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How to avoid something going wrong and spoiling your holiday….

Island Promotions has just had an independent Tour Company Review……where a  representative from the same company interviewed myself and went to the Gilis, with some help from ourselves, THE Original Gili Paradise Shop

This is what they wrote ……..

Booking a trip to the Gili islands, Lombok, Indonesia: Island Promotions…..

The original and only real travel agent that solely specialises in the islands.

To read the full story with great pictures just [Click here]

If you are looking for the quintessential tropical island experience then look no further than this quaint little gem in an ideal setting to slow down, relax and unwind. Just a stones throw from the beach, Rumah SI Pitung can be rented as a whole unit or as single rooms.

The rooms come fully equipped with satellite TV and flat screen digital TV’s, DVD players, air conditioning, hot and cold water  400,000 rupiah per room per night.

Rumah Si-Pitung is both elegant and chic and presents the type of living space that allows you to put your sandy feet up after a walk at the beach, and feel right at home the minute you step inside, without ever compromising style and comfort.

There are not many places left in the world like this exotic coral outcrop and certainly not for this price. wake up in Rumah Si-Pitung and be encompassed by the everyday life of Gilli Air, drifting over the walls are the sounds of swaying palms and playful goats feeding in the adjoining meadow.

Each room comes fully equipped with:

¤ Hot water and cold water

¤ Air Conditioning

¤ Satelite digital TV

¤ Flat screen digital TV

¤ DVD Player

The unpretentious charm of Rumah Si-pitung will give you an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.

For more information and bookings, have a look on this link [ Click here ]

Around sunset, Blue Water Cruises‘ beautiful wooden sailing boat, Aliikai, set sail from Serangan Harbour in Bali. Cruising through the clear waters – accompanied by Tarik from Bali-based band Paramitsha on his Spanish acoustic guitar playing haunting gypsy melodies – over 30 guests from around the world headed to Gili Air for an overnight stay as they embarked on a 4-day trip; not to be forgotten.

This second of “The Boat That Rocked” cruises for 2012 had a special meaning, as this voyage was also to celebrate the birthday of Blue Water Cruises owner and hostess, Britta Slippens.

After a leisurely breakfast, the Aliikai cruised to Gili Trawangan to pick up more guests and then proceeded to beautiful Mentigi Bay on Lombok to pick up the last group of revellers. Now the real fun began.

As we sailed south along the Lombok coast, Paramitsha serenaded us once again into the sunset. The Desert Radio Band, a mainly self-taught Australian band from Dunsborough in Western Australia who have earned success by supporting such popular artists as Angry Anderson, James Reyne, The Angels and Matt Taylor from Chain, played into the night.

Lead singer, Neil, and two of his school mates started off jamming in their garage and playing small pubs around their area. They added to their trio when ‘Johnny the Pom’ joined them from Queensland, where he had been studying music. With his soulful saxophone adding to the blues and jazz inspired music of the group, they started to travel further afield. That was 10 years ago; today they had flown from Australia to play for Britta and be a part of this special weekend.

By 5pm, the Aliikai was really rockin’ and Neil’s sandpaper and silk vocals went down as smoothly as the free flow bar. Rean joined the band for a mind-blowing solo rendition of “Colt 45″ by Afro Man. The Aliikai was alive with talented and eclectic guests sharing their passion for music. As midnight approached, DJ Malik Lomax and Stevie G cranked up the volume and we partied on into the morning.

The Mari sailed alongside The Aliikai and provided a peaceful haven for those whose spirits were willing to party on ’til daylight but whose bodies weren’t. Boat tenders ferried guests back and forth on demand.

As music floated across the water and stirred us from our sleep, we rose to a glorious sunny day and the stunning surroundings of the southwest Gilis – Gili Asahan, Gili Layar and Gili Ringgit.

We shuttled back to The Aliikai for a full cooked breakfast, followed by swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and water skiing. Some just chose to spend the day lazing around reading, getting a massage or a henna tattoo, or chilling to some laid back sounds.

