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Gili Air Introduction
Gili Air, one of three atolls in the Gili Isles archipelago, rests off the northwestern shore of Lombok, Indonesia. It's 1,000 local inhabitants include, reportedly, Sasak, Mandar, Bugis and Makassar of Muslim, Hindu, Christian and animist cultures and religions. Local Economy employs boatmen, fishermen and coconut farmers although tourism is providing a welcome addition of jobs. With the ban of motorized vehicles (cars and mopeds/scooters), Gili Air remains friendly, quiet and relaxing for individual and families. Isle Accommodations - foreign-owned 2 star hotels offering air con, swimming pools, TV and Internet access. The remainder of the island's locally-owned accommodation is for very reasonable budget backpackers. Inter-island transport is by local ferry outrigger boat operating twice a day for 25,000 Rupiah (approx. U$3) or via charter for 150,000R (approx. U$16). (prices 2008) Fast Speed Boats connect the Gili Isles with Bali in under 2 hours. A local ferry connects to Lombok in about 30 - 45 minutes. (schedules 2008) Coral Reefs Decimated by to past dynamiting by the local fishermen. The Gili Wildlife Sanctuary was created to protect the three atolls (Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan). New BioRock Coral Reef Eko Technology electro-technology has started the regrowth of the coral reefs. Neighboring Lombok, just south of the equator, sports a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: wet from October to March; dry from May to September. Daytimes average 80°F to 90°F (27°C to 32°C) along the west coast with hotter climes inland. Low & High Seasons - shoulder months May, June, September and October are the most pleasant times for visits avoiding the July/August rush and peak summer heat. While Lombok rains dump in the near distance, Gili isles remain dry. Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno offer upscale restaurants, cocktail bars, hotels, luxury villas and boutique bungalows for sale and rent. There are no ATMs although Gili T offers credit card cash withdrawals with a 10% fee. There are also money changers. Wireless Broadband at select shops on all isles cost approx. 350 Rupiah (U$ 25 cents) per minute. International telephone calls are also available. Low Isles Crime as Haji Burhan, Gili Isles past ex-Mayor, set a firm tone concerning disruptive illegal activity. Bikes leaning lazily against the island's beach restaurants remain safe all night. Island Party Nights - Lombok police wander over for a look-see. Cockfighting, an island cultural pastime, can be found with a local's assistance on certain holidays and many evenings. The Full Moon Bar is a great for beer and cocktails at sunsets. The Irish Bar packs out most evenings with parties at Blue Marlin and Rudy's shroom crowd. WikiMapia World Atlas for Gili isles. Island Activities Abound for tourism earnings: Gili Air (map)
Gili Trawangan (map)
Gili Meno (map)
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