Life in Bali

Top 8 Reasons Homeowners Choose a Metal Roof

2017-01-30T19:58:00.001+08:00

Why should you choose a metal roof over asphalt shingles? Here are eight reasons! Read More...!

Top 10 Roofing Blogs To Follow

2017-01-30T19:56:00.003+08:00

These ten blogs will help consumers and roofing professionals alike to make educated roofing decisions and stay on top of industry news. Read More...!

New site - www.livebali.net

2015-12-10T15:30:00.001+08:00

Hey guys, Please check out my new site here: www.livebali.net
It's where to get the most up-to-date stuff!

Thanks and look forward to seeing you over there! Steve

Bali Snapshot: Majestic Tanah Lot

2015-07-06T00:35:00.000+08:00

Majestic Tanah Lot Temple, Bali, in its beautiful beach setting.

Click here to see more of my snapshots of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Wet Season: What are the pros and cons and should you go

2015-06-28T21:16:00.001+08:00

Tegal Alang rice fields - still great in the wet season!

Another really common question I get asked is about the best time to come to Bali. I thought it would be useful to talk about first of all the wet season and the pros and cons , because it seems that it's got a bit of a bad reputation and people don't really want to come to Bali in that time.

I'm just going to run through some of the pros and cons so you can make up your mind for yourselves. Let's just say the wet season runs from late September right through to mid-April. These can vary. This isn't a set time obviously and year on year there can be differences, but it's about six or so months.

Cons

Let me dive into the cons first of all, providing some of the things that you might not have thought of. First of all, because of the rain and because most of you will be driving on scooters or motorcycles, it is worth pointing out that it is that much more hazardous on the roads. As the roads and drainage systems don't deal with heavy rains very well, it often leads to floods and streams of water across the roads. On a motorbike, as you can imagine or as you may well know, this type of water can be extremely dangerous, especially when you combine it with things like potholes that can fill up and hide the real depth, which are extremely hazardous. Combine this with the crowded Bali roads and lack of general regulation on them and you get an overall added edge to driving. Driving is certainly more hazardous in the wet season; that's not to say it can't be done, it's just that much more caution is needed.

Obviously the wet season means it is wetter than the dry season, but also the temperature is a little bit higher and also the humidity goes up quite substantially. Not only does it rain a bit more, but it does become that much more humid, which I certainly found quite difficult to deal with when I first arrived in Bali, . Obviously, it depends on what you're used to and if you come from a humid place, this might not be such an issue for you.

I have also found that the mosquitoes seem to be more prevalent in the wet season. They thrive in wet, humid conditions, and I certainly found that I was getting bitten quite a bit more than in the dry season.

Also I found sleeping that much harder because the humidity doesn't let up overnight. It is right through the night and it's actually that much harder to sleep, so you may find your quality of sleep is less than it would be in the dry season. If you’re like me and struggle to sleep with air-con, you’ll need to find somewhere with a powerful fan.

The next point is particularly relevant if you're going to be using the beaches a lot, which I imagine means most of you. The rain does is it brings a lot of pollution in rivers after a long dry season straight out into the sea. This is particularly noticeable in months like October or November, after the dry season where the drains and sewers have been blocked or may not have had much water running through them and people tend to throw their rubbish in them and they're polluted. The rainwater goes untreated into the sea and bring a lot of this pollution and contamination with it. I know I got an ear infection in the wet season. It was after heavy rain. It may have just been bad luck, but it is certainly noticeable that you do see more litter floating about in the sea.

If you're going to be surfing, and I know quite a lot of you do, there are less options for surf because the swell isn't quite as consistent and therefore places like the Bukit 04:26, it's much rarer to get to. Some of the biggest spots on the Bukit like Uluwatu or Padang Padang are certainly not going to be working, or they won't be working at least in the same way.

Another point about surfing, or another two actually, is that along with the less swells there are more unpredictable winds. The winds are not Trade Winds like you would get in the dry season, and so therefore you have to get up early. Otherwise, it generally does blow a bit onshore after 9:30 or 10:00am.

I should also add that, although maybe there are less people in the surf in the wet season, because of the fewer options available it's not noticeably less crowded in the water because people go to fewer spots, whereas in the dry season it would be more spread out. Don't come thinking that you're going to have less crowded waves, because unfortunately that is not the case.

