Hi Folks and with the lack of good waves about the last few days. Not to mention the onslaught of wet season wind and the un predictable weather I thought I’d give you an up date on what is happening to our little beach side community of Tuban.
Now, as far back as the first surfers that started coming to Bali. The traditional Balinese warung was a very special place. Somewhere nice and shaded from the hot sun to leave your clothes and stuff while surfing. Then on return an icy cold soft drink, fruit juice and some local food on your return. Many life long friendships between locals and guests have been forged in these Balinese warungs. For many visitors from hustling and bustling countries to Bali the serenity and welcoming smiles is a big big draw card to Bali.
Over the last 10 years with developers wanting this usually prime beachside real estate many of our traditional warungs have been bull dozed and giant monstrosities erected in place. Places that have no character or connection to real people. Certainly not for the benefit of the local economy either for that matter. Just for example for those that can remember the Dreamland warungs or Serangan beach warungs. All gone and to no benefit of International surfers or the local Balinese that were told to leave.
Up in the Canggu area at Berawa many warungs were leveled and the modern “beach clubs” replacing them. Right now at canggu what remaining warungs are left are also probably on the temporary endangered list. Likewise down at Balangan beach the developers are trying their best to get rid of the local presence and ploy their trade.
Here in Tuban our local fishermen have been moved on and moved on and moved on again since I’ve been part of the crew. We went from nice big area’s along the beach front, where else would fishermen be. Fishermen need places to repair and store their boats, clean nets etc etc. To our latest move that is now on the fringe of the new bitumen car park that replace the local warungs and big healthy trees.
There are still 3 local Balinese owned warungs on the beach at “Pantai Jerman” in Tuban. After I came back from a day out fishing one of the local owners told me that they had been handed an “official” document stating that these remaining warungs had 5 days to vacate. These people are trying their best through all open avenues to resist. But “investor money behind this latest development will be hard to beat.
Every local at the beach here doesn’t want the warungs removed, and I’m sure that anyone who has had a relaxing sunset beer or icy cold coconut certainly doesnt want to see them gone. But the current style of westerners we have had in Bali the last few years seem to prefer loud house music from sunset till late and WiFi. Not the local traditional warung that originally helped open Bali up to the World all those years ago. Pantai Jerman in Tuban has always been the layed back end of Kuta. No night clubs and bars it’s always been a fishermen hamlet and a place for International visitors to Bali to see some real Bali by the sea.
Hopefully the locals will not be moved out, we will have more news on the situation at the end of the 5 day waiting period.
Been going to Bali since mid 80s so sad to see what has happened to the warungs they are the best places in the whole planet
Give me the local warungs everyday of the week. The last 2 years of Covid have been bad for all but one of the positive thoughts that has help keep me from going postal has been thinking about the ice cold Bintangs watching the sunset at Tiger Itchy Bum’s on Legian Beach. To lose this ability to a pimped out doof doof bar would be a travesty.
The photo you have up is one of the best places to eat, my wife and I have been going to Bali forever and when we found Zandi & Wayan at this warung we always went back sor the best food, we really hope it is still there when we return
These are, or at least were the heart and soul of Bali and I can only hope there are some left for us to enjoy when we get back. I was so disappointed to loose the small bars on the beach a few years ago but this is too much.
Indonesian people think Jakarta is how things should be. Great for selfies.
Enough said.
Warung every time, every day. Great food, Cold Bintang and supporting locals and theocal economy.
Whenever I am in Bali I only buy local.
Warungs are traditionally the very best , love the Bintangs food masssge omg Made Lettas at Ulus been going there for 30 years the ladies run the show there then there’s Peanuts the necklace seller omg so bloody awesome
Yes it’s also happening on Sanur Beach with all the Shantytown sarongs on the beachside of the beach walk being replace to make way for a new walkway experience.
Bali is being clinically cleaned up sadly not for the benefit of the locals or the many tourist that enjoyed their hospitality, some icy cold Bintang & lazing on a beach lounge.
This is so sad for Bali, unfortunately money talks in this place. I absolutely hate what they did at Dreamland, they destroyed that beach when they built that eyesore, this was a very cool place to chill and see the sun go down before heading back in to Kuta, and it’s sadly happening everywhere along the coast.
Hope you guys get this small win.
Love the warungs and the local business people, can we have the ‘beach clubs’ bulldozed, please?
Looking forward to getting back to Wendi’s as pictured
After more than 20 years of visiting Bali with the happiest memories of great surf and friendships made at at the warungs of Nusa Dua, Serangan, Balangan etc, it is with sorrow and the heaviest of hearts I read this latest report about these so called “improvements”
HAH ! The only improvement I see is to the wealth of developers and all involved in removing the heritage, tradition and livelihood of the warm hearted genuine friends that have already suffered massive hardships with Covid-19 etc.