Later that day, we sailed back to Sengiggi and, after bidding farewell to some of the guests, the Aliikai headed back to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air for an early evening barbecue before setting sail for Bali.

To arrange your own liveaboard adventure or for more information go to Gili Paradise

original article from the Lombok Guide

The Gili islands have never been known for their consistent supply of electricity or fresh clean water, That should all change this season as PLN and a local water company have finally been given the go ahead by local authorities…

State electricity company PLN plans an undersea cable network to supply electricity to three tourist islands  Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno, all in North west Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

The chairman of PLN’s office in NTB, Anang Widjajanta, said Saturday that his company had started building the infrastructure needed to support the undersea cable network in Pemenang district, on the northernmost tip of Lombok Island near the three other islands.

“We’ve started working on the supporting facilities on the land and an undersea survey is being carried out. It is possible that it will be completed next August or September,” Anang said.

The undersea network will span 4.6 kilometers with a maximum depth of 30 meters. It will be connected to the a diesel-fueled power plant in North Lombok.

“PLN has earmarked Rp 40 billion to finance the project,” he said.

He said that the total electricity demand for the three islands would reach 1.5 megawatts, of which Gili Trawangan accounted for 1.2 MW.

Currently, electricity in Gili Trawangan is supplied by a 1.5 MW diesel-fueled generator, with 350 kilowatts going to Gili Air and 170 kilowatts to Gili Meno. As a back-up power supply, PLN has installed 200 solar panels on Gili Trawangan, but they only operate during good weather. Bad weather usually disrupted power supply on the islands because the solar panels failed to function and shipments of diesel fuel were hindered due to high tides.

“In order to guarantee electricity supply without any disruptions, the installation of the undersea cable network is considered the most effective,” Anang said.

North Lombok Regent Djohan Sjamsu welcomed PLN’s plans and said that the three tourist islands had attracted more than 300,000 foreign and domestic tourists.

“With the undersea cable network being built by PLN, I hope electricity supply problems at the three islands will be settled. Moreover, it will make the conditions there more convenient as visitors will not be disturbed by noise of the diesel-fueled power generator,” he said.

In addition to improved electricity supplies, Djohan said that his administration would also build water processing facilities for the three Gili islands.

The North Lombok regency earlier this month signed a memorandum of understanding with PT Sikem Aneka Indonesia, a local clean water consulting firm, for the construction of facilities, earlier he said..

“Now, clean water is becoming a very expensive commodity on the three islands as it has to be transported by boat from Lombok, at a cost of Rp 75,000 per cubic meter,” he said, adding that the new facilities were expected to help promote tourism.

The North Lombok regency is a new autonomous region that was separated from West Lombok regency three years ago. The new regency has locally generated revenue of Rp 23 billion, of which tourism contributes 70 percent. Djohan said that he was confident that a greater number of tourists would flock to the three islands as a result of improved facilities.

For more information on getting to and staying on the Gili islands please email us on info@gili-paradise.com or giliparadise@gmail

original article

Gili Trawangan:  crystal clear water, tout-free beaches and no pounding techno music, unless it is a Monday night Blue Marlin Party.

If Bali’s honking Bluebird taxis, zipping motorcycles, monstrous daily traffic jams and persistent beach touts obliterate your Bali dream within a few hours of landing, there are alternatives.

Plus, in light of the recent news regarding a police standoff with suspected terrorists, you may want to look around.

At these three islands life slows to a crawl and the agenda is nothing more complicated than topping up your tan and embracing the outdoors.

Think of the Gili Islands, consisting of Gili Trawangan,  Gili Air  and Gili Meno as Bali was like in the 1970s but with all the modern amenities travelers have become accustomed to:  fresh water showers (only at some resorts), Wi-Fi, and more modern luxuries like 4 ATM machines.

