Sunset Rd or Sunset Strip?

Bali’s Sunset Rd is an offshoot of Bypass Ngurah Rai. Funded by the World Bank and finally completed in 2003, it allows traffic coming off of Jl. Raya Kerobokan to access Seminyak, Legian, Kuta, Tuban and the airport in 25 minutes max. The Sunset Rd was aptly named as sunsets are lovely from that vantage point, but recent developments do not please everyone.

According to one article the latest construction on the Sunset Rd isn’t exactly Balinese and has some people wondering where the whole thing is going. I remember when I first came to Bali in 2003, the Sunset Rd was completed, without any traffic lights. Getting downtown was always interesting, particularly at that 5-way intersection at Jl. Nakula. At lunch times 10 year old school girls would ride along the white line in the middle of the lane, going the wrong way. Their mothers having told them that is the way to get home.

The Sunset Rd was an undeveloped chunk of sawah, unimportant to everyone before people could drive on it. Now senior Balinese complain the construction that goes on there does not reflect their culture. My comment is that 95% of the construction on this island doesn’t reflect Balinese culture. It is a pet hate of mine that locals, not westerners, erect ugly grey cement boxes in the most gorgeous locations without a care in the world as to how it affects the landscape.

In years to come the Sunset Rd will be ‘shopping central’ and ‘nightclub central’. Carrefour has already set up there and when we get a Double Six sized nightspot there, others will follow. Currently residential areas like Jl. Dhyana Pura are the center of nightlife activities. This doesn’t really work for anyone, high rents, loud music at all hours, difficult parking. Move all that to the Sunset Rd and out of our faces and you’ll have an answer. The Balinese leaders may not like it but they will like the money it generates.