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Villa
Almarik
After less than 2 hours from Bali by fast boat, I found myself on the charming island of Gili Trawangan being greeted by the sound of waves and the cool sea breeze. I immediately stepped onto the island, which is surrounded by a white sandy beach as well as crystal clear ocean water and at that moment, I knew that I would be having a great time away from the hurly-burly life I have in Bali.
I started walking to look for my accommodation and stumbled upon a Cidomo, the local transport using horse-drawn carts. In Gili Trawangan, with a size of only 3 km by 2 km, neither cars nor motorcycles are allowed to operate so Cidomo is a perfect form of transport to keep the island free of pollution.
Only a few minutes later, I arrived at Villa Almarik situated right beside the beach and I entered this simple but distinctive property. The view of swimming pool, white sandy beach and the ocean and palm trees on site blend into an astonishing atmosphere, which is
just perfect!
Villa Almarik offers 27 fully air-conditioned cottages, each comprising a spacious living area, terrace, Balinese Bale (elevated lounging area) and a traditional outdoor courtyard attached to the bathroom. The swimming pool lies under the palm trees facing the ocean andmakes it a perfect place to unwind and do
nothing.
For my culinary experience, a variety of Indonesian and Mediterranean dishes awaited me at the restaurant. All are prepared with fresh local produce while enjoying sunset as it lights up Rinjani Mountain, the second highest volcano in Indonesia, which can be viewed
from the restaurant.
The next day I went to Gangga Divers at Villa Almarik, a five-star PADI Diving Centre managed by the well-known Gangga Divers’ team. The dive centre offers a large range of diving course conducted by professional instructors and caters to divers of every age and level of experience.
Other than enjoying astonishing underwater scenery such as coral reefs, I challenged myself to experience the adrenalin rush of diving with white tip reef sharks, huge sea turtles, barracudas, manta rays, moray eels,
frogfishes and pipefish. What a remarkable experience!
Although the island is considered very small with a population of only 700 people, Gili Trawangan offers many places to eat and simply to hangout. In fact, Gili Trawangan is the smallest island in the world with an Irish Pub.
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To circle around the island, Cidomo is my favourite and it works just like a taxi. You can hire one to take you all around the island or just from one point to another. Bicycling is also a great way to get around and you can rent one by the hour.
The island itself is only 8 km all around so if you have plenty of time, walking is also a wonderful way to see everything while enjoying the fresh sea air.
No one should leave Gili Trawangan without experiencing Villa Almarik’s indulgent traditional-style massages. Specially trained staff offer a range of treatments that can be taken either in the spa itself or in
the privacy of your own room.
There is no better way to end a day of diving and exploring the island than to have every trace of tension kneaded out of your body. This doesn’t mean that a day of just relaxing by the pool or on the beach
shouldn’t also be completed with a massage! The experience will take you to new heights of relaxation and calmness.
As I left Almarik, I said to myself “I’ll be back next month!”
Villa Almarik
Gili Trawangan - Pemenang
Lombok Barat NTB INDONESIA
Tel. +62 370 6138520
+ 62 82 147 820 888.
Fax. +62 370 638520
Email: info@almarik-lombok.com |
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