In Reply to: Turtle Island posted by 1stTimers on Sunday, 6. February 2005 at 14:03 Bali Time:
Not sure if there are two different turtle islands because some people say it's lovely, and this could certainly not sum up the place we went to.
As you arrive there you are confronted by mountains of rubbish piled high around the water and the smell is disgusting. The "island" is a concrete pool which is shallow and filthy and full to the brim with these poor turtles trying to move around.
We found it the most depressing place we've ever been to. You are able to touch the turtles if you like, but I couldn't stay - I found the whole experience to be awful and would not recommend the place to anyone.
You are given a spiel about how these turtles are only here while they recuperate then they are set free, but this is a load of crap. It's purely touriest driven. The Hawkers nab you as soon as you arrive and are relentless.
As I say, there must be two places because I have read some posts on here about a totally different place to the one we experienced.
Maybe someone could confirm this.
Jen