I have noticed since being a member of this forum that there has been quite a lot of people who for whatever reason decided that enough is enough and are looking to make the big move. Now 'big' i dont think even does the move justice as it really is a life changing move and this is where i start.
Firstly there are quite a lot of people who do not realise the enormity of moving to Bali and all that goes with it. Far too many people do notdo any, never mind enough research. The majority if not all of this group of people are destined to be going back homeafter just a coupleof weeks never mind months usually blaming the people or slagging off something else to do with the island basically to mask their failure in making the move a success. I mean you often wonder how one minute they were calling Bali paradise and its people so friendly and the next they on the plane home bragging to whoever will listen in attempt to restore their pride that the place is a hellhole and the people bandits. As some of the ex-pats have stated and also quoting a phrase used by the controverial ex-pat Roy who resides in Ubud ;
They come and go like the ebb and flow of the tide (or words to that effect)
Roy himself has been successful in making Bali his home not to mention the owner of the forum himself Bert who again has been there a number of years now. I suppose these two people see it month in month out people arriving and then people leaving and i dont mean holiday makers.
Another thing i find funny is to use an example a Bartender Joe say from Perth has all of a sudden fancies moving to Bali and thinks he willfind some Bar work that will enable him to stay on Bali. What he fails to realise is that he may well find a bit of Bar work but apart from the fact that there are plenty of Balinese who can do the job is that if he does find a job he will be paid the same rate as the Balinese worker. You may well be thinking whats wrong with that, but the thing is old Joe has not budgeted on receiving the smaller wages paid to balinese bar staff.
Yes there are plenty of pitfalls to look out for and in a good deal of cases a bit of luck is needed allthough not always. Also the Bali you may well experience on holiday in a luxury hotel is a lot different to the one you will experience as you strive to achieve your goal of making the island a permanent home.


Regs Sparky