I have been looking at Bali property on and off for several years. My friend John, who is retired and has lived a charmed life in Bali for the last seventeen years, has just come up with a property for sale which is large enough to suit our purposes as well as have plenty of room left for a swimming pool, spa bath, and various communal things. It is located in the cooler mountains surrounding Ubud, quietly tugged away from all the touristy things and yet within easy reach. The surrounding roads are very good, quiet and asphalt. Pushbikes will be available for people to cycle around (this is invigorating mountain climate!) and a short walk through the ricefields at the back of the property brings one to the Ayung River. The Batur volcano is in full view and if Agung Mountain isn't shrouded in clouds, this can be seen too.
While local housekeeping and maintenance staff would live on the premises at all times, neither John nor I would make use of the property all year round. In fact, I would in all likelihood only spend a month or two each year there. And yet, in addition to the two buildings which John and I may or may not be occupying, there are another two very comfortable and charming "rice-barns" on the property which would make excellent guest accommodation. For more pictures, click here. The facilities will be improved and added to, including new, exotic Bali-type bathrooms, a swimming pool, and a spa, within the first few months.
The ambience of the place is so special that it would be a shame to spoil it with the unchecked arrival of all sorts of 'tourists'. Instead, I have convinced John that we ought to sell 'accommodation shares' amongst our friends which would allow them to have their own place in Bali where they could keep their personal things and go to for the number of weeks each year their 'accommodation share' entitles them to. And, of course, you would have all-year-round unlimited bragging rights with your friends about your own house in Bali ☺ !
Imagine jumping onto the next flight to Bali with no more than the clothes on your back, to be met at the airport in Denpasar by your own chauffeur who will whisk you away to your own home in Bali where your own housekeeping staff will cook and wash and iron and do everything to make you feel comfortable!
Sounds too good to be true? No, it isn't if you are in a compatible age range (say above 50) and can afford at least $500 a year for a one-week stay. Of course, you can buy time slots in multiples of one week. John and I are still at the "thinking aloud" stage and would only want to "sell" 20 out of 52 weekly timeslots a year so that there is always some vacancy for members to book at short notice. It would be non-profit - as the $500 a week reflects quite clearly - with all income and expenses fully accounted for to the members and surplus funds going into the constant improvement of the facilities.
Did I hear you mutter the dreaded word TIMESHARE? DON'T!!!
I am not spruiking some sort of money-making scheme! John is comfortably retired on an Australian schoolteacher's pension and I own far too many BHP shares to tie myself up in knots for a few extra dollars.
This is all about the mutually beneficial sharing of a stunningly beautiful property in an exotic location with some like-minded people at no more than cost price. Apart from having to be over 50 years of age, we also would want you to undergo something of a vetting process before you can fully sign up as we want this to become a harmonious group of like-minded people.
Please email me if you are interested. In fact, email me anyway as I value your thoughts as to what you think of the idea!
