Kuta & Tuban

Kuta's claim to fame owes much to two things : its beach (originally Bali's best) and the simply magnificent sunset. Apart from surfing on its huge breakers and strolling for miles on the pearly white beach, shopping is a must with the wide variety and number of shops and street vendor selling rattan bags, batik shirts and range of other interesting mementos. Street-side cafes are ideal for people-watching while the numerous restaurants offer cuisines from around the world. Nightlife is vibrant : pubs and discos are popular watering hotels for revelers.Beach bungalows first opened in Kuta in the 1930's but mass tourism did not start here until the late 60's. During this period, Kuta boomed, becoming were turned into losmen, then into hotels. T-shirts sold on the beach were replaced by a thriving garment and handicraft industry. The hippies either left or stuck it rich, and Kuta has become one of the most dynamic places in Indonesia : a place to encounter new ideas and lifestyles and a place to experience all manner of pleasures.