Another week goes by, we’re already moving towards April and things are happening fast.
Ohh my lord. Idul Fitri, Nyepi and next weekend’s Easter celebrations, mixed with the more esoteric and recently finished Mercury in Retrograde have certainly stirred the pot. The third gulf war, or is it the third world war, appears to have become a total mess with most people scratching their heads as to how the heck it happened in the first place, and next, where and when it’s actually going to end being even more of a mystery. It’s now a black cloud hanging in a distant sky but appears to be getting closer all time. It is definitely a worry, and not just in an economic way. Apparently there are around 35 million expats living in the gulf region. I wonder where they are thinking of going.
Another concern for many people on this island, while maybe not being a big issue, and even a relief for others, is the soon to come in to effect law enforcing foreigners out of the short term accommodation business. This has definitely stirred the pot and has people scurrying all over the place trying to find a way through the red tape. It’s hard to say what the ramifications will be in the near future for the local real estate market, but one imagines it will have a cooling effect, which is surely not a bad thing on one side, but a slight concern on the other.
Since Covid, we have all seen that the island has gone kinda mad with development as many, many new people have arrived to settle here looking for a new, freer life. It was like a magnet. There were so many people talking on social media about how marvellous Bali was during Covid that people must have thought, damn it, I’m going there to live. And they did in droves. Of course, the Russian Ukraine war was another big influence too, with many thousands of people escaping that conflict arriving here and like everyone else starting a new life, starting businesses and building villas. This also happened in other countries in the region―we are not alone. But it appears to have all gone too far and there is now push-back from the local community and especially the accommodation sector that saw the daily rental market decimated over the past couple of years.
Photos Above: I found Dave Eagles down at Echo Beach in front of La Brisa doing his Plein Air paintings last Friday sunset. He always pulls a crowd wherever he goes. Say hello next time you pass.
According to AI (I just asked), in 2019 there were approximately 10,000 rental villas of many standards on the island. Now, in 2026, there appears to be 40 thousand. And that’s not including the hotels. Talk about a boom. So, this week the new law is taking effect where foreigners cannot use platforms like Airbnb to rent a property. This has some people shaking in their boots, while others are rubbing their hands in glee. Only time will tell what actually transpires, but one thing is for sure, the times they are a changing!
Photos Above: Birthday drinks and footy at The Deck last Saturday afternoon turned into another long session. After a visit to The Orchard, where we found DJ Donnie Di Brasco, we tried a new place on Jl. Dewi Sri called Oxso Lounge. Pretty cool, fun spot and gotta say the toilets are next level. Give it a go.
Have a good weekend you all!
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