Pros

Now I've been through most of the cons but it's time to have just a quick look at some of the pros, which there are certainly. I don't want you to think the wet season is a write off because it's definitely not. I've had some great times in the wet season. One thing I certainly noticed when I was living in Bali was that during the wet season there was noticeably fewer tourists.

What this meant was that people coming over could find more competitively priced accommodation, because the prices do seem to fluctuate. If you're more inclined to have a backpacking type holiday or do a bit less planning, it'll be much easier in the wet season because there's so many more vacant rooms. That also gives you a bit more bargaining power. You can have more choice of accommodation and also hopefully barter and get a better price.

If you are looking for a night out, there's still a good atmosphere on any given night in south Bali area of mainly Kuta and Seminyak. As such, nightlife is not noticeably any different in the wet season . If you're worried about it being quieter with fewer tourists, that's not a concern as far as nights out go because any night of the year you can go to Kuta and you will find throngs of people and plenty of people out looking for a good time. I certainly wouldn't worry about there being any less atmosphere, because that is not the case.

I also mentioned a point for surfers, or one of the pros certainly for surfers is that the water is at its warmest. It can get up to twenty-six degrees, I would say about that mark, in the height of the wet season, so you never actually feel the cold in the water even with strong winds or rain. It is very warm all times and you don't want to come with anything more than really a very thin vest or tee shirt, if that, and a pair of board shorts, even early morning when it's still fine. There are still a lot of pros to the wet season for surfers as well.

I suppose one last general point is that I certainly found when recommending friends what time to visit that the cheapest flights were in the months of November and February respectively. I believe this is because the wet season is slightly less desirable so they drop their prices. Also, in November the run up to Christmas, so it's not Christmas but it's an in between period, as with February. Western people perhaps have less money after Christmas and so on and the holidays there. Those months were also the quietest times so they are cheaper and with less tourists.

All in all, that's my pros and cons of the wet season. I'd be interested to hear if you have any. If so, you can email me and we can have a chat. Otherwise, you can comment below

Alternatively, the wet season post I've written here and add your comments. I hope that's been helpful and enjoy. Let me know how you get on.

Get extra info about Life in Bali

2015-06-03T21:19:00.000+08:00

Founder & Author of Life in Bali

Hey there!!

I've just created Life in Bali's first e-mail list for you to get more than what is just on the blog - sign up below to find out!

As I value every reader to my site, I will only send more of what you, the reader, have been asking for.
Hope you like it!
Steve

Bali Facebook Forum: A Place to Discuss, Chat and Find Out about Life in Bali

2015-05-31T16:26:00.000+08:00

Hello again!

Just created a Facebook forum for you guys to discuss, chat and talk about life in Bali - let me know what you think.
‪

It should look at little something like this:

Surviving the Bali to Singapore Visa Run: Between Knock Outs and Put Downs

2015-05-20T04:40:00.001+08:00

Standing in a darkened corner, I felt like a criminal. Here I was, in Singapore, a country notorious for its severe laws and equally severe enforcement of them, nervously waiting in McDonald's for a mysterious man to make his presence known. It was 4.37pm; he said he would be there at 4.30pm sharp. Still no sign. Then suddenly, after several false alarms, I see a hurried, middle-aged man fitting my memory of a brief meeting with him in the morning. No sooner than he'd arrived, he proceeded to empty a bag of passports onto the table. This was my man.

Having survived the most part of my first visa run, I was feeling pretty happy with myself, not least because I had very nearly missed my flight from Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport. For this reason, I thought I'd share my experiences of a Bali to Singapore visa run and pass on some insights for the uninitiated.

For those unsure, the visa run is an obligatory part of any non-Indonesian national's time working in Bali, or anywhere else in Indonesia for that matter. The rules for getting a work visa for Indonesia are surprisingly strict, so strict in fact that it is easier for companies to fly their workers to Singapore for visas than to do it from within the country, which is more a reflection of Indonesian corruption and bureaucracy than businesses with large amounts of disposable income.

