[PUP] Visiting Indonesia (was, What if your epirb goes off and nobody cares?)

[brian eiland]

What the hell is somebody doing in Indonesia thinking they are on the
ICW?
This is Indonesia, a lovely country but purely 3rd world. The 3rd most
populace country in the World, with an infrastructure in some places
resembling the western world 200 years ago (although rapidly changing -
fortunately)
___________________________________________
Brian replied:
Just a little correction. Indonesia is the 4th most populace country behind
China, India, USA, Indonesia

When I worked over there in mid nineties I was amazed to find out that no
American president had ever visit this 4th most populace country until Bill
Clinton. Following that visit it was amazing to be there. Americans were held
in very high esteem until we extended these new religious wars (over oil).



Peter wrote:
A very close friend is in charge of teaching anti terrorism to the
country and has set up an academy to bring this country up to world
speed, and he and his wife were shot at by robbers just two weeks ago in
their car.
___________________________________________________
Brian replied:
This is still a very poor country, and thievry is a part of their nature.
And bribery, we had to walk around with pockets full of money to pay off the
various officials.



Peter wrote:
I'm in Indonesia in 2009. I study every day what's ahead of me and am
very cautious.
________________________________________
Brian replied:
Good luck to you. I liked Indonesia myself, and we had a crew of Indoneisan
guys working for us.

But I would give serious thought to visiting there now until American foreign
policy cleans up their act and another high level offical visits in
peace....and not some Texas cowboy