With an open mind, I hope you will read this guide about why I am living in Taman Griya Jimbaran Bali, how much it costs, and what life is like if you decide to make it your permanent home. Or even if you haven’t decided yet, I still want you to read it.
I’ll explain why Taman Griya Jimbaran is the best place to move to in Bali, as well as some of the challenges you might encounter. Here, let me take you through a regular day in Taman Griya Jimbaran so you can see for yourself why I decided to make it my permanent home.
Here’s how I spend a normal day at Taman Griya Jimbaran.
I wish I could say that I get up early every day and paddle out to catch the first wave of the day, but the truth is that I usually just get out of bed, make some coffee, and get ready for my work, which I do from home most of the time.
To be really honest, I don’t do much cooking anymore since I’m so focused with decluttering my life to save time and money. When I am hungry in the morning, I’ll use one of the many food delivery apps, like go Gojek or grab, to get something delivered to me, supporting the heroes in green and then I’ll sit in my office chair until sundown.
On the days when I need a change of scenery, I take my work to places where I can focus with little distractions. Working in public places like cafes, coworking spaces, and restaurants helps me get my job done in a more balanced way. Work ethic is everything to me, and I’ve managed to be productive at work, at home, and in Taman Griya Jimbaran despite the numerous invitations I’ve received to go surfing, golfing, or out with friends.
In the evenings, I like to relax and reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to conduct my daily life in Bali. Watching the sun go down with zero regrets.
My family and I had been looking forward to going to Strike Bowling in Canggu, and we finally got to go there yesterday. This evening, my wife and I will visit a new beach club in Uluwatu, where she plans to hold one of her future events. While Taman Griya Jimbaran is great, weekends are for exploring other parts of Indonesia. This is only a tiny taste of life in Taman Griya Jimbaran, but maybe you’re beginning to see how it is here.
Although it is the less desirable of the two options, I would pick Taman Griya Jimbaran over Canguu any day of the week. Tropical Southeast Asia is at its finest away from the hordes of tourists, the restaurants that serve them, and the gridlocked roads they cause.
Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, and McDonalds are close by in case you crave great waves or a happy meal. There are slightly cleaner beaches than the rest of the island, and you can reach Canggu in either 45 minutes or 2 hours (depending on traffic). Alternatively, you can travel to Kintami, which is much cooler, and soak in hot springs.
In fact, you can reach a beautiful waterfall or majestic temple in just over an hour in any direction, all while being near beaches, diverse culture, and all of the necessities of life. In the northeast, there is Mt. Batur that may be reached in as little as 2.5 hours. Or, you can circumnavigate Bali in as little as a couple of days.
So, my wife and I have been married and living together for five years in our current home. She purchased it 15 years ago, but I’ll get into the financials and logistics of why we settled on Taman Griya Jimbaran later; for now, I just wanted to highlight why we live here. First of all, I can walk to the gym in two minutes and drive to the beach in six, but I rarely surf.
My wife has been keeping very busy planning events for the G20 summit, which is being held in Bali this year. For the government, of course, but also for a wide variety of domestic and foreign companies. So, the fact that we can sometimes get away, watch beautiful sunsets from the beach, and go on exciting new adventures together is a great addition to our married life.
Every week brings new adventures, but if you’re dedicated, this may become your regular place of work.
In general, Taman Griya Jimbaran is a great destination for personal growth. For me, success has always come from narrowing my focus to only a few tasks at a time; as such, I no longer worry about commuting in the morning, being somewhere on time, or feeling obligated to do anything at all. And I recommend the same approach to anyone visiting Bali.
The same is true for clutter and unwashed dishes in our humble home in Taman Griya Jimbaran. My wife keeps the house clean every day despite her hectic schedule, so when I get home I don’t have to worry about cleaning up after myself. This saves me at least fifteen minutes and usually closer to thirty, giving me more time to focus on more productive things.
In return, I give my wife two 30-minute massages a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, to help her unwind.
