From Bali To Gili, Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia ~ Sept 2014

(Island of Gili's)

After 4 days in Bali, we went to Gili Island. I regretted spending just 2 days in Gili. Eventhough i love Bali so much being in Gili is like jumping of to another heaven. After a lot of research, we decided to take fast boat to Gili with Ekajaya since its most convenient and cheaper option then taking a flight. We find out from other traveler that we can get cheaper price when we email them instead of directly booking from the website. 

It took us 1 hour boat trip to Gili Trawangan which is the biggest island of Gili's and the most lively. You can request them to drop you off to any island of your choice. Ekajaya also provide free pick up and shuttle service from hotel to Padang Bai jetty. If you take flight, you need to go to lombok airport, take an hour car ride to jetty and another 10mins speed boat to Gili. This is what we did when we left Gili island since we need to catch a flight back from Bali airport. If you considering taking a flight you need to know that Indonesia domestic flight always delayed. Our flight to Bali from Lombok was 2 hours delayed and we are lucky since we make an early start. 

As everybody raved about Gili, the islands is indeed beautiful with white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. When we arrived that afternoon, we took our time to explore the island. We rent a bicycle, go around as far as we could and stop at every beach we found. It was hot and the beach was packed with traveler. Even though its packed, you definitely will find your own space, tranquil and relaxation you looking for since there's no "noisy asian" if-you-know-what-i-mean around. *I should feel bad since i say this to my fellow asian lol

(we definitely get tanned after biking around)

(Please take note that you cannot go topless in Gili)

(Clear water isnt it?)

(Snorkeling from one of Gili Trawangan many beach)

(Shallow water and i love this picture)

There's nothing much to see if you snorkeling from the beach but swimming is definitely good. A lot of people go as far as they could when snorkeling. You can definitely see fishes and if you lucky, turtle even come to shallow water which mean as near to the beach. 

On the second day we took snorkeling trip with bottom glass boat. This boat can take as many as 30-40 people in single trip. but you got nothing to worry since this is all the people you will see during your snorkeling trip. Honestly snorkeling in Gili wasn't so impressive. There's not much coral to see you have to go to deeper water to explore. I believe diving will be better option. 

(Gili Diving and Snorkeling site)

From Gili Trawangan, if im not mistaken our first stop was Meno Wall. Everybody definitely can't wait and simply jump from the boat. 

(If its that clear who not going to jump isn't it?)

Our second stop was turtle point which our tour guide made a joke that his colleague will find us turtle no matter what. Everybody excitedly jump off the boat as soon as they allowed and follow the guy in order to see turtle. 10 mins later (or less), there's still no sign of turtle, at one point i believe everybody felt that they going no where and nothing much to see since we are in deep water where everything just dark blue and empty down there. 

Suddenly, deep from the bottom, out of nowhere  a turtle make a grand appearance and everybody go frantic.  Our tour guide give us signal to follow the turtle and everybody between those who can and cannot swim started to go as fast as they could, dive in to touch the turtle, take as many picture as we could before we losing it. It was amazing to see the turtle swimming like he got the sea all by himself and enjoying all the attention he gets. The sunny day make it a picture perfect for the rest of us and definitely something to tell when we get back home. *Please look at my video on the left side to know how close we are to the turtle :)

( I call this his passport picture)

Everybody was obviously tired and hungry after chasing turtle and we request to have our lunch first before heading to our last stop. They took us to Gili Air which is the smallest island of all three. It was beautiful there. No one swim tho since its really hot and everybody just wait for food and took picture. 

After lunch we made a last stop for snorkeling, there's few people who stayed on the boat and didn't bother to go down. I went down for a while and went back to the boat since nothing much to see here except fishes. 

This entry doesn't have any information about night life since we getting old and didn't bother to go to party anymore lol. But no worries, Gili Trawangan offer a lot of bar for those who want to party. On our last night in Gili we had an early night after a visit to spa and dinner since we have to wake up early the next morning and catch boat to Lombok. 

I am not a morning person but waking up early to see the magnificent Gili sunrise is something that should be added in everyone itinerary when they visit Gili. I really enjoyed our short stay here and definitely will be back again one day for a longer stay. 

DIY Underground River trip, Palawan, The Philippines

We booked our one way ticket to Puerto Princesa from KK with Maswings. Unfortunately, our flight not only been cancelled but also discontinued 14 days before our trip. As this flight is our first flight for our 2 weeks holiday, we didnt have choice but to find another option to go to Palawan. 

So we booked our flight with Cebu Pacific, KK-Manila-Coron, since they didn't have direct so we decided to go to Coron first, take ferry to El Nido and ended our trip in Puerto Princesa. And again, unfortunately, we cancelled Coron from our list (even though we already booked the flight) because of all scary story we found on the internet.

After a lot of research, we found out that ferry to El Nido has been terminated, which mean tourist have to take bangka to El Nido which is 8 hours in the open water. Since its also typhoon season we really didnt dare to try. So we bought another plane ticket from Manila to Puerto princesa.

(Bangka)

 (El-Nido-Coron bangka just a little big bigger but not big enough for 8 hours trip)

We arrived in Puerto princesa at 9am on saturday morning. We took tricyle at the airport which supposed to cost 70 pesos. We told him that we want to go to City Coliseum to get our underground river permit but he insisted we go through tour. So we stop at tour office and they asked 1500 pesos per pax which of cos we declined.

