'I miss the past, but we like the money': The Bali-fication of a laidback surfers' island
59 minutes ago Share Save Koh Ewe Singapore , Tri Wahyuni Jakarta and Abdul Latief Apriaman Lombok Share Save
Getty Images Indonesia is on a mission to turn Lombok island into another Bali - and put it on a tourist bucket list
Damar, one of the best surf guides on the Indonesian island of Lombok, feels right at home taking tourists out to sea. With his fluent English and effortless banter, you would never guess what was his childhood fear: foreigners. "When I was 10 or maybe seven, I used to cry - I used to just pee in my pants when I saw white people," Damar, now 39, tells the BBC. That diffidence waned as the laidback island he calls home slowly found its popularity among Western travellers. Just east of Bali, Lombok boasts the same azure beaches and stunning views as its famous neighbour, but without the exasperating crowds. Lombok's beaches are still a hidden gem among surfers, as is Mount Rinjani for hikers. Travel sites still liberally use the word "untouched" to describe the island as they offer reasons to venture beyond Bali. So it should come as little surprise that the Indonesian government has sensed the opportunity to create another lucrative tourist haven on the sprawling archipelago.
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