9 thoughts on “Have Kids, Will Travel”

1. Pingback: Jakarta, We Want You. | ADOPTIONISTAS

2. Hi! I’ve been following your blog now for a while and lovel love love it! It’s been very helpful as I’ve just moved to jakarta with the hubby and babe (21 months). One question, I need some suggestions for cribs. I’ve heard of mothercare but am not sure I want to by the most expensive crib in jakarta. Are there any other options?

   Thanks a bunch!
   Sharmeen

   • Hi, Sharmeen! Thank you so much for your kind words! They mean so much to me! Mothercare sometimes has good discounts but they are definitely very pricey. Unfortunately most of the crib shops I’ve see here are super pricey. I was so glad we brought our crib with us. Alternatively, you could have one made but you cannot assure the quality and safety. Perhaps you could look into buying a used one. Many expats sell their furniture when they leave. Check the upper crust classifieds to see if there are any available. I would probably have gone that route had we not brought the crib with us. 🙂

3. Hi Gaby,
   First of all, I love your blog. It is super helpful!! We are Americans who have lived in Hong Kong and France. My husband’s company might want to move us to Jakarta, and I was just mainly concerned about the medical care there. I have read on travel advisory sites that the hospitals have medical care below Western standards and for serious medical conditions people fly to Singapore. This concerns me because it’s not practical for everyday ailments, and what do I do in a medical emergency? I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old.It’s hard to tell them to wait while they are in pain.
   It seems as though they are always getting sick here in France (maybe because they are in school), so I’m concerned about how many gastro bugs they will experience in Jakarta. We visited Bali while we were in Hong Kong and spent a week being very sick afterwards and my husband has had Dengue fever before. Do your kids ever struggle with viruses like these frequently? Would I have to spend years with this or am I just being too cautious? I’d really appreciate your imput.

   • Hi Tracey! It is true that for bigger issues people have to be med-evac’ed to Singapore. For smaller issues there are a couple of reliable international clinics. If you have chronic issues you will be a bit frustrated here but if it’s just for well-checks or minor emergencies I think you will be fine. We did have stomach problems when we first moved here, but after about 2 months your body just gets used to it. We just visited Hong Kong and Jakarta will be suuuper different. Public transportation isn’t reliable and sometimes you have to deal with hours of traffic. However, it’s a fun developing city and there are tons of entertainment options. My kiddos get colds often (due to school) but other than that we haven’t had any big issues. PLease let me know if you have any more questions. Preparing for a move is exciting but it can be challenging and having as much information at hand is always good. Take care!!!

4. Thanks for getting back to me Gaby! 🙂 I’m so happy you got to go to Hong Kong! We lived in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island when we were in Hong Kong, and It was lovely there. I loved walking around the plaza area and there are loads of restaurants and playgrounds around that area if you ever go back there.There are tons of families there and only a few cars so it’s very child friendly. My favorites sites in Hong Kong were the statue on Lantau Island, Stanley market, although the market itself is a bit hard with strollers, and the Central distract of Hong Kong with the giant escalators. There’s also a great organic supermarket called 360 (I think), and it’s got great groceries and a really nice food court on the top level. Please let me know if you go again, and I’ll be happy to give you some tips if you want some! 🙂
   Thanks for the reassurance about the health issues in Jakarta. We are definitely moving there in August, so I really appreciate your help. Out of curiosity do you know of any churches in Kemang or Ponduk Indah? Also, we are debating between the British School and Jakarta international school. If you lived in the southern suburbs and you had to pick a school for your boys which one would you choose? And why? Also, are there any books or guides I can read to prepare myself that helped you? I have loads of questions about finding a helper and what expenses to pay etc, and how to figure out where to grocery shop etc, but I know you are busy so I don’t want to bombard you.:) Thanks again for your help!

   • Hi Tracey, I hope the preparations for your move have been going smoothly. Regarding your questions I would recommend you check out International English Service South Campus. This is a wonderful church and they are located in Pondok Indah. Regarding the school, I would probably go for JIS because the curriculum is more similar to those offered in the US including AP classes and the IB program. The Family Guide to Jakarta is a great resource for all things family. I will be happy to share with you more about my experience with help and grocery stores, feel free to email me at stumbleabroad@gmail.com Take care!!!

5. Thanks for the information Ana!:) Any idea where I can find The Family Guide to Jakarta, I looked on line and couldn’t find it. Thanks again, Tracey 🙂

   • Hi Tracey, this is the link: http://familyguidetojakarta.com/ . Take care!

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