spicyayam
If you are thinking of moving to Bali, where do you want to live and why?
If you are already living in Bali, what made you decide on the place?
mimpimanis
I moved to the Pecatu because I saw the house here and loved it and the area. I will have to move when my second year is up in December, as the owner is selling the house. I will definitely be staying in the area. It is cooler here as we are on the bukit. It is fairly quiet (where we are now, very quiet) we are close enough to the Bypass to get into town for shopping etc.
And probably the main reason I will stay in the area is that I love my sons school and want to be close enough for him to continue there. :)
mat
I have many reasons I intend to move to Bali [north nr Lovina.]
I love the Island, the people, the culture, the climate, the food, the prices and my intended is Balinese.
Also I feel my money does more good in Bali than in England [I can feel like I'm making a difference to some of the poorer peoples lives.]
I decided life is too short to spend another winter in England and the money I would spend on fuel bills in the UK will let me live in relative luxury in Bali. I also export from Indonesia to the UK, so the 6+ months a year spent in Indonesia can be used finding goods/suppliers.
Mainly though because it's a new and exciting challenge and I feel I need the stimulation that it brings.
Jimbo
Lovina for me. Has enough of most things and does not suffer from the excesses of the south.
troy
Goa Gong, Ungasan and Uluwatu.. The Bukit is where I was and where I love most..
Troy F.
calitobali
I live in Denpasar, which may not be the norm for an expat but I like it. When I first came to Bali, some friends of mine had a house in Denpasar but very close to Kuta on Jl Imam Bonjol, but I didn't stay there long, since my friends were going back to live in America. Not having a ton of money but determined to stay in Bali, I started searching for a kos. I was tipped off to a brand new kos complex that had just been built, not too far from my friend's house who lives in Kerobokan. I've been here for about 8 months now on West Gatot Subroto, and really like the place, only rp 800,000 per month and the room was brand new and came with all brand new furniture including a bed. There are a ton of good warungs all over my street, and I kind of enjoy living here as I am sort of a commodity, most of the people here don't see Bules everyday, as most tourists tend to never go to Denpasar. Overall, I like Denpasar and my kos very much, but if I happen upon some money for a better place, I will probably look around Petitenget or Canggu.
gilbert de jong
I decided on Panji (in between Lovina and Singaraja) half way up the mountain. Because till recently no other foreigners living here, now besides me there's one other foreigner so the Desa is (as far as I can tell) not very influenced by outsiders.
The air is way cleaner up here, no scooters whizzing around, so it's pretty quiet.
In comparison to the south or Middle Bali, I immediatly had a good feeling about this area..But to each his/her own ofcourse.
Also the temperature and/or humidity is more to my liking uphere...and ofcourse the view I have here is almost priceless.
The only downside I can think of is.....hmmmm actualy there's no downside, hahaha.
Friendly greetings........Gilbert.
PS: What about you spicyayam? your location says..Bali soon I hope....so what's your preference and why?
Jimbo
Nice one Gilbert. Sounds like my kind of place....3?
goldminer
I also love Lovina, Singaraja area, but for some reason i get sick up there...not sure if its the water or the altitude or the car journey. I would love to settle up that way but also lack of schooling for my princess may mean living south and visiting often. Got a spare room Gilbert? :lol:
mosaic
where do you live in Panji Gilbert. my father resides higher up the mountain from you. this is a magical place to live with beautiful vistas, fresh air, rural atmosphere, rushing water etc. a true jewel. my dad lives about a five min drive from villa shanti . he has several bule neighbours. this area is becoming discovered as an exellent spot to reside.
ronb
[quote=mosaic]I am quite suprised more people arent flocking to the north(or maybe they are). [/quote]
We are happy to be west of Lovina. We go south fairly often and stay a night or two sometimes - but when we come back up the mountain past the monkeys, then over the top to where you can catch views of Singaraja and the Bali Sea, we feel we are entering a different world. Its a great climate, beautiful coast, and the hills are so close.
Jimbo
And a beautiful home as well Ron do not forget that :D
mosaic
i also hate when people call south bali non balinese. It is what it is yet to me it still a nice place to stay for a while. I wish the traffick was less intimidating and more planning was in place in regards to growth yet that also gives this region its soul . In regards to dining and socializing I consider southern bali world class. maybe if money wasnt an issue I could keep my oasis in the north and add a nice villa in the hills of jimbaran to the mix
mat
[quote=Adam] Sorry, but I can't stomach the nonsense that South Bali is not the real Bali. Last time I checked a land bridge still existed between 'low brow' south and 'high brow' north. .[/quote]
I didn't think anybody in this thread has called the south not real, and what's all the "high brow, low brow" about? I dont understand is there a cultural difference between the north and south apart from the population levels?
mosaic
would anybody else like to share some experiences of living in more rural areas of Bali. I am quite suprised more people arent flocking to the north(or maybe they are). singaraja is quite a nice city in my opnion in regards to people, architecture a little charm. the land prices in the south are quite staggering and the hussle, bussle is dreadfull. I do enjoy the dinig scenne in seminyak, jimbaran bay, walk along kuta beach(when clean) the odd posh nightclub I must confess. In my opinion which is biased of course where my father and myseld reside is just amazing. Rice patties overlooking the north coast. The climate a little ways up in the mountains is quite cool with steady breezes. The fact that we can raise an abundance of veg, have fresh eggs, and meat really is rewarding. hope to hear some more stories of where people make their home in bali. thx
Adam
Gee whiz, what a tough question - anywhere in Bali is agreat place to live I reckon!
