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                                                                                                           local Tuesday 4 June 2024

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



            (Oranjestad)—Once       lo-
            cated  in  what  is  now  the
            Renaissance  Marina,  the
            Bali  Restaurant  was  once
            both  a  touristic  and  local
            hot  spot,  and  nowadays
            it’s  considered  a  forgotten
            gem on the island.

            Known as “the floating res-
            taurant”,  Bali  first  opened
            in  1955  by  Willem  “Bill”
            Strijland,  who  had  experi-
            ence  in  Javanese  cuisine.
            At the time, the restaurant
            was    pretty   exclusive—
            with space to host only 25
            guests. Yet, 4 years later, it
            was  named  the  best  res-
            taurant  in  the  Caribbean
            by  the  Caribbean  Tourist
            Association.

            The  restaurant  was  proba-
            bly most iconic for its Java-  taken over by Karel “Carl”  “The New Bali”, who had its  to other owners, and since  tion:  if  you  or  any  family
            nese-inspired  exterior  with  Schmand.  Over  the  years,  official (re)opening in 1972.   then suffered from unstable  member  of  yours  have  a
            its  pointy,  slanted  roofs.  the   restaurant   needed                               pillars underneath the foun-  memory of the Bali restau-
            However, the first version of  constant  renovation  and  After  1972,  when  Ronny  dation,  resulting  in  various  rant,  whether  it  be  a  pic-
            Bali did not look like that at  repair, mainly due to its vul-  Schmand  took  over,  the  leaks  and  overflowing  of  ture or just a story, share it
            all  but  was  still  considered  nerability  to  leaks  and  the  restaurant saw yet another  water  into  the  restaurant.  with  us!  We  would  love  to
            as  one  of  the  most  popu-  unstable pillars underneath  expansion;  this  time  com-  And  as  most  great  things  see this legendary hot spot
            lar restaurants on the island  the  foundation.  However,  plete  with  a  long  bar  and  come to an end, so did the  through the lens of our visi-
            at the time. The restaurant  the biggest change made  dance  floor,  where  guests  survival  and  maintenance  tors!  q
            saw three different owners  to the restaurant happened  enjoyed  live  music  from  of  the  Bali  Restaurant.
            during its existence, during  in the year 1970—still under  legendary  Aruban  musi-   However,  folks  today  still  Source and pictures credit
            which it underwent various  the ownership of Schmand,  cian  and  composer,  Toti  reminisce  its  legacy,  and  to: “De Kolibrie op de Rots
            renovations  and  rebrand-   when it got its iconic pointy  Arends.                    it’s  now  considered  a  lost  (en meer over de geschie-
            ing.                         roofs.  The  restaurant  was                              monument.                    denis van Aruba)” by Evert
                                         also  expanded  to  host  a  After  1989,  the  restaurant                             Bongers.
            In 1964, the restaurant was  total of 85 guests. This was  was  again  handed  over  Be  apart  of  the  conversa-


            Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Picuda!


            (Oranjestad)—If      you’re  Let's talk about the names                                in  the  water  waiting  for  This  reflects  the  hunting
            ever  planning  on  snorkel-  of  fish.  Do  you  know  your  Picuda,  Sphyraena  barra-  its  prey  to  approach  so  it  style of the Picuda. It needs
            ing  during  your  vacation  fish?  This  is  an  informative  cuda, Greater Barracuda  can attack it with lightning  to  be  able  to  accelerate
            on  Aruba,  you  may  spot  article  that  illustrate  some  Well  known  is  the  Picuda  speed.  It  is  well  known  for  quickly when the prey gets
            fish  that  you  can’t  recog-  fish and their names in Pa-  on  the  island—Barracuda  fishermen,  especially  for  close.
            nize. One of these may be  piamento,  which  the  De-     in English. Its scientific name  its  white  flesh  in  fish  soup.
            the “Picuda”, a very com-    partment  of  Agriculture,  is  Sphyraena barracuda. It  In fishing culture, there are  In Aruba:
            mon fish that swims all year  Livestock   and   Fisheries,  is a widely caught fish. It is  many other names, such as  Picuda can be found in our
            long in the waters of Aruba.  known  as  “Santa  Rosa”,  found throughout the year  Pecho  blanco,  Blekito,  Ba-   waters  around  our  island
            Here’s  some  information  wants  to  share  and  also  in our waters, where it is a  nana,  or  Bleki.  The  names  throughout  the  year.  Picu-
            about the beloved Picuda.    obtain information from the  so-called  "ambush  preda-   vary according to size.      da, in our waters, is edible
                                         public.                      tor"  that  stays  still  or  floats                      without any problem. Picu-
                                                                                                   Description                  da  is  also  a  highly  sought-
                                                                                                   The  Picuda  is  a  long  fish,  after  fish  by  sports  fisher-
                                                                                                   with  a  round  body  like  a  men  or  recreational  fisher-
                                                                                                   torpedo  and  silver  in  color  men  because  it  puts  up  a
                                                                                                   with  shiny  black  stripes.  good fight once hooked. It
                                                                                                   Below,  that  is,  the  belly,  is  can  be  caught  via  trolling
                                                                                                   whiter,  while  the  top  part  from  a  boat,  casting  from
                                                                                                   is  darker.  Its  snout  is  very  shore with a line or rod, or
                                                                                                   pointed, and the lower jaw  by jigging, casting the lure
                                                                                                   is  longer  than  the  upper  (artificial bait) and moving
                                                                                                   one.  Its  peduncle,  where  it with certain rod motions.
                                                                                                   the  body  meets  the  tail,
                                                                                                   is  thick,  while  the  tail  also   Picture courtesy of the De-
                                                                                                   forms a crescent but in this   partment of Agriculture, Live-
                                                                                                   case  one  more  "full"  than         stock and Fisheries.
                                                                                                   that  of  mullet  or  conefish.
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