Lombok Gili Meno Island, North Lombok Regency
Gili Meno belongs to the three islands of the famous Gili Islands and is considered as the smallest and quietest of the three, with simple beach-bungalow-style accommodation. Hidden in the middle of the three islands between Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, its white and hourglass-sand beaches are peppered with cowry shells and ghost crabs. Breezes whisper through the many ‘cemara’ whistling sea pines, while the graceful and arched branches of the pandan trees with their distinctive stilt roots make the perfect atmosphere to suspend a hammock.
Gili Meno is simply uncomplicated, peaceful and down-to-earth-budget with crystal turquoise waters and stunning views across Mt Agung in Bali and Mt Rinjani in Lombok; a haven without cars, motorbikes or dogs, and only few hundred people inhabiting this smallest island mainly concentrated in the centre part. It is also highly recommended to have a walk around the island which takes only less than two hours. We have less option of accommodation here on the island than on the neighbouring islands, that is why fewer tourists come here only to make the island more magic and considered as a little hideaway to the honeymooners.
The daily income of the inhabitants derives from tourism, fishing and coconut plantations. On the west side of the island we have a shallow saltwater lake, which is used for salt production on a small scale during the dry season. Gili Meno is provided with a medical clinic and a primary school.
The island is provided with simple shops, internet cafes, money changers and the Gili Meno Tourist Information Centre. The dining scene is predominantly influenced by local cafes serving grilled fish on the beach along with tasty Indonesian, Western and even local Sasak cuisines. They come with reasonable prices and stunning views to the mountains and sunset.
Horses and carts are the only transport on the island, and since we are really hidden between the two other Gili, we have only limited fresh water which is imported daily, so most of the hotels and bungalows have saline water in the showers. Generators supply our electricity needs. Every morning you will be spoiled by the picturesque view of the sea with some brightly coloured dots which come from the dive boats and island ferries. On the evenings the sun disappears behind Bali island and a blue outline of the mighty Mt Agung will dominate the skyline on the clear days, illuminated by a red-rimmed golden orb.
Time becomes meaningless on this enchanted island, and it becomes too easy to believe that you have been back 60 years to a deserted tropical garden of leafy trees and shaded white sandy beaches, surrounded by coral reefs.