Nusa Penida, Bali

The Good and the Bad Sides of Living in Bali

Kuta Beach

I’m in England at the moment, taking frequent trips to Europe to ‘spice’ things up a bit. Quite enjoying it, although I’ll be off and away soon to explore more of the globe. I recently got to thinking about when I lived in Bali, was it worth leaving a tropical, hot, sunny island? For many people who email me, it’s their dream life…an island lifestyle living as a beach bum in a hot, tropical country.

So why did I leave? For me I think deep down I was always aware that I needed to move on, there was far more I wanted to achieve career-wise that I didn’t have the energy to get done in Bali, plus there are just so many more countries and places that I want to explore. You can sometimes have too much of a good thing…paradise islands are amazing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the perfect place to have a balanced lifestyle. I had a scooter accident too, which meant I was really sick, thin and feeling a bit fed up.

The good sides

Hot, sunny weather and tropical beaches- Unless you’re one of those pale people who hate the sun and get a rash when they’re exposed to the heat, then you probably appreciate a nice sandy beach with a few palm trees. Of course these sunny beaches with a white sand attract lots of people to take wonderful photos. Best cameras for travel are compact, lightweight, and provide image quality better than a smartphone. Bali, being an island, has a hot tropical climate- in the ‘summer’ it’s hot but not too humid and it’s generally sunny every day. In winter it’s really hot, sticky and humid but there’s also quite a lot of rainfall. There are beaches everywhere- long, flat, sandy beaches with rolling waves in Kuta and Seminyak, black sand beaches with unruly waves in Canggu, sheltered coves with cliffs and rocks in Uluwatu, Bingin and Balangan or white paradise beaches in Padangbai.

It’s a great place to surf- If you love to surf then Bali is a dream come true. With some of the best waves in the world, the main dilemma for a surfer every day is, which break shall I surf? For a beginner it’s a great place to start without the need for a wetsuit.

The people are really helpful and friendly- The Balinese people are some of the friendliest and most helpful people I have ever met. I covered in my blog before why Indonesia is so efifcient and the fact that if there’s anything you want- whether it’s renting an apartment, or getting your bike fixed- someone will be there to do it for you.

It’s a cheap place to live- Rent for a nice villa- $500 USD per month. Bike- $50 USD per month, three course meal- $10. If you’re travelling and trying to make your money stretch further, then Bali is definitely a place you can do that. Whilst it’s not as cheap as places in Thailand and other Aisan countries, Bali is still cheap as chips.

The food is great- Standard food in Bali is stuff like Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, Chicken Satay, Babi Guling and Bakso Soup. If you get sick or rice and noodles though, there’s great seafood in Jimbaran, and every kind of international food in Seminyak. On Jalan Oberoi you could eat Moroccan, Greek, Japanese, Mexican and Italian food all in one night. The breakfast cafes such as Tuck Shop and Zucchini do great smoothies, salads, yoghurt, fruit, paninis and omelettes.

You’re exposed to new cultures and sights- This is the main thing that you definitely can’t get at home. In England I don’t look out on ride fields or wake up to the sound of geckos and cockerels. I can’t visit a monkey temple or a Balinese medicine man. I don’t see Canang Sari flower baskets covering the streets or get offered a massage, transport or DVD whilst I’m eating my breakfast.  I don’t see people carrying a family of four on a motorbike whilst trying to negotiate the chaotic mess of traffic on the roads. I can’t go snorkelling, or surfing, bask in the sun or hike a volcano over in England.

There’s opportunity and a positive attitude- When I was looking for work in Bali, I found the people living there, whether expats or Indonesians, were really friendly, helpful and had a positive attitude. People don’t focus on the negative in Bali, everyone smiles and tries to make conversation with you and tries to help you out. Maybe it’s all that Vitamin D from the sunshine, but if I walk through a street in London, I don’t get a hello from anyone. If you want to start a business in Bali, there’s plenty of opportunity to be creative.

