paulseawind wrote1: Yes but occasionally bored. I have a demanding mind. Yes because of #2 below.
2: I had been going to Bali almost every month (and Lombok) to relax and holiday. I used to ride motor bikes around the island with Lovina as the 'base' as well as Legian. One time I came to Legian for the weekend on a $60 ticket and found a couple of days was more of a hindrance than a holiday. For some reason I started looking at Villas online. I thought "Gee, they look nice". I kept going on the Villa search and emailed someone and received a curtly polite reply and a re-direction to his friend who is a very high profile man in North Bali. Most people know his name. I contacted him and he said he'd be out of town when I was there but someone else would look after me. OK, I contacted them and we agreed to meet and they'd show me some options. OK, sounds good. We met and they said we can build you a Villa on land we have for sale so let's go and look at it. And they said they'd show me work in progress as well.
Well, I wasn't prepared for the super stun I would receive later on. We drove to a place called Kalisada and they showed me vacant land - absolute beachfront. They had more than a hectare and I said I want one acre, which is actually large to manage. Any more is too big as my neighbour here is finding out.
The dream had begun. I said I want a ramp into the sea for a seaplane/speedboat and they all said 'No problem'. Later that wasn't to be. Later we designed a site plan for 4,000 sq mtrs and I said I want a 2-storey house so that was designed. GD, I could see it all in my mind. I could walk around in that house even though it didn't exist. I was very sold.
But sashay back a step. After we saw the vacant land (which is beautifully located), they took me to a Villa that was well underway in the construction phase. I looked at it and looked at the beautiful sea view and thought this is very nice. Small, but nice.
Then it really happened and I was sold. The third stop was at one of the guy's Villa which was rented. We arrived at the gates. The driver honked the horn and the gate opened and we drove in. I saw a nice Villa and got out of the car. It was exciting. We talked a little about the gate, the guard and the garden. Then we walked to the house and went inside. The maid came with a tray of cold face towels but I said no thanks. I was starting to become quite overcome. There were about 4 attractive women in the kitchen making some kind of food for themselves. One of the women was really attractive. I was shown around the ground floor with the open air bathrooms and living areas. Then we climbed the staircase and went to the balcony. I could see the infinity pool and the gardens and the pathway and those women had headed to the bale to eat their brunch. I looked around and the Villa owner showed me the office there and the master bedroom. I was overcome and couldn't really speak for a while. It was then that I knew I had to have one of these. That was it. Hook, line and sinker. And it was a glorious feeling.
Anyway, we did the site plan later on and I said I must have the sea ramp. I wondered how they would do that and what about low tide, etc. In the end they said they could not do the sea ramp which meant to me no seaplane and no speedboat. So I said no thanks and backed off.
But, that urge, that influence, that need was still as strong as ever.
I let it float inside me for quite a while, still thinking and wondering. If you don't know much about something then you can't really make a plan about it. Knowing that, I decided to have attempt #2 in the same region - North Bali.
I contacted the same original guy and agreed to meet him and he'd show me 2 Villas I picked out. One was in the hills and the other was on the beach. Both nice properties.
We met and found we had things in common (he was also a pilot), he was also a computer guy, and we knew some of the same people.
First we went to the beachfront Villa. Wow. Can this be mine? I looked at it and took it all in. The original impact when you come thru the gate is this has the wow factor. The gardens blow you away. People new to the property stop and take it in and then look at me and I understand what that means.
Second we went to the mountains and the road put me off even before we got to the property which was quite OK but zero security.
Thanks for the viewings, then I went home.
Not long after, I got an email saying the beach one - the owners dropped the price by 50,000 euros and he wanted to tell me before he published his next newsletter. I emailed back "I'll take it thanks". I arranged the money and that was it. In August 2012 for a settlement in September.
Am I happy here? Oh fk yeah.
In the first year here I added about 2,000 plants to the gardens and put in some extra pathway. I'd say I have at least 10,000 plants here. Probably more. I put 50 roses in and the ones that are still here are now almost 6 feet tall. But no scent. They are all red roses, from Java. I should do another 50 roses, in among the existing surviving ones.
Sounds great, you are living your dream. This private Airbnb is looking more attractive by the day plus I get to beat and fire the servants.
1. Does your wife have the same passion about it as you (how is she now)
2. Will you stay here forever or will your demanding mind and inquisitive nature make you change
3.How old are you?(if that's not too personal)
