How to RENEW the Social Budaya in BALI: Cost and Process

After you receive your Sosyal Budaya Telex (Visa Sticker) from the Consulate, you will have 3 months until the Visa expires so you need to enter Indonesia within that time.

Once you enter Indonesia / Bali, the visa’s allowable 60 days starts running.

Then, 7-10 days before the 60^th day, you need to RENEW your SosBud.

Note of WARNING: 

Renewing the Sos Bud is a time-consuming and tedious process as one is expected to go to the Immigration a total of 3-4 times! This is why most expats use an agent in sorting this out. But if you don't mind the hassle or would like to learn how this is done, read on..

Here’s HOW: 

Singapore: Hawker Food Review

                   Lao Pa Sat  vs  Gluttons Bay  vs  Newton Food Center

Apart from the night life, shopping, amusement centers, and lifestyle, Singapore is actually more known for Good Food. The eating culture in the country is huge that most everything is centered on eating and who has the best dish or dessert.

I admit, I do make trips to Singapore just to eat (well, okay apart from my regular visa runs). In fact, I hardly shop unless there is a huge sale on an item I want, but I don't hesitate getting out of the airport even on a few-hour lay-over just to get some delicious and very affordable Sg food. Hawker food to be exact.

So, Mike and I decided to eat at Singapore's top 3 popular hawker food centers and compared them:

Singapore -- Exploring Little India

Singapore -- BUGIS JUNCTION

Since Michael was confined at Raffles Hospital, I took the chance in exploring the area of Bugis, and man, did I love it!

What used to be a notorious night spot for sailors has been reinvented to a massive urban shopping district and has quickly become very popular with the locals and tourists.  More so, it isn’t only for shopping, beauty salons and restaurants can also be found here. In fact, massages and beauty services are more affordable here than other parts of the country.

Anyway, here are the reasons why you shouldn’t miss visiting this stop on the MRT especially if you’re craving for some cheap retail therapy:

10 Things I truly, madly, deeply DISLIKE about Bali

"One does not love a place the less because one has suffered in it."
--Virginia Woolf, The Common Reader

I would have used ‘hate’ but Mike keeps telling me it’s such a strong word so, I used ‘dislike’ instead, with some adjectives for emphasis. =) 

Setting Up in Bali: Part II -- Renting Transportation, Communications, and Internet

How to Rent Transportation?

Things to Do in Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak

Once a small fishing village, Kuta has developed into the heart of Bali's tourism industry over the past four decades. In fact, it's gotten so big that it's hard to tell where Kuta ends and its northern neighbors of Legian and Seminyak begin (we can barely tell, that's why we grouped them together here). The area's proximity to Ngurah Rai Airport makes it the easiest arrival and departure destination, and it's long sandy beach is close to a wide range of accommodations, shopping, restaurants, and bars.

How I learned to surf in Bali

Thinking of learning to surf in Bali, yeah?

Let me first share with you my story and some things you need to know from a beginning surfer’s POV, then you can possibly gain from my experience and learn to surf the less stressful and painful way.

How to Learn to Surf (in Bali)

brit having fun in kuta

So you're planning a holiday to Bali or already on one and have heard and seen the amazing surf culture on the island. Now, you want to take lessons and start rippin’... Well, it takes more than just renting a board and going out there.

To learn without having to endure my mishaps or at least not as much, take heed my advice:

Bali Trip Planning

Like with any destination, you want to have some idea of where you want to visit and the sort of activities you want to do. A lot of people think Bali is all about the surf, but that's far from true. Let's run through some of the regional distinctions.

HOW TO GET A TEACHING JOB ABROAD

Often, I get asked how I find my jobs abroad. Many assume I go with an employment agency or have a friend help me in. The truth is, I just do it the plain old fashioned way: search online. I search, search, and search. It can get frustrating and exhausting but, just don’t give up really.

Here are some suggestions:

HOW LIVING ABROAD CAN HELP CHANGE YOU FOR THE BETTER.

You’re on this page because you want to understand how and why living away abroad can make your life better, yes? Or, because you’re about to leave your comfort zone, your rabbit hole, your safety nest and you want an assurance that it you made the right decision.

This detachment to security is a scary fete to most especially those moving away for the first time. Not many are able to achieve this. Why would you leave familiar behind? Your home, your routine, your job, your family? Why?

“Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.”   

-- Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Roads