Three Australians share their experiences of living in 'paradise'

Ah, life in a tropical paradise. It’s the stuff of dreams, but what’s life really like for those who live in tropical locations?

Three Australians share their experiences of living in “paradise.”

Petra, Ubud, Bali

Petra Kamula relocated to Ubud so she could finish the novel she was working on.

Made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, Ubud is known for its rich greenery, yoga retreats and artistic community.

Yet resident Petra Kamula wasn’t looking for paradise in Ubud – just a cheap place to live while she drafted a novel.

“The country surprised me,” she says. “I am particularly enchanted by the lush jungle landscapes around Ubud, and the vibrant complexity of Balinese Hinduism, which is very integrated into day-to-day life.”

Kamula made the move from Sydney 18 months ago and now works as a consultant from co-working space Outpost. She loves Bali for its “close-knit, innovative community” of creatives and entrepreneurs.

There is also, of course, the fact of cheap rent.

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“You can get a lot for your money,” says Kamula. “A beautiful joglo house and garden amongst jungles and rice fields, with all the comforts of home.”

Kamula says that you can find a decent one-bedroom home in Ubud for between $600 and $800 per month, while a stunning villa would set you back around $2000 – $3000.

But it’s not all sunshine and coconuts. Apart from a shortage of cultural centres like theatres and art galleries, pollution is a serious problem in Bali.

“It also lacks the efficiencies we might be used to at home,” warns Kamula. “You’ve got to be pretty vigilant against health risks like Dengue fever, and road accidents.”

Janet, Port Douglas, Queensland

Janet Mackay has lived in Port Douglas for 43 years.

Having lived in Port Douglas for 43 years, interior designer Janet Mackay is no stranger to paradise.

Mackay says that although she’s also spent time living in the city, she’s most comfortable among the rainforest, beach and other natural wonders of Port Douglas.

“There’s an ambience here that I just haven’t found anywhere else,” she says. “Its natural beauty – we get a bit complacent about it – but you only have to walk down to the beach at six o’clock in the morning and see the sunrise and you think, my gosh, this is an amazing place to live.”

Yet Mackay is also quick to point out that when you work in Port Douglas, “You could be working in Sydney or Melbourne because the task is still the same.”

And while much of Australia is enjoying a hot, dry summer, Port Douglas experiences a wet season, meaning high temperatures, high rainfall and household mould.

Mackay is lucky enough to live in a four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa that she and her partner built, but says that house and rental prices are finally rising after a development boom. Over half of the locals rent, and while the median weekly rent for a two-bedroom house is $350, the market is competitive.

Michelle, Cebu, Philippines

Michelle Fiegehen initially went to the Philippines for a business trip and ended up staying.

When Michelle Fiegehen was sent to Manila from Sydney on a “three month” business trip in 2013, she didn’t imagine she’d wind up running three businesses and living permanently on a tropical island.

Fiegehen rents a large house for around $4,000 per month, which is located in a gated community and comes with its own tropical garden and pool. One-bedroom apartments can be rented in the city centre for as little as $490 per month, but Fiegehen stresses the importance of good security.

“Living in a safe community and having a driver are a necessity for me because crime is an issue,” she says.

Other issues include very high power bills, unreliable internet and electricity services, congested roads and a lack of fresh produce.

Yet there are also plenty of reasons to love life in Cebu.

“Expats are expected to support the local community, so domestic help is standard,” says Fiegehen. “It’s not exploitation – it’s how millions of workers are able to support their families.”

Fiegehen also counts the strong sense of local community, ability to meet people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and closeness to other Asian countries among the perks of where she lives.

“I can visit Hong Kong, Japan or Thailand for a long weekend,” she says. “I’m also much closer to Europe than I was in Australia.”