In my case, the language school I worked for told me that, prior to entering Indonesia, I should show customs officials a print-out of an onward flight 'ticket' to Singapore (around US$100), and on arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, simply tell the stamp-wielding zealots I was on holiday. Alarm bells were ringing and, despite the assurance in the form of several e-mails from my soon-to-be boss, I couldn't escape the fact that my future employers had provided me with a fake onward ticket to convince customs as I was leaving the country within the 28 days my 'tourist' visa would allow. Much to my surprise, the customs official at Bali's airport was more interested in me than my onward travel, even going so far as to kindly leave his phone number on the back of my arrival card, in case I needed 'anything'. With the said official being a man and the author being a man of a different persuasion, this made light of what had been a rather nerve-wracking start to my 'dream job'.

Now, after 3 weeks of working for the language school (I say 'school' in the loosest sense of the word), I was informed of my next mission, the visa run. After being told 'Everything would be sorted', I was a little nervous after the initial entry shenanigans with said fake ticket. Then came the debrief. I was handed a plastic wallet of tickets, Sing $300, and a print-out with all my essential details. I had to call Mr. Singh upon arrival to confirm the appointment and then proceed to meet him outside McDonald's the following morning between 11-11.30am, handing over my passport and said documents, to collect later that day at 4pm. Mission accepted.

Having massively understated the traffic and the distance from the motorcycle parking area to the terminal (the opposite, farther end to flights to Europe), I made it to my flight with the usual 'Last Call' signs flashing on the board. Air Asia, being the Virgin Blue or Ryanair of Asia, didn't fill me with confidence yet I sat back and thought 'At least it's better than teaching spoilt brats'. A rather seamless flight ensued and all was going fine.

At Changi Airport, the humidity was up a notch from Bali's wet season, and that's no mean feat. I had been to Singapore once before and knew what to expect yet I was taken aback by the comparative calm at the airport having left the chaos of Bali behind. I went to the pre-booked hotel, Hotel 81 Selegie, near the Little India MRT stop. With their website stating they cater for "leisure travellers", the PVC mattress protector (wipe clean?) and blackout blind, which had been kindly shut prior to my arrival, had me wondering what kind of 'leisure' such travellers were after.

Arriving at around 7.30pm, I made sure I would tick off the first task on my list: call Mr. Singh on arrival. Assuming he knew who I was given the amount of money involved, being quickly and abruptly told 'Never to disturb my evening meal ever again' and 'I don't know who you are just go to the meeting point' before the international sound of being hung up on filled my ears did little to calm my nerves for the procedure ahead. Unsure whether to consider this a 'ticked box', my mind became occupied with more urgent musings: food. I thought it was an ideal time to go out to sample the sights and sounds of Little India, Singarpore's vibrant Indian district with eateries to match. I filled up on incredible Indian fare and soon decided to head over to the nearest bar serving Kingfisher, the only Indian beer I knew. Suffice to say, it didn't take me long to discover my next Indian beer, the aptly named Knock Out, with the phrase 'High Punch' and an image of boxing gloves adding to the intrigue. As I had been sitting on a table for four by my lonesome, and with the Friday evening masses coming out to unwind, I was asked if I'd mind sharing by a group of three Singaporean Indians. No problem, I said. After surviving several rounds of Knock Out, my next memory is one of a club with hardly anyone and a few Sari dancers - my only sober thought being 'Get the hell out of here!' and I quickly left my new friends to their night on the tiles.

A weary head was all I was left with, the next morning, and a few more Sing dollars than I'd thought. I looked at the clock - 10.43am. Uh oh. I had no more than 43 mins to make my way across an unfamiliar city and to meet a man whom I'd never seen before outside McDonald's. The race was on. The obligatory cold shower did little for my pounding skull which, combined with the humidity, would be a few hours in letting up yet. I somehow got downstairs in record time, flagged a cab, gave instructions and was on my way. It was only a 15-minute journey by MRT but I dared not risk missing the window by getting off at the wrong stop. Now I was paying for my previous night's indiscipline in more ways than one as I handed over a not-inconsiderable sum for an 8-minute journey. Nevertheless, I strolled into McDonald's at 11.13am, 'Plenty of time', I told my sweaty self. Mr Singh, seemingly in better spirits than the night before, did not clock the fact that I was the one who had dared (been ordered) to interrupt his meal. Fortune was on my side. After a de rigeur checking of documents and a few no-more-than-necessary words had been exchanged, going against all my instincts, I handed over my passport, personal details and a few hundred dollars to a man who was operating in the outside seating area of McDonald's. Yes, this was what it said on my brief. No, my passport was not for sale. I hoped.