The bad sides

Food in the supermarket in Bali is not cheap because most of the stuff is imported. Yep if you want to buy a year’s worth of rice in a bag it’s ridiculously cheap, but if you want to buy something as simple as a tin of baked beans you’re looking at twice what you would pay in the UK. If you want to cook at home, there are generally no ovens either…just portable gas stoves.

There’s no public transport in Bali. Over here I take it for granted, my car is currently sat on the drive because it costs around £1,200 to insure it and I can’t really justify the expense at the moment, especially when I’ll be travelling come Easter. But I’ve got so many options- if my wonderful friends and family don’t offer me a ride somewhere, I’ve got the tram here in Manchester, the bus, the megabus, the national express, the train…it just took me two hours to get to London. In Bali, however, there is no public transport, so you’re stuck with the scooters (which after my accident I’ll never be riding again), or taxis, or renting a car.

Living by the beach is a distraction– yep we all love being a beach bum…who wouldn’t want to sit on a nice tropical beach? But when you’ve got work to do and you have to fund your living, there’s one dilemma….do i sit in an air conditioned room all day working, where essentially I could be anywhere? Or do I go to the beach, get a tan and play in the waves? When I returned to England after a stint in Portugal, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of relief at not having to choose between the beach and working on my laptop.

Some things are more difficult. It’s an obvious thing to say, and I know most people travel around the world because they don’t want to be in a country where everything is made easy for them. But when I lived in Bali I had to think about my visa renewal every couple of months, if I needed something in particular like computer equipment, a book, or a particular food I had to make a big expedition to Denpasar or Carrefour to go and get it. The traffic was chaotic and stressful, and sometimes sitting in the heat in a pile of traffic on the way back from the beach somehow made the memories of my relaxing sunbathing session fade away. I couldn’t just drink the tap water without thinking, and my ex-boyfriend was driven insane by the mosquitoes, resulting in a nightly ritual massacre of mozzies (I funnily have never been bitten by a mosquito, but he got bitten constantly).  There wasn’t always hot water in my house so I would often have to take a lightning fast shower, and finding a house with internet was the most difficult task of all. I regularly lost electricity, internet, or both and had to make trips to Seminyak to find someone with wireless.

I missed the cosmopolitan city vibe- I’m not trying to say there aren’t loads of things to do in Bali, because there are, particularly outdoor activities such as hiking, snorkelling and surfing. But I guess I got a little bored of island life…I missed the bright lights of a big city…getting dressed up and going to the theatre or stopping by a busy bar full of city workers.

The healthcare isn’t so great- Yes the medicines are cheap in Bali and I was thankful for that…antibiotics were readily available and cost cents. But when I returned to the UK after my bike accident, I was told if I had just had my wounds cleaned and scrubbed properly under anaesthetic, I wouldn’t have the scars I have today and all the hospital appointments that come with it. In the beginning I went to the local hospital, where they dabbed my wounds with iodine and put dressings on. Then I got frustrated that they weren’t healing properly, so I paid for the private BIMC hospital, who basically did exactly the same thing but put a price tag on it.

Everyday, someone is trying to sell you something- The people in Bali don’t hassle very much compared to some of the other countries I’ve been to. A simple ‘no thank you’ and they’ll go away. However, when you live somewhere and every day of the year you are asked if you would like to buy a DVD or a sarong, it can get a bit overbearing.

There are tourists, but not a huge number of young expats- I realised when I was living and working in Bali that I missed young people. Whilst there is a large community of English-speaking expats with businesses in Bali, I missed the company of young people. There are lots of Aussie tourists and people there for a few weeks, but trying to meet people of my age group wasn’t that easy. I did have some friends, but I missed talking to people who have known me for more than 5 minutes.

