question Friday.
There was this hotel down on the beach, Jimbaran way, see, which was demolished and re-built using the same name a few years back.
It was a pretty popular spot for families to take their kids for lunch and a sunset paddle, especially on a Sunday.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, those people never got to see the kitchen, or the cockies, or what happened to the cooking oil once enough had accumulated to warrant doing something about it.
They had a problem. They couldn't get the septic tank truck anywhere close enough to suck up the muck from the septic tank and grease trap of the kitchens.
Hence, they found another solution. At night around full moon when the tides are highest, they'd bucket up all this grease and muck, dig a big enough hole on the beach at low tide, and then well...high tide.....out of sight, out of mind.
Anyone who can remember this era on that part of Jimbaran bay, can surely remember how bad the flies were. If you didn't know why then, you know now. This was all before the concept of fish restaurants existed in Jimbaran.
During the Soharto prime time (late 80's to mid 90's) when environmental issues were beginning to be taken a bit serious, laws were being enforced, -probably due to the profits to be gained- enforcing the installation of waste water treatment plants by hotels and industry.
Anyway, the place was torn down and re-built, I believe by the same French company, as in, I don't think it was sold off
No waste water treatment plant was installed, all rooms and kitchens use septic tanks. Remember this place is situated on the beach front.
Where does the liquid portion of septic waste go to?
Usually down.....'til it meets either the water table or the tidal stream. Either way its irresponsible.
Then, shortly after, there was the overhaul and renovation of the 400+ room major resort on Tanjung Benoa, (curiously also operated by a French company) which has its main kitchens situated across the road from the hotel proper.
The consulting engineers' (lead on-site by a Swiss national) comment when approached with regards to waste water treatment was: "Why? We give a little money and zere is no problem. If ze Balinese don't care why should we care".
Hence this massive resort has septic tanks scattered all over (or actually all under) the place leaching to god knows where.
Think about it; when determining volumes of waste water for Bali resorts, one calculates 80% occupancy @ 300 liters/person/day, or in the case of this resort about 230,000 liters per day.
Once again, where does the liquid portion of septic waste go to?
There is a newish resort in Seminyak that has a name which one would associate its having a pot of gold at its base, which I believe also took the same irresponsible route during its construction.
As in the case of those semi-mentioned above, they may have made some changes, but I doubt it.
How do people explain the once white sand of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak beach having gradually become an off grey colour. Cigarette ash from all the duty free cigs? Lots of hotels and restaurants and open drains along this stretch of beach, and not much treatment going on.
Maybe tourists shouldn't complain too much about the present construction project happening throughout Kuta Legian. It might be uncomfortable to be around, but its very overdue and hopefully beneficial, (in steps the pessimism) -if it works.
Ever noticed in Denpasar that most (and I mean virtually all) batik factories and places for dying cloth are situated on stream or river banks, or where there are large drains leading to streams and rivers.
As an example, take the road that runs along either river bank from the bridge over the river Badung (on the Bypass just out of Kuta on the way to Sanur) and follow it to its end on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Denpasar.
There are many places on this forum recommended for their great food and/or being great places to stay. Some rightfully rate the praise, but in my line of work I have been to the back rooms of a lot of hotels, restaurants (and their kitchens) boasting terrific facades that would disgust and shock most people.
There are many warung that can boast better health standards than some "resort" type hotel kitchens and poncy restaurants I've seen in Bali, I kid you not.
On your next visit to Bali take a wrong turn or two and check out the service area and kitchen of your accommodations....but wait 'til the day you're checking out, and remember you've just had a great holiday.