Bali New Settlers – What’s Next?
The traffic is next level nowadays.
I reside on the north side of The Great Wall of Canggu. This means every day by 2pm the only way in and out of Canggu, or at least Berawa, are congesting more than a wet market attendant’s nose in Beijing, no way in or out. If you are in a car forget it. Abandon ship ASAP. You’re better off walking except you are likely to be hit by some crazed motorbike rider most probably high on something trying to escape the reality of the new Bali traffic. Some days it’s not so bad—you can fly through the wall without even stopping, but they are few and you have to give thanks for such moments.
During Covid it was different. I used to pop the dogs in the back of the old Kijang and trundle off to Double Six Beach without a care and the wind in my hair. It would take 15 to 20 minutes from Berawa, unless there was a hold up in front of Monsieur Spoon or somewhere with some random uber-large Jakarta plated Alpha trying to park. That could hold you back enough time to go in and buy a croissant. The beach was like some deserted island without a person, umbrella or day bed in sight. Just the sound of the cracking waves as they broke on the pristine white sand.
Fast forward to now. It does make you wonder where all the traffic comes from nowadays. I read that international tourist numbers are running at about 40% of pre-covid numbers. The Chinese aren’t even back. Obviously, there are many local domestic tourists continually arriving (with their cars), but there are no concrete figures on that hand. Possibly there is another answer for this traffic/jam phenomenon and that could be that half the people arriving here aren’t going home again. Are they coming here with one-way tickets and setting up shop? It makes you wonder.
All that time to think about life, or the lack of it, during lockdown in some god-forsaken part of the world looking at pretty pictures of this tropical island on Instagram may have done it. “That’s it, I’m outta here!” is heard as a collective rush or stampede for the gate at airports around the world heralded the beginning of the re-opening of the world – and an opportunity to get away once and for good. The central government has also made it easier for prospective new settlers too with a new 10 year second home visa proposed to open the flood gates even wider come the New Year.
But as another restaurant, bar, store or beach club opens one can only wonder, first, who is going to staff these new fashionable places that are literally opening every week because there aren’t any staff left on the island, and then, who is going to visit them. It’s hard to say. Maybe the new settlers will feed each other’s new venues to keep them alive. But the reality is probably most of them will be gone in the next couple of moons and only the strongest will survive – as usual.
Or maybe not, maybe it all just gets bigger and bigger with more people arriving every day to feed all these new businesses. But then that brings us back to the traffic and lack of new roads to cater to more vehicles and people. #rollyoureyes
These are interesting times on the island and it will be very interesting to see what will happen over the next year. For good or bad, there is no stopping it. Suggestions. Doing your moving around town early in the day, or late at night is a good way forward.
Christmas Dining in Bali 2022
Christmas is a special time on Bali. The island is a world renovation for great food and restaurants and there are plenty of options for everyone for festive season dining. Here is a list of some of the options. More coming soon, check back again.
Cout d’etat
Create a memorable Christmas Eve celebration with your dearest ones where you can feast on a sumptuous seafood luxe dinner with highlights including Kaluga Caviar, king crab, cold water lobster, and premium bubbles at our heavenly sunset spot Palm Deck starting from 6 PM onwards.
Seafood luxe dinner: IDR 1,500,000++
Add a bottle of bubble for IDR 650,000++*
* only applicable with Christmas Eve menu
Once again, the iconic KDT Christmas Day is here and we are ready to celebrate this joyous time with festive indulgences, live entertainment, arts and crafts and surprises for KDT juniors. Experience this jolly time of the year with a delectable four-course Christmas set menu prepared by Executive Chef Jeremy Hunt and his team starting from 12 PM.
Sip on some festive cocktails as the kids get stuck into a ton of activities while waiting for our signature, much-anticipated visit from Santa! Dance and sing along to the beats carried out by Reyna and The Paper Hearts from 4 PM towards the sunset, all in the beautiful backdrop of KU DE TA, will be a guaranteed good-time experience for all ages not to be forgotten!
Christmas Lunch Set Menu
Adults: IDR 750K++ per person
Children: IDR 300K++
For more information and reservations, please contact our reservation team:
[email protected] Message WA
W Bali
Let’s kick off to celebrate this wonderful season and make your Christmas Eve a special one with family and friends. Enjoy a delectable dinner buffet with various choices from European and Asian favorites to fresh seafood options – don’t miss out on the sweet endings!
Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet
STARFISH BLOO
6PM – 10PM. Soft Drink Package : IDR 1,200,000. Bubbles Package : IDR 1,950,000
**Kids may order from a la carte
FIRE RESTAURANT
6PM – 10PM. Soft Drink Package : IDR 1,200,000. Bubbles Package : IDR 1,950,000
Children Package : IDR 600,000
Christmas Day Buffet
SOLD OUT
Make your Christmas day even more delightful! Spend a joyous buffet dinner with lots of mouth-watering food choices and toast the Festive season with our bubbles package!
Christmas Day Buffet Dinner
STARFISH BLOO
6PM – 10PM. Soft Drink Package : IDR 1,200,000. Bubbles Package : IDR 1,950,000
**Kids may order from a la carte
FIRE RESTAURANT
6PM – 10PM. Soft Drink Package : IDR 1,200,000. Bubbles Package : IDR 1,950,000
Children Package : IDR 600,000
HARD ROCK HOTELS BALI
Bring the whole family to the Hard Rock Hotel Bali for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience that is packed with fantastic live entertainment, a variety of fun activities, and an abundance of colorful festive traditions.