Although I plan on returning as soon as all restrictions are lifted I know, as do so many others that it can never ever be the same as it was in past years.
Keep us posted Slim. Your local news is important to me and I am sure others too.
Will the Nirvana crew keep their spot?
Looks like we might be back next year. Hang in there, guys..
“The only improvement I see is to the wealth of developers and all involved in removing the heritage, tradition and livelihood of the warm hearted genuine friends that have already suffered massive hardships with Covid-19 etc.
Although I plan on returning as soon as all restrictions are lifted I know, as do so many others that it can never ever be the same as it was in past years.”
Well said Chris. I’m very worried the pandemic has just accelerated this process. Pave it and call it progress. Hope the warungs get a win here. Tourism isn’t driven by Gu Zombies or Chinese tour groups, it’s the people who’ve been coming for a lifetime precisely because we fell in love with warungs like this and local hospitality.
Please, no more beach clubs!! I’lltake the warung any day.
Dont people refer to it as PROGRESS ! Last time there, 2 years ago, they had pulled down Warungs, north of Holiday Inn, and replaced with brick shops, for more rent i guess ? Hopefully all the boats to the outer reefs are still allowed to operate. Feel for fishos, and Bali is no where near the same as 30 years ago, but everywhere has changed including my home town of Byron Bay. Hopefully back to Bali 2022 .
warung tucker and coldies are always the best choice and great vibes hanging out at them with the locals having a friendly joke around and laugh. Right now in Sanur they are knocking down all the warungs along a 2km stretch of beach in Semawang to give way for some apparent beach widening and next will be the north warungs facing Sanur main break where the nusa Lembongan boats go out. Damn shame to say the least just loosing its great vibes just for the Jakarta bosses to get some so called brownie points… damn damn shame to say the least
Wayan and Zani ‘s warung is a cultural treat for drink and eat were eastern and western meet .. dont know were that came Slim but °^€k the beach clubs there a bastradisation .
Hey Slim! they are destroying the local economy & mojo/vibe! The first time I took my youngest son to the East Coast we drove down a dirt road through the rice paddies to small point break & some very hollow high tide only reefs. There was one warung with two local snrs running it. They didn’t speak much english & we communicated with basic bahasa & sign language. After some GR8 waves & a relaxing traditional meal after surfing for hrs we gave our thanks & farewell greetings & whilst driving back to the main road my then 15yr old said to me,” Dad finally I’ve seen the real Bali”.I almost cried with joy that my son could still experience what I had many times since my first trip in 81. This is what it is all about, the culture & traditional friendliness of the real Bali!
I love the Tuban area & have seen many changers with traditional bali owned shops removed & replaced with huge airconditioned super shopping centres that I have yet to ever see busy. the beachfront near the Pantai restaurant tuban having trees,warungs & the surf boats moved further south. All this is eroding what many Aussies come to Bali for , especially surfers who love the old traditional buildings, the village charm, the people never change but someone needs to put the brakes on development beore Bali tradition is smothered.
I have watched over the years with great sadness with what is happening to Bali ,I remember surfing canguu in the early years when we parked our car in an area with only cows and only one warung.Much the same as serangan,balangan,keramas ,then the developers move in treading on local peoples livelihoods and ripping the whole character that keeps us going back year after year. I will keep going back and will try as hard as I can to try and put as much as I can into the local Banjar economy. These people do not deserve what is happening to them and I hope people will join me in supporting the locals( don’t barter too hard, leave a little meat on the bone for these people to try and get on in life and keep supporting the warungs,transport and boat people the smiles on their faces is worth the little extra. Sorry about the rant but the Balinese deserve our support. Regards Bob
Bloody tourists want their overpriced oatmeal latte and Ibiza-style lounge. They fly halfway around the world but have no interest in or respect for the Balinese people or lifestyle.
Those Tuban warungs are an absolute gem of bali .Is nothing sacred when the dollars arrive?
Those Tuban warungs are an absolute gem of bali .Is nothing sacred when the dollars arrive?
I totally agree Gerry they should be listed as “heritage” So many people I know and have yet to meet love the traditional Balinese warung, where ever located around Bali. It’s the basis of where Bali began as a tourist destination mostly for us surfers all those years ago, late 60’s. Of course there were other visitors to the island other than surfers but surfers made up for the bulk of tourism through the 70’s 80’s & 90’s and right into the 21st century before the new wave of beach club, coffee shop tourists started arriving.