Blog

Umalas was once Seminyak’s quieter, secluded sister. Located right in between Seminyak, Kerobokan and Canggu, it was a quiet little town filled with rolling ricefields and luxurious tropical private villas on acres of greenery. There was plenty of space for growth and grow it did! Slowly the ricefields are being replaced with even more villas, apartments, co-living spaces, spas and restaurants. There’s even a tennis centre now in Umalas! One of the best things about staying in Umalas is its great location – it is only minutes away to Seminyak and Canggu. So while you’re literally just a drive away to the hottest restaurants, beachclubs and bars, you can also be sure of some peace and quiet when you stay in Umalas, which is also home to some of the cutest cafes and quirky hangouts. Here are a few: Liga Tennis Centre & Academy This newly opened tennis academy sits on a bed of ricefields just off one of Bali’s most infamous shortcuts that connect Jalan Bumbak Dauh to Jalan Raya Canggu. Hit some balls and sweat it out for a fun afternoon of casual tennis or sign-up for lessons and learn to play like a pro! It’s a great place for some exercise if you’re staying in Umalas. Nook One of Bali’s most popular western-style “warungs”, Nook is a stunning eatery with ricefields views and charming rustic deco offering delicious and healthy vegan, vegetarian, Balinese and Indonesian fare. It’s a cute place that gives you a feeling of being outdoors but with all the comforts of being indoors! Definitely a convenient spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner when you’re staying in Umalas. Monsieur Spoon This family-run French bakery café is renowned throughout Bali for delicious, freshly baked warm bread and pastries that are just too good to resist! First opened in 2012, the owners came all the way from Paris, bringing with them all the Paris know-hows and techniques, so you can be sure that you’re getting the real thing when you indulge here! Go ahead and dig-in to handmade French pastries, cakes, artisan bread and savouries. Great place if you want quality nibbles in a friendly and quiet environment when you stay in Umalas. The Dog Club Located right next door to Nook, the Dog Club is a great way to spend the day with your furry best friend. The club doesn’t only offer a safe and secure space for the dogs to swim and play, there’s also a wide array of exclusive services including dog-friendly massages, clothes, accessories and cosmetics, outdoor activities, yoga and meditation, training agility and obedience. Monthly memberships are available too, perfect for those who are staying long-term in Umalas! Jungle Pool Club How about partying it up in a jungle-themed pool club amidst the ricefields of Umalas? Jungle was an overnight sensation, becoming one of the area’s most popular party spots thanks to a pumping atmosphere and unique outdoor setting. The party happens only on Friday nights and for the rest of the week, you can still come by for good food and great drinks. Jungle is just walking distance from Nook, so you can be sure of an awesome Friday night here when you stay in Umalas! Be sure to visit these awesome places in Umalas! Contact Bali Coconut Living and we can help you stay in our available villas and properties in this quieter corner of Bali.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to call Bali your forever home? Bali receives millions of visitors a year including expats and travelers who fell in love with Bali and wish to move to the island permanently. Considering the exchange rates, living in Bali would be considered relatively cheap. This means many expats and foreigners wishing to purchase land and property in Bali should be able to do so easily… Unfortunately, owning assets in Indonesia, if you aren’t Indonesian, is almost impossible – don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. If you were looking at buying land to build your dream Bali property on, there are a few real estate and ownership options that you must know before you embark on a new and exciting journey of being a homeowner in Bali. Firstly, it is important to understand that there are different titles for both land and property in Bali and each title connotes a different meaning. The “freehold” title or “Hak Milik” means that only Indonesian citizens can hold this title. If you’re a foreigner and you’re tempting to hold a freehold land, it will automatically be deemed void, and therefore, the land will automatically belong to the government. A secondary title, known as “Right of Use” or “Hak Pakai” is the best option for a foreigner. With a built-in extension of 25 years, the title comes with renewal after 20 years with only a small tax implication. In addition, there is no mention anywhere in Indonesian law that these extensions or renewals cannot be continued as long as it is done on state-owned land. Some restrictions to this title would include the size of land and property and that you must hold a valid permit to stay in Indonesia such as a KITAP or a KITAS. The third title is a commercial title; “Hak Guna Bangunan”, which means “right to build”. This title is compulsory for both foreign and Indonesian companies buying, selling, or managing villas for commercial purposes. The good news is that there are no restrictions for a foreign PT PMA owning such a company 100% as long as it is a 4-star and up. Now that you’ve got your land titles all sorted out, you must obtain your accommodation license and Ijin Mendirikan Bangunan (IMB). All of this can be very confusing and stressful – the Indonesian property landscape is known to be a maze of red tape and bureaucracy, which are all in the Indonesian language. Some foreigners prefer to take the easy way out; they use the name of an Indonesian citizen to purchase the land and to build the villa. This may sound like a great option, but this will pose tons of problems for you in the future when it comes to taxes and reports. You’ll run into even more problems if the person you’re dealing with is untrustworthy. One of the very best and safest ways is to use the services of a trusted and credible third party. Bali Coconut Living has years of experience in this sector with hundreds of happy customers and an abundance of positive reviews. With experienced consultants helping you every step of the way, you won’t ever have to worry about property laws, paperwork, bureaucracy or getting scammed. Get started today!

