Just a quick Hi from me. Will be living semi-permanently in Bali from about September 2007, have traveled quite extensively, from back packing to 6* luxury and really enjoy the Far-East as a whole. Love water sports, especially scuba diving, photography and writing about it. Looking forward to getting to know Bali a lot better and enjoy a slower and more natural way of life.

Funny about Bali, irrespective where you travel it always calls you back. Stayed at a hotel in Sanur a while back and there were people there from my previous visit over twenty years ago, we had a great time catching up.

Look forward to chatting more over the coming months.

All the best Peter

Sounds good Peter and hope all goes well.

I'm interested though in how you can go about settling there semi permanently - have you got a marriage to a Balinese/Indonesian lined up or married to one already, or have you been successful in getting some other form of long term visa?

Hi Go North, no happily married, no Indonesia bride for me. Couple of options which I'm looking at. Can either apply for a retirement visa, will be 55 next year, or working permit KITAS, looking through the various aspects of each visa and no rush to make a decision, will also need to get up to Bangkok or Singapore every three months or so and that needs to be taken into account.

But thank you for the welcome, slow site, is that normal?

Boots ain't TT that's for sure as far as extent of postings but far better natured and busier on other forums than Bali.

Peter nice to have you here. From waht I hear the Retirement Visa is no worries at all. Although the requirements sound strict, they don't really check up (3 staff, monthly rent etc.)

Will be nice to see you in 2007

Hi Nick, good to have a reply from you, your blog is daily reading for me. Some of the requirements are a bit extreme in my view, rental property must be a minimum value of $500/month, rental agreement, all within four days of arriving in Bali. I'm sure there must be a pragmatic way of approaching this?

Can understand about the contracts for hiring a local maid/gardner/driver and to be honest they are the sort of things that i would want to do. Much prefer spending my few dollars within the local economy rather than a "foreigner" if you understand my drift. Great believer in supporting the local shops etc at home rather than the chain stores.

Very keen in getting back to the exploring/discovering Bali. My wife is a Herbalist here in the UK so is keen to learn about the natural treatments the Bali Healers use.

All the best for now Peter

You can probably come over on a 60 day Tourist Visa, then sort out your Retirement Visa. Try emailing KantorKita.

I'm sure your wife will enjoy learning about the Balinese herbal remedies, and you will enjoy hiking around with her to see where the stuff is found.

That sounds like a plan Nick, hopefully will be able to come out sooner than September, just depends on being given the green light this end.

Looking forward to enjoying the delights of Bali once again