Bali and Lombok

(The beach at Sengigi, dolphin watching at Lovina, one of the monkey militants, a monkey look-alike at sunrise on top of Rinajni).
The internet connection has not been great in Indonesia, but it's worse on the islands. Dave and I spent two nights in a place called Lovina on the north side of Bali. We were able to spend time out on the water with a group of dolphins at 6am. We have a good grip on getting up before the sun rises these days.

After Lovina, we struggled to make our way to Lombok on the Gili Islands. This is problematic due to the many ferry and bus trips you have to endure, while making sure not to get too ripped off by the locals. We only made it as far as Sengigi, where we survived for two nights. The beach is okay and for some reason there are more local people harrassing you than ever. Buy this, stay at my friend's hotel, "where you stay?", "you pretty, he handsome", eat at my friend's restaurant and anything else they could figure out to say. What made the place tolerable was the new friends we made, who frighteningly seem to understand us.

It was with these new friends that we decided to climb Mount Rinjani on the north side of the island. I can't say too much about it, but two days of hiking and camping while being attacked by monkeys in the middle of the night was an interesting experience. The rim of the crater was breathtaking and our bodies paid for every second of it.

Afterwards our entire group (with an addition of two Swiss fellows), made our way to Gili Trawangan. This place gives paradise a new name. It's still the low season, I'd hate to see what it's like in the busy tourist season. The water is so clear, the beach white, the diving is excellent, the people are friendly and no one harasses you. I never want to leave...but we are leaving soon to head back to Bali.