Food is essential for living, so we may as well enjoy what we eat! When we travel, a large part of experiencing local culture is the food. However sometimes, don’t you just crave home comforts?

Having lived on Gili Air, Indonesia for 15 months, we have told you the 10 must-try Indonesian dishes, but now it’s time to reveal the best Western food including the best dinner restaurants.

I don’t like to write a post about Western food in another country, but let’s be real, I am a Western person in another country!

The question we always ask ourselves when comparing the Western food on Gili Air to back home is “is it good … or is it Island good?”
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So, if you are looking for familiar flavours, here is our guide to the best food on Gili Air.

Extreme weather conditions can happen anywhere in the world at any time, but would you know how to survive a natural disaster?

It’s devastating for residents living within a country, but as travellers, any one of us could be visiting somewhere when a natural disaster occurs. 

When we were in the Lombok earthquake on 5 August, we had no idea what to do, we just tried to think rationally and survival mode kicked in. When a tsunami warning was in place, for this we knew what to do – get to high ground. 

This post isn’t intended to scare, but to educate us all on what to do when faced with circumstances we are unfamiliar with. I haven’t endured all the situations within this post, if I had, I’m unsure if I would be the luckiest person still alive, or the unluckiest to have been in these disasters in the first place! So I spoke with my travel blogger friends to create this post. 
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I hope we are all able to learn how to survive a natural disaster.

Nusa Penida is one of the best places in the world to dive with Mola Mola, or Ocean Sunfish as it’s also known. That is exactly why we chose to visit for my birthday.

A large and still undiscovered island 30 minutes from Bali, Indonesia, Nusa Penida had been on our scuba diving bucket list ever since we were in Lembongan 18 months before.

Although there are many things to do on Nusa Penida, it’s a destination where divers have a chance of seeing two of the oceans giants; the weird fish Mola Mola and majestic Manta Ray. To see both has the potential for an amazing adventure.

But what is so fascinating about the elusive Mola Mola? Related to the pufferfish and triggerfish, the moonfish or headfish is the largest bony fish in the world. Its unusual shape makes it look like a floating head with wings.

However, Mola Mola and Manta Ray sightings are never guaranteed, nothing in nature is. Would we be successful in our quest of seeing the strangest looking fish in the ocean AND the most graceful? 

I would describe Canggu as a mix between Kuta and Ubud, but how they would have been 15 years ago.

Being a country girl at heart and having lived on Gili Air, Indonesia for 15 months, I’m not a lover of crowds or traffic, but I do like a place to chill with a nice atmosphere. So I like Canggu.

Canggu is located on the south west coast of Bali, Indonesia close to Tanah Lot, Kuta and Seminyak.

​With its bohemian-come-surfer vibe, the area is growing popular with digital nomads. With enough gluten free, smoothie bowl cafes to suit yogis, and plenty of meat feasting establishments to give Aussie surfers the sweats.

Like to party? Canggu delivers, but isn’t completely over run with tourists (yet!).
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Let us show you why we enjoyed this part of Bali, and 15 of the best things to do in Canggu.

Once I discovered that Canggu, Bali had street art, I knew I would enjoy it here. Canggu is an up-and-coming surf spot just up the west coast from the ever popular Seminyak and Kuta, on the Indonesian island of Bali. It’s a hip place for many, but for me, it was about looking for street art.

But is it street art or graffiti? There is a fine line and, whilst driving around from one day to the next, new murals would appear, and others would be painted over.
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Admittedly some of the urban art and cool graffiti is obscure, but other street artists’ murals are stunning.
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As usual with wall murals, I took a plethora of photos. I enjoyed the hours spent searching for street art in Canggu, so now I would like to show you how talented some of these street artists really are.

The 5th August 2018 was just an ordinary evening on Gili Air, Indonesia. We were in a restaurant eating dinner, choosing not to take our phones with us. We didn’t plan to be out for long.

At 6.46pm everything changed. A slow rumble could be heard, but it wasn’t thunder which comes from above. This thunder was surrounding us.

The ceiling and walls started to shake. Sy and I looked at one another, we knew what this was, we had felt it a few days before.

Earthquake.

Suddenly the lights went out. As the island was plunged into darkness, screams could be heard up and down the street.

We didn’t know it at the time, but this Magnitude 7 North Lombok earthquake, the force of which caused Lombok to rise by 10 inches, would turn Gili Air into a ghost town.
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This is my story of being in the Lombok earthquake, and Gili Air’s plans to be paradise again soon.

I really enjoyed Kuta, Lombok, it had that rustic feel of a developing town.

Everyone has heard of Kuta in Bali, the overcrowded “surfs up dude” party capital of Indonesia, but Kuta in Lombok, Bali’s larger sister island, is far superior if you ask me. Although Kuta Lombok is an up-and-coming destination, it has many local cultures and traditions which are still practiced there today.

Located in the South of Lombok, the coastal town of Kuta is growing steadily and making a name for itself. With its rugged views, lush green hills and white surf beaches, we wanted to see what the fuss was about. 

So why should you visit Kuta in Lombok?

Sitting in the restaurant of our accommodation at Daniels Lagoon Resort, I reflected on our recent dives in the Lembeh Strait. Surrounding the lagoon were tall, lush green trees, and sounds of the jungle could be heard all around.

I’m torn between the jungle being my happy place, and the beach, I couldn’t believe my luck when I found both!

Lembeh is macro diving heaven for any discerning scuba diver, and is considered by many to be the best muck diving place in the world.

​Lembeh, Suluwesi should be on your scuba diving bucket list if you love weird and wonderful critters.

Scuba diving in Lembeh, however, is a whole different experience. It’s unlike any other diving we have done. But why? What is it about Lembeh that draws people here? Is it because the black volcanic sand creates mesmerising images?
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Let our photographs help you decide.

Tarsiers. What funny looking creatures they are! A cross between Yoda and a gremlin, these small animals with big eyes and freakishly long fingers, are the smallest primate in the world.
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Unique and rare, Tarsiers are found in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi in Indonesia. When we were scuba diving in Lembeh, we were only an hour away from the Park, so couldn’t pass up the chance to view these weird and wonderful, googly eyed creatures.

However it wasn’t just the Tarsiers who left a lasting impression. Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the setting for the infamous monkey selfie lawsuit, and home to Black Crested Macaque, Kuskus, Hornbills, Kingfishers and a plethora of birds only found in Sulawesi. It’s a bird watcher’s paradise, and people come from all over the world for the rare birds found here.
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If it wasn’t the Tarsiers who were the star of the show … what was?

​Do you have a travel bucket list? If not, why not? The world is full of fantastic destinations and there isn’t enough time to visit them all. Compile a list of your own personal “must see” places and plan some trips. Not all destinations require a long haul flight and plenty of cash, there are plenty of amazing destinations close to home.

​Ditch the thoughts of your two weeks in the med this year and visit somewhere new!