Zac and suzanne visit the academy

This small minibus is called an Angkot. I usually try to get in the front but I sometimes have to fit into the back. It is a good way to get on first name terms with fellow passengers...
Zac loved riding in the front too, and occasionally let me.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

The traffic in Indonesia is busy....

but the atmosphere on the bus was happy. Here - Zac in the front seat which he commanded! - everyone is in good spirits.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Zac loves cats and there is no shortage of these animals at the campus. He is very kind and caring.

Beni and Zac get expert instruction on how to fly a kite from the kite meister himself. Thats a red one and this is a blue one.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Beni is always obliging and keen to help but when we visited the old Portuguse fort adjacent to the famous Indonesian prison of Nusa Kembangan he had his courage tested. He volunteered (!) to take Zac on the quad bike and Zac was in the learning phase....

both survived and they even did it twice. Thanks Beni.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Some various photos from the Banyumas trip.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Suzanne is never backward in coming forward and somehow had this family pose for a shot. What a lovely Indonesian family in Banyumas.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Zac had plenty of friends on the trip and he makes friends easily. Here he is playing one of those gadgets I have no idea about

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Here is a picture of Suzanne and the extended family in Banyumas. On the left is the Academy bus driver supremo, Mas Tre. He is one cool customer, nothing ever frazzles him - much like myself maybe!!

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Suzanne Zac and I were privileged to go on Pulang Kampung Mudik (return to your home village) with the Director (Pa Ferdinand) and his lovely family. He was actually born on Banka Island which should be well known to all Australians who know their history, and this trip was to his wifes home towm of Banyumas in central Java.
Here he and his brother in law try to squeeze me out of the picture.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

More photos of Immigration staff - here Mas Cokro and Pak Fauzi look very handsome with Zac and yours truly.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Zac loved helping me teach the class and what is more he was very good at it. Confidence is always handy in a classroom as is excellent whiteboard technique. Well done Zac.

About the academy

Sometimes the students are very tired after long and hard physical demands during the day. Here though they are all ears as Zac and Suzanne are visiting the classroom. The classroom has some restrictions with 65 students and bare walls but they cope with me with generous humour and understanding.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Zac here is a bit shy. Not like him! This group is mainly some girls from 2nd Year Correction with a baby got from somewhere?!

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

The senior people working under the director are Ibu Pramella and Pa Dudi. Like all the staff they are always smiling and are very friendly. They are also very capable and besides being senior Immigration officers they speak English and a few other languages fluently as well! Ibu Pramella is off to work in the HQ shortly - what will we do without her?

Here Zac And Suzanne stand outside the office with Dudi and Mella.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Some days can be exhausting, with the heat and the humidity making even a short walk tiresome. Zac is usually a ball of energy but here has finally succumbed to relax alongside me. Here we are watching Mr Bean on my TV which only picks up one local channel (Trans) which has at least some English language programs.

At the academy

Everybody is happy working at the academy. The two most relaxed guys here are the gardeners who are always smiling and obliging. Their job though is very onerous - you can see the grounds in the background and the weather here is not that kind to people who work out of the shade.
Pa Oni on the left and Mas Ungut on the right take time out from their busy schedule to pose for a photo. Thanks Oni and Ungut.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Dewi has lived with her husband at the academy for 17 years. She operates a laundry and also runs a warung in the canteen. In her spare time she looks after her many children and is about to have one more! She is very helpful as her English is quite good and here she and Suzanne give Zac a squeeze.

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Ibu Last, one of the lovely ladies who works at the Correction academy, is always keen to help anyone in distress. Here she takes Zac on a motorbike tour of the campus. A very careful and capable driver is Last and the environment benign so sans helmets!

Zac and suzanne visit the academy

Batman and Robin. Zac and the Director of the Immigration Academy, Pa Ferdinand, show off a trophy gained from somewhere. They turned out to be kindred spirits and really enjoyed each others company. Pa really spoilt Zac and on one occasion I remember all the staff looking very bemused as the deadly duo played hide and seek with each other around the academy.

at the academy

Students from Corrections (AKIP) do Silat while the Imigration cadets (pictured here) do both Tai Kwon Do and Karate.

at the academy

Getting to know some of the girls around the place really well. Maybe I should get some advice... Here are some of the girls starring in the many movies that are on location at the academy using the rooms and environs usually through the weekends and late at night.

more rules

more rules

more rules

Aussie Rules at the Academy

Well, I was ruling for awhile. Having told everyone here that I was the standard size Aussie and that none of us can speak Bahasa, Chris Bandy came in one evenign and destroyed the illusion.
Chris is the Aussie Rules development officer in Indonesia and he and his staff did an excellent job in fostering the cadets and staffs interest in our game. I have never seen them so keen. The main topic of conversation around here is when is he coming back. I have told the girls he doesn't have a mobile by the way!
Benny, the Cadets Staff Officer, looks hot but happy after a rules handball game.

around the academy

Just to be balanced, here is a second yr AIM (Immigration) cadet having a break from her announcing role. Very professional.

at the academy

The cadets are generally a happy and obliging lot. Here is one of the second year AKIP (correction) cadets showing off her trim physique. I knew I should have worn the batik outside the pants. I still have not lost too much weight unfortunately but feeling better with the walking and the talking.

The Hijab (muslim headdress) actually looks very sharp.

at the academy

Traffic Jams, parents anxious about children, tension in the air, and queues for food stalls and toilets. MCG Grand Final? No, its the usually quiet campus when 5 or so thousand people (inlcuding parents and rellies, come to compete for various positions, including the Immigration and Correction Academies.

In Jogya

When I saw the scaffolding outside my apartment I immediately thought of the lads at the Spence Tavern - but it was when the painters raced barefoot up the bamboo pipes I knew for sure that they had obviously had training from Chuck and Johnno and the boys at the tavern.

I asked them if they worked for "Johnny Cash" but they said he was dead.......

at the academy

The Academy likes to have two cadets as my security detachment, though they realise now that I am pretty independent and tend not to need much help (except for stairs!) Here I am with Fuad in the blue and Rusman in the red. What a fine looking trio and a very balanced picture i thought.

At the academy

The cadets from AKIP (Correctional) love to wake me up with their marching band. I especially love Bangawan Solo. One day I will learn all the words. Here they are with their guru, Pak Luki.

In Jogya

Having enjoyed studying Bahasa Indonesian at Wisma Bahasa in Jogyakarta one of the highlights was a field trip to a maternity hospital with my co-student Catherine and one of our instructors Aan. Catherine is doing good work now in as a bidan (perawan or perawat - always get the two confused!) in Ubud. I was not invited in despite my claims to having been a great slips fieldsman.....