Living in Bali as an expat : Everyone dreams of It but what is It really like ?

in #like7 years ago (edited)

Who doesn't dream of living on a paradise island, sunbathing all day and drinking fresh coconuts ???
Bali is a fantastic island that we discover during vacations, that we learn to love and to adore.

DSCN1629.JPG

But between being here as a holidayer or as an expat, things are differents... a lot differents actually.
Most people think that living in Bali will give you a relax and easy life, enjoying the sun everyday, chilling around and drinking coktails all nigts.
A lot of people come here full of dreams and hopes, thinking that they will have the best idea of business and become super rich-super quick or that they will find a job quite easily.But the truth is that, unless you come here with a LOT of cash to spend, you will be very, very dissapointed !!
Bali is not that easy!!It is a paradise for holidayers but can quickly becomes a nightmare for whom is not aware and well-prepared .

DSCN1483.JPG

1- There is NO job in Bali ( unless you come by request)

It is very hard for a foreigner to work in Bali : you will need an expensive visa and most companies don't want afford It and rather employ locals .
But there is a solution : Opening your own business ( but be aware that there is a LOT of failure) or work from your computer( this is why I stated Steemit)

indonesian-rupiah-11046274.jpg

2- Bali costs lots, like really a lot !

Think about It : To be an expat, atually not only in Bali but pretty much everywhere, you will need :
A life insurance
A visa
A flight back home ( unless you really never wanna go home, ever)
The school for the kids( International schools are ridiculously expensive)
Pay a rent

Yes, already a lot of dollards to add to each others. And to add to that, the food ( unless you can eat white rice and sambal everyday for breakfast, lunch and diner ), the activities, the car or bike....

100_0233.JPG

Luckily Bali is still a very beautiful little paradise where the sun rise and warm up the tranquil atmosphere everyday .
I feel lucky to live here and being able to enjoy the beach and whitness wonderful ceremonies.
With my husband, who is a musicien, we opened a small homestay, near Sanur that works quite well. However Steemit is still a life saver and I put a lot of hope in It .

18159259_10154715344166559_1507625679_o.jpg

Thanks for upvoting
Caroline

Sort:  

Wow! awesome, I visit you one day :)

This post received a 2.9% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @warn-a-brutha! For more information, click here!

Nice post... good luck

Hey caroline its Rob, Talia's hubby and Salvadors dad nice to see you on steemit i have followed you. we should meetup soon.
peace x

DSC07900.JPG

yes sure, we will be coming to Ubud soon, will let you know

Good luck, love it when people try to live in dirrerent countries, i lived in Australia and Canada and i know its not that easy, can only imagine how it would be in Indonesia, good luck! keep putting in the hard work and it will pay of.

Thanks for your kind reply !!!

Awesome Caroline. My wife and I would winter in Nicaragua . . . and we loved it. We had no misconceptions. But the amount of people that would open a business, or come chasing a cheap lifestyle. Thinking everything would be easier on the beach. The ironic part . . . it was tougher for most. They thought there would be no rule book . . . but the rule book was thicker than where they came from.

Yes exacly like that !!

The truth of living is in the grey zone... never know why it's never greener on the other side...
Peace and love !!!

Thank you, @carodebali, very useful information. Has subscribed.

Congratulations @carodebali! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

Award for the number of posts published
Award for the number of upvotes

Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here

If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

By upvoting this notification, you can help all Steemit users. Learn how here!

Really excellent post carodebali!
Thank you for sharing your hard won experience! I have a travelled a bit too, I am for UK but now live in Costa Rica and would echo your words to any contemplating the move to the sun in general or Bali specifically.

upvoted & resteemed - thanks!

images.png

Also follow me for more great content about surfing/super herbs, plants and fruits/technology & alternative energy!

Thanks for resteem !!
following you back

Yes... Bali is beautiful island. Nice! :)

Wow, thanks for the interesting insight. I recently saw the controversial practice of butchering/eating dogs has started creeping its way into Bali from surrounding islands. As a resident, do you see that at all???

I think social media make the situation worste than It really is .
Locals actually hardly eat dog meat and If they do saw , they don't hide It

bali is not just a name . bali is a feel too . its a comfortable feel

I’ll look out for the homstay when I eventual visit :)

yes please, Kumkum's homestay

I never know that you will find the difficulties as a foreigner (expat). you must have known how the Indonesian people looking at foreigner, there is some discrimination toward the local is I may say.
you are lucky to have your own homestay, but for Balinese it is even harder especially those who live in the village. hope for the best of your homestay 😃.

So Beautiful! Added to my bucket list.

thanks so much for this post and mentioning the downsides. would love to read more about your experiences in the future! follwed and upvoted! <3

Thank you, I will write more, stay tuned !!

interesting to read about your experiences. I am also so happy that I learned about steemit. I am traveling so much. but Bali became one of my favorite places, I will be back for a few weeks in Sep/Oct to work from there. Happy to be able to work online though.
Merci beaucoup, Caro! <3
followed and upvoted

Thank you vor your vote !!
Might see you soon in Bali then
Following you too

Oh wow... I must think twice then. My partner actually was thinking of retiring in Bali, but probably we will need to sit down and really plan if we need to survive and thrive in Bali without too much worries.
Thanks for the information @carodebali !

Yes, better come here for a month to see If you like It and calculate how much money you spend monthly and then take a decision

Awesome. Went to Bali last year for the first time. Enjoyed every minute.
Heart Seminyak!