From DTLA to Bali and back. Plus Hong Kong, Beijing, Prague, Helsinki, London, Costa Rica, Singapore, and a few places in between. I write about travel the same way I talk about it — honestly, practically, and with strong opinions about where to eat.
In late 2015 I sold everything that wouldn't fit in a carry-on, rented out my loft, and moved to Bali for a year. This is what happened.
My very pragmatic father pointed out I was losing $6,500 a month by living in my own loft. The math led me somewhere I never expected.
The DecisionVietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, or Bali? Facebook Graph Search, a strong dollar, and a very helpful friend in Bangkok made the decision.
The DecisionThe short answer is yes. The long answer is, who the hell knows? I make friends quickly. That's my data.
The DecisionGreat question. Because most people have relationships, children, and mortgages. I have none of those. So I went.
LogisticsWorking on the ground is illegal for foreigners. Good thing I'm a digital nomad. Also: I just bought a one-way ticket. Shit just got real.
Pre-DepartureMy loft isn't rented and my HELOC isn't done. If anyone wants a beautiful DTLA loft for $5,995/month, call me.
Pre-Departure$5,250/month for 16 months. Not as high as I wanted. But the adventure is a go. Now I have to sell everything I own in a week.
Pre-DepartureThe panic and the relief are arriving in waves. Soon I will own only what's in a single carry-on, a few blocks from the beach.
Arrival14.5 hours to Taipei, 6 more to Bali. Cows in the street. Mopeds everywhere. The villa is perfect. I live here now.
Life ThereDay three and I already know a dozen people. Bali Dinner Club is in the works. Massages are $7. Life is good.
ExploringUbud, rice paddies, the Sacred Monkey Forest, Kopi Luwak coffee, and a temple older than any building in the US.
ExploringThree sea turtles. Crystal turquoise water. A 40-person BBQ that nobody planned. The expat life in full effect.
Dinner ClubA Kecak fire dance at sunset over the Indian Ocean, then 22 people from 11 countries at Dinner Club Number One in Bali.
Life ThereOne month in. The real education begins. Warung food, temple offerings, the ATM game, and why you should always say yes.
MoneyThree months in, the budget is dialed. Villa with a pool: $500. All meals out: $200. Massages, beers, Uber: $250. Total: stunning.
MoneyYour bank will murder you on exchange rates. Use Wise (formerly Transferwise). Use BCA ATMs. Never accept currency conversion at the machine.
Local TipsSix months of research. Old Man's, Dojo, Betelnut, Finns, and the real answer: a $1.50 Bintang at sunset on Batu Bolong beach.
Side TripsThe visa run forced me to Singapore. The hawker centers, Little India guesthouses, and the MRT made me want to stay longer.
Life ThereSeven months in, here are the ten things that made this the best decision I've ever made. Number 10 is the most important.
Local TipsGet Grab before you land. Get a SIM at the airport. Bring USD. Don't touch the offerings. Say yes to things that scare you slightly.
Exploring7am at a local market, then learning to pound base gede by hand. The real Balinese cuisine has nothing to do with what you've had at home.
Side TripsChina has a policy that lets you visit for free disguised as a layover. The airline had no idea. I had the printed policy. We were at the desk for 45 minutes.
Back in DTLAA year later, I came back. The loft was mine again, the loan was paid off, and I needed to find the DTLA version of Dojo Bali.
The complete early travel archive: Hong Kong, Macao, Beijing, London, Prague, Helsinki, and Costa Rica—now preserved here instead of sending you back to the old site.
A few articles, interviews, and write-ups over the years—from Downtown community projects and loft life to a 13-year-old at Sundance.