Body surfing and snorkelling in South Lombok, Indonesia (written by an old fart)

Surfers' beach, 7 min walk  from Novotel Lombok across a very rickety footbridge - think "Indiana Jones" - ice cold Bintang (large) A$3 from huts (left corner)

When the Novotel was built here in 1997 (about 3 km east of Kuta Beach) they picked the perfect spot. Azure waters, distant breakers, white sand, incredible rocky outcrops. From the hotel beach you can snorkel out to where the waves are breaking, then catch a few waves body surfing on your way back. Catching a wave, while multi-coloured coral flashes past your mask is quite an experience.
Minimum equipment: reef shoes (a must for low tide), snorkel and mask, tee-shirt/blockout (the sun can be a killer on your neck and shoulders). Those hand flipper thingies would be good also.

Next big thing: 20 minutes east from the Novotel is a beach called Tanjung Aan. Turquoise water, whitest sand stretching for 2 km or more. Forget Senggigi Beach in North Lombok! Now the new airport is finished in Praya, watch out for luxury resorts sprouting up in the coming years. At the moment there are just shacks and warung.

The OTHER Kuta, Kuta Beach, Lombok, Indonesia

Novotel private pool villa, beachfront, quite reasonable price

Australians love Kuta (Bali). Kuta = hair braiding, tattoos on old Australians, Bintang tank tops, more tatts, "Kiss me Ketut" and "I f*ucked Rhonda" tee-shirts and more tatts on old leathery skin.

There is another Kuta, in Lombok (a 20 minute plane ride away, then 20 mins by taxi from the new Praya Airport, South Lombok). It is a good alternative to Senggigi Beach in the north. Clear skies, nice snorkelling, spectacular rocky outcrops and distant surf.
Middle class Russians have discovered Bali and Lombok. As have the Javanese from Jakarta.
Only a handful of Australians at the Novotel Lombok. Oh..... and no tatts.