Hello everyone

Hi everyone, Im Loza-new to this forum. Looking at buying land on one of the Gili's. And eventually building.
Have read on other sites that the people on Trawagan arent as friendly as the other islands? Is this true? Also heard Gili T is the party island, but how partyish does it get? Crazy raves on the beach?? We have 2 young children so would prefer it to be a little quieter! Havent obviously been to the Gili's before, am coming over in August. How far by boat to Gili T to the International School? Does anyones children go to this school?
Have many more questions, but that will do for now. Appreciate any info you can give.

Cheers Loza

Hi Loza,
I have send you a PM. I´ll be happy to help you with information as I have been living on Gili T on and off for 10 yrs.

Hi Loza

The first thng I would suggest is you spend at least a few months on the gilis first of all if you are thinking of living there. Holidays and living there are quite different and as you say, you have not even been there yet.

Are you thinking of your children commuting daily to the International school? If you do it b public boat it is about 45 minutes to Bangsal and then another 45 minutes or so to Senggigi. Personally I wouldnt think it practical to commute especially as they may have problems getting a boat back late afternoon.. maybe having a regular charter would be doable but expensive.

Mimpikami has spent a lot of time on Gili T she should be able to give you more information on the island itself.

Mimpikami maybe you could share your advice on Gili T here on the forum so it is available to all members and for future searches, rather than just to Loza. Thanks.

BTW Nice to see you back Mimpikami

Welcome back Anita.

Time to organize a get together.

Josi

Hi thanks everyone, I definately agree with Gemma about living on Gili T first to see if we like it. The only concern I have at this time is the distance of the school definetly would be too hard, by public boat . I wonder how long it would take if we were to take our own boat? Regarding the power/ water situation we are quite use to that as we have lived with a generator for 5 years with kids, and it frequently didnt work! Would definately look at a desalination plant also.
Thanks, Anita I will email you.

Loza

Is Home Schooling an option for you?

Instead of going to a school, can the school come to you through some satellite link?

Josi

Hi Josi, it sounds like home schooling would be the easiest option. I would do it over the net with an Aussie school. Im not sure if it would be allowed but it would be great for my kids to go to the local school for a few hours a week too. That was why the international school was good because they had an indonesian teacher and Western teacher in the class. Also much cheaper than the International schools on bali, there about $20,000 Australian a year! Anyway I guess the option is always there.

thanks Loz

Hi Loz,

I hope Freogirl will chime in soon on this topic.

There is a good school (Sekola.....) in Lombok and the head of English Department is one Pearl Daphne (locally known as Ibu Siti). She could be a good source of information (on issues like whether Home Schooled children will be accepted if they return to Australia or elsewhere)for you. Pearl is from London but settled in Lombok for a while. As far as I know, there are no residential students at this school.

You can Google their website or email me (josihillary@hotmail.com) for Pearl's number and email address.

I am glad you are giving serious consideration to Home Schooling. I thought it is a crazy idea to send the kids by boat to school every day. Rather you can spend the money to set up a dish for satellite internet communication.

All the best.

Josi

Sorry, I just really didn't know where to start with this post. Loza has obviously not even been to the Gilis, and perhaps not even Lombok? and it all sounds like a bit of a pipe dream to me.
Please Loza, take Gemma's advice and spend some time in the area before you part with your hard-earned money and buy land. There are so many things to consider, and even more so if you are bringing children into the equation. Apart from education, there is also health care and a raft of other considerations. My husband is from Lombok, and he would never consider allowing his children to live on the Gilis - apart from the malaria, there are also the issues of the affect of tourism and the drug/alcohol/poor morals culture that brings, as well as issues with education, socialisation, the list goes on. There is quite a bit of homework for you to do, and you need to spend some time in the area to appreciate the challenges that living on a small island in a developing country will bring. Good luck