Local contacts or distant relatives

JackStraw

PERtoDPS wrote Upvoted to high heaven because while I detect sarcasm much is true and gold standard advice.

Yes, someone please pin this to the front page of the forum. This should be everyone's golden rule book to Bali

harryopal

If you are disconcerted by Markit's outline, I hear Lebanon is a nice place to live although a few little problems with power supply, accessing your money at the bank, biggish explosions with infrastructure, rubbish everywhere. food shortages... well shortages of everything, shoot outs between rival factions in the city streets... but other than that quite nice.

PERtoDPS

Wasn't sure whether I should chime in on this thread or not, but I think maybe so. I spent most of my time in Bali bouncing between Perth and here pre covid so we always just lived in hotels or self contained apartments, this time we rented a big old house. It's evident by the cheap fittings this was someone's holiday home type thing before and it has it's issues, ants (varies how bad as to my level of motivation to deal with them)but I installed A/C and made a few upgrades for electrical and plumbing stuff, it is cheap as chips compared to buying stuff at bunnings or paying tradies in Perth. So my argument is for the "already built and fix it up" type style, though I like space now I am way over hotels, villas, all the temporary holiday stuff. I much prefer a home to feel like a home than a hotel. A few little bumps along the road being 1out of only 2 bule on the street integrating with the locals and their culture/habits, is that something you need to consider? Are you perhaps better off isolated or in an expat community? I think next time I'll get more isolated, but so far so good. Last time I built was in Perth with my ex wife, who by my account screwed me over for the house, but that's a lifetime ago. I just remember being tired from work being bored out of my mind choosing door handles paint colours and all that too. Of course there is some good arguments for brand new too. For me, I'll go existing every time from here on in.

Ginand T

PERtoDPS wrote Wasn't sure whether I should chime in on this thread or not, but I think maybe so. I spent most of my time in Bali bouncing between Perth and here pre covid so we always just lived in hotels or self contained apartments, this time we rented a big old house. It's evident by the cheap fittings this was someone's holiday home type thing before and it has it's issues, ants (varies how bad as to my level of motivation to deal with them)but I installed A/C and made a few upgrades for electrical and plumbing stuff, it is cheap as chips compared to buying stuff at bunnings or paying tradies in Perth. So my argument is for the "already built and fix it up" type style, though I like space now I am way over hotels, villas, all the temporary holiday stuff. I much prefer a home to feel like a home than a hotel. A few little bumps along the road being 1out of only 2 bule on the street integrating with the locals and their culture/habits, is that something you need to consider? Are you perhaps better off isolated or in an expat community? I think next time I'll get more isolated, but so far so good. Last time I built was in Perth with my ex wife, who by my account screwed me over for the house, but that's a lifetime ago. I just remember being tired from work being bored out of my mind choosing door handles paint colours and all that too. Of course there is some good arguments for brand new too. For me, I'll go existing every time from here on in.

Good advice re hardware. Are you centrally located, what motivated choice of location.

Balifrog

harryopal wrote If you are disconcerted by Markit's outline, I hear Lebanon is a nice place to live although a few little problems with power supply, accessing your money at the bank, biggish explosions with infrastructure, rubbish everywhere. food shortages... well shortages of everything, shoot outs between rival factions in the city streets... but other than that quite nice.

You forgot about the women being a bit on the "heavy" side....

tel522

Fred2 wrote Your lady is from Surabaya/Malang and you are thinking of building in Bali:eek:. Bali has nothing on Malang, you need to get out a little. Stop going to bars and listening to old drunks and bargirls.

Imho ,malang is not the place it was 15 years ago ,now it is overcrowded ,hardly foriegn freindly as it used to be , too many radicals for my taste . Never mind the bloody awful weather in rainy season and of course the noise 5 times a day ,not my cup of tea .I prefer to be woken by the birds , a good snorkling beach 10 minutes away , a pleasant life .

Markit

Tezza71 wrote The guy that designed the place for us is a close friend of my lady tells me he will be personally managing the project but I will definitely be going to the site as often as I can.

