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LOCAL Saturday 15 June 2024

June 21: Experience the ACF full moon hike!

(Oranjestad)—Every month when shining in the night sky, while also
the moon is full, the Aruba Con- enjoying the cool night breeze
servation Foundation (previously and the beautiful sound of waves
known as the Aruba National Park crashing on the rocky shore lines.
Foundation, FPNA) hosts its month- Participants are expected to meet
ly full moon hike for both mem- and the Visitor Center at 6:30 pm
bers and non-members. For this this Friday, June 21st. The journey
month, they are offering yet an- will cover 4.4 km/2.7 miles and is es-
other chance to join in on the fun, timated to end around 9pm. Non-
and take advantage of seeing the resident participants can enjoy this
beautiful Aruban night sky! night with an entree fee of 30 dol-
lars. If you wish to participate, you
For this month’s full moon event, can sign up for the event through
the hike will start at the Arikok Visi- this link:
tor Center, where participants will https://forms.office.com/r/XCb-
be led through Northern Loop, Je7ZS2m, or contact the FNPA at
Sero Cabay, Connection Road, (297) 585 1234.q
Miralamar and Visitor Center. With
the moon illuminating your way, You can also e-mail, info@acf.aw
you can have a chance to see a for more info or questions. Spots
few constellations and bright stars are limited, so don’t wait!

The Bali Restaurant: a touristic hot spot and lost gem on the island

(Oranjestad)—Once located in
what is now the Renaissance Ma- After 1989, the restaurant was
rina, the Bali Restaurant was once again handed over to other own-
both a touristic and local hot spot, ers, and since then suffered from
and nowadays it’s considered a unstable pillars underneath the
forgotten gem on the island. foundation, resulting in various
leaks and overflowing of water into
Known as “the floating restau- the restaurant. And as most great
rant”, Bali first opened in 1955 by things come to an end, so did the
Willem “Bill” Strijland, who had ex- survival and maintenance of the
perience in Javanese cuisine. At Bali Restaurant. However, folks to-
the time, the restaurant was pretty day still reminisce its legacy, and
exclusive—with space to host only it’s now considered a lost monu-
25 guests. Yet, 4 years later, it was ment.
named the best restaurant in the
Caribbean by the Caribbean Tour- renovations and rebranding. iconic pointy roofs. The restaurant Be apart of the conversation: if
ist Association. was also expanded to host a to- you or any family member of yours
In 1964, the restaurant was taken tal of 85 guests. This was “The New have a memory of the Bali restau-
The restaurant was probably most over by Karel “Carl” Schmand. Bali”, who had its official (re)open- rant, whether it be a picture or just
iconic for its Javanese-inspired ex- Over the years, the restaurant ing in 1972. a story, share it with us! We would
terior with its pointy, slanted roofs. needed constant renovation and love to see this legendary hot spot
However, the first version of Bali did repair, mainly due to its vulnerabil- After 1972, when Ronny Schmand through the lens of our visitors! q
not look like that at all but was still ity to leaks and the unstable pillars took over, the restaurant saw yet
considered as one of the most pop- underneath the foundation. How- another expansion; this time com- Source and pictures credit to: “De
ular restaurants on the island at the ever, the biggest change made plete with a long bar and dance Kolibrie op de Rots (en meer over
time. The restaurant saw three dif- to the restaurant happened in the floor, where guests enjoyed live de geschiedenis van Aruba)” by
ferent owners during its existence, year 1970—still under the owner- music from legendary Aruban mu- Evert Bongers.
during which it underwent various ship of Schmand, when it got its sician and composer, Toti Arends.