In Reply to: anyone lived in bali posted by AussieAngel on Thursday, 25. November 2004 at 14:25 Bali Time:
but employment opportunities are very restricted for foreigners. A company needs to show that you can do something that an Indonesian can't do at all or that you have a special expertise that will justify your hiring. I've been here for 15 plus years now, with an Indonesian wife and four kids. Usually I love it, although there are times...
Living in Indonesia requires flexibility and a good sense of humor. I've seen many folks who attempted to live here burn out in a few years - sometimes a lot less. Why? Life's little needs are not always met here - electricity, water, clean air, Western comfort foods, milk, for a few. Bali has become incredibly polluted compared to what it was like when I first moved here. I live in Sumbawa now, although we still have a few houses in Bali, and my wife and kids still think of it as home.
Even though I can get aggravated by things , I still prefer living here to living back in the US because I don't worry about my kids as much as I would in the States, folks are friendlier, the weather is better, I have an incredibly beautiful almost deserted beach five minutes from my house.
If you have a skill that you can take advantage of via the internet, you could do that over here. Forget about getting some white collar job here that an Indonesian could do - it won't happen.
How much does it cost to live here? Depends on your personal circumstances: the area where you want to live, what kinds of food you eat, what kind of housing is acceptable. I know there are foreigners here who can live very cheaply, but if you want creature comforts you have to pay for them. Check the internet out for web sites on housing in Bali and then remember those prices and go and find housing for yourself because you can get it a lot cheaper than through some real estate company. Meet local people who can help you. Have emergency funds in case things don't work out. Don't burn your bridges behind you.
Good luck,
Bruce