A story about Bali and Indonesia without a ceremonial cacao, bullshit, and dimming. It is a must-read for anyone considering moving to Bali or curious about the actual image of the Island of the Gods.
Occupation: Expat
The book “Occupation: Expat” is not a guidebook to Bali and Indonesia. You won’t find information on what to visit, how to travel, where to eat, or where to stay during your vacation. It’s also not a guide on changing your life, fulfilling dreams, or finding happiness. I’m not well-versed in affirmations that attract “abundance,” I believe that hugging a tree might only lead to getting bitten by ants, and dreams don’t come true on their own; you must help them along. The fact that I’ve managed to control my life so far is a personal success, and I have no expertise in giving life advice to others. However, if I ever tried to sell you courses like “How to Find Happiness and Live on a Paradise Island in two months,” please don’t buy them under any circumstances! It would probably mean that I’ve run out of money, lost my self-respect and perspective on the world, and am desperately trying to bounce back.
So what is “Occupation: Expat”? For those considering Bali as a life destination, it is an unusual but comprehensive compendium of knowledge about the Island of the Gods and Indonesia. The fundamental idea behind this book was to create a practical “Bali operator’s manual” for anyone looking to live here, invest, or start a business.
You will find plenty of reliable information on the island’s most important aspects of life and work. The entire factual side of the book is based on knowledge and experience gained during the fifteen years I spent in Bali as an expatriate and entrepreneur. You will learn how to find or build a home here, how to start a business, where to invest, and what regulations and taxes apply. You will get to know Indonesian business culture and negotiation techniques and see how to run a company in a place where there seems to be a holiday every other day. I will tell you about my journey from founding a small travel agency in Bali to running a substantial business requiring meetings in Jakarta’s ministerial offices and connections with the Balinese king, sultan, or the president’s son. I will also tell you about my journey from founding a small travel agency to producing film and television to a business requiring meetings in Jakarta’s ministerial offices and connections with the king, sultan, or the president’s son. You will learn how much it costs to buy a private island or a gold mine and why it’s not necessarily a golden opportunity.
You will also get to know the realities of daily life in Bali, both the positive and the darker aspects. You will discover whether the island is safe, how medical care works here, what education options are available for children, and how much it all costs.
You will learn whether dogs are kidnapped for ransom in Bali, why everyone is so polite to each other, or how to behave when stopped by the police. You will learn the basics of effective communication and local customs to avoid offending anyone, being taken advantage of, or hitting a dead end. You will receive much practical advice to make life in Bali easier. Above all, you will learn what not to do and what to avoid. Everything I know and share with you is primarily built on the painful process of learning from mistakes. Reading this book may help you avoid making similar mistakes in the future, saving yourself from disappointment and frustration.
In this regard, “Occupation: Expat” is intended to guide those who have recently decided to live in Bali or are still considering the idea. However, this book certainly does not aim to encourage anyone to move to Bali or persuade them that it’s a good decision. On the contrary, I hope to dissuade someone from this idea. In this sense, it is a confrontation with the popular myth of a “paradise island” and the distorted image of Bali created on Instagram. I’ll reveal this secret right away, without the need to pay for the book: there are no paradise islands, and Bali, while undeniably beautiful and attractive for living, is not a place where life is easy, everyone is happy, and problems solve themselves on its own.
For those not interested in business and investments but curious about Bali and Indonesia from a traveler’s perspective, “Occupation: Expat” is an invitation to a wild adventure. The book is a colorful tale about the archipelago, its inhabitants, and their fascinating culture. You will meet living characters, real stories, and anecdotes that I use to illustrate the topics discussed in the book. I will tell you how I was mistakenly taken for the Dutch ambassador on a particular island and celebrated with a grand feast in my honor. I’ll share stories about searching for gold in Papua and a pig escaping from me on the airport runway. I’ll initiate you into the world of black magic in Bali and the process of undoing curses. I’ll take you to the palace of the Balinese king, a prison cell at the famous “Hotel K,” a deserted island, and the Papuan jungle. You’ll learn about the sinking of a yacht and a kidnapping while filming a reality show in Bali.
You’ll discover the consequences of a famous rapper’s accidental break-in at the immigration office. You’ll also discover who ate Rockefeller, why Balinese people are afraid of bald monkeys, and how you can gain and lose a million dollars in just one day. It won’t get boring, I promise!