With a lonely few hours to kill, I skulked around shopping malls and sweated the night before's extravagances out of my system. James Bond, I was not. Johnny English, more so. After a couple of hours of being harangued by all sorts of peddlers, some of technology, others of smut, I saw that it was time to head back to collect my passport with a fresh new Indonesian work visa inside. McDonald's o'clock.

And so here I was, nervously waiting in the shadows of a fast-food restaurant in one of the safest places in the world, absolutely terrified at what might be to come. My logical mind abandoned me - I had been told to do this by my boss, they had paid, the man had my passport, what was the worst that could happen? Yet I still could not relax. A hastily consumed milkshake later, it was still 3.52pm, a full 8 minutes before the agreed time. As I shuffled nervously around the perimeter of the outdoor area, moving past families and groups of friends, I thought 'I'm the only one here who's done something wrong'. What that something was, I don't know. The minutes felt like hours until finally Mr.Singh made a quiet entrance only to boldly start calling out nationalities from the pile of the passports heaped on his table in the middle of the throngs.

"Czech, Australia, France", the list went on and, much to my surprise, several hitherto invisible figures appeared from the shadows to the frenzy of the centre table. "UK". I gestured to take it and, expecting to at least have to answer the perfunctory name check, found a passport in my hands. I opened it and, much to my surprise, it was mine. Complete with a new Indonesian work visa and profile photo bearing a distinctive red background. Mission accomplished, I thought and headed back to Bali.

Bali Videos: Bali Plane Crash at Ngurah Rai Airport

2013-04-16T04:58:00.000+08:00

Incredibly, no-one was killed in this plane crash. Lionair has a poor record, being blacklisted from EU airspace and also having had 5 pilots arrested for testing positive to drug use while on the job. Our message of the day: DON'T FLY LIONAIR!!! We do not get commission but Garuda & AirAsia both have much better safety records and are worth an extra $20! Be safe people!

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Videos: Bali Timeshare Scam

2013-04-12T04:36:00.000+08:00

From the same journalist whose undercover video caused two corrupt policemen to lose their jobs, another video has been doing the round on the internet revealing a timeshare scam in Bali and, as with the previous video, when questioned about their guilt, the offending people make light of it and laugh. As I always tell people who are visiting Bali, don't make eye contact and just keep walking!

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Videos: Bali Police - Tourist Bribes and Beers

2013-04-09T03:11:00.002+08:00

A video causing a stir in Bali - A Dutch undercover journalist, posing as a tourist, is stopped by police at a busy crossroads in Bali for not wearing a helmet. A routine donation soon turns into a friendly chat and a couple of beers. Both of the unsuspecting officers have since been sacked but will it actually make a difference to the way police in Bali behave towards tourists in Bali?

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Videos: Mattia Morri Bali Surf Sessions

2013-04-02T06:32:00.000+08:00

A video of Mattia Morri loving life and getting barrelled all over Bali

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Nusa Surfwear - Batik Surfwear Made in Bali

2013-03-08T04:30:00.000+08:00

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you ended up in Bali?

I am a surfer/traveller and what we call in Spanish a buscavidas. Basically experiencing life through different ways of living and occupations. I’ve worked in restaurants, construction, commercial fishing, language interpreting and when my partner Kara and I landed on Bali we got ourselves work as teachers and also got inspired to start nusa and debali.

How long have you been running Nusa?

We started with the nusa and debali clothing lines in 2009, designing, producing in collaboration with small home-industry factories in Bali, and selling around surf camps and in California when Kara would go there on holidays. We had no experience on the garment/fashion industry and no funding backing us up. But we had to give it a try. So we invested our little savings and monthly salaries and we went for it. We got really good feedback. The next logical step was to open the store over a year ago.

How about the Nusa concept - why is it different to your average surf/lifestyle store in Bali?

It is different in many ways. From the interior design that includes real roots embedded on the tinted cement floor to having the great majority of products hand-made in Bali and not having any big corporate brands. And of course having our independent clothing brands that rediscover and explore Indonesian Batik designs. Even our hand-made nusa fins and surf boards have batik fabric inlay.

The Nusa Store, on Jl. Uluwatu 22km, Bukit.

Where did your inspiration to start Nusa come from?