As of right now, I am able to upload and download at a rate of 80–90 mbps, costing me roughly $30 per month. Many online service providers boast speeds of 100–150 mbps, but in reality, this is rarely the case.
My $3.00 GoJek breakfast from Crazy Bule’s just came, and it’s an omelet stuffed with vegetables and a side of toast. The delivery fee was around $1.00. I’m still trying to save money everywhere I can, so instead of buying a $3.50 Venti coffee from Starbucks, I’ll prepare a homemade pour-over coffee.
Thankfully, my wife’s property has a pool, and now that we’ve decided to make Taman Griya Jimbaran our permanent home after five years, we’re making preparations to renovate it.
Our Monthly Expenses in Taman Griya Jimbaran…
And because I know it will astound you, let me first tell you how cheap rent is in Taman Griya Jimbaran. Guards stand at the gates and patrol through the neighborhood. Our villa and a cliff covered with climbing vines create a quiet space for our swimming pool and yard. I conduct most of my work on a long Suar wood dining table, which is located in the outdoor kitchen connected to another shower room for the pool. We have a large living room, two bedrooms on the ground floor that are divided by a bathroom, and a third bedroom on the second floor.
- Cost of water is approximately 300k to 400k ($19.25). We’ve been filling up the pool recently.
- Power usage: 500k ($32) per month (air conditioning on from 5pm to 11am, pool filtration system on for 4 hours each day).
- Security and Garbage: $100k ($10)
- 500k ($32) per month for internet speeds of 80-100 mbps.
Amount Due: $99 (USD)
The house across the street rents for $3,600 per year, or $300 per month.
All of this, and it only costs $399 per month!
Whatever part of Bali you find yourself in, just dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a bargain.
Although many people claim to be from New York City, they may actually live in a borough outside of the city proper, such as Brooklyn, the Bronx, or a nearby suburb. Taman Griya Jimbaran, is my borough in Bali.
Culture, development, and everyday life in Taman Griya Jimbaran
Our town, Taman Griya Jimbaran, is also home to people from all over Indonesia’s archipelago, not only to work at neighboring hotels, but also to offer their distinct culinary traditions at the various cafes and food-stalls.
Every day, it seems, a new warung opens up with a slightly different spice, and there are more and more villas, as well as proximity to many smaller marketplaces, some of which cater specifically to foreigners.
Small cafes, convenience stores, mini-markets, and street vendors are lined up everywhere in Taman Griya Jimbaran, selling everything from stinky fruit to mini carnival rides for local toddlers. Everyone here starts to shut down by 10 o’clock at night and head home to their families.
Canguu, Seminyak, or Kuta would be better if you’re looking for bars that are open late.
Taman Griya Jimbaran still some empty lots as of this writing despite all the recent development.
There aren’t many rice fields around here anymore, but if you head in the direction of Uluwatu (which isn’t far away), you’ll find plenty of swanky hotels, villas, and cows.
It’s hard to wrap one’s head around the quick expansion of restaurants and the constant appearance of freshly poured concrete.
For the 2022 G20 summit, the entire island of Bali is undergoing a makeover, from the airport to Nusa Dua, complete with new pavement, replanted flowerbeds, and ornate penjor’s (ornamental bamboo poles) to symbolize Mount Agung, the rivers that flow from it to the sea, and the earth’s bountiful harvest.
I think it would be a good idea to stay in a few different places to compare and contrast what you like about each. You can’t go wrong with any location in Bali; they’re all great and not too far apart.
Today I’m going to give a new café that’s styled after a Irish pub a go; hopefully by the time I get here, people will be getting off work and hanging out.
Taman Griya Jimbaran has a few local coworking spaces to choose from if you find that the less-than-ideal options are too distracting or uncomfortable to work in. You can get the best of both worlds at coffee shops.
Even though joining a coworking space that costs hundreds of dollars a month can be expensive, it may be a better place to make business connections than a place to get your work done.
