Indonesia: Island-Hopping While Remote Working

After Vietnam's organized chaos, I landed in Indonesia for a month of island vibes and tropical workspaces. From Bali's digital nomad scene to Lombok's pristine beaches and Java's cultural wealth, here's how I balanced work with exploring this incredible archipelago.

Week 1-2: Canggu, Bali (10 Days)

The digital nomad paradise lived up to its hype.

Work Setup:

• Outpost Canggu (amazing community)

• Dojo Bali (networking heaven)

• Alternative Beach (poolside workspace)

• Banana Co-Working

Must-Do Experiences:

• Dawn patrol surf sessions

• Tanah Lot sunset

• Echo Beach breaks

• Berawa Beach walks

• Shortcut road cafes

• Weekend beach club days

Week 2: Ubud, Bali (5 Days)

Traded beach vibes for jungle serenity.

Work Setup:

• Outpost Ubud

• Hubud Coworking

• Clear Cafe (great workspace)

• Zest Cafe

Highlights:

• Monkey Forest visits

• Campuhan Ridge walks

• Tegalalang rice terraces

• Sacred Monkey Forest

• Yoga at The Yoga Barn

• Sunrise at Mt. Batur (weekend)

Week 3: Lombok (7 Days)

Less crowded, more adventure.

Work Setup:

• Kenza Cafe & Coworking

• Ashtari Coffee House

• Submarine Coworking Space

Must-Experience:

• Kuta Lombok beaches

• Tanjung Aan Beach

• Weekend Gili Islands trip

• Seger Beach sunset

• Local market visits

• Surf sessions

Week 4: Yogyakarta, Java (8 Days)

Cultural immersion with modern amenities.

Work Setup:

• EV Hive Coworking

• Sinergi Coworking Space

• Antologi Coffee & Cowork

Highlights:

• Borobudur sunrise

• Prambanan temples

• Malioboro Street

• Taman Sari Water Castle

• Weekend Merapi hike

• Jomblang Cave

Pro Tips for Indonesia:

1. Get a Gojek/Grab account

2. Install WhatsApp for local communication

3. Bring a good laptop cooling pad

4. Get travel insurance that covers scooter rides

5. Download offline maps

6. Bring a waterproof bag (random rains)

Transportation Between Destinations:

• Bali airport to Canggu: Grab car

• Canggu to Ubud: Private driver

• Bali to Lombok: Fast boat

• Lombok to Yogyakarta: Flight

Budget Breakdown:

• Accommodation: $800

• Coworking: $200

• Food: $400

• Transport: $400

• Activities: $300

• Total: ~$2100

Digital Nomad Essentials:

• Quality VPN

• International driving permit

• Rain cover for electronics

• Multiple power adapters

• Portable fan

• Good travel insurance

Internet Reliability By Location:

• Canggu: Excellent (100+ Mbps)

• Ubud: Good (50+ Mbps)

• Lombok: Variable (10-50 Mbps)

• Yogyakarta: Good (30+ Mbps)

Indonesia taught me that paradise and productivity can coexist perfectly. Whether it was morning standup meetings with views of rice terraces, debugging sessions by the beach, or coding sprints in between temple visits, each day brought a new perspective on remote work life.

The biggest lesson? Sometimes the best code comes after a sunrise surf session or a peaceful meditation in a thousand-year-old temple. Indonesia's "rubber time" mentality helped me find a more relaxed, yet surprisingly productive work rhythm.

Pro tip: In Bali, book accommodations with backup generators - occasional power outages can interrupt your workday, especially during rainy season!