Gilis Articles
- Deutsche Welle, Gili Bio Rock June 2011 - Program ‘regrows’ damaged Indonesian reefs
- The Phuket Lifestyle May 2011 - Bypass Bali -go for the Gilis
- The Guardian May 2011 - Lombok - the quieter side of Bali
- THE NEW YORK TIMES - A paradise lost? part 1
- Etravel blackboard.com November 2010 - Indonesia’s best kept secret receives…
- The Jakarta Post October 2010 - 22 countries to participate in Lombok expo
- The Independent August 2010 - Travelers Guide : Bali
- The Hindu July 2010 - The Emerald Isle
- The Western Australian May 2010 - Escape to the Gili Islands
- The Australian April 2010 - Bring on the Hammock
- Jakarta GlobeApril 2010 - Indonesia by the Book
- The Age.com January 2010 - Beyond Bali: Indonesia’s other island delights
- The Jakarta Post January 2010 article features - Bringing the Reefs Back to Life
- The Guardian January 2010 article features -Could this tiny island be the new Ibiza?
- The Sydney Morning Herald October 2008 - Indonesia’s enchanted isles
- Hello Bali Magazine July 2008 issue features - Far Flung Gilis
- Hello Bali Magazine May 2008 issueDiving adventures to Komodo
- Hello Bali Magazine September 2007 issue features - Luxury Lombok
- Garuda in flight magazine May 2007 issue features - The wonders of the deep
- Bali Style magazine vol2 No1 2007 issue features - Gili Getaway
- The Yak Mag March 2007 issue
- Hello Bali Magazine December 2006 issue features - learning to dive in Gili
- Chiang Mai CityLife July 2005 - Unbound and unwound in the Gilis
- The Sunday Times October 2004 - In search of more deserted islands? Hop to the Gilis
- The Jakarta post August 2004 issue features - The perfect getaway
- The Island Key, the visitor’s guide to unlocking the islands
27 Jan 2008 phil
Climb Mt Rinjani in Lombok, the massive volcano that gives the Gilis amazing sunrises.
The International Rinjani Mountain Climbing event in Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is scheduled in July 2010, with more foreign mountain climbers taking part.
“I have several times coordinated preparations of the international event in Jakarta, and this time its schedule has been set in July 2010,” Head of the NTB Cultural and Tourism Agency Lalu Gita Ariadi said here Tuesday.
Ariadi said the organizers of the international event was set up by the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation (PHKA), of the Forestry Ministry.
Rinjani is the second highest volcano in Indonesia after Mt Kerinci (3,800 meters) in Sumatra, and has become very popular to local and foreign tourists visiting Lombok and the Gili islands.
The geo-tourism potentials include the beautiful cauldron, lake, peak, waterfalls, hot springs, caves, erruption history, blast-hole and new lava flow, and has therefore been suggested to become the first geopark in Indonesia.
The 3,726 meters high volcano had been suggested to be developed into Indonesia`s first geopark, or one of the 54 geoparks in 17 countries of the world.
Since placed under the management of RTMB, Rinjani had been several time been given national and international awards like the World Agency Award 2004 and the Tourism For Tomorrow Awards in 2006 and 2008.
The Rinjani Mountain Climbing will be started in mid-April to early in December, depending on weather conditions.
The route of the climb will reach Lake Segara Anak, by two routes namely the Senaru climb in 7-10 hours on foot covering eight kilometers, and Sembalun route in 8-10 hours.
Visitors who are already at Pelawangan would still need 4-5 hours to reach the peak of Rinjani through the climbing routes in forests.
More information about Rinjani, Lombok [click here]
Source: ANTARA News www.antara.co.id
It would appear that there are multiple campaigns about the ‘Cidomos’ (local horse and carts) and the way the horses are being portrayed as being abused on the Gili islands. No where does it say how much effort Delphine Robbe and The Gili Eco Trust have made to improve the situation and educate the owners. The Gili Eco Trust are now paying for fresh water in special containers and extra food supplements, veterinery visits and medicines from Bali’s best equestion centre the Umalas Stables, plus they will also pay for one more member of staff who will solely look after the horses wellbeing.
