Bali has a developed tourist industry which is heavily weighted towards the southern part of the island.
To cater to the endless stream of people passing through new businesses open up, some close and other make changes in what they are doing.
A couple of months ago I tried to go to BaliBale, a restaurant on Jl. Kunti in Seminyak only to find it closed. It turned out the closure was only temporary as it was undergoing renovations. Whenever I’ve been to BaliBale it has never seemd that busy, in fact there were only about 5 or 6 tables.
Last night I went back and the size of the downstairs area had doubled. Not only that there is an upstairs area and the number of full tables last night numbered about 9. This is good news! BaliBale offers Indonesian food with a definate Chinese tint, the red lanterns at the door offer a hint at this.
I chose a duck dish for 32,000rp which was tasty and with a portion of white rice just the size I needed.
After hitting BaleBali I went down to Blue Ocean beach where Zanzibar and Benny’s are located to have a drink at De Ja Vu, the Spy Bar clone with the view.
At 9.30pm this place was deserted with a dozen or so trendy waiters and bartenders prancing around and trying to find a shiny surface to practice their pouts into.
I ordered a white russian which came complete with yoghurt thick milk…obviously well off. The replacement was very good. Drinks here go for around 50,000rp depending on what you’re drinking. I understand that De Ja Vu, which is down the beach from Double Six nightclub, fills the role of halfway house between Jl. Dhyana Pura and Double Six which opens at midnight. The thing I like is its open to the street and right there you have the waves crashing in front of you.
Today is an overcast rainy affair and riding through Jl. Benesari I got a reminder that village life isn’t far away.
I stopped for a cup of lemon tea to give me a boost and talked to the waitress at one place about tourism. She told me business picked up briefly over Christmas / New Year but was lack once more. She said March will be the next big season.
Sitting here at Internet Outpost on Poppies II I chatted to the owner, Potter about the expansion that will hapen over the next few months. Basically the size of the place will almost triple with the neighboring space and the upstairs being used. What a great travellers meeting place!
The rainy weather will continue off and on for the next couple of months. Here’s our 10 day forecast.
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Hey Barrie, yes mate I wonder what those women will do. Actually there is a new little t-shirt shop on the side of that building facing into the alley, selling soccer shirts.
Maybe Potter could give the ladies uniforms and they could drag people in I/O…’hello darling, you want to check e-mail yeees?’
Is he going to go Global and install satellite tv, beer and couches upstairs?
Nick, do any of the internet cafes have webcams?
G’Day Nick,
You crack me up!. Those ladies - …check email meester and a massage too eh’
As far as I know the internet cafes do not have web cams. Internet Outpost has one that is mounted on a computer close to the front door.
I’m getting excited… I’m trying to come up with funds for a trip… won’t be long.
Nick - did you ever get an Alphasmart? Would I/O let one connect via USB to download?
-eb
G’Day Nick,
Interesting to read that the Outpost will be expanding. Fabulous idea utilising the upstairs (which was really only storage eh) and the next door. Now that will really annoy ‘that’ group of ladies who hustle from that corner!.