mimpimanis
HiWell for a start I would just like to find out how many Lombok based members we have out there.Maybe like me, you joined Bali Expat Forum because you could not find one for Lombok. Well here we are now with our very own Forum I split my time between Kuta (Lombok of course) & London. I go back to London to work for a few months to get money to continue our building projects and then spend another few months in Lombok while the building continues. I have been doing this for the last 6 years now but will make the permanent move within the next year.Where in Lombok are you based? What is your story? We are waiting to hear.Mimpi
Bert Vierstra
You have to get them here, mimpi :)It will take some time, I have no idea how many expats live in Lombok, or maybe planning to do so...I don't even know how many there are in Bali, maybe 7000?
mimpimanis
[b]Just Fishing![/b]Just Fishing BertWondered if you had any Lombok based members already. Like me!I will get some announcements out in the next few days with a link to the site. I haven't been as active on the net as usual the last few days. My husband has had a bike accident back in Lombok and I've been stressing.It will take time but I will get there!Gemma
Roy
Mimpi, are there any expat "hangouts' in Kuta Lombok like here in Ubud with Nuris, The Fly or Puri Asri? I think I might have told you before that my wife and I honeymooned in Lombok five years ago and really enjoyed ourselves. My wife's older brother Wayan is married to a Lombok Balinese, so they go over at least once a year. He always comes back with a load of cocks, and he wins more often than looses. Good birds over there he says.
mimpimanis
[b]Expat Hangouts[/b]Hi RoyNo there are not any expat hangouts as such. But you have given me a good idea. We do not have that many expats. Of the three who already know about Lombok Lovers only one is a member. Another lives in a remote area without electricity, never mind a phone line & internet. The third told me very emphatically how she "was not interested in sharing her story with total strangers" and "looking for friends on the internet". There are however a growing number of guys that are marrying local girls and starting to build in Kuta. I am actually in UK at the moment but I met one of these guys the day before I left. As we have recently opened a kiosk which specialises in vcd rental most of the expats are coming to rent. I will either make a flyer & email it to my husband to hand out in the kiosk or ask him to make a sign. I will do that in the next few days.I am glad that you enjoyed Lombok. Maybe you will come back to visit sometime. There are a number of Lombok Lovers members over in September and we are planning a get together.Ok a little technical question here. Re smilies. Why when I tried to post a smiley before did it come up with the code rather than the face? I have not got smilies disabled so it is not that? :? Theres another test. Bet it works now!ThanksGemma
drbruce
Hi - I don't actually live in Lombok - my family and I live in Sumbawa - but we get over there once every 10 weeks or so for shopping. There is a definite lack of Western type goods in this area, as well as necessary Indonesian items like school books for my children. Other than the crazy traffic from the harbor in the east to Mataram, we enjoy being on the island even if it only is to shop. We're just building a new house here in Sekongkang ( we have two in Bali) so we need all sorts of stuff. You wouldn't happen to know where to get a chain saw would you?The new airport in Sekongkang opened yesterday so we can fly to Mataram now rather than take the ferry. Do you have any recommendations for a fairly inexpensive place for a family to overnight in the Mataram area?Regards,Bruce
mimpimanis
[b]Shopping in Lombok[/b]Hi Dr BruceI have only once seen a chain saw in Lombok. We hired a guy with one to take own a mature jackfruit tree which we could not get down with the usual knives & axes. However we find most things like that in a chinese building supplies shop in Cakra. I forget the name (we always refer to it as the chinese shop) It is on the main road, left hand side opposite Milan Cermaics and before Melody/LG. I am sure that if they do not have one that they will know where you can find one.I am afraid that I have never spent a night in Mataram so can not advise on accomodation there but I will ask on my Lombok Lovers group and see if anyone else can suggest a good place. I only go to Mataram for shopping. We are based in the south in Kuta.You probably have not heard that there is a new mall to be built in Praya. We are looking forward to that, if it ever happens. They have already cleared the land and fenced it off but are yet to start building. Praya is 25km closer for us than Mataram. Would it be any better for you than Mataram?Good luck with the chain saw. Let me know how you get on. :)
drbruce
Thanks Mimpi,I was asking a colleague from Lombok about the chain saws, and he told me the same thing as you. Now all I have to do is get over to Lombok. Anyway, I still have plenty of time as the rain here is making the new house a slow go.I hadn't heard about the mall in Praya. Sounds interesting. I'm hoping to get some time to visit Lombok next month when we get a few weeks off.
mimpimanis
[b]Praya Mall[/b]Hi drbruceWhen are you heading over to Lombok again? Did your colleagaure recommend the same place that I did?I dont expect the Mall in Praya will be ready for a few years at least. It took at least that for Mataram Mall to be finished. But if & when it is it will be great for me. I hate going to Mataram :D Maybe you would like to menction this Lombok Forum to your coleeague who is living in Lombok. It is still a bit quiet here for now.ThanksGemma
drbruce
Hi Mimpi,Yes, he recommended the same place. Now all I have to do is get over to Lombok.I probably won't be in Lombok for a while. I have a conference in Bangkok next month and then my wife has to take our son back to Bali for an operation and I will be here with two of my daughters so they can stay in school. Middle school testing is coming up soon!I mentioned the forum to Joe, but I don't think he gets online much.I know what you mean about things taking time to build here. We've been waiting for the harbor to be rebuilt in Singaraja for years and years. Things over in Sumbawa right now are going full blast, however. Just not many tourists at this point.
mimpimanis
Hi BruceI hope the operation that your son has to have is not serious. When is he having it? Do you think the healthcare is better on Bali than Sumbawa?My mum is due an op too. I should get confirmation today of the date. We are expecting it to be in about 3 weeks. A worrying time for me. I am sure for you too, with your son.Mimpi
drbruce
Hi Mimpi,My son fell out of a Singapore tree in front of our place in the hotel back in August. He broke his arm in three places. The Aussie doctor who works for the mining company here recommended a surgeon in Bali. He said, as have several other doctors here, that the health facilities in Sumbawa are terrible. That being said, a puskesmas will open next to our new house soon, and we hope that it will improve the level of health care a bit.Best wishes for a successful surgery for your mother.Bruce
mimpimanis
Thanks BruceHope your sons operation goes well too.Mimpi
PetraZ
Dear Lombok friends and of course Indonesia friends as well!I am a new member here and glad to find this forum! I cannot stop to read many threads in this forum - I can learn much! I am a kind of "Lombok - based - member" cause went several times to Lombok. I like that place and its great to get in touch with the people in Lombok and Indonesia in this way.Kind regards - Petra
mimpimanis
Hi Petra & Welcome!
