Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

Mimpi,

Nice looking "Rental House".

Suggestions? I will give you the same lecture I give the Balinese. Bali has developed more than enough accommodation and restaurants, but tourists want to do other things, as well as eat and sleep. Eat and sleep are already covered.

A Canadian friend had a good idea for an Ubud business. She opened a shop that teaches tourists how to make silver jewelry. The students get to keep what they make. Her shop was making money in the opening first week. She hired a master silversmith from Celuk to run the classes, so the students learned from the best.

Ask yourself what Lombok has to offer, then offer it.

Those were the exact words that came out of my mouth when I read your post!

Have you read about my interest in silver on Lombok Lovers or another forum?

I did a silver making course last year. Only a short 10 week evening course in which I made a ring and two pendants but I absolutely loved it.

I have been making enquiries about going back to the course as I have been thinking about making jewellery to sell, when I am permanently in Lombok.

Through chance I got into a conversation with the goldsmith Melatis in Mataram, where I change my money and he has all the jewellery maikng kit and has offered me the use of it, in his premisies though which is to far but at least I know I would be able to buy it in Lombok. Also he has told me how much I would pay for the silver. (considerably less than London) and could help me get started.

It never crossed my mind about running a course. That is a wonderful idea and one that I will consider very seriously!

I had thought about running cookery courses as many places in Bali do also. I am not a good cook of Indonesian food though so would have to find someone to run it in my kitchen. Maybe I could do both cookery & silver at different times.

Thanks for a great idea and setting my mind in turmoil, just as I have to start work!

Mimpi.

I know nothing about you, but you do seem to be bright. I was just stating the obvious. If you'd like to meet that Canadian woman, who started the jewelry classes, I can give you her email. She's very nice and will certainly help you if you want.

Ken

Hi Pongken

Yes that would be good, thank you.

There are a couple of considerations I would have to take into account.

1) For now I can not legally work in Lombok so infact could not teach the classes myself.

2) Finding a skilled silversmith close to us may be more difficult.

3) We have much lower numbers of tourists and if I was going to hire someone to teach I would need to be able to guarantee numbers.

You can email me her address if you prefer not to make it public. Mine is all over the place already mimpimanis@email.com

Thanks for the input.

Mimpi

Mimpi.

I'll email her today and ask her to contact you. She may be hesitant to talk too much if she sees you as competition, but I do not see that a Lombok business poses much competition to an Ubud business.

In case she does not immediately contact you, then you could just drop by her shop on Gautama Street in Ubud, the next time you are in Bali.
Her name is Joana.

Ken

Thanks Pongken

No I don't think in Kuta, Lombok I would be much comptetition for her.

I will hope to hear from her soon. I rarely spend as much as a night in Bali these days. When in Indonesia I prefer to be at home. I spend enough time away already.

Thanks for your help.

I'll keep you posted