Most stay on Gili Trawangan, eager to make the most of a more real island experience, and to escape the constant calls of “transport, you want transport?”

There’s no motorised traffic allowed on all the islands, you either cycle, walk or take the pony express if you’re really lazy (or have a lot of bags).

Days are spent laying on the rarely inhabited white-sand beaches, exploring the calm, clear waters and pondering life as you gaze at the nearby mountain range.

When you tire of doing absolutely nothing, glass-bottomed boats can be hired out for approximately
Rp. 280,000 rupiah,  inclusive of snorkeling gear. The Gili waters provide plenty of distractions especially for all snorkelers and divers:  turtles, reef sharks, moray eels and schools of mackerel are all common sights.

At dusk, everyone on Gili Trawangan gathers at the island’s sunset spot where cold cans of beer can be bought to enjoy along with the breathtaking sunset:  pink-orange-purple with streaks of green overlooking Bali’s Mount Agung volcano.

Once night falls, the nightlife  is a lazy stroll down to the restaurants that line the promenade.  Scallywags,  (South Beach Gili Trawangan), has one of the best barbecue seafood options and a goat’s cheese tart that’s unforgettable.

Newcomer ko-ko-mo   (South Beach Gili Trawangan),  is the island’s only genuine fine-dining eatery with a menu featuring lots of super-fresh seafood and sashimi.

On most nights, the reggae bars are packed with the island’s inhabitants. Exotic shakes are readily available, possibly another reason why the island grows more popular with every full moon.

Where to stay:  There are cheaper options than the Hotel Villa Ombak   but for the money, you get a prime beachfront location, a three-tier saltwater pool, grounds scattered with hammocks, an on-site spa, and fresh water showers — this is a big plus.

How to get there: Blue Water Express  sails daily from Serangan Harbour (20 minutes from South Bali) or via Padang Bai. The journey takes between two and two-and-a-half hours. Otherwise, fly to Lombok  and then take a 30-minute water taxi ride.

Nusa Lembongan

Not just for the surfers and divers, It is an idyllic beautiful island for all.

Visit Nusa Lembongan soon if you want to see it as its authentic self.

A small laid back island that can be crossed on foot in two hours, it is becoming quite the surfing hot spot, and where the surfers go, mass tourism usually follows – look what happened with Bali.

For surfers, Nusa Lembongan will never lose its appeal. There are three main breaks, Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds, which see most action from April to September. They are more suited to intermediate and experienced surfers as they break over coral reefs.

Non-surfers will find adequate distraction diving, snorkeling or just sunning  on the white sand beaches of Mushroom Bay, Pantai Selegimpak, Dream Beach and Jungut Batu, which is the most developed stretch.

Up for exploring? Local boatmen will take you from Jungut Batu to Mushroom Bay for 30,000 rupiah (US$3.20) –- or you can just walk for 35 minutes, or over to Nusa Penida for 400,000 rupiah (US$43.90).

When it rains, seek refuge at Lulur Spa situated at Batu Karang. It offers services using imported Australian products.

While Nusa Lembongan’s development can’t be stopped, one thing will remain the same: its sunset.

Best admired from the western side of the island at Jungut Beach or over the bridge to Nusa Ceningan. Aim to get into your spot by about 5.30 p.m. and yes, it’s worth making it a daily highlight.

Where to stay: The Waka group is well known in Bali so it makes sense that they’re here in Nusa Lembogan. The Waka Nusa Resort (Mushroom Bay, www.lembongan-hotels.com ) is a small property with just 10 bungalows. Located right on the beach, you pay premium prices for non air-conditioned rooms that do not have TVs or telephones but there is free Wi-Fi in the public areas.

How to get there: A daily public boat leaves from the northern end of Sanur beach at 7:45 a.m. The trip can take up to two hours and will cost you 45,000 rupiah (US$4.95). It is a supply boat, so you’ll likely be surrounded by your breakfast.

