Moving to Bali: Logistics

People moving to Bali need a variety of things set up, before they can move on and start working. There is no one place you can go and get it all sorted out, because of the nature of the way things work here. The first things you need after moving to Bali, are a phone and transport. Here are some tips on how to go about organzing yourself.

•Cell phones:
One of the best places to buy a cell phone is Bintang supermarket in Seminyak, for the simple fact that you can locate it easily and can also buy everything esle you need there. You will also see small cell phone shops down small gangs (lanes), such as the one across from Jl. Benesari, at Jl. Legian. Down that gang 100 meters is small shop selling new Nokia phone, similar to the model I have, for 450,000rp. In Bali the phones use interchangeable SIM cards, which are available all over the place. A Simpati SIM card cost 27,000rp and includes 20,000rp of pulsa.

Lookout for signs offering SIM and pulsa (minutes). Within the last year or so, it has become necessary to register the number of the phone, which is done by calling a number and answering a series of questions. You will need an Indonesian speaker to help you with this. Once this is complete you are good to go. When you need more pulsa you can buy it in denominations of 20,000rp, 50,000rp and 100,000rp.

•Land lines:
In order to get a land line in your house or office you need to call Telkom. They now provide DSL internet connection, which can be activated after your phone line is installed. A friend of mine who has has the DSL for a while says his internet and phone charges for a month average around 800,000rp per month.

•Motorbike / Car:
In my opinion renting a scooter / motorbike is a great time saver. When I first moved to Bali I used taxis to get around. Prices have doubled since then and the hassle of waiting for one and dealing with change, makes using taxis a frustating experience. Hiring a motorbike for a month will cost you around 500,000rp. I pay 400,000rp and every local I talk to says “Great price!” Tiger 2000’s are double the price. Rental prices on cars go down with the age of the vehicle. An old Kijang might rent for 1.5m rp a month or less if you are persuasive.

To buy a new motorbike go to a dealer (Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki). For a car your best bet is to check out the bulletin boards that are around town. Places such as Cafe Moka, Krakatoa Business Center, Bali Deli etc. have posted notes about cars and bikes for sale. For bikes it always the bigger, high end type, not scooters. Here in Bali there are a ton of old 1970’s Toyota Landcruiser knocking around. An expat buys one, drives it for a few years then passes it on to the next guy. Don’t forget to bring your International Driving Licence with you, before moving to Bali.

•Accommodation:
You’ll start out in a guest house / hotel, but quickly want to move to something better. There are expats who have lived in a guest house for over 10 years, but that isn’t the scene most people are looking for. There are places around town, such as Bali Land & Houses, located on Jl. Drupadi II in Seminyak, that will find to a place. Of course they are earning a commission for this. In my experience, houses and villas come and go, without warning. Checking the board at Krakatoa Business Center in Seminyak, you’ll see villas offered for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 2 years, all kinds of offers. Equally, they get snapped up before long. Exploring the small gangs (lanes) on a scooter is an excellent way to find a place. I found my house by wandering around and have helped other people by taking them to the back streets in Umalas (many villas). One tip, if the house / villa you are planning to rent has electrical, plumbing, structural or any other kind of problems, do not move in before they are fixed, regardless of what the owner says.

Your utilities will be in the form of a monthly electric bill, which is likely to be around 200,000rp. Some places charge you for garbage collection and water is free. Gas is used to power the kitchen burners, which you must buy yourself from the local vendors. It comes in large blue metal gas canisters and is cheap.

•Maids, babysitters and cleaners:
A typical cleaner (pembantu, which means ‘helper’) will take care of the floor, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms. That’s the minimum of duties she is responsible for. My pembantu also does laundry, cooks food, takes care of the gardening, as well as playing with the kid. She works from 8am-5pm with a 2 hour lunch, 6 days a week for 500,000rp per month. Some people have live-in staff, others have an arrangement where the pembantu shows up for 2 hours a day. You’ll have to deal with it yourself and negotiate a situation. Try to get a pembantu with a phone and motorbike, much easier for you and less chance of her not showing up.

In my 1st house, I was promised a security man and gardener. I never saw a security man and the gardener came about twice a month. The lease was already paid for the year, so the gardener was an employee of the housing company. Hire your own staff, so if they screw up, you can fire them.

•Safety deposit boxes:
Many banks have safety deposit boxes. I had one for a while and I think it was about 375,000rp a year. Great idea if you have valuables to guard.

•Visas:
There are a range of visas that might suit your needs, including Single Entry Business, which costs around 2m rp to set up, is good for 18 months, and means you can stay for periods up to 6 months, after making the monthly extentions. To work you need a KITAS, which is more difficult to arrange. Companies such at Arjuna in Kerobokan, Kantor Kita on the Bypass and Bali Mode in Kuta, can sort you out.

•Buying Land & Starting a Business:
The above mentioned companies can all assist you in setting up a company in Indonesia. Rely on their advice as they do that for a living. I have never set up a business, so cannot comment on the pitfalls.

Before you go slinging your entire wad into Bali, talk to a variety of expats and other people who have started businesses, their experience can save you the pain of learning it all from scratch. Lastly, make sure you get some health insurance before you come here, just in case things go wrong.