Moving to Bali

nelis

Moving from Australia to Bali, Need advice on seafreight co. Any of you have experience and can recommend a company? Thanks Nelis :D

Roy

[b]Sea Freight Company[/b] Selamat, Nelis on your move to Bali. Are you looking for a sea freight company in Australia to move your goods to Bali...or a company here in Bali to use for export?

Frankzelf

Hello, We, a Dutch couple (mid. 30's) with 2 children (2 and 4), are planning to buying or leasing a bussiness in Bali (homestay or appartments with bar/restaurant). Who or what do i have to contact? What is the best area to start? near Sanur, Ubud, Lovina???? Is it difficult to start a bussiness? Is it difficult to arrange for living over there (immigration laws etc.)? Every information or contacts are usefull for us!!! Many thanks Frank

Roy

Hi Frank, Many of the questions you ask have been asked by several other posters during the last years. It might be advisable for you to do a through "walk about" on this forum, as most all of your questions have already been addressed. After your review of the forum, surely you will have some very specific questions to ask. Without any doubt, you will find willing and knowledgeable expats here to assist you.

pongken

Frank, Starting a business in Bali is not easy. There are no easy answers. I think Roy's suggestion of reviewing past postings on this subject is probably the best first step. I'll try to answer one of your questions though: "What is the best area to start? near Sanur, Ubud, Lovina????" Since it will be your business, you get decide this yourself, but lately I have been recommending taking a look at Maceti. The view looking north from Maceti beach toward Lebih beach is truly one of the most spectacular views in Bali. Once you see this view on a clear day, it will haunt you. The new highway especially makes Maceti an absolutely prime location. Things are starting to happen there, but little development has been achieved. Check it out. Ken

Py

[b]Sharing development info![/b] Pongken, I am so dead set against giving out that sort of information, I just cannot tell you. Think it through!

pongken

Py, The development bug has already infected Maceti. The folks in the Keramas area do need some money flowing in. I don't like development much either, but it's coming. Bali is in a process of transition. The most important thing is that the Balinese retain their values and culture, despite this inevitable transition. The tourism industry is in deep trouble in Bali. Since this is the sole source of income for the Balinese (aside from agriculture and the export of handicrafts), the tourism troubles have a huge impact on the Balinese. I worry about this and constantly advocate diversification from just tourism to Balinese friends. If you'd like to see Bali as it was 15 years ago (I would as a tourist), it's too late. In the last 15 years I have come to appreciate the Balinese as friends who are in desparate need of opportunities. Trying to preserve Bali as a sort of "anthropological cultural zoo" just won't work. The Balinese deserve better. I agree that this is a serious and diificult issue. Ken

Roy

Sambo, welcome to the forum. Virtually every expat in Bali, regardless of where they came from, was once in your shoes. At one time or another, Bali was new, mysterious, seductive, and somewhat scary for us all. For years, writing on a number of forums relating to Bali, I have used two metaphors. One is “expats, they ebb and flow like the tide.” The other is, “many are called, but few are chosen.” Neither of these metaphors paints a pretty picture, but they are the truth. My best advice to you is to come to Bali for an extended period, meet other expats, network and find out for yourself if a move to Bali is reasonable and likely a successful endeavor to embark.

Sambo

Thanks Roy. I am probably come over for a month at the end of the year (I came over twice last year but only for two weeks each time) - not a super long time but enough to look at it all more seriously.

Sambo

Hi all, I have been travelling to various parts of Indonesia for about 6 years now whenever I can (I work full time). Like many, I quickly fell in love with the people, the culture and the country and have always wondered what it would be like to live there. I have a great job in Sydney and life is great so why would I think of moving to Bali? I don't want to die with many regrets. I was travelling overseas when I was 21 when I found out my father had cancer - I returned home asap and never finished the trip so the travel bug has been dormant but not dead. I am 32 and still feel like I'm 18! I would not move to Bali to do nothing - I could only do it if I could work as I need to do things (while travelling as much as possible). Long post isn't it! I work in the media and specialise in marketing/publicity. If any of you know of possible work I could do on Bali, I would appreciate it. I am thinking of PR work for hotels and other tourist dependant industries? Thanks for your time and have a great day.

JBDesignss

Aloha, My girl and I are moving to Bali in a month or so, we are moving from Honolulu and need any kind of inside info on housing. We are looking for a villa 2 or 3 bedrooms, swiming pool, high speed internet, close to markets and freindly expats....(the Yak? Sanour?, Kuta area? We are working professional's, I will be working in Kuta as well as Canguu. The Girl will be working from home... If anyone has any suggestions as to where to begin looking. I have checked on line but have no idea where things are in relation to decent housing, and location. And the services are difficult to navigate if I don't know whats where.... I have friends with homes on the Bukit(dreamland) and in Kuta area.