If you’re challenged for time, Super Scoot catamaran  leaves from Sanur for 325,000 rupiah and the journey takes 30 minutes. It is also the only boat that has a daily schedule from lembongan to Lombok and the Gilis.

Nusa Penida
on most days you’ll be the only person at Crystal Bay.

Thanks to the lack of a deep-water harbor Nusa Penida has remained largely unaffected by tourism.

Not that the locals or any of its visitors are complaining.

Nusa Penida has a dry, natural rugged beauty and magnificent vistas. There are no lush rice paddy fields to explore, getting around the island will involve bringing over a good mountain bike, or renting a motorbike from one of the locals; and there’s no bar to escape to.

Aside from seaweed farming the island’s main trade Nusa Penida is the unofficial bird sanctuary for the critically endangered Bali Starling and many other species. Bird enthusiasts often flock to the Nusa Penida Bird Sanctuary to stay for a few days.

Otherwise, there’s not much else to do on Penida except settle back, enjoy a much slower pace of life and gaze at the stars every night.

Visitors can enjoy secluded white sand beaches, Crystal Bay is the most popular, located on the north and northwest coast, the stalactites of Goa Karangsari cave (guides can be hired for 20,000 rupiah and a trek up to the high coastal cliffs.

The island also has several interesting Hindu temples. The grand Pura Penataran Ped temple is of particular importance and visited by many Balinese pilgrims who pray for protection against disease and death.

If you expect to be entertained, do not come to Nusa Penida. This destination is as off-the-beaten track as you can get.

Where to stay: There are not many places to stay on Nusa Penida but opposite the police station lies Bungalow PEMDA (+62 813 3853 9435) with 14 simple rooms.

Located at the highest point of the island is a private (and unnamed) villa available for rent (www.ecopenida.com). Near the temple of Puncak Mundi, the eco-friendly property has a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside.

On clear days, the majestic Mount Agung is clearly visible from the verandah. The rooms are comfortable, there are hot water showers but no Wi-Fi or Internet connection. Although, for once you won’t mind being cut off from the world, it’s that sort of place.
How to get there: A daily public boat leaves from the northern end of Sanur beach at 7:45 a.m. The trip can take up to two hours and will cost you 45,000 rupiah (US$4.95). It is a supply boat, so you’ll likely be surrounded by your breakfast.

If you’re challenged for time, the Caspla leaves from Sanur for 325,000 rupiah . The journey takes 30 minutes.

Link to the original article [click here]

The clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris), shown here sheltering in a magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica), became one of the most recognizable and charismatic marine species after starring in the movie “Finding Nemo” (Walt Disney Pictures, 2003). Charisma can help the cause of conservation, as well-known species tend to garner greater conservation awareness, funding and legal protection.

However, a study published in the January 2012 issue of Conservation Lettersshows that even for charismatic species, taxonomic biases can affect conservation knowledge and legal protection. Among species featured in Finding Nemo,16 percent are at risk of extinction. People show significantly less conservation knowledge of small species like the anemonefish. Likewise, species with high economic value, like sharks, have deficiencies in legal protection relative to their conservation need.

For more information about diving Halik reef and general information on the Gili Islands of Trawangan, Meno and Air visit Gili Paradise

The original article can be found here

Observed from 6 a.m. on 23rd March until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted. The main restrictions are: no lighting fires (and lights must be kept low); no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty, there is little or no noise from TVs and radios, (this year they are planning on banning all Tv), and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali must observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. Even tourists are not exempt; although free to do as they wish inside their hotels, no one is allowed onto the beaches or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions, women about to give birth, and this year religious Muslims will apparently be allowed to visit their nearest Mosque on foot in silence.

On the day after Nyepi, known as Ngembak Geni, social activity picks up again quickly, as families and friends gather to ask forgiveness from one another, and to perform certain religious rituals together.