67 thoughts on “The Good and the Bad Sides of Living in Bali”

  1. I’m leaving Bali today after spending 6 weeks here. I love it so much and I know you can’t call 6 weeks ‘living here’, but I definitely got a feel for it and agree that it must be a hard place to live. I have a young friend who lives in Ubud and she said the exact same thing about missing young people. all her friends are 35+ and while she makes friends with tourists, they leave after a few weeks and shes on her own again.
    Best of luck with the saving for your next trip!

    1. Glad you had a good time in Bali Monica! I love Bali too but living there was just a different experience. Finding somewhere that you would like to live indefinitely is quite a tricky business! Thanks for dropping by.

      1. So liveing next to the Beach causes you stress so its the Beaches fault? only a pom would come out with something like that. You deserve to live in a cold and miserable place, By the way im Australian and i live on Christmas Island, and a Beach has never caused me stress, stress is paying $18.80 for a lettuce as we do on Christmas Island

        1. Hi Brock, this post was written quite a while ago, perhaps I didn’t phrase that point quite correctly. I guess I just found that I was always working on my laptop indoors. So although the beach was there, I never had the time to go to it, which was frustrating. Also, when I don’t see the beach for a long time, I can’t wait to get on the sand and go for a swim. But when the beach is there all the time, I find I start to take it for granted.

          1. Why you simply didn’t work in the evenings? This is what I do – enjoy the day and then work on my laptop in the evening.

          2. Hi there 😉
            I do agree with you about the beach. I am from Czech, but live in the US in Florida for last 15 years. I used to live right on the beach for few years. Did go everyday and laid down on the sand? No, I didn’t. Maybe at the beginning. then it’s just that feeling that it’s there when you want it/need it. KInda like an ice cream. You have it in a freezer, but that doesn’t mean you eat it very day. It’s there when you feel like eating it 😉
            On the other hand…. I visited St Croix last year and am thinking about moving there. I enjoyed simple life away from the city humbuk, loved friendly people and slow paced life, but mostly being close to the water again, especially since I’m an avid diver.
            So that’s just my 2 cents on it. I take beach and sunny weather over the miserable cold and rainy Massachusetts, where I travel for work. BUT! I DO enjoy our stormy weather in Florida too 🙂

    2. Fazalur Rahim

      Good day and good mood

      Thanks Monica.
      Where do you live now and when you plan your next trip to Bali so that I may join you and spent some time together.

      Fazalur Rahim

    3. I’m considering moving to Bali at the end of the year. Where are the best places to stay for a good price?

    4. Hello..Im from India and want to work in bali..u mentioned u have a friend in bali..can she help me to find a job there ! I am MBA and have good communication and people managemnt or overall management skills. I do get along with all type of people. Contact me on my mail if anything possible. Thank you

  2. Do you know where those $500 villa are located? Have tried to find them but all of them are more expensive.

    Kind regards,
    Bob Stolk

  3. Hi Victoria,

    Great post. Where was it you recommended living in Bali? Somewhere where there is electricity and internet, nice beaches and not too many tourists.
    I read it somewhere and can’t find it.

    Thanks,

    John

    1. Hi John, I lived in Seminyak for a while which is the ‘expat’ area, and then I moved to Canggu which is a little more rural. If you’re looking for a place to rent a bit more long term, I recommend starting with the Bali Advertiser, but there is also a board where everyone advertises at Cafe Mocha on Jalan Raya Seminyak.

  4. Hi Victoria! Thank for your post, it helps :)) Im planning to go to Bali/Indonesia for 3 months. Where would you recommend staying? Hostels/bungalows? Im travelling solo and I would like to meet young people on the way. And what about money – would you withdraw and carry around cash (i would like to hang out on the beach and surf, not sure if bungalows are safe enough), or just use credit card or something else?

    Thanks :))

    1. Hi Milan, there aren’t really ‘hostels’ like you would find in other parts of the world but there is plenty of budget accommodation and guest houses. People sometimes complain about Kuta being too touristy, but I would start by staying in Kuta/Legian if you want to meet people. You could look on somewhere like Hostelworld or Hostelbookers for accommodation, but it is also easy to just find accommodation when you arrive. If you like surfing then I really enjoy the south of the island around Uluwatu/Bingin/Balangan and you can get very cheap bungalow accommodation on the beach. They won’t accept credit cards in a lot of places so you really need to carry cash. I always drew money out of the ATMs and never had any money stolen- you should be fine on the beach. Hope that helps.

