In Reply to: lombok posted by kylie on Monday, 6. November 2006 at 17:32 Bali Time:
Utter crap. "We" (I suppose you mean most western tourists) possess more than 90% of the population in Indonesia, including Bali in all probability. Does the fact that "we" possess more stop us from going to Bali??? Nope. So why should it stop us going to Kuta, Lombok?? Or anywhere else in less advantaged countries. Your comment is not valid.
Who advised you not to leave your hotel there??? Probably someone who'd never been there, too. No, "we don't live like them" but we don't live like the vast majority of Balinese, or other Indonesians or Thais or Malaysians etc etc either. I don't understand your point. Should we stay in our comfy suburban quarter acre blocks because "we don't live like them & have so much more than what they do" rather than travel & enjoy their cultures & life styles. And, by doing so, enrich their economies? Not to mention enrich our own lives & broaden our horizons.
Have you been to Kuta, Lombok? I very much doubt it. I actually have & I love it, as does my husband who spends several weeks a year there surfing. When I'm there I spend hours daily wandering around on my own. And I feel as safe there as in Kuta, Bali, if not more so. And NO hassling - a huge bonus.
Kuta, Lombok is a bit like Bali was 25 years ago. It's a delightful, rural place with pleasant people. Sure, it's not as sophisticated re: restaurants & night-life but that's just fine by me. The warungs are excellent as is Helen's superb restaurant up the hill, various hotels or restaurants have bands playing, there are plenty of places to chill out with a beer overlooking the pristine beach. There's a wonderful morning market on Wednesdays & Sundays & the vendors love chatting and explaining, & encouraging you to sample their wares. The people are different from those in Bali, but be aware that Kuta, Lombok does have a large Balinese population.
As a shopper, my only complaint about Kuta, Lombok is the lack of clothes shops.
If you are actually interested in finding out about Kuta, Lombok (which I doubt - you just want to denigrate it) go to the Lombok Lovers site - google for it.