This Expat Traded London Life for Bali’s Laidback Tropics

Welcome to Living Out and About! I love sharing my experiences living abroad with y’all so much that I figured other expats would too. I’ve reached out to expats and nomads living around the world in different ways to share their experiences living, moving, and exploring. If you’re looking to learn about a certain way of moving abroad or about living in a certain place, check out this series!

Today, I’m speaking with Abi of I’m Going On An Adventure, who moved into a Ford Transit van in 2022. Abi, a former quantity surveyor, is a full-time blogger and digital nomad who left her job in Central London to continue living a life of travel.

She has lived in multiple locations all over the world, which she is going to talk about today. 

Hi Abi! Thanks so much for joining us. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi Nina, sure. My name is Abi, and I’m 34 years old from the UK. I grew up in a small village in Essex, which is a county just east of London. It was a great place, and I loved playing in the countryside when I was little.

My travelling lust started when I was little, we used to take holidays abroad to see family, and it just grew from there.

Where did you live abroad? And why did you choose there? 

So, I’ve lived in quite a few places over the years: Australia, Bahrain, Dubai, Bali, and now we live in, that is, me and my other half (the better half for sure, but don’t tell him!) our self-converted Ford Transit.  

For reasons I can’t quite recall, I always wanted to visit Oz, I was hooked on Neighbours and Home & Away throughout my teenage years, and so it just seemed like the obvious choice.

Afterwards, I met a guy, and we lived in Bahrain for six months before deciding to move to Dubai, where we lived for almost one and a half years.

After that relationship came to an end, I was back in the UK for several years, but I moved to London to study. Living in London is superb, by the way, for anyone who is considering a move, it’s a wonderful place! 

Then in 2021, after Covid, Jack and I decided it was time for a change, so we left for Indonesia. 

The idea to move into a van was something we were toying with during the whole time we were in Southeast Asia. Over Covid, it seemed everyone was doing it, and we thought, why the heck not?!

What made you decide to move abroad?

For Australia, I just knew I wanted to see more of the world. I’m also a pretty cold person, like my hands and feet are always cold, so I knew I needed to go somewhere warm. I love the sea, sun and white wine, which unfortunately doesn’t go well with British winters!

I was 18 when I left home for my gap year in Oz and ended up staying there for three years.

What were the biggest challenges of the move?

For me, and at that time, there weren’t really any significant challenges, to be honest. It’s not like now when I’ve got a mortgage and bills to pay, I was young and had no responsibilities, and I was free to do as I liked. It was great.

The Middle East was also easy. I was besotted and so it was an easy decision. I had only been back in the UK for a few months and had not really re-settled. 

As for Bali, now that was a challenge. We had a lot of responsibilities which needed addressing before we could leave. 

We had to change our mortgages over to a buy-to-rent so we could lease the houses and then find tenants, get rid of all the furniture, sell my car and so on.

How much did your move cost you?

The last move out of our house was by far the most expensive. 

For example, to change our mortgages over we paid around £300 ($380 USD). For the management company – well I had problems with mine – and had to dish out £1,000 ($1,265) on tenant finding fees before moving over to another management company. I also had to contribute to the deposit, so another £1,500 ($1900).

If you’re thinking of renting out your properties, management companies usually charge around an 8% to 12% fee. So I pay for that on top of a landlord’s insurance, which is around £50 ($60).

Our plane ticket to Indonesia was £700 ($890) each. Our visa cost us about £300 ($380) as it was a business visa and the only way we could enter the country at that time.

If you’re not planning on moving your whole life abroad and only seeking a short-term situation it’s not too expensive, and depending on your responsibilities, it might even be less than mine.

If you’re moving permanently, you’ve got to consider rehousing costs, animal import costs and shipping fees plus medical expenses and visa fees. 

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How did you obtain a visa? Were there any requirements you had to meet?

I had to get a visa for all of these places I’ve mentioned, but I was a bit cheeky with some of them. 

I remember Australia was super easy as I went through a gap year organisation that set it all up.

For Indonesia, we also did it through a company. They arranged it all for a small fee. It’s the best way, I think, as it makes obtaining visas stress-free; they can be nightmares if you’re trying to do it yourself.

What was the cost of living in Bali like for a month and how did it compare to the UK?

Bali is super affordable! It’s one of the cheapest places to move to as their cost of living is very low, and when we compared it to the UK, it was insane. We worked out that we spent around £650 ($820) each in Bali for the month. Unbelievable.

We were living on a budget, and I think I more realistic figure is around £1,000 ($1,265)  a month, but that’s living like a king. 

We lived in a shared guesthouse. This cost around £180 ($230) at the time (including bills), but it’s since gone up to £250 ($315), but this is still fantastic.

To put it into perspective, my mortgage is 4x this alone, without bills!

Our weekly shop was about £20 ($25), which is 4x less than it is at home.

Transport is another affordable service in Bali, unlike in the UK, where it’s so expensive.

As for healthcare, we had insurance with World Nomads, which I think was around £50 ($65) each a month. You must get health insurance wherever you’re going.

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How did you find a place to live in Bali?

We were lucky because our friend who was living out there recommended us a place. The Frangipani House and Spa, it’s in Canggu and is a great little spot for long-term living.