We got inspired by two things. First and foremost the beauty of Indonesian Batik designs. We loved it from the very beginning. We couldn’t believe no surf brand or street, casual or fashion wear geared to bules was doing anything with batik at the time. And that, in Bali! One of the major fashion centers of the world! And secondly, we felt that as adult surfers we couldn’t find much diversity in the surf clothing industry which seemed geared to a teenage style, so we wanted to create something cool and meaningful. Something that you could wear in the water or go out with friends or your date without being a logo billboard. We believe there is an artistic dimension to the surf life style and I guess, the more you live it, the more you become aware of it and appreciate it.

Any new clothing lines/projects you are particularly excited about?

Yes, we are in the midst of producing our new line for next season and it’s coming out really cool. We have also recently implemented a daily surf video report from the Bukit that has sent us also good feedback. Apart from that, on the website we have articles and surf fiction stories and we want to keep creating and exploring through that dimension of surfing. We believe, in the case of surf journalism, that it has been watered down and candied to accommodate to an industry that heavily relies on teenage stoke. Nothing wrong with teenage stoke, but we are not teenagers. Yet we are surfers. In the case of surf fiction, I think there is an immense universe to explore. We definitely want to get into that. We also have some original ideas for some videos. We are excited about giving something new and original to surfing, its life style, and its industry. But it all takes time, especially in Bali. Bali time, you know?

Check the nusa site or store for more!

You've kind of touched on it above, but could you say more about why you specifically decided to make batik into surfwear?

Because we are in Bali, we are in Indonesia. For Indonesians, batik has for centuries been a beautiful way of seeing and expressing the Universe around them. It’s a repetition of intricate patterns that when you look close you see something and from far you see something else or even many something 'elses' replicates it. It is like an allegory of life and creation. Many artistic, social and philosophical extrapolations are implicit in Batik designs. And, of course, it is beautiful.

Finally, tell us where can our readers find you?

We are on Jl.Uluwatu km 22 on the Bukit, just before the entrance to Dreamland Resort or www.nusasurfwear.com, where you can also get Bali tides and our daily video surf report from Bali.

Thank you for your time!

Thank you.

Bali Videos: Jordy Smith Ripping @ Keramas

2013-03-04T00:02:00.000+08:00

Jordy Smith shredding on Bali's east coast

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Videos: Pumping Wet Season Surf with Marlon Gerber

2013-02-20T23:07:00.001+08:00

This surf clip showcases Bali surfing talent Marlon Gerber enjoying some wet season juice in Bali - who said the wet season didn't have much swell!! Enjoy!

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Videos: Peace & Left Surf Film by Hugues Oyarzabal

2013-02-13T22:57:00.001+08:00

A fantastic free surf film from Basque surfer Hugues Oyarzabal. Lots of great Gopro surf action from Bali & Lombok - think Padang Padang, Deserts, Uluwatu, etc. - enjoy!

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Videos: Nyepi Monster Making!

2013-01-19T18:28:00.000+08:00

Every year our neighbours make a monster for nyepi in front of the house - here's a timelapse sequence of last year's monster. They make them for the ogoh-ogoh procession which takes place every year in Bali and is believe to ward off the evil spirits. This happens on the eve of nyepi before the island begins meditation.

Note that the whole of Bali also shuts down for a whole day for nyepi! Be warned! In 2013, nyepi will fall on 13th March! Bali is also the only place in the world which shuts down its international airport for 24 hours for a religious and spiritual holiday - crazy but true! Enjoy nyepi and enjoy Bali!

Click here to see more of my videos of Bali, Indonesia!

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A good apartment with AC in Kerobokan?

2012-12-21T07:01:00.000+08:00

Our next question comes from Marina from Jakarta, who said:

Question: "Dear Life in Bali,

My name's Marina & my friend I are looking for a fully furnished apartment for rent around the Kerobokan/Brawa area. We need a room with hot water, a fridge & air-con. We're currently living with a friend but have to move out by the end of the month.

Can you help, please?

Thank you for your kind attention! We look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

MARINA

Answer: Hi Marina,

South-west Denpasar has some pretty nice rice fields, worth
looking out for!

Thanks for the message! Umalas in Kerobokan has some good deals for what you are looking for,

but do you definitely need to be in Kerobokan? South-west Denpasar is also good as it is close to that area but the prices are lower. Have you also tried the Bali Advertiser? They have lots of different accommodation - it's worth a look but they tend to cater more to tourists so the prices can be a bit higher than in other places.

