"SCHOOL is expensive and far away, it’s better we fish or herd cattle, it’s good to get money,” Mustamin, 13.

Mustamin’s comments are typical of many of the people of Sunut, a hamlet of around 98 families on the island of Terapung, Lombok Timur dis­trict, West Nusa Tenggara. By land, Sunut can only be reached by a 24.5-km as­phalt road in disrepair. Most people choose to cross the straits by boat from Jor Bay.

Some Sunut locals make th