Indonesia
19 essays from our time in Indonesia, in the order we wrote them.
First impressions of Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bali is amazing! In many respects, it has exceeded my expectations, while in others, I'm a bit disappointed. But despite its flaws, and even though we've only been here a week, and we've only partially explored one town, I think we've found where we want to settle for the next year or two. Ubud has…
Balinese Culture and Hinduism
Bali is an island full of culture, especially in Ubud where we're settling for at least the next year. Sometimes called "The land of a thousand temples," Bali literally has tens of thousands of temples and shrines on the island, and most families even have their own temple within their housing…
Settling Into Bali
We've spent the past few weeks getting settled into our home in Bali, where we'll be living for at least the next year or so. It's so nice to be back here in the town of Ubud with the terraced rice fields and tropical climate, the low cost of living, the diverse and delicious food, and the…
Recent Activities in Bali
We first came to Bali over six months ago, and are now feeling quite settled, despite leaving every month or two to renew our visas. We've developed some routines, made some friends, and gotten a bit busy with life. And we absolutely love it here!
Silence
Silence is blissful, distressing, revealing, and difficult to maintain. You may have noticed I haven't written on this blog for over a month. I think that's the longest I've ever gone. I've also been posting less on Facebook and Twitter.
Gili Islands and Lombok
Living on a beautiful island like Bali doesn't mean that life is always a vacation. We get into routines, meet with friends, take classes, work, and study. I recently gave a piano concert at my house (so much fun!) and the kids are learning and creating much in homeschool. We enjoy our lives so…
Beach Clubs, Projects, and Kids
Recently, thanks to some friends, we discovered the wonders of beach clubs. Typically, I'm not a big fan of beaches. I do love looking at them, feeling the sand under my feet, and playing in the water and waves can be fun, too. But I have trouble enjoying the aftermath of sandy clothes and a sticky…
Best of Both Worlds
We love many things about Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. We love the inspiring scenery and near-perfect weather, healthy and affordable food of almost any cuisine, an earth-conscious community of entrepreneurs and activists, affordable household help, amazing massages for $6-15/hour, and the genuine smiles…
Creating Home in Bali
We're enjoying Bali more now than ever. Last year, we were quite ready to leave when I wrote about what we love about Ubud and what we feel is lacking here. But lately, many of those lacks have been filled. From finishing a year-long remodel project, to finding several wonderful classes and friends…
My Solo Trip and Silent Retreat
I don't know about you, but there are a lot of thoughts swimming around in my head, and sometimes I get really tired of the inner noise. It's easy for me to get caught up in preparing for the future, reliving the past, or the constant chatter of labeling and critiquing everything in my present…
Menjangan Island, Bali
Just off the Northwest coast of Bali, Indonesia lies Menjangan island. Surrounded by clear water, colorful coral, and incredible numbers of fish, it's a spot we've been wanting to visit for some time. So we invited our friends, Brian and Scottie and their 5 year old son, and spent a few days there…
A Glimpse Into Our Life in Bali
In my latest video, I wanted to give you a glimpse into our lifestyle while we travel. I share a sneak peak into our renovated Bali home while detailing some of the realities of how we live—both the good and the bad—to help you see what it’s like to travel long-term.
Highlights of Ubud, Bali
This week, Jen’s cousin is visiting us here Ubud. As we’ve been showing her around some of the sites, I thought it would be fun to share some of the highlights of Ubud, Bali with you, as well.
Practical Tips for Living in Bali
In my latest video, I share practical tips for living in Bali. If it's your first visit, you may be wondering how to obtain a visa, where to find accommodation, what medical care is available, and how to use the local currency. I cover all of this, and more.
Meditation Demystified
Meditation is a simple mental focus exercise that can have powerful effects in your daily life. Personally, it's increased my awareness of the thoughts and emotions I experience and improved my ability to choose how I respond to situations in life, rather than react unconsciously. When I've had a…
Luggage and Packing Insights from World Traveling Family
After traveling together as a family for seven years and visiting over 32 countries, one of the most common questions we get asked is this: How do we pack for long-term world travel?
Bali Memories
From the minute we first arrived in Ubud, Bali over five years ago, we knew that it was a place our family wanted to settle down in. After living in Costa Rica, Bali was an exciting change for our family.
Impressions of Bali
We fell in love with Bali, and especially the town of Ubud, when we first visited this beautiful island in 2012. Since our first visit, we have returned again and again. In 2017 we returned to Bali and this time we were pleased to welcome my Father, Stepmother, and my half-brother to explore the…
Emily's Documentary Released – Pollution Solutions Bali
Our daughter Emily (15) has been passionate about the environment for many years. In our travels, she's seen some of the most pristine and beautiful natural wonders on this planet. She's also seen beautiful places covered in trash, coral reefs destroyed, and glaciers receding due to increased…