Lombok - Anyone been there??

[Trongpai]

I was there with a group of friends, one who was Indonesian. The hotel was very nice, on the beach, I can't remember the name but it was next to a Mosque that had LOUD speakers that broadcasted at 5am! and then every hour after.

The hotel had a nice pool the bordered the beach and beggars and sellers of junk items stalked the area at the hotel border. It was impossible to get to the beach without 20 or more of them following you. Everyplace we went there were aggressive beggars.

We all went to dinner at a very nice Korean restaurant. There were 8 of us and some were on the obvious gay side. I guess a call went out and when we left the restaurant and walked back to the main road there were a line of local boys trying to get our attention. None of us were in the market but if I was, there was nothing that I saw that caught my attention.

It was a pretty Island but I don't think I would go back. There's many places in Thailand that look identical and you don't have to deal with aggressive beggars.

Gill Island is also scenic but limited amenities. One of our party went for a swim and claimed he saw a sea snake. That kept the rest of us out of the water.

Back in Bali one of the Americans was at a tourist site with an other American who has lived in Indonesia for 10 years. There were people selling these intricate wood carving on the sidewalk. The guy who lived here said don't buy anything from them, they all crooks. The visitor said he knows wood carving and for 100 dollars it's a bargain. The guy agreed to buy it, they wrapped it all up in newspapers and taped it well. When he got back to the hotel he opened it and found out it was not the carving but just a bundle of sticks and scrap wood. He claimed he watched them wrap the carving. I guess there was a distractor and switch, but he could not recall what happened.

The response from the Balinese driver, they must have been from Lombart!

[Gaybutton]

Will provide you guys with a full report in May!

Thank you. I'm looking forward to it. I always enjoy reading about new places with good potential for a visit.

Seminyak was too gay? Sounds like my kind of place.

[Jun]

I can't remember the name but it was next to a Mosque that had LOUD speakers that broadcasted at 5am! and then every hour after.

The hotel had a nice pool the bordered the beach and beggars and sellers of junk items stalked the area at the hotel border. It was impossible to get to the beach without 20 or more of them following you. Everyplace we went there were aggressive beggars.

Thanks for the info, that's two reasons why I don't want to go there any more.

Are such problems common in other parts of Indonesia? Maybe I need to stick to nice Buddhist countries.

[Gaybutton]

REPORT IN MAY...
GWM

Thank you. I'm looking forward to your report. I hope you'll have some photos to go with it.