Unfortunately they [cidomo drivers] are also overcharging tourists and we are trying to work in collaboration with the ‘Cidomo koperasi’ to change the system. They need to have some hard rules laid down and apply them with fixed price zones and perhaps fines for rules broken. Tourists are encouraging them by being lazy, and making it easy to overcharge, the price to go 500 metres can be as much as $10, a taxi in Bali can take you 15 kilometres for only $7. So why are visitors continueing to encourage them by paying them that much more ???
If the complainers contributed to the G.E.T, so much more could be done, so why not walk, save that money, and donate it to a trust that can and is doing good work to keep the horses in good health. In the video attached, the horse shown is clearly quite healthy and not all skin and bones. Sorry but the complainers and The tourists are as much to blame as much as the Cidomo owners themselves, it is after all their island and we are their guests.
With more people going to the Gili islands there is more demand for more cidomos, and by overpaying, the tourist is in fact encouraging the situation to get worse. Yes they need a controlled maximum speed limit, and again repeated education about horse care and more veterinary visits and medicines.
Most Cidomos actually have 2 or 3 horses, and are actually rotated and given breaks, they do have grazing in the middle of the island, but I do not see that posted on any blogs or walls.
It is also a tradition, from the Sasak people of Lombok, which has been going on for thousands of years, nobody mentions they are also used in Lombok mainland amongst cars and trucks and motorbikes, surely more horses die on the roads than they do starvation in the Gilis. basically your all saying the owners are stupid, as they will not look after the animal that gives them their livelihood. Do you service your car so it lasts as long as possible, of course.
What about the bull racing in Sumbawa, should we petition that also?? I suggest proactive campaigning instead of actively complaining, the time and effort and money could be used in a positive and not negative way. Do something to help.
They will not go away as the islands will never allow motorised vehicles of any kind, not even golf buggys, hooray, 3 eco friendly islands that do not create emissions…!
Packages to the Gilis islands………..
We can cater to just about any requests you may wish for, luxury yacht charters, helicopter sightseeing and direct fast boat transport, traditional phinisi boat charters, domectic flights and transfers, scuba dive packages from beginner to experienced, and all hotels, resorts, villas, and accommodations on all three Gili islands.
Family friendly deals, to suit your budget and needs, also available.
To enquire about packages please contact us and we will be happy to put together any Gili island’s hotel, activities and transport options to suit your budget and personal requirements with one of our friendly team at Island Promotions Travel.
We also have ready made 2 day 1 night packages to 4 day 3 nights packages, honeymmon and wedding packages, and Bali, Lembongan and Lombok mixed packages.
No itinery is beyond our experience, just ask and we will try to make your dream holiday come true….
For more information and enquiries [click here]
Low season specials
For the months of October and November hotels and Fast boats fall into mid or low season pricing, the weather is excellent, and the islands are not so crowded.
www.gili-paraduse.com offers the largest selection of hotels, guesthouses and villas on all 3 Gili islands.
This is where Island Promotions Travel excels itself as we will offer you and guide you through the most suitable island to stay on and accommodation to suit, as well as the best way to get there.
We can even offer you a package including a night in Bali, a stay iin the Gilis and a stay in some recommended hotels in Lombok as well if you would like.
WE can organise for you to be met at the airport in Bali, or the new international airport in Lombok which has just recently opened,
Alternatively from Bali we can arrange domestic ticketing and all the safe fast boats.
Please Note - some of the cheaper locally run boats DO NOT have qualified english speaking crew, do not fit international safety standards, and are not as reliable. We do not support them in the interests of passenger safety.
www.gili-paradise.com is run by CV. Island Promotions Travel.
We also run many other websites and are happy to be the original and longest running Gili island specialsts with 11 years experience, with 2 walk in shops in the heart of kuta manned by 12 staff.
We will be happy to guide you through your entire holiday with the most suitable hotel recomendations, and boat option depending on your location, with only one payment with one company.
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The Gili Paradise Shop,
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Kuta, Bali. Tel - 0361 753241
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