Would be a toss up between my two favourite places, preferably both! Firstly, somewhere on the caldera rim overlooking Danau Tamblingan and Buyan like Gobleg or Wanagiri. Anywhere on the roads between Banjar and Bedugul to be honest. If they're not the most breathtaking views on Bali i'll go he, dare I say it, I even think the padi beras is better than the overexposed but none the less beautiful padi's around Ubud. Just that little bit too far off the beaten track for most I guess, so the area seems to get a bit forgotten and I've rarely seen a bule on those roads. For the faint hearted I wouldn't recommend it, the roads are pretty gnarly - not much between you and some major near vertical drops :twisted: . It's very cool and the fog and mist sets in early heading towards dusk. I never get tired of looking across the deep valleys to all the little villages with their smoke and lights glowing through the mist! I'm blessed to have a good friend (more a sister really, were the same age and we've been close friends since 1992 when we met as young whippasnappa's) who lives up there and I've been privileged to stay up there a few times. Rias has begged me to build a house there one day, hopefully the dream may become the reality sooner rather than later.
Now, at the other end of the spectrum, despite all the bad press, I could quite easily slot into Kuta / Legian / South Bali too! Sorry, but I can't stomach the nonsense that South Bali is not the real Bali. Last time I checked a land bridge still existed between 'low brow' south and 'high brow' north. South Bali is exactly how the Balinese have created it and is inhabited by Balinese, not frikken martians! Jalan Legian is just as 'Balinese' as Besakih and I can have just as 'authentic' conversation with a Balinese down a Legian gang as I can down the backlots of Ubud. Sure, it's a festy quagmire of poor planning, pollution and over population but it sure can be a whole heap of fun too :D . I'm still young and full of energy and the southern nightlife still does it for me and would be hard to keep away from the nite clubs if I lived full time in Bali. However, you can have too much of a good thing, so in the end I'd like to be greedy and have a house in both places for a 'break' from one situation too the next. Change is as good as a holiday they say 8) .
Adam
Hi Mat,
[quote]I dont understand is there a cultural difference between the north and south apart from the population levels?[/quote]
Apart from the standard diffrences from village to village, regency to regency, um, precisely nothing! You're right, nobody in this string has been derogatory towards the south, but sadly for some reason, occasionaly people who prefer the south or have a fondness for the place seem to 'cop it up the khyber' and get labelled uncultured misfits who like to live in Disneyland. I dunno, but for some reason the expat's (and I certainly don't mean anyone here on the forum :wink: ) and tourists I've met from further north ('specially Ubud) seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Just a personal irritation but hearing 'to experience the real Bali you must leave Sanur / Jimbaran / Kuta / Legian / Denpasar etc etc.' makes me wanna puke! Its ALL Bali and its ALL good!!! :)
calitobali
I would never live in Kuta or Legain. I enjoy the place, to go there at night, but I could never live there, I would get too bothered by people trying to sell me something everytime I walk out of my door. I do really enjoy Denpasar though, as I still can quickly get to anything that a Westerner might need, such as computer equipment at Rimo, or the multiple supermarkets. The northern areas are nice too, but I imagine I would get too bored up there.
Markit
The only reason I can see for knocking the south of the island is the rampant commercialism that living or staying there engenders. I just think that the prices are so out of kilter with everywhere else on the island that those that choose to live and work there are forced to pay and/or earn so much more than elsewhere that this can't help but negatively effect the style and pace of life there. Which for most of us here is what it is all about.
Some people here love the fast pace, it has to be said mainly Australians that are geographically or economically limited to other sources for the "fast lane". I mean Europeans can go to any number of islands to experience it and Americans have their own targets, be it Vegas, Hawaii or Miami but here at the end of the world you're a bit limited.
I mean I've even seen it written that Australians will go to Singapore for a fast weekend fun - that sets the bar pretty limbo low don't you think? :lol: But I don't believe it...
Adam
[quote]but here at the end of the world you're a bit limited[/quote]
End of the world???? I reckon its the start from my experiences of the northern hemisphere vs. the southern. Can't believe the Pom's sent us here for punishment :lol: :lol: :lol:
[quote]The only reason I can see for knocking the south of the island is the rampant commercialism that living or staying there engenders[/quote]
Yes, true enough, but we only have ourselves to blame for that. It never used to be like that. 'Back in the day' when most of the tourism seemed to be Aussie in origin the development was nothing like the blight that occurs today. Of course, where there's population the prices are going to be higher - look at London, New York, Tokyo.....Nowdays, elements seem to be trying to purge the 'low value' (and low impact) tourist and expat in favour of the mega rich. Some of the mega developments on the Bukit are hideous and the new building at the end of Jl. Pantai Kuta is inexcusable. The majority of the locals certainly don't seem to be benefiting from it as, like you say, cost of living for the staff that that work in these areas almost negates the benefit of working there. But where else do you suggest that they go???
[quote]Some people here love the fast pace[/quote]
Bali? Fast pace? Where? I've never seen it, you sure your on the right island, or even in the right country for that matter... 8) :lol:
[quote][I mean I've even seen it written that Australians will go to Singapore for a fast weekend fun - that sets the bar pretty limbo low don't you think?[/quote]
Whats wrong with visiting Singa's for a holiday? I personally love the place. Wouldn't want to live there but its nice to spend a short time there. Euro's shoot to Majorca, Ibiza etc for the weekend, whats the difference? Oh that's right, they've been spoiled and sadly, looks like Bali's next :(
