In Reply to: Bali long term? posted by poppyrose on Sunday, 1. July 2007 at 12:01 Bali Time:
Bali is only paradise if you come here for a holiday but... if you can get past the frustrations with government offices and businesses, the fact that you are a second class person coz you're bule (foreigner, literally "albino"), language difficulties, people thinking that your money is their money also and many other SMALL problems it is nearly paradise here. AND, I wouldn't trade it for any of my previous life in Australia. In fact, each visa run to Oz is the shortest possible time so I can get back here.
Your 60 day SosBud (Social Budhya) Visa (ned an Indonesian sponsor)can be renewed a further thirty days 4 times. If you do it yourself (easy after first time, quick learning curve here) the first 2 renewals are Rp 250.000 each and then the second 2 renewals are Rp 250.000 plus Rp 50.000 for the Denpasar office as they need to be stamped there as well. Each time you also need a Metrai Stamp (stamp duty) from a post offices and other places (Rp 6.000). Or you can pay an agent and will cost around Rp 400.000 per renewal.
Feel free to email me if you want any other advise.