      1. Hi Victoria I am a single mum I’m 37 and my little girl is 4 years of age.. Certainly our limit for a rental per month would be no more than $500 Australian dollars but with these cheap rentals do they have pools as well as a pool in Bali is crucial. Now would BIMc be the best for any sort of hospital visits like for ear infections, stomach aches etc etc and what is the costing for say 6 months if I want to purchase health insurance for myself and my daughter from the BIMC

        Yvette

      2. Hi, thanks for your post, it has good information. I’m considering my “Second Act” for post-retirement (2020). I’ve been a corporate trainer and marketing exec most of my career, and would love to be able to continure using those skills, but am adaptable. Is it difficult to obtain an extended stay visa or work visa? Thank you for sharing your information!
        -Bob

  5. I really enjoyed your blog about Bali and the Gilli Isles

    I’m from Preston, Lancs. myself and I currently live in S.Korea. I have a 3 week break from work in August and wanted I wanted to visit Indonesia as it is so close and the weather should be good. I will be travelling solo for the first time and I’m keen to meet other young people to hang out with.

    I was considering going to the Gilli Isles, but other than this Island and Bali, I really don’t know where else is good to go.

    I’m not a surfer, but would try it, I love swimming, shopping, relaxing, good food and sight seeing. I wouldn’t say I’m much of a hiker to be honest.

    I don’t mind if I go somewhere else it Asia, it just has to be relatively cheap.

    Seen as you have travelling experience I was wondering if you could help me decide where to go? Or at the very least make some suggestions…..

    Thanks 🙂

        1. Dear mari,
          I don’t think so. Indonesia is a multi ethnic and multi cultural country. Beside most of the eastern Indonesian have dark skin, especially those from Papua, who were black. So, I believe you’re not going to be a victim of racism as you may possibly experience in some western countries.
          However, actually Indonesian were quite friendly and tolerant, although it’s been somewhat reduced due to the hedonism lifestyle.

        2. Christopher Burns

          The Indonesians will stare at you but not at all in a nasty way. More just out of curiosity. I know a few black people here who are expats and no one cares if you’re black/white/green purple or if you’re gay/straight or whatever.
          There’s a good mix here with the expat community so I’m sure you’ll feel welcome.

    1. you cannot have tourist visa for more than 2 months (need to be asked from your country of origin before leaving)
      or you get visa on arrival for one month, you can renew one time.

      In any case you need to leave after 2 months (but you can still come back in the same day and start again)

  6. Cool post. I am from Manc and about to go teach in South Korea. Was thinking about visiting Bali for the surf. This blog seems to give the impression that it’s a cool place to visit or come for an extended stay but maybe not to live forever? Thanks for posting!

  7. Interesting read. Puts things into perspective. My partner and I live in Mumbai, India, and we are thrilled to be moving to Bali in a few months (I have a 2-year contract to teach at the international school, and he is a diving instructor); but it’s important for us to be reminded that no place is perfect and that Indonesia is still a very poor country.

    1. Excuse me, if I may correct, Indonesia is a developing country, not a “very” poor country.
      Well, it can not be denied that there are still many Indonesian who live in poverty, (mostly caused by corruption) but it also happens in other countries, poverty is something that is always exist in every country except maybe paradise. So, I think Indonesia is not that poor, plus it rich with various cultures and beautiful islands. Try places in Indonesia other than Bali.

