Together Again

Nearly two weeks ago Todd landed in Yoyga, and I was thrilled to welcome him. We've spent some time in Yogya and on Lombok and the Gili Islands. Here are a few highlights...

Attempts at jewlery design There’s a town outside of Yogya called Kota Gede and it’s known for its silver products. We had planned to attend a workshop where we would make silver rings for one another. I love how romantic that sounds. In reality, it was quite challenging. From the sketching to the measuring, the sodering to the refining, it was a full evening. Some of you may be familiar with the panic I experience in the creative process. This occasion was no exception. We appreciate the fruits of our labor.

Deserted Beach Malimbu Close in name to Malibu, Malimbu beach on Lombok is relatively secluded. We had the taxi drop us off and arranged for him to return to fetch us three hours later. We snorkeled in the bay and later took cover from the rain in a small bungalow.

Waterways After five weeks of city life, I yearned for some green spaces. We found them on Northern Lombok, where Mt. Ranjani towers over the coast. We walked to a few waterfalls, the second of which was especially mighty. We returned by way of a water aqueduct, which meant walking through a dark tunnel in thigh-high rushing water. When we approached one of the "windows" Todd saw a bat fly out. Fortunately, I saw no such creature.

A wild carriage ride We travelled to the Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok where we stayed in a bungalow in the north of Gili Trawangan, about a half hour walk away from the town. There is no motorized traffic on the Gili islands, thus we resorted to a horse-drawn cart on a few occasions. These carts are decked with trinkets and bells. Every time I heard one pass, images of horses tugging a sleigh through heaps of snow came to mind. But, really I was looking at turquoise water dotted with fishing boats. On the way back from dinner one night, we found ourselves in the tow of a horse that was either untrained, unhappy, or seriously lacking in equilbrium. We made our way down the bumpy road through the town zig-zagging from right to left, while fellow travelers dodged our path. Todd could not keep from laughing at their facial expressions as they realized our horse was unable to trot a straight path.

Robinson Crusoe fantasy Lonely Planet describes Gili Meno as the perfect place for one's Robinson Crusoe fantasy. The beaches are some of the best in the archipelago, boasting of teal waters and kind waves kissing long stretches of crushed coral sand beaches. We watched the sunset near a group of local surfers who started a small bonfire and dabbled in fire-related tricks. One of them played a guitar and began playing and singing "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, a perfect tune for such an occasion if you ask me.