Not much to say about Kuta Bali after being on Gili T and everyones been to Kuta anyway.
Picked up at 6.30 am in Poppies 1 by Eka jaya mini bus and the second I got in it reminded me of one of our many Thai trips from Bangkok we had done,went on the rounds of picking up passengers from different hotels with driver trying to squeeze luggage and backpacks in a space half the size needed,this was so familiar.
Pleasant hour and a bit drive to pedang Bai chatting to one British guy and four Slovakian back packers,didnt even notice the horrendous road works on the way at that time of the morning.
Arrived at Eka Jaya office pedang Bai to pay for tickets, i looked around at all the passengers with luggage and food sellers peddling anything they could and thought wow this is semi organized chaos same as the Thai trips :)
Eka Jaya had 2 speed boats at the pier one big that fitted about 40+++ and a smaller one that carried a lot less, We opted to hang back for the small one and sit at the back, this was a good move as the smaller boat wasnt full.(played a bit of an experience card here)
Took off slowly from the pier both boats almost simultaneously and after a while i thought this is quite pleasant as I waved goodbye to Pedang Bai.then all of a sudden it happened "Full Throttle" and B-Bang B-Bang B-Bang B-Bang,windows were closed nose up high, geez was i glad i sat at the back, at least i could see something even if it was only where i had just been and the other boat!
Now i know why there is so little footage on You tube of the fast crossing,you cant hold a camera to film it and all you would be able to film is sea spray and maybe vomit :)
An hour and a bit of B-Banging and many passengers with nervous smiles one eye on the life jackets and the two boats split,we went to Lombok first to drop off a few passengers and bigger boat with all the luggage went straight to Gili T.
Nice stop at Lombok pretty palm fringed beach crystal clear water,not sure where it was but looked nicer than my short visit to Senggigi in Feb, anyway it gave me a chance for a quick puff out the back and to hand out smokes to non smoking passenger who had just decided it was a good idea to take up the habit :)
Nice slower crossing to Gili T passing close to both Air and Meno with everyone feeling much better at the lower speed (heads spinning from nicotine rush)
Pulled into the beach at Gili T and wadded off the boat first to pick up luggage that was stacked on a beach full of tanned happy scantily clad people hanging around for their return trip but you could see nobody was in any hurry to leave.
Gloomy overcast on and off rain in Kuta to sunny blue skies and crystal clear seas of heaven in a few hours,well worth the trip i thought the moment i stepped off the boat into the warm water.
First impression as i stood on the beach next to cases with clean uncluttered beach scape of Gili Meno to my back almost spitting distance away was "This place is going to be fantastic" And it didnt disappoint :)
More when i get some time.