Jimbo

I am really suprised you are going in a month and do not know the answers to many of these questions. Still if you want to find out do a search within the forums as many of these questions have been aswered before. Good luck.

JBDesignss

Thanks Jimbo, I'll take a look. I'll be able to take a little time once I get there to make a final descision on what I will do, so as much research on the front end will make things easier. I'll let you know how it goes.

NED

Well at last I have retired from the workforce after 43 years. :P We've sold the house and car, cashed in the 'superannuation' and booked our flights to Bali on Jan 21st. :P After visiting Bali for over 35 years this is going to be a one-way ticket this time and a new life for my wife and I, we hope. :P Bali, here we come! Ned

Roy

Selamat Ned! I’ll bet you’re very excited. We all look forward to meeting you and "Mrs. Ned!" On a semi-serious note you wrote, “this is going to be a one-way ticket this time.” I presume that means you are coming in on some sort of extended stay visa and not arriving on a VOA basis?

NED

Roy, We are going to come in with a 2 month tourist visa, then thru BALI IDE arrange something more permanent. Either a Retirement visa, KITAS etc. Hopefully this can be done in a month or so. The visa system is complicated and certainly doesn't make it easy for expats. Have you any advice here? Roy, you may have forgotten, but we meet you and Eri, myself and my wife Charmian, last June at your gallery then for a FEW drinks at Nuris. You showed us your new house, family house and you kindly dropped us back to our villa Komaneka.(the one near Royal Pita Maha) I'll forgive you if you have forgotten, but you'll have to buy the drinks at Nuris next time. Maybe next time a good dinner at Lamak might be in order. Ned

PeterCatchpole

Hi Ned, I'm almost in exactly the same situation, thinking of semi-permanent residency, would like the option to work, professional diver, but not full time and need to be in at least Singapore every three months. The official procedures don't make it easy. Be interested in how you get on and what decision you finally take. Peter

Roy

[quote]Roy, you may have forgotten, but we meet you and Eri, myself and my wife Charmian, last June at your gallery then for a FEW drinks at Nuris. You showed us your new house, family house and you kindly dropped us back to our villa Komaneka.(the one near Royal Pita Maha) [/quote] :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: Funny thing though, I had a rare opportunity to talk to Brian privately at Naughty Nuris earlier this afternoon for over an hour before our table filled up, and the conversation became less specific. Brian is much better than I am at remembering all the folks we've both met in Bali over the years. I admit to a high level of embarrassment with this issue, as frankly, it is embarrassing to not recall folks I have met here in Bali in months, or years past. I can only say "ma'af" and admit this as one of my shortcomings. Brian is excellent at remembering most all one, or two off visitors, while I admit, I am terrible in this regard. Not to be offered as an excuse, I can also say that forming friendships here in Bali, be they among the expat or local Balinese community, can often lead to painful separations. I guess for me, I’m careful with whom I forge bonds that I expect to last, and I guess my mind, in its own way sorts out things I should remember, and things I might think about later. On the other hand, one could just call me a lazy son of a bitch, and there would be plenty of truth in that. In any event Ned, I relied on the greater and stronger part of my brain, and asked my wife Eri, who of course recalled every detail of our most enjoyable get together. So, with that in mind, I look forward to seeing you again even while Eri kicks me under the table in an effort to jump start my brain into recollection mode. No offense Ned, and I hope you take none from this honest admission. As for the necessity of a return airline ticket, I’m not so certain of the importance of this now, as it once was years ago. It used to be fact that even with a SB or business visa, presenting your out of Bali tickets was as important as any other document...both at visa application, renewal, and to immigration upon arrival in Bali. Renewing my visa at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok for the last several years, I still am asked to present my ticket, but it is only my ticket from Bangkok to Bali. However, in my early years, say eight to five years ago, I was required to present a ticket at the Indonesian embassy for flights out of Bali...i.e. the return ticket to my country of origin. Coming into Bali with a tourist visa, albeit a pre-arranged and Indonesian issued 60 day tourist visa without return flight tickets may, or may not pose a problem. I don’t know for certain, as I have not been in this position for many years. In reality, it was up to the Indonesian embassy who issued you and your wife these visas to check on this. Ned, this is just all “food for thought.” That’s it, aside from my own personal embarrassment.

NED

Tis the season of goodwill to all.... I'll forgive you Roy. I didn't know you could fit so many embarressed smilies on one line! All the best for Xmas. Ned

matsaleh

Happy landing on Bali, Ned and Charmian and best of luck with your house hunting in Ubud. Nice to meet you both in Sydney and hope we can catch up again soon.