Back in 2018, Lombok was tipped to be the next big thing in Indonesia. After a devastating earthquake in 2018 and covid, things have stalled on the tourism front, but it’s far less crowded than Bali and a much larger selection of white sand beaches.
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Talk about roads and flats being too small is an opening for more development. With more development brings the loss of natural beauty. We have to choose between these two things. I say those narrow roads and small places are perfect.
I went to Lombok many years ago… and would NEVER GO BACK! Bad vibes…..
Love your videos and want to thank you for introducing me to the music of HATAMITSUNAMI. Looking forward to vids of your coming bike trip.
Been visiting Bali since 1986, the Missus since 1974. No, Lombok doesn't look like Bali in 1986, perhaps mid 90's. We've tended to stay in a small, familiar area for the last 20 years, really since the bombimg. This year ventured to Seminyak and to an amazing restaurant at the north end of Canggu. Maybe 15 kilometres by road……….and roughly 2 1/2 hours each way! Never again. We knew it was bad but had no idea how bad. Ive no idea why anybody would go there, never mind extol the virtues of it. There are still lovely peaceful parts of Bali but they are becoming rarer and smaller by the day. A classic case of loving somewhere to death. We now head to other places for a quiet time and I'm not saying where.
Very few ever mention the medical requirements to enter Indonesia > go figure Counties like Thailand continue to benefit by the easing of such unnecessary standards.
This topic in & of itself is by far the primary drawback keeping MANY away > certainly no anonymous fear mongering (likely bs) commentary will be keeping ppl away > the comments You read were hilarious….as if right out of a Stephen King Novel 😂
Been visiting Lombok regularly for the past 12 years and have been all around the island on my bike. Never had a problem. People have always been nice & helpful. It's always been an amazing adventure which is why i always go back. Always something new to discover.
I spent 2 months in Bali in 2019. I love it. Like you had a bad experience in Lombok in that North Eastern port,, very weird aggressive vibe-it unfortunately really put me off as we felt very unsafe going forward and only spent 3 days there (didn't help
it was Ramadan).
Well that’s true, Bali’s traffic so horrible specially at touristy areas
Agree with you Freddie! 6:40 The locals makes certain place feels special, and Balinese is a highly cultured people that shown us just that, despite lacking of their government's investment on roads and fixing public transport issues…
Really loved this series Freddie! I learned a lot about the three countries, very interesting and entertaining as well. I will consider visiting Singapore but will give Bali a mis, cheers.
It has flown past. Interesting as always👍
Go back to UK to the island monkeys, you talk so much shit and have no idea about Indonesia
FredDie the NAIVE 🤣🤫
Go Far Far Away, Balinese Don't need people like U 👎👎
I really like the honesty of your experience. Great couple of months giving a real insight to staying in this country. Just like Tenerife, your stay shows so much of the Island rather than a mainstream high budget version. You two are the best!
I enjoyed that series Freddie. Definately not somewhere I intend to visit but I have now, via your eyes. 👍🏼
Lombok is the next tourism destination, the road is empty and the view is stuning in every corner.
Negatives of Bali are primarily for the hearts of the tourist areas & close around.
There’s no place like home. Safe travels to you and Monica.
love the channel fred and monica looking forward to more
Its interesting what you say about Lombok as I never had any problems and I have been twice . Travelled all around on a scooter . Of course one feels safe until something bad happens.
Traffic?stop staying in hyped places then, explore more, Bali is huge, what are you doing there in Kerobokan – Canggu area if you hate the traffic?
Did you visit West, North and East Bali ? No real traffic issues there. South Bali is only a small part of Bali. I assume you spent time in Ubud and Canggu as these are the 2 worse areas for traffic…we are arriving in a few weeks for our 6th visit and will NOT be going to any of those areas, there is so much to explore outside the tourist areas.. thanks for the videos, safe travels home.
Freddie,
Accurate comments about Bali today.
I'm Singaporean and wife is from Java. We were in Bali for 6 days just a few days ago. We visit Bali / Java often and we were previously considering Bali for our retirement home….. were.
Totally agree with you on the traffic situation. It's terrible. We were fortunate that a friend lent us a scooter from the airport and we returned it to friend at airport, so we never used a car for the 6 days.
Granted that perhaps there were many extra visitors from Java (because of the Hari Raya holidays and the China Labour Day long break), the traffic was horrible. Counted ourselves lucky to be on a scooter and riding pass all the slow moving/ stationary vehicles. Bike traffic wasn't that great either with everyone riding on left, on pavement, in between vehicles and literally every gap possible to get ahead.
Locals, on the other hand, appear to welcome the "new situation", because it means the return of much needed spendthrift tourist and $$$.
Riding around, you would have noticed many shops and malls shuttered. Victims of the travel restriction. Now that travel is back, labour to run these businesses are missing as most returned to their hometowns on the other islands.
The traffic and increased crowd has made us reconsider retirement in Bali. On the other hand, returning travellers have made the idea of purchasing a investment property more attractive (long term lease or Airbnb). So like all else, there's the good and the bad of revenge travel.
Keep up the great videos and if ever in Singapore, let me know. Seems you didn't get to see all in Singapore and I hope I get the chance to show you the real Singapore.
Cheers
Richard
I haven’t been to Bali since 2000… I went there 7 times in the 90s..thanks for your honest review…I’m in no rush to return…
In 1981 I went to Bali on the way back from Australia, only 4 hours from Perth. I stayed in Kuta, which although fairly busy, (mainly with Aussies, as Bali is the equivalent of how popular Majorca is to the Brits), it was not grid locked. I rode around the rest of the stunningly beautiful island which had no traffic. I back packed from Bali to Java, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. On my return to England, I described Bali to my friends and family, as the best place I had visited, a paradise on earth. I suppose paradise lost was inevitable with the growth of tourism.
Thanks for these insights, conclusion for me is there are nicer places to enjoy
I don't understand that so many people stay in the south area of Bali. There are so many beautiful places to stay without heavy traffic. For ex. Amed area.
Great video and decent comment, Bali has changed over the years we have visited, we have made lots of friends and family but even I wouldn’t visit certain islands and areas without our Bali family.
In regards to the traffic….it’s manic but we are never in a rush to get somewhere we just call it bali time..