htmlspecialchars("Only 100 travellers visited the island of Bali, arriving at the former colonial capital, Singaraja, by ship". Can’t be right, just one hundred? - well, that was the correct number in 1930. It is not your fault, that you were born after that and are facing today the consequences of 3 Million annual visitors to Bali. It is what it is. No way back, I’m afraid. As usual, the bad comes with the good. Hold on for a moment and we’ll try to sort that out. In those old times it was sure enchanting walking along the sandy pathway in Kampung Ubud, which later became the Monkey Forest Road. There were no cars to look out for, no motorbikes, no ’taxi taxi’ in the ear. All around just lush greenery. Small buildings. Friendly, relaxed Balinese tending to their work and ceremonies. If we try to picture paradise on earth, those days must have been close, - or where they? You and I, who have already experienced the bright lights of a big city… getting dressed up and going to the theatre or stopping by a busy bar,- over long term surely would have missed something after a few weeks of extreme tranquility and relaxation in old Ubud. Same as with any other paradise, untouched yet from development.)

As if there would not already be enough to prepare for the holidays over Christmas, now you are even expected to read here more about the festive days too? No, no, no – same as probably your good self, I am also busy and will not keep you long. Also, for every one of us ’bule’s, a Christmas away from the used-to traditional surroundings is a different matter. I am spending my 18th year here, slowly getting used to not look up at the sky any more, waiting for the snowflakes and a white Christmas. So what to do on Christmas here on Bali in the tropics? I cannot speak for you and much depends on if you have kids to consider and make them happy. Then you may want to look for dining in a restaurant with pool…

htmlspecialchars(htmlspecialchars(htmlspecialchars(This note will be short. In a few minutes I got to leave for the fitness studio, meeting a friend... However, as the issue of health and fitness is just on my mind, quick a reminder: "A healthy person may have a thousand wishes, the sick one only one". Let’s avoid belonging to the latter group. – and it is really easy to do here in Ubud. Just do not neglect to pick the ripe fruit, which is dangling directly above your nose. I am referring to the many offered and available Health Options, which you may not find so condensed and affordable in other parts of the world.)))

htmlspecialchars(Just about 60 days more and we can wave a glass of plonk and cheer: ‘Hooray, hooray, Happy New Year‘, • when in reality another year is gone, with probably many occasions where we could have made better decisions to make life even better as it was. However, one thing which is not disputed by anyone: The decision to create or improve on a beautiful home is one of the best ever, guaranteed to add to your quality of life. You have your own castle to be king or queen in, the family will enjoy the time there and come what may, your property sure is worth more than increasingly risky electronic digits on your bank account. Usually, when writing about life and issues around Ubud, I tend to wander off also talking about matters of the heart and soul. Not so today. We just compiled many of our client‘s questions regarding selling and buying property. Maybe one or the other answer is what you find useful. Here we go.)))

htmlspecialchars(Home a) the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household. b) an institution for people needing professional care or supervision. (No, thanks - Not want not.) The Good life = Eudaimonia, a philosophical term for the life that one would like to live, originally associated with Aristotle. We possibly agree that a home has a lot to do with the concept of living a Good Life. For millions of years animals carried with them what made up their home. We can do better now, as we are about to see… When we talk about “home,” it brings up memories of comfort, companionship, and love. For most of people, though they have lived in different homes in the course of their lives, the most important one seems to be the home they grew up in. This is probably so because from childhood to adolescence and adulthood, our perceptions and perspectives of life are changing far more dramatically than in any other phase of life. Here in Bali we now see another way that a home gives a deeper meaning. We full or part time immigrants can create maybe for the first time a home which is truly representing “Us”.))