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...