In Reply to: Those pesky Bali visitor numbers posted by JakeB on Saturday, 28. April 2007 at 19:52 Bali Time:
It was a conscious decision to develop Nusa Dua specifically for tourists and ostricise them from Kuta as the government was becoming increasingly concerned with the impact and influence of tourists on the life of the Balinese and their culture in Kuta and probably with good reason.
I found Nusa Dua a nauseatingly boring place to visit and it reminded me of satellite suburbias on the outskirts of a major city, stripped of any character or inkling that you were on a beautiful tropical island with an equally rich culture.
Sure, the grounds, private beaches and staff of Nusa Dua hotels are no doubt impressive but, as a destination reflective of Bali, it is devoid of the soul and spirit of Bali.
I hope further developments do not follow the same well manicured, straight-edged, not a frangipani out of place path of Nusa Dua. The Balinese have learnt to live with tourism and, on the whole, still retain their deep conviction to their religion, culture and beliefs.