Changing face of Seminyak

Bali has been changing rapidly in the last 10 year, both physically and socially. Ten years ago it was not on for a Balinese girl to date a foreigner, at least not without the understanding it would lead to marriage. I have a foreign friend who told me about a time when a girls male relatives came to his house looking for him. Fortunately she called him to warn him. Times are changing and new ideas are blooming in the midst of an old culture. In some areas in Seminyak it actually feels like an old culture trying to survive in the midst of rampant development.

A walk along Jl. Oberoi will take you past remnants of rice fields. Ten years ago this was mostly all rice fields, now its wall to wall restaurants and boutiques, all promising a ‘rice field view’. It must be weird for the old people, working the land as they always have done, but with rich westerners viewing them over a cappuccino. The area off of Jl. Oberoi leading to Body works spa is a prime example of how locals have finally thrown in the towel, seeing that their land will bring in more money from develpment than rice production. The first step in the process is draining the fields, then laying down limestone, the white base that is brought from the Bukit by the truckload.

Jl. Oberoi and Jl. Petitenget are hot property and you will no doubt see a collidoscope of new places opening in thre next few years.