Gili Kapal—The Island under Water

Lombok is surrounded by many gilies or tiny islands. Some gilies are famous and some are remain secret.  One of the unknown gilis is named Gili Kapal. The word “kapal” is originally taken from Indonesian which means “ship”. When the first time I stepped my feet on this island, I felt so extremely lucky because when I came there, it was low tide. When it is high tide, this island will be covered by water since its area only about 5.000 m square. I could not even see this island properly from the beach. It was like a tiny white sparkling bulge on the sea. 

As I came closer, there is no any tree, no one live there, the only habitant who live there are the sea birds. The schools of this white gray bird were landing and walking on the white sand. When they were realized that I was there, they flew away to the blue sky. Then the wave erased their footprints away.  I was overwhelming with excitement when I stood and felt my feet walk in the clear turquoise water and on the white sandy land with my camera in my hand, push its button over and over until I saw some pictures that could make me satisfied. To find this island I need to go the eastern part of Lombok—Pringgabaya. It takes 3 hours from Mataram to Pringgabaya by motorbike.  It was pretty long drive to get there. Well….It was more than worth.