      1. Yeach I think Hendro is right. At least Indonesia has 1000 islands, 700 tribes, 1000 local languages, and so on. We are tropical country but we have snow in Puncak Jaya, Papua and savana in East Nusa Tenggara. Most of Indonesia people are Moslem but we have Borobudur, the biggest Buddist Tample in the world, in Magelang. I have ever lived in Raja Ampat, Papua and it s a nice, great, beautifull, and suitable tourism attraction for diving

    1. Andrew Summer

      Its Thailand btw and I lived there for about 2 years and in Bali for about 4 yers now. All I can say is, Bali is 10 times more diverse and beautiful than Thailand. Culturally, Culinary, Sceneries, etc. Thailand is too mainstream and lack of variety. Forget about mountain, Lake, surfing, cliff, rice paddies, temples and all that, Thailand does not have it. Well, some temples, but it is not beautiful at all, its modern and commercialized. Only thing Thailand better at is that it is easier to find local whore

  8. Victoria – I just discovered your blog while researching Bali. Sounds like an awesome place to live. I am planning on doing some travelling soon and want to live there for a few months. Thanks for the great blog – keep it up!

  9. “I found the people living there, whether expats or Indonesians, were really friendly, helpful and had a positive attitude”

    Expats are sharks between them.
    Expat community in Bali is one of the most hated in the world, I guess it tends to be better these last years. But one of the almost only way for people to stay long term in Bali is to have a business, and who say business say concurrences.
    There is a few who are really helpful and open minded, but a lot behave like they have more rights or know better than you with some arrogance.

    I don’t think that the locals neither are particularly more friendly than other places. For me someone helpful and friendly is someone who smile in front of you, but still smile when you turn your back, and this is not that much the case actually here.
    I was the best friend of so many people until they realize they could not get anything from me, since, no news, no calls lol 🙂
    Well this is the game.

    But be careful, someone who smile to you and be friendly, can treat you really bad 10 minutes later for no reasons if it’s not just being totally uneducated (especially guys with girls).
    There is not that much respect that it might seem at the first look, and there is really really a few people who actually really gonna treat you as equal, as a person (and not like only tourist, bule, a girl, a stranger or atm machine)

    On a daily life comparaison for example, I think NZealanders are more friendly and reliable than Indonesians in Bali.

    I’m sorry, but the first thing you hear in Bali, from expats and from locals is : “do not trust anyone”. It means what it means…
    I’ll go further by saying, pay extra attention to people who smile too much at you and want so bad to help you.
    If you meet other Indonesians who do not want to get something from you, you’ll see that they do not really care about you

  10. It is the big question where can I live safely on a budget ? Pros and cons weigh heavy on a decision. I am from America and am afraid to retire here, never thought I’d say that. But the truth hurts and this countries leaders have plundered our wealth and will make slaves of us all, it is happening right now and getting worst. I Don’t want to be stuck here when the bottom falls all the way out. Thailand at least some parts sounds good but I hear horror stories as well. Mexico, well not sure about this place. Bali, islands can have many disadvantages in a global crisis situation. And if someone knew where the real Jens are would they share them?

  11. hey I am thinking seriously about living in bali, or moving there by middle June, the thing is im a poor traveler, dont have a lot of cash to start with

    any ideas how i can survive or get a job to live on there
    I am an Egyptian backpacker

  12. Hey there! I was currious to read your blog post. My boyfriend is a chef and he just got an amazing job offer for a new Italian company in Bali. For me living apart for a year is out of the question so I am trying to see and understand how I could stay there with him and find a job.

    I have a bachelors in gastronomic science, so mostly food and beverage, hospitality etc. So I suppose with all the tourist business there is, I might be able to find something. My big worry is the visa. How did you get to Bali? Did you go on tourist visa with a return ticket and get a renewal or a work visa there?

    I will appreciate tour answer very much because this living in Bali thing has been pretty stressful lately having very little idea about the whole thing.

