Page 18 - AHATA
P. 18

A9
                                                                                                           LOCAL Friday 20 September 2024






























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



            (Oranjestad)—Once  locat-
            ed  in  what  is  now  the  Re-
            naissance  Marina,  the  Bali
            Restaurant was once both a
            touristic and local hot spot,
            and  nowadays  it’s  consid-
            ered  a  forgotten  gem  on
            the island.

            Known as “the floating res-
            taurant”, Bali first opened in
            1955 by Willem “Bill” Strijland,
            who had experience in Ja-
            vanese cuisine. At the time,
            the  restaurant  was  pretty  at the time. The restaurant  to the restaurant happened  Aruban musician and com-     it’s  now  considered  a  lost
            exclusive—with  space  to  saw three different owners  in the year 1970—still under  poser, Toti Arends.            monument.
            host  only  25  guests.  Yet,  4  during its existence, during  the ownership of Schmand,
            years  later,  it  was  named  which it underwent various  when it got its iconic pointy  After  1989,  the  restaurant  Be  apart  of  the  conversa-
            the  best  restaurant  in  the  renovations  and  rebrand-  roofs.  The  restaurant  was  was  again  handed  over  tion:  if  you  or  any  family
            Caribbean  by  the  Carib-   ing.                         also  expanded  to  host  a  to other owners, and since  member  of  yours  have  a
            bean Tourist Association.                                 total of 85 guests. This was  then suffered from unstable  memory of the Bali restau-
                                         In 1964, the restaurant was  “The New Bali”, who had its  pillars underneath the foun-  rant, whether it be a picture
            The  restaurant  was  prob-  taken over by Karel “Carl”  official (re)opening in 1972.   dation,  resulting  in  various  or just a story, share it with
            ably  most  iconic  for  its  Schmand.  Over  the  years,                              leaks  and  overflowing  of  us! We would love to see this
            Javanese-inspired  exterior  the   restaurant   needed  After  1972,  when  Ronny  water  into  the  restaurant.  legendary hot spot through
            with its pointy, slanted roofs.  constant  renovation  and  Schmand took over, the res-  And  as  most  great  things  the lens of our visitors!
            However, the first version of  repair, mainly due to its vul-  taurant saw yet another ex-  come to an end, so did the
            Bali did not look like that at  nerability  to  leaks  and  the  pansion; this time complete  survival  and  maintenance   Source and pictures credit to:
            all  but  was  still  considered  unstable pillars underneath  with a long bar and dance  of  the  Bali  Restaurant.   “De Kolibrie op de Rots (en
                                                                                                                                 meer over de geschiedenis
            as  one  of  the  most  popu-  the  foundation.  However,  floor, where guests enjoyed  However,  folks  today  still   van Aruba)” by Evert Bongers.
            lar restaurants on the island  the biggest change made  live  music  from  legendary  reminisce  its  legacy,  and


                                                                              Aruba to me


                                                                              ORANJESTAD — You are back and we  materials,  as  well  as  names,  likeness,
                                                                              would  like  to  portrait  you!  By  inviting  etc. for promotional purposes without
                                                                              you to send us your favorite vacation  compensation.
                                                                              picture  while  enjoying  our  Happy  Is-  Last but not least: check out our web-
                                                                              land.                                  site,  Instagram  and  Facebook  page!
                                                                                                                     Thank  you  for  supporting  our  free
                                                                              Complete  the  sentence:  Aruba  to  newspaper,  we  strive  to  make  you  a
                                                                              me is ……. Send your picture with that  happy reader every day again.
                                                                              text (including your name and where  For today  we  received  a  lovely  mes-
                                                                              you  are  from)  to:  news@arubatoday.  sage from Joanne and James Vilardi
                                                                              com and we will publish your vacation  from Bluffton, South Carolina, USA.
                                                                              memory.  Isn’t  that  a  special  way  to
                                                                              keep your best moments alive? Please  They wrote to us saying: “Aruba to me
                                                                              do note: By submitting photos, text or  is a beautiful destination as described
                                                                              any other materials, you give permis-  in a Hemingway opus.”
                                                                              sion to The Aruba Today Newspaper,  Thank you for sending us this wonderful
                                                                              Caribbean  Speed  Printers  and  any  message  sharing  what  Aruba  means
                                                                              of its affiliated companies to use said  to you with us and our readers!q
   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23