Radical
Retirement Communities - Bali
by
Jean Sutherland
If
you've retired anywhere outside the US, you've done the Radical Retirement.
Disbelief from family and friends is proof enough. Today people everywhere
are opting for radical retirement.
Take
Bali for instance. Bali's weather is tropical with the warm ocean
waters that you’d expect to find. There’s a landscape
of rice paddies at the bottom of volcanoes, an eclectic local culture
and miles of extraordinarily beautiful beaches.
Exploring
Bali will lead you to over 10,000 Hindu temples. Balinese music plays
everywhere at night accompanied by dancing. The island has an active
arts and craft scene and the best shopping and prices in Asia.
A
cute 2 storey house with small plunge pool, 2 bedrooms, AC and 2 baths
will cost you approx. $600+ US. a month. Apts. are even cheaper.
There
are approx. 20,000 foreigners living in Bali, with a high concentration
on the southern coast from Sanur to Seminyak and in the center of
the island, in Ubud. The Ubud expatriates are for the most part artists,
traders, and businessmen and women who offer services to tourists
and the expatriate community.
People
who live in Bali tend to be people who let life lead them rather than
trying to control it. The Balinese don't have a word for future -
they don't think about tomorrow the way we do. Sound familiar?
Expatriates
living in Indonesia, have the unique advantage of being within a few
hours flight or drive from beautiful pristine beaches, towering volcanic
mountains, verdant rain forest, wildlife refugees and fascinating
cultural experiences. All the normal activities such as golf, tennis
and scuba driving are also available. The expatriate community is
well organized and very sophisticate with many of the activities and
groups you would find at Lakeside.
When
it comes to medical needs there are many small hospitals throughout
the island and serious medical needs are usually referred to Jakarta.
There are many public hospitals but you can also find many private
hospitals. Medical coverage from private insurers is recommended.
One
usually enters Bali with a temporary 30 day visa and like Mexico,
it's a long and winding road to obtain a longer stay visa. One is
advised to seek professional help to work your way through the immigration
maze.
Rachel
Greaves, offers this advise to those considering this expatriate community.
Make friends with the local people, learn the language, acknowledge
the dangers, take care on the roads, accept the things you can’t
change, embrace the challenges, explore the island and the culture,
and be open to the intense spiritual energy here. Bali is full of
magic and wonder, if you truly want to be here you will find a way
to make it work. There are a lot of lessons to be learned on the way,
but if you have a passion for Bali, the joy and rewards of living
here are immeasurable.
If
you would like website references for more information, please email
me. I would enjoy your comments and recommendations for other expatriate
destinations to feature. webmaster@retireresource.com
