I want out...

[Bob]

I'm pretty sure there were expats in Bali in the early 90s who were saying that it has really gone downhill since the golden days of the 70s.

By then it had gone way downhill even from 5 years before. It's really hard to believe but Kuta used to be wonderful. Clean water, clean beach, quiet, relaxing except for the souvenir sellers.

 

[centurion]

Tourists have been complaining about the ruin of Bali since the 1930s.

Did You Miss The Best Of Bali? • The Yak Online

Diana Darling reflects on a Bali that is fast disappearing. Did you miss the best of it?

theyakmag.com

 

[Samoerai]

That is because there is a system at the golf clubs here where your bag is taken down to the first Tee directly from the car, you're not allowed to take it into the clubhouse.

Yes, I know .. but we were going to the driving range ..

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Tourists have been complaining about the ruin of Bali since the 1930s.

Did You Miss The Best Of Bali? • The Yak Online

Diana Darling reflects on a Bali that is fast disappearing. Did you miss the best of it?

theyakmag.com

Great article!

here is David Attenborough in Bali back in 1956

 

[pantaiema]

Java - Bali suspension bridge (e.g Bali Strait Bridge) was proposed in 1960 but it has not been built.

Bali Strait Bridge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Bali Strait Bridge: the proposed bridge between Java and Bali

The Bali Strait Bridge is a proposed road and railway bridge between Java and Bali in Indonesia. The earliest proposal goes back to 1960, with the Tri Nusa Bimasakti plan to link the islands of Sum…

futuresoutheastasia.com

Bridge connecting Java and Bali? Banyuwangi makes proposal, Bali resists | Coconuts

The Bali government is not on board with a recent proposal from the regent of Banyuwangi, East Java that a bridge be built through the Bali Strait, connecting Bali and Java.

coconuts.co

Indonesia’s $20BN Bridge to Java Island

Indonesia has proposed building a 20 billion dollar bridge across the Sunda Strait, connecting the islands of Sumatra and Java.The bridge would be 27 kilomet...

www.youtube.com

Apart from the economics, financial, engineering challenges, the main reasons are something to do with Balinese culture and Mythology. The Balinese are opposing it. Also it is based Hindu's Mythology that the island of Bali and Java must be separated.

These guys (I have no connection with them) are compiling and visualising it. But the majority of what they said is correct based on varieties of sources that could be cross referenced.

 

[Hawk256]

This. I was chatting with someone who moved to South Carolina, and we remarked that it's remarkably similar to Indonesia in many ways - the bureaucracy and the outward politeness.

I am from Georgia right on the Alabama and Tennessee line. Indonesians and southerners are a lot alike. More so than most people could imagine.

 

[snow69er]

You can apply for a second-home visa. The process is quite straightforward, and gives you 5 years and 10 years stay.

And how do you apply for one of these?????

 

[Shadrach]

This must be a bot! To see how much the expats open their mouths! If the guy wants to move here, It's a good idea to visit first, visiting for only a week?

 

[pantaiema]

And how do you apply for one of these?????

There is a already a dedicated thread for second-home visa in this forum

The Second Home Visa Impact on Ex-WNIs Thread

Second Home Visa E33F is already Live since a while ago. This program is not just for Ex-Indonesian, but anyone interested who could meet the requirement could Apply. This is the link from the official Indonesian Immigration...

www.expatindo.org

You could also get it from official Indonesian Visa websites, molina or eVisa search for E33F which is the Second Home Visa Index
https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/front/faq/34723b14-5760-42e9-8aa8-73f54deb572f

There is a financial committent for this:
"Deposit funds in an account at a state-owned bank with a value of US$ 130,000 (one hundred thirty thousand US Dollars), or Purchase property in Indonesia such as an apartment/flat house with a value of US$1,000,000 (one million US Dollars)."

 

[JonathanChartrand]

Hello guys and gals. I'm currently in NY, U.S., and looking to get some information on becoming a permanent resident of Indonesia, most likely Bali. Any help with what I have to do to get the ball rolling would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, I just joined this forum and posted requiring information on moving to and living in Indonesia. I am also interested in Bali as I want to get away from crowded cities. If you are interested in communicating with me please email me at: [email protected]
Thanks

 

[harryopal1]

Hi, I just joined this forum and posted requiring information on moving to and living in Indonesia. I am also interested in Bali as I want to get away from crowded cities. If you are interested in communicating with me please email me at: [email protected]
Thanks

Moving to Bali, you will be moving to a very crowded island... but that is the main areas where people cluster for conveniences of stores and whatever. Traffic arounds these areas now is diabolical.