(Tricycle)

(Just go to main road to get Jeepney, cheaper option)

When we arrived at city coliseum the office was empty and we didnt have to wait at all. We get our Underground River permit after 5min and it cost us 500 pesos for 2 which we have to pay at Sabang Wharf later. Underground River Park management enforced a strictly "NO PERMIT, NO ENTRY" policy, so if you want to DIY your trip, you better get everything ready. It is also advisable to go to underground river as early as you can since there only give 600 permit per day to visitor. Even during typhoon season there's a lot of local tourist around.

(Permit)

After we get our permit, we went to San Jose terminal to booked for our minivan to Sabang the next day. There is a lot of operator to choose but we use Lexus Shuttle since they have website with timing and all and its seems reliable.  So we booked 8am van to Sabang wharf (its 2 hours journey from Puerto Princesa to Sabang) and also 2pm van to El Nido (6 hours journey from Sabang to El-Nido) right after we finished our underground river trip. Lexus van stop near to wharf and in front of row of restaurant. If you didn't have lunch you can take one at the restaurant which is buffet for 200 pesos per pax.

We need to register and pay our permit at management office at Sabang wharf. After that we've been direct to bangka station which where they will arrange everybody to make their bangka payment and show their designated bangka. One bangka can accommodate up to 6 person for 700 pesos. Since its only 2 of us, we shared with other people and paid 300 pesos.

(Management office where we pay our permit)

(Paying for bangka)

It was raining when we get there and sea was a bit rough. We took 20mins bangka ride to the beach and after that a 5 mins walk through the jungle to the cave entrance. This is where the underground river start. We were equipped with life jacket and helmet. Our paddle boat driver were also act as our tour guide.

(Awaiting bangka to go back to Sabang Wharf)

(Engineer on Vacation)

(Underground river cave entrance)

So basically this is what we paid for underground river trip :
1. Underground river permit = 500 (for 2 pax)
2. Enviroment fee                 = 80
3. Minivan                           = 400 (for 2 pax, one way)
4. Bangka to cave entrance  = 300 (for 2 pax since we sharing) (700 for one bangka)
                           Total        = 1280 (we saved 1720 pesos for DIY instead of 3000 pesos)

(Permit fee paid at Sabang wharf)

(Environment fee)

(1500 pesos for 2 pax. 400 for PP-Sabang, 1100 for Sabang-El Nido)

Our underground river trip wasnt as good as we hope since it was raining and the water was murky. We've been to Tam Coc Vietnam before and end up didn't feel anything special about this place. But since Underground River is one of the new 7 wonder of nature, its deserved to be check. Just don't go during typhoon season like us. January to June is the best time to visit. 

La Rochelle, France ~ Winter Feb 2014

So the journey continue from Poitou to La Rochelle, with Marion joining on board. It was one windy and cloudy afternoon when we get there, you could not imagine the cold (of cos you can if you are European) since La Rochelle is a coastal city.

We parked our car near to The Lanterne Tower, one of La Rochelle famous tower and praying that the tower open for visit. It was almost 3pm when we get to St Nicolas Tower and  we try to rush a bit in order we can see all 3 towers before it closed. 

The Saint Nicolas Tower (Tour Saint Nicolas) is the biggest one and once served as a prison. The staircase here is a little bit confusing and i can go round and round and still didn't find my way out if not for the signage. All this passageway was actually separated to avoid both residents and soldiers meeting. 

(Saint Nicolas Tower on the right and Chaine Tower on the left)

(the staircase and me :)

Visitor are also allowed to go up on the rooftop which provides view over the old port, Fort Boyard and the other towers. 

(The Chaine & Lanterne Tower)

Since there's in no connection between Saint Nicolas and The Chaine Tower (Tour De La Chaine), we had to make a big round on the port to go to Chaine Tower. I was tempted to just swim across but unfortunately its winter and i cannot swim lol

The Chaine tower during our visit housed an exhibition on the departure of immigrants to Canada (yes, french immigrants)  and history of La Rochelle. It was a short visit here since we race against time and this tower is a smaller version of Saint Nicolas with no complicated staircases. The tower was originally a residences of a harbor master until 1472. Gosh, thats sounds like zillion years ago. Owh btw, its called chain tower since they use chain mechanism before, which were later demolished. 

(at the entrance)

(exhibition and i only have this 2 picture from this tower :s)

We are pretty excited to check The Lanterne Tower (Tour De La Lanterne) because of its design. The tower is 55 meter high and was once the residence of the ship disarmer (the brochure said, officer in charge of keeping the arm of ships entering the port) (ship have arms?).

( Rooftop view from The Chaine Tower)

(The Lanterne Tower)

(St Nicolas & The Chaine tower at the other side)

(at Lanterne tower rooftop) 

(view of the port)

(roof)

(The famous 4 Sargent's who was arrested in La Rochelle, died for freedom (Google translate) and the date was our wedding anniversary, and it was 191 years ago :o

After finished with our tower visit, we just go around the city, shop and drink more hot chocolate before heading to Bordeaux.