nomad4ever

After 8 months Thailand, mainly around Phuket, but with short visits to Koh Phi Phi, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, we are restless again.

Nomads have to travel, so we decided to move on -> direction Indonesia.

This sunday evening we will depart, with a 1-week stopover at our old home turf Singapore, to secure my Social Budaya Visa for Indonesia – thus avoiding having to leave the country every month.

The good thing about Bali is, besides being a (mainly) peaceful Hindu island, that it’s in the middle of Indonesia’s 17.000 islands, with Lombok, Komodo, Flores and Java in its closest proximity.

written by Chris

When living a while in one location, you establish a base, from where you can travel to other places. What mode of transport you prefer, is up to you, in Asia’s equatorial weather, for me the best way to get around is by motorcycle.

Driving 20.000 km around Bali and surrounding islands over the last 2 years, I used a Honda Vario 110ccm CBS, which was a great way to use as my day-2-day vehicle. So when Honda came out with the 2012 model, I naturally had to take a closer look. Here is what I think about that bike after using it for 1 month and app. 1.000 kilometer:

written by Chris

On a recent short trip to Vietnam I had the chance to explore the country anew, after having not visited for over 7 years. The Vietnam Lunar Festival Tết Nguyên Đán was just in its last few days, when I touched down in Ho Chi Minh or Saigon.

Over the course of almost 2 weeks I commuted between Saigon and Vung Tau, a beach holiday destination just 125 km south of Vietnam’s largest city.

The overall experience was quite positive, it’s surprisingly easy to get around and make the most of your trip. Vietnam is quickly becoming a modern Asian country, after having suffered so much just a few decades ago.

written by Chris

Recent Awards of nomad4ever.com:

07/2010	04/2011	08/2011

Please click on the image to open a new tab with the respective article or website.

Further mentions:

Interview by GQ China 07/2011 Print Edition

Tricycle Diaries, Featured in GenSan Gazer Philippines 03/2010

(The starting article for the Tricycle Diaries Trip can be found here.)

Featured on LiveInThePhilippines.com Guest Column 07/2009

Around the Philippines – in a Tricycle

Interview by JetSetCitizen.com 05/2009

written by Chris

When things like this happen, it makes me feel that it’s all worth to maintain a website like this over the period of now more than 6 years.

This May, GQ China interviewed half a dozen Bali and Phuket Expats for a July Special Print Issue about people who left the city life behind. It seems more and more Chinese are overwhelmed by their work and life pressure and looking for alternative lifestyles.

So in a 4-hour interview and photo session which took part in the Four Season Hotel in Jimbaran and also Uluwatu temple, I was ‘interrogated’ about how I came to live the life I’ve been living the last 5 years. Here is what came out of it:

written by Chris

It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun–
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky –
The wall…

written by Chris

I’m currently researching for a more in-depth article about some new exciting technology making its way to Bali. While this might take another 1-2 weeks for the next update, I noticed that the motivation category also hasn’t seen some new input in a longggg time.

When I surfed on my friend Jerm’s website I found this gem of truly inspiring music.

Although Jerm and me sometimes have different viewpoints and can debate endlessly and full of enthusiasm in regards of philosophy, religion and tech gadgets, this is surely one life motto we can always agree on.

written by Chris

If anyone still had any doubts, that for the right amount of money everything is for sale in Indonesia, here is to prove that theory.

Most tourists certainly experience the sellers and hawkers on Bali’s beaches and beyond. ‘Rolex, boss? Transport, transport? Girls? Magic Mushrooms?’ – it seems they are everywhere. You can’t avoid them and it’s THE major annoyance on the Island of the Gods.

If you are a ‘bule’ fresh off the plane, with that lovely pink teint of yours, they will spot you from miles away and like swarms of flies will be all over you before you can even say ‘Bintang’.

written by Chris