06-05-09

Another snorkelling day around the Gili Islands from 8 am to 3 pm. Unfortunately the coral is damaged because of the 2004 tsunami and dynamite fishing. The latter is forbidden nowadays, though we heard a suspicious noise during our short snorkelling adventure on Moyo island.
Enjoyable anyway with a great sateh (for Ingrid, Arjan is more in the curries).
No accidents with our Rambo, though he is really stubborn and afraid for nothing. Our tour guide told us that locals treat stingray attacks - can be fatal - with only vinegar. Difficult to believe, but seeing our local snorkelling guide grasping the sand - under which the stingrays are hiding - of the sea bottom with his hands, maybe it works. The locals would recognize hiding stingrays....
We have seen a huge sea turtle, impressive. Unfortunately they are endangered. There is a turtle sanctuary just next to our accommodation, fully privately run by donations; the Indonesian government promised funds, but so far nothing. They are pounding their eggs on the Gili Islands, but not being the season, we will not see that.
Another - last? - snorkelling in front of the hotel after having finally bought the Ikat cloth for Trijnie for her patchwork activities and for our culinary wellbeing ;-))))).

Again dinner tonight at our private open air lounge cabin this time with another couple from the group, very relaxing.

Tomorrow we will leave these islands to reach the last destination of our voyage: the touristic and well known Ubud at the island of Bali. Back by local boat from Gili Meno at Bangsal at Lombok, then by our bus to Lombok's main airport at Mataram to take the plane back to Denpasar at Bali, where our voyage started.

A & I - 06-05-09 - beautiful sunny day, not that damping hot