Update! Finally!

Yo! Haven´t updated in a long time and have to say that it´s not because of lack of trying but more due to lack of proper internet connections. In Gili Meno the connection that was supposed to be ”always online” was more ”never online for more than three seconds” so I could barely check my emails. Since last update we spent another week in Gili Meno just being lazy and enjoing the quiet island. Met lots of nice people there, found another Liverpool supporter from the island of 500 inhabitants (you´ll never walk alone!!!), drank lots of juices and slept alot. Have to say that Gili Meno was one of the best places I have ever been to, I enjoyed my time there so much that could have easily stayed there for a third week as well, and maybe even fourth..

Anyway, last sunday it was time to move ahead so we took a boat to Bangsal and from there we got to Sembalun where we started our Mount Rinjani trekking in Gunung Rinjani National Park. Rinjani is a volcano that highest peak hits 3.726 metres above sea level. We were supposed to reach the summit on the early morning of the second day on the mountain but we never made it because both of us were so dead after the first days six hours walk uphill. And the idea of getting up at 2.30am and start climbing to the summit doesn´t sound too nice. For the first night we stayed at the first rim which was as high as about 2700 metres above sea level. On the second day we walked down to the volcanic lake and to the hot springs. In the afternoon we climbed to the second rim, again to 2700 metres, and stayed there for the second night. Both nights were freaking cold, temperature was somewhere close to 0 degrees but being above the clouds and seeing that amazing view made it definately worth it. Last day was just going downhill back to Senaru and it was even more painful than going up the mountain. Even if my feet hurts like hell right now, trekking on Mount Rinjani was one of the most amazing experiences ever. And even if we didn´t make it to the summit I´m still proud that I got that far since it was my first proper hiking trip ever, probably not the easiest one to start with.. Huge thanks to our guide Adi and our porter Roni, who didn´t show any human charecteristics during the three days trip, Roni was literally running up and down the mountain using only flipflops instead of proper shoes, cooked us amazing food all the time and never seemed to be tired at all.. We also met two english girls whose guide wasn´t that good, all the time he was like an hour behind the girls, talk about guiding... But good laughs was provided on behalf of this poor ”guide”.

Right now we´re in Senggigi and I´m sick. Got fever and a headache but shouldn´t be anything serious. Got some weird looking pink pills from the local doctor, hope they work out well. At least right now I feel lot better and in a few days we´ll continue to Java and to Yogyakarta to be exact.

And yea, the drive from Senaru to Senggigi was nothing short of completely insane, the driver was probably trying to kill everything and everyone on the road, including us. Seriously, I have never been that afraid when in car, I was hundred per cent sure that we´re not going to make it to Senggigi. And there´s not even a slightest sign of rationality on how these people use the horn in their cars. If you drive into a curve you use the horn, if you´re about to pass some one else, use the horn. If you see someone you know, use the horn. If you see someone you don´t know, use the horn. Just to let everyone know that you have a car, use the horn. If you see a palmtree, use the horn (and there´s quite a fucking lot of palmtrees around here...) HONK! HONK! HONK!

I think that´s all for now. Hope everyone´s doing fine, let me hear from you...

Hey everyone..

Right now we're on Gili Trawangan, a little bigger and busier island than Gili Meno. Just took a shuttle boat here to sort some things out. We're going to climb Mount Rinjani, almost 4000 metres, and then probably go to Bali. Or something, don't really know yet. Last days have involved lots of sun, fresh juices, food and sleeping. And swimming. They've been so lazy days that there's really not much to tell.. Still can't upload any photos, sorry. Let me know how you're doing wherever you are. Take it easy!

Gili Meno

Finally at Gili Islands, arrived here on monday evening and the whole island seemed to be completely dark when we were approaching from the sea. The boat ride made me so freaking sick that I almost died. Well not actually, but I was more than glad when I stepped on the solid ground again. Found a nice place to stay, got our own bungalow by the beach for 4 euros a night. Clearly the high season here is gone cos there´s not much tourists any more, which is nice. Can´t complain about anything right now, the ocean is blue, the sky is clear and it's not that hot than it was in the big cities. Nothing much to say about Kuta where we stayed for two nights, it was even worse than expected with its normal tourist stuff and salesmen. Here it's quiet and there's no traffic, I love it..

No photos, this connection is way too slow for that...

Singapore

So, actually we weren't supposed to spend any time in Singapore but we've been here since yesterday evening. After a poorly slept night at the airport went to see the city a bit, nothing much to say about it. Indian food was good like you probably guessed :) Right know I'm at the airport which has everything you could ever imagine.. Even foot massage machines..

This sudden change of plans was due to the cancelled flight which we didn't know about until we were at the airport in Bangkok but this is the better way to go. In a couple of hours we're flying to Denpasar so we don't have to go to Jakarta at all. It would be so hectic in there because of Ramadan. So tonight we will finally get to where we we're going in the first place.

Running out of time now so better stop this. Off to Bali, yea!

Bangkok...

Now it´s the evening of the second day in Bangkok and I´m sitting on the rooftop of our hostel. Bangkok has been nothing short of the expectations of bad air, lots and lots of traffic, good food and nice people. I´m glad that today we´re flying to Singapore where we´re staying for one night and then continue to Bali. Bangkok has been a nice experience if you can put aside the fact that this hostel is in the middle of the worst tourist area of this city. This place is pretty much like Camden in London times 120. Everybody wants to sell you everything possible between the earth and the sky and even something more. Veggie food and fresh fruits are available everywhere so life isn´t bad at all..

Today I saw couple of nice temples, a huge standing Buddha and the Golden Mount, pretty much the basic tourist stuff I think. We were lucky to be in Bangkok today, because it´s a national buddhist holiday and every temple are open also for tourist and not just thai people. All the people around here seems to know where you should be going and are more than willing to draw obscure picture of monuments on your map. Also lots of good advices was received from these people.

And yeah, the rooftop swimming pool at the hostel wasn´t so bad either, it´s something more than +30 degrees in here. Tomorrow to Indonesia and towards the fresh air and sea..

Rainy Berlin

We´ve been in Berlin since last Thursday and tomorrow we´re leaving to Bangkok. It´s been nice few days in a city where I´ve never been before, actually the first time I was in Germany was two weeks ago. Anyway, during these couple of days I have eaten like I wouldn´t get food in the future at all. Vegan burgers, falafel, pumpkin soup and amazing Asian food have definately been some of the highlights here. Otherwise the city hasn´t shown its best sides yet, much because of the almost constant rain.

What else what else what else, oh yea, saw Sinking Ships and Ruiner play on Thursday night, didn´t even know that they were playing in Berlin cos I thought that I checked the tourdates at least two times.. And the fight against the urge to buy shitloads of records today was so hard, but I ended up winning the fight and got only a gift for a friend of mine.

Tomorrow morning we got a flight to Düsseldorf and then an overnight flight to Bangkok. I am sooo ready to change this windy, rainy and cold european weather to the warm Asian climate. So far, so good..