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Anete,

      I ´ll be happy to explain to you all things living in Bali like (work-tourist-business visa) & the most stressful thing is to find place where to live. this my email [email protected] I´m look forward to hearing you. thanks

  13. Nice post, Victoria! I have been living with my wife and children in Bali for 3 years now, in Seminyak. You have wonderfully summed up the experience of Bali and those of us that do more than just surf (eg. have work to do, make a living, etc)

    I am guessing from the date on your post, you left in 2011… Things have been slowly improving (or maybe just changing), our electricity does not cut out quite as often as it did in 2011, the internet service available is not too bad (if you pay enough for it), the cost of land and villas continues to become more expensive, and more and more budget hotels are being built for the backpacker / budget traveler. I have a friend that has been searching for one of those nice $500/mo Villas, and they are very few and far between now.

    So as some things improve, other costs will naturally rise I suppose, traffic has only gotten worse, though some new road projects are helping in a few select areas, particularly to get folks to/from the airport.

    For Medical attention, we now have a nice new Siloam Hospital on Sunset Road, across from Carrefour. It is a full service hospital with multi-lingual staff, and my few visits to it thus far have been very good. They even have dental care there now as well. I have found the price to be about half of what I would pay at BIMC, and for better care. However, I must say that I have been thankful for BIMC on the several occasions in the past.

    Thankfully, the most important aspect about Bali, it’s people, have not changed much… they are still the smiling and helpful, gentlest group of people you’ll meet anywhere.

    Not a bad place to be after traveling around the world and looking for a place to chill out for a few years, or twenty 😉

    Thanks for your post!

    1. I am moving to Bali in December for 3-6 months. I am a bit nervous about the internet situation. Our villa has Wi-Fi and I have heard that mobile 3G dongles are OK in Bali. Any info on good internet would be great.

    2. I am moving to Bali in December for 3-6 months. I am a bit nervous about the internet situation. Our villa has Wi-Fi and I have heard that mobile 3G dongles are OK in Bali. Any info on good internet would be great.

    3. Hi Rob, your experience on living with a family in Bali sounds interesting to me as I am thinking about moving there with children.
      I have some questions. Hope you can help me.
      Is it ok to discuss by mail?

    4. Hi Rob,
      I would love to chat or email you if you would be willing to share, as I’m looking at moving to an affordable Asian country (from Australia). Bali, Cambodia and Thailand are on my list of possible destinations. I have some questions which I would like to ask expats living in any of these countries.
      My email is [email protected]
      Many thanks, in advance.

  14. Hi Ive been reading posts, sounds like half the planet moving to Bali! I would like to myself, I have 2 young children, i would like to know how easy it is to get a Job in teaching English? And if It would be enough to support myself and my family? Thanks

  15. Hey girl,

    Thanks fort that article! I’m from South of France (Nice). My BF and I are wishing to leave and go live in Bali for years. We plan living there, worling there for him and having children and raise them in that magical island.
    We want really open minded kids who know the world and respect other cultures. I am bouddhist too so I think on that side I’ll be happy there.
    We already have a kinda bohemian life lol but I really hope a family life in Bali is possible. That we can, in case, find good hospitals, that we can find babies food,… stuff like that.
    I was told balinese are great and kind with children.

    Hope we will make this dream real.
    Any advice? Or more info for a future family in Bali? 🙂

    And first of all, how could you stay so long with your visa? You made a new tourist one every 2 months? I’m worrying a lot about this VISA thing.
    Thanks again <3

  16. “It’s an obvious thing to say, and I know most people travel around the world because they don’t want to be in a country where everything is made easy for them.”

    I think I did not understood quite well this sentence. People don´t want to be in a coutry where everything is made easy for them? Seriously??

    I was born and live in Curitiba, Brazil, considered one the best capitals of my country and it is terrible. Life is hard: corruption, low salaries, high taxes(and no return) and so many more.
    With the exception of those who were born in wealthy families,lto live here is thought, not only thought, but cruel.

    Most people from low classes have no perspective and live withou hope of a better future.

    So when you say that know most people travel around the world because they don’t want to be in a country where everything easy, you are probably talking about people who were born in Europe, some places in the US, who have no notion about suffering and want a challenge in life.

