Sending you a Postcard: July 2016

Not a bad way to end the exchange! I spent eight days on Bali and Gili islands - Bali is nice, full of good scents, beautiful sceneries, cozy restaurants and traditional temples, and even with the crazy, busy traffic it's easy enough to move around on the island thanks to cheap taxis, scooter rent and personal drivers (best for day trips).

Gili Trawangan is super chilled out with small tropical island-like "city center" and beautiful beaches. Spending few days on the tiny island was like living the good beach life surrounded by cheerful locals, good coffee, surf shack bars, diving centers, bikes and horse carriages.

Part of the trip I spent with friends from UWA, and part of it I was travelling on my own, but I met people in the hostels and through activities anyway so it didn't really feel like travelling "alone". Especially on Gili T the atmosphere was extremely welcoming and relaxed with backpackers coming from all around the world. For example, just during the very first day I happened to meet three Finns (more than during my exchange in Perth). The atmosphere in the hostel was the best as well, big common areas with fatboys, free banana pancakes with watermelon and balinese coffee (the best taste and I don't even like black coffee), outdoorsy tropic-like setting, good music and great staff (super funny and friendly local boys who apparently lived in the hostel themselves sleeping on the fatboys wherever).

In Seminyak I stayed in M Boutique hostel, that was outgoing as well, yet stylish, neat and surprisingly modern with private "capsules" to sleep in etc. Nice pool, located in the "quieter" part of Seminyak near Potato Head Beach Club and good cafeterias! Way better than any of the hostels I stayed in on the East Coast in Australia and half the price.

All together I spent five nights in Seminyak, Bali, and three nights on Gili T, during which we made few day tours with friends around Bali, walked around temples, ate good food, chilled out at the beach and by the pool, and I took an adventure level course in diving - 30m depth, check! Good time and hot days, and I got several to do -ideas from other backpackers. Even if the street view wasn't the tidiest possible, both islands actually exceeded my expectations and I definitely could consider going there again :)