Also Bali's OLX page might help you to find accommodation.

Hope that's helpful!

Regards,

Life in Bali

To ask a question, find Life in Bali on Facebook, Twitter - @Livebali, Youtube or Hubpages. Alternatively, leave a comment at the bottom of this page and we'll get back to you! I should mention that if you leave a Facebook comment on the comments tab at the end of this post, please tag @Life in Bali as otherwise I don't get notified of your message! Thanks! If you leave one on our Facebook page, I will see it straight away, however.

Enough from me, fire away!

Bali Questions: How much does it cost to live in Sanur for 1 year?

2012-12-18T06:10:00.000+08:00

The first question comes from Justin from the USA, who said:

Question: "I'm planning on doing some research for a book and my girlfriend is working on her dissertation and has most of the research material digitized that she believes she needs and, well, we've been talking about moving to Bali while we work on it.

What would you think would be a number for cost of living for a year in Sanur? A nice two bedroom, close to a beach if not on it, a maid/cook, would we need a car? How much is food in Bali? Food is the main thing I'm having a problem narrowing down. I can't figure out how much it costs to live as a local as far as food is concerned, just what restaurants and whatnot charge from a tourist perspective. Would $1,000USD a month create comfortable accommodations and basic cost of living? Or is this way under a realistic number for living comfortably in Bali?

Thank you for all the information you've already provided and any additional that you will.

Sincerely,

Justin"

Answer: Hi Justin,

Thanks for the feedback - I'm glad you liked the post.

Sanur is a good place as it is not too crowded and has lots to offer while being quite close to Kuta. However, due to its popularity with
tourists, Sanur has high prices - probably around 40 million Rp. plus for a nice house per year and that might not be with furniture! You can walk around much of Sanur as most of it focuses on one main street.

Another great place is the Bukit Peninsula - this has a more 'country' feel as there are more trees and (comparatively) less traffic than other places which means fresher air. Prices are also cheaper than Sanur - I'd say you could get a house or villa on the Bukit for 30million Rupiah for a year. The downside is that there are less supermarkets and nightlife although it has the best beaches & surf in Bali and still quite a few restaurants - walking is not easy though as it is very spread out.

To eat in local warungs, you can easily get meals for US $1-2 but in restaurants it's more likely you''ll pay around US $5 and up (and it goes up a long way from there!). My girlfriend and I spend around US $30 a week on food shopping for both of us shopping at the more western style supermarkets - Balinese markets are cheaper but most things sell out by 7am and hygiene standards are pretty much non-existent (for which we only buy certain things from them like vegetables which we wash thoroughly! I personally wouldn't touch meat/fish from them!). Actually it's alcohol which is the thing to watch out for - a large Bintang beer is around 25,000 Rupiah from supermarkets or 30,000 in restaurants/bars - often the same as or more than your main meal!

I would advise renting a scooter - everyone has one and they are cheap to run and easy to ride. Alternatively you could look into monthly car rental (starting at around 2 million Rupiah/month) as new/second cars here are ridiculously expensive! That's before you factor in the often horrendous traffic, which you can weave through on a motorbike but not in a car.

You could also check out my post about living in Bali for $400 a month or less for more info!

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Life in Bali

Want to find Bali's best unspoilt rice terraces? Just ask!

Enough from me, fire away!

Bali Services: David Burden Photography

2012-12-15T02:10:00.002+08:00

Recently, I caught up with a friend and Bali-based photographer, David Burden, to ask him a few questions about being a freelance photographer on the island. Here's what he had to say:

Life in Bali (LIB) : Hi, Dave! Can you tell us about you and where you come from?

David Burden (DB) : I'm originally from Christchurch, Dorset on the South Coast of the UK, but as much as I love my hometown, I've been compelled to see as much of the world as I can. Ever since finishing university in Wales I've been all over doing stints in places like Australia, India, California, New Zealand, and currently Bali.

LIB: How did you come to live in Bali?

DB: I came here as part of a round trip on the good old 'backpacker' trail in 2000 and instantly loved the climate, people, shenanigans, nightlife and the fact I could surf in shorts instead of 6mm of rubber. I kept coming back until a job as a teacher came up while I was in New Zealand and I just couldn't turn it down!

