December 03, 2015
Banner photo by Sean White
bali, eco, gili t, holiday, lombok, resort, snorkelling, sustainability
Set on a hectare of beachfront land on one of Indonesia’s tiniest atolls, a world away from busy Bali, lies a cluster of eco-friendly cottages that would have the Swiss Family Robinson green with envy. Conceived and built by a close-knit group of eco-aware residents, this organic oasis is more than a place to chill seaside – it is a design-savvy haven for wellness lovers. The Coral Triangle spoke with one of the owners, Ilan Weinblatt about the resort and the thinking behind it...
On clear days, Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second highest volcano, rears on the horizon.
Imagine the following: bone white beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean; horse-drawn carriages (known as cidomo’s) in place of cars; an ocean brimming with marine life including reef sharks and turtles; and seven quaint eco-friendly villas. This is Gili Trawangan.
The villas are set back from teh beach in grassy gardens, offering privacy and comfort at affordable prices.
Located a mere two and a half hour speedboat ride from Bali, this idyllic island has long been a getaway favourite for marine-loving travellers on a budget and has recently undergone an evolution of sorts. No longer a backpacker haven of ramshackle guesthouses, it’s quickly been invaded by the luxury boutique market.
The delightful saltwater pool stands close to the edge of the beach and is the perfect spot to while away another languid tropical afternoon.
This surge in development has brought with it a host of environmental challenges – from energy to water to waste – which is why Ilan Weinblatt was determined to create something beautiful with as little environmental impact as possible. “It was a big commitment to go eco, but we all agreed it was the way to go,” says Ilan. “With an island ecosystem like this one, it’s essential.”
Horse and carts known as cidomos are ubiquitous on the island as there are no motorised forms of transport allowed. The easiest way to reach Gili Eco Villas from the jetty once you arrive by boat.
In a region where the term ‘eco’ is often nothing more than a casually employed marketing prefix, this place is actually walking the talk. Built in the classic Javanese ‘joglo’ pavilion style, using reclaimed teak covered with a thin wash of white paint, each villa is comprised of breezy bedrooms, outdoor bathrooms, open-air kitchens and spacious lounge areas. “We used old reclaimed wooden houses from Java, which all of us loved,” says Ilan. Old hardwood is the best material for a marine environment; cement and iron just don’t last. At the same time, we wanted to create a light, contemporary feel for the interiors.”
A snorkeller swims towards a Biorock sculpture of an arch to which corals are already accreting. The Gili archipelago has one of the most successful artificial reef programmes in the world.
That means rattan and blonde wood furnishings, beds draped in diaphanous mosquito nets, stone verandahs and whitewashed interiors. There are en suite outdoor bathrooms and between the villas and the beach there’s a swimming pool and even a greenhouse and organic vegetable garden.
A clownfish peeps out of its anemones on a fringing reef in the Gili Archipelago.
Behind the scenes is where the real eco innovation happens though. The property is largely powered by wind and solar, while a biodegradable wastewater treatment system feeds the gardens and organic waste is used for composting. “It was time consuming and took a lot of planning because being genuinely eco is a broad based strategy,” says Ilan. “Correctly placing the solar panels and batteries, installing low consumption utilities without compromising comfort, encouraging guests to be eco in an unobtrusive way, even combating beach erosion.”
Despite years of dynamite fishing, there are still some special dive sites around the Gilis and a wide range of dive operators to choose from. A great place to get PADI certifications.
Fortunately, Ilan and his partners are not the only environmentally minded people on Gili Trawangan. The Gili Eco Trust is a charitable foundation working with local government, businesses, residents and visitors to mitigate the impacts of the real estate gold rush. They’re helping develop effective waste management systems, teaching ecology to locals and building Bio Rock artificial reefs around the island - one of the biggest and best managed reef restoration projects in the region.
Gili Trawangan is known as the party island - but find the right stretch of beach and you'll be able to bask in Robinson Crusoe style seclusion. Head to the business end of town near the jetty for the party vibe.
These metal frames are charged with low voltage electricity to encourage the growth of coral polyps, creating fertile new reef systems and helping prevent beach erosion. Gili Eco Villas works closely with the Trust and even have their own Bio Rock sculpture directly in front of the resort, which is steadily growing a carapace of coral.
A cidomo heads past Gili Eco Villas at a canter. There are concerns about how the ponies are treated, so generally speaking a bike is probably a more conscious way to get around. Most resorts hire them out.
“The most amazing thing is how much our staff have got into the whole eco thing,” exclaims Ilan. “They plant nurseries and trees, our cook is asking for healthy eating recipes and everyone is coming up with ideas to make things better.” Add to this the resort’s healthy eating restaurant, the only greenhouse on the island growing organic veggies plus massage and yoga and you can be sure the Swiss Family Robinson never had it so good.
