I went to a lovely beach on the Adriatic Sea while in Italy, but can’t remember the name. The Outer Banks of North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach, Key West and Sanibel Island.
My preference are the approved nudist beaches in Sydney Harbour, Lady Bay and Obelisk - Cobblers in Middle Harbour is Ok too but a lot more family oriented.
Australia has so many fantastic beaches - yes Bronte and Bondi as well as Tamaramma and Manly are extremely popular.
Diego Garcia was awesome.
Hubbie, thanks to 29 years in the Air Force, in both the regulars and reserves he has been all over the world and he loves beaches. Places like Hawaii, Philippines, Create, Greece, and many more. A few years ago he took me to Europe and the Med. We visited many beaches. We still preferre the sugarsand beaches of Fort Walton / Destin
Brandie
Benalumin, South Goa.......
My Karma just ran over your Dogma
I'm sure everyone has head of the great Bali beaches. Pristine white and black sand beaches touched by the blue/green waters, and drenched in sunshine. Don't believe it. Nothing but trash on the beaches and in the water. Yes, tourist contribute a small part but natives could care less about where they throw their trash. One unfortunate thing is that while the hotels do try to keep the beaches clean, the current refuses to cooperate and brings in more trash from areas in Java. Totally disgraceful. While the local media reports on it, the Tourist Ministry keeps trying to sell you "Wonderful Indonesia."
Other places in Indonesia are just as full of trash or even worse. All contributed to the natives habit of every weekend packing up the families, heading to the beaches or public areas, cooking on the beach, and in the end, leaving all their trash scattered where they sat. Of course, they throw it out of their car windows and have no reservations about tossing a trash bag from home directly into the ocean. Wherever they are near.
While the main tourist locations are trash, there are still some nice beaches. Lombok has nice beaches for now but they are pushing the area for tourist now. The beaches are OK but to get to them you have to go through piles and piles of trash and garbage because they have no way of getting rid of it off the island. Flores Island has some of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia but lacks any modern or close to modern facilities for hotels and sanitary food outlets. Belitung off of East Sumatra in the Rial Isles has beautiful, well maintained beaches. Packed during the weekend but relatively empty during the week. Mandiri Beach between Tanjung Senang and Kuri in Lampung, Sumatra is gorgeous. During the week you can walk North or South a few kilometers and never see a soul. One entrance only towards the center. This area also has 2+ meter surf in the season from March to November and around 1 meter surf in the off season.
Not to leave out one area. Ache has great beaches in North Sumatra but unfortunately, if you were something that would be normal swim wear in the West you could get arrested. Sharia law rules there and people i know avoid it like a plague. Bikinis are pretty much since Indonesia is a predominately Muslim nation. The ladies can get away with being topless on a lounge chair on Bali's beaches even though it is illegal. Bali is Hindu and know where their finances come from. Of course, you will get the ooglers and the "hey, I'm a stud" locals around you. The rest of Indonesia, guaranteed someone would report you to the police and they would come if for no other reason to collect some cash off of you. Any beach is best during the week days except Bali. Always crowded.
I would be remiss if I did not say the beach out my back door, Malibu Beach, but I am also found of Carmel Beach and any of the beaches up and down the Outer Banks of NC.
Our favorite beach is the one at our camp in Mississippi on the Bogue Chitto River. As for public beaches it is the beaches in Destin / Fort Walton Beach Florida.
Brandie
The same as Brandie, NOLAHotGal, right above. But what ever beach she is on would be my favorite at that moment.
NG504
Outer Banks, NC; Carmel Beach, CA; Malibu Beach, CA; Monterosso Beach in Cinque Terri, Italy