Dear Reader – you may, or may not be tired of receiving each month a more or less meaningful email (you judge), about issues relating to one of the arguably best places for living, - Ubud.

Either you are caught in our system, because you received this letter for being one of UbudProperty’s dear clients, or you have contacted us with an inquiry and now you are also in our database.
Whichever. But maybe you do not want to receive these reports and ideas any longer.
I can understand. Life is busy, time is precious. If so, just cancel by return of email. Done. Finished.

On the other hand, if you have some spare minutes to reflect on a unique lifestyle in an otherwise often frustrating world, -here are some thoughts about you, your health and one of the best places to live in.

Just a quick word on Corona, which anyway is a daily plague on our minds. 
The future development is far from being predictable. A year ago we assumed, ‘maybe another 6 to 12 month’. And where are we today? ‘Probably another year or two…’
USA and other developed countries have vaccinated about 50 % of the people who want to be vaccinated. (Indonesia 8%). The road is still long and may end up as an eternal roundabout. There are even fresh news about a new variant originating in Colombia.

Yesterday my son called from Darwin. “Dad, the quarantine centers here are required to make a 5-year plan to organize transport from airports and overseas terminals to their locations”.
5 years!? OMG, what to think, what to say? Better, no more virus-talk today.

Before you completely forget to ask why the heading also refers to mosquitos, read this:
In the coming decades, environmental health professionals are bracing for a warmer, wetter climate that will likely prompt or exacerbate threats to public health across the globe. As temperatures increase, as one example: disease-carrying mosquitoes can live in areas previously too cold for them to survive, upping the number of people impacted by vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria.

If that is true, where is your health less under threat? In Bali’s hot and humid coastal areas or up in the lofty hills near Ubud, which is 230 meters above sea level?
I live in Tegalalang. Again more elevated than Ubud. Although surrounded by wet rice fields, I can count the number of mosquitos which are bothering me over the year by the 10 fingers of my hands. May have to do with chemical pest control too. Right now, in the evening sitting outside is asking for a pullover and the feet like to rest on a cushion, because the tiles are cold. You miss the change of seasons? Come here.

In 2030 the average global temperature is supposed to rise by 3 degrees C, according to
UNCCC (United Nations Climate Change Conference). And it has just been in the news, that for the last 125.000 years 2021 is the hottest year ever. 

Right now, these month’ are the freshest season in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, you see here locals on their bikes wearing warm jackets and often woolen head gear, when leaving from Ubud to flatland-Denpasar or the coast.
Three degrees warmer may not make life much more unpleasant in Ubud’s surroundings, but think about the coast.
There temperature reaches already 35/36 degrees.
A bit more and there is no difference to walking the streets in Abu Dhabi.
Tropical climate is why we like to live here, but please no frying pan experience as may come to Canggu, Seminyak, and Kuta. 

- - -
I’d like to refer back to the 3.000-Dollar Chinese vase, which you got from Aunt Rosie as marriage present. Is this rare ceramic art piece worth more than a single day of your life? Would you throw it against the wall in a moment of anger or despair?
Maybe not.
Why then should we not value every single happy day considerably more than Aunties vase, and not just dismiss the days like: ‘another one gone, next please’.

There is indeed a way to purchase happy days.

But first, let’s have a look at a drastic comparison:
A) You’ve been just sentenced to years in prison.
B) You won the lottery and can buy a villa in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Which event will likely contribute to a longer life?

Certainly no one will dispute that we are an integrated part of our environment, wherever that is, and that our environment has great impact on longevity.
A study in Germany, where I come from, has shown that in a city where trees have been planted 10 to 100 m from houses, these inhabitants where much less likely to be depressed, and suffering from related health problems.
Another interesting study was made in Taiwan. They looked at the pollutants in the air, such as carbon dioxide. In urban areas, where the air was not flowing much, people had less strong bones, because the oxygen content of fresh air contributes much to bone density.
With this, back to Bali -

Thanks to the prevailing sea breeze from south-east, which is blowing over the slope to the Kintamani mountain range, we enjoy such a health improving effect here, with Ubud right in its path.
No need for buying bone strengthening overpriced food additives from the pharmacy, take this money and buy instead fertilizer for your trees.
Reduced depression, increased oxygen, and lovely shade. Several birds caught with a single swipe.

Maybe this sounds like a mild joke to you, but think about it. It is literally dead serious talking about the extra years to your life, which you can add or lose by choosing where to live.
Isn’t it pretty fascinating, that even the social environment has a profound impact on our health?
The following list shows what to expect in many overseas urban environments.

In your opinion which ones of the 8 points apply to a foreigner in Bali? Any?
Right! Usually none, because local Balinese are polite and sensitive. No risk of stress or anxiety. Another ‘thumbs up’!
Can we think of other hidden advantages of living in Bali?
Such as -
Europe, also the USA, are experiencing border crossings from Countries with high potential virus carriers. Rarely, if at all, you hear of refugees from different continents entering Bali and overburden the public health system.
Surely you can add your own observations.

Another small, but valuable matter-

The various green farmer’s markets in Ubud.
Affordable and healthy food is easy to come by as part of the special needs and requests of many health-conscious residents and visitors. And anyone who has a garden is free to replace the ornamental shrubs with vegies and herbs anyway. What a blessing!
In comparison, if you buy regularly organic or vegan food in the West, you are walking the path towards bankruptcy.

However, truth be spoken, it is atrocious that we have to pay a fortune for a decent bottle of wine in Indonesia. Does the minister of Health not understand, how the free radicals will be kept at bay by a glass of decent red? And how much more tax rupiahs a long living western pensioner is bringing into the Country?

Also, and in order not to be accused of wearing pink eye lenses, let’s mention the plastic pollution. This is an evil not recognized yet by many local Balinese, because each heavy rainfall is seemingly reducing the problem.
However, the Government is slowly realizing the impact of this drama.
Just go to Serangan near Benoa Harbour, and look at the two growing massive mountains, which will one day become pleasant green landscape features on hundreds of thousand tonnes of rubbish. These days the trucks with collected rubbish arrive in an endless procession, compared to the mere trickle it was 10 years ago.

But same as everything else, a good life here does not come for free -
Discipline, hard discipline wants to be applied, so that we do not waste time by planning for the good life ‘later’. After all, life is what happens right now.

Is there anything more intelligent than turning Dollars into a good and longer life, by securing yourself a place in heaven on earth -and almost as a side effect, creating ever growing value?

Let’s summarize by saying that the Balinese environment, and particularly the one up here in Ubud, will sure add many good years to any one’s lifespan.

As Real Estate person, I could now start pestering you with suggestions about how to exactly go about this.
But why would I? If you are interested, you don’t need an invitation to contact us, I guess.

Just know, that in the last 12 month’ worldwide property investment was increasing by 123.7 % in the (yoy comparison).

No blame accepted, if someone says we did not encourage enough to make good use of the slide in property prices.

Sorry, to have taken your time. 
Bye, bye. I ‘m off on my bike. The roads are pretty empty.

Sincerely yours,
Ray
for the Team of UbudProperty.