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| gili meno |
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| gili trawangan |
Just off the northwest coast of
Lombok is a vision of tropical paradise – a trio of tiny coral-fringed islands,
each with white sandy beaches and pellucid water teeming with a kaleidoscopic
array of reef fish. For years the islands of Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili
Trawangan were a budget-priced stopover for travellers on the Asian trail, but
recently, accommodation options have diversified and now there are luxury
villas and rustic chic bungalows dotted between the simple bambooand- thatch
huts for rent. Delightfully free of cars and motorcycles, the only traffic on
the Gilis is the tinkling cidomo (pony cart) and the odd bicycle. All three
islands have professional scuba diving centres, and the snorkelling is
excellent too. Each Gili has its own character and charm: Trawangan has a big
party scene and Meno is very mellow, with Gili Air falling somewhere between
the two in terms of atmosphere.