I can't tell you the number of times a complete disaster on Bali was preceded by the phrase "is a close friend of my lady". At the risk of offending, at the worst that just means they will have to divide all the money they steal from you. At the best, he may know even less about building than you do but he will never admit it and your "lady" won't press him on it at the risk of offending him. If you really want to enjoy your retirement here on Bali: 1) rent a house now on the open market for the next 10 years and make the payments yearly with clauses for non-compliance of the land lord. 2) live in the area you choose to rent for a couple of months first to find out what it's really like 3) now is a great time to buy furniture and white goods from bankruptcies ditto rentals 4) find out where your "lady" has her family hidden and make sure they stay there 5) don't get her pregnant - you aren't up to teaching baby Wayan football or surfing any more 6) keep all bank accounts in your name and don't make her your heir unless you want to get hit by a truck in Denpasar 7) take photos of everything you rent or borrow (car/bike/house) to prove you haven't stolen/wrecked/sold someone else's belongings AND that they haven't wrecked yours 8) don't live within 5 km of a mosque 9) stay away from Ubud they have mozzies that will carry you back to the nest - the locals all say "not true" are all anemic from blood loss. 10) find a hobby and really beat the shit out of it - this doesn't include Bintang marathons. You may think you want to sit by the pool and drink Margaritas and have dirty sex with your "lady" 24/7 but it really gets old after the first 6 months - well that about the Margaritas does, dirty sex - send pictures.

PERtoDPS

Markit wrote I can't tell you the number of times a complete disaster on Bali was preceded by the phrase "is a close friend of my lady". At the risk of offending, at the worst that just means they will have to divide all the money they steal from you. At the best, he may know even less about building than you do but he will never admit it and your "lady" won't press him on it at the risk of offending him. If you really want to enjoy your retirement here on Bali: 1) rent a house now on the open market for the next 10 years and make the payments yearly with clauses for non-compliance of the land lord. 2) live in the area you choose to rent for a couple of months first to find out what it's really like 3) now is a great time to buy furniture and white goods from bankruptcies ditto rentals 4) find out where your "lady" has her family hidden and make sure they stay there 5) don't get her pregnant - you aren't up to teaching baby Wayan football or surfing any more 6) keep all bank accounts in your name and don't make her your heir unless you want to get hit by a truck in Denpasar 7) take photos of everything you rent or borrow (car/bike/house) to prove you haven't stolen/wrecked/sold someone else's belongings AND that they haven't wrecked yours 8) don't live within 5 km of a mosque 9) stay away from Ubud they have mozzies that will carry you back to the nest - the locals all say "not true" are all anemic from blood loss. 10) find a hobby and really beat the shit out of it - this doesn't include Bintang marathons. You may think you want to sit by the pool and drink Margaritas and have dirty sex with your "lady" 24/7 but it really gets old after the first 6 months - well that about the Margaritas does, dirty sex - send pictures.

Upvoted to high heaven because while I detect sarcasm much is true and gold standard advice.

Foamcrest

Markit, in an earlier post you asked why earthquakes happen mostly at night, well thats simple. When a “ fat, bald, butt-ugly old guy” marries a “willing young brown beauty” he needs all the help he can get in the bed department hence “did the earth just move for you darling” post earthquake. Meanwhile the afore mentioned ‘willing young maiden‘ is assisting the strapping young gardener to plant his seed in just the right place. The older I get, 76, the adage “there’s no fool like an old fool” seems more relevant as time goes on. Pass the blanket and cocoa please.

