wayanx

Yeah Bali is small but travel is slow, much slower than Aus. Padang Bai ....A friend used often to go to the Blue Lagoon slightly east of Padang Bai for snorkeling he said it was good, Padang Bai snorkeling didnt impress me that much except for the reef sharks. That eastern bit of Bali.. Karangasem... has the most amazing a-capala social music form called genyek usually goes with tuak. rough palm "wine" catch it if you can.

I'm not a diver but done a bit of snorkeling, mostly down south is pretty crap,maybe Nusa Lembongan is good, though the surf is all onto coral. Some good snorkeling on the Gilies off Lombok but at least Gili Trawangan will be busy with tourists but I remember it as great snorkeling and it was much quieter when I was there. Lombok is one of my least favourite places, entirely due to uptight, avaricious, lecherous locals ( of course this has nothing to do with their religion) but that is only my experience other people seem to like it. I have seen those dragons in the wild on Komodo, its worth it once at least, you look at them, they look at you and you know what it feels like to be on the menu, not the spot for lazing on the beach. Bali is tolerant, there are quiet spots, though if there is a surf it is likely not quiet. Where ever you are even in the midst of tourist spots a relative few steps in the right direction will take you to the true Bali, you just have to find the direction to step in.

Pulau Menjangan off the north coast has good coral reefs I'm told, not much surf up that way though. Aceh is likely the most Muslim place in Indonesia it has Sharia law Lombok and the eastern Islands with surf eg Sumbawa also very muslim and in my experience don't offer much beyond waves and the likelyhood of being robbed. If you are travelling with a woman be aware of islamic notions of modesty, many of these crew are not very tolerant. I'd say most places with a surf the locals are well aware of tourism and the potential pot of gold, Balinese, by and large, at least have a more realistic expectation of what they can extract from you, than the outer island people. I wouldn't write off Bali you will likely have to check it all out and make your own decisions. The tropical secluded beach with perfect waves is mostly a thing of the past but good luck in your quest. Bali has its tourist traps fa sure but still a good destination, I'm biased perhaps, I live there. Far from Kuta.