That time we opened a Bar & Restaurant and had a huge traditional Balinese ceremony 🙏

Throwback Thursday.... That time when we opened a bar and restaurant in Bali still gives me goosebumps.

Our opening wasn’t just a party—it was a full traditional Balinese ceremony, and it was honestly one of the most powerful things I’ve ever experienced.

The whole family got dressed up—yep, even the kids were in full traditional outfits, sarongs wrapped perfectly, barefoot on the warm stone floors. The staff were buzzing with excitement, all involved, all smiling. We weren’t just opening a venue; we were stepping into something way bigger.

The Balinese priest arrived, dressed in white, moving slowly and intentionally. He began the ceremony with chanting and bell ringing—the kind of sound that vibrates through your chest and somehow makes the air feel sacred. Offerings were everywhere—hand-woven baskets filled with flowers, incense, rice, fruit. We had them placed at every corner of the restaurant and bar, symbolically blessing the space from all sides.

Right in the center of it all, there was our long concrete table overflowing with food, flowers, and offerings. It was stunning. Towering arrangements of fruit, traditional cakes, fragrant incense sticks burning in every direction, and fresh blooms in every color you can imagine. It was all handmade, hand grown and laid out with such care and respect. Every item had meaning, every piece placed with intention. It wasn’t just decoration—it was a gift to the spirits, a sign of gratitude and respect.

We stood together, hands pressed in prayer, smoke from the incense swirling around us. The priest moved through the space, chanting and flicking holy water. The kids were wide-eyed but still, completely caught up in the moment. I remember feeling this calm intensity in the air, like something ancient and sacred was watching over us, nodding in approval.

It wasn’t just a celebration. It was a welcoming. A spiritual handshake between our dream and the island. The energy was unreal.

After the final prayers and offerings, the space felt alive. The band kicked in, the food started flowing, and the bar lit up. But that ceremony—that moment—was the real beginning. We didn’t just open a place to eat and drink. We opened a portal to something special. Memories we will never forget.

And Bali felt it. We all did ❤️

Kristie 🌞