The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Tropical Buffet Dinner features a variety of live cooking stations, a never-ending array of holiday classic specialties’ such as roast turkey, gammon ham, Angus beef strip loin, and along the festive feast journey, your taste buds will be tantalized by a chilled seafood bar with tiger prawns, Java de Clair oysters, and Asari clams. A delectable dessert stand later awaits filled with eight different Christmas sweets including a homemade ice cream station. A Christmas choir and a visit from Santa to the children’s corner will make the evening even more festive and cheery.
The Tropical Christmas Buffet Dinner is from 6 pm to 9.30 pm both nights and priced at IDR 600,000++ per adult with 50% off for kids under 12 and kids under 6 eat free for every accompanying adult. An unlimited house wine, selected cocktails, beer, juices and soft drinks are also available for only IDR 400,000++ per person.
For more information and reservations, please contact Nisa, F&B Sales Manager via WhatsApp at +62 62811 3861 373
WHITE ROCK BEACH CLUB
TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY!☃️🎄
Join WHITE ROCK BEACH CLUB for a sumptuous Christmas Day Brunch with an extravagant menu including Roast Rosemary Chicken and Roast Rib Eye Saikoro! Yum! Soups, starters, bread, more mains, sides and desserts are also included.
Come early for general admission as it’s first-come-first serve! Get ready to enjoy the coolest DJ’s and entertainment galore!
PS. Don’t forget to snap a photograph with Santa!
Christmas Day Brunches. 25 December 2022. 12pm – 4pm
IDR 399K++ per pax
MULIA HOTEL BALI
JOYFUL FESTIVITIES Time to celebrate the holidays with various festive feasts and fun activities at Mulia Bali.
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY
24 December 2022 THE CAFE Dinner: 6 PM – 11 PM. Feast with joy as we bring the signature dining experience at The Cafe this Christmas with our culinary theaters. Discover delectable cuisines from Indonesia, Thailand, China, Korea, and Japan and journey on with your palate to the West before indulging in the sweetest dessert wonderland.
SOLEIL A La Carte Dinner: 6 PM – 11 PM We bring you the marvelous cuisines of the Mediterranean and Pan-Asia this Christmas at Soleil. With the stunning Indian Ocean backdrop, delight in a selection of homemade pasta, premium meats and the freshest seafood. EDOGIN Dinner: 6 PM – 11 PM Indulge in the exquisite dining experience at Edogin’s signature teppan-yaki buffet dinner. Savor the freshest seafood in authentic Japanese cuisine like sushi, sashimi, and many more generations-old recipes from the land of the rising sun.
TABLE8 DINNER: 6PM – 11PM Bali’s beloved Chinese specialty restaurant will pamper diners this holiday with its signature Cantonese style Dim Sum and favorite Chinese delicacies at the live cooking stations.
CHRISTMAS EVE FUNTASTIC 24 December 2022 6 PM – 9.30 PM We invite all Santa’s little VIPs to have fun with various games and activities. From the Bouncy Castle to fun arts and crafts, let your little ones have fun with ease while you feast!
A CHRISTMAS CAROL 24 December 2022 7 PM to 8.30 PM Enjoy a live choir performance of holiday tunes to accompany your dining experience with us.
A JOYOUS TROPICAL CHRISTMAS 25 December 2022 THE CAFE Lunch: NOON – 3 PM Dinner: 6 PM – 11 PM
Share the delicious holiday classics along with the signature dishes of The Cafe with your loved ones. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat dining experience on Christmas Day and go around the world with our culinary presentation.
HO HO HO! HERE COMES SANTA! 10AM–1PM
Kids get in line because Santa’s in town and he’s bringing lots of gifts to share on this special day. Let the little ones meet the jolly old man and play various games and crafts at our little Christmas playground.
SOLEIL BRUNCH: 11 AM – 3 PM The island’s most sought-out Sunday Brunch invites you to celebrate Christmas with an exquisite dining experience. Savor the selection of fresh pasta, premium meats and seafood, and all-time favorites that await on the merriest day of the year.
DINNER: 6PM – 11PM Dine in style with our selection of classic recipes from the Mediterranean and Pan-Asia; choose from our extensive menu or ask for the chef’s recommendation to celebrate your Christmas Day.
EDOGIN DINNER: 6 PM – 11 PM Delight in a selection of all-you-can-eat authentic Japanese dishes available at Edogin this Christmas Day. Savor the assorted sushi and sashimi featuring the freshest seafood from the world’s oceans to the impressive teppanyaki that leaves diners feeling entertained and satisfied.
TABLE8 LUNCH: NOON – 3 PM DINNER: 6 PM – 11 PM The tradition of celebration is always about good food and good company. Staying true to that, Table8 promises to pamper you on Christmas Day with its authentic Chinese delicacies in this all-you-can-eat feast.
MORE INFO AND BOOKING
BALI CHRISTMAS SHOP
If you are staying home for Christmas dining and looking for Christmas decorations Bali Christmas Shop is now open! Step into a winter wonderland of Holiday Treats, Christmas Trees, Santa Hats, Stockings and so much more!
Shop at the Canggu Station Store, on Berawa from 9am-9pm everyday.