Travel & Life

I was catching up with an old friend recently. She's married with kids and lives a balanced life back in Toronto, where we grew up. Me? I'm still on the road after deciding at 22 to skip law school for a life of freedom. Nearly 20 years later, I'm still travelling, with brief periods back in Canada.

My friend mentioned being content with vacations as her travel time, which makes perfect sense for most people. But it reminded me that in all my travels, I rarely feel like I'm actually on vacation.

When work travels with you, it's difficult to shut off and step away. A real break now requires a deliberate boundary. I then schedule micro-trips near each base instead of arbitrary weekends off. And if I do take a random day, it's usually Monday - shorter lines and quieter streets for errands and attractions.

Of course, this only works because I don't have children. When that time comes, my schedule will surely need to adapt.

Indonesia: A Strong Remote Life Base

This brings me to Indonesia - a beautifully complex country for remote workers. It offers both the fast-paced city life (coming from Toronto, I need at least half the year in a metropolitan area) and some of the most breathtaking natural experiences you'll find anywhere in the world.

Many remote workers prefer Bali, but after a week there, I realized Jakarta works better as my home base in Indonesia. Focus and efficiency is easily available, and when I want to step away, there are unlimited options for exploring amazing natural experiences.

Plus, you can get a new and efficient furnished studio for US$500 and up.

You can get a new and efficient furnished studio for US$500 and up.

Mount Gede National Park

One recent excursion was to Pangrango - a quick hop for a jungle trek. You can find it an hour South of Bogor center and 2-3 hours from South Jakarta.

I grabbed gear from Decathlon - a Southeast Asian sporting goods store with great in-house brands and an excellent international return policy. I discovered Decathlon in Malaysia, and it's very convenient for the region.

To document the trek, I decided to produce my first YouTube video. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4tqThUCbRQ

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The fee to enter Mount Gede National Park is relatively expensive for the area at 205k IDR (~$12). Granted, you could stay in the park overnight with that ticket, since most people camp out at the top of Pangrango or nearby peaks. I just did a few-hour hike, enjoyed the waterfalls, and returned.

With a few weeks left in Indonesia, I'm planning more treks before leaving the region after about 10 months so far on this leg of Southeast Asia.

Travel & Money Tips

Accommodation

I've lived off Airbnb for years. Post-COVID, there was immediate pricing inflation in global real estate reflected in Airbnb prices. While many local markets have normalized globally, Airbnb prices remain elevated.

For that Airbnb premium you do get added insurance and support, but if you book a month then find local stays or negotiate with hosts, you can save significantly.

Indonesia Visas

Visas, the administrative whip of remote life, especially in certain regions. As a Canadian, I am grateful to be granted visas on arrival in many countries, but if you want a comfortable and prolonged stay, you will surely have to encounter visa applications and logistics, especially if you're travelling to Southeast Asia.

Indonesian visas are remarkably easy. I came on a VOA as a Canadian and had applied for the C1 beforehand. I exited before the 30-day VOA expired and returned on my C1, which grants up to 6 months single-entry. I need to pay to extend after 60 days, so twice if staying the full 180 days.

You can also grab the B1 visa, which is a one-year multi-entry option.

Thailand DTV

One initial reason I chose to come to Jakarta was that my application for a Thailand DTV was to be processed by the Thai Embassy in Jakarta.

It took roughly two weeks to receive a request for further documentation, mostly proof of my company's existence in Canada and proof of income. Following that, my application was approved about one week later.

I have since entered Thailand through Bangkok for my visa run from Indonesia, and did not experience any issues. If you'd like more information about my experience with the DTV, feel free to reach out to me directly.

Currency Conversions

You've likely heard the travel rule: always deny currency conversions by foreign entities. Whether you're withdrawing funds at an ATM or completing a purchase, when you are offered a currency conversion before the transaction reaches your bank, you should always deny it. Your home bank almost certainly has better conversion rates without added fees.

Foreign bank currency conversion percentages and fees are predatory, if not outright scams, depending on location. Best case: your home bank offers friendly rates, and you use a travel credit card for purchases.

That's it for this week. More from Indonesia and remote life in the next issue.

Until then - Happy productive travels!

Thanks for reading,

Ali Atlas

https://www.aliatlas.me