Ubud is beautiful, and I will probably take a couple of weeks to work there again next year, but I don't know if I could ever put down roots in a place like Bali.<p>Full story: I am of Sri Lankan heritage, born and raised in Malaysia and now live in Australia with my own family.<p>So, I know what it is like to live in an Asian country after also living in the West (er, South). My summarised take:-<p>UPSIDES:<p>Bali and other developing Asian countries ARE very cheap to live in for the long term. The food is a big plus to me, but I grew up with most of these foods and fruits, and they are a familiar part of my life. Some westerners may have trouble adapting.<p>For instance, I LOVE durian, but it make most of my Aussie friend retch even when I <i>mention</i> them. Of all the things I miss most about Asia, it is the street food.<p>I also miss the mixes cultures. I really enjoyed going to various friends houses throughout the year to celebrate Chinese New Year, end of Ramadan feasting, Deepavali, Christmas etc. There was a general cohesiveness of different cultures that doesn't seem as strong to me in Australia.<p>DOWNSIDES:<p>Most third world countries are rife with corruption. Get arrested in Bali and you better be ready to pony up some hard cash to the officials or else face worse consequences. Health services are also really bad, in terms of emergency services. I routinely get dental work done in Bali, but if I broke a limb or got appendicitis or an infection, I would far rather be back in an Australian hospital.<p>Language can also be a factor, I guess. I speak Malaysian and English, so getting around in Bali is not really an issue for me (Indonesian is 99% similar to Malaysian). However, I would struggle a bit in places like Vietnam or Laos.<p>Bali, and especially Ubud, are being ironically killed by their popularity. A LOT of local Australians I know go there to co-work for weeks at a time, and unfortunately, with tourism also comes nasty things like higher crime and fraud. Bali is becoming less and less safe as some of the less savoury locals learn how to manipulate and extort visitors. The old days of being humbugged by stall holders at the beach seems quaint. The newer operations on unsuspecting tourists are far more sinister.<p>Conclusion - I don't mean to put anyone off. Bali is a beautiful place, and Ubud is definitely worth a visit at least once, to work at with your laptop, or for a company retreat. But I wouldn't pencil it in as a 'bucket list' destination. There are plenty of other Asian countries that can offer the same, or if not better opportunities. For those used to the convenience and modernity of the US, perhaps Singapore or Penang (Malaysia) might be a better place to experience the difference in cultures?