From opportunity, growth...

Bali is beautiful.  The last time we were here, pre kids, there were a lot of rice fields.  Ag was the primary industry, and in Indonisia in general it still is.  But in Bali, rice fields are being converted at a terrific rate, to villas, and new commercial spaces are popping up almost overnight.  There is a bypass road close to us where over the course of 3 weeks we have watched construction finished and spaces filled.  One day nothing, the next a cute cafe/bar handmade housewares boutique or 'upscale' clothing store.  The prices are cheap for us, $5 breakfast is normal and $40 is expensive for a shirt.  Many product lines are designed and made in Bali, others are imported from Australia.  These stores are meant for us tourists, as a local driver would be happy to make 700,000 IDR (~$50) for 10 hours of driving, gas included.  It makes me wonder when the building boom will end.

Fortunately, the largest rice field in Bali, Jatiluwih has gain acknowledgement from UNESCO as part of the worlds cultural heritage, meaning big hotels and villas can not be built on it.  But just north of us in Nyanyi, the idyllic rural road with local warungs, cows and chickens, ends in new villa construction as the road reaches the beach.  The views from them sure will be pretty!


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