There’s a breed of travellers who have done a lot in their lives and now want to reconnect to their higher purpose. These are corporate high-flyers,
There’s a breed of travellers who have done a lot in their lives and now want to reconnect to their higher purpose. These are corporate high-flyers, entrepreneurs and people who have lived fast-paced, cosmopolitan lives and now want to recalibrate their compass and align to their passions.
I have arrived in Bali on a three-month sabbatical with my family. We enrolled the kids into the Green School, packed up our suitcases and decided we’ll operate from Bali for three months and take some time away from our respective businesses and figure out how to balance it all. Being parents and partners and at the same time managing three businesses with nearly 100 employees left us feeling the burn of tactical complexities, removing us from our own passions and pursuits.
This whole experience has been an eye-opener as I am in the travel and hospitality industry, always mining for insights and aspirations, trying to work out what makes people go on holidays and so forth. I have been reflecting on our own decision-making process and mapping out how people make similar decisions; what are their cues of connection with a place and how they find their ideal getaway refuge.
Bali is an interesting place to escape to. There’s an intellectual obesity blended with quasi-spiritual types, all either running away or running towards something. There are puddles and ponds – not just nature, but also the type of person you find in Seminyak, Ubud or Canggu. It’s enriching to find that I am not alone in this pursuit of simplicity, there are many out here who have achieved great things and continue to pursue their dreams but with passion and purpose that’s also connected to a greater good.
We are six people in the clan, looking for a home in Ubud and managed to find something spectacular after spending many days researching airbnb and other websites flogging holiday homes. The process was cumbersome at times and here are some of my tips if you’re planning your own sabbatical and choose Bali as your destination;
- Try and do as much research before you fly to the island.
- Don’t get fooled by photographs on websites.
- Location is everything. Try and make sure you have easy access to the house you choose.
- Enquire about staff and security. It’s important to have clarity on who’s manning the house while you’re there.
- Make sure you enter on the right visa – pay the USD 35 and get an extension of 30 days without having to fly out.
- Sort out your medical insurance, don’t take chances.
- Get networking. You’ll need numbers for taxi drivers, security, money exchanges and so forth.
- Make sure the villa you choose has sufficient safety precautions for children – some are pretty, but not ideal.
- Get a local phone with 3G – it’s cheap and you can use it as a hotspot for wifi anywhere on the island.
A sabbatical is about a journey within. There are numerous wonderful places to reflect and renew yourself. Try and simplify the agenda as Bali’s full of amazing and diverse attractions – try and figure out how to do nothing as opposed to everything.
Long stay holiday home providers could learn a trick or two too – don’t bother sharing photos of towels on beds dressed as swans – show the product. Every angle. Be honest.
Enjoy!