LIB: How long have you been a photographer?

DB: I went to India once and was adamant that I wouldn't take a camera with me, stupidly believing that taking photos would get in the way of getting the most out of the trip. I still regret that to this day, and ever since then I've been snapping away and learning the craft by trial and error. After I got burned out doing the EFL thing for 6 years (3 in Bali) I had a few friends in high places who started asking for images for editorials and the classic "Can you shoot our wedding?". Things got better and better and demand for my stuff eventually meant that I could pack in the teaching and concentrate on shooting and working in media.

LIB: What area of photography do you specialise in?

DB: Personally I get the biggest kick out of travel and portraiture photography, but commercially it's mostly editorial and weddings.

LIB: How should our readers contact you?

DB: Carrier pigeon would be pretty cool, but failing that check out my site at www.davidburdenphotography.com or drop me an e-mail.

LIB: Where can we see some more of your work?

DB: As well as the website, I have a collection of canvasses on show at Batu Karang resort in Nusa Lembongan. Also keep an eye out in HelloBali Magazine, Jetstar Asia and Mandala in-flight magazines and the newly completed Sarong Inspirations travel cookbook from Will Meyrick at sarongbali.com

LIB: OK, Dave - thanks for your time!

DB: Sama sama!

So there you have it! If you haven't checked out Dave's site, you can also do so by clicking the banner below to contact him and ask about getting the perfect photos for your Bali wedding, Bali villa or just about anything Bali-related!

Weekly Snapshot: Big Brown Grasshopper!

2012-11-02T09:00:00.000+08:00

A big brown grasshopper taking a rest in a back garden Kerobokan, Bali.

Click here to see more of my snapshots of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali Questions: Your Questions Answered!

2012-11-01T15:29:00.000+08:00

In response to the constant questions people ask me about advice for moving to Bali, I thought I'd start up this page to help you out there and to stop repeating myself :D

Want to find Bali's best unspoilt rice terraces? Just ask!

Enough from me, fire away!

Weekly Snapshot: Wooden Surfboard by Vince Surfboards Bali

2012-10-28T17:05:00.000+08:00

A beautiful wooden surfboard made by Vince Surfboards in Pemogan, Bali.

Click here to see more of my snapshots of Bali, Indonesia!

Bali for Vegetarians: Happy Buddha , Kuta

2012-10-22T04:05:00.000+08:00

Welcome to our new series, Bali for vegetarians! Clicking the previous link will send you to a page containing all of the posts in this series for easy browsing.

For this second post in the series, I've decided to write about the Happy Buddha in Kuta, which is situated on Jl. Raya Kuta 143. Just like the Loving Hut in Denpasar, the Happy Buddha might take you a while to find, but it is worth it.

A small, modest family restaurant, it is run by a Buddhist family who cater mainly for Indonesians but their menu is also in English. As is popular in many of Bali's vegetarian restaurants, they serve lots of the mock meats but they also a wide range of traditional Indonesian vegetarian recipes, all at bargain basement prices. You can eat a hearty meal here and have a drink for US$2.50.

Do not be put off by the service - the family who run it are not trained in customer service but that is not to say they are impolite, they just seem a little awkward. I should also add that they make some nice fresh juices which I would recommend. The Happy Buddha was my lunchtime stop-off spot also as the service is usually very quick.

As for finding Happy Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant, I can tell you that it is on the northern side of Jalan Raya Kuta, the same side of the road as the Bali Bakery, or the opposite side of the road to Harris Hotel. It is nestled in a small pertokoan (a cluster of small shops/businesses) and can be easily missed. If you go past Purimas Bakery on your left, you have gone too far. Keep an eye out for a Pegadaian banner - it's just next door. I have also been told that taxi drivers do not know where it is (understandable given the amount of small restaurants in Kuta!) so be warned.

Here's a map for the Loving Hut in Denpasar!

Click here for more recommendations for vegetarians in Bali, Indonesia!

Also, check out Happy Cow's page on Bali - a great reference!

Weekly Snapshot: Balinese Dragonfly

2012-10-21T16:42:00.001+08:00

A Balinese dragonfly rests on its perch in Kerobokan, Bali.

Click here to see more of my snapshots of Bali, Indonesia!