Although this is a very culturally invigorating experience, many visitors and expats do not want to be shut in doors, and so the Gili islands get very busy with people escaping this ritual. With the islands being Muslim, they do not adhere to the day of silence and parties are held instead.

So if you want to escape for the weekend, you need to book in advance, already many of the fast boat services are full, as are some hotels, although many people do not know about this until the few days right before, and a huge influx of people descend on the Gilis and Lombok.

If you are one of those people who prefer to party, please contact us, and we can arrange all your transport and accommodation needs.

For more information and bookings, please contact Island Promotions as soon as possible through the website www.gili-paradise.com or you can email us directly on giliparadise@gmail.com

Yesterday Island Promotions went live with it’s new look 2012 website.

We think it is much more pleasing to look at, easier to navigate, and with even more information.

However in it’s infancy there are a few minor changes that we are working very hard to fix.

If you can not find a page, we also have individual specialised websites for all the important information you may be looking for.

These can be found on -

www.Gili-blog.com  for information, events, news & comments

www.Gili-hotels.com  for villas, hotels & backpacker beach huts

www.Gili-fastboat.com  for fast boats & on line booking reservations

www.Gili-property.com   for real estate, land and villa sales & villa rentals

www.island-promotions.com      for our general profile, about us & contact information

Any enquiries can also be sent to giliparadise@gmail.com

Phil Smith -

Marketing Manager +62 81 805 305 632

CV Island Promotions,

Shop 1 -

The Gili Paradise Shop,
No. 12, Poppies Lane 1,
Kuta, Bali. Tel – 0361 753241

Shop 2 –

CV. Island Promotions,
Suka Beach, JL. Benesari,
Poppies Lane 2, Kuta, Bali.
Tel / Fax  – 0361 766220

SMS bookings – +62 81 805 305 632

SKYPE – VIPSKYPE7

Yahoo messenger – gili.paradise@yahoo

Face book -  http://www.facebook.com/

Google + -  https://plus.google.com/

Two very successful events over the past few months have raised around Rp 65 million in funds, which Gili Trawangan businesses have pledged to be used to improve education facilities and conditions for local school children on this paradise island.

The Fun Day Sunday hosted by the Gili Trawangan Development Association on 18 July 2010 raised over Rp 25,000,000 in funds for the local school, while providing a fun day out for everyone involved. Over 300 children and adults took part in everything from traditional sack races, sand-castle building competitions, the very popular “sponge the boss” game, and a Tacro Tournament. Everyone was entertained by a live band playing on the white sand beach, a beverage bar and delicious food supplied by all the local restaurants.

All hands were on deck for the event with local businesses donating raffle prizes, refreshments, beach games and their time to host the Fun Day for everyone. Lucky participants won generous prizes such as luxury villa stays, fast boat tickets, complimentary meals at Gili Trawangan restaurants and free dives.

The SD-SMP Gili Trawangan (the local school on Gili T) has already presented the Gili Trawangan Development Association with a “wish list” for the school which includes fans, new desks for the students and playground equipment. Funds raised from this initial Fun Day are being used to purchase new fans for the classrooms and water coolers and dispensers for the students. Desks are being manufactured and will be supplied for teachers and students in the near future.

This wonderful event was followed by the Gili Trawangan Charity Triathlon when, for his birthday on Monday 11 October, Manta Dive instructor, Shaun Terry, wanted to compete in a friendly Triathlon. As the idea started to take shape and grow, Shaun decided to make the event a fundraiser for the local community. With the help of all the other dive centres and local businesses, a huge day was pulled together and over Rp 40,000,000 was raised.

The Triathlon started with an Olympic-level swim from the beach in front of Trawangan Dive, where over eighty people, including locals and tourists, tested their strength and fitness against some of the Gili island’s fittest and fastest. The second leg of the Triathlon comprised a bike ride from Trawangan Dive to The Beach House, followed by a very competitive run around the island.

Mike Board from Gili Free Dive & Yoga came in first in the Individual category with an amazing time of 53 minutes, just ahead of Shaun from Manta Dive.

