Corruption,terror,squalid conditions are truly an eye opener for the reader. I can't fathom the existence these prisoner's must endure.It all sounds like tales from brutal 1700 era but it's modern day times when we should know better.It should be a must read for anyone going to the beautiful tropical paradise of Bali, especially those who may have a mind for something a little stronger than a cocktail or two.A life changing mistake or if really unlucky a life ending mistake! Picking up a book from it shelves were my favorite thing whenever I flew home since the best foreign bookstore were located at my local airport's waiting room. The title has sparks my interest. "Hotel K", the shocking inside story of Bali's most notorious jail. Ah, Lapas Kerobokan, the home of the infamous Schapelle Corby and other drug mules/criminal/unlucky people in Bali. Surely I have a high expectation reading this book and it didn't fail me. Hotel K, the nickname from the author which was given by its nature of resembling (very very) cheap motel in Bali, with its tennis court, zen garden and choreographed Yoga practice, plus it was surrounded with top rated hotels and villas--were a stereotypical Indonesian Jail with its unkempt rooms inside and 300% over capacity rate with human population were in par with its rat population. But with a small room shared with two dozens other guys, there's always an upgrade as long as you can pay the price. The jail was run with its prisoners' money. Money is the only commodity beside drugs inside. The guards can arrange whatever you want including sex (either with your partner or prostitutes), booze, drugs or even a day out from the jail. Well, being Indonesian myself, it's not a big secret that you can decorate your jail cell or requests an illegal upgrade using money to bribe the jail officials. We've seen a lot of people doing that. Most of the drugs were supplied from the Jail itself and nobody dares to stop it because of the consequences. Told from the third person perspective, the author back up its writing with newspaper collage and some photos from the prisoner (especially foreign prisoner). Even if the author is trying to make the reader sees the humanity of those prisoner by exposing the unjust system in it, the thing is I don't see the repentance after their action. I'm not pro drugs and certainly thinks it's destroying a lot of people lives making them lost their loved ones and reading the fact that most of them were unrepentant for their action were infuriating.
What do You think about Hotel Kerobokan (2009)?
This is a horror story and I recommend it for anyone going to Bali - just be aware when you do go!
—jhnh1010
I suggest reading Snowing in Bali after this book. Both by same author.
—xauky
thrilling but after a 100 pages you get the point. it's a shit hole.
—amy
