We started the day with a hearty breakfast of eggs, fresh fruit, coffee and pancakes, then headed out on a boat with a lovely French family and a couple from Spain for snorkeling in a glass bottom boat.The snorkeling in the Gilis is by far the best we’ve had while in Indonesia. The water today was calm and clear and we got to see a shipwreck! No big fish or sharks, but we did see a couple turtles which are fun to watch. Alas, there were also invisible jellyfish in the water which after two stops drove both girls back to the boat due to the mild but annoying stings. We saw the usual parrot fish and clown fish plus lots of cool coral and a black and white spotted fish we had not seen before.
The boat stopped at the “quiet island” Gili Meno for lunch. We sat in a little open air cottage/table and dined on noodles, jaffles (grilled sandwiches) and Diet Coke and ginger tea. We then ventured up the road a bit to the much publicized turtle sanctuary which turned out to be four over-crowded small pools with hundreds of turtles being “saved” from predators before being released in the wild. We wondered who the predators really were as these turtles all came from eggs collected on the beach.
After a mild afternoon storm there was more swimming then Garin and Court retreated up the beach for an early evening Bintang and fried squid date. If you have not had fried squid (or octopus when in Greece) it’s a yummy little appetizer, if not chewy. We dined at a so-so restaurant that was written up but we decided should be deleted from Lonely Planet’s list. Oh well.
We plan to return to our little beach place tomorrow for lunch then go back to the Thai place for dinner. Court and Anna got a little more sunburned yesterday so we’ll have to reapply often. The sun is very hot here, the internet slow and the roosters still crow at all hours. Still, we have loved Indonesia and the Gilis are at the top of the list. Island time makes your watch the cat jump at the butterflies and be lulled by the sound
2 comments:
Actually, those turtles could have been saved. My friend in FL who just saw the hatclings crawl out to sea last week says that when the dig the hole and lay, say, 1,000 eggs, the guys on top make it out of the hole easy when it's time, but the poor kids at the bottom, can't get up and out. Volunteers in Florida, did indeed rescue those and help them up and out. Maybe the same? What an experience you are having. Enjoy the final days! --Ann
Okay, maybe not 1,000. 100 eggs, but still.... Ciao!
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