That said, there are heaps of places to stay in Bali and it’s very easy to find accommodation.

What were the best places to live?

For me, I loved Australia. I have such fond memories of my time there, it was wild! Because it was the first place I travelled to for a long period and by myself, it became this magical place – I did a lot of self-growth there.

I really enjoyed my time in Bahrain too, and it was closer to home, I think 7 hours. We had a great group of friends, and it was an easy life. It’s a country that not many people have visited, but I think it has loads to offer. I think it could be one of the best places to live, too – it’s tax-free.

As for Dubai, it was my least favourite place to live. I missed the greenery, like the forests and parks; they have, but it’s all artificial. I also found it hard to make connections; it’s a really clique-y sort of place. 

Bali is just fantastic, but everyone knows it. I think it might be too busy these days, I would actually like to live somewhere in Thailand in the future, I love the country, and also Panama, I think, has a lot of potential. 

Did I mention London? I love London, London is superb. If you want a mix of culture, entertainment and birds singing to you on frosty mornings, then London has got to be one of the ultimate places to live!

And, of course, I love our little van!

How did you set up a bank account to live overseas?

In Australia, I set up a bank account like you would at home. As for the other locations, we use a bank called Wise. It’s fantastic, and I recommend it to all my readers. It’s an international bank account which uses Visa and allows its users to open an account in the currency of each country.

Opening a bank account is so much EASIER by creating a free multi-currency account here.

How did you find work in these countries?

I’m probably not going to be too helpful here as for Bali, I was working on my travel website. It was in its infancy, and I spent a lot of time writing content, but we were mainly living from our savings.

That said, I have noticed that there is always work available. The best way is to sign up for immigration employment emails/newsletters. These usually send out job listings and requirements for your specified country.

How did you meet locals and other expats to make friends in Bali?

Bali is a haven for digital workers and nomads. It’s impossible not to meet people, the best places are often in cafes and at bars.

Co-working spaces, which are all over Bali, are also super popular, plus hostels which have been niched into co-working spots are also great places. 

What were the pros and cons of living in Bali?

There are tons of reasons why moving overseas is good; for Bali specifically, I loved the atmosphere. It’s got that proper tropical vibe, but since there are loads of expats, it doesn’t feel so far away from home. 

Another reason is the food, I love Indonesian cuisine, and the surfing and yoga community is superb – it’s a fantastic place to go if you want to improve your yoga practice or surfing. 

The biggest pro has got to be the affordability and ease of living. There are not as many restrictions as there are in the UK, life moves much slower, and everyone is just happier.

As for the cons, it might be too tropical for some. I know Jack struggled in the heat, but I was in my element. It’s also not a great place if you’re looking for work within Bali, as wages are so low. The only real way you can continue with a Western salary is to work remotely.

What differences were there between London and Bali? 

The differences are enormous; I don’t even know where to start!

The weather couldn’t get more different if it tried. London is seasonal, so we get four clear seasons, while Bali is tropical – it has two seasons, wet and dry.

The cultures are different too. England has a Christian heritage although it’s mixed these days, especially in London, while Bali mainly has a unique blend of Hindu and Buddhism. The food is also different due to the local climate; it’s much more colourful in Bali.

Life, in general, moves at a faster pace in London, while Bali is super laidback. The differences are huge, and it would be a real culture shock for anyone who hasn’t left home!

If someone only had 1 day in Bali, what do they HAVE to do?

Go snorkelling in Bali; it’s by far one of the best places in the world to swim!

What is the best local tip you have about Bali?

Get a scooter and explore the island. Eat at the local warungs – they are small family-run restaurants – which are everywhere, and try as many different foods as you can.

What do you like most about living in a van?

The van is excellent, I love it. The thing I love most is the freedom to move around and the financial freedom too. It’s so easy for us to pack up and leave, whether for an overnight trip or longer. 

We don’t have to worry about bills either since we have solar; we can go off the grid for days. We’ve got a boiler which heats the van and hot water and it’s cosy. I feel closer to nature, which I love.

What is the hardest thing about living in a van?

The hardest thing has got to be the winters. I suffer from the cold, and even though the van is warm – I always have it set to 20 degrees (68f)  – my fingers get cold from typing all day and not moving, so I’ve started taking mid-day walks to warm up.

It’s terrible when it rains. I shut myself in and hide from the world; a wet van is not fun!

What advice would you give someone wanting to move into a van full-time?

It’s not as easy as it looks, and depending on your van, there are some issues to consider. I think most vanners experience condensation and damp problems, but we insulated this van so well that we don’t suffer from this!

The whole emptying of the toilet situation isn’t for the queasy. If I’m honest, I haven’t done it, I mean, I could if I needed to, but Jack does it, so I let him; it’s pretty grim. 

If you’re moving in with someone, it’s very cosy, and you will be in each other’s way all the time. 

Install a big sink! Ours is excellent, but I’ve seen some people with tiny sinks, and they’re just not practical if you’re living in a van full-time.

Thank you so much! Where can my readers learn more about you and follow along with your journey?

It’s been a pleasure, thank you for having me. You can visit my website – I’m Going On An Adventure – for all things travel-related. We have a lot of resources on there for multiple countries but more specifically for the UK, Thailand, Indonesia and Panama. 

We have our socials, too, which you can find on the website.

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