Gili Air Birthday

I did everything I could to save my energy, meaning I took a car to the port even though I only needed a scooter, but a car preserved my energy better. I also walked so slow, got food that would agree with me, floated in the water, and slept on the beach. The day was so relaxing and peaceful, and it was such a gift to spend it there even though I feel like I was half conscious for most of the day. 

I took the 9am ferry out there and chatted with a nice australian grandpa who had a villa on a gili island and said that he had to say hi to me because I reminded him of his granddaughter, how kind.

I found a vegan place to have breakfast that also dueled as a gift store. I called my mom so I could say hi to her on my birthday, and then I waited for Maya and Charley to come. They got to the cafe around 10am and we stayed there for about an hour catching up, they gave me a cute bracelet for my birthday, they also remembered that I collected them from my travels and that was the sweetest gesture ever. We got smoothies, went shopping in the store, and planned out what we wanted to do, aka what beach we would spend the day at. The beaches on the western side were said to be beautiful so that's where we headed.

It was embarrassing how slow I walked, I could not keep up with them but they were so sweet and understanding about everything I was going through. My body was at a new state of tired from the night I had before so this was definitely the hardest I had it so far. We made one stop for Maya to get a crepe, it smelled so good and meant I could sit down, yes I was that out of it physically. But once we got to the most beautiful beach my eyes have ever laid on, I felt a new wave of energy and a resurrection of my joy. 

Immediately I went into the water. I had to relish and truly enjoy the scenery here. Us three went swimming for about 30 minutes, there was no waves, the water was so blue and so warm, it was perfect in there. But, soon enough we were all ready to head in and read and tan. I did neither haha, I sat in the shade but on a comfortable seat with the most plush pillow that the minute I pulled out my book and read a few pages, but I put it right back as my eyelids got heavy and slowly fell. 

I kid you not when I say I was in and out of it for about two hours, but what felt like that was actually over three hours meaning I no doubt passed out without realizing it and my day flew by, but at least I was doing so in the midst of a literal paradise. It was the truly the best way I could spend my birthday, especially given my circumstances, and I was so happy that I found the strength to get myself to Gili Air because it was so lovely and a beautiful place to spend a special day. 

Sadly, Charley and Maya had to catch the ferry back at 4pm and we lost track of time so we didn’t get to grab food together, but they sang to me, gave me so many hugs goodbye, and I really feel now that I have two new friends that I hope to visit. The amount of good friends I have in London is crazy, off the top of my head I have 7 and then in all of the UK its over 10. I feel so blessed to have strengthened my friendship with them as they are the sweetest girls ever. I feel so grateful to have had them to spend the day with, to go somewhere new and beautiful, and to have those memories to last me a lifetime. Even though I was very ill and weak for it, I am proud I still went and want to remember that forever. 

I wanted to eat quick before catching my ferry back so I went back to the same cafe as it was only a three minute walk from the port and I had only twenty minutes until my boat left. So, I got a vegan burger and absolutely inhaled it. It was really delicious, I think I was also really hungry, so it worked out that they could prepare it quickly and I finished it in time to go back and catch my ferry. I also got a vegan peanut butter cup for my birthday dessert, only able to eat half, and the other half would be enjoyed the following morning. 

I was so tired and worn on the ferry ride back I literally closed my eyes for the whole five minutes of the ride, along with the entire car ride back to my hotel. I was starting to feel sick again, my body overworked. When I got back I showered, called my mom once more as it was still my birthday and I usually spend it with her, this was the one phone call I felt least guilty about making her pick up and talk to me. But, when I hung up with her because she had to leave for work, I was so tired I just went to bed and slept a full 12 hours until I woke up the next morning at 7am.