Balifrog

Markit wrote I can't tell you the number of times a complete disaster on Bali was preceded by the phrase "is a close friend of my lady". At the risk of offending, at the worst that just means they will have to divide all the money they steal from you. At the best, he may know even less about building than you do but he will never admit it and your "lady" won't press him on it at the risk of offending him. If you really want to enjoy your retirement here on Bali: 1) rent a house now on the open market for the next 10 years and make the payments yearly with clauses for non-compliance of the land lord. 2) live in the area you choose to rent for a couple of months first to find out what it's really like 3) now is a great time to buy furniture and white goods from bankruptcies ditto rentals 4) find out where your "lady" has her family hidden and make sure they stay there 5) don't get her pregnant - you aren't up to teaching baby Wayan football or surfing any more 6) keep all bank accounts in your name and don't make her your heir unless you want to get hit by a truck in Denpasar 7) take photos of everything you rent or borrow (car/bike/house) to prove you haven't stolen/wrecked/sold someone else's belongings AND that they haven't wrecked yours 8) don't live within 5 km of a mosque 9) stay away from Ubud they have mozzies that will carry you back to the nest - the locals all say "not true" are all anemic from blood loss. 10) find a hobby and really beat the shit out of it - this doesn't include Bintang marathons. You may think you want to sit by the pool and drink Margaritas and have dirty sex with your "lady" 24/7 but it really gets old after the first 6 months - well that about the Margaritas does, dirty sex - send pictures.

Perfectly summarized, and with a bit of humor.

Tezza71

Markit wrote I can't tell you the number of times a complete disaster on Bali was preceded by the phrase "is a close friend of my lady". At the risk of offending, at the worst that just means they will have to divide all the money they steal from you. At the best, he may know even less about building than you do but he will never admit it and your "lady" won't press him on it at the risk of offending him. If you really want to enjoy your retirement here on Bali: 1) rent a house now on the open market for the next 10 years and make the payments yearly with clauses for non-compliance of the land lord. 2) live in the area you choose to rent for a couple of months first to find out what it's really like 3) now is a great time to buy furniture and white goods from bankruptcies ditto rentals 4) find out where your "lady" has her family hidden and make sure they stay there 5) don't get her pregnant - you aren't up to teaching baby Wayan football or surfing any more 6) keep all bank accounts in your name and don't make her your heir unless you want to get hit by a truck in Denpasar 7) take photos of everything you rent or borrow (car/bike/house) to prove you haven't stolen/wrecked/sold someone else's belongings AND that they haven't wrecked yours 8) don't live within 5 km of a mosque 9) stay away from Ubud they have mozzies that will carry you back to the nest - the locals all say "not true" are all anemic from blood loss. 10) find a hobby and really beat the shit out of it - this doesn't include Bintang marathons. You may think you want to sit by the pool and drink Margaritas and have dirty sex with your "lady" 24/7 but it really gets old after the first 6 months - well that about the Margaritas does, dirty sex - send pictures.

I'll take all of those points on board Markit but I have to say that at some point "you" have to start trusting people. My lady is 52 years old so the danger of pregnancy is not present. Her family all hail from Surabaya and Malang so that isn't an issue and they all work. Her 2 children from her marriage are adults and have their own lives, and they both work. We've been together now for around 2 years and she has had ample opportunity to rip me off and I've never seen any indication that she might have it in mind.. I sympathise if you have had bad experiences or know of guys who have but all I can say is I've been around the traps a couple of times and I'm well aware of most of the pitfalls that you outline and I appreciate your candour. Thanks for the feedback.

PERtoDPS

Tezza71 wrote I'll take all of those points on board Markit but I have to say that at some point "you" have to start trusting people. My lady is 52 years old so the danger of pregnancy is not present. Her family all hail from Surabaya and Malang so that isn't an issue and they all work. Her 2 children from her marriage are adults and have their own lives, and they both work. We've been together now for around 2 years and she has had ample opportunity to rip me off and I've never seen any indication that she might have it in mind.. I sympathise if you have had bad experiences or know of guys who have but all I can say is I've been around the traps a couple of times and I'm well aware of most of the pitfalls that you outline and I appreciate your candour. Thanks for the feedback.

I think if you can look at the list and tick them off and be like "ok does not apply to me" you're pretty much good. I also pay some credit to domestic duties they definitely have a value. Many of the issues we have had has been the culture clash and my partner is a lot younger than me but at the end of the day she is fiercely loyal. We don't live together anymore and it works better that way and really enjoy our time together now. It's not even so much the age it's more Balinese Hindu values VS western culture they kind of collide like a deer in the headlights. But I did get my Mrs to get a job and stop sponging off me, she started her own business and much to my surprise still stuck around. I buy her lunch or dinner now and then and might help her bro or sis with some school supplies or phone data but honestly I have very little to do with the family and it works well. Their dream is of course they build a house in the village on my dime. Dreams and reality are two different things though. Markit's list definitely should be shoved down the new bule on the blocks throat and considered though. Sounds like maybe indeed you got a good one Tezza. I talk to some older girls online (just friends) but their attitude is right. We can't tar them all with the same brush that is true. I think some people do need to consider what MarkIT is saying, if you can disqualify yourself all the power to you.