This is the infamous "short cut" near Canggu.

 

[Jaime C]

You can find small cities here, but many have millions in the city and suburbs. Even my little town of Bandung has 5 million including the suburbs.

 

[John indonesia]

Moving to Bali, you will be moving to a very crowded island... but that is the main areas where people cluster for conveniences of stores and whatever. Traffic arounds these areas now is diabolical.
View attachment 4236 This is the infamous "short cut" near Canggu.

That looks like a jam in Jakarta, but with more grass. I was toying with the idea of a short break in Bali but that I'm not sure after reading this thread.
Is it that bad most of the time, or is that rare?

 

[john madden]

That looks like a jam in Jakarta, but with more grass. I was toying with the idea of a short break in Bali but that I'm not sure after reading this thread.
Is it that bad most of the time, or is that rare?

It's pretty good from about 1am to 4am ... Most days

 

[jstar]

For a short break it’s fine of course. And then you can make up your mind if it’s worth it to stay longer.

Something you need to realize is also that there are many cultural differences. The locals will never ever see you as one of them. Even your non-Balinese Indonesian partner.

If you get into a not so touristic area (e.g. left of the ByPass in the east, right of Sunset in the western area, Uluwatu, the north, …) you will be confronted with more repugnant behavior; they burn trash next to your house (the smell!), drive motorbikes where the muffler (knalpot) has been removed, keep roosters that wake you up at 4, have often ceremonies that block the streets, etc. etc. You might sometimes wish for the mosques on Java…

 

[Samoerai]

If you get into a not so touristic area (e.g. left of the ByPass in the east, right of Sunset in the western area, Uluwatu, the north, …) you will be confronted with more repugnant behavior; they burn trash next to your house (the smell!), drive motorbikes where the muffler (knalpot) has been removed, keep roosters that wake you up at 4, have often ceremonies that block the streets, etc. etc.

Dogs barking, kids running around, screaming .. just a bunch of loud people with no respect to others. And they are known for "ramah". Huh?

 

[harryopal1]

As with anywhere one could spend all day listing the negatives and as has been indicated Bali has its share of turn offs. But what is it that keeps us here? For me I much prefer the warm climate to the cold of southern parts of Australia. Born in Melbourne but now it is a foreign country and for much of the year it is so so cold.

I also enjoy living modestly but comfortably on a pension which now in Australia would have us living in poverty... if we could afford to find a place to rent. Impossibly expensive.

The locals are much more friendly towards foreigners than is the case in Australia. People smile more readily and are generally very polite.

 

[Shadrach]

As with anywhere one could spend all day listing the negatives and as has been indicated Bali has its share of turn offs. But what is it that keeps us here? For me I much prefer the warm climate to the cold of southern parts of Australia. Born in Melbourne but now it is a foreign country and for much of the year it is so so cold.

I also enjoy living modestly but comfortably on a pension which now in Australia would have us living in poverty... if we could afford to find a place to rent. Impossibly expensive.

The locals are much more friendly towards foreigners than is the case in Australia. People smile more readily and are generally very polite.

So true, I left America due to the high cost of living. Now with the elections looming and the possibility of the Orange one becoming a President/Dictator, the thought of returning is totally out of the question. I do miss my children and grandchildren, but with WhatsApp, I can see them as much as I like online.
One thing I do miss is because I was disabled and had Medical, I had complete medical coverage for all medical needs, with qualified Doctors, Nurses, Hospitals. Before I left, I broke my leg, and the insurance paid for all services needed, including medication.unfortunately, it wont cover me out of the country. I have the local insurance here and pay the top bracket, I find the company doesn't want to pay for the service I need here. They will only pay for lower quality doctors, and medication. If I need better service for those things, I have to pay cash.

 

[jstar]

So what you guys are saying boils down to “nice climate, friendly people and cheap”? There are many alternatives then.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

So what you guys are saying boils down to “nice climate, friendly people and cheap”? There are many alternatives then.

I would say there are actually very few countries in the world that meet those criteria and where you could also get a long-term Visa.