    So, you life in a country where everithing is easy and want some challenge you should triy to be a extraordinary person, i mean you have everithing, the least you could do is to be great.

    Want a hard life: come to Brasil, live in a favela, get a simple and honorable job and try to sustain your family with minimum wage. I bet you would see the world with differente eyes.

    Sorry about the outburst, but the thing is that I don´t have a lot of money, I just graduated in college, I still have no job and I am triyng to find a way for me and my girl to leave this coutry for a better place.

  17. I have to told you, if you wanna go to bali or live for long time in bali, i prefer to live in Ubud (Gianyar regency) or Seminyak than Kuta.

  18. I decided to move here after staying the last 3 months it just makes so much sense to be here but yes meeting other younger people my age who you can have as friends is proving difficult.

    great post btw

  19. Thank you for the excellent comments Victoria. I know Bali as Australians tend to know it well. I am about to move there for remainder of year and send my youngest to school there. I am wondering whether I still might be able to get a nice villa for under $650 per month Aus. I agree with all you said and have decided already that they are the reasons I probably won’t stay more than a year or two. I feel very lucky to have this chance.
    Am trying for a multiple entry visa
    regards,
    Deborah

  20. Hi are there any websites for Jobs in Bali? i understand most jobs would go to the balineses people, however i met a girl who was working in a hostel in Bali she was from the uk she was on quite a good wage from what i recall i just qondering where do jobs get advertised? what type of jobs? i woudl be looking at hospitality or working in hostel just standard job really etc what wages woudl i be looking at?

  21. Yup, Bali is a very good and fun for the who likes a challenge. sacred culture, sometimes giving the norms and rules that are sometimes have strange and unique. The most interesting, Bali is a very nice place for the diving and surfing hobby. The beach location and the waves that are challenging has gives adrenaline and a tremendous challenge. I like it very much. I can understand, sometimes behind a good thing, there is also always a bad thing. is like two sides of a coin. nice share.

  22. Hello,
    You are such a huge inspiration for me.
    I’m 23 and Im student in France.
    I don’t finish my studies yet but I feel that I can’t rest in my country.
    I want to change my life.
    Can you give me advices please? Iwould like to live in Bali.
    I don’t know what I can do.

    1. Kristena Dewa Seedwell

      I’m a half Balinese English person who was raised in Bali since I was a baby. I do get a lot of people coming up to me and try to sell me things, etc so I could totally relate, But I always meet new friends as I’m fluent in both Indonesian and English, Personally I don’t like to live in Bali, I prefer cold places and huge cities.

      Tip for anyone thinking about living in Bali: Living in Bali can be a challenge to finding a great paying job is quite hard. An average job like a waiter, gardener etc ( locals ) is around 1,000,000IDR to 2.000.000IDR about 100 – 200 $. It definitely is a pain that things that you buy in Bali that imported are very expensive, so I would buy locally by going to local Balinese markets (they’ve got tons up the mountains) and best part you can bargain, so a large box of fresh strawberries can cost about 15.000 – 17.000 IDR ( approx around 10$).

  23. Hey! This helped me out a lot. I’m glad you posted it. I don’t know why so many people have an attitude about the beach being frustrating. It’s the same as being a kid and having to go to summer school. The summer is right outside your door but yo have way to much to get done to be able to enjoy it, so it is frustrating seeing it right outside but not be able to enjoy it. ): Although I think I might build a cabana and sit in the shade on my laptop while i watch the waves hehheh. Anyway thanks for he insight!

  24. Nice post, Victoria! I have been living with my wife and children in Bali for 3 years now, in Seminyak. You have wonderfully summed up the experience of Bali and those of us that do more than just surf (eg. have work to do, make a living, etc)

    I am guessing from the date on your post, you left in 2011… Things have been slowly improving (or maybe just changing), our electricity does not cut out quite as often as it did in 2011, the internet service available is not too bad (if you pay enough for it), the cost of land and villas continues to become more expensive, and more and more budget hotels are being built for the backpacker / budget traveler. I have a friend that has been searching for one of those nice $500/mo Villas, and they are very few and far between now.

