When I was told for a transfer to Libya from Jakarta, I thought I will experience quite difficult life.
Libya was under embargo for many years that many people would think that the city would have nothing much to live in.
I was wrong after finding these facts:
* Libya is rated as one of low risk countries in the world.
* Good quality of goods sold in many shops around Gargaresh and Gourji roads.
* Relatively low cost of living
* Libya is developing after taken out from embargo two years ago.
* International Schools available in the capital city of Tripoli are:
Libya was under embargo for many years that many people would think that the city would have nothing much to live in.
I was wrong after finding these facts:
* Libya is rated as one of low risk countries in the world.
* Good quality of goods sold in many shops around Gargaresh and Gourji roads.
* Relatively low cost of living
* Libya is developing after taken out from embargo two years ago.
* International Schools available in the capital city of Tripoli are:
- American School of Tripoli (Pre-K to Grade 8, Gr9-Gr10 starting August 2007)
- British School (to year 6),
- GEMS School or IST(Irish Curriculum, available until year 13),
- Italian School, French School, German School, Turkish School and many other schools from different countries
- ISM(previously called as Oil School)
* Good opportunity for businessmen as there are a lot of projects going on: Oil & gas explorations, Great Man Made River, New Housing and apartments building...
* Need more restaurants, more entertainment ground. You will make a very good business in Tripoli.
* Need more restaurants, more entertainment ground. You will make a very good business in Tripoli.
As about the Indonesians here in Tripoli,* There are quite many Indonesians living here. They have regular gathering and meeting among families and friends. The masses in church held in English are available every Friday 10:00 and Saturday 18:00.
* We hold many karaoke sessions in one of the employee's houses and dance together (poco-poco and dangdut-an).
* Every saturday bowling session in ZhanShour CountryClub. After bowling, normally we go for dinner together in Chinese Restaurant near Shell office in Gargaresh.
Good Restaurants:
* Chinese restaurant, near Shell office, Road of Gargaresh, good taste, good price
* Seafood boat-restaurant by the beach in Tripoli, 3-4 km east of the port
* Mo'men Sandwich (Franchised from Egypt, good taste)
Facilities which are available:
*Bowling alley
*Squash
*Regatta, which has nice beaches to relax, hockey teams, the eight club providing a gym, ping pong, swimming pool, playing area and a volleyball area.
But to get in you need to be a member of Regatta club.
Oilfield locations in Libya are centered areound three areas:
* Tripoli (for offshore mediteranean sea) and desert nearby
* East Desert (South of Benghazi town)
* Uwbari area where Repsol is based
The rent of the housing here varied 1500-5000 LD depending on the size and the area.
Renting via agents sometimes cost 30%-40% extra as they profits themselves.
What is going crazy in Tripoli is the driving. It is so dangerous that every night I can see accidents on the road due to Libyan youth show-off. They drive zig-zag until they get accident.
I see that Tripoli is undergoing development as many expats starting enter Tripoli not to miss the business oportunity in construction and oil business.
One of friends here said, "While I could not compete in my own country, there are plenty of opportunities here with good margin. We are refusing jobs !!"
As for communitity, there are many Italians, Latin American, Korean, African, Philipinos, Indonesian and Malaysian, Egyptian, East European, etc.
(TIK)
