and tents were in them too so I thought why not). We spent the night at the crater rim, which I never thought I would make, called Sembalun….7 hours down and a lot more to go! Here we enjoyed the amazing sunset above the clouds while eating a rice dish. We were up bright and early the next day, not early enough to see the sunrise (the heat in our sleeping bags was more inviting at this point) and trekked on to Lake of Segara Anak, where we had lunch and swam in the hot springs (I definitely needed this due to the previous day of sweating and not showering). We then trekked on to our next camp spot. The sheer incline and with my quads half failing this was tough and to be honest at this point I did think they could quite happily leave me on the cliff! 4 hours down and a very early night was needed. We reached 3.500m which was as near to the summit as we were going to get owing to the -6 degrees temperature and the sheer height and difficulty of it! Climbing on soft volcanic rock, trousers around my head, Beyoncé and Florence playing in my iPod to help me at 3am in the dark with only a torch light; words cannot begin to describe! I think, honestly, this was the hardest, both mentally and physically, thing that I've ever had to do! EVER! I was literally on my bum the whole time coming down-the bruises are not pretty….and the blisters are even worse (not to mention a fungal infection I now have on my big toe, whoop!) I thought silver DofE was hard; this made that look easy! The sheer cold temperatures (-6) with the sheer heat (+35) was intense. The 10 hours on day three was an emotional killer and I thought my body was going to break. Definitely an achievement I will never forget and one that I'm overly proud of, but one that I probably won't do again unless I have a crazy moment again.
x
- comments
Mon Looking forward to more crazy moments. You go girl!
doreen Wonderful experience What breathtaking views with wonderful sunsets, shame you missed the sunrise, but your sleep was important! Pleased to see you wore the fleece! sham about the flip flops! Lovely adventure, but pleased you are back down. love N & G xx
Dad Beth, you'll be nicely warmed up and ready for a trek around the Brecon Beacons with the lads next year then. You'll have to practice a bit more with the real ale 'though! Well done, great memories xxxx Dad