Fred2

Tezza71 wrote I'll take all of those points on board Markit but I have to say that at some point "you" have to start trusting people. My lady is 52 years old so the danger of pregnancy is not present. Her family all hail from Surabaya and Malang so that isn't an issue and they all work. Her 2 children from her marriage are adults and have their own lives, and they both work. We've been together now for around 2 years and she has had ample opportunity to rip me off and I've never seen any indication that she might have it in mind.. I sympathise if you have had bad experiences or know of guys who have but all I can say is I've been around the traps a couple of times and I'm well aware of most of the pitfalls that you outline and I appreciate your candour. Thanks for the feedback.

Your lady is from Surabaya/Malang and you are thinking of building in Bali:eek:. Bali has nothing on Malang, you need to get out a little. Stop going to bars and listening to old drunks and bargirls.

Markit

Tezza71 wrote I'll take all of those points on board Markit but I have to say that at some point "you" have to start trusting people. My lady is 52 years old so the danger of pregnancy is not present. Her family all hail from Surabaya and Malang so that isn't an issue and they all work. Her 2 children from her marriage are adults and have their own lives, and they both work. We've been together now for around 2 years and she has had ample opportunity to rip me off and I've never seen any indication that she might have it in mind.. I sympathise if you have had bad experiences or know of guys who have but all I can say is I've been around the traps a couple of times and I'm well aware of most of the pitfalls that you outline and I appreciate your candour. Thanks for the feedback.

Why oh why would you come to the land filled to overflowing with wonderfully buxom, attentive, well formed and adventurously willing young brown beauties and marry an old trout of 52? I mean fat, bald, butt-ugly old guys have to beat stunners off with a stick and you count yourself lucky with Imelda Marcos' older sister? Dude you don't need a forum you need therapy. (Meant in the nicest possible way)

Tezza71

Markit wrote Why oh why would you come to the land filled to overflowing with wonderfully buxom, attentive, well formed and adventurously willing young brown beauties and marry an old trout of 52? I mean fat, bald, butt-ugly old guys have to beat stunners off with a stick and you count yourself lucky with Imelda Marcos' older sister? Dude you don't need a forum you need therapy. (Meant in the nicest possible way)

I have the "old trout" of 52 for three reasons mate. Firstly she is as attractive as any thirty year old and comes with no baggage. Secondly I am more than certain that I won't have to worry about her screwing the gardener or any other random who happens to make the right moves. I'm 74 and frankly the idea of a young nubile 25 year old really did appeal but I could foresee more agro than I'm prepared to put with at my age. Thirdly she isn't white Caucasian which is the most attractive proposition. I have had more trouble with this breed in the past than I care to recall. Over the last 45 years the breed has cost me a lot of time, effort and money but that's another story that would take up more space than is available here. I always read with interest your comments and note the heavy hint of sarcasm in them Markit. Keep them coming mate. It makes my morning to open up the forum and see your latest missive.

Markit

Foamcrest wrote Markit, in an earlier post you asked why earthquakes happen mostly at night, well thats simple. When a “ fat, bald, butt-ugly old guy” marries a “willing young brown beauty” he needs all the help he can get in the bed department hence “did the earth just move for you darling” post earthquake. Meanwhile the afore mentioned ‘willing young maiden‘ is assisting the strapping young gardener to plant his seed in just the right place. The older I get, 76, the adage “there’s no fool like an old fool” seems more relevant as time goes on. Pass the blanket and cocoa please.

Ha, ha, ha true thing. BUT a vasectomy never lies (as do gardeners and their beds) and if you're after lots and lots of help in the bed department I can only recommend (heard it from a friend) a beautiful, young gold-digger. They are motivated enough to raise the dead or die trying. Imelda Marco would just roll over and think of her shoes.

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