Gili Meno Island
Gili Meno with the size almost half of Gili Trawangan has 400 people as
mentioned above. Gili Meno also has some hotels and bungalows like Gili Trawangan. The sites around
Gili Meno is considered easy and plenty to see, so it is good for beginners. There are dozens of
harlequin sweetlips, yellow margined moray, blue spotted stingray, lobsters, soldier fish, and angel
fish. The word Gili is used both on the east coast of Bali and Lombok Island to refer
a small island. On the east coast of Bali is known a small island with the name of Gili Tepekong. This
Gili is close to the ferry port of Padangbai, and is considered one site for good scuba diving place.
It is not clearly known if the word is taken from Bali or originally Lombok. In the past Lombok was
controled by one of Balinese kingdom of Karangasem which controlled up to the island of Sumbawa.
There are so many small island around the island of Lombok and other then the 3 Gilis known on the west
coast of Lombok there are Gili Nanggu, Gili Panjang, Gili Gede, and others. All those Gilis are small
island and based with lime stone basin with good coral surrounding. How to reach Gili Meno is a unique travel activity
for everyone who plan their holiday on the island.
How to reach Gili Meno
There are many accesses from out side the island
of Lombok, yet the most easiest way is from Bali both by flight or by ferry boat. By air from Bali using
small aircraft of CN 25 with the capacity of 25 passengers or Fokker 28 with the capacity of 50
passengers. Flying time from Ngurah Rai International airport to Mataram airport is only 25 minutes.
From Mataram airport one has to ride a car to a small port called Bangsal, just one km north of
Senggigi beach area. From Bangsal port one has to take a motorized boat with only 25 minutes to reach
Gili Meno. While if access by sea, there are many choices to reach the island espcially pre-crossing the
strait of Lombok. If one staying in Nusa Dua, Sanur of Kuta, it must be transported first to the
ferry port of Padangbai Bali which takes around two hours. Or one can take to stay at closest
hotel to Padangbai port before crossing Lombok strait. There are plenty of hotels can be chosen
in Candidasa Beach which distance is around 2 kms away from the port. Or just take 2 choices of hotel
located just on the bay of Padangbai Port such as Mustika Sari Hotel or Puri Rai Hotel.
From Padangbai port it needs 4 to 5 hours to cross the strait to arrive at Lembar Harbour, the
biggest harbour of Lombok island located on the south west of the island. From Lembar one need to take
land transport to Bangsal port which takes around 1 hour. Then the same boat as above to Gili Meno.
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