In Reply to: Gili ferry posted by Minnie Mouse on Tuesday, 25. February 2014 at 14:45 Bali Time:
Have always involved self drive holidays not only all the way around Bali but too logbook and sumbawa as well. We did consider a Java trip but were advised that the roads are shocking and that it would take up a big chunck of our holiday up which for us with three kids was not really an option.
We always listened to the advice of the people who had driven cars themselves and there is a lot too learn. We took a wrong turn once in Lombok on the way to desert point and ended up surrounded in the car by about 50 Muslims leaving the mosque with swords in their hands but when my husband put the window down they said oh gules, put up the boom gate and off we went. Asked why it happened when we did get to desert point and they told us the adjacent village was at war with them and maybe that was the problem. It was very scary but thankfully we lived to tell the tale.
When we were is Sumbawa we were warned by some Aussie miners living there to make sure we did not travel at night due to bandits, so we took there advice.
We have driven the road to Gilimaluk several times and yes it is hairy, the trucks are scary but we were cautious and drove it with no problems.
Please enjoy your adventures as a family as we did. After 17 trips with my family my husband died suddenly at 51 from a heart attack and I am so glad we took the risks and had the adventures we did.