14 Years Choosing Bali Over Snow
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
Every winter in Germany, when the snow starts falling and life becomes cold and stressful, a lady named Grone does the same thing.
He flies to Bali.
Not once. Not twice. But for the past 14 years.
And each time, she stays for around three months.
From Surfing to Slowing Down
When she first came to Bali 13–14 years ago, her purpose was simple :
“It was like just coming for surfing.”
Back then, it was about energy. Waves. Adventure.
Now?
“Now I’m a little bit older… it’s more calm.”
She no longer surfs ambitiously. She prefers sitting by the beach, relaxing, enjoying the atmosphere.
The island hasn’t changed its essence for her. But her way of experiencing it has evolved.
Bali grew with her.
Why Always Bali?
After 14 years, we asked her what keeps bringing her back.
Her answer was short:
“It’s the vibe.”
He explained that in Germany, life feels heavy and stressful.
“We have to work a lot and it’s very stressful. Here everything is a little bit more relaxed.”
Think about that.
Someone who lives in Europe, who has traveled to Spain and Italy, chooses Bali as the only non-European country she regularly visits.
“Bali is like the only non-Europe country I visit.”
That says something.
For her, Bali is enough. Tropical enough. Warm enough. Peaceful enough.
Uluwatu, The North, and Change
She mentioned Uluwatu as one of his favorite areas. This year, she plans to visit North Bali again because she hasn’t been there for years.
But he also noticed something:
“Many construction sites everywhere.”
She sees that Bali is developing. She sees the changes compared to 14 years ago.
And yet he still returns.
Because what she is looking for isn’t just a location.
It’s a feeling.
Bali Is Not Just for One Type of Person
Grone is not a digital nomad. She’s not an influencer. She’s not chasing trends.
She’s simply someone who wants:
To escape the cold
To escape stress
To feel more relaxed
And he finds that here.
For many of us who live in Bali, it’s easy to focus on traffic, development, or the heat.
But for someone who works hard all year in a snowy country, Bali is something she waits for every single winter.
And what’s beautiful is this:
Her Bali experience changed over time.
From surfing. To slowing down. From youthful energy. To peaceful reflection.
The same island. Different chapters of life.
A Gentle Reminder for Us in Bali
Maybe the real question isn’t:
“Why do foreigners keep coming here?”
Maybe the question is:
“What do they see in Bali that we sometimes forget to see?”
Bali is not just for party people. Not just for surfers. Not just for young travelers.
It can be for anyone.
For adventure. For healing. For growth. For rest.
There are people out there who work under grey skies and snow, counting the days until they can return to this island.
Not because of hype.
But because of the vibe.
And maybe that’s something worth remembering.
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