April 22, 2010
Bali, Indonesia
PLUS:
- Coming Clean--Why Springtime In Rural France Isn't All A Bed Of Roses...
- More On The Difficulties Of Doing Business In Brazil ("Banks Are Only The Tip Of The Iceberg")...
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Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"From the comfort of your veranda," writes Asia Correspondent Wendy Justice, "you can see the people of the neighboring village tending to the irrigated paddies of bright-green rice. A gentle breeze making its way down from the distant mountains softly touches into life the shimmering greens of a hundred species of plant life.
"You eye the ducks swimming in the irrigation canals and tilt your ear slightly toward the sounds of happy laughter, and other-worldly gamelan music softly carries from the
banjar community hall in the distance.
"Taking a deep breath, you sigh with contentment. The scent of flowers surrounds you, and a wisp of incense floats your way from the
canang sari offering baskets that your housekeeper has carefully and reverently placed to invite balance and harmony into your home.
"This place is called the 'Enchanted Land,' and, once you've seen it, you'll understand why. Despite its small size, this island packs in everything you expect of paradise, from coral reefs to the jungle-clad slopes of mighty mountains complete with tribes of naughty monkeys. Here, amid the most gracious and hospitable of people, you could live well for as little as US$1,500 a month.
"Yes, this is one of the most charming and affordable havens on earth.
"I'm speaking of the island of
Bali, Indonesia.
"If you're in search of an exotic but welcoming retirement haven on a fixed income or a modest budget, Bali offers a fine quality of life that could be just what you're looking for.
"If you have a slightly bigger retirement budget, you'll find that you could live substantially better in Bali than you could most other places in the world today.
"Certainly other overseas retirement havens offer more Western-style comforts and amenities, and, yes, some places qualify as more affordable retirement options than Bali.
"But I'd say that perhaps no other place on earth offers more stunning beauty, gracious hospitality, or diversity of cultural and outdoor activities than this little island.
"Fantastic festivals, mysterious jungles, and exotic foods are just some of the treats in store for the adventuresome retiree who seeks out these shores.
"Of course, you aren't going to pack up and move to Bali without first experiencing life on this island firsthand. Most people initially head to Bali with a tourist visa and experience the area for a month or two before making a full commitment for permanent retirement...and I heartily endorse the strategy.
"Thinking longer term, Bali is a great place to consider for part-time retirement overseas, spending maybe half a year or so on the island and the remainder of the year elsewhere.
"Although it's not for everybody, thousands of foreigners have come to Bali for a visit and then decided to make it their home. Even if you aren't up for a retirement move this exotic, there's no denying that this is one of the most beautiful spots on earth."
Kathleen Peddicord
Editor's Note: Wendy's complete guide to the exotic charms and delights of this beautiful island is featured in this month's issue of the
Overseas Retirement Letter, in subscribers' e-mailboxes today. If you're not yet an
ORL subscriber,
get on board here now in time to discover Bali.
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"OK, I have to come clean," writes
France Correspondent Lucy Culpepper following up from her
report from this country's Bearn region yesterday. "It doesn't all smell like roses in this part of the world in spring!
"The tractors that looked so rustic and charming last week are now being used to spray manure all over the soil in preparation for sowing the maize seed. Now there's horse manure and there's pig manure. The former is quite pleasant in an earthy sort of way, but the latter is not pleasant in any kind of way, especially when you drive through a cloud of it as it blows across the fields.
"Thank goodness I was on four wheels for this experience and not two!"
"Kathleen, thank God for common sense! I live in Portugal, and I can tell you that Spanish is much easier to learn than Portuguese.
"In addition, friends here are always saying the same as you have been, that
money and visas are a great worry in Brazil. The locals know all about this; practically, doing business in that country is not sensible.
"Thanks for the info, which confirmed my opinion."
-- Jenny G., Portugal
"Kathleen, you and Lief are correct.
It is very difficult to get a visa or a bank account in Brazil.
"I traveled extensively in the country and, after many months, came to the same conclusion as you. It's too difficult to do business there. Banks are only the tip of the iceberg. Think of wading through the files of all the properties you are researching in Portuguese. Ugh. I speak Spanish, thanks to my years in Ecuador, but Portuguese is way too difficult to pick up like I did Spanish.
"Also, good luck finding an honest real estate person with accounts separate from his own in which to place your money. The agents I interviewed co-mingled their funds with the buyer's funds, making it very hard to wade through in the end..."
-- Richard P., United States 