Bali is a real life paradise when it comes to the stuff of vacations. Though you might be wondering, is it a good lifestyle fit for a long term homebase? There are many reasons why you should move to Bali. Bali is a haven for those who are working online and would like to call this tiny island home, as well as entrepreneurs, digital nomads, yoga lovers and families who live happily in Bali. Since the flights are afforadbale for Australians, Bali has become the playground for them. Much of the expats in Bali tend to choose the comfortable middle-class budget. Though for a more budget-friendly living cost and a fast-growing expat region of Ubud. There’s always an option for the length of stay on the island whether its 3 to 6 months or a full-time living on the island. Internet There’s internet in every corner of Bali including in its beach community and smaller towns, but don’t expect high-speed internet throughout the island. The best and most reliable connections would be in the main tourist areas and larger resorts such as Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta & Sanur. Satellite internet is another option in rural areas.   Child Friendliness Bali is considered very child-friendly, just like other places in Southeast Asia. There are several international schools offering varying degrees of intenational level education. It's best to do your research before you make a choice of living locations as the traffic in Bali can lead to long transit times between areas.   Currency The Indonesian Rupiah is the currency of Indonesia. If you are coming in from Australia the exchange rate is quite simple – simply remove the last four zeros for an approximate price in AUD. The USD is currently around IDR 14.000 to the dollar. The great thing about Bali is that it's a small island that you can explore on the weekend. If you live in Ubud, where most of the expats live, getting to the other areas can be only a coupld of hours away. While if you have a little more than the average budget, you can live in the more resort-like coastal towns. Contact Bali Coconut Living for a villa rental in a short or long stay and they will recommend the best stays anywhere around the island for your Bali expat experience!

Looking for an alternative to the glamorous Seminyak? Then it’s probably time to hit Bali’s growing little town of Canggu. Its Bohemian vibes have been attracting travelers from all over the world, from surfers and yoga lovers to digital nomads and expats. Canggu is becoming an increasingly popular town in Bali due to its uncountable hipster cafes, yoga studios and vegan restaurants, surrounded by lush green rice fields. What makes Canggu even better is that it’s home to fantastic surf spots stretching from Berawa to Perenenan beach. In between its café culture and luxury day spas, you will also find incredible villas among rice fields, and delicious local cuisines which are also worth a try. Planning a Bali holiday and thinking of staying in Canggu? Below is a list of things to do in Canggu during your vacation! 1 Hit the waves in Canggu Known for its fantastic surf breaks, Canggu has waves for all level of surfers. Surfers scooting to the beach with their surfboards on their motorbike rack is a common sight, all day every day. If you’re a professional, you’ll love Echo Beach! If you are new and want to learn how to surf, then Berawa Beach will be perfect for you. Surf lessons can easily be arranged at one of the stalls on the beach. Rent a surfboard for IDR 50,000 an hour or take surf lessons with an instructor for around IDR 400,000 for 2 hours. If you are into night surfing, Finns Beach Club is the place to go. 2 Go café-hopping Café-hopping is definitely one of those things to do in Canggu, since more and more cafes are popping up here and there in the area. The number might be overwhelming, but you get to choose from breakfast by the sea or lunch overlooking the rice fields. Must-try cafes: Crate Café Café Cinta Milk & Madu Peloton Supershop 3 Visit Tanah Lot As one of Bali’s most iconic sites, Tanah Lot has a strong cultural significance to the locals. Visit the site in the afternoon and you’ll get a mesmerizing photograph of the temple with a striking sunset as the backdrop. You should expect quite a crowd however, since Tanah Lot is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bali. 4 Go on a shopping spree There is so much shopping to be done in Canggu. Spoil yourself with new dresses, tops, bikinis and sparkling accessories! Watch out for the various pop up markets in Canggu. Some of the Canggu local’s favorites are Old Man’s Canggu Market, Samadi Market, La Laguna’s Gypsy Market and of course the famous Love Anchor Market at Batu Bolong. Ready to explore this little laidback town? Rent a private villa in the area and discover the many things to do in Canggu. If you need any assistance in finding the perfect villa in Bali, ask Bali Coconut Living’s real estate consultants.