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Thankyou for sharing this. After exploring & living in India later this year, I was planning on working from Bali for a while as a digital nomad. Of course everyone has there own perspective on things, but this is not the first time I have heard that Bali is not the island people imagine, for a number of reasons. I have never been so I don’t have an opinion, however taking your experience into consideration, I will definetly consider a few different places to work from now! Thanks, Caroline Alice (&congratulations!)
ReplyThanks for the comment! I do want to say that Bali really was beautiful and I wish we hadn’t been under so much pressure with figuring out our next move so that we could have really enjoyed it and seen more of it. Its definitely worth a visit. And we did see many others working away on their laptops. It may work for some, just didn’t for us. I wouldn’t totally rule it out but I have to say Chiang Mai is a much easier place to “digital nomad” 😉
ReplyIt really is! Its like our home away from home. So great to be back, even if just for a short time 😉
ReplyHey Brittany and Charlie- Sorry to hear Bali didn’t work out! We loved Ubud so much but it was much cooler during the time of year we lived there. Glad to see you made it back to Chiang Mai after all though. Enjoy your time and eat all the Thai food you can get your hands on!
ReplyHey Alana! I definitely think we picked the wrong time of year to visit. If it hadn’t been so hot, I don’t think we would have been so quick to rule it out. I do wish we hadn’t been under so much pressure to figure out our next move so we could have enjoyed it a little more. It really was beautiful and they have some great food! Totally enjoying being back in CM though 😉 Khao soi for daaaaaysss!
ReplyHello Brittany and Charlie, so sorry to hear that your experience in Bali isn’t going to plan. I lived in Indonesia, Surabaya to be exact, for about 8 years and went to Bali regularly. I wouldn’t recommend Ubud as a base to work from because of its location. Yes, it is touristy and nice but you would have been better off in Kereobokan or even Nusa Dua since they are near the coast and have a breeze. Both are near Kuta which is a tourist hole – avoid at all costs. I know several expatriates living in those areas and they have beautiful houses with the open air design that you are talking about. I am also from Tennessee and really had to acclimatize to the humidity and heat of East Java and Bali but you get used to it after a while. If you can manage, eat spicy food as this is a way of cooling down believe it or not. If you and Charlie decide to go back to Bali for a second chance, feel free to send me an email and I will put you in contact with some locals and expats that might help you guys out.
ReplyHey John, thanks for the message and the tips! We will definitely take you up on that if we make it back to Bali, or Indonesia in general. We still have a lot to see there and definitely would love to explore more. Really appreciate the offer!
ReplyFrom the little time I spent in Chiang Mai, I imagine it would be a wonderful place to live for a while. I always had this romantic image of Bali (hopefully I’ll actually be headed there next month) but it is always good to keep expectations in check. I can totally understand how the unrelenting heat can be an issue if you are looking to stay somewhere long-term!
ReplyI would love to give Bali another chance under different circumstances. Truth is, we were stressed about finding a place to live so it took away from just being able to enjoy ourselves. I hope you have a great time when you visit!
ReplyHi,
I´m living in Thailand since over 13 years. Some 5 years in Phuket and explored the country with our motorbike with a sidecar riding 140,000 km. (Honda Silverwing 600cc, sidecar, a must have toy, imported by airfreight from Britain. ) But in the end Phuket was no longer Thailand, too ..well everything. We liked Chiang Mai, spent 6 months in nice, non-plush hotel at the Ping River, pool, tranquility. From there exploring the North on many rides, great nature, mountains, always going off the beaten track. In Chiang Mai, found a 30 year old house again directly at the Ping RIver, again tranquility pure, now in year 6 or so, time doesn’t really matter.
Yes, we have been to Ubud, charming guest house overlooking the gorgeous rice paddies. It was nice for a week. The overall impression: too manicured, for us.
Pico
ReplyMotorbike with a sidecar? That sounds awesome! Brittany needs one of those!
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