My First International Digital Nomad Experience: Bali (Part 1)

For the past few years, I've been embracing a different way of working and living. My approach has been simple: pick a city in India, stay there for a month, balance work with exploration. This extended stay format has worked perfectly – it gives me enough time to maintain my work commitments while truly experiencing each place's unique culture and rhythm.

After numerous successful trips across India, I felt ready to take this lifestyle international. The idea of digital nomading in Southeast Asia naturally emerged as the next step in my journey. The region's reputation for being digital nomad-friendly, combined with its rich culture and reasonable cost of living, made it an ideal choice for my first international workation experience.

What is a Digital Nomad?

A digital nomad is someone who works remotely while traveling the world. We're location-independent professionals who leverage technology to perform our jobs while exploring different countries and cultures. Some work as freelancers, others run online businesses, and many are remote employees – but what unites us is the freedom to work from anywhere with a good internet connection.

Why Bali?

Bali has been a buzzword that I've been hearing on X (formerly Twitter) for quite some time. There's something about this island that attracts digital nomads from all over the world. After hearing countless positive experiences shared on X, I decided to make it my first international digital nomad destination. The fact that it's just a 4-hour flight from India made it even more appealing. I pitched the idea to my friend, who's always up for adventures like these, and he immediately jumped on board.

Planning

My research began with watching vlogs from creators based in Bali. I wanted to gather information about the best places to visit, good beaches, dos and don'ts, and of course, the nomading scene in Bali.

After gathering enough information, I decided to stay near the airport in Kuta. Since Indonesia offers Visa On Arrival, I didn't need to apply for a visa beforehand. I just converted some money to USD for exchange rates.

I created an itinerary for the whole month and booked flights and accommodation. Our flight was scheduled for 11:50 from New Delhi, with a connection in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Airlines flight took off on time, and I could barely contain my excitement for the adventures ahead.

Landing in Bali and Initial Thoughts

We landed in Bali at 7:30 am. First order of business: getting a local SIM card and exchanging money. Just like in India, we could book a cab through a mobile app to reach our hostel.

The hostel exceeded my expectations -- it had a pool, common areas for socializing, a workout space, and dedicated work areas. The place was buzzing with people from different countries. We quickly rented a scooter to explore the nearby areas. While there was some traffic, it wasn't as intense as what I'd seen in vlogs. We checked out the famous Kuta Beach, known for its surfers, and tried various local dishes. Nasi Goreng quickly became my favorite!

Life in Kuta

Our two weeks in Kuta fell into a comfortable rhythm. The hostel proved to be perfect for both work and exploration. We visited Hindu temples and connected with people from diverse backgrounds. Our fellow hostelers were an interesting mix – full-time remote employees, online business owners, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and vacation-mode travelers.

Our daily routine looked something like this:

• 10 AM: Wake up and breakfast with coffee
• Morning: Work and conversations with other nomads
• Afternoon: Lunch and exploration
• Evening: Back to work
• 7:30 PM: Dinner
• 10 PM onwards: Socializing, dancing, and the inevitable pool party before bed

Work-Explore Balance

Despite the holiday vibes, work remained a priority. As a freelancer with client projects, I had to maintain deliverables while traveling. I developed a routine of working before lunch and after our daily explorations. The timezone difference actually worked in my favor, being closer to my clients' working hours. I even found myself helping other hostel residents with technical issues – most were marketers rather than developers, so I assisted with bug fixes and site structure improvements. This created a great learning environment where we could all share our expertise.

Moving to Ubud

After two weeks in Kuta, we headed to Ubud - the cultural heart of Bali, known for its rice paddies and mountains. Coming from India, I was curious to see how Bali's mountains compared to the Himalayas.

We booked a week's stay near the Ubud market. The area felt more commercialized than Kuta, with extensive markets and stores, but the famous rice paddies were still easily accessible. We visited several Kopi Luwak coffee farms (made famous by "The Bucket List" movie) and explored the stunning Tegenungan Waterfall and Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

The Ulun Danu Beratan and Tirta Empul Temples offered a fascinating contrast to Indian temples, with their unique Balinese architecture. On weekends, we ventured to distant beaches and tried snorkeling for the first time. I also braved trying durian – though I can't say it's made my list of favorite fruits!

Back to Kuta and the Kecak Dance

We eventually returned to Kuta, mainly to catch the famous Kecak Dance at Uluwatu Temple. This hour-long Balinese interpretation of the Ramayana was a must-see. While waiting for the show, we witnessed the notorious Uluwatu monkeys in action – stealing phones, glasses, and anything they could grab! Local handlers helped tourists negotiate with these clever thieves, trading snacks for stolen goods. Not everyone was lucky enough to get their belongings back!

The performance itself was mesmerizing - no artificial lights or sounds, just pure human performance in traditional costumes.

Island Hopping Adventures

After spending considerable time on the main island, fellow hostel guests convinced us to explore Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands. We started with Nusa Penida, taking a 45-minute speedboat ride across the open ocean – my first experience of seeing nothing but water on all sides!

We rented a scooter to maximize our one day on Nusa Penida. First stop: Diamond Beach, a stunning stretch of sand at the bottom of a cliff. The descent was adventurous – steep stairs with just a rope for support – but the view of massive waves and crystal-clear blue water made it worthwhile. We also visited the iconic Kelingking Beach and Broken Beach, though time constraints kept us from climbing down to Kelingking.

An Expensive Lesson in Gili Trawangan

The journey to Gili Trawangan took about two hours by speedboat. This car-free island offered a refreshing change – you either walk or cycle. The beaches here were the most beautiful we'd seen, with incredibly clear water teeming with fish.

My excitement got the better of me while snorkeling. Despite having a waterproof phone case, seawater somehow seeped in – something I noticed too late when my screen started flickering. I managed to transfer my data to my friend's phone before it completely died. Spending two days without a phone in Gili was an unexpected digital detox!

We made the most of our time, joining an island-hopping snorkeling tour. Highlights included the underwater statues near Gili Trawangan and swimming with turtles near Gili Air. We concluded our island adventure with lunch on Gili Meno before heading back to Bali, where I needed to sort out my phone situation. This prompted our decision to head to Malaysia next, where I could either repair or replace my phone.

Final Thoughts

Living in Bali for a month was an incredible experience. Beyond the beautiful landscapes and rich culture, the most valuable aspect was connecting with diverse people pursuing different paths in life. Their stories and experiences taught me so much about alternative ways of living and working.

I'll definitely be back to this island paradise someday.