In the Team category, the SMK Tourism High School Team came in first, ahead of the Blue Marlin Dive Team, winning the event in just 55 minutes.

Andy Whitecroft, from Manta Dive, won the Individual Handicap, ahead of Graham from Kelapa Villas; while the girls put on a magnificent performance with Delphine Robbe from the Gili Eco Trust clocking the fastest female time, just minutes ahead of Vanessa Lill from Blue Marlin Dive.

After the Triathlon, everyone joined in at a special charity BBQ and Buffet at The Beach House, before moving on to Blue Marlin Dive for a huge after-party where the raffle was drawn!

Funds raised by the Triathlon are being donated to the SMK Pariwisata (Tourism School), a special branch of the local school that was opened last year to allow the older children to stay on the island for higher education, specialising in training in the tourism industry. The generous sum raised by the community event will go a long way toward developing the new school, with the aim of bringing equipment and facilities up to national standards.

The Gili Trawangan community is committed to supporting the local environment and community and is really setting the standard in Lombok; working with local communities for effective and sustainable development on the island.

Lets see if the government can match the donation or help with the maintainence of the school and all the new projects started by the Gili Eco Trust and the Gili Trawangan Development Association.

Guess again! Anything can go wrong while you are traveling, and we strongly advise buying a policy.

Most travel insurance policies are designed for a variety of travel needs but, We emphatically advise reading the fine print of any policy you purchase regarding any deductibles and health situations. You many find your policy will not cover pre-existing conditions that may cause a problem, or that the medical coverage is only for an injury or an illness, and not both.

For emergency aid, travel insurance polices are generally dependable and affordable, but there are still a myriad of gaps in the coverage provided.

You can find polices designed for almost any type of trip you may be planning, such as a single trip for hunting, backpacking, Boat trips, house rentals, and a host of others. But, the specific types and amounts of coverage you get depend on the policy you choose. It’s important to remember that you will only be covered for what is specifically stated in your policy and for nothing else.

Most policies cover trip cancellation, lost baggage, medical, dental, and accidental death coverage. Other policies include emergency evacuation, 24 hour travel assistance, and trip or baggage delay. You may even find policies that include options for collision or damage to rented cars and business conflicts. There are many options that can be covered, but you will have to ask.

The premiums for the policies are generally 5% to 7% the cost of your trip, but fees will vary depending on the your medical history and passengers ages. Many companies offer policies that will include coverage for children at no extra charge.

It is best not to buy your travel insurance from your tour operator. We have listed a few reasons why it may be better to purchase through an insurance company separately.

Most travel insurance policies offered by the operator are less flexible to your individual needs;

Provide a lower amount of coverage;

May only cover a portion of the trip;

Your coverage may be secondary and the insurance will only pay for what you own private health or homeowner’s insurance does not cover;

May duplicate coverage you already have;

In the event the tour operator liquidates and goes belly up, you would lose not only your trip, but also your premium.

Many travel agents are not fully knowledgeable when it comes to understanding the details of various travel insurance policies and may overlook something that could be important to you or your family and few offer suggestions. Buying travel insurance may be less expensive purchasing through your tour operator or cruise line, but for the reasons listed above, you should really check around.

If you do choose to buy your policy from your tour operator, be sure to use a credit card. Depending on the policy of the credit card issuer, you may be provided with protection against potential default of the operator.

When buying your policy from an insurance company:

Always get quotes from several companies.

Ask if the plan is pre-packaged or if you can custom design your own.

Can you waive the pre-existing condition exclusion.

Ask if you are covered for cancellation due to a terrorist incident. Don’t count of the company to provide information.

Ask any questions you can dream up and then ask for suggestions for solutions.

Enjoy your next trip and I hope the odds are with you and that you will never have to file a claim on your travel insurance policy.

PLEASE NOTE: Island Promotions does not provide Travel Insurance for any booking taken.