    So as some things improve, other costs will naturally rise I suppose, traffic has only gotten worse, though some new road projects are helping in a few select areas, particularly to get folks to/from the airport.

    For Medical attention, we now have a nice new Siloam Hospital on Sunset Road, across from Carrefour. It is a full service hospital with multi-lingual staff, and my few visits to it thus far have been very good. They even have dental care there now as well. I have found the price to be about half of what I would pay at BIMC, and for better care. However, I must say that I have been thankful for BIMC on the several occasions in the past.

    Thankfully, the most important aspect about Bali, it’s people, have not changed much… they are still the smiling and helpful, gentlest group of people you’ll meet anywhere.

    Not a bad place to be after traveling around the world and looking for a place to chill out for a few years, or twenty

    Thanks for your post!

  25. Hi Victoria, thank you for the insightful outlook on Bali, people don’t usually share flats or villas since it is not that expensive? i am looking to spend a year there just to detox from city life. if anyone would like to share a flat or cabana, bungalow or any resident , feel free to contact me. how is the Baliyan food? I am also looking to blend Indonesian food with middles eastern. any reference on where to look for flats or apartments?

  26. Hi, I have been to Bali and Java a couple of times. Besides everything that has been said, I found the Indonesians not to be that helpful if there was not cash on offer. I have also been to the Philippines and found the same. All the smiles can fade quickly if you dont have a financial reward for them.

    I once got lost in Kuta, my room was in a side street and the name and number was not known by any balinese, who shrugged and did not help in any way. I ended up in the tourist police station. They were very helpful and phoned the hotel and the manager picked me up on his bike with a smile on his face.

    I love the tropics and have a positive attitude but sadly found the people not as warm and friendly as others say they are unless you have money. Sad but true. I guess it is the poverty.

    Several times I overheard tourists complaining about being overcharged in shops and it is true. The prices are marked for the locals but tourists get charged more. I understand that, but it can be frustrating looking for extra money when you already have anticipated the price and the vendor asks for more money.

    It put me off south east asia a little. I might return there but not expect too much from the locals.

    I understand that some readers will dislike this comment but if they are really honest with themselves they will know what I have written is true and maybe other are scared to admit it in case of disapproval.

  27. Kuta beach is close with 3 – 5 stars hotel surrounding kuta. This is the best place to surf and burn your skin to be brown. 🙂 There also massage and tattoo available around this places. one of recommended places if you are traveling to bali. but if you are going to diving Tulamben / Menjangan is the best part to do this activities.

  28. Hi Victoria, I also lived in Bali for 2 years. I had a similar experience as you had. I moved as well because I was unproductive. Many things in my house broke (every 2 weeks I needed a repairman), the internet is unreliable and people selling you stuff, massages and transport 20 times a day is getting old quickly. After 2 years the people in the street still didn’t recognize me. I was just a bule, not a person. I also missed conversations with intelligent younger people. I now live in Singapore and only go to Bali for vacation. I still like the island very much, just not living there, I found it quite stressful to get my house repaired and my work done instead of relaxing. I think the only foreigners that can truly have a good time living there are the ones that are married to a Balinese partner and become part of the community. I only know of 2 people who succeeded. The others are just bule, regardless how long they are on the island.

  29. You gave it a shot so good on you. I’m Australian and currently on holiday in Amed as I’m a scuba diver. Been over here a few times – up north, south, over to Nusa Ceningan and Penida and met a lot of Europeans. I couldn’t live here though. I’m too much of an animal lover and the Balinese have a cruel obsession with caging wild birds in tiny tin can cages and mistreating most other wild and endangered creatures.. With Indonesia sitting at one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world, I don’t see those antiquated traditions changing any time soon.

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