Occupation: Expat
The book “Occupation: Expat” is not a guidebook to Bali and Indonesia. You won’t find information on what to visit, how to travel, where to eat, or where to stay during your vacation. It’s also not a guide on changing your life, fulfilling dreams, or finding happiness. I’m not well-versed in affirmations that attract “abundance,” I believe that hugging a tree might only lead to getting bitten by ants, and dreams don’t come true on their own; you must help them along. The fact that I’ve managed to control my life so far is a personal success, and I have no expertise in giving life advice to others. However, if I ever tried to sell you courses like “How to Find Happiness and Live on a Paradise Island in two months,” please don’t buy them under any circumstances! It would probably mean that I’ve run out of money, lost my self-respect and perspective on the world, and am desperately trying to bounce back.
So what is “Occupation: Expat”? For those considering Bali as a life destination, it is an unusual but comprehensive compendium of knowledge about the Island of the Gods and Indonesia. The fundamental idea behind this book was to create a practical “Bali operator’s manual” for anyone looking to live here, invest, or start a business. You will find plenty of reliable information on the island’s most important aspects of life and work. The entire factual side of the book is based on knowledge and experience gained during the fifteen years I spent in Bali as an expatriate and entrepreneur. You will learn how to find or build a home here, how to start a business, where to invest, and what regulations and taxes apply. You will get to know Indonesian business culture and negotiation techniques and see how to run a company in a place where there seems to be a holiday every other day. I will tell you about my journey from founding a small travel agency in Bali to running a substantial business requiring meetings in Jakarta’s ministerial offices and connections with the Balinese king, sultan, or the president’s son. I will also tell you about my journey from founding a small travel agency to producing film and television to a business requiring meetings in Jakarta’s ministerial offices and connections with the king, sultan, or the president’s son. You will learn how much it costs to buy a private island or a gold mine and why it’s not necessarily a golden opportunity.
You will also get to know the realities of daily life in Bali, both the positive and the darker aspects. You will discover whether the island is safe, how medical care works here, what education options are available for children, and how much it all costs. You will learn whether dogs are kidnapped for ransom in Bali, why everyone is so polite to each other, or how to behave when stopped by the police. You will learn the basics of effective communication and local customs to avoid offending anyone, being taken advantage of, or hitting a dead end. You will receive much practical advice to make life in Bali easier. Above all, you will learn what not to do and what to avoid. Everything I know and share with you is primarily built on the painful process of learning from mistakes. Reading this book may help you avoid making similar mistakes in the future, saving yourself from disappointment and frustration.
In this regard, “Occupation: Expat” is intended to guide those who have recently decided to live in Bali or are still considering the idea. However, this book certainly does not aim to encourage anyone to move to Bali or persuade them that it’s a good decision. On the contrary, I hope to dissuade someone from this idea. In this sense, it is a confrontation with the popular myth of a “paradise island” and the distorted image of Bali created on Instagram. I’ll reveal this secret right away, without the need to pay for the book: there are no paradise islands, and Bali, while undeniably beautiful and attractive for living, is not a place where life is easy, everyone is happy, and problems solve themselves on its own.
For those not interested in business and investments but curious about Bali and Indonesia from a traveler’s perspective, “Occupation: Expat” is an invitation to a wild adventure. The book is a colorful tale about the archipelago, its inhabitants, and their fascinating culture. You will meet living characters, real stories, and anecdotes that I use to illustrate the topics discussed in the book. I will tell you how I was mistakenly taken for the Dutch ambassador on a particular island and celebrated with a grand feast in my honor. I’ll share stories about searching for gold in Papua and a pig escaping from me on the airport runway. I’ll initiate you into the world of black magic in Bali and the process of undoing curses. I’ll take you to the palace of the Balinese king, a prison cell at the famous “Hotel K,” a deserted island, and the Papuan jungle. You’ll learn about the sinking of a yacht and a kidnapping while filming a reality show in Bali. You’ll discover the consequences of a famous rapper’s accidental break-in at the immigration office. You’ll also discover who ate Rockefeller, why Balinese people are afraid of bald monkeys, and how you can gain and lose a million dollars in just one day. It won’t get boring, I promise!
@adamonabali
Adam Piotrowski