Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

[calitobali]

so I"m a young male living in the los angeles area and i want to move to bali shortly after my 21st birthday in august. My friend just moved there a couple months ago and invited me and another friend to come check it out. I have a few general questions.

What is the average age of an expat? are there many expats under 30 living in bali particularly near kuta? I want to make sure I won't be bored, but tourists come in all ages I guess.

What about the opinion of americans? My other friends won't stop warning me of terrorist attacks and beheading of americans, but I know better than that.

Is tourism still active in the dry season?

[mimpimanis]

I satrted to answer this post and then wondered if it was April 1st or a balinese version of

[bolli]

Oh god yes Mimpi, if there is anyone over 30 in Bali they should be sent home to knit and garden.

[calitobali]

Am I missing something? I would really like an answer to these questions.

If you thought that I was implying that everyone in Bali is old I was not. But doing research online i see it's very common to go there and retire. I have just never seen anything about an expat under 25 in everything i've looked up about Bali, sorry if I offended.

[Harro]

I am sure there are many long term visitors to Bali who are under the age of 25. Thinking logically most people living in Bali as expats would have sourced their incomes either from their country of origin or perhaps through business ventures, which I would think would make them older than 25. However if you have a large cash reserve you can live quite comfortably in any developing country throughout the world. It simply is a matter of budgeting.

Cheers Harro.

[Harro]

Also Catibali,
Many expats are from the USA, and you'll be happy to know they still have their heads!

[BaliLife]

Hi calitobali, many americans, many under 30, depends what you're into - but I don't think you'll be bored as a 21yo single guy.. You don't need to worry about beheadings - the many many expats in bali haven't had any problems being targeted.. Westerners in general were of course targeted in the bombings several years back, but if you're the kind that worry about that, then you probably don't sleep too well on any given night in the US.. I think you'll realize when you get to bali, you'll feel very safe..

All the best and keep us all posted on what you end up doing..

Ct

[calitobali]

Haha well I know theres no beheading, I said I knew better than that in my post. My question mostly pertained on times in Canada and other areas where people weren't outright mean, but alot of countries have good reason not to like america, a number of which are the reasons I want to live abroad.

So my question wasn;t really pertaining to safety, more about attitudes.

[BaliLife]

IF there is any anti-US sentiments in bali, which I've honestly never heard about in speaking to locals, nobody shows it..

There's probably more anti-US sentiment in australia or canada..

Balinese are nice to all - you'll have no problems..

Ct

[Roy]

Just a couple of words I’d like to add, the first being to not even think of drugs in ANY manner or form. It is not unusual, especially for younger visitors on their own, to be targeted by touts offering a little bit of grass just to get you in the mood, etc. Beware, as these are often set-ups. Even very small amounts of any illegal drugs in your possession can wind you up being in a whole lot of big time trouble. Kuta and the areas around Kuta (Bali) can be an Alice in Wonderland playground for the younger set. It also can be hell.

Another point I would make is to choose you expat friends VERY carefully. Some expats are here only to prey on other expats...especially the young and freshly arrived. The majority of expats on Bali are great folks, regardless of their age, or where in Bali they live.

A final point I would add is that since your intention is to stay for a long period, be sure to follow all the appropriate visa requirements. Also, it is very advisable to register yourself at the US Consul Office in Denpasar. You can find their address and phone number either by searching here on this forum, or via the internet.

Cheers and enjoy your move. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so why not give living in Bali a try? Good luck, and don’t forget to vote!

[milan]

Calitobali, you just have to have strong principle within you and don't let anybody lead you astray.

I was 18 going on 19 when I first went to Bali. What made it worse was, I was the girlfriend of the lead guitarist of an American rock band who just whisked me off with him to Bali from Jakarta. The whole group and I went by train to Surabaya first and continued our journey by bus to Banyuwangi which is still in Java. Went across from there by boat to Bali island in Gilimanuk. Straddled along for 8 hours on bumpy and pot holes road. It was crazy, wild and daring but yes; nothing ventured, nothing gained.
However, although I was swept off my feet by this man who I was very much in love with, I stood my grounds knowing that I could never marry him and that there were times, I was perceived like a nerd to the whole entourage. You see, the other members of the band had their girlfriends too along as they were from US; Thai-American from Thailand; an Indonesian model. They were the bass, drummer and and the second guitarist's partners. All were into smoking ganja, taking mushrooms in their omelettes, even hashish, etc. I DID NOT TAKE THEM AT ALL, as I refused knowing very well of my principles. Yet I could easily be dissuaded but NO!. For example, I did take the roll of the cigarette pretending to inhale it but I was like Pres. Clinton. "I DID NOT INHALE".
There were times when everyone would sleep by the beach overnight and go nudes or diving and swimming --- even doing the OOOMMM mantra in a circle. I did not participate and left my bikini on and just stayed by the beach. What a total nerd. I was ...
Then when my boyfriend asked me to elope knowing that my family did not give any permission whatsoever, even though I was on adventurous moods, all wide-eyed; just returning from growing up years in a swinging London; I decided to end our relationship. Besides, I was hungry all the time...
But he still sent for me to come and be with him on his stint in Singapore which I did as a farewell get-together which he was not aware, of course. But that was the last time we were together. I was relieved!
My point is, just do what is best within your core and what is right. Think of your family always. Don't get pressured by peers. Make sure that you come out safe from such seducing atmospheres and surroundings.
And no, there are no beheadings...

Good luck!

[Roy]

And no, there are no beheadings...

Well, that's not exactly true. Say hello to Michael Rockefeller. He was about your age when he first came over here and look how he ended up!

[calitobali]

Thanks everyone for your answers. Roy could you elaborate though on some expats trying to take advantge of new expats? what do they stand to gain by this?

[calitobali]

Another question.

Here in Los Angeles my job is as an Ironworker. If anyone is familiar with the concept of reinforced concrete, my job is to place the rebar before the concrete is poured over it.

Now, I do love my job, but running with 400 lbs of steel on your shoulder, while a good workout, can be exhausting to think about doing for the rest of my life.

I was wondering if I am allowed to VOLUNTEER on the construction projects around Bali. I would love to still be able to get out there and do it every so often. If yes can anyone tell me if concrete is widely used in Bali, or are buildings usually made from another material?

[Roy]

“Thanks everyone for your answers. Roy could you elaborate though on some expats trying to take advantge of new expats? what do they stand to gain by this?”

What they stand to gain is money. Here’s a short list of some scams I’ve run into:

-The “professional borrower.” The old adage, “neither borrower or lender be” is alive and well here. If you loan another expat money, the chances are good you’ll never see it again.

-The “great business deal.” As you are young, and “fresh off the boat” you will be presumed to have a nice bunch of cash with you, or have easy access to cash from back home. Be very skeptical of anyone approaching you after having some drinks with you at a bar with a great business plan that needs just a little more cash (like a couple of thousand) to get launched.

-Real estate fraud and Ponzi schemes. Bali is ripe with this BS, in fact, such schemes are openly advertised in local papers and on the internet as being legitimate real estate investments with guaranteed returns. Avoid these like the plague.

[Roy]

Rebar and poured concrete is a very popular method of construction here, the concrete then being faced with nice stone work.

The idea of volunteering for such work at a construction site would be a big stretch to the imagination of an immigration officer, so I highly recommend you stay away from that idea and get your work out where most foreigners are expected to get their work outs...at the gym.