When looking for a place to stay and work as a digital nomad, I realized that Taman Griya Jimbaran does not have a central hub for these services.
I live in Taman Griya Jimbaran because it is the least distracting place for me to create content, make art, or just hang out with others that share my desire for a great community every day. If I want to meet new people or work with clients, I’ll take my work to a couple of places just outside Canggu.
Before the pandemic, I had gotten into the habit of beginning my days with a rather rigorous workout at Klub Jimbaran. My new routine consists primarily of laps in our pool and strolls through the neighborhood.
Building Social Connections in Taman Griya Jimbaran
The wife loves the Klub Jimbaran’s Zumba sessions, pool, and fitness center.
Over the years, I have made some truly unforgettable friends here. One of those friends was killed in a motorcycle accident right here in Jimbaran at 3 a.m. today, leaving behind a pregnant wife and three young children. So, remember to always wear a helmet and look both ways before driving through an intersection.
I know that if I want to meet new people and develop meaningful relationships, I need to force myself out of my usual routine. From my own experience, I can say that one of the best places to meet new people and expand one’s social circle is in coffee shops and coworking areas, where people are often in the same place at the same time, doing the same stuff. Our neighbors tend to keep to themselves, but if you reach out first, they’ll exchange a few words with you.
Numerous foreigners who end up here share the goal of bettering themselves by prioritizing their health and happiness. Unlike the cities we left behind, where individuals are typically only free for one or two days a week, you can have a full week of freedom in Bali if you choose to work in the public sector, meaning you can have an awesome day.
The bureaucracy and the culture shock of relocating to Bali can be sobering on their own, but they aren’t the only challenges you may face despite your best efforts to leave them behind.
I’ll start by saying that the heavy traffic is the main reason why I avoid places like Canggu. It was predicted that Canggu would be completely full by 2020, and it’s streets definitely prove that prediction to be true.
If you were trapped in the worst of it in Canggu, the 30-minute drive from Jimbaran to Canggu might easily take two hours. The road is much more navigable for motorcyclists and scooterists, but you still have to watch out for traffic.
The second problem is trash, but I think things are getting better everywhere as more and more people learn about the problem.
There have always been and will always be groups that clean the waterways and get rid of the trash on the roadsides and beaches.
Taman Griya Jimbaran’s Absence of Things
Some comforts that were taken for granted at home must be sacrificed. You will quickly learn that you don’t require these.
However, there may be instances when one needs a certain item that isn’t carried in any of the islands numerous mega-malls. There is Amazon, and there is Tokopedia, which is not terrible. However, importing things from other nations comes with high tariffs. Expect to pay double for whatever it is you are buying out of the country. And to be safe, you should check the Amazon International Shipping section to make sure your products are allowed in the country. Be warned that some luxuries will not be available in Indonesia, and that some things will not even be permitted here at all (which is the topic of a different article).
I know there are some comforts you’re used to back home that you won’t find here in Taman Griya Jimbaran, but I believe they are well worth the price you’re paying to experience this new culture.
The low cost of living, friendly locals, delicious food, and open outlook on life have all contributed to my decision to stay.
Everyone at home wants to know what brings me to Bali and what I do here.
I know that with dedication and hard work I can become the best version of myself, but I also take time to appreciate the beauty of everyday life in Bali.
My lucky star is my wife, who already found a house before I moved here. Even though I try to repay her in some small way with daily 30-minute massages, it’s only a drop in the bucket compared to all that she’s done for me.
Many non-Indonesians buy property in Indonesia under leasehold conditions. That’s a mouthful, but basically it means that they have title to the building but not the land underneath it. On average, the lease term is 25 years, during which time only the land lease needs to be renewed, not the homeowner’s residency. There has never been a time like the present, when land values have increased so rapidly.
Look, Bali is full of opportunities, and you can get a lot more for your dollar but what